Exosomes derived from human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neural progenitor cells protect neuronal function under ischemic conditions.

Compared with other stem cells, human induced pluripotent stem cells-derived neural progenitor cells (iPSC-NPCs) are more similar to cortical neurons in morphology and immunohistochemistry. Thus, they have greater potential for promoting the survival and growth of neurons and alleviating the proliferation of astrocytes. Transplantation of stem cell exosomes and stem cells themselves have both been shown to effectively repair nerve injury.

Odontoid calcification and crowned dens syndrome: data from a Chinese center.

Objectives: To assess the prevalence of calcification surrounding the odontoid process (odontoid calcification) with crowned dens syndrome (CDS) and without CDS (non-CDS) and investigate factors that may related to the onset of CDS.

Methods: Retrospective review of consecutive patients visited Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital between 1 January 2018 and 5 November 2019 who were identified to have odontoid calcification on cervical computed tomography (CT) images. Those who presented with an acute or subacute episode of cervico-occipital pain were defined as CDS, others were non-CDS.

Reversible Splenial Lesion Syndrome with Some Novel Causes and Clinical Manifestations.

Objective Reversible splenial lesion syndrome (RESLES) is a clinical radiological syndrome characterized by a reversible lesion of the splenium of the corpus callosum with a decreased apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value. The clinical manifestations of RESLES are diverse. Methods Fifteen cases of adult RESLES patients (10 males and 5 females) were retrospectively selected from the radiology system using the key word "corpus callosum" at a university-affiliated tertiary care hospital between May 1, 2015 and December 31, 2019.

Clinical effectiveness of ultrasound guided subacromial-subdeltoid bursa injection of botulinum toxin type A in hemiplegic shoulder pain: A retrospective cohort study.

Hemiplegic shoulder pain (HSP), which occurs in most patients with hemiplegia, causes considerable distress and worsens outcomes in rehabilitation. Although they have received the treatments such as anti-inflammatory drugs or physical therapy, many of the individuals remain suffering from shoulder pain 6 months after acute stroke event. In this retrospective study, we evaluated the effectiveness of ultrasound guided subacromial-subdeltoid (SASD) bursa injections with botulinum toxin type A (BoNT/A) compared to steroids for refractory HSP.

The prognostic value of total T3 after acute cerebral infarction is age-dependent: a retrospective study on 768 patients.

Background: Serum triiodothyronine (T3) concentration was reported to be associated with the prognosis after acute ischemic stroke. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of age on the prognostic value of thyroid-related hormones after an acute ischemic stroke.

Methods: This was a retrospective study involving the review of 1072 ischemic stroke patients who had been consecutively admitted to the hospital within 72 h of symptom onset.

ErbB4 deletion in noradrenergic neurons in the locus coeruleus induces mania-like behavior via elevated catecholamines.

Dysfunction of the noradrenergic (NE) neurons is implicated in the pathogenesis of bipolar disorder (BPD). ErbB4 is highly expressed in NE neurons, and its genetic variation has been linked to BPD; however, how ErbB4 regulates NE neuronal function and contributes to BPD pathogenesis is unclear. Here we find that conditional deletion of ErbB4 in locus coeruleus (LC) NE neurons increases neuronal spontaneous firing through NMDA receptor hyperfunction, and elevates catecholamines in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

Using Extracellular Circulating microRNAs to Classify the Etiological Subtypes of Ischemic Stroke.

There is no effective biological method to classify ischemic stroke subtypes. In this study, we first performed a systematical gene array study on serum microRNAs with different ischemic stroke subtypes including 13 normal control subjects (NCs) and 87 ischemic stroke (IS) patients including 23 cardioembolism (CARD), 26 large artery atherosclerosis (LAA), 27 lacunar infarct (LAC), and 11 stroke of undetermined etiology (SUE). Validation was performed by using an independent cohort of 20 NCs and 85 IS patients including 28 CARD, 23 LAA, 18 LAC, and 16 SUE.

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo in spontaneous intracranial hypotension.

Objectives: To assess the prevalence and related factors of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) in patients with spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 156 consecutive inpatients with SIH, and collected the clinical and radiological data. These patients were divided into BPPV group and non-BPPV group according to the clinical manifestation and the results of Dix-Hallpike or supine roll tests during hospitalization period.

Unilateral whisker pad injection of botulinum toxin type a enhances spatial learning in mice.

The central cholinergic nervous system plays an important role in cognition, with acetylcholine hypofunction considered to be a major factor of dementia. Botulinum toxin type A (BoNT/A), a potent poison secreted by Clostridium botulinum, is used widely for dystonia treatment and facial cosmesis. BoNT/A injection inhibits acetylcholine release in the neuromuscular junction through cleavage of synaptosomal-associated protein of 25 kDa in cholinergic terminals.

Factors affecting cerebrospinal fluid opening pressure in patients with spontaneous intracranial hypotension.

Objective: Spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) is recognized far more commonly than ever before. Though usually characterized by low cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure, some patients with SIH are observed to have normal pressure values. In this study, we aimed to confirm the proportion of patients with normal CSF opening pressure (CSF OP) and explore the factors affecting CSF OP in SIH patients.

Antinociceptive effect of botulinum toxin A involves alterations in AMPA receptor expression and glutamate release in spinal dorsal horn neurons.

The use of botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) for various clinical therapeutic applications is increasing. It is widely believed that peripheral therapeutic or toxic effects of BTX-A are exclusively mediated by SNAP-25 cleavage. There is growing evidence of long-distance retrograde axonal transport of BTX-A on entering the central nervous system, subsequent to a local injection of the toxin.

Alteration of Thyroid-Related Hormones within Normal Ranges and Early Functional Outcomes in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke.

