International Journal of Neuroscience最新文献

Objective: Gliomas are the most common primary tumors of the central nervous system. The fifth edition of the World Health Organization (WHO) Classification of Tumors of the CNS identifies IDH mutant astrocytomas grade 4 and IDH wild type glioblastomas grade 4 as distinct entities. This study aimed to identify morphological indicators that could predict IDH mutation status in grade 4 diffuse astrocytomas and grade 4 glioblastomas among fifty patients from two groups.

Methods: Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained tumor slides were scanned using a digital scanner and further histopathological examinations were performed on digital images, with additional calculations and measurements.

Results: The study showed that, IDH-wildtype glioblastomas and IDH-mutant grade 4 astrocytomas exhibit unique morphological features, particularly in relation to levels of necrosis, microvessel density, and the presence of "C" or "Ring" shape giant cells.

Conclusion: Despite advancements in genomic biomarker technology, histology remains an essential tool for predicting patient outcomes. Therefore, pathologists must continue to investigate and document the morphological implications of molecular changes in CNS tumors.

Background: Our objective is to investigate the potential causal relationship between telomere length (TL) and aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) and intracranial aneurysms (IAs) by conducting a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian Randomization (MR) study.

Methods: We utilized publicly available summary data from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for comprehensive analysis. Telomere length-associated data were sourced from the Epidemiology Unit (IEU) GWAS database (n = 472,174), while data pertaining to intracranial aneurysms were derived from a GWAS meta-analysis conducted by Bakker et al. encompassing aneurysmal subtypes including aSAH (n = 77,074), IAs (n = 79,429), and unruptured intracranial aneurysms (uIA) (n = 74,004), all sampled from European populations. The primary method for MR analysis employed was the Inverse Variance Weighted (IVW) method. Additionally, we conducted various sensitivity analyses to assess the heterogeneity and pleiotropy of study findings. Reverse MR analysis was employed to explore potential reverse causality.

Results: In the forward MR analysis, the IVW method indicated a negative association between TL and aSAH (OR = 0.636, 95% CI: 0.459-0.883, p = 0.006) as well as IAs (OR = 0.670, 95% CI: 0.499-0.900, p = 0.0079). There was no evidence of heterogeneity or horizontal pleiotropy in the forward MR analysis. Reverse MR analysis did not reveal any causal relationship between aSAH, IAs, uIA and TL.

Conclusions: In European populations, there exists a causal relationship between longer TL and reduced risks of aSAH and IAs Further research is warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and the potential of TL as an intervention target for lowering the incidence of aSAH and IAs.

Objective: Despite significant advances that have been made in the treatment of traumatic brain injury (TBI), it remains a global health issue. This study aimed to investigate the synergistic effects of 17-β estradiol (E2) and auraptene (AUR) on TBI treatment.

Methods: In total, 70 adult male Wistar rats were divided randomly into ten main groups: Sham, TBI, TBI + DMSO, TBI + AUR (4 mg/kg), TBI + AUR (8 mg/kg), TBI + AUR (25 mg/kg), TBI + E2 group, TBI + AUR (4 mg/kg) + E2 group, TBI + AUR (8 mg/kg) + E2 group and TBI + AUR (25 mg/kg) + E2 group. Diffuse TBI was caused by the Marmarou process in male rats. The brain's tissues were harvested to check the parameters of oxidative stress and levels of inflammatory cytokine.

Results: The finding revealed that TBI induced a significant increase in brain edema, pro-inflammatory cytokines and oxidant levels [MDA and NO], and also a decrease in the brain's antioxidant biomarkers [GPx, SOD]. We also found that E2 and AUR (25 mg/kg) significantly preserved the levels of these biomarkers. The combination of AUR concentrations and E2 showed that this treatment efficiently preserved the levels of these biomarkers. Furthermore, the combination of E2 and AUR (25 mg/kg) c could cause the most effective synergistic interaction.

Conclusion: AUR could act synergistically with E2 to treat brain injury complications.

Subcutaneous metastasis in the operative route after intracranial meningioma resection is extremely rare. Here we describe the case of a 69-year-old male who was operated on in our department for a convexity meningioma that spread a few years after surgery in the soft tissues next to the craniotomy site. Twenty-one other cases have been found in the medical literature. In this article, we discuss mechanisms of growth, presentation and management of subcutaneous meningiomas.

