Enabling Survival of Transplanted Neural Precursor Cells in the Ischemic Brain.

There is no effective therapy for ischemic stroke following the acute stage. Neural transplantation offers a potential option for repairing the ischemic lesion. However, this strategy is hindered by the poor survival of the neural precursor cells (NPCs) that are transplanted into the inflammatory ischemic core. Here, a chemical cocktail consisting of fibrinogen and maraviroc is developed to promote the survival of the transplanted NPCs in the ischemic core of the mouse cerebral cortex. The grafted NPCs survive in the presence of the cocktail but not fibrinogen or maraviroc alone at day 7. The surviving NPCs divide and differentiate to mature neurons by day 30, reconstituting the infarct cortex with vascularization. Molecular analysis in vivo and in vitro shows that blocking the activation of CCR5 on the NPCs protects the NPCs from apoptosis induced by pro-inflammatory factors, revealing the underlying protective effect of the cocktail for NPCs. The findings open an avenue to enable survival of the transplanted NPCs under the inflammatory neurological conditions like stroke.

Anxiety disorder in menopausal women and the intervention efficacy of mindfulness-based stress reduction.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the current situation of anxiety disorder in menopausal women and to analyze the intervention effect of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). METHODS: A total of 489 patients diagnosed with menopausal syndrome from July 2021 to June 2022 were selected as the study object. There were 120 patients with menopausal syndrome complicated with anxiety who were screened out by the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7). The patients were divided into an experimental group (62 cases) and a control group (58 cases) according to the random number table method. The experimental group received MBSR intervention, and the control group received routine intervention. The present situation of menopausal women's anxiety disorder was analyzed. The Five Facet Mindfulness Questionaire (FFMQ) score, GAD-7 score, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol (E2), and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) levels of the two groups were compared. RESULTS: After a statistical analysis, it was found that the incidence of anxiety in patients with menopausal syndrome was 24.54% (120/489). The severity of menopausal syndrome was positively correlated with the degree of anxiety (r = 0.621, P<0.001). After the intervention, in comparison with the control group, the FFMQ score was higher and the GAD-7 score was lower in the experimental group. The levels of FSH were decreased, and the levels of E2 and 5-HT were increased in both groups, with more significant alterations in the observation group (all P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of anxiety disorder in menopausal women was high and its severity was related to the severity of menopausal syndrome. MBSR intervention can alleviate anxiety symptoms and improve hormone levels in the patients.

Quantitative differences between cyclin-dependent kinases underlie the unique functions of CDK1 in human cells.

One of the most intriguing features of cell-cycle control is that, although there are multiple cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) in higher eukaryotes, a single CDK is responsible for both G1-S and G2-M in yeasts. By leveraging a rapid conditional silencing system in human cell lines, we confirm that CDK1 assumes the role of G1-S CDK in the absence of CDK2. Unexpectedly, CDK1 deficiency does not prevent mitotic entry. Nonetheless, inadequate phosphorylation of mitotic substrates by noncanonical cyclin B-CDK2 complexes does not allow progression beyond metaphase and underscores deleterious late mitotic events, including the uncoupling of anaphase A and B and cytokinesis. Elevation of CDK2 to a level similar to CDK1 overcomes the mitotic defects caused by CDK1 deficiency, indicating that the relatively low concentration of CDK2 accounts for the defective anaphase. Collectively, these results reveal that the difference between G2-M and G1-S CDKs in human cells is essentially quantitative.

Hospital readmissions after stroke in patients with and without dementia and undergone gastrostomy tube placement.

INTRODUCTION: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) in stroke patients is associated with high hospital readmission rates. The impact of dementia on hospital readmission rates in stroke patients who underwent PEG is unknown. We aimed to assess if stroke patients with dementia who undergo PEG are at risk for readmission. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective, observational study using the National Readmission Database from Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) from 2013 to 2014. Patients 65 years or older admitted with stroke and who had gastrostomy in the same hospital admission were included. We compared readmission rates at 30 and 60 days between patients with and without dementia and assessed the five most common readmission diagnosis. The association of dementia and hospital readmission was analyzed. RESULTS: Out of 492,727 patients over 65 who had stroke/PEG, 45,477 (9 %) had dementia. Patients with dementia underwent PEG placement more frequently than those without dementia (4.3% vs. 3.3%, respectively). There was no significant difference in the 30 and 60 days readmission rates between those with dementia and those without. Septicemia, aspiration pneumonitis and complications from the procedure were among top five readmission diagnosis. Dementia was not significantly associated with 30-day (odds ratio (OR) 0.99, 95% CI 0.87-1.13) or 60-day (OR 1, 95% CI 0.89-1.12) readmissions. CONCLUSIONS: Risks and benefits of gastrostomy in older adults with stroke and dementia should be honestly discussed with patients and their families since it exposes them to a higher risk of hospital readmission due to aspiration pneumonitis and complications from PEG.

Cardiotoxicity Related to Radiation Therapy.

With increasing survival from cancer, the incidence of cardiovascular diseases is increasing as a chronic side effect of radiation therapy. Prevention, early recognition, and prompt intervention should be the major focus in the care of these patients.