Caffeine Inhibits Activation of the NLRP3 Inflammasome via Autophagy to Attenuate Microglia-Mediated Neuroinflammation in Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis.

The activation of microglia is an important cause of central nervous system (CNS) inflammatory cell infiltration and inflammatory demyelination in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Furthermore, the proinflammatory response induced by the NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome can be amplified in microglia after NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Autophagy is closely related to the inflammatory response.

A Novel Scale for Assessment of Stroke Severity at Symptom Onset: Correlation With Neurological Deterioration and Outcome.

To propose a novel scale for the assessment of stroke severity at symptom onset and to investigate whether it is associated with ultra-early neurological deterioration (UND) and functional outcomes. The Chongqing Stroke Scale (CQSS) was constructed based on key aspects of history, emphasizing language, motor function, and level of consciousness to yield a total 0-11 scale. The diagnostic performance of the CQSS was assessed in 215 ischemic stroke patients between June 2017 and October 2017 in a tertiary hospital.

MBNL1 reverses the proliferation defect of skeletal muscle satellite cells in myotonic dystrophy type 1 by inhibiting autophagy via the mTOR pathway.

Skeletal muscle atrophy is one of the clinical symptoms of myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1). A decline in skeletal muscle regeneration is an important contributor to muscle atrophy. Skeletal muscle satellite cells (SSCs) drive skeletal muscle regeneration.

Clinical Characteristics and Functional Outcomes of Wake-Up Stroke in the Chinese Population.

Background: Wake-up stroke (WUS) accounts for up to 25% of all new ischemic strokes, but debate exists regarding whether WUS differs from non-WUS in previous studies. Our study aimed to investigate the proportion of WUS cases and to examine differences in clinical characteristics and outcomes in these two groups.

Methods: Data from acute ischemic stroke patients who presented to the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University between April 2017 and September 2017 were prospectively collected.

Total Small Vessel Disease Burden Predicts Functional Outcome in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke.

Cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) is generally considered as a cause of stroke, disability, gait disturbances, vascular cognitive impairment, and dementia. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the total SVD burden can be used to predict functional outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke. From April 2017 to January 2018, consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke who underwent baseline MRI scan were evaluated.

Comparison of Satellite Sign and Island Sign in Predicting Hematoma Growth and Poor Outcome in Patients with Primary Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

Objective: Satellite sign (SS) and island sign (IS) are novel noncontrast computed tomography (CT) predictors of hematoma growth. The aim of this study was to compare diagnostic performance of IS and SS in predicting hematoma growth and functional outcome in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH).

Methods: The study included patients with ICH who underwent baseline CT scan within 6 hours of symptom onset and follow-up CT scan within 36 hours after initial CT between July 2012 and April 2017.

Black Hole Sign Predicts Poor Outcome in Patients with Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

Background: In spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), black hole sign has been proposed as a promising imaging marker that predicts hematoma expansion in patients with ICH. The aim of our study was to investigate whether admission CT black hole sign predicts hematoma growth in patients with ICH.

Methods: From July 2011 till February 2016, patients with spontaneous ICH who underwent baseline CT scan within 6 h of symptoms onset and follow-up CT scan were recruited into the study.

Blend sign predicts poor outcome in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage.

Introduction: Blend sign has been recently described as a novel imaging marker that predicts hematoma expansion. The purpose of our study was to investigate the prognostic value of CT blend sign in patients with ICH.

Objectives And Methods: Patients with intracerebral hemorrhage who underwent baseline CT scan within 6 hours were included.

Minocycline Promotes Neurite Outgrowth of PC12 Cells Exposed to Oxygen-Glucose Deprivation and Reoxygenation Through Regulation of MLCP/MLC Signaling Pathways.

Minocycline, a semi-synthetic second-generation derivative of tetracycline, has been reported to exert neuroprotective effects both in animal models and in clinic trials of neurological diseases. In the present study, we first investigated the protective effects of minocycline on oxygen-glucose deprivation and reoxygenation-induced impairment of neurite outgrowth and its potential mechanism in the neuronal cell line, PC12 cells. We found that minocycline significantly increased cell viability, promoted neurite outgrowth and enhanced the expression of growth-associated protein-43 (GAP-43) in PC12 cells exposed to oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation injury.

Blend Sign on Computed Tomography: Novel and Reliable Predictor for Early Hematoma Growth in Patients With Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

Background And Purpose: Early hematoma growth is not uncommon in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage and is an independent predictor of poor functional outcome. The purpose of our study was to report and validate the use of our newly identified computed tomographic (CT) blend sign in predicting early hematoma growth.

Methods: Patients with intracerebral hemorrhage who underwent baseline CT scan within 6 hours after onset of symptoms were included.

Intraventricular Hemorrhage and Early Hematoma Expansion in Patients with Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

Intraventricular hemorrhage is associated with poor functional outcomes in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). We aimed to investigate the association between intraventricular hemorrhage and early hematoma expansion in patients with ICH. Patients with ICH who underwent a baseline CT scan within six hours after onset of symptoms were included.

[ERKl/2 signaling pathway mediates heme oxygenase-1 up-regulation by minocycline in PC12 cells exposed to oxygen glucose deprivation].

Objective: To investigate the effects of minocycline in promoting the survival of pheochromocytoma (PCI2) cells exposed to oxygen glucose deprivation (OGD) and explore the underlying mechanisms.

Methods: An in vitro cell model of cerebral ischemia was established by OGD for 6 h in PCI2 cells with pretreatment with minocycline or an ERK1/2 inhibitor. At 24 h after OGD injury, the cells were evaluated for cell viability by MTT assay and expressions of heme oxygenase-I (HO-I) and phospholylated extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) by Western blotting.

Neuroelectrophysiological characteristics of Hirayama disease: report of 14 cases.

Background: Hirayama disease is a juvenile muscular atrophy of the distal upper extremities and affects mainly young males. The present study aimed to investigate the neuroelectrophysiological characteristics of Hirayama disease.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the neural conduction velocity (NCV) parameters and needle-electrode electromyograms (EMG) of 14 patients with Hirayama disease.

Prognosis study of 324 cases with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage in Chongqing, China.

We aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in Chongqing City, China, and evaluate some factors predicting the prognosis of ICH. We collected 324 cases with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage in our hospital from January 2008 to November 2009. Univariate variance analyses were used for comparison of characteristics.

Small hairpin RNA interference of the Nogo receptor inhibits oxygen-glucose deprivation-induced damage in rat hippocampal slice cultures.

In adult mammals, CNS damage does not repair well spontaneously. The Nogo receptor (NgR) signaling pathway prevents axonal regrowth and promotes neuronal apoptosis. This pathway, and pathways like it, may be part of the reason why nerves do not regrow.

Effects of carbon disulfide on the expression and activity of nitric oxide synthase in rat hippocampus.

Background: Carbon disulfide (CS(2)) is a commonly used organic solvent. Many epidemiological investigations and animal experiments have indicated that learning and memory ability can be affected to different degrees after long-term exposure to CS(2), but the mechanisms are still unclear. The aim of this study was to explore the possible mechanisms of CS(2)-related impairment of the learning and memory ability of rats, by investigating the effects of CS(2) on nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity and NOS mRNA expression in rat hippocampus.