Background: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and foot drop stimulators (FDS) are widely used for stroke rehabilitation. However, no study has investigated if tDCS could boost the effects of FDS and gait training in improving clinical parameters and neuroplasticity biomarkers of chronic post-stroke subjects.

Objective: To investigate the effects of combining tDCS and FDS on motor impairment, functional mobility, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) serum levels. Also, to evaluate the effects of this protocol on the insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), insulin growth factor-binding proteins-3 (IGFBP-3), interleukin (IL) 6 and 10, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels.

Methods: Thirty-two chronic post-stroke individuals were randomized to tDCS plus FDS or sham tDCS plus FDS groups. Both groups underwent ten gait training sessions for two weeks using a FDS device and real or sham tDCS. Blood samples and clinical data were acquired before and after the intervention. Motor impairment was assessed by the Fugl-Meyer Assessment and functional mobility using the Timed up and Go test.

Results: Both groups improved the motor impairment and functional mobility and increased the BDNF levels. Both groups also increased the IL-10 and decreased the cortisol, IL-6, and TNF-α levels. No difference was observed between groups.

Conclusion: tDCS did not add effect to FDS and gait training in improving clinical parameters and neuroplasticity biomarkers in chronic post-stroke individuals. Only FDS and gait training might be enough for people with chronic stroke to modify some clinical parameters and neuroplasticity biomarkers.

Background: Antiphospholipid antibody (APLA) syndrome is an autoimmune disorder predisposing to thrombotic complications affecting CNS either by arterial vaso occlusion or venous thrombosis. Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) secondarily produces raised intracranial pressure (ICP). However intracranial hypertension without evidence of CVST is rare entity.

Case presentation: We present two cases of elevated ICP with absence of identifiable CVST. Case 1, a 28-year-old female presented with a 2 months history of headache followed by bilateral vision loss. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) opening pressure and fundoscopy along with Contrast Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was suggestive of Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) and patient improved with acetazolamide. 5 months later she presented with acute onset right sided hemiparesis. MRI showed acute left Middle cerebral artery (MCA) territory infarct with normal contrast Magnetic resonance venography (MRV). Anti-cardiolipin and Beta 2 glycoprotein (both IgG and IgM) titres were elevated. Case 2, a 23-year-old female presented with headache and diplopia of 2 months duration. Based on CSF, fundoscopy and contrast MRI brain was diagnosed as IIH and she too responded to diuretics. 2 years later she presented with recurrence of headache and APLA profile showed elevated beta 2 glycoprotein IgG and IgA.

Conclusion: This is an important non thrombotic complication of APLA syndrome and requires further large-scale study for insight into the pathogenesis and early recognition to avoid future complications.

Objective: This study aims to compare the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and low-frequency (LF) repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in reducing symptom severity and depression and improving working memory in adults with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Methods: This is a randomized clinical trial conducted on 24 adults with OCD, randomly assigned into two groups of CBT (n = 12, received CBT with exposure and response prevention (ERP) individually at 20 sessions) and rTMS (n = 12, received LF (1-Hz) rTMS over the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) at 10 sessions). They completed the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale, the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, and two N-Back tasks before, immediately, and 1 month after interventions.

Results: Results showed a significant difference between the two methods in reducing the severity of OCD symptoms (p < 0.05) and depression (p = 0.002) immediately after interventions where the CBT with ERP was more effective, but no significant difference was found in terms of working memory (p > 0.05). No significant difference was found between groups in any study variables 1 month after interventions.

Conclusion: Individual CBT with ERP is superior to LF rTMS for reducing the severity of symptoms and depression in OCD patients. However, there is no difference between them in improving working memory.

Background: There is limited information on brain perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) findings related to motor outcomes in patients with stroke. We aimed to investigate whether brain SPECT can be used to determine motor outcomes after corona radiata infarction.

