Melatonin at repeated doses alleviates hyperglycemia-exacerbated cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury at 72 h via anti-inflammation and anti-apoptosis.

Objective: We aimed to investigate how hyperglycemia would exacerbate cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI) in a rat model of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and explore the beneficial effects of multiple doses of melatonin in T1DM induced CIRI.

Method: The T1DM rat model was induced with streptozocin, and melatonin (10 mg/kg) was injected at 0.5 h before ischemia as well as at 24 and 48 h after reperfusion.

Inhibitory dysfunction may cause prospective memory impairment in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) patients: an event-related potential study.

Introduction: Prospective memory (PM) is the ability to remember future intentions, and PM function is closely related to independence in daily life, particularly in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). As PM involves various cognitive components of attention, working memory, inhibition and other executive functions, this study investigated how TLE may affect PM components and the underlying neural mechanisms.

Methods: Sixty-four subjects were recruited, including 20 refractory TLE patients, 18 well-controlled TLE patients and 26 age-matched healthy controls.

Melatonin mitigates type 1 diabetes-aggravated cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury through anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects.

Introduction: Cerebral ischemia and diabetes mellitus (DM) are common diseases that often coexist and interact with each other. DM doubles the risk of ischemic stroke, and cerebral ischemia causes stress-induced hyperglycemia. Most experimental stroke studies used healthy animals.

Evaluation of the Cognitive Performance of Hypertensive Patients with Silent Cerebrovascular Lesions.

Evidence accumulated from the last decade has proven that silent cerebrovascular lesions (SCLs) and their underlying pathogenic processes contribute to cognitive decline in the elderly. However, the distinct effects of each type of the lesions on cognitive performance remain unclear. Moreover, research data from Chinese elderly with SCLs is scarce.

Distinct profiles of cognitive impairment associated with different silent cerebrovascular lesions in hypertensive elderly Chinese.

Background/objectives: Silent cerebrovascular lesions (SCLs) and their underlying pathology are now recognized as important causes of cognitive impairment in the elderly. However, the distinct profile of cognitive deficits associated with each type of SCLs remains unclear.

Methods: Of 497 otherwise healthy hypertensive elderly Chinese, 398 participants (mean age 72.

Total small vessel disease score and risk of recurrent stroke: Validation in 2 large cohorts.

Objective: In patients with TIA and ischemic stroke, we validated the total small vessel disease (SVD) score by determining its prognostic value for recurrent stroke.

Methods: Two independent prospective studies were conducted, one comprising predominantly Caucasian patients with TIA/ischemic stroke (Oxford Vascular Study [OXVASC]) and one predominantly Chinese patients with ischemic stroke (University of Hong Kong [HKU]). Cerebral MRI was performed and assessed for lacunes, microbleeds, white matter hyperintensities (WMH), and perivascular spaces (PVS).

Electrophysiological Study on Cognitive Function in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients With Previous Neuropsychiatric Involvement.

This study aimed to evaluate P300 as an electrophysiological marker of cognitive function in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who had previous neuropsychiatric (NPSLE) involvement and were diagnosed to have cognitive impairment by standard neuropsychological tests. Event-related potentials (ERPs) were assessed by the auditory and visual oddball paradigms. Amplitude and latency of P300 at the frontal (Fz), central (Cz), and parietal (Pz) regions were determined and compared with controls.

Mediterranean-style diet is associated with reduced blood pressure variability and subsequent stroke risk in patients with coronary artery disease.

Background And Purpose: The Mediterranean-style diet is widely advocated for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Meanwhile, blood pressure variability (BPV) is a novel risk factor for CVD. It is unknown whether dietary pattern plays a role in modulating BPV.

A self-assembling nanomaterial reduces acute brain injury and enhances functional recovery in a rat model of intracerebral hemorrhage.

There is no effective treatment for intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Intracerebral delivery of nanomaterials into the hemorrhagic lesion may be a new therapeutic strategy. In a rat model of ICH plus ultra-early hematoma aspiration, we found that locally delivered self-assembling peptide nanofiber scaffold (SAPNS) replaced the hematoma, reduced acute brain injury and brain cavity formation, and improved sensorimotor functional recovery.

Visit-to-visit blood pressure variability as a prognostic marker in patients with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases--relationships and comparisons with vascular markers of atherosclerosis.

Background: Visit-to-visit blood pressure variability (BPV) is a simple surrogate marker for the development of atherosclerotic diseases, cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. Nevertheless, the relative prognostic value of BPV in comparison with other established vascular assessments remain uncertain.

Methods: We prospectively followed-up 656 high-risk patients with diabetes or established cardiovascular or cerebrovascular diseases for the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs).

Protective effects of puerarin against Aß40-induced vascular dysfunction in zebrafish and human endothelial cells.

Aß40-induced vascular dysfunction has been implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer׳s disease (AD). In the present study, we investigated the possible protective effects of puerarin against Aß40-induced vascular damage and impairment to angiogenesis in transgenic TG (fli1:EGFP) zebrafish and human endothelial cells. Aß40 peptides at 5μM caused an obvious reduction of vessel branches in the subintestinal vein basket, induced NADPH oxidase-derived reactive oxygen species and impaired vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-dependent angiogenesis.

