Does Systematic Use of Small Doses of Vitamin D Have Anti-Inflammatory Effects and Effectively Correct Deficiency Among Healthy Adults?

Background: Calcitriol, beyond its well-established role in calcium and phosphate homeostasis, contributes to immunological processes. No known vitamin D dosage regimen effectively corrects the deficiency while accounting for immunoregulatory effects. Therefore, the purpose of this assessment was to determine whether regular administration of low doses of vitamin D might correct deficiency and have immunoregulatory effects.

The Relevance of Reperfusion Stroke Therapy for miR-9-3p and miR-9-5p Expression in Acute Stroke-A Preliminary Study.

Reperfusion stroke therapy is a modern treatment that involves thrombolysis and the mechanical removal of thrombus from the extracranial and/or cerebral arteries, thereby increasing penumbra reperfusion. After reperfusion therapy, 46% of patients are able to live independently 3 months after stroke onset. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are essential regulators in the development of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury and the efficacy of the applied treatment.

Analysis of Serum Markers of Perioperative Brain Injury and Inflammation Associated with Endovascular Treatment of Intracranial Aneurysms: A Preliminary Study.

Embolization is the preferred method for treating intracranial aneurysms due to its less invasive nature. However, recent findings suggest that even uncomplicated embolization may cause structural damage to the brain through ischemic or inflammatory mechanisms. This study aimed to find possible biomarkers of brain injury and inflammation in patients suffering from intracranial aneurysms who underwent endovascular treatment by measuring serological markers indicating brain damage.

After Ischemic Stroke, Minocycline Promotes a Protective Response in Neurons via the RNA-Binding Protein HuR, with a Positive Impact on Motor Performance.

Ischemic stroke is the most common cause of adult disability and one of the leading causes of death worldwide, with a serious socio-economic impact. In the present work, we used a new thromboembolic model, recently developed in our lab, to induce focal cerebral ischemic (FCI) stroke in rats without reperfusion. We analyzed selected proteins implicated in the inflammatory response (such as the RNA-binding protein HuR, TNFα, and HSP70) via immunohistochemistry and western blotting techniques.

The influence of hypertension, diabetes, lipid disorders and the presence of the APOE4 allele on the cognitive functions of patients over 65 years of age.

Unlabelled: Diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension (HA) are common diseases in the population of people over 65 years of age. Many studies show the impact of the long-lasting decompensation of these chronic diseases, often diagnosed in middle age, on the cognitive functioning of elderly patients.

Results: There is almost 30% prevalence of cognitive impairment among patients diagnosed with arterial hypertension.

A Novel Improved Thromboembolism-Based Rat Stroke Model That Meets the Latest Standards in Preclinical Studies.

The animal thromboembolic model of ischemia perfectly mimics human ischemic stroke which remains the leading cause of disability and mortality in humans. The development of new treatment strategies was therefore imperative. The purpose of this study is to improve the thromboembolic stroke model in rats in order to design experiments that use motor tests, and are in accordance with the 3R principles to prevent complications and maintain the same size of the infarct repeatedly.

Effects of 17-β-estradiol released from shape-memory terpolymer rods on sciatic nerve regeneration after injury and repair with chitosan nerve conduit in female rats.

The aim of this study was to assess 17-β-estradiol (E2) influence on sciatic nerve regeneration after injury followed by a repair with chitosan conduit in ovariectomized female rats. The study was performed in 2 groups (n = 16) of rats: OVChit - after excision of a fragment of the sciatic nerve, a chitosan conduit was implanted; OVChitE10 group - additionally to chitosan conduit, shape-memory terpolymer rods based on poly(L-lactide-co-glycolide- co-trimethylene carbonate) releasing 17-β-estradiol for 20 weeks were implanted. The mean number of regenerating axons and mean fiber area were significantly greater in 17-β-estradiol-treated animals.

The protective effect of low-dose minocycline on brain microvascular ultrastructure in a rodent model of subarachnoid hemorrhage.

The multifaceted nature of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) pathogenesis is poorly understood. To date, no pharmacological agent has been found to be efficacious for the prevention of brain injury when used for acute SAH intervention. This study was undertaken to evaluate the beneficial effects of low-dose neuroprotective agent minocycline on brain microvascular ultrastructures that have not been studied in detail.

