Neurological research
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Neurological research · Sep 2011
tPA contributes to impaired NMDA cerebrovasodilation after traumatic brain injury through activation of JNK MAPK.
N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-induced pial artery dilation (PAD) is reversed to vasoconstriction after fluid percussion brain injury (FPI). Tissue type plasminogen activator (tPA) is up-regulated and the tPA antagonist, EEIIMD, prevents impaired NMDA PAD after FPI. Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), a family of at least three kinases, ERK, p38, and JNK, is also up-regulated after traumatic brain injury (TBI). We hypothesize that tPA impairs NMDA-induced cerebrovasodilation after FPI in a MAPK isoform-dependent mechanism. ⋯ These data indicate that tPA contributes to impairment of NMDA-mediated cerebrovasodilation after FPI through JNK, while p38 may be protective. These data suggest that inhibition of the endogenous plasminogen activator system and JNK may improve cerebral hemodynamic outcome post-TBI.
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Neurological research · Sep 2011
Clinical TrialCT-based intravenous thrombolysis 3-4.5 hours after acute ischemic stroke in clinical practice.
Outcome of stroke patients selected with cerebral computed tomography for intravenous thrombolysis administered in clinical routine from 3 to 4.5 hours after symptoms onset is not well investigated. Aim of this single-center, prospective, observational study was to compare the safety and efficacy of intravenous alteplase given in routine clinical praxis 181-270 minutes (late) and within 180 minutes (early) after stroke onset in patients selected with cerebral computed tomography. ⋯ These data suggest that intravenous alteplase administered 181-270 minutes after symptoms onset in stroke patients selected with cerebral computed tomography is also beneficial in real-life clinical practice.
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Neurological research · Sep 2011
The efficacy of carmustine wafers for older patients with glioblastoma multiforme: prolonging survival.
Peak incidence of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) occurs in individuals aged 65 years and older. The goal was to evaluate the efficacy of carmustine wafers in prolonging survival for older GBM patients. ⋯ Older patients with GBM may benefit from carmustine wafers. The survival for older patients who received carmustine wafers is significantly longer than matched patients who did not receive carmustine wafers.
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Neurological research · Sep 2011
CDP-choline and its endogenous metabolites, cytidine and choline, promote the nerve regeneration and improve the functional recovery of injured rat sciatic nerves.
Topical cytidine-5'-diphosphocholine (CDP-choline) has been shown to improve the functional recovery and promote the nerve regeneration of injured sciatic nerves in rats. The aims of this study were to test whether CDP-choline was effective at promoting nerve healing when the surgery to repair an injury was delayed and to determine whether the cytidine and/or the choline moieties of CDP-choline contribute to its beneficial actions. ⋯ Our results demonstrate that CDP-choline, as well as the combination of its metabolites, cytidine+choline, improves the functional recovery and promotes the regeneration of injured sciatic nerves treated with immediate or delayed surgical repair in rats.