Metabolic alterations in the rat cerebellum following acute middle cerebral artery occlusion, as determined by 1H NMR spectroscopy.

Supratentorial focal ischemia may reduce cerebral blood volume and cerebellar glucose metabolic rate contralateral to the region of ischemia. The present study investigated the effects of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) on cerebral metabolism in the ischemic cerebral hemisphere and the non‑ischemic cerebellum in rats 1, 3, 9 and 24 h following ischemia using ex vivo proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy. The results demonstrated that focal ischemia induced increases in the levels of lactate and alanine, and a decrease in succinate, as early as 1 h following ischemia in the left cerebral hemisphere and the right cerebellum.

Implantable porous gelatin microspheres sustained release of bFGF and improved its neuroprotective effect on rats after spinal cord injury.

In this study, porous gelatin microspheres (GMSs) were constructed to improve the neuroprotective effect of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on spinal cord injury. GMSs were prepared by a W/O emulsion template, followed by cross-linking, washing and drying. The particle sizes and surface porosity of the blank GMSs were carefully characterized by scan electronic microscopy.

Endogenous neurotrophin-3 promotes neuronal sprouting from dorsal root ganglia.

In the present study, we investigated the role of endogenous neurotrophin-3 in nerve terminal sprouting 2 months after spinal cord dorsal root rhizotomy. The left L1-5 and L7-S2 dorsal root ganglia in adult cats were exposed and removed, preserving the L6 dorsal root ganglia. Neurotrophin-3 was mainly expressed in large neurons in the dorsal root ganglia and in some neurons in spinal lamina II.

Dopamine agonist resistance-related endocan promotes angiogenesis and cells viability of prolactinomas.

Dopamine agonists (DAs) are the first-line treatment of prolactinomas. They function through the dopamine 2 receptor (D2R) in the tumor cells. Endocan, also called endothelial cell-specific molecule-1 (ESM1), has been described as a marker of neoangiogenesis.

Antiproliferative and apoptosis-inducing activity of schisandrin B against human glioma cells.

Background: Malignant glioma is the most devastating and aggressive tumour in the brain and is characterised by high morbidity, high mortality and extremely poor prognosis. The main purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of schisandrin B (Sch B) on glioma cells both in vitro and in vivo and to explore the possible anticancer mechanism underlying Sch B-induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest.

Methods: The anti-proliferative ability of Sch B on glioma cells were assessed by MTT and clony formation assays.

Transplanted neural stem cells modulate regulatory T, γδ T cells and corresponding cytokines after intracerebral hemorrhage in rats.

The immune system, particularly T lymphocytes and cytokines, has been implicated in the progression of brain injury after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Although studies have shown that transplanted neural stem cells (NSCs) protect the central nervous system (CNS) from inflammatory damage, their effects on subpopulations of T lymphocytes and their corresponding cytokines are largely unexplored. Here, rats were subjected to ICH and NSCs were intracerebrally injected at 3 h after ICH.

Timing and dose regimens of marrow mesenchymal stem cell transplantation affect the outcomes and neuroinflammatory response after ischemic stroke.

Aims: Intravenous transplantation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) had been documented to improve functional outcome after ischemic stroke. However, the timing and appropriate cell number of transplantation to achieve better outcome after an episode of stroke remain further to be optimized.

Methods: To determine the optimal conditions, we transplanted different concentrations of BMSCs at different time points in a rat model of ischemic stroke.

Molecular identification and characterization of the Orco orthologue of Spodoptera litura.

A highly conserved and broadly expressed receptor protein Orco (olfactory coreceptor) is crucial for insect olfaction, and an orthologue of Orco has been identified in several insect species. Here we report the identification and characterization of Orco from Spodoptera litura. The protein displays high primary amino acid sequence conservation with other previously identified Orco orthologues.

Gamma knife surgery for patients with volumetric classification of nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to scrutinize the literature to determine the efficacy and safety of gamma knife surgery (GKS) for the treatment of nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs) with volumetric classification.

Methods: Electronic databases including MedLine, PubMed, and Cochrane Central were searched. The literature related to patients with NFPAs treated with GKS was collected.

Association study of OPRM1 polymorphisms with Schizophrenia in Han Chinese population.

