Correlation between serum S100ß protein levels and cognitive dysfunction in patients with cerebral small vessel disease: a case-control study.

The present study was designed to explore the correlation between serum S100ß levels and cognitive dysfunction in patients with cerebral small vessel disease (SVD). A total of 172 SVD patients participated in the study, and they were assigned to patients with no cognitive impairment (NCI group) and those with vascular cognitive impairment no dementia (VCIND group). In total, 105 people were recruited into the normal control group. Serum S100ß protein level was detected by ELISA. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was employed for the predictive value of serum S100ß in diagnosing SVD with cognitive dysfunction. Pearson correlation analysis was used to examine the association of S100ß level with mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) and the association of S100ß levels with hypertension. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze risk factors of SVD. The serum S100ß levels in the VCIND group were higher than those in the NCI and normal control groups. Logistic regression analysis revealed that a high serum S100ß protein level, hypertension, and high low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) level were the independent risk factors for SVD. In addition, hypertension patients showed higher S100ß levels than those with normal blood pressure and the normal control group, and there was a positive correlation between S100ß level and blood pressure. The concentration of serum S100ß level was related to impairment of cognition function of VCIND patients, therefore, early detection of serum S100ß was of great value for diagnosis of SVD.

Management of Pyogenic Cerebral Ventriculitis by Neuroendoscopic Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Pyogenic cerebral ventriculitis is a debilitating form of intracranial infection with an unfavorable outcome as a result of lack of experience in surgical management. OBJECTIVE: To study retrospectively a group of pyogenic cerebral ventriculitis patients managed by neuroendoscopic surgery (NES). METHODS: The standard intraventricular protocols of NES to treat this disease included 1 or more of the following: 1) obliteration of debris, 2) evidence of microbial infection, 3) septomy, 4) incision of the septation, or 5) monitoring catheter insertion. Modified external ventricular drainage EVD (mEVD) was combined with NES when intraventricular debris and bacterial plaques could not be evacuated completely. Subsequent surgical treatment strategies depended on the clinical manifestation, cerebrospinal fluid analysis, and mEVD blockage tests approximately 3 weeks after the last NES. RESULTS: Forty-one patients, who were distributed in 7 hospitals and underwent NES, were included. Five patients received 1 NES, 18 received 2, 16 received 3, and 2 received 4. mEVD was performed in all patients, and mean mEVD duration in the hospital was 27.6 days. At discharge, 15 patients were cured, 15 were cured but ventriculoperitoneal shunt dependent, 9 were mEVD dependent, and 2 died (mean modified Rankin Scale score was 2.48). Two mEVD-dependent patients died, and no other outcomes changed during postoperative follow-up (mean modified Rankin Scale score, 2.67). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest a relatively favorable outcome for management of pyogenic cerebral ventriculitis by NES. The techniques and strategies are practical and should be applied more extensively.

Rhesus monkey neural stem cell transplantation promotes neural regeneration in rats with hippocampal lesions.

Rhesus monkey neural stem cells are capable of differentiating into neurons and glial cells. Therefore, neural stem cell transplantation can be used to promote functional recovery of the nervous system. Rhesus monkey neural stem cells (1 × 105 cells/µL) were injected into bilateral hippocampi of rats with hippocampal lesions. Confocal laser scanning microscopy demonstrated that green fluorescent protein-labeled transplanted cells survived and grew well. Transplanted cells were detected at the lesion site, but also in the nerve fiber-rich region of the cerebral cortex and corpus callosum. Some transplanted cells differentiated into neurons and glial cells clustering along the ventricular wall, and integrated into the recipient brain. Behavioral tests revealed that spatial learning and memory ability improved, indicating that rhesus monkey neural stem cells noticeably improve spatial learning and memory abilities in rats with hippocampal lesions.

The effects of hyperbaric oxygen on macrophage polarization after rat spinal cord injury.