Methods: Eighty-nine patients were recruited in this study. Brain SPECT and diffusion tensor tractography (DTT) were conducted to evaluate the state of the corticospinal tract (CST) within 7-30 days of corona radiata infarct. Motor outcome was measured 6 months after infarct onset and was evaluated using the modified Brunnstrom classification (MBC) and functional ambulation category (FAC) for motor function of the upper and lower extremities, respectively. The presence of hypoperfusion on brain SPECT was evaluated in the frontal lobe, temporal lobe, parietal lobe, basal ganglia, thalamus, and cerebellum on both the ipsilesional and contralesional sides. Statistical analysis was performed using multivariate logistic regression, comparing patients in which CST was spared versus interrupted.

Results: Hypoperfusion in the contralesional cerebellum was indicative of poor recovery in both the upper and lower extremities after corona radiata infarction when the CST was interrupted. Additionally, when the CST was preserved, hypoperfusion in the ipsilesional thalamus was indicative of poor recovery of the lower extremities.

Conclusion: Brain SPECT evaluation was shown to be a useful tool for predicting motor outcomes in patients with corona radiata infarcts.

Aim: Multiple sclerosis is believed to be an autoimmune disease that is influenced by T helper (Th) cell differentiation. GATA3 plays an important role in reducing the development and severity of MS by shifting the differentiation of Th cells to Th2 and regulatory T cells while inhibiting the differentiation of Th1 and Th17 cells. Considering the functional role of rs1058240 SNP in the 3'-UTR of GATA3 mRNA, the association of target SNP with the risk of RRMS was examined.

Methods: Genomic DNA was extracted from whole blood samples of 200 RRMS patients and 226 healthy individuals as a control group. Different genotypes of rs1058240 SNP were determined using the RFLP-PCR technique. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software and χ2 and logistic regression tests. The stability of GATA3 mRNA secondary structures and the binding patterns of GATA3-miRNAs with different alleles were evaluated using RNAfold and RNAhybrid programs, respectively.

Results: The results indicated that the GATA3 rs1058240 G allele (p value = 0.010, OR = 1.45, CI = 1.09-1.93) and GG genotype (adjusted p value = 0.017, OR = 2.27, 95%CI = 1.16-4.44) increased the risk of RRMS, particularly in women (adjusted p value = 0.006, OR = 2.99, 95%CI = 1.37-6.52). Bioinformatics analysis revealed that although the allelic variation of this polymorphism had only a slight effect on mRNA stability (-177 to -177.20), the G allele significantly increased miRNA binding strength and miRNA-mRNA thermodynamic stability for hsa-miR-337-5p, hsa-miR-4445-3p, hsa-miR-4485-3p, hsa-miR-95-3p (ΔMFE > 0) compared to the A allele.

Conclusion: The G allele and GG genotype of rs1058240 in GATA3 mRNA 3'-UTR were found to be risk factors for increasing the susceptibility to RRMS.

Purpose: Cerebral ischemia is the result of decreased or interrupted blood flow to the brain. It is the third leading cause of death after cardiovascular disease and cancer. Cerebral ischemia is reversible or irreversible in neurons in the affected area, and subsequent free radical damage can be exacerbated if reperfusion occurs. Ciproxifan is used to study the involvement of histaminergic neurons in different phases such as wakefulness and cognition. We wanted to find out whether ciproxifan has a protective effect on the brain of rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Materials and methods: A total of 64 adult rats (32 male and 32 female) were used for the experiment. Eight cages were formed with randomly selected rats. No substance was administered to the rats in Group 1 and no surgical procedure was performed. The cerebral ischemia-reperfusion model (clamping of the left common carotid artery for 15 min followed by reperfusion for 24 h) was applied to rats in Group 2, Group 3, and Group 4 after 7 days/single dose of saline and ciproxifan (10 mg/kg, 30 mg/kg). After that, the activitymeter, forced swim test (FST), and Morris water maze (MWM) were performed on all animals.

Results: Rats treated with ciproxifan exhibit neurons and glial cells with histologic structures similar to those of the control group, and interestingly, these differences became more pronounced with increasing dose. Rats administered ciproxifan improved motor coordination, decreased total distance behavior, and improved learning ability. However, when the groups were compared by sex, no significant difference was found in the parameters.

Conclusion: Thus, we could conclude that ciproxifan has a protective effect on the brain to a certain extent, regardless of the dose.