Transcriptome profiling of the subventricular zone and dentate gyrus in an animal model of Parkinson's disease.

Adult neurogenesis in the subventricular zone (SVZ), as well as in the subgranular zone contributes to brain maintenance and regeneration. In the adult brain, dopamine (DA) can regulate the endogenous neural stem cells within these two regions, while a DA deficit may affect neurogenesis. Notably, the factors that regulate in vivo neurogenesis in these subregions have not yet been fully characterized, particularly following DA depletion.

Application of Preoperative CT/MRI Image Fusion in Target Positioning for Deep Brain Stimulation.

Objective To explore the efficacy of target positioning by preoperative CT/MRI image fusion technique in deep brain stimulation.Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data and images of 79 cases (68 with Parkinson's disease, 11 with dystonia) who received preoperative CT/MRI image fusion in target positioning of subthalamic nucleus in deep brain stimulation. Deviation of implanted electrodes from the target nucleus of each patient were measured.

[Significance of pseudocapsule in the excision of pituitary adenomas in transsphenoidal surgery].

Objective: To explore the significance of pseudocapsule in the excision of pituitary adenomas in transsphenoidal surgery.

Methods: For 22 patients with pituitary adenomas over a period of 2 years at Peking Union Medical College Hospital, resection of pseudocapsule was applied for complete tumor removal. Pituitary function test and radiological imaging were performed at pre-operation, 3 months post-operation and at subsequent 6-12 months intervals postoperatively.

Mapping the spatio-temporal pattern of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) activation in temporal lobe epilepsy.

Growing evidence from rodent models of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) indicates that dysregulation of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway is involved in seizures and epileptogenesis. However, the role of the mTOR pathway in the epileptogenic process remains poorly understood. Here, we used an animal model of TLE and sclerotic hippocampus from patients with refractory TLE to determine whether cell-type specific activation of mTOR signaling occurs during each stage of epileptogenesis.

[Clinical efficacy of microvascular decompression plus intraoperative monitoring of abnormal muscle response in the treatment of hemifacial spasm].

Objective: To explore the clinical efficacy of microvascular decompression plus intraoperative monitoring of abnormal muscle response in the treatment of hemifacial spasm.

Methods: Between 2009 and 2010, a total of 47 patients underwent microvascular decompression for hemifacial spasm. There were 15 males and 32 females with an age range 23 - 70 years old.

[Clinical application of neuronavigation in transsphenoidal microsurgery of pituitary adenomas].

Objectives: To summarize the experiences in clinical application of neuronavigation in transsphenoidal microsurgery of specific pituitary adenomas, and to discuss its indications.

Methods: From January 2006 to December 2010, 138 cases of transsphenoidal microsurgery for specific pituitary adenomas under neuronavigation were reviewed. The indications for neuronavigation in transsphenoidal microsurgery includes: recurrent or regrowth of residual pituitary adenomas after former transsphenoidal surgery in 36 cases, invasive pituitary adenomas in 45 cases, extremely laterally or deeply situated microadenomas in 45 cases, poor pneumatization of the sphenoid in 4 cases, skull base anomalies due to osteodysplasia fibrosa in 3 cases, narrow space between bilateral internal carotid arteries in 4 cases, distortion of nasal septum in 1 case.

[Treatment of stroke in rats with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells].

Objective: To investigate the effects of treatment of stroke in rats with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and mechanism thereof.

Methods: Bone marrow of a healthy volunteer was collected and the BMSCs were separated with density gradient centrifugation. The hBMSC were cultivated and harvested until the third passage.

[In vivo tracking of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells labeled with superparamagnetic iron oxide after cerebral ischemia in rats by magnetic resonance imaging].

Objective: To explore the feasibility of in vivo tracking of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) labeled with superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in rats after cerebral ischemia, and to analyze the influence of stem cell therapy on the volume of cerebral infarction.

Methods: The samples of rat bone marrow were collected. BMSCs separated by density gradient centrifugation were cultivated and harvested until the third passage.

[Study on trans-differentiation of adult human myoblasts into neural precursor cells and its implantation in rats].

Objective: To investigate the feasibility of inducing adult human myoblasts into neural precursor cells.

Methods: The myoblasts were isolated with mixed digestive enzyme from minced human temporal muscle samples, cultured and purified clonally. The 3rd passage cells were incubated with serum free medium including basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF) and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF).

Intra-ventricular infusion of rAAV1-EGFP resulted in transduction in multiple regions of adult rat brain: a comparative study with rAAV2 and rAAV5 vectors.

Most gene transfer studies conducted in the central nervous system (CNS) with recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vectors have been carried out by direct intra-parenchymal injection. However, this delivery method usually results in transduction of cells in only a limited region and is quite invasive, which may hamper its potential clinical application. Injection of viral vectors into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) may provide an alternative strategy for widespread gene delivery to the CNS via the subarachnoid space.

[Gene transfer efficiencies and cell tropism of recombinant adeno-associated virus in the hippocampus of adult rat].

