Journal of the neurological sciences
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Circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) play an important role in angiogenesis and vasculogenesis. Statins administered promote functional improvement in rats, independent of their capability to lower cholesterol. Whether statin treatment regulates circulating EPCs after traumatic brain injury (TBI) has not been investigated. ⋯ We found that atorvastatin administration significantly induced angiogenesis and increased circulating EPC levels as well as improved functional recovery when compared with non-treatment TBI-control rats (P<0.05). The circulating EPC level is correlated with vascular density (r=0.878, P <0.05) and CD31 positive cell number in the injured brain (r=0.921, P <0.05). The results suggest that increasing circulating EPCs with atorvastatin treatment may contribute to the observed increase in angiogenesis and improved functional outcome after TBI.
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Blast-induced neurotrauma (BINT) is a major medical concern yet its etiology is largely undefined. Complement activation may play a role in the development of secondary injury following traumatic brain injury; however, its role in BINT is still undefined. The present study was designed to characterize the complement system and adaptive immune-inflammatory responses in a rat model of moderate BINT. ⋯ Moderate blast triggers moderate brain injuries, elevated levels of local brain C3/C5b-9 and systemic C5b-9, increased leukocyte infiltration, unregulated tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), and aquaporin-4 in rat brain cortex at 3- and 48-hour post blast. Early immune-inflammatory response to BINT involves complement and TNFα, which correlates with hippocampus and cerebral cortex damage. Complement and TNFα activation may be a novel therapeutic target for reducing the damaging effects of BINT inflammation.
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Case Reports
A clinical and gene analysis of late-onset combined methylmalonic aciduria and homocystinuria, cblC type, in China.
Combined methylmalonic aciduria and homocystinuria, cblC type (cblC disease), is the most common inborn disorder of cobalamin metabolism. This disorder is caused by MMACHC gene mutations, and it is usually diagnosed in the early neonatal period. Late-onset cblC is rare and difficult to recognize due to a wide diversity of symptoms. ⋯ Although its occurrence is rare, late-onset combined methylmalonic aciduria and homocystinuria, cblC type, should be considered in making a differential diagnosis in patients who present with neurological symptoms that are not consistent with common neurological diseases, especially when cognition, the pyramidal tract and peripheral nerves are involved.
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The aim of this study was to assess the validity and the reliability of the Japanese version of the Parkinson's disease sleep scale (PDSS)-2 and to use this scale to identify nocturnal symptoms and their impact on patient's quality of life. ⋯ Our study confirmed the usefulness of the Japanese version of the PDSS-2 that enables the comprehensive assessment of nocturnal disturbances in PD. The association between RLS and nocturnal restlessness in PD requires further study.
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Canine degenerative myelopathy (DM) is an adult-onset, fatal neurodegenerative disease with many similarities to an upper-motor-neuron-onset form of human amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), that results from mutations in the superoxide dismutase (SOD1) gene. DM occurs in many dog breeds, including the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and Boxer. The initial upper motor neuron degeneration produces spastic paraparesis and affected dogs develop general proprioceptive ataxia in the pelvic limbs. ⋯ Here we provide evidence that Pembroke Welsh Corgis and Boxers with chronic DM develop muscle atrophy consistent with denervation, peripheral nerve pathology consistent with an axonopathy, and to a lesser degree demyelination. Canine DM has been proposed as a potential spontaneous animal disease model of human ALS. The results of this study provide further support that canine DM recapitulates one form of the corresponding human disorder and should serve as a valuable animal model to develop therapeutic strategies.