Giant prolactinoma with progressive cranial settling and central herniation: a case report.

Background: Giant prolactinoma (size > 4 cm) is a rare condition and accounts for less than 1% of pituitary adenomas. In even rarer cases, these lesions may involve craniocervical structures requiring surgical intervention. The present case is the largest reported giant prolactinoma (99 × 72 × 57 mm).

Exploring the effects of probiotics on olanzapine-induced metabolic syndrome through the gut microbiota.

Background: Maintaining gut microbial homeostasis is crucial for human health, as imbalances in the gut microbiota (GM) can lead to various diseases, including metabolic syndrome (MS), exacerbated by the use of antipsychotic medications such as olanzapine (OLZ). Understanding the role of the GM in OLZ-induced MS could lead to new therapeutic strategies. This study used metagenomic analysis to explore the impact of OLZ on the GM composition and examined how probiotics can mitigate its adverse effects in a rat model.

International workshop: what is needed to ensure outcome measures for Rett syndrome are fit-for-purpose for clinical trials? June 7, 2023, Nashville, USA.

Introduction: The clinical, research and advocacy communities for Rett syndrome are striving to achieve clinical trial readiness, including having fit-for-purpose clinical outcome assessments. This study aimed to (1) describe psychometric properties of clinical outcome assessment for Rett syndrome and (2) identify what is needed to ensure that fit-for-purpose clinical outcome assessments are available for clinical trials.

Methods: Clinical outcome assessments for the top 10 priority domains identified in the Voice of the Patient Report for Rett syndrome were compiled and available psychometric data were extracted.

Safety, Tolerability and Pharmacokinetic-Pharmacodynamic Relationship of NX210c Peptide in Healthy Elderly Volunteers: Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind, Multiple Ascending Dose Study.

Introduction: Blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity is fundamental to brain homeostasis, enabling control of substance exchange and safeguarding neurons against harmful toxins, pathogens, and immune cells that lead to dysregulation and inflammation involved in ageing and neurodegenerative diseases (NDD). The cyclized peptide NX210c is a thrombospondin type 1 repeat analogue derived from subcommissural organ-spondin. It exerts beneficial effects in animal models of NDD owing to its effects on neurons and endothelial cells.

Novel Digital Anomalies, Hippocampal Atrophy, and Mutations Expand the Genotypic and Phenotypic Spectra of CNKSR2 in the Houge Type of X-Linked Syndromic Intellectual Development Disorder (MRXSHG).

The Houge type of X-linked syndromic intellectual developmental disorder (MRXSHG) encompasses a spectrum of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by intellectual disability (ID), language/speech delay, attention issues, and epilepsy. These conditions arise from hemizygous or heterozygous deletions, along with point mutations, affecting CNKSR2, a gene located at Xp22.12.

pTau pathology in the retina of TAU58 mice: association with ganglion cell degeneration and implications on seeding and propagation of pTau from human brain lysates.

The accumulation of abnormal phosphorylated Tau protein (pTau) in neurons of the brain is a pathological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD). PTau pathology also occurs in the retina of AD cases. Accordingly, questions arise whether retinal pTau can act as a potential seed for inducing cerebral pTau pathology and whether retinal pTau pathology causes degeneration of retinal neurons.

Bilateral thalamic infarction with posterior cerebral artery variant (the arcade artery): A case report.

Rationale: Bilateral thalamic infarction is a rare type of posterior circulation stroke, and it often presents with a reduced level of consciousness in the elderly. Arteriosclerosis is the primary etiology of bilateral thalamic infarction, including conditions such as native vessel stenosis or arterial-to-arterial embolism. Cardiogenic or paradoxical embolism can also lead to thrombosis of the perforator branches innervating the thalamus, and these emboli tend to disintegrate and lead to multiple lesions, even in elderly patients.

Flavonoids from as neuroprotective agents attenuate cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury and via activating Nrf2.

Objectives: Cerebral ischemic stroke is a leading cause of death worldwide. Though timely reperfusion reduces the infarction size, it exacerbates neuronal apoptosis due to oxidative stress. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a transcription factor regulating the expression of antioxidant enzymes.

