Lentivirus-Mediated Missense Mutation in HtrA1 Leads to Activation of the TGF-β/Smads Pathway and Increased Apoptosis of Mouse Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells via the Oxidative Stress Pathway.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the possible molecular mechanisms underlying cerebral small vessel disease caused by a missense mutation in the high-temperature serine peptidase A1 gene, (NM_002775.4, Exon4, c.905G>A, p.

The Role of Astrocytes in Migraine with Cortical Spreading Depression: Protagonists or Bystanders? A Narrative Review.

Cortical spreading depression (CSD) is a slow wave of cortical depolarization closely associated with migraines with an aura. Previously, it was thought that CSD depolarization was mainly driven by neurons, with characteristic changes in neuronal swelling and increased extracellular potassium (K) and glutamate. However, the role of astrocytes, a member of the neurovascular unit, in migraine with CSD has recently received increasing attention.

Rectangular method: a modified technique for sampling the ischemic border zone in a rat model of transient middle cerebral artery occlusion.

To date, there have been three common methods for sampling the cerebral ischemic border zone in a rat model of transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO): the "two o'clock method", the "diagonal method", and the "parallel line method". However, these methods have their own advantages and limitations. Here, we propose a modified technique (the "rectangular method") for sampling the ischemic border zone.

Paroxysmal Sympathetic Hyperactivity After Acquired Brain Injury: An Integrative Review of Diagnostic and Management Challenges.

Paroxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity (PSH) mainly occurs after acquired brain injury (ABI) and often presents with high fever, hypertension, tachycardia, tachypnea, sweating, and dystonia (increased muscle tone or spasticity). The pathophysiological mechanisms of PSH are not fully understood. Currently, there are several views: (1) disconnection theory, (2) excitatory/inhibitory ratio, (3) neuroendocrine function, and (4) neutrophil extracellular traps.

Rapamycin Responds to Alzheimer's Disease: A Potential Translational Therapy.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a sporadic or familial neurodegenerative disease of insidious onset with progressive cognitive decline. Although numerous studies have been conducted or are underway on AD, there are still no effective drugs to reverse the pathological features and clinical manifestations of AD. Rapamycin is a macrolide antibiotic produced by .

Case report: Hypnic headache responds to agomelatine-a potential prophylactic treatment option.

Introduction: Hypnic headache (HH) is a rare primary headache that is characterized by strict sleep-related attacks. However, the pathophysiology of HH remains unclear. The nocturnal nature of this activity suggests a hypothalamic involvement.

Heterozygous Pathogenic and Likely Pathogenic Symptomatic Variant Carriers in Cerebral Small Vessel Disease.

High temperature requirement serine peptidase A1 (HTRA1) related cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) includes both symptomatic heterozygous variant carrier and cerebral autosomal recessive arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CARASIL) patients. Presently, most reported symptomatic heterozygous variant carrier cases are sporadic family reports with a lack of specific characteristics. Additionally, the molecular mechanism of heterozygous gene variants is unclear.

Adie's Pupil: A Diagnostic Challenge for the Physician.

Adie's pupil, also called tonic pupil, is mainly seen in young women. Most patients have unilateral eye involvement. The pupil of the affected side is significantly larger than that on the healthy side.

Type II Alexander disease with fragile X mental retardation 1 gene mutation.

Alexander disease (AxD) is a rare, autosomal dominant genetic disorder with an incidence of approximately 1 in 27,00.000. It is caused by a missense mutation in the GFAP gene encoding the glial fibrillary acidic protein.

Contrast-induced encephalopathy with significantly elevated levels of cerebrospinal fluid protein.

Contrast-induced encephalopathy (CIE) is a rare complication of angiography. According to our knowledge, the majority of CIE reports is imaging observations and rarely includes results of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tests. Furthermore, among the cases reporting the data for CSF testing, most of the results were normal.

Basilar dolichoectasia with intermural hematoma accompanied by cerebral microbleeds and white matter hyperintensities: A case report.

Rationale: The clinical manifestations of basilar dolichoectasia (BD) are variable. The diagnosis is based on imaging measurements. Digital subtraction angiography displays only the dilated vascular lumen and lacks visualization of the arterial wall.

Migraine with Brainstem Aura Accompanied by Disorders of Consciousness.

Migraine with brainstem aura (MBA) accompanied by disorders of consciousness (DOC) is a rare subtype of migraine. The pathophysiology of MBA with DOC has not been elucidated yet. Some patients have a family history of migraine, and women are more affected than men.

