Neurological Research最新文献

Introduction: We aimed to investigate the effects of central kisspeptin-10 and p234 administration on basal brain activity and epilepsy-like conditions induced by 4-aminopyridine (4-AP), as well as their roles in the electrocorticogram (ECoG) power spectrum and EEG waves.

Methods: Thirty-five male Wistar rats were divided into five groups: sham,4-AP (2.5 mg/kg i.p.), kisspeptin-10 post-treatment (200 pmoli.c.v.), p234 post-treatment (1 nmol i.c.v.), and p234 pre-treatment (1 nmol i.c.v.). We performed 70 minutes of recordings (10 min baseline) for all groups under ketamine/xylazine (90/10 mg/kg) anesthesia. In the post-treatment groups, kisspeptin-10 or p234 injections were administered 20 minutes after epilepsy induction. In the pre-treatment group, p234 was injected after baseline recordings. Following a 20-minute pre-treatment period, 4-AP was administered.

Results: 4-AP alone induced epileptiform activity in all animals, reaching apeak after 30 minutes. Neither kisspeptin-10 nor p234 post-treatment affected 4-AP-induced epileptiform activity (p > 0.05). However, p234 pre-treatment reduced epileptiform activity (p < 0.05). Additionally, kisspeptin-10 did not alter the spectral analysis of the EEG bands or the power of the ECoG (p > 0.05). In contrast, p234 reduced the power of the ECoG and the slow bands (delta and theta) (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: We conclude that p234 pre-treatment has an inhibitory effect on neuronal excitability and epileptiform activity in the neocortex.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of intraoperative intravenous lidocaine administration in the management of sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE).

Methods: This retrospective cohort analysis included 165 patients diagnosed with SAE, who were categorized into two groups: the lidocaine group (n = 55) and the control group (n = 110). The lidocaine group received an intravenous injection of lidocaine at 1.5 mg/kg following anesthesia induction, and then received a continuous infusion at 1.5 mg/kg/h until the completion of surgery. The control group did not receive lidocaine during surgery. Data collected included patient demographics, medical history, infection site, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, laboratory results, anesthetic agents used, surgery duration, and length of stay in the intensive care unit (ICU). The primary outcome was the in-hospital prognosis of SAE.

Results: Patients in the lidocaine group had a significantly shorter ICU stay and a significantly higher rate of favorable prognosis compared with the control group (p < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified age and surgery duration as risk factors for SAE prognosis, whereas intraoperative intravenous lidocaine, GCS score, and intravenous dexmedetomidine emerged as protective factors.

Conclusion: Intraoperative intravenous administration of lidocaine significantly enhanced the prognosis of SAE patients.

Objectives: To evaluate success, complications and efficacy for endovascular management for carotid blowout syndrome.

Methods: Images were evaluated for contrast extravasation, vessel wall irregularity, pseudoaneurysm/aneurysm formation. Hemostatic results in the immediate postprocedural period and procedure related infarcts were assessed.

Results: Total of 20 lesions in 21 patients were detected on digital subtraction angiography (DSA). In a case of esthesioneuroblastoma with active bleeding, DSA failed to show vascular abnormality. There was active contrast extravasation in 7 cases. Treatment modalities included covered stent placement (n = 3), pseudoaneurysm/aneurysm embolization (n = 4), parent artery occlusion (n = 13) and PVA injection (n = 1) in the immediate postoperative period was achieved in all except one case. During the post-procedural period, 6 patients (28.6%) suffered from cerebral ischemia. Rebleeding episodes were encountered in 10 cases (47.6%) after a mean duration of 35 days which responded to tamponade in 4 cases. Diagnostic DSA was performed in 5 of the cases, which failed to identify bleeding source in 2 and remaining 3 cases were treated by endovascular means. A case with massive hemorrhage 1-hour after endovascular treatment died before any intervention could be performed.