Background: The expression of μ-opioid receptor has important role in cognitive dysfunction in Schizophrenia (SZ). The results of studies about the association of polymorphisms of μ-opioid receptor gene (OPRM1) with SZ were inconsistent.

Methods: We conducted a case-control study to investigate the genetic association between OPRM1 polymorphisms and SZ among the Han chinese population.

The meta-analysis of the association of PPARG P12A, C161T polymorphism and coronary heart disease.

Objective: Two common variations of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARG), P12A (Pro12Ala, rs1801282), and C161T (His447His, rs3856806), are thought to have an effect on susceptibility to coronary heart disease (CHD), but the results are inconsistent. Therefore, a meta-analysis of published studies was performed.

Methods: The electronic databases, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure) were searched for studies to include in the present meta-analysis (last search was updated on 30 Aug.

Natural history of postoperative nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: Previous studies attempting to define the natural history of postoperative nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas (pNFPAs) were somewhat limited by selection bias and/or small numbers and/or lack of consistency among the study findings. The aim of this study was to scrutinize the literature in order to analyze the natural history of pNFPAs.

Methods: Electronic database including MEDLINE, PubMed and Cochrane CENTRAL were searched.

[Natural history study of postoperative residual non-functioning pituitary adenomas].

Objective: To observe the postoperative residual non-functioning pituitary adenomas (PR-NFPAs) without postoperative radiotherapy and to analyze the natural history of PR-NFPAs' growth in order to provide a basis for selecting appropriate strategies of clinical treatment.

Methods: We evaluated the natural history of 20 patients with PR-NFPAs who did not receive postoperative radiotherapy and drug therapy. Through MRI images, the residual tumor volumes of those patients were serially measured.

Expression of D2RmRNA isoforms and ERmRNA isoforms in prolactinomas: correlation with the response to bromocriptine and with tumor biological behavior.

Invasive prolactinomas are more likely to be resistant to drug therapy but the mechanism of this is still unknown. The objective of this study was to analyze the different expression of ERmRNA and D2RmRNA isoforms in prolactinomas responsive and resistant to dopamine agonist (DA), and to discuss the correlation of such gene expression with tumor biological behavior. A prospective study of 20 consecutive patients who harbored prolactinomas was designed.

Five years follow-up of invasive prolactinomas with special reference to the control of cavernous sinus invasion.

Background: Few data are presently available on the effective control of cavernous sinus (CS) invasion of invasive prolactinomas. The aim of this retrospective study, through a mean period of 5 years follow up, is to observe the tumor shrinkage of CS invasive prolactinomas, as well as PRL normalization with bromocriptine therapy.

Methods: 68 patients met the criteria of invasive prolactinomas (Grade III or IV in the classification scheme of Knosp and colleagues; serum PRL level greater than 200 ng/ml).

Differential centrifugation in culture and differentiation of rat neural stem cells.

(1) The study of neural stem cells (NSC) has attracted much attention in recent years because of their therapeutic potential. However, the problem in culture and differentiation of NSC was how to obtain single cell suspension that preserves the function of NSC, and remove the debris caused by mechanical dissociation. In the present study, we try to find a simple and effective way to address the problem, i.

Bromocriptine treatment of invasive giant prolactinomas involving the cavernous sinus: results of a long-term follow up.

Object: The aim of this study was to observe long-term clinical outcomes in a group of patients treated with bromocriptine for invasive giant prolactinomas involving the cavernous sinus.

Methods: Data from 20 patients with invasive giant prolactinomas at the authors' institutions between July 1997 and June 2004 were retrospectively reviewed. The criteria to qualify for study participation included: (1) tumor diameter greater than 4 cm, invading the cavernous sinus to an extent corresponding to Grade III or IV in the classification scheme of Knosp and colleagues; (2) serum prolactin (PRL) level greater than 200 ng/ml; and (3) clinical signs of hyperprolactinemia and mass effect.

[Feasibility study of controlled hypotension induced with combination of propofol and desflurane in craniotomy].

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of controlled hypotension induced with combination of propofol and desflurane in craniotomy.

Methods: Thirty-five ASA I approximately II patients undergoing elective craniotomy were randomly selected. Anesthetic induction was achieved with midazolam, thiopental, fentanyl, and vecuronium.