Recapitulation of physiologic and pathophysiologic pulsatile CSF flow in purpose-built high-throughput hydrocephalus bioreactors.

Background: Hydrocephalus, an accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the ventricles of the brain, is often treated via a shunt system to divert the excess CSF to a different compartment; if left untreated, it can lead to serious complications and permanent brain damage. It is estimated that one in every 500 people are born with hydrocephalus. Despite more than 60 years of concerted efforts, shunts still have the highest failure rate of any neurological device requiring follow-up shunt revision surgeries and contributing to the $2 billion cost of hydrocephalus care in the US alone.

The Psychoeducational Interventions: a valuable communication tool to support the caregiver of people with dementia.

Background: informal caregivers of people with dementia are at greater risk of developing physical and mental health problems when compared to the general population: they often experience high levels of stress which can lead to a lowered sense of well-being, feelings of being burdened, depression and compromised physical health. The significant beneficial effects of Psychoeducational Interventions on the critical outcomes of caregiver burden and strain were considered sufficient to warrant a recommendation in favour of the intervention. The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly increased the use internet-based interventions: this study describes the effectiveness of support program for informal caregivers of people with dementia internet-based and on-site conditions.

STING Driving Synaptic Phagocytosis of Hippocampal Microglia/Macrophages Contributes to Cognitive Impairment in Sepsis-Associated Encephalopathy in Mice.

Background: Sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) is a serious neurologic complication in septic patients with poor prognoses. There is increasing evidence that stimulator of interferon genes (STING) plays a crucial role in neuroinflammation and cognitive impairment. However, whether sepsis associated with STING changes contributes to cognitive impairment is unknown.

A Defined Diet Combined with Sonicated Inoculum Provides a High Incidence, Moderate Severity Form of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE).

Background: Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein 35-55 (MOG)-peptide induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a model for inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. However, its severity and incidence vary within and between laboratories. Severe scores can lead to premature termination and are both unnecessary for readouts and detrimental to animal welfare.

Tension at the gate: sensing mechanical forces at the blood-brain barrier in health and disease.

Microvascular brain endothelial cells tightly limit the entry of blood components and peripheral cells into the brain by forming the blood-brain barrier (BBB). The BBB is regulated by a cascade of mechanical and chemical signals including shear stress and elasticity of the adjacent endothelial basement membrane (BM). During physiological aging, but especially in neurological diseases including multiple sclerosis (MS), stroke, small vessel disease, and Alzheimer's disease (AD), the BBB is exposed to inflammation, rigidity changes of the BM, and disturbed cerebral blood flow (CBF).

Investigation of the relationship between lead exposure in heavy metals mixtures and the prevalence of stroke: a cross-sectional study.

Background: The adverse effects of environmental toxic metal exposure on human health are well-documented. However, the specific influence of heavy metal exposure on stroke prevalence remains underexplored.

Methods: This study utilized data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) spanning from 2011 to 2018 to investigate the association between blood metal concentrations and the incidence of stroke.

Are crystalloid-based fluid expansion strategies still relevant in the first hours of trauma induced hemorrhagic shock?

Background: Crystalloid-based fluid resuscitation has long been a cornerstone in the initial management of trauma-induced hemorrhagic shock. However, its benefit is increasingly questioned as it is suspected to increase bleeding and worsen coagulopathy. The emergence of alternative strategies like permissive hypotension and vasopressor use lead to a shift in early trauma care practices.

Structural mechanism of CBR binding to peripheral and biased inverse agonists.

The cannabinoid receptor 1 (CBR) regulates synaptic transmission in the central nervous system, but also has important roles in the peripheral organs controlling cellular metabolism. While earlier generations of brain penetrant CBR antagonists advanced to the clinic for their effective treatment of obesity, such molecules were ultimately shown to exhibit negative effects on central reward pathways that thwarted their further therapeutic development. The peripherally restricted CBR inverse agonists MRI-1867 and MRI-1891 represent a new generation of compounds that retain the metabolic benefits of CBR inhibitors while sparing the negative psychiatric effects.

