Aerobic Glycolysis Induced by mTOR/HIF-1α Promotes Early Brain Injury After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage via Activating M1 Microglia.

M1 microglial activation is crucial for the pathogenesis of early brain injury (EBI) following subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), and there is growing evidence that glucose metabolism is frequently involved in microglial activation. However, the molecular mechanism of glycolysis and its role in M1 microglial activation in the context of EBI are not yet fully understood. In this study, firstly, the relationship between aerobic glycolysis and M1 microglial activation as well as SAH-induced EBI was researched in vivo.

Association of cerebrospinal fluid advanced oxidation protein products levels with early brain injury and prognosis of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: A preliminary prospective study.

Objectives: In this study, we investigated the time course in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs) levels in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH), and ascertained the relationship between the levels of AOPPs and early brain injury (EBI), hydrocephalus and prognosis of patients with aSAH.

Methods: We measured the CSF AOPPs levels in 50 patients with aSAH at 1-3 d, 4-6 d, 7-9 d, and 10-12 d after hemorrhage. The modified Fisher grades, Hunt-Hess grades, CSF IL-6 levels, peripheral blood count of white blood cells, cerebral edema scores and hydrocephalus were used to assess the severity of brain injury.

Role of TREM-1 in the development of early brain injury after subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (TREM-1) was found to be induced in the context of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) before. This study further investigates its role in the development of SAH-induced early brain injury (EBI). Firstly, rats were randomly divided into Sham and SAH groups for analysis of temporal patterns and cellular localization of TREM-1.

Radiosynthesis and Preliminary Biological Evaluation of F-Fluoropropionyl-Chlorotoxin as a Potential PET Tracer for Glioma Imaging.

Purposes: Chlorotoxin can specifically bind to matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2), which are overexpressed in the glioma. In this work, radiosynthesis of [F]-fluoropropionyl-chlorotoxin ([F]-FP-chlorotoxin) as a novel PET tracer was investigated, and biodistribution in vivo and PET imaging were performed in the C6 glioma model.

Procedures: [F]-FP-chlorotoxin was prepared from the reaction of chlorotoxin with [F]-NFB (4-nitrophenyl 2-[F]-fluoropropionate), which was synthesized from multistep reactions.

Oligodendrocyte differentiation from human neural stem cells: A novel role for c-Src.

Human neural stem cells (hNSCs) can differentiate into an oligodendrocyte lineage to facilitate remyelination in patients. Molecular mechanisms underlying oligodendrocyte fate specification remains unknown, hindering the development of efficient methods to generate oligodendrocytes from hNSCs. We have found that Neurobasal-A medium (NB) is capable of inducing hNSCs to oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs).

Early administration of tumor necrosis factor-alpha antagonist promotes survival of transplanted neural stem cells and axon myelination after spinal cord injury in rats.

Neural stem cell (NSC) transplantation has been reported to be a leading strategy to stimulate neuroplasticity, repair neuronal loss and promote the morphologic and functional recovery of spinal cord injury (SCI). However, massive death of transplanted NSCs is still a problem, which is considered to be related to a series of pro-inflammatory cytokines that induce apoptosis, extensive demyelination and axonal destruction. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), as one of the major inflammation initiators, contributes to secondary neural cell death.

[Comparative study of Kurokawa's double door laminoplasty and modified Kurokawa's double door laminoplasty for the treatment of cervical disorders].

Objective: To observe and compare the medium-long-term efficacy of Kurokawa's and modified Kurokawa's double door laminoplasty for the treatment of cervical disorders.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed to compare the outcomes and complications between two kinds of operations on 172 cases from January 2002 to December 2010, including 106 cases of cervical spondylotic myelopathy, 52 cases of cervical stenosis, 21 cases of cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament. Patients were divided into two groups according to two surgical methods: traditional group, including 51 male and 18 female patients, with mean age of (56 ± 18) years (35-76 years); modified group, including 75 male and 28 female patients, with mean age of (58 ± 20)years (35-80 years).

