Increased TRPM4 Activity in Cerebral Artery Myocytes Contributes to Cerebral Blood Flow Reduction After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in Rats.

Cerebral blood flow (CBF) reduction underlies unfavorable outcomes after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Transient receptor potential melastatin-4 (TRPM4) has a pivotal role in cerebral artery myogenic tone maintenance and CBF regulation under physiological conditions. However, the role of TRPM4 in CBF reduction after SAH is unclear.

MicroRNA-128 Protects Dopamine Neurons from Apoptosis and Upregulates the Expression of Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 4 in Parkinson's Disease by Binding to AXIN1.

Background/aims: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a frequently occurring condition that resulted from the loss of midbrain neurons, which synthesize the neurotransmitter dopamine. In this study, we established mouse models of PD to investigate the expression of microRNA-128 (miR-128) and mechanism through which it affects apoptosis of dopamine (DA) neurons and the expression of excitatory amino acid transporter 4 (EAAT4) via binding to axis inhibition protein 1 (AXIN1).

Methods: Gene expression microarray analysis was performed to screen differentially expressed miRNAs that are associated with PD.

A pilot study on transient ischemic stroke induced with endothelin-1 in the rhesus monkeys.

Endothelin-1 (ET-1), a vasoconstrictor, has recently been used to induce focal ischemia in rodents and marmoset monkeys. The rhesus monkey, however, has numerous advantages to the rodent and marmoset that make it a superior and irreplaceable animal model for studying stroke in the brain. In the present study, after mapping the preferred hand representation in two healthy male monkeys with intracortical micro-stimulation, ET-1 was microinjected into the contralateral motor cortex (M1) to its preferred hand.

Correlation between serum S100β protein levels and cognitive dysfunction in patients with cerebral small vessel disease: a case-control study.

The present study was designed to explore the correlation between serum S100β levels and cognitive dysfunction in patients with cerebral small vessel disease (SVD). A total of 172 SVD patients participated in the study, and they were assigned to patients with no cognitive impairment (NCI group) and those with vascular cognitive impairment no dementia (VCIND group). In total, 105 people were recruited into the normal control group.

Management of Pyogenic Cerebral Ventriculitis by Neuroendoscopic Surgery.

Background: Pyogenic cerebral ventriculitis is a debilitating form of intracranial infection with an unfavorable outcome as a result of lack of experience in surgical management.

Objective: To study retrospectively a group of pyogenic cerebral ventriculitis patients managed by neuroendoscopic surgery (NES).

Methods: The standard intraventricular protocols of NES to treat this disease included 1 or more of the following: 1) obliteration of debris, 2) evidence of microbial infection, 3) septomy, 4) incision of the septation, or 5) monitoring catheter insertion.

Stent-assisted coiling and balloon-assisted coiling in the management of intracranial aneurysms: A systematic review & meta-analysis.

Background: Stent-assisted coiling and balloon-assisted coiling are well-established minimally invasive techniques for treatment of intracranial aneurysms. The aim of this study was to use meta-analysis methods to compare clinical outcomes of aneurysms treated with stent-assisted coiling versus balloon-assisted coiling.

Methods: We searched for two-arm prospective studies and retrospective studies that compared the clinical outcomes in patients that received stent-assisted or balloon-assisted aneurysm treatment.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for the treatment of traumatic brain injury: a meta-analysis.

Compelling evidence suggests the advantage of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in traumatic brain injury. The present meta-analysis evaluated the outcomes of HBOT in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Prospective studies comparing hyperbaric oxygen therapy vs.

Effect of subarachnoid hemorrhage on voltage-dependence calcium channel current in cerebral artery smooth muscle cells.

Objective: To investigate the effect of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) on voltage-dependent calcium channel (VDCC) current in cerebral artery smooth muscle cells (SMCs), oxyhemoglobins (OxyHb) concentration and vasospasm.

Method: Thirty-six clean SD rats were used to establish SAH model by injecting autologous arterial blood into suprasellar cistern with the aid of stereotaxic instrument. They were divided into arterial SAH group (14 rats), venous SAH group (13 rats) and sham operation group (9 rats), and OxyHb concentrations were measured in the first two groups.

Effect of mesenchymal stem cells transplantation combining with hyperbaric oxygen therapy on rehabilitation of rat spinal cord injury.

Objective: To investigate the effect of BMSCs transplantation plus hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) on repair of rat SCI.