This study evaluated the prognostic value of thyroid-related hormones within normal ranges after acute ischemic stroke. This was a retrospective study and we reviewed 1072 ischemic stroke patients consecutively admitted within 72 h after symptom onset. Total triiodothyronine (T3), total thyroxine (T4), free T3, free T4, and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) were assessed to determine their values for predicting functional outcome at the first follow-up clinic visits, which usually occurred 2 to 4 weeks after discharge from the hospital.

Postnatal development of the electrophysiological properties of somatostatin interneurons in the anterior cingulate cortex of mice.

Somatostatin (SST)-positive interneurons in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) play important roles in neuronal diseases, memory and cognitive functions. However, their development in the ACC remains unclear. Using postnatal day 3 (P3) to P45 GIN mice, we found that most of the intrinsic membrane properties of SST interneurons in the ACC were developmentally mature after the second postnatal week and that the development of these neurons differed from that of parvalbumin (PV) interneurons in the prefrontal cortex.

NFE2L2 variations reduce antioxidant response in patients with Parkinson disease.

Oxidative stress has been recognized as a risk factor of Parkinson's disease (PD) development. We hypothesized that decreased function of the nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (NFE2L2)-antioxidant response element (ARE) pathway might predispose to Parkinsonism. A case-control study was performed between NFE2L2 Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) and PD in a cohort of 765 unrelated patients with diagnosis of PD and 489 matched normal individuals.

None detectable retrograde transport of Chinese botulinum toxin type A in mice by single intramuscular injection.

Botulinum toxin type A (BoNT/A) can specifically cleave synaptosomal associated protein of 25 kDa (SNAP-25) into cleaved SNAP-25 (cl.SNAP-25), thus blocking the synaptic transmission in motor end plate and resulting in paralysis. It has been widely applied in clinical for treatment of various conditions characterized by muscle hyperactivity, such as dystonia and spasticity.

Altered microRNA profiles in cerebrospinal fluid exosome in Parkinson disease and Alzheimer disease.

The differential diagnosis of Parkinson's diseases (PD) is challenging, especially in the early stages of the disease. We developed a microRNA profiling strategy for exosomal miRNAs isolated from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in PD and AD. Sixteen exosomal miRNAs were up regulated and 11 miRNAs were under regulated significantly in PD CSF when compared with those in healthy controls (relative fold > 2, p < 0.

Risk factors for subdural haematoma in patients with spontaneous intracranial hypotension.

Subdural haematoma (SDH) is a potentially life-threatening complication in patients with spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH). In serious cases, SIH patients who present with SDHs develop neurological deficits, a decreased level of consciousness, or cerebral herniation, and may even require an urgent neurosurgical drainage. Despite numerous publications on SDHs, few report its potential risk factors in patients with SIH.

[Nutritional status in acute stage ischemic stroke and its relation to disease severity and prognosis of patients].

Objective: To investigate the nutritional status in acute stage ischemic stroke and its relation to disease severity and prognosis of patients.

Methods: Fifty patients with ischemic stroke were admitted in hospital within 48 h after onset. National Institute of Health stroke scale (NIHSS) was used to assess the severity of stroke.

Evidence for polymerase gamma, POLG1 variation in reduced mitochondrial DNA copy number in Parkinson's disease.

Background: It remains unclear whether the mtDNA content is related to the clinicopathological prognosis in Parkinson's disease (PD).

Methods/results: We analyzed the copy number of mtDNA using quantitative real-time PCR in 414 cases with PD and 231 healthy subjects from mainland of China. The level of mtDNA was significantly decreased in PD patients' peripheral blood as compared to that of healthy controls (p < 0.

[Clinical characteristics of 42 cases of spontaneous intracranial hypotension with cerebrospinal leakage].

Objective: To review the clinical characteristics of spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage.

Methods: Clinical data of 42 SIH patients with cerebrospinal leakage, whose diagnosis met the criteria of the International Headache Classification, were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were divided into short (n=27) and long (n=15) course groups.

Influence of injection of Chinese botulinum toxin type A on the histomorphology and myosin heavy chain composition of rat gastrocnemius muscles.

Background And Objective: Botulinum toxin type A (BoNT/A) is a metalloprotease that blocks synaptic transmission via the cleavage of a synaptosomal-associated protein of 25 kDa (SNAP-25). It has gained widespread use as a treatment for cerebral palsy and skeletal muscle hypertrophy. In China, Chinese botulinum toxin type A (CBTX-A), a type of BoNT/A, is in widespread clinical use.

Prophylactic effects of duloxetine on post-stroke depression symptoms: an open single-blind trial.

Post-stroke depression (PSD) is a common yet severe sequela of stroke, and is often accompanied with somatic symptoms. Duloxetine, a new serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, may help to prevent depression after stroke. 95 ischemic stroke patients without depression were randomly divided into two groups: duloxetine group (n = 47) and control group (n = 48).

Effects of thioperamide on seizure development and memory impairment induced by pentylenetetrazole-kindling epilepsy in rats.

Background: Histamine H(3) receptor antagonists have been considered as potential drugs to treat central nervous system diseases. However, whether these drugs can inhibit epileptogenesis remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of thioperamide, a selective and potent histamine H(3) receptor antagonist, on the seizure development and memory impairment induced by pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-kindling epilepsy in rats.

Association of mitochondrial DNA polymerase γ gene POLG1 polymorphisms with parkinsonism in Chinese populations.

Background: Mitochondrial DNA polymerase gamma (POLG1) mutations were associated with levodopa-responsive Parkinsonism. POLG1 gene contains a number of common nonsynonymous SNPs and intronic regulatory SNPs which may have functional consequences. It is of great interest to discover polymorphisms variants associated with Parkinson's disease (PD), both in isolation and in combination with specific SNPs.