Stroke patients with a past history of cancer are at increased risk of recurrent stroke and cardiovascular mortality.

Background And Purpose: Cancer patients are at increased risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events. It is unclear whether cancer confers any additional risk for recurrent stroke or cardiovascular mortality after stroke.

Methods: This was a single center, observational study of 1,105 consecutive Chinese ischemic stroke patients recruited from a large stroke rehabilitation unit based in Hong Kong.

Rat model of intracerebral hemorrhage permitting hematoma aspiration plus intralesional injection.

A combination of hematoma aspiration and local delivery of chemicals may be more effective than either therapy in intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). The aim of the present study was to develop a rat model of hematoma aspiration plus intralesional injection after ICH. ICH was induced in adult Sprague-Dawley rats by an intrastriatal injection of bacterial collagenase IV.

Elevated blood pressure aggravates intracerebral hemorrhage-induced brain injury.

Elevated blood pressure (BP) is commonly seen in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), and is independently associated with poor functional outcomes. Little is known about how elevated BP influences ICH-related brain injury. In the present study, we investigated the physiological and brain histological changes, as well as functional recovery following ICH in renovascular hypertensive rats.

Possible retrogenesis observed with fiber tracking: an anteroposterior pattern of white matter disintegrity in normal aging and Alzheimer's disease.

Retrogenesis refers to the phenomenon by which degenerative processes in aging reverse the sequence of acquisition in development. Although there has been some evidence for brain retrogenesis in abnormal aging, e.g.

Ischemic stroke related to intracranial branch atheromatous disease and comparison with large and small artery diseases.

Background: The mechanism of ischemic stroke in intracranial branch atheromatous disease (BAD) is different from large artery atherothrombotic disease (LAD) or lacunar infarction (LACI). The concept of BAD is underused in clinical practice and research.

Methods: Patients admitted over 24-months with ischemic stroke caused by atherosclerotic disease were reviewed retrospectively and classified according to radiological±clinical criteria into LAD, BAD and LACI.

An fMRI study showing the effect of acupuncture in chronic stage stroke patients with aphasia.

Acupuncture is used as a treatment in stroke patients with aphasia, yet the underlying neural mechanisms are unknown. This study aims to examine the relationship between changes in language function and brain activation using functional magnetic resonance imaging in chronic stroke patients with aphasia who underwent an 8-week acupuncture protocol. Seven chronic stroke patients were identified from a stroke database of a regional acute hospital in Hong Kong between January and July 2007.

New-onset constipation at acute stage after first stroke: incidence, risk factors, and impact on the stroke outcome.

Background And Purpose: The prevalence of constipation after stroke varies from 30% to 60%. The incidence of new-onset constipation during the early stage of stroke remains uncertain. The present study was designed to investigate the prevalence of new-onset constipation, its risk factors, and its impact on stroke outcome in patients with their first stroke at acute stage.

Migraine disability awareness campaign in Asia: migraine assessment for prophylaxis.

Objectives: This study aimed to survey the headache diagnoses and consequences among outpatients attending neurological services in 8 Asian countries.

Methods: This survey recruited patients who consulted neurologists for the first time with the chief complaint of headache. Patients suffering from headaches for 15 or more days per month were excluded.

Update on medical and surgical management of intracerebral hemorrhage.

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) accounts for 15% of all strokes in the US and Europe and 20% to 30% in Asian populations. ICH is associated with a higher morbidity, disability and mortality than ischemic strokes. Primary ICH originates from spontaneous rupture of small arteries and arterioles previously damaged by chronic hypertension or amyloid angiopathy.

Incidence and predictors of depression after stroke (DAS).

Objective. Depression after stroke (DAS) poses a treble burden to patients, families and health care system. The purpose of this paper is to estimate the incidence of depression among first-ever ischemic stroke patients and identify the predictors of DAS.

Preclinical evaluation of pharmacokinetics and safety of melatonin in propylene glycol for intravenous administration.

Melatonin is a highly effective treatment in different animal models of excitotoxicity or ischemia/reperfusion injury. Due to a lack of patentability, commercial sponsors are not interested in funding clinical evaluations of melatonin. Investigators may initiate small-scale clinical evaluation, and intravenous (i.

Melatonin reduces infarction volume in a photothrombotic stroke model in the wild-type but not cyclooxygenase-1-gene knockout mice.

Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 plays a harmful role in cerebral ischemic/reperfusion injury, but the role of COX-1 is uncertain. In the present study, cerebral infarct was induced by photothrombosis. Intraperitoneal injections of melatonin at 15 g/kg or its vehicle were made at 0.

Neuropeptide Y and its receptor analogs differentially modulate the immunoreactivity for neuronal or endothelial nitric oxide synthase in the rat brain following focal ischemia with reperfusion.

An intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.

Idiopathic severe recurrent transverse myelitis: a restricted variant of neuromyelitis optica.

Recurrent idiopathic transverse myelitis occur in multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuromyelitis optica (NMO). In NMO, acute optic neuritis and myelitis occur, either monophasic or relapsing, without clinical manifestations of involvement of other parts of the central nervous system (CNS). Recent evidence suggests that NMO is different from multiple sclerosis.