Conclusion: Endovascular treatment can achieve immediate hemostasis to prevent otherwise a highly morbid and mortal complication. However, rebleeding rates are high and cerebral ischemia with or without neurologic deficit occur in a non-negligible percentage of patients.

Objective: Within the scope of this research, the long-term effects of experimental blunt head trauma on immature rats and MK-801 administered acutely after trauma on the brain tissue will be examined. In addition, the impact of trauma and MK-801 on Nestin and CD133, which are essential stem cells, will be evaluated by immunohistochemical and ELISA methods.

Methods: In this study, the contusion trauma model was used. Sprague Dawley rats 30 7-day-old were divided into three groups: Group 1 (n = 10) control group, Group 2 (n = 10) trauma Group (head trauma applied), and Group 3 (n = 10) MK-801 + trauma Group. In the third group, immediately after head trauma, MK-801 (Sigma M107) dissolved in physiological saline was administered as a single dose of 1 mg/kg ip.

Results: The concentration of nestin was significantly higher in the control group compared to both the trauma and trauma+drug groups (p < 0.001). CD133 was statistically significantly higher in the control group compared to the other two groups (p = 0.002). It was determined that the differences in Nestin CA1 and DG measurements resulted from the trauma and control and trauma and trauma+drug groups, and the differences in CD133 CA1 and DG measurements resulted from the trauma and control group.

Conclusion: The positive effect of MK-801 on neuroprotective and neuronal proliferation was elaborated. Administration of MK-801 significantly induced nestin and CD133 concentrations in the injured tissue.

Background: Immune dysregulation is commonly associated with neurodegenerative diseases (NDs), yet the underlying causes and mechanisms still require further investigation.

Objective: This study investigates the correlation between immune-related plasma proteins and the risk of NDs by integrating genome-wide association study (GWAS) data for Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and multiple sclerosis (MS) with plasma proteome analysis.

Methods: By analyzing GWAS data for 4907 immune-related plasma proteins, this research evaluates the direct impact of plasma proteins on the risk of four NDs: AD, PD, ALS, and MS. Additionally, the study conducts an analysis of protein expression levels using single-cell RNA sequencing data.

Results: We have identified plasma proteins that are closely associated with the risk of NDs. Using stringent criteria, we identified 88 proteins associated with AD, 115 with PD, 100 with ALS, and 87 with MS. Additionally, single-cell sequencing analyzed the protein expression and its distribution within different cell types in the brain.

Conclusions: Our research has demonstrated that plasma proteins may contribute to the risk of NDs, and it has also provided concrete evidence linking genetic susceptibility for these diseases to immune mechanisms. Furthermore, we found that specific proteins influence genetic variations linked to NDs risk via plasma-mediated regulation, emphasizing the importance of interactions between the brain and circulatory system.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of eight weeks of aerobic training (AT) and vitamin C supplementation (VC) on apoptotic markers in hippocampus tissue of AD rats treated with trimethyltin (TMT).

Materials and methods: In this experimental study, 32 Sprague- Dawley rats (mean age: 14-18 months and mean weight 270-320 g) were treated with (10 mg/kg) TMT and divided into 4 groups including: 1) ADcontrol, 2) VC, 3) AT and 4) AT+VC groups. In order to investigate the effects of AD induction on research variables, 8 healthy rats selected as healthy control group (HC). Groups 3 and 4 trained for eight weeks, three sessions per week and each session lasted 15-48 minutes with an intensity of 10-24 m/min. Groups 2 and 4 received 4 mg/kg VC orally. One-way ANOVA with Tukey's post- hoc tests were used for statistical analysis of data (p ≤ 0.05).

Results: The gene expression levels of Caspase 3, FasL, Cyt-C and AP-1 in the AT, VC and AT+VC groups were significantly lower than TMT group (p ≤ 0.05); Caspase 3, FasL and Cyt-C levels were significantly lower in the AT+VC group compare to VC and ET groups (p ≤ 0.05). CytC levels in AT group were significantly lower than VC group (p = 0.002). Also, AP-1 levels in AT+VC group were significantly lower than AT group (p = 0.01).