Objective: To explore the gene transfer efficiencies and different cell tropism of recombinant adeno-associated virus 1 (rAAV1), rAAV 2, and rAAV 5 in the hippocampus of adult rats, and select more suitable gene vectors for central nervous system (CNS) gene therapy.

Methods: Eighteen SD male adult rat were divided into 3 groups randomly (n = 6), with every group being injected with the titre and volume matched rAAV1, rAAV2, and rAAV5 vectors. All these vectors contained enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) sequences as a reporter gene.

[Effect of mailuoning injection on calcitonin gene-related peptide expression in facial nerve of rabbits with facial spasm].

Objective: To investigate the mechanism of Mailuoning injection (MLN) in protecting facial nerve from injury.

Methods: The New Zealand white rabbit model with facial spasm was established by compressing superficial temporal artery to make artificial demyelinated lesion of the main peripheral facial nerve trunk. The successful establishment was confirmed by using electrophysiological technique to determine abnormal muscle response (AMR) which is a characteristic for facial spasm.

[Expression of enhanced green fluorescent protein in rat brain transduced by recombinant adeno-associated viruses type 1 and type 2].

Objective: To explore the expression of enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) transduced into the brain via recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) type 1 and rAAV type 2 vectors so as to select the better rAAV serotype and feasible gene transfer route to central nervous system (CNS).

Methods: Twenty-four SD male adult rats were randomly divided into 4 equal groups: rAAV1 intra-hippocampus injection group, rAAV1 intra-ventricular injection group, rAAV2 intra-hippocampus injection group, and rAAV2 intra-ventricular injection group to be injected stereotactically with titer and volume matched rAAV1-EGFP and rAAV2-EGFP vectors respectively. The rats were sacrificed respectively 2 and 4 weeks after injection and their brains were removed to be made into serial frozen coronal sections.

[Development of oral vaccine carrying GCPII gene and its role in reducing the dosage of pentobarbital in rat: a primitive research].

Objective: To develop an oral vaccine carrying glutamate carboxypeptidase II (GCP II) and to explore whether it can affect the dosage of pentobarbiturate.

Methods: Polymerase chain reaction, digestion of endonuclease and ligation, blue-white selection were used to construct an expression vector pcDNA3.1-GCP II.

[The experimental study of rAAV2 transfecting neural stem cells-derived neurospheres].

Aim: To investigate the abilities of recombinant adeno-associated virus type 2 (rAAV2) transfecting neurospheres.

Methods: The rAAV2 conjugated with FITC (rAAV2-FITC) was added into the culture medium of neurospheres and 30 minutes later the neurospheres were detected with a fluorescence microscopy to determine if the AAV can combine with neurospheres. The rAAV2 containing GFP reporter gene (rAAV2-GFP) was incubated with the neurospheres for a month and then detected the ability of transfecting neurospheres.

[Experimental study on the proliferation and plasticity of neural stem cells in situ in adult rats after cerebral infarction].

Objective: To investigate the proliferation and plasticity of neural stem cells in situ in adult rats after cerebral infarction.

Methods: Cerebral infarction models of rats were made and the dynamic expression of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) and BrdU/polysialylated neural cell adhesion molecule (PSA-NCAM) were determined by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence staining.

Results: Compared with the controls, the number of BrdU-positive cells in the subventricular zone (SVZ) and hippocampus increased strikingly at day 1 (P < 0.

[Measurement of soluble CD44v6 in peripheral blood as assistant diagnosis of invasive pituitary adenomas].

Objective: To investigate the value of measuring the concentration of soluble CD44 splice variant 6 (sCD44v6) in peripheral blood in patients with invasive and non-invasive pituitary adenomas.

Methods: The concentrations of sCD44v6 in peripheral blood were measured with ELISA in 68 patients with invasive pituitary adenomas and 100 patients with non-invasive pituitary adenomas.

Results: The serum concentration of sCD44v6 in patients with invasive pituitary adenomas was lower than that in patients with non-invasive pituitary adenomas, while the latter was lower than that in healthy controls.

[Proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells after cerebral infarction: an experimental study of adult rats].

Objective: To investigate the proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells after cerebral infarction(CI) in adult rats.

Methods: CI animal model was made by ligating the common carotid artery and external carotid artery and inserting a piece of nylon thread into the internal carotid artery among 100 male Wistar rats. Then the rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: group of I day after brain infarction (n = 20), group of 3 days after brain infarction (n = 20), group of 7 days after brain infarction (n = 20), group of 14 days after brain infarction (n = 20), and group of 28 days after brain infarction (n = 20).

[Production and purification of helper free recombinant adeno-associated virus 2].

Objective: To explore an efficient and simple way to product and purify helper free adeno-associated virus vectors.

Method: Helper free rAAV system was transferred into HEK293T cells through phosphorated calcium method, thus producing rAAV, then the rAAV vector was purified through chloroform-PEG8000/NaCl-chloroform method and ultrafiltration. SDS-PAGE protein electrophoresis and Western blotting were used to detect the rAAV protein.