Imaging, biomarkers, and vascular cognitive impairment in China: Rationale and design for the VICA study.

Introduction: Vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) is highly heterogeneous, with unclear pathogenesis. Individuals with vascular risk factors (VRF), cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD), and stroke are all at risk of developing VCI. To address the growing challenges posed by VCI, the "Vascular, Imaging and Cognition Association of China" (VICA) was established.

Nomogram for predicting moderate-to-severe sleep-disordered breathing in patients with acute ischaemic stroke: a retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: Moderate-to-severe sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is prevalent in patients with acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) and is associated with an increased risk of unfavourable prognosis. We aimed to develop and validate a reliable scoring system for the early screening of moderate-to-severe SDB in patients with AIS, with the objective of improving the management of those patients at risk.

Study Design: We developed and validated a nomogram model based on univariate and multivariate logistic analyses to identify moderate-to-severe SDB in AIS patients.

Associations of Abdominal Visceral Fat Content and Plasma Adiponectin Level With Intracranial Atherosclerotic Stenosis: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Abdominal obesity and adipocytokines are closely related to atherosclerosis, and adiponectin level is considered one of the important clinical indicators. This study aimed to analyze the associations of abdominal visceral fat content and adiponectin level with intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS).

Methods: A total of 186 patients were enrolled in this study.

Adiponectin Levels Are Associated with White Matter Lesions (WMLs) and Cognitive Impairment.

Method: In the present study, 126 patients, 90 cases in the WML group and 36 cases in the control group, were analyzed to explore the relationship between adiponectin and WMLs. All patients underwent an MRI scan to assess whether white matter lesions happened. And the serum levels of adiponectin were detected by ELISA.

Neurotransmitter-stimulated neuron-derived sEVs have opposite effects on amyloid β-induced neuronal damage.

The ratio of excitatory to inhibitory neurotransmitters is essential for maintaining the firing patterns of neural networks, and is strictly regulated within individual neurons and brain regions. Excitatory to inhibitory (E/I) imbalance has been shown to participate in the progression of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Glutamate excitotoxicity and GABAergic neuron dysfunction appear to be key components of the neuronal cell death that takes place in AD.

DDAH-1, via regulation of ADMA levels, protects against ischemia-induced blood-brain barrier leakage.

Dimethylarginine dimethylamino hydrolase-1 (DDAH-1) is an important regulator of nitric oxide (NO) metabolism that has been implicated in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. Nevertheless, its role in cerebral ischemia still needs to be elucidated. Herein, we examined the expression of DDAH-1 in the brain of rat by double-label immunofluorescence staining.

Resveratrol Abrogates Hypoxia-Induced Up-Regulation of Exosomal Amyloid-β Partially by Inhibiting CD147.

Hypoxia promotes both total extracellular and exosomal amyloid-β (Aβ) production and aggravates Alzheimer's disease (AD). Resveratrol (RSV) has been proved to be neuroprotective in AD models, and down-regulated the expression of CD147, an additional subunit of γ-secretase. In this study, we aimed to explore the role and mechanisms of RSV in hypoxia-induced upregulation of Aβ, especially exosomal Aβ.

Marital status is associated with survival of patients with astrocytoma.

The prognostic role of marital status in patients with astrocytoma has not been fully explored. In this study we investigated the association of marital status and survival of astrocytoma. We extracted the eligible patients with astrocytoma diagnosed after 2000 from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database.

Effect of marital status on survival in glioblastoma multiforme by demographics, education, economic factors, and insurance status.

The relationship between marital status and glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) has not been addressed in depth. Here, we aimed to investigate the association between marital status and survival in GBM. We searched the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database and extracted the data of eligible patients diagnosed with GBM after 2004.

Homocysteine is Associated with Exaggerated Morning Blood Pressure Surge in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke.

Background: Considerable researches suggest that high level of homocysteine (Hcy) is associated with the risk of ischemic stroke. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) parameters have also been confirmed associated with cardio-cerebrovascular events. However, the relationship between Hcy and ABPM parameters remains unclear in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Serum Calcium is Related to the Degree of Artery Stenosis in Acute Ischemic Stroke.

Background/aims: Acute ischemic stroke is caused by stenosis of artery supplying to brain. We aimed to detect some metabolites in the serum that would be related to the degree of artery stenosis and to analyze potential mechanisms.

Methods: Patients diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke were divided into two groups according to their degree of artery stenosis (which was determined by computed tomographic angiography): a mild group (stenosis ≤ 30%) and a severe group (stenosis > 30%).

Hypoxia increases amyloid-β level in exosomes by enhancing the interaction between CD147 and Hook1.

Hypoxia promotes the accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ), which is related to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). CD147 is considered as an additional subunit of γ-secretase regulated by hypoxia, and has been identified in exosomes. Aβ is also found in exosomes that participate in the intercellular communication and amyloids propagation.

β-amyloid increases neurocan expression through regulating Sox9 in astrocytes: A potential relationship between Sox9 and chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans in Alzheimer's disease.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate whether β-amyloid (Aβ) was able to enhance neurocan expression in a Sox9 dependent manner in astrocytes.

Methods And Materials: Astrocytes were incubated with Aβ at different concentrations, the expression of Sox9 and neurocan was detected by Western blot assay. Meanwhile, the viability and proliferation of astrocytes were assessed by MTT assay.

Prognostic value of morning blood pressure surge in clinical events: a meta-analysis of longitudinal studies.

Background: Cardiovascular (CV) events tend to occur more often in the morning. Thus, morning blood pressure surge (MS) may be related to the risk of CV events. The results of several studies evaluating the prognostic value of MS are inconsistent.