The immunoreactive responses are a two-edged sword after spinal cord injury (SCI). Macrophages are the predominant inflammatory cells responsible for this response. However, the mechanism underlying the effects of HBOT on the immunomodulation following SCI is unclear now. The present study was performed to examine the effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) on macrophage polarization after the rat compressive injury of the spinal cord. HBOT was associated with significant increases in IL-4 and IL-13 levels, and reductions in TNF-α and IFN-É£ levels. This was associated simultaneously with the levels of alternatively activated macrophages (M2 phenotype: arginase-1- or CD206-positive), and decreased levels of classically activated macrophages (M1 phenotype: iNOS- or CD16/32-positive). These changes were associated with functional recovery in the HBOT-transplanted group, which correlated with preserved axons and increased myelin sparing. Our results suggested that HBOT after SCI modified the inflammatory environment by shifting the macrophage phenotype from M1 to M2, which may further promote the axonal extension and functional recovery.

Sexual dysfunction in women after low anterior resection.

Low anterior resection procedures are likely to negatively affect pelvic floor function, which are correlated with sexual dysfunction. The purpose of the study was to explore the prevalence of sexual problems in women with rectal cancer after low anterior resection (LAR). The study consisted of an LAR group (n = 32) and a group of healthy women (n = 32). Female sexual function was evaluated using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). A total of 71.8% of those with LAR reported sexual dysfunction, compared to 18.8% in those who are healthy. The FSFI domain scores were significantly lower for the LAR group relative to the healthy group. Logistic regression revealed that group, education, and age were predictors of female sexual functioning. Women who have had an LAR are at higher risk of sexual function problems. The sexual function of women with LAR should be evaluated in patient discharge planning; nurses should provide more information regarding the impact of LAR on sexual function.

[A technique of rhesus monkey neural progenitor cells intravitreal transplant to rats].

To investigate a simple and effective intraocular xenotransplant technique of rhesus monkey neural progenitor cells to rats, mechanical injury was induced in the rat's right retina. And the GFP-labeled rhesus monkey neural progenitor cells suspension was slowly injected into the vitreous space of the right injured and left control eye. Confocal image suggested that the xenografted cells survived in both the injured and control eye, meanwhile the cells integrated in the injured right retina. The results demonstrated that intravitreal xenotransplant could be adopted as a simple and reliable method.

[Expression of VEGF and NGF in gliomas of human].

OBJECTIVE: To examine the expression of vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) in gliomas of human, and investigate the relationship between VEGF, NGF and pathologic grading as well as tumorigenesis of gliomas. METHODS: Immunohistochemistry (SP) and Western blot were applied to evaluate the expression of VEGF and NGF in 5 cases of normal controls and 20 cases of human gliomas. RESULTS: VEGF and NGF were expressed in both normal brain tissues and gliomas. VEGF was observed mainly in the cytoplasm of gliomas, while NGF were occurred in both cytoplasm and nucleus of gliomas. Western blot analysis demonstrated that the expression level of VEGF and NGF was significantly higher than that in normal controls (P< 0.05), and a significant difference in vary pathologic grading gliomas was also observed. CONCLUSION: VEGF and NGF were expressed in both the normal brain tissues and gliomas. The level of VEGF and NGF in gliomas was upregulated than that of the normal controls. The results indicate VEGF and NGF may play an important role in the tumorigenesis of gliomas, and relate to the extent of gliomas malignant.

[Study on the expression of BDNF in human gliomas].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factors (BDNF) in gliomas of human, and explore the relation between BDNF and pathologic grading and tumorigenesis of gliomas. METHODS: Immunohistochemistry (SP) and Western blot were applied to evaluate the expression of BDNF in 5 cases of normal controls and 20 cases of gliomas from different pathologic grading. RESULTS: The expression of BDNF was observed mainly occurred in the cytoplasm of both normal brain tissues and gliomas. Western blot analysis showed that the expression level of BDNF in gliomas was significantly higher than that of normal controls (P<0.05), and a gradually increased expression of BDNF in vary pathologic grading (grade I, II, III, IV) gliomas was also observed. CONCLUSION: The expression of BDNF in gliomas of human was greatly upregulated, indicating BDNF may play an important role in the tumorigenesis of gliomas, and relate with pathologic grading.