Neurological research
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Neurological research · Jan 2012
Protective effects of erythropoietin in experimental spinal cord injury by reducing the C/EBP-homologous protein expression.
Erythropoietin (EPO) is a variety of tissue-protective functions, including spinal cord. This study aimed to determine the neuron protective effect of erythropoietin on spinal cord injury (SCI) by assessing C/EBP-homologous protein (CHOP) in the development of a rat model of SCI. ⋯ Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress was triggered at the early stage of SCI. Increased expression of CHOP can be found in the injured segment of the spinal cord after injury. EPO treatment could prevent pathological alterations from severe spinal cord injury by reducing expression of CHOP.
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Neurological research · Jan 2012
Isoflurane-induced spatial memory impairment by a mechanism independent of amyloid-beta levels and tau protein phosphorylation changes in aged rats.
The molecular mechanism of postoperative cognitive dysfunction is largely unknown. Isoflurane has been shown to promote Alzheimer's disease neuropathogenesis. We set out to determine whether the effect of isoflurane on spatial memory is associated with amyloid-beta (A-beta) levels and tau phosphorylation in aged rats. ⋯ Isoflurane may induce spatial memory impairment through non-A-beta or tau neuropathogenesis mechanisms in aged rats.
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Neurological research · Nov 2011
THR-18, a 18-mer peptide derived from PAI-1, is neuroprotective and improves thrombolysis by tPA in rat stroke models.
The thrombolytic treatment of stroke is limited by a narrow therapeutic time window and is associated with significant adverse side effects. To improve this situation, the modulation of tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) activity by a synthetic plasminogen activator inhibitor-1-derived 18-mer peptide (THR-18) was examined in two models of stroke in rats. ⋯ The results support the use of THR-18 together with tPA in the thrombolytic therapy of stroke, in order to achieve better patency, less tPA-induced damage, and possibly a widening of tPA therapeutic time window.
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Neurological research · Nov 2011
Randomized Controlled TrialLong-term antalgic effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation of motor cortex and serum beta-endorphin in patients with phantom pain.
To assess the long-term analgesic effect of repetitive transcranial stimulation (rTMS) on chronic phantom pain using high frequency stimulation and to measure the serum beta-endorphin level pre- and post-rTMS. ⋯ These results confirm that five daily sessions of rTMS over motor cortex can produce long lasting pain relief in patients with phantom pain and it might be related to an elevation of serum beta-endorphin concentration.
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Neurological research · Nov 2011
Cerebrospinal fluid leak after microsurgical surgery in vestibular schwannomas via retrosigmoidal craniotomy.
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak is still a common complication in surgery of vestibular schwannoma, increasing morbidity and prolonging hospital stay. Our single center study was performed to determine the incidences of CSF leaks after microsurgical removal of vestibular schwannoma via a retrosigmoidal approach with two different surgical closure techniques. ⋯ Suture and occlusion of the dura is an important step to prevent CSF leak and postoperative infection. By comparing sandwich technique and single-layer dural sealing, no significant difference could be shown.