Serum Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Levels are Associated with Relapse in Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder.

Background: The relationship between serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and the risk of relapse in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) remains uncertain. We aimed to examine the association between serum LDL-C level and relapse in NMOSD patients.

Methods: We conducted an analysis of the prospective observational NMOSD cohort study with consecutive 184 hospitalized NMOSD patients from department of neurology.

N-Methyladenosine (mA) Methylation Is Associated with the Immune Microenvironments in Acute Intracerebral Hemorrhage (ICH).

Researchers have recently found that N-methyladenosine (mA) is a type of internal posttranscriptional modification that is essential in mammalian mRNA. However, the features of mA RNA methylation in acute intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) remain unknown. To explore differential methylations and to discover their functions in acute ICH patients, we recruited three acute ICH patients, three healthy controls, and an additional three patients and healthy controls for validation.

Circulating Leukocyte as an Inflammatory Biomarker: Association with Fibrinogen and Neuronal Damage in Acute Ischemic Stroke.

Background And Purpose: Leukocytes and fibrinogen are inflammatory markers involved in circulating and central inflammatory response after ischemic stroke. However, the interaction between circulating leukocytes and serum fibrinogen and neuronal injury in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients is still unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the association between circulating leukocyte and serum fibrinogen and neuronal injury respectively in AIS.

Enlarged perivascular spaces, neuroinflammation and neurological dysfunction in NMOSD patients.

Background And Objectives: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and interstitial fluid exchange along a brain-wide network of perivascular spaces (PVS) termed the 'glymphatic system'. The aquaporin-4 (AQP4) water channels abundantly expressed on astrocytic endfeet play a key role in the CSF circulation in the glymphatic system. Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is an inflammatory demyelinating autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS) featured with a specific autoantibody directed against AQP4 in most of patients.

Fine particulate matter exposure aggravates ischemic injury via NLRP3 inflammasome activation and pyroptosis.

Aims: Accumulating evidence has suggested that airborne fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure is associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke. However, the underlying mechanisms have not been fully elucidated.

Tracking Neural Stem Cells in vivo: Achievements and Limitations.

Neural stem cell (NSC) therapies are developing rapidly and have been proposed as a treatment option for various neurological diseases, such as stroke, Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis. However, monitoring transplanted NSCs, exploring their location and migration, and evaluating their efficacy and safety have all become serious and important issues. Two main problems in tracking NSCs have been noted: labeling them for visibility and imaging them.

Lymphocyte Subsets Are Associated with Disease Status in Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders.

Objective: At present, studies on lymphocytes are mostly conducted on CD19+ B cells and CD27+ B cells in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSDs), but the exact changes in lymphocyte subsets (CD19+ B cells, CD3+ T cells, CD4+ Th cells, CD8+ Ts cells, the CD4+/CD8+ ratio, and NK [CD56+ CD16] cells) have rarely been studied. This study aimed to assess lymphocyte subset changes in patients with NMOSD.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study of consecutive patients with acute NMOSD (n = 41), chronic NMOSD (n = 21), and healthy individuals (n = 44).

Comprehensive Analysis of N-Methyladenosine (mA) Methylation in Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders.

N-Methyladenosine (mA) methylation is the most prevalent internal posttranscriptional modification on mammalian mRNA. But its role in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) is not known. To explore the mechanism of mA in NMOSD patients.

Association Between Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol and Platelet Distribution Width in Acute Ischemic Stroke.

Elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is an established risk factor for ischemic stroke; however, whether LDL-C affects the platelet deformation function in the peripheral blood circulation in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is unknown. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between LDL-C and platelet distribution width (PDW) in AIS patients. We conducted a cross-sectional hospitalized-based study of consecutive 438 patients with AIS within 24 h.

Different distributions of nerve demyelination in chronic acquired multifocal polyneuropathies.

Background: Multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN), Lewis-Sumner syndrome (LSS), and many chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathies (CIDPs) are representative of acquired multifocal polyneuropathy and are characterized by conduction block (CB). This retrospective study aimed to investigate the demyelinating distribution and the selective vulnerability of MMN, LSS, and CIDP with CB (CIDP-CB) in nerves.

Methods: Fifteen LSS subjects (107 nerves), 24 MMN subjects (176 nerves), and 17 CIDP-CB subjects (110 nerves) were included.

Red blood cell distribution width is associated with neuronal damage in acute ischemic stroke.

Elevated red blood cell distribution width (RDW) has been found to be associated with the occurrence of ischemic stroke. However, there is no defined relationship between RDW and neuronal damage in acute ischemic stroke (AIS). This study was designed to determine the relationship between RDW and neuronal damage in AIS patients.

Serum albumin level is associated with the severity of neurological dysfunction of NMOSD patients.

Background: Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is an inflammatory autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. Serum albumin (SA) has antioxidant, immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects. However, the roles of SA in NMOSD have not been studied.

