Integrated PET/MRI With C-CFT and F-FDG for levodopa response difference in Parkinson's disease.

Aim: Parkinson's disease is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases. Excellent levodopa responsiveness has been proposed as a characteristic supporting feature in substantiating the PD diagnosis. However, a small portion of clinically established PD patients shows poor levodopa response.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Alleviates Levodopa-Induced Dyskinesia in Parkinson's Disease and the Related Mechanisms: A Mini-Review.

After long-term use of levodopa, Parkinson's patients almost inevitably develop dyskinesia, a kind of drug side effect manifesting as uncontrollable choreic movements and dystonia, which could be crippling yet have limited therapeutic options. Transcranial magnetic stimulation is the most widely studied non-invasive neuromodulation technology to treat levodopa-induced dyskinesia. Many studies have shown that transcranial magnetic stimulation has beneficial effects on levodopa-induced dyskinesia and is patient-tolerable, barely with reported adverse effects.

Morin exerts neuroprotective actions in Parkinson disease models in vitro and in vivo.

Aim: To investigate the neuroprotective effects of morin on 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP(+))-induced apoptosis in neuronal differentiated PC12 cells as well as in a 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) mouse model of Parkinson disease (PD).

Methods: PC12 cells were challenged with MPP(+) in the presence or absence of morin. Cell viability was determined using MTT assay.

Mechanism of over-activation in direct pathway mediated by dopamine D₁ receptor in rats with levodopa-induced dyskinesia.

Objective: To study the changes of prodynorphin (PDyn) gene expression and dopamine and cAMP-regulated phosphoprotein of 32 kDa (DARPP-32) phosphorylation in rats with levodopa-induced dyskinesia (LID), and to explore the mechanism of over-activation in direct pathway mediated by dopamine D₁ receptor.

Methods: Parkinson's disease (PD) rats were received levodopa (10 mg/kg, i.p.

[Proteolytic stress induced by environmental toxins in dopaminergic neurons: an experimental study].

Objective: To explore the role of proteolytic stress induced by environmental toxins in degeneration and death of dopaminergic neurons.

Methods: Nerve growth factor-treated-rat adrenal pheochromocytoma cells of the line PC12 were co-incubated with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP(+)), and rotenone for 24 hours. MTT assay was used to measure the cell viability induced by these neurotoxins with different concentrations.

[In vitro induction and expansion of dendritic cells from rat bone marrow and their characterization].

Aim: To induce and expand dendritic cells (DC) from rat bone marrow in vitro and identify their biological characterization.

Methods: The rat bone marrow cells were collected and cultured for 48 hours and the floating cells were removed. Then IL-4 and GM-CSF were added into the fresh medium.

Effect of thrombin on blood brain barrier permeability and its mechanism.

Background: Previous studies have indicated that thrombin (TM) may play a major role in brain edema after intracerebral hemorrhages (ICHs). However, the mechanism of TM-induced brain edema is poorly understood. In this study, we explored the effect of TM on the permeability of the blood brain barrier (BBB) and investigated its possible mechanism, aiming at providing a potential target for brain edema therapy after ICHs.