Thrombomodulin reduces α-synuclein generation and ameliorates neuropathology in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease.

The neurotoxic α-synuclein (α-syn) oligomers play an important role in the occurrence and development of Parkinson's disease (PD), but the factors affecting α-syn generation and neurotoxicity remain unclear. We here first found that thrombomodulin (TM) significantly decreased in the plasma of PD patients and brains of A53T α-syn mice, and the increased TM in primary neurons reduced α-syn generation by inhibiting transcription factor p-c-jun production through Erk1/2 signaling pathway. Moreover, TM decreased α-syn neurotoxicity by reducing the levels of oxidative stress and inhibiting PAR1-p53-Bax signaling pathway.

Next-generation sequencing combined with serological tests based pathogen analysis for a neurocysticercosis patient with a 20-year history:a case report.

Background: Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is the most common helminthic infection of the central nervous system (CNS) caused by the larval stage of Taenia solium. Accurate and early diagnosis of NCC remains challenging due to its heterogeneous clinical manifestations, neuroimaging deficits, variable sensitivity, and specificity of serological tests. Next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based pathogen analysis in patient's cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) with NCC infection has recently been reported indicating its diagnostic efficacy.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Restless Legs Syndrome in Hemodialysis Patients.

Objective: The current study aimed to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of restless legs syndrome (RLS) in patients undergoing hemodialysis, as well as the mortality and risks of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events.

Methods: A total of 354 hemodialysis patients from four hospitals were enrolled. RLS was diagnosed using the International RLS Study Group (IRLSSG) criteria.

A case report: 1-year follow-up of cerebral sparganosis mansoni with a stroke-like onset.

Background: Sparganosis mansoni is a parasitic disease caused by infection with the larvae of Spirometra spp. tapeworms. Its clinical manifestations and severity depend on the migration and the location of the parasites.

Restless legs syndrome secondary to pontine infarction: Clinical analysis of five cases.

Objective: Pontine infarction is a common type of stroke in the cerebral deep structures, resulting from occlusion of small penetrating arteries, may manifest as hemi-paralysis, hemi-sensory deficit, ataxia, vertigo, and bulbar dysfunction, but patients presenting with restless legs syndrome (RLS) are extremely rare. Herein, we reported five cases with RLS as a major manifestation of pontine infarction.

Methods: Five cases of pontine infarction related RLS were collected from July 2013 to February 2016.

Human cytomegalovirus-IgM seropositivity is not associated with atherogenic alterations of lipid profiles and inflammatory status in ischemic stroke patients: a preliminary study.

Background: Past exposure to human cytomegalovirus has been suggested to participate in the pathogenetic events associated with atherosclerotic lesion establishment and progression. However, whether ongoing human cytomegalovirus infection is related to plaque instability, and subsequent acute cerebral ischemia, is relatively unknown. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential relationships between active human cytomegalovirus infection and ischemic stroke, especially in regard to metabolism and inflammation.

[Fluvastatin's effect on atherogenesis in apolipoprotein-E knockout mice infected by cytomegalovirus].

Objective: The goal of this study was to investigate whether murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) is able to exacerbate the atherosclerotic process in apolipoprotein E knockout (apoE -/-) mice, and the effect of fluvastatin on the atherogenesis.

Methods: The apoE-/- mice kept on a west diet were given low dosage of MCMV. At 14,18 and 24 weeks post infection, AS lesion were measured on aorta.

[Expression, purification and specific monoclonal antibodies preparation of diphtheria toxin A fragment].

Diphtheria toxin A fragment (DTA) is an essential catalytic domain of diphtheria toxin (DT)-based immunotoxin. DTA protein and its antibodies play an important role in the studies on toxicology, purification and identification of DT-based immunotoxins. In this paper, DTA was expressed and purified from E.

[Construction and expression of the fusion protein DT389-hIL-13 and its cytotoxicity to glioma cell lines].

Objective: To construct a fusion protein toxin DT389-hIL-13 which comprises the N-terminal 389 amino acids of diphtheria toxin (DT389) and human interlukin 13 (hIL-13), and to explore its cytotoxicity on U251 glioma cells.

Methods: The cDNA of hIL-13 gene was amplified by PCR and linked with the 3'-terminus of the gene encoding the N-terminal 389 amino acids, which correspond to the enzyme domain and transmembrane domain of diphtheria toxin. The tandem constructed gene was then inserted into an E.