Serial cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of high mobility group box 1 in bacterial meningitis: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Bacterial meningitis (BM) is a life-threatening central nervous system infection with potential for severe neurological sequelae. High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is known as a late inflammatory mediator associated with lethal pathology. This study aims to investigate the serial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of HMGB1 in children with BM and its relationship to neurological prognosis.

Potential of low apolipoprotein A-I as a surrogate marker of vulnerable carotid artery plaques.

Objective: Recent studies suggested that the medical control of atherogenic lipoproteins is not sufficient for stroke prevention. A low apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) level may play a crucial role in the anti-atherogenic effects of high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) and may also be associated with symptomatic vulnerable plaques in carotid artery stenosis. Therefore, the present study investigated the relationship between apoA-I levels and the status of carotid artery stenosis.

Efficacy and safety of the contralateral approach to vascular lesions in the vertebral artery: patient series.

Background: Endovascular treatment is preferred over microsurgical clipping for intracranial aneurysms in the posterior circulation. However, access to lesions, particularly those in the regions of the vertebral artery (VA) and the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA), is technically challenging in terms of the vessel diameter of the ipsilateral VA or the branching angle of the PICA.

Observations: Nine cases of intracranial aneurysms in the region of the PICA, which were endovascularly treated with an approach beyond the vertebrobasilar junction (VBJ) from the contralateral VA in the last 4 years, are described herein.

Impact of Bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccination on the therapeutic schedule of infantile epileptic spasms syndrome: A 25-year Japanese single-center survey.

Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) therapy is effective for infantile epileptic spasms syndrome (IESS) but can induce immunosuppression. In Japan, Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination, modified in 2013 to reduce osteitis/osteomyelitis risk, coincides with the peak onset age of IESS. This raises concerns about infection risks when administering ACTH therapy post-vaccination.

Opposing Functions of Maspin Are Regulated by Its Subcellular Localization in Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells.

Mammary serine protease inhibitor (maspin) is a tumor suppressor protein downregulated during carcinogenesis and cancer progression; cytoplasmic-only maspin expression is an independent, unfavorable prognostic indicator in patients with lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC). We hypothesized that the cytoplasmic-only localization of maspin has tumor-promoting functions in LUSC. The subcellular localization of maspin and the invasive capability of LUSC cell lines were investigated using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), Western blotting, and siRNA transfection.

Diagnostic Utility of Preserved Dried Umbilical Cord Polymerase Chain Reaction in Intrauterine Herpes Simplex Virus Infection: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Introduction: Intrauterine herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection is uncommon and challenging to diagnose, requiring detection of HSV in skin lesions within 48 h post-birth.

Case Presentation: A preterm female infant presented with the typical triad of blisters, microcephaly, and chorioretinitis, but the initial diagnostic approach was elusive due to negative results for TORCH pathogens from vesicles/serum. Referred at 7 months for developmental delay and epilepsy, her brain imaging showed calcification and cortical dysplasia.

Infantile Epileptic Spasms Syndrome Complicated by Leigh Syndrome and Leigh-Like Syndrome: A Retrospective, Nationwide, Multicenter Case Series.

Background: Six percent of patients with Leigh syndrome (LS) present with infantile epileptic spasms syndrome (IESS). However, treatment strategies for IESS with LS remain unclear. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of treatment strategies in patients with IESS complicated by LS and Leigh-like syndrome (LLS).

Compatibility of the semijailing technique with extremely soft i-ED coils for ruptured blood blister-like and dissecting aneurysms: patient series.

Background: Optimal treatment options for ruptured blood blister-like aneurysms (BBAs) and dissecting aneurysms (DAs) have not yet been established. Endovascular treatment may achieve vessel reconstruction with the preservation of antegrade blood flow; however, securing curative hemostasis at the fragile rupture point remains a major concern.

Observations: Two ruptured BBAs and two ruptured DAs treated by stent-assisted coiling with the semijailing technique in the last 2 years are described herein.

Distribution of osteoprotegerin in unruptured intracranial aneurysms in humans: association with aneurysm wall protective remodeling.

Objective: Aneurysm wall inflammation is associated with lesion instability in unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs). However, most UIAs remain unruptured during lifelong follow-ups because of simultaneous protective remodeling against the inflammatory response. The protective effects of osteoprotegerin (OPG) in intracranial and abdominal aortic aneurysms have been suggested using rodent models; however, the role of this protein in UIAs in humans remains unclear.

High signal intensity of the intraaneurysmal sac on T1 CUBE imaging as a predictor of aneurysm stability after coil embolization.

Objective: Histopathological studies of aneurysms after coil embolization showed that thrombus formation during the first month after endovascular treatment (EVT) played an important role in the healing process. The authors hypothesized that dedicated T1-weighted imaging may be used to predict stable aneurysms by visualizing the thrombus status within coil-treated aneurysms. Therefore, this study investigated the relationship between the signal intensity (SI) of the intraaneurysmal sac after coil embolization and aneurysm stability.

Association between cerebrospinal fluid parameters and developmental and neurological status in glucose transporter 1 deficiency syndrome.

Objective: In glucose transporter 1 deficiency syndrome (Glut1DS), cerebrospinal fluid glucose (CSFG) and CSFG to blood glucose ratio (CBGR) show significant differences among groups classified by phenotype or genotype. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between these biochemical parameters and Glut1DS severity.

Methods: The medical records of 45 patients who visited Osaka University Hospital between March 2004 and December 2021 were retrospectively examined.

Headache characteristics to screen for cervicocerebral artery dissection in patients with acute onset unusual headache.

Objectives: The aim of this preplanned primary analysis was to investigate the clinical manifestations of headache to screen for CAD patients with acute onset headache only.