Wallerian degeneration of bilateral cerebral peduncles after acute carbon monoxide poisoning.

Background: Cases of Wallerian degeneration of bilateral cerebral peduncles after acute carbon monoxide poisoning have not yet been reported. To date, most of the delayed encephalopathy after acute carbon monoxide poisoning (DEACMP) lesions captured in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been located in the subcortical white matter and basal ganglia. Here we report two cases of DEACMP with abnormalities in the bilateral cerebral peduncles.

Frequency and Pathophysiology of Post-Seizure Todd's Paralysis.

Todd's paralysis, a neurological abnormality characterized by temporary limb weakness or hemiplegia, typically occurs following a seizure, without enduring consequences. Since limb weakness or hemiplegia can also be a common symptom of an acute ischemic stroke, it is often difficult to diagnose Todd's paralysis in individuals experiencing an acute ischemic stroke if they do not have a pre-existing history of epilepsy. Given that there is a limited understanding of Todd's paralysis, this review discusses the history, prevalence, clinical manifestations, duration, etiology, and diagnosis of Todd's paralysis.

Ischemic stroke in the combined territories of the septum pellucidum and the cingulate gyrus: A case report and literature review.

Introduction: Cases of isolated septum pellucidum infarction have not yet been reported. To date, there are only 2 stroke reports involving septum pellucidum infarction. The etiology of septum pellucidum infarction was subcallosal artery (ScA) injury.

Dantrolene enhances the protective effect of hypothermia on cerebral cortex neurons.

Therapeutic hypothermia is the most promising non-pharmacological neuroprotective strategy against ischemic injury. However, shivering is the most common adverse reaction. Many studies have shown that dantrolene is neuroprotective in in vitro and in vivo ischemic injury models.

Upregulation of miR-107 Inhibits Glioma Angiogenesis and VEGF Expression.

MicroRNAs can function as oncogenes or tumor suppressors in glioma. Previously, we showed that miR-107 inhibits glioma cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Since tumor growth and invasion are closely related to angiogenesis, we further examined the role of miR-107 in glioma angiogenesis.

Intermittent hypothermia is neuroprotective in an in vitro model of ischemic stroke.

Objective: To investigate whether the intermittent hypothermia (IH) protects neurons against ischemic insult and the potential molecular targets using an in vitro ischemic model of oxygen glucose deprivation (OGD).

Methods: Fetal rat cortical neurons isolated from Day E18 rat embryos were subjected to 90-min OGD and hypothermia treatments during reoxygenation before examining the changes in microscopic morphology, cell viability, microtubule- associated protein 2 (MAP-2) release, intracellular pH value and calcium, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, mitochondrial membrane potential (△Ψm) and neuronal death using cell counting kit (CCK-8), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), BCECF AM, Fluo-3 AM, DCFH-DA and dihydroethidium (DHE), JC-1 staining and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL), respectively.

Results: 90-min OGD induced morphologic abnormalities, cell viability decline, MAP-2 release, intracellular acidosis, calcium overload, increased ROS generation, △Ψm decrease and cell death in primary neurons, which was partially inhibited by continuous hypothermia (CH) and intermittent hypothermia (IH).

The failure of animal models of neuroprotection in acute ischemic stroke to translate to clinical efficacy.

The discrepancy in results regarding neuroprotective agents in animal experiments compared to clinical trials is a major problem. While many neuroprotective agents have been proven effective in a variety of animal ischemic stroke models, none have been shown to work in phase III clinical trials. This review retrospectively summarizes the neuroprotectants selected for human randomized controlled trials (RCT) and explores the reasons behind the clinical translational failure of these agents.

A modified technique for culturing primary fetal rat cortical neurons.

The study explored a modified primary culture system for fetal rat cortical neurons. Day E18 embryos from pregnant Sprague Dawley rats were microdissected under a stereoscope. To minimize enzymatic damage to the cultured neurons, we applied a sequential digestion protocol using papain and Dnase I.

Interrupted intracarotid artery cold saline infusion as an alternative method for neuroprotection after ischemic stroke.

Object: Intracarotid artery cold saline infusion (ICSI) is an effective method for protecting brain tissue, but its use is limited because of undesirable secondary effects, such as severe decreases in hematocrit levels, as well as its relatively brief duration. In this study, the authors describe and investigate the effects of a novel ICSI pattern (interrupted ICSI) relative to the traditional method (uninterrupted ICSI).

Methods: Ischemic strokes were induced in 85 male Sprague-Dawley rats by occluding the middle cerebral artery for 3 hours using an intraluminal filament.