Conclusions: It seems that AT and VC, both alone and interactively, can probably induce their anti-apoptotic effects in the hippocampus tissue of rats with AD via a common signaling pathway.

Objective: Here, we aim to investigate whether D-dimer (DD)/fibrinogen (FIB) ratio or combination of DD and FIB contribute to the prognosis of stroke and stroke subtypes.

Methods: 1413 patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) were recruited. We measured DD and FIB levels on admission and followed up with patients at discharge and 90-day following discharge. We analyzed the association between DD/FIB ratio and poor function outcome of AIS and different AIS subtypes. Similarly, logistic regression model was used to estimate the combined effect of DD level and FIB level on the poor outcomes of stroke and stroke subtypes.

Results: The patients with DD+FIB+ or high DD/FIB ratio tended to have the high risk of severe neurological deficits at both discharge and 90-day following discharge. In the subgroup analysis, high DD/FIB ratio was significantly associated with the poor function outcome in cardioembolism (CE) and large-artery atherosclerosis (LAA) subtypes. DD+FIB+ was strongly associated with the poor function outcome in CE subtype at discharge and 90-day.

Conclusion: DD/FIB ratio and combination of DD and FIB may have more significant prognostic value of stroke and stroke subtypes than either index of DD or FIB alone in AIS patients.

Background: Endothelial dysfunction and inflammation are linked to migraine, which may contribute to atherogenesis and increase the risk of ischemia. In migraineurs, preclinical vascular involvement manifested as compromised structural characteristics of vessel wall has not received enough attention or evaluation.

Objectives: To measure plasma pentraxin 3 as an indicator of endothelial dysfunction in migraine in comparison to controls and to examine its correlation with clinical characteristics, headache severity, and brain magnetic resonance imaging findings.

Subjects and methods: This study was conducted on 40 migraineurs and 40 healthy matched control subjects. The severity and intensity of headaches were quantified using the Headache Impact Test and the translated Arabic version of Migraine Disability assessment questionnaires. Both patients and controls underwent routine laboratory assessment, brain MR imaging, and measurement of plasma pentraxin 3 level.

Results: Patients with migraine had a significantly higher mean plasma pentraxin 3 when compared to controls. Patients with chronic migraine and those taking ergots also had significantly higher plasma pentraxin 3 levels. Additionally, there were statistically significant positive correlation between frequency of headaches and duration of the disease with plasma pentraxin 3 level. For diagnosing endothelial dysfunction in migraine patients, the sensitivity and specificity of pentraxin 3 levels were 85% and 95%, respectively, with cut-off value of 3.100 ng/ml.

Conclusion: Pentraxin 3 levels could be used as a chemical biomarker for endothelial dysfunction in migraines with high sensitivity and specificity. Higher plasma levels of pentraxin 3 in patients receiving ergots may influence the selection of treatment for migraine patients.

Background: Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) is an uncommon form of cerebrovascular disease. Although our understanding of CVST has improved significantly over the past decades, there has been no bibliometric analysis of CVST until now. We aimed to examine and visualize the hotspots and trends of the research related to CVST using a bibliometric analysis based on Citespace and provide new insights for scholars in their future researches in this area.

Methods: The literature on CVST was collected from the Web of Science Core Collection database. Bibliometric analysis was performed using CiteSpace (6.2.R3) Advanced software.

Results: A total of 2396 articles were included in the analysis. Publications regarding CVST have increased over time. U.S.A. contributed the most articles. Ferro JM had the highest number of published papers. Stroke was the journal with the most publications and the most commonly cited journal. Nine out of the top 10 cited journals belong to Q1. The risk factors for CVST, emerging and current treatment of CVST, and CVST related to COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccines are the major potential research hot spots and trends.

Conclusions: CVST is a rapidly expanding research area and has received increasing attention by the researchers. Our study can provide researchers valuable information on the current status and trends in this area and guide for future studies.