Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Efficacy of MLC901 (NeuroAiD IITM) for Acute Ischemic Brain Injury in Animal Models.

INTRODUCTION: Moleac (MLC) 901 is a traditional Chinese medication approved by the Sino Food and Drug Administration in 2001 for treating stroke. This study aims to analyze the efficacy of MLC901 in animal stroke models after medial cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). METHODS: Literature selection was performed according to the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA) 2015. Inclusion criteria for the experimental studies were the use of animal models, publication in English between 1990 and 2020, information regarding the intervention technique used, and outcomes regarding the efficacy of MLC901 administration. RESULTS: MLC901 administration resulted in significantly less infarction volume by a mean difference of 17.17 compared to the control group (p < .00001). The MLC901 group resulted in significant improvement in 5-bromo-20-deoxyuridine (BrdU)-positive cells expression by a mean difference of 662.79 (p < .00001) and neurological function, which was indicated by a mean difference in the Bederson Neurological Outcome Score of 1.40 (p < .00001). CONCLUSIONS: MLC901 administration in an animal stroke model resulted in a better reduction in infarction volume and improvement in BrdU expression and neurologic function. These data could help in further determining the efficacy of MLC901 for acute ischemic brain injury in humans.

VIM Line Technique for Determining the Ventral Intermediate Location.

AIM: To prove that VIM line technique created by using a mathematical model, can be used to identify the location of the ventral intermediate nucleus of the thalamus (VIM) MATERIAL and METHODS: Eleven patients with Parkinson?s disease (PD) were assessed. To determine the VIM location, 3-T magnetic resonance imaging and stereotactic protocol 128-slice computed tomography were used. The VIM line technique was performed by drawing a line from the end-point of the right external globus pallidus to that of the left external globus pallidus in the intercommissural plane. PD severity was measured using the Unified Parkinson?s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS). RESULTS: A mathematical model was constructed to describe the VIM line technique for determining the VIM location. UPDRS scores before and after thalamotomy showed a significant decreasing trend (p=0.003). CONCLUSION: The VIM line technique using the mathematical model can be considered a referential method to determine the VIM location. Its effectiveness was demonstrated by decreased UPDRS scores in patients after VIM thalamotomy.