The differential expression of natural killer cells in NMOSD and MS.

Natural killer (NK) cells are involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system. However, the differential expressions of NK cells in the peripheral blood of patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) and multiple sclerosis (MS) are unknown. This study aimed to explore the differential expressions of NK cells in NMOSD and MS and evaluate the clinical implications of this difference.

Lower serum interleukin-22 and interleukin-35 levels are associated with disease status in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders.

Aims: The exact pathogenesis of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) remains unclear. A variety of cytokines are involved, but few studies have been performed to explore the novel roles of interleukin-22 (IL-22) and interleukin-35 (IL-35) in NMOSD. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate serum levels of IL-22 and IL-35, and their correlations with clinical and laboratory characteristics in NMOSD.

Etiological Classification of Cerebral Ischemic Stroke by the TOAST, SSS-TOAST, and ASCOD Systems: The Impact of Observer's Experience on Reliability.

Purpose: To assess the impact of observer's experience on reliability of etiological classification systems in patients with ischemic stroke.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 80 patients with ischemic stroke in hospitals from August 2016 to March 2017 consecutively. Patients were classified by 4 observers with different clinical experiences and backgrounds (A, B, C, and D) according to the Trial of ORG 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment (TOAST), Stop Stroke Study TOAST (SSS-TOAST), and ASCOD (A-atherosclerosis, S-small vessel disease, C-cardiac pathology, O-other cause, and D-dissection).

Th2 axis-related cytokines in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders.

Aims: Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is an inflammatory autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. Increasing evidence indicates that NMOSD is a Th2- and Th17-dominant disease. IL-25, IL-31, and IL-33 are three newly found Th2-related cytokines, and their roles in the pathogenesis of NMOSD have not been studied.

High serum creatinine is associated with reduction of vision impaired in patients with NMOSD.

Serum creatinine (SCR) has been found to be neuroprotective in neurodegenerative disease. However, whether SCR is a protective factor for vision impaired in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is unclear. This study to determine the relationship between SCR level and vision impaired in NMOSD patients through multivariate-adjusted linear regression analyses.

Seizure syndrome as a first manifestation of solitary tumor-like mass lesion of PACNS: Two case reports.

Rationale: Primary angiitis of the central nervous system (PACNS) is an inflammatory disease involving cerebrovascular and parenchymal, and solitary tumor-like mass lesion of PACNS (TLML-PACNS) is frequently misdiagnosed as neoplastic or other inflammatory diseases. However, seizure syndrome as a first manifestation of TLML-PACNS has rarely reported before.

Patient Concerns: Here, we report 2 cases of seizure syndrome, which was the first sign that presented prior to the diagnosis of TLML-PACNS by brain biopsy.

Comparison of VerifyNow P2Y12 and thrombelastography for assessing clopidogrel response in stroke patients in China.

Poor response to clopidogrel is often associated with recurrent ischemic events, and reliable platelet function tests are needed to identify clopidogrel low response (CLR). The aim of the study was to compare the consistency of VerifyNow P2Y12 and thrombelastography (TEG) in acute ischemic stroke patients treated with clopidogrel. Patients hospitalized in Changhai Hospital from August 2012 to September 2013 and assigned to treatment with a daily 75-mg dose of clopidogrel.

Sensitivity and Specificity of Double-Track Sign in the Detection of Transverse Sinus Stenosis: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

Background: Transverse sinus stenosis (TSS) is common among patients with cerebral venous sinus thrombosis. No previous studies have reported on double-track sign detected on axial Gd-enhanced T1WI in TSS. This study aimed to determine the sensitivity and specificity of the double-track sign in the detection of TSS.

Influence of Genetic Polymorphisms on Clopidogrel Response and Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke CYP2C19 Genotype on Clopidogrel Response.

Objectives: This study sought to evaluate the influence of the genetic polymorphisms on platelet reactivity and clinical outcomes in acute ischemic stroke patients taking clopidogrel.

Background: Little research has been published on relationships between genetic polymorphisms, platelet reactivity, and clinical outcomes in stroke patients treated with clopidogrel.

Methods: Patients hospitalized in Changhai Hospital with acute ischemic stroke were randomly enrolled into treatment with a 75-mg daily maintenance dose of clopidogrel.

Tanshinone IIA Prevents Rat Basilar Artery Smooth Muscle Cells Proliferation by Inactivation of PDK1 During the Development of Hypertension.

Basilar vascular smooth muscle cells (BASMCs) hyperplasia is a prominent feature of cerebrovascular remodeling and stroke during the development of hypertension. Tanshinone IIA (Tan) has been reported to exhibit a protective effect against the pathological features of hypertension. Previous studies have shown that phosphoinostitide-3 kinase (PI3K)/3'-phosphoinostitide dependent kinase (PDK1)/AKT pathway is involved in the regulation of proliferation of various cell types.