Longitudinal Imaging of Tumor Perfusion After Preoperative Endovascular Embolization in Meningiomas: Surgical Time Window Selecting, Clinical Consideration, and Outcomes.

Objective: To quantitatively investigate the longitudinal computed tomography perfusion (CTP) imaging in meningiomas preoperatively embolized using microcatheters.

Methods: This retrospective monocentric study included 27 patients with symptomatic supratentorial meningiomas. Quantitative computed tomography perfusion (CTP) images before and postembolization were evaluated and correlated with angiographic, immunohistochemical, and clinical data.

The improvement of biocompatibility by incorporating porphyrins into carbon dots with photodynamic effects and pH sensitivities.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising new treatment for cancer; however, the hydrophobic interactions and poor solubility in water of photosensitizers limit the use in clinic. Nanoparticles especially carbon dots have attracted the attention of the worlds scientists because of their unique properties such as good solubility and biocompatibility. In this paper, we integrated carbon dots with different porphyrins to improve the properties of porphyrins and evaluated their efficacy as PDT drugs.

Incorporation of green emission polymer dots into pyropheophorbide-α enhance the PDT effect and biocompatibility.

Background: A green emission up-conversion carbon-based polymer dots (CPDs) owned excellent photophysical properties and good solubility. Most photosensitizers (PS) are hydrophobic which limits their application in biomedicine. Herein we synthesized and integrated green emitting CPDs into pyropheophorbide-α (PPa) to improve the overall properties of the PS.

Risk factors associated with the progression of COVID-19 in elderly diabetes patients.

Aim: To describe the clinical characteristics and risk factors associated with the progression of COVID-19 in elderly diabetes patients.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study, including elderly COVID-19 patients admitted to Wuhan Huoshenshan Hospital between February 10 and 13, 2020. Demographic data, medical history, signs and symptoms, and laboratory parameters were collected and analysed.

Coronavirus disease 2019 associated with aggressive neurological and mental abnormalities confirmed based on cerebrospinal fluid antibodies: A case report.

Introduction: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is spreading worldwide. The reported possible neurological symptoms are varied and range from subtle neurologic deficits to unconsciousness. Knowledge regarding the detection, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of COVID-19-associated neurological damage is still limited.

Endovascular Thrombectomy with or without Intravenous Alteplase in Acute Stroke.

Background: In acute ischemic stroke, there is uncertainty regarding the benefit and risk of administering intravenous alteplase before endovascular thrombectomy.

Methods: We conducted a trial at 41 academic tertiary care centers in China to evaluate endovascular thrombectomy with or without intravenous alteplase in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Patients with acute ischemic stroke from large-vessel occlusion in the anterior circulation were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to undergo endovascular thrombectomy alone (thrombectomy-alone group) or endovascular thrombectomy preceded by intravenous alteplase, at a dose of 0.

FOXO1 associated with sensitivity to chemotherapy drugs and glial-mesenchymal transition in glioma.

Mesenchymal subtype of glioblastoma (GBM), identified as one of four clinically relevant molecular subtypes, has worst prognosis because of its close relation with the malignant biological properties induced by glial-mesenchymal transition (GMT). However, the molecular mechanism of GMT and its characterized molecule of GBM have not been studied. Forkhead box protein O1 (FOXO1) is at a convergence point of receptor tyrosine kinase signaling as one of the three core pathways implicated in GBM.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of 17-dicarboxylethyl-pyropheophorbide-a amide derivatives for photodynamic therapy.

Three novel 17-dicarboxylethyl-pyropheophorbide-a amide derivatives as photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy (PDT) were synthesized from pyropheophorbide-a (Ppa). Their photophysical and photochemical properties, intracellular localization, photocytotoxicity in vitro and in vivo were investigated. All target compounds exhibited low cytotoxicity in the dark and remarkable photocytotoxicity against human esophageal cancer cells.

Overexpression of leptin receptor in human glioblastoma: Correlation with vasculogenic mimicry and poor prognosis.

Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) was an important tumor blood supply to complement the endothelial cell-dependent angiogenesis, while leptin and receptor (ObR) involved in angiogenesis in glioblastoma has been reported on previous study, but the relationship between ObR expression and VM formation in human glioblastoma tissues, as well as their prognostic significance still remains unclear. In our study, we found that VM recognized by CD31-/PAS+ immunohistochemical staining in glioblastoma tissues showed a positive correlation with leptin expression ( = 0.58, < 0.

Synthesis and evaluation of new 5-aminolevulinic acid derivatives as prodrugs of protoporphyrin for photodynamic therapy.

Protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) is used as a photosensitizer in the photodynamic diagnosis (PDD) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) of cancer and is synthesized intracellularly from 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) precursors. Thirteen novel 5-ALA derivatives were designed and synthesized appropriately with tailored hydrophilicity and lipophilicity. The generation of PpIX was detected and their antitumor activity in vitro and in vivo was also investigated.

Integrated in silico-in vitro characterization, identification and disruption of the intermolecular interaction between SH3 domain-containing protein kinases and human pituitary tumor-transforming gene 1.

The human pituitary tumor-transforming gene-1 (hPTTG1) has been found to be overexpressed in various cancers. Accumulated evidences implicate that some of protein kinases can specifically recognize two PXXP motifs at hPTTG1 C-terminus through their Src homology (SH3) domain and then phosphorylate the protein by their catalytic domain. Here, we integrate in silico analysis and in vitro assay to characterize the intermolecular interaction between the two hPTTG1 motif peptides 161LGPPSPVK168 (M1P) and 168KMPSPPWE175 (M2P) and the SH3 domains of Ser/Thr-specific protein kinases MAP3K and PI3K.

Antitumor activity of photodynamic therapy with a chlorin derivative in vitro and in vivo.

Chlorin derivatives are promising photosensitive agents for photodynamic therapy (PDT) of tumors. The aim of the current study is to investigate the PDT therapeutic effects of a novel chlorin-based photosensitizer, meso-tetra[3-(N,N-diethyl)aminomethyl-4-methoxy]phenyl chlorin (TMPC) for gliomas in vitro and in vivo. Physicochemical characteristics of TMPC were recorded by ultraviolet visible spectrophotometer and fluorescence spectrometer.

The association between Salt-inducible kinase 2 (SIK2) and gamma isoform of the regulatory subunit B55 of PP2A (B55gamma) contributes to the survival of glioma cells under glucose depletion through inhibiting the phosphorylation of S6K.

Background: PPP2R2C encodes a gamma isoform of the regulatory subunit B55 subfamily consisting PP2A heterotrimeric with A and C subunits. Currently, the precise functions of B55gamma in cancer are still under investigating. In this project, we reported a novel function of B55gamma in the regulation of glucose metabolism in Glioma cells.

miR-372 regulates glioma cell proliferation and invasion by directly targeting PHLPP2.

MicroRNAs are known to be involved in carcinogenesis and tumor progression in glioma. Recently, microRNA-372 (miR-372) has been proved to play a substantial role in several human cancers, but its functions in glioma remain unclear. In this study, we confirmed that miR-372 was commonly upregulated in glioma cell lines and tissues.

GAL3 protein expression is related to clinical features of prolactin-secreting pituitary microadenoma and predicts its recurrence after surgical treatment.

Background: Previous in vitro study showed that Galectin-3 (Gal-3) protein plays an important role in pituitary tumorigenesis, however, the association of Gal-3 expression with the clinical feature and prognosis of pituitary tumor in a clinical setting remains unknown.

Methods: We enrolled 220 patients with prolactin-secreting pituitary adenomas (PA) who previously had transsphenoidal pituitary surgery. The Gal-3 expression was detected in the patients' PA samples using immunohistochemistry and those patients were followed up.

The histone deacetylase SIRT6 suppresses the expression of the RNA-binding protein PCBP2 in glioma.

