ABSTRACT
The etiology of ischemic stroke in young adults is extensive, and cardiogenic embolism and cervicocephalic arterial dissection are the most common. In recent years, the proportion of atherosclerotic ischemic stroke has increased because of the increased incidence and inadequate control for the traditional vascular risk factors in young adults. However, even after a detailed and comprehensive examination, there is stil about 1/3 unknown etiology.
ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the effect of glucose regulated protein (GRP)78 on the neuronal apoptosis after cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury in rats. Methods Middle cerebral artery ischemia reperfusion rat's models were used with the modified filament method. The expression of GRP78 in the ischemic penumbra tissue was detected by RT-PCR, Western blot and immunohistochemistry at different time points. Primary cultured rat's neurons were exposed to hypoxia and subsequently reoxygenation. Western blot was used to investigate the expression of GRP78. The changes of the neuronal apoptosis after overexpression of GRP78 induced by 2-deoxyglucose were detected. Results The expression of GRP78 in the ischemic penumbra tissue in model group was significantly increased (mRNA : 0.7367±0.0651, F= 477.160, P < 0.01 ; Protein : 0. 8129±0. 0748, F=39.857, P < 0.01). The neuronal survival status was increased after overpression of GRP78 (increased by 39.22% ± 0. 44%, t=46.374, P < 0.01) while the neuronal apoptosis was decreased (decreased by 16.60±1.02, t=7.530, P <0.01). Conclusion Focal cerebral ischemia reperfusion can induce endoplasmic reticulum stress which plays a role in the neuronal apoptosis. The increased expression of GRP78 may protect the ischemic tissue from neuronal apoptosis.
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Objective To construct the nuclear receptor-related factor 1 ( Nurr1) specific short-hairpin RNA (shRNA) expressing vectors and study their effects on the expression of endogenous genes in MN9D dopaminergic cell lines. Methods Two RNAi recombinant plasmids (named pSC-N1 and pSC-N2) targeting at Nurrl gene were constructed. The purified plasmids were identified by DNA sequencing. After being transfected into MN9D dopaminergic cell lines with Lipofectamine?2000, the silencing effects of Nurrl shRNA expressing vectors on the expression of Nurrl mRNA and protein in MN9D cells were detected using real time fluorescence quantitative PCR and Western blot Results DNA sequencing confirmed that the Nurrl shRNA expressing vectors were constructed successfully. Nurrl mRNA expression in MN9D cells was specifically suppressed after the transfection of pSC-Nl and pSC-N2 by 62.3% and 45.6% respectively. Moreover, the expression of Nurrl protein was significantly suppressed by 57.4% and 72. 0% respectively. The control vectors had no silencing effect Conclusions The vectors pSC-Nl and pSC-N2 have been successfully constructed and can specifically suppress the expression of Nurrl mRNA and protein. Nurrl specific shRNA expressing vector may provide a novel applicable strategy for the study of the function of the genes associated with Parkinson disease and the development of dopaminergic neuron.
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Objective To investigate the clinical features of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) with neurological complications. Methods Five with neurological complications out of 31 patients with confirmed AIDS in Shanghai area from 1992 to 2001 were analyzed. Results Of the five cases, there were one complicated with vacuolar myelopathy, one vacuolar myelopathy accompanied with dementia, one cerebral tuberculoma accompanied with dementia, one cerebral infarction accompanied with symptomatic epilepsia and trigeminal neuralgia, one polyneuropathy. Two of the vacuolar myelopathy are those showing first occurring manifestations. Conclusion AIDS patients are found at high risk of neurological complications, of which vacuolar myelopathy and AIDS related dementia are more common. If young patients who suddenly suffered from dementia, especially in patients accompanied with opportunistic infections, AIDS should be considered. In these cases serum HIV antibodies should be checked.