Effects of estrogen receptor GPR30 agonist G1 on neuronal apoptosis and microglia polarization in traumatic brain injury rats / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

<p><b>PURPOSE</b>To investigate the effects of estrogen G protein-coupled receptor 30 (GPR30) agonist G1 on hippocampal neuronal apoptosis and microglial polarization in rat traumatic brain injury (TBI).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Male SD rats were randomly divided into sham group, TBI + vehicle group, TBI + G1 group. Experimental moderate TBI was induced using Feeney's weigh-drop method. G1 (100μg/kg) or vehicle was intravenously injected from femoral vein at 30 min post-injury. Rats were sacrificed at 24 h after injury for detection of neuronal apoptosis and microglia polarization. Neuronal apoptosis was assayed by immunofluorescent staining of active caspase-3. M1 type microglia markers (iNOS and IL-1β) and M2 type markers (Arg1 and IL-4) were examined by immunoblotting or ELISA. Total protein level of Akt and phosphorylated Akt were assayed by immunoblotting.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>G1 significantly reduced active caspase-3 positive neurons in hippocampus. Meanwhile G1 increased the ratio of Arg1/iNOS. IL-1β production was decreased but IL-4 was increased after G1 treatment. G1 treatment also increased the active form of Akt.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>GPR30 agonist G1 inhibited neuronal apoptosis and favored microglia polarization to M2 type.</p>

Primary endodermal sinus tumor in the posterior cranial fossa: clinical analysis of 7 cases / 中国医学科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To clarify the clinical features, therapeutic method and outcomes of the primary endodermal sinus tumors (ESTs) in the posterior cranial fossa.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The English literatures on EST in the posterior cranial fossa were retrieved from PubMed and reviewed. And a 4-year-old boy diagnosed with EST in our hospital was reported. The clinical manifestations, therapy, pathologic features, and prognosis of these cases were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Only seven cases of the ESTs in the posterior cranial fossa were enrolled in this review, including six cases searched from the PubMed and one case from our hospital. Six patients were boy and one patient's gender was not available from the report. Ages ranged from 1 to 5 years (mean 3.14 years). The mean tumor size in our cohort was 4.4 cm. Six cases came from East Asia. Schiller-Duval bodies were found in all seven neoplasms. All tumors were positive for alpha-fetoprotein. The alpha-fetoprotein level in serum was increased to a very high level before therapy and depressed quickly after the effective chemotherapy. The mean follow-up time was 24.4 months (range 5-52 months). Six tumors were totally removed, and four of them recurred. Three cases died including one whose tumor was partially removed.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The serum alpha-fetoprotein level is well correlated with the severity of the tumor. A combination of operation and chemotherapy might be the effective management for EST in the posterior cranial fossa. The prognosis of extragonadal intracranial EST is poor.</p>

Clinical microanatomy of the bridging veins draining into the superior saggital sinus in the anterior transcallosal approach / 中华神经医学杂志

Objective To observe the microanatomy of the bridging veins emptying into the superior sagittal sinus (SSS) for preservation of the bridging veins in surgeries through the anterior transcallosal approach. Methods Blue latex was injected into the SSS and internal jugular veins in 20 cadaver heads (40 sides), in which the bridging veins of the frontal zone and central zone were dissociated and their positions relative to the body surface were determined. Such indexes of the lateral veins in each zone as the caliber, the number of bridging veins, and convergence angle were determined. The opposite hemisphere was manipulated in an identical manner to measure the indexes of the sagittal sinus. Results in an area posterior to the frontal region of the SSS, a "safe zone" was identified where no bridging veins drained into the SSS, covering the area 32.6 nun anterior and 7.5 mm posterior to the coronal suture. After complete dissociation of the bridging veins near the longitudinal fissure in the "safe zone", the fissure allowed an opening width of 4.48～10.86 mm. Conclusion Thorough knowledge of the venous anatomy can help avoid the bridging veins in the anterior transcallosal approach. Total dissociation of the sticking segment and arachnoid segment of the bridging veins can broaden the opening width of the longitudinal fissure without increasing the tension of the bridging veins to better preserve the bridging veins during surgery.