Blockade of interleukin 6 signaling improves the survival rate of transplanted bone marrow stromal cells and increases locomotor function in mice with spinal cord injury.

Bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) have the potential to improve functional recovery in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI); however, they are limited by low survival rates after transplantation in the injured tissue. Our objective was to clarify the effects of a temporal blockade of interleukin 6 (IL-6)/IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) engagement using an anti-mouse IL-6R monoclonal antibody (MR16-1) on the survival rate of BMSCs after their transplantation in a mouse model of contusion SCI. MR16-1 cotreatment improved the survival rate of transplanted BMSCs, allowing some BMSCs to differentiate into neurons and astrocytes, and improved locomotor function recovery compared with BMSC transplantation or MR16-1 treatment alone.

Serum levels of IL-33 is increased in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

Interleukin-33 (IL-33) is implicated in rheumatoid arthritis with effects of promoting tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-17 (IL-17) productions, which have been demonstrated to play a pivotal role in ankylosing spondylitis (AS). However, changes of IL-33 levels and its effects in AS have not been investigated. Eighty-nine and 178 healthy controls were included in the current study.

Adjacent segment degeneration after single-segment PLIF: the risk factor for degeneration and its impact on clinical outcomes.

Purpose: To investigate: (1) the risk factors for radiologic cranial adjacent segment degeneration (ASD) after single-segment PLIF at the same level, and (2) the impact of the ASD on the clinical outcomes.

Methods: From October 2004 to May 2009, 109 patients who underwent PLIF for degenerative instability at L4/5 and have more than 2 years follow-up were studied retrospectively. We measured the preoperative bone mineral density (BMD), lumbar lordosis, the lumbosacral joint angle, the lumbar inclination, the height and the dynamic angulation of the intervertebral space at the fused segments and the upper adjacent segment, the sliding displacement between L3 and L4.

High-mobility group box-1 and its receptors contribute to proinflammatory response in the acute phase of spinal cord injury in rats.

Study Design: To examine the localization and expression of high-mobility group box-1 (HMGB-1) protein and its receptors after rat spinal cord injury.

Objective: To elucidate the contribution of HMGB-1 and its receptors as potential candidates in a specific upstream pathway to the proinflammatory response leading to a cascade of secondary tissue damage after spinal cord injury.

Summary Of Background Data: HMGB-1 was recently characterized as a key cytokine with a potential role in nucleosome formation and regulation of gene transcription.

Tumor necrosis factor-α antagonist reduces apoptosis of neurons and oligodendroglia in rat spinal cord injury.

Study Design: To examine the effects of a tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α antagonist (etanercept) on rat spinal cord injury and identify a possible mechanism for its action.

Objective: To elucidate the contribution of etanercept to the pathologic cascade in spinal cord injury and its possible suppression of neuronal and oligodendroglial apoptosis.

Summary Of Background Data: Etanercept has been recently used successfully for treatment of inflammatory disorders.

Transpedicular fixation in management of thoracolumbar burst fractures: monosegmental fixation versus short-segment instrumentation.

Study Design: A prospective clinical trial was conducted.

Objective: To compare the clinical and radiologic late results of monosegmental transpedicular fixation versus short-segment pedicle instrumentation (SSPI) in management of thoracolumbar burst fractures and evaluate the efficacy of monosegmental transpedicular fixation.

Summary Of Background Data: SSPI (1 level above and 1 below the fracture level) are accepted by many surgeons as an accepted technique for the treatment of thoracolumbar burst fractures.

Two kinds of posterior approach for Kvmmell's disease after osteoporotic thoracolumbar fracture.

Objective: To compare the surgical results of two kinds of posterior approach for osteoporotic thoracolumbar Kvmmell's disease.

Methods: Clinical and radiographic results of 1-segmental pedicle screw fixation combined with vertebroplasty (Group A, n equal to 12) or posterior shortening osteotomy (Group B, n equal to 16) for osteoporotic thoracolumbar Kvmmell's disease were analyzed retrospectively. Japanese orthopedic association (JOA) and visual analogue scale (VAS) scores were used for clinical evaluation.