Methods: Seventy five male rats were divided randomly into five groups: sham, vehicle, BMSCs transplantation group, combination group, 15 rats in each group. Every week after the SCI onset, all animals were evaluated for behavior outcome by Basso-Beattle-Bresnahan (BBB) score and inclined plane test.

Electroacupuncture in the repair of spinal cord injury: inhibiting the Notch signaling pathway and promoting neural stem cell proliferation.

Electroacupuncture for the treatment of spinal cord injury has a good clinical curative effect, but the underlying mechanism is unclear. In our experiments, the spinal cord of adult Sprague-Dawley rats was clamped for 60 seconds. Dazhui (GV14) and Mingmen (GV4) acupoints of rats were subjected to electroacupuncture.

The effects of hyperbaric oxygen on macrophage polarization after rat spinal cord injury.

The immunoreactive responses are a two-edged sword after spinal cord injury (SCI). Macrophages are the predominant inflammatory cells responsible for this response. However, the mechanism underlying the effects of HBOT on the immunomodulation following SCI is unclear now.

[A DTI study of the contralateral corticospinal tract modeled through simulated intracranial space-occupying lesions in macaque brain motor areas].

Recent studies found that a loss of motor function following corticospinal tract (CST) damage can, to some extent, be restored. Few studies, however, examine how space-occupying lesions in the brain motor area may affect the contralateral CTS structure and function. We performed a simulation of intracranial space-occupying lesions in the brain motor area by implanting of balloons into the brains of the two healthy macaques.

[Application of diffusion tensor imaging and 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy in diagnosis of traumatic brain injury].

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is a common type of brain disorders among young adults. The dysfunction of the brain is often exacerbated due to diffuse axonal injury (DAI) which based on the injury of white matter fibers and axons. Since mild and moderate brain injury or DAI are diffuse and subtle, conventional CT and MRI are difficult to make a positive diagnosis.

[Influences of two different training paradigms on spatial learning and memory performance of hippocampal injured rats].

In this study, the 5 d and 7 d training paradigms were adopted to investigate the influences of different training procedures on the performance of spatial learning and memory of the hippocampal injured rats. The results showed that during the hidden-platform acquisition training, similar spatial learning dysfunctions were indicated in those two training paradigms. Whereas, when the spatial memories have been evaluated, compared with the 5 d training groups, the rats under 7 d training procedure not only crossed the platform location less, but also preferred to spend less time in the target quadrant.

[A technique of rhesus monkey neural progenitor cells intravitreal transplant to rats].

To investigate a simple and effective intraocular xenotransplant technique of rhesus monkey neural progenitor cells to rats, mechanical injury was induced in the rat's right retina. And the GFP-labeled rhesus monkey neural progenitor cells suspension was slowly injected into the vitreous space of the right injured and left control eye. Confocal image suggested that the xenografted cells survived in both the injured and control eye, meanwhile the cells integrated in the injured right retina.

Survival and number of olfactory ensheathing cells transplanted in contused spinal cord of rats.

Objective: To observe the survival and the number of olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) transplanted in the contused spinal cord, so as to provide a basis for further studying the biological action of OECs.

Methods: The rat spinal cords were contused with NYU-impactor II at T10 level by dropping a 10 g rod from a height of 25 mm. At the 1st week after injury, OECs isolated freshly from green fluorecense protein (GFP) of the rats were transplanted into the spinal cord at injured site and other two sites 1 mm apart from the caudal and rostral ends with the OECs number of 30000/μl x 3 = 90000.

[Study on the expression of BDNF in human gliomas].

Objective: To investigate the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factors (BDNF) in gliomas of human, and explore the relation between BDNF and pathologic grading and tumorigenesis of gliomas.

Methods: Immunohistochemistry (SP) and Western blot were applied to evaluate the expression of BDNF in 5 cases of normal controls and 20 cases of gliomas from different pathologic grading.

Results: The expression of BDNF was observed mainly occurred in the cytoplasm of both normal brain tissues and gliomas.

[Expression of VEGF and NGF in gliomas of human].

Objective: To examine the expression of vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) in gliomas of human, and investigate the relationship between VEGF, NGF and pathologic grading as well as tumorigenesis of gliomas.

Methods: Immunohistochemistry (SP) and Western blot were applied to evaluate the expression of VEGF and NGF in 5 cases of normal controls and 20 cases of human gliomas.

Results: VEGF and NGF were expressed in both normal brain tissues and gliomas.