Plasma Levels of Occludin and Claudin-5 in Acute Stroke Are Correlated with the Type and Location of Stroke but Not with the Neurological State of Patients-Preliminary Data.

Unlabelled: The blood-brain barrier is the structure (BBB), which isolates the central nervous system from the external environmental. During a stroke, the BBB gets damaged, which is accompanied by changes in the concentrations and distributions of claudin-5, occludin, ZO-1, and other building blocks of the BBB. The aim of this study was to assess the concentrations of selected components of the BBB-occludin, claudin-5, and zonulin (ZO-1)-and to define a potential relationship between the concentrations of these three substances and the type of stroke, the location and extent of the infarct focus, the neurological/functional status in the acute phase of the disease, and the patient's clinical profile.

Plasma Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 and Tissue Inhibitor of Matrix Metalloproteinase-1 as Prognostic Biomarkers in Critically Ill Patients.

Matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) plays an important role in inflammatory and pathological processes by enabling the inflow of leukocytes to the site of infection or tissue damage. MMP-9 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1) have been described as potential prognostic biomarkers in various clinical settings. The aim of the study was to evaluate the usefulness of plasma levels of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 as well as the MMP-9/ TIMP-1 ratio in predicting the outcome in patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU).

The importance of selected markers of inflammation and blood-brain barrier damage for short-term ischemic stroke prognosis.

Acute cerebral ischemia triggers local and systemic immune response. The aims of this project was to assess the blood serum concentration of the markers of inflammation and markers of the blood brain barrier damage on the first day of ischemic stroke, and the mutual correlations between these marker levels. Patients with first-in-life stroke were analysed according to: plasma concentration of the following markers on the first day of stroke: interleukin 2 (IL-2) and interleuki 6 (IL-6), S100B, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), progranulin (GRN), neuron specific enolase (NSE), urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), C-reactive protein (CRP), leucocyte and thrombocyte counts; their neurological status on the first day of stroke (NIHSS) and their functional status at 30 days following stroke (mRS).

Serum levels of the S100B protein and neuron-specific enolase are associated with mortality in critically ill patients.

Introduction: Evaluation of the prognostic potential of the S100B protein and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) as predictors of mortality in critically ill patients in intensive care units (ICU).

Materials And Methods: The study was conducted on 62 patients. Basic clinical variables and blood samples for S100B and NSE level testing were obtained during the first four days after admission.

The modification of the ketogenic diet mitigates its stunting effects in rodents.

The high-fat and low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet (HFKD) is extensively studied within the fields of numerous diseases, including cancer and neurological disorders. Since most studies incorporate animal models, ensuring the quality of ketogenic rodent diets is important, both in the context of laboratory animal welfare as well as for the accuracy of the obtained results. In this study we implemented a modification to a commonly used ketogenic rodent chow by replacing non-resorbable cellulose with wheat bran.

Cognitive impairment and BDNF serum levels.

Background/aims: To investigate the alterations of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BNDF) serum levels in subjects with different intensity of cognitive impairment and different neurodegenerative processes.

Material And Methods: Serum BDNF levels were analyzed by ELISA kit in 378 subjects: 134 Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients, 115 amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients, and 129 controls divided into two groups: neurodegenerative control group (ND), consisting of 49 Parkinson's disease patients without any cognitive complaints, and cognitively normal control group (CN), consisting of 80 subjects without any neurological disorders.

Results: AD patients had significantly lower (p<0.

The presence of Tau protein in blood as a potential prognostic factor in stroke patients.

Tau protein is found in the blood of 40 - 50% of patients in the acute phase of a stroke, as a result of the degradation of neurons and damage to the blood-brain barrier. The aim of the study was to assess the incidence of tau protein in the blood of stroke patients, as well as to evaluate the potential impact of tau protein presence in the blood of patients on their neurological state during the first 24 hours, and their functional condition three months after the stroke. Eighty-seven patients aged 39 - 99 (42 females and 45 males) diagnosed with stroke were enrolled in the prospective study (August 2014 - April 2015).

Shape-Memory Terpolymer Rods with 17-β-estradiol for the Treatment of Neurodegenerative Diseases: an In Vitro and In Vivo Study.