Endovascular treatment of high-flow carotid-cavernous fistula secondary to rupture of a carotid-cavernous aneurysm post-flow diverter stent placement.

Carotid-cavernous aneurysms (CCAs) have the potential for growth, and their risk of rupture can lead to severe complications. Treatment is typically recommended to prevent these complications, with endovascular therapy being the preferred approach due to the challenging surgical access. This case presents a rare instance of rupture of a CCA that had been previously treated with a flow-diverting stent, which resulted in the development of a carotid-cavernous fistula, requiring venous access endovascular treatment.

Abnormalities in brain magnetic resonance imaging associated with vigabatrin therapy in an infant with infantile epileptic spasms syndrome.

Introduction: Vigabatrin, an anticonvulsant drug used for refractory epilepsy and as first-line treatment for infantile epileptic spasms syndrome, can rarely cause brain abnormalities detectable on magnetic resonance imaging. These complications, potentially related to dose, young age, and concomitant high doses of adrenocorticotropic hormone and/or prednisolone, can lead to neurological symptoms. Upon withdrawal or dose reduction, symptoms and imaging changes tend to resolve.

Modulation of the central nervous system immune response and neuroinflammation via Wnt signaling in health and neurodegenerative diseases.

The immune response in the central nervous system (CNS) is a highly specialized and tightly regulated process essential for maintaining neural health and protecting against pathogens and injuries. The primary immune cells within the CNS include microglia, astrocytes, T cells, and B cells. They work together, continuously monitor the CNS environment for signs of infection, injury, or disease, and respond by phagocytosing debris, releasing cytokines, and recruiting other immune cells.

Insights on the Healthcare Trajectories of People Living With Dementia.

People living with dementia follow different healthcare trajectories based on the individual healthcare needs and external supports available to them. We explored healthcare trajectories involving home care and long-term care settings, associated factors and hospitalizations prior to transitioning to these settings. This study was part of a collaborative project between the Canadian Institute for Health Information and the Public Health Agency of Canada that supported the implementation of the national dementia strategy (PHAC 2019) through the Enhanced Dementia Surveillance Initiative (Government of Canada 2023).

Surgical Construction of Wide-Neck Bifurcation Experimental Aneurysm in an In Vivo Canine Model to Test Neurovascular Device.

Stents are increasingly used for coiling difficult aneurysms, to reduce the risk of recurrences, or to modify blood flow. Currently, available bifurcation aneurysm models are ill-suited to assess stent performance before clinical use. We designed a new animal model of wide-neck canine Y-type bifurcation aneurysm (such as middle cerebral artery (MCA) bifurcation) and previously reported one of T-type (such as basilar bifurcation).

CASPR2-related epilepsy: A distinctive and unrecognized form of epilepsy in adult and elderly males.

Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the clinical features of contactin-associated protein-like 2 (CASPR2)-IgG-associated seizures.

Methods: Nine patients were retrospectively collected from two epilepsy centers. For each patient we obtained a full clinical, neurophysiological, and MRI study along with detection of antineuronal autoantibodies from serum and CSF.

Targeting the brain's glymphatic pathway: a novel therapeutic approach for cerebral small vessel disease.

Cerebral small vessel disease encompasses a group of neurological disorders characterized by injury to small blood vessels, often leading to stroke and dementia. Due to its diverse etiologies and complex pathological mechanisms, preventing and treating cerebral small vessel vasculopathy is challenging. Recent studies have shown that the glymphatic system plays a crucial role in interstitial solute clearance and the maintenance of brain homeostasis.

Genomic characterization and tissue tropism variations of two porcine delta coronavirus strains isolated in China.

The porcine delta coronavirus (PDCoV) is a member of the Delta coronavirus genus, which can lead to diarrhea, vomiting, and mortality in piglets. First detected in Hong Kong in 2012, PDCoV has since spread globally. In January 2024, two strains, CHN-ANHZ-2024 and CHN-JSSQ-2024, were isolated from diarrheal piglets in Anhui and Jiangsu provinces.