More than 80% of tumors that occur in the brain are malignant gliomas. The prognosis of glioma patients is still poor, which makes glioma an urgent subject of cancer research. Previous evidence and our present data show that PCBP2 is over-expressed in human glioma tissues and predicts poor outcome.

Leptin enhances the invasive ability of glioma stem-like cells depending on leptin receptor expression.

Glioma stem-like cells have been demonstrated to have highly invasive activity, which is the major cause of glioma recurrence after therapy. Leptin plays a role in glioma invasion, however, whether and how leptin contributes to the biological properties of glioma stem-like cells, such as invasion, remains to be explored. In the current study, we aimed to explore the role of leptin during glioma stem-like cells invasion as well as the signaling pathway.

High expression of leptin receptor leads to temozolomide resistance with exhibiting stem/progenitor cell features in gliobalastoma.

Glioblastoma is a highly aggressive malignant disease with notable resistance to chemotherapy. In this study, we found that leptin receptor (ObR)-positive glioblastoma cells were resistant to temozolomide (TMZ), and TMZ-resistant cells exhibited high expression of ObR. ObR can serve as a marker to enrich glioblastoma cells with some stem/progenitor cell traits, which explained the reason for TMZ resistance of ObR+ cells.

Decreased miR-106a inhibits glioma cell glucose uptake and proliferation by targeting SLC2A3 in GBM.

Background: MiR-106a is frequently down-regulated in various types of human cancer. However the underlying mechanism of miR-106a involved in glioma remains elusive.

Methods: The association of miR-106a with glioma grade and patient survival was analyzed.

Association between MTHFR 677C>T polymorphism and risk of gliomas: evidence from a meta-analysis.

Folate metabolism plays an important role in carcinogenesis. Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) 677C>T polymorphism is a genetic alteration in an enzyme involved in folate metabolism, but its effect on risk of gliomas is still uncertain. To shed some light on these contradictory results from previous studies, we performed a meta-analysis of published data investigating the association between MTHFR 677C>T polymorphism and risk of gliomas.

Five-year follow-up of 23 asymmetrical Parkinson's disease patients treated with unilateral subthalamic nucleus stimulation.

In this study, 23 asymmetrical Parkinson's disease patients were treated with unilateral deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus and followed up for 5 years. At 5 years after stimulation treatment, Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale II, III and axial symptom scores in the off-drug condition were significantly increased compared those at baseline. However, total Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale II, III and axial symptom scores were significantly lower with stimulation-on compared with the synchronous stimulation-off state in off-drug condition, and the motor symptoms of contralateral side limbs were effectively controlled.

Leptin promotes human glioblastoma growth through activating Signal Transducers and Activators of Transcription 3 signaling.

Leptin plays an important role in cancer development and progression. However, its role on human glioblastoma cell line U87 growth and the underlying mechanism remains unexplored. In this study, we assessed the effect of leptin on U87 cells proliferation in vitro and in vivo, elucidating its underlying mechanism.

γ-secretase inhibitor up-regulates vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 and endothelial nitric oxide synthase.

Although previous studies have shown that γ-secretase inhibitors significantly suppress tumor growth via anti-angiogenesis, the mechanism involved in the regulation of tumor angiogenesis by γ-secretase inhibitors has not been clearly understood. The objective of this study was to investigate the regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) by a γ-secretase inhibitor in the H5V mouse microvascular endothelial cell line. H5V cells were cultured with different concentrations of the γ-secretase inhibitor DAPT for 48 h and with 100 μmol/l DAPT at different incubation times.

Avoidance and management of surgical and hardware-related complications of deep brain stimulation.

Objective: Although deep brain stimulation (DBS) is nonablative, it may give rise to many complications. In order to identify and reduce factors contributing to the complications, we performed a retrospective analysis of patients who received DBS in our institution over a 9-year period from March 2000 to December 2008.

Methods: Included in this study were 161 patients (85 male and 76 female).