Ki20227 aggravates apoptosis, inflammatory response, and oxidative stress after focal cerebral ischemia injury.

The survival of microglia depends on the colony-stimulating factor-1 receptor (CSF1R) signaling pathway under physiological conditions. Ki20227 is a highly selective CSF1R inhibitor that has been shown to change the morphology of microglia. However, the effects of Ki20227 on the progression of ischemic stroke are unclear. In this study, male C57BL/6 mouse models of focal cerebral ischemic injury were established through the occlusion of the middle cerebral artery and then administered 3 mg/g Ki20227 for 3 successive days. The results revealed that the number of ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1/bromodeoxyuridine double positive cells in the infarct tissue was reduced, the degree of edema was increased, neurological deficits were aggravated, infarct volume was increased, and the number of peri-infarct Nissl bodies was reduced. The number of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling-positive cells in the peri-infarct tissue was increased. The expression levels of Bax and Cleaved caspase-3 were up-regulated. Bcl-2 expression was downregulated. The expression levels of inflammatory factors and oxidative stress-associated factors were increased. These findings suggested that Ki20227 blocked microglial proliferation and aggravated the pathological progression of ischemia/reperfusion injury in a transient middle cerebral artery occlusion model. This study was approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of Lanzhou University Second Hospital (approval No. D2020-68) on March 6, 2020.

Bilateral Dysplastic Gangliocytoma with Concurrent Polyostotic Fibrous Dysplasia: A Case Report and Literature Review.

BACKGROUND: Dysplastic gangliocytoma is a sporadic cerebellar benign tumor with the characteristics of hamartoma and true tumor, also known as Lhermitte-Duclos disease (LDD). Bone fibrous dysplasia (FD) is a slowly progressive self-limited benign bone tissue disease. Cowden syndrome, an autosomal dominant genetic disorder caused by germline mutations in the PTEN gene, is considered to be closely related to dysplastic gangliocytoma. McCune-Albright syndrome is a disease characterized by café-au-lait skin macules, polyostotic FD, and precocious puberty. The etiologic mechanism of both conditions is not yet clear. We report a rare case of bilateral dysplastic gangliocytoma with concurrent polyostotic FD. CASE DESCRIPTION: We describe a 16-year-old boy with both LDD and FD. He presented for medical examination with headache and poor eyesight. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed proliferation of the skull and abnormal signals in the cerebellum, and supratentorial hydrocephalus. Subtotal resection of the cerebellar tumor was performed, and the diagnosis of LDD and FD was confirmed by histopathology. No other abnormal changes were found in systemic medical examination and no PTEN gene mutation was found in the genetic analysis; therefore, the diagnoses of Cowden syndrome and McCune-Albright syndrome were excluded. CONCLUSIONS: LDD and FD are 2 rare diseases, and the simultaneous occurrence of the 2 conditions has not been reported before, to our knowledge. Our report challenges the etiology of the 2 diseases and the relationship between them, hoping to provide a reference for the study of the 2 diseases.

Animal experimental studies using small intestine endoscope.

AIM: To assess the feasibility and safety of a novel enteroscope, negative-pressure suction endoscope in examining the small intestine of a porcine model. METHODS: In vitro experiments in small intestinal loops from 20 pigs and in vivo experiments in 20 living pigs were conducted. RESULTS: In in vitro experiments, a negative pressure of > 0.06 MPa was necessary for optimal visualization of the intestine, and this pressure did not cause gross or histological damage to the mucosa. For satisfactory examination of the small intestine in vivo, higher negative pressure (> 1.00 MPa) was required. Despite this higher pressure, the small intestine did not show any gross or microscopic damage in the suctioned areas. The average time of examination in the living animals was 60 ± 7.67 min. The animals did not experience any apparent ill effects from the procedure. CONCLUSION: Small intestine endoscope was safely performed within a reasonable time period and enabled complete visualization of the intestine in most cases.

Effects of mild hypothermia on patients with lower intracranial pressure following severe brain injury.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of mild hypothermia therapy on severe brain-injured patients whose intracranial pressure (ICP) could be maintained below 25 mm Hg. METHODS: Forty severe brain-injured patients with ICP below 25 mm Hg were divided randomly into one treatment group (n=20, mild hypothermia therapy) and one control group (n=20, normothermia therapy) to observe the changes of the concentration of excitatory amino acids (glutamate and glycine) and cytokines (interleukin-1beta and interleukin-6). RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the daily changes of the concentration of excitatory amino acid and cytokines between two groups. The outcome of two groups had no significant differences. CONCLUSIONS: Mild hypothermia has no additional beneficial effects on severe brain-injured patients compared with normothermia therapy if ICP can be maintained below 25 mm Hg by using conventional therapy.

[Clinical study on the treatment of severe neurocysticercosis].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the therapeutic efficacy of albendazole combined with surgical intervention on intracranial hypertension in the treatment of severe neurocysticercosis. METHODS: Seventy-four consecutive patients with severe neurocysticercosis were confirmed by neuroimaging techniques (CT and/or MRI) and ELISA for the detection of antibody to cysticerci of Taenia solium. The number of cysticerci in the brain ranged from 100 to 1160. All patients were treated with albendazole by dose-decreasing regimen. Initial tolerable dosage was defined by dose-decreasing progressively, depending on the total number of cysticerci; then the dose of albendazole was increased progressively, and ultimate dosage was 20 mg per kilogram of body weight daily. Albendazole was taken for 3-4 courses (10 days as a course). Drugs to reduce intracranial pressure were used in all patients during the treatment, including mannitol, corticosteroids and/or sodium escin. 67 patients with intracranial hypertension were treated with surgical treatment, including drainage of cerebral ventricle and/or decompression of temporal muscle. All patients received antiseizure medications to prevent the onset of seizures during the treatment. RESULTS: The combination of albendazole and surgical intervention was curative in 69 of 74 patients with neurocysticercosis after a follow-up of an average 37.2 (19-52) months. CT and/or MRI examination demonstrated that the cysts had disappeared or become calcified. Only 1 case failed because there were 1160 cysts in the brain of the patient. CONCLUSION: The combination of albendazole and surgical maneuvers to reduce intracranial pressure is a safe and effective method for treating severe neurocysticercosis.