Background: Spontaneous cervicocerebral artery dissection (CAD) with acute onset headache is not rare in clinical practice; however, it is underdiagnosed. On the other hand, subsequent infarction or subarachnoid hemorrhage mainly occurs within 1 week of headache onset.

The impact of high-resolution cone-beam CT findings on decision-making for the treatment of unruptured middle cerebral artery aneurysms.

Even with the advent of endovascular treatment for intracranial aneurysms, microsurgical clipping continues to play a significant role in the treatment of middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysms. Securing perforators around unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) is essential for minimizing procedural risks in each treatment option. Therefore, we herein investigated whether the findings of high-resolution cone-beam computed tomography (HR-CBCT) have an impact on decision-making for the treatment of MCA UIAs.

Histological characteristics of matrix metalloproteinase-9 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 in asthmatic murine model during A(H1N1)pdm09 infection.

Pandemic influenza virus A(H1N1)pdm09 infection occurred in healthy children and young adults, but asthmatic patients presented more rapid progression of respiratory distress and plastic bronchitis. To investigate the pathogenesis of worsening respiratory symptoms after A(H1N1)pdm09 infection, we focused on matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1). MMP-9 and TIMP-1 levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and serum from mice with and without asthma were evaluated after A(H1N1)pdm09 or seasonal A(H1N1) infection.

Diagnostic accuracy of MR vessel wall imaging at 2 weeks to predict morphological healing of vertebral artery dissection.

Objectives: The spontaneous healing of non-hemorrhagic intracranial vertebral artery dissection (VAD) may be associated with the stabilization of intramural hematoma (IMH). We previously suggested that the signal intensity of IMH increases until approximately 2 weeks in VAD with spontaneous healing. We herein investigated the diagnostic accuracy of the signal intensity of IMH at 2 weeks to predict the spontaneous healing of VAD.

Association of circumferential aneurysm wall enhancement with recurrence after coiling of unruptured intracranial aneurysms: a preliminary vessel wall imaging study.

Objective: Recent histopathological studies of unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) have confirmed that aneurysm wall enhancement (AWE) on MR vessel wall imaging (VWI) is related to wall degeneration with in vivo inflammatory cell infiltration. Therefore, pretreatment aneurysm wall status on VWI may be associated with recurrence after endovascular treatment.

Methods: VWI with gadolinium was performed on 67 consecutive saccular UIAs before endovascular treatment between April 2017 and June 2021.

Association of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps with Plaque Instability in Patient with Carotid Artery Stenosis.

Background: Vulnerable carotid plaques are related to cerebral thromboembolic and ischemic events. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) can induce endothelial dysfunction and induce inflammation and coagulation. The aim of the present study was to investigate NETs in patients with carotid artery plaques.

Correlation Between Thrombus Signal Intensity and Aneurysm Wall Thickness in Partially Thrombosed Intracranial Aneurysms Using 7T Magnetization-Prepared Rapid Acquisition Gradient Echo Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate the relationship between the thrombus signal intensity and aneurysm wall thickness in partially thrombosed intracranial aneurysms with magnetization-prepared rapid acquisition gradient echo (MPRAGE) taken using 7T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and correlate the findings to wall instability.

Methods: Sixteen partially thrombosed intracranial aneurysms were evaluated using a 7T whole-body MR system with nonenhanced MPRAGE. To normalize the thrombus signal intensity, its highest signal intensity was compared to that of the anterior corpus callosum of the same subject, and the signal intensity ratio was calculated.

Investigation of the Subcellular Localization-Dependent Anti- or Pro-Tumor Functions of Maspin in Human Lung Adenocarcinoma Cell Line.

Background: Mammary serine protease inhibitor (maspin) is well known as a tumor suppressor gene in several types of cancers and its nuclear localization is essential for its tumor-suppressive function. We previously reported that the cytoplasmic-only localization of maspin is significantly correlated with unfavorable prognosis in patients with lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). To clarify whether maspin in LUAD acts as a tumor promoter or suppressor, we examined the subcellular localization-dependent biological functions of maspin in human LUAD cell lines.

Increased cerebrovascular reactivity in selected brain regions after extracranial-intracranial bypass improves the speed and accuracy of visual cancellation in patients with severe steno-occlusive disease: a preliminary study.

The effect of the change in cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) in each brain area on cognitive function after extracranial-intracranial bypass (EC-IC bypass) was examined. Eighteen patients who underwent EC-IC bypass for severe unilateral steno-occlusive disease were included. Single-photon emission CT (SPECT) for evaluating CVR and the visual cancellation (VC) task were performed before and after surgery.

Effect of region-wide use of prehospital stroke triage scale on management of patients with acute stroke.

Background: Prehospital stroke triage scales help with the decision to transport patients with suspected stroke to suitable hospitals.

Objective: To explore the effect of the region-wide use of the Japan Urgent Stroke Triage (JUST) score, which can predict several types of stroke: large vessel occlusion (LVO), intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), and cerebral infarction other than LVO (CI).

Methods: We implemented the JUST score and conducted a retrospective and prospective multicenter cohort study at 13 centers in Hiroshima from April 1, 2018, to March 31, 2020.

Segmentation of aneurysm wall enhancement in evolving unruptured intracranial aneurysms.

Objective: Morphological changes in unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) are an imaging marker of aneurysm instability. Recent studies have indicated the ability of MR vessel wall imaging (VWI) to stratify unstable UIAs based on a correlation with histopathological aneurysm wall inflammation. In the present study the authors investigated the relationships between aneurysm growth patterns and the segmentation of aneurysm wall enhancement (AWE) in VWI.