Purpose: Estradiol (E2)-loaded poly(L-lactide-co-glycolide-trimethylenecarbonate) (P(L-LA:GA:TMC)) rods with shape-memory were developed for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Usefulness of the extrusion method in the obtaining process was also considered. The influence of structural and surface properties during hydrolytic degradation was developed.

Long-term High Fat Ketogenic Diet Promotes Renal Tumor Growth in a Rat Model of Tuberous Sclerosis.

Nutritional imbalance underlies many disease processes but can be very beneficial in certain cases; for instance, the antiepileptic action of a high fat and low carbohydrate ketogenic diet. Besides this therapeutic feature it is not clear how this abundant fat supply may affect homeostasis, leading to side effects. A ketogenic diet is used as anti-seizure therapy i.

Low Concentration of BDNF in the Acute Phase of Ischemic Stroke as a Factor in Poor Prognosis in Terms of Functional Status of Patients.

BACKGROUND According to recent studies, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) probably plays a role in development of cerebral ischemia and can be significant for the prognosis of improved mobility after stroke. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the blood concentration of BDNF during the 1st day of first-ever ischemic stroke and find a potential association between BDNF concentration and the neurological status in the acute period, as well as between BDNF and the functional status in the sub-acute phase of stroke. MATERIAL AND METHODS The prospective study involved 87 patients aged 39-99 years (42 women, 45 men) with first-in-life complete ischemic stroke.

Grafted Activated Schwann Cells Support Survival of Injured Rat Spinal Cord White Matter.

Background And Objective: The influence of cultured Schwann cells on injured spinal cord in rats is examined.

Methods: Focal injury of spinal cord white matter at the T10 level was produced using our original non-laminectomy method with a high-pressure air stream. Schwann cells from 7-day predegenerated rat sciatic nerves were cultured, transducted with green fluorescent protein and injected into the cisterna magna (experimental group) 3 times: immediately after spinal cord injury and 3 and 7 days later.

Sciatic nerve regeneration in rats subjected to ketogenic diet.

Objectives: Ketogenic diet (KD) is a high-fat-content diet with insufficiency of carbohydrates that induces ketogenesis. Besides its anticonvulsant properties, many studies have shown its neuroprotective effect in central nervous system, but its influence on peripheral nervous system has not been studied yet. We examined the influence of KD on regeneration of peripheral nerves in adult rats.

[Schwann cells in therapy of spinal cord injuries].

Schwann cells (SC) have a special activity in the repair processes after injury of the nervous system because of the capability of differentiation, migration, proliferation and myelinization of axons. They enhance production of numerous neurotrophic factors, thus creating a permissive environment for axonal regeneration. Experimental studies using SC in neuronal transplants showed that these cells with their basal membrane with adhesion molecules are attractive material for neural prostheses facilitating axon growth.

Concentrations and activities of metalloproteinases 2 and 9 and their inhibitors (TIMPS) in chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Unlabelled: Pancreatic cancer (PC) and chronic pancreatitis (CP) are still significant problems. The aim of this study was a comparative analysis of the activity and concentrations of matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 and the concentrations of their tissue inhibitors (TIMP 1 and 2) in the PC compared to CP tissue homogenates. The study was performed in a group of 63 patients with pancreatic cancer or chronic pancreatitis selected for resection procedures.

The sitting position during neurosurgical procedures does not influence serum biomarkers of pulmonary parenchymal injury.

Background: The sitting position during neurosurgical operations predisposes to air penetration through veins and the movement of the air through the pulmonary circulation. Contact of an air bubble with the endothelium can lead to acute lung injury. The presence of specific pulmonary proteins in the plasma such as surfactant protein D (SP-D) and Clara cell protein (CC16) is a biomarker of damaging processes at the air-blood barrier.

Interleukin-1β increases release of endothelin-1 and tumor necrosis factor as well as reactive oxygen species by peripheral leukocytes during experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage.

In the subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) blood mixes with cerebrospinal fluid, what starts immunoinflammatory processes - increased synthesis of proinflammatory cytokines, and formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), resulting in pre-activation of different populations of peripheral leukocytes. Migration of leukocytes to the brain parenchyma through broken blood brain barrier may produce extra brain tissue injury besides of that resulting from SAH. We examined in adult rats the effect of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) neutralization on secretion of cytokines as well as production of ROS in the course of SAH.