Prevalence and associated factors of basilar artery dolichosis in patients with acute cerebral infarction.

Introduction: Little attention has been given to the factors associated with basilar artery (BA) dolichosis. This study aims to elucidate the prevalence and associated factors of BA dolichosis in patients with acute cerebral infarction (ACI).

Methods: We collected the clinical and laboratory data of 719 patients with ACI admitted to our department.

Basilar artery curvature increases the risk of posterior circulation infarction occurrence in patients without vertebrobasilar stenosis.

Introduction: Limited cross-sectional or case-control studies have identified the relationship between basilar artery (BA) curvature and posterior circulation infarction (PCI). This study aimed to identify the influence of BA curvature severity on the risk of PCI occurrence in patients without vertebrobasilar stenosis through a prospective cohort study.

Methods: In this study, we enrolled 171 patients with BA dolichosis but without vertebrobasilar stenosis.

980 nm Photobiomodulation Promotes Osteo/Odontogenic Differentiation of the Stem Cells from Human Exfoliated Deciduous Teeth Via the Cross talk Between BMP/Smad and Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathways.

Increasing evidence suggests stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHEDs) serve as desirable sources of dentin regeneration. Photobiomodulation (PBM) has shown great potential in enhancing the proliferation and osteogenesis of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMMSCs). However, the specific role of PBM in odontogenic differentiation of SHEDs is little know, and we further investigated potential mechanism of PBM osteo/odontogenisis.

Moving silicone oil particles in the ventricle: a case report and updated review.

Background: The movement of intraventricular silicone oil observed in the supine position is extremely rare. Herein, we describe a patient who presented with dynamically moving silicone oil particles in the ventricle when changing position and provide an updated review of this phenomenon.

Case Presentation: We report a case of a 70-year-old woman who presented with intraventricular hyperdensities that were occasionally found on brain computed tomography (CT).

Basilar Artery Dolichosis Increases the Risk of Long-Term Recurrence in Patients With Pontine Infarction: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Patients with basilar artery (BA) dolichosis are at high risk of acute pontine infarction (API), but the association between BA dolichosis and long-term stroke recurrence has received little attention. We aimed to identify the effect of BA dolichosis on the risk of long-term brainstem infarction recurrence in patients with API. In this prospective cohort study, we enrolled 113 patients with API admitted to our department.

Basilar artery dolichosis is associated with a poor 90-day outcome in acute isolated pontine infarction.

Basilar artery (BA) dolichosis is not uncommon in patients with acute isolated pontine infarction. The effect of this abnormal BA geometrical form on the outcomes of pontine infarction has not been closely examined. This study aims to elucidate whether BA dolichosis contributes to a poor 90-day outcome in acute isolated pontine infarction.

Atypical "nine" syndrome in bilateral pontine infarction: A case report.

Rationale: "Nine" syndrome, that is "eight-and-a-half" syndrome associated with hemiplegia and hemidysesthesia, is a rare disorder. This study aimed to report a Chinese patient with acute bilateral pontine infarction manifesting as eight-and-a-half syndrome plus hemiplegia (atypical nine syndrome), and also the clinical and neuroimaging findings were explained and discussed with review of the literature.

Patient Concerns: A 79-year-old woman experienced sudden vertigo, nausea, vomiting, and weakness at her left arm and leg.

Establishment of an Immortalized Mouse Bmp2 Knockout Dental Papilla Mesenchymal Cell Line.

Bone morphogenetic protein 2 (Bmp2) is essential for dentin formation. Bmp2 cKO mice exhibited similar phenotype to dentinogenesis imperfecta (DGI), showing dental pulp exposure, hypomineralized dentin, and delayed odontoblast differentiation. As it is relatively difficult to obtain primary Bmp2 cKO dental papilla mesenchymal cells and to maintain a long-term culture of these primary cells, availability of immortalized deleted Bmp2 dental papilla mesenchymal cells is critical for studying the underlying mechanism of Bmp2 signal in odontogenesis.

A novel, complex RUNX2 gene mutation causes cleidocranial dysplasia.

Background: Haploinsufficiency of the runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) gene is known to cause cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD). Here, we investigated a complex, heterozygous RUNX2 gene mutation in a Chinese family with CCD and the pathogenesis associated with the variations.

Methods: Genomic DNA extracted from peripheral venous blood was taken from the proband, her parents and 3 siblings, and 150 normal controls.

Emodin enhances alveolar epithelial barrier function in rats with experimental acute pancreatitis.

Aim: To investigate the effect of emodin on expression of claudin-4, claudin-5 and occludin, as well as the alveolar epithelial barrier in rats with pancreatitis induced by sodium taurocholate.

Methods: Experimental pancreatitis was induced by retrograde injection of 5% sodium taurocholate into the biliopancreatic duct. Emodin was injected via the external jugular vein 3 h after induction of acute pancreatitis.

CXCR4 antagonist AMD3100 attenuates colonic damage in mice with experimental colitis.

Aim: To investigate the effects of the chemokine stromal cell-derived factor-1 (CXCL12) receptor (CXCR4) antagonist AMD3100 on colonic inflammation and epithelial barrier in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice.

Methods: Experimental colitis was induced by administration of 5% DSS for 7 d, and assays performed on intestinal segments from the ileocecal valve to the anus. Colonic morphology was examined by hematoxylin and eosin staining.

Therapeutic effects of caspase-1 inhibitors on acute lung injury in experimental severe acute pancreatitis.

Aim: To assess the therapeutic effect of Caspase-1 inhibitors (ICE-I) on acute lung injury (ALI) in experimental severe acute pancreatitis (SAP).

Methods: Forty-two SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: healthy controls (HC, n = 6); SAP-S group (n = 18); SAP-ICE-I group (n = 18). SAP was induced by retrograde infusion of 5% sodium taurocholate into the bile-pancreatic duct.