Neurological research
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Neurological research · Feb 2009
Local mild hypothermia induced by intra-arterial cold saline infusion prolongs the time window of onset of reperfusion injury after transient focal ischemia in rats.
The aims of this study were to determine the effects of intra-arterial local hypothermia on infarct volume in rats with different durations of ischemia and to determine whether hypothermia can prolong the therapeutic time window compared with reperfusion without hypothermia. ⋯ Local cold saline infusion to the ischemic territory before reperfusion can lead to mild hypothermia of the ischemic territory and can prolong the therapeutic time window of reperfusion from 2 to 2.5 hours. Refinements of the cooling process, optimal target temperature, duration of the therapy and most importantly, clinical efficacy, require further study.
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Neurological research · Feb 2009
The relationship between SDF-1alpha/CXCR4 and neural stem cells appearing in damaged area after traumatic brain injury in rats.
The actual relationship between neural stem cells and SDF-1alpha/CXCR4 after brain injury has not yet been elucidated, although recent studies have speculated that stromal cell-derived factor-1alpha (SDF-1alpha) and its receptor, CXCR4, could contribute to neural stem cells migration after brain injury. In the present study, the temporal relationship between neural stem cells (NSCs) and SDF-1alpha/CXCR4 around a damaged area was investigated using a rat traumatic brain injury (TBI) model. ⋯ These results suggest that the leaked SDF-1alpha attracted CXCR4-positive NSCs as well as elongated nerve fibers. It is considered that the SDF-1alpha/CXCR4 system in the brain contributes to neural stem cells appearance and maturation after TBI. Therefore, exploitation of the SDF-1alpha/CXCR4 system around a damaged area may improve the brain dysfunction after TBI.
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Neurological research · Dec 2008
ReviewThe application of viral vectors to enhance regeneration after peripheral nerve repair.
Despite great advancements in surgical repair techniques, a considerable degree of functional impairment remains in the majority of patients after peripheral nerve reconstruction. New concepts to promote regeneration of the peripheral nerve are needed since it is generally held that surgery has reached an optimal technical refinement. Several neurotrophic factors stimulate regeneration of the peripheral nerve, but the effects of the exogenous application of these factors have so far been limited, possibly as the result of their fast degradation and unwanted side effects after systemic application. These problems can be resolved with the recent development of non-toxic, non-immunogenic viral vectors that drive local, long-term transgene expression. ⋯ In the near future, viral vectors will increasingly be used to study a wide range of neurotrophic factors and other potentially therapeutic proteins for their effect on peripheral nerve regeneration in animal models. If this approach leads to beneficial effects on regeneration and functional recovery, the safety and clinical applicability of these viral vectors will allow the rapid translation of basic research to clinical trials. This makes the use of viral vectors a highly attractive concept that holds great promise as a novel adjuvant therapy to peripheral nerve reconstruction.
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Neurological research · Dec 2008
Clinical TrialTemperature disturbances in traumatic brain injury: relationship to secondary insults, barbiturate treatment and outcome.
To describe the occurrence of spontaneous hyper- and hypothermia in patients with traumatic brain injury using a computerized data collecting system, to show how temperature correlates with other secondary insults, to describe how temperature affects outcome and to show how barbiturate treatment influences those analyses. ⋯ Patients with hyperthermia, hypertension, high CPP and tachycardia may suffer from a hyperdynamic state. This may worsen outcome and hence clinical awareness is important. Barbiturate treatment confounds several analyses which have not been shown before. We recommend those patients to be analysed separately in future studies.
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Neurological research · Nov 2008
The influence of electro-acupuncture on neural plasticity in acute cerebral infarction.
To observe the effect of electro-acupuncture (EA) on dendritic spine and ephrin-A5 and to investigate the action of EA on neural plasticity after acute cerebral ischemic infarction. ⋯ It is possibly the regulation of the ephrin-A5 expression by which EA treatment improves the neural plasticity at the peri-infarct cerebral cortex in acute cerebral ischemia rat. There may be a time window in EA treatment for acute cerebral ischemia.