Single-nucleus transcriptomic landscape of primate hippocampal aging

The hippocampus plays a crucial role in learning and memory, and its progressive deterioration with age is functionally linked to a variety of human neurodegenerative diseases. Yet a systematic profiling of the aging effects on various hippocampal cell types in primates is still missing. Here, we reported a variety of new aging-associated phenotypic changes of the primate hippocampus. These include, in particular, increased DNA damage and heterochromatin erosion with time, alongside loss of proteostasis and elevated inflammation. To understand their cellular and molecular causes, we established the first single-nucleus transcriptomic atlas of primate hippocampal aging. Among the 12 identified cell types, neural transiently amplifying progenitor cell (TAPC) and microglia were most affected by aging. In-depth dissection of gene-expression dynamics revealed impaired TAPC division and compromised neuronal function along the neurogenesis trajectory; additionally elevated pro-inflammatory responses in the aged microglia and oligodendrocyte, as well as dysregulated coagulation pathways in the aged endothelial cells may contribute to a hostile microenvironment for neurogenesis. This rich resource for understanding primate hippocampal aging may provide potential diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic interventions against age-related neurodegenerative diseases.

Treatment and outcome of epileptogenic temporal cavernous malformations / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The aim of this study is to explore the treatment and outcome of epileptogenic temporal lobe cavernous malformations (CMs).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We analyzed retrospectively the profiles of 52 patients diagnosed as temporal lobe CMs associated with epilepsy. Among the 52 cases, 11 underwent a direct resection of CM along with the adjacent zone of hemosiderin rim without electrocorticogram (ECoG) monitoring while the other 41 cases had operations under the guidance of ECoG. Forty-six patients were treated by lesionectomy + hemosiderin rim while the other six were treated by lesionectomy + hemosiderin rim along with extended epileptogenic zone resection. The locations of lesions, the duration of illness, the manifestation, the excision ranges and the outcomes of postoperative follow-up were analyzed, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All of the 52 patients were treated by microsurgery. There was no neurological deficit through the long-term follow-up. Outcomes of seizure control are as follows: 42 patients (80.8%) belong to Engel Class I, 5 patients (9.6%) belong to Engel Class II, 3 patients (5.8%) belong to Engel Class III and 2 patients (3.8%) belong to Engel Class IV.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Patients with epilepsy caused by temporal CMs should be treated as early as possible. Resection of the lesion and the surrounding hemosiderin zone is necessary. Moreover, an extended excision of epileptogenic cortex or cerebral lobes is needed to achieve a better prognosis if the ECoG indicates the existence of an extra epilepsy onset origin outside the lesion itself.</p>

MRI-guided stereotactic biopsy for questionable diseases in brain / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the accuracy and role of magnetic resonance imagine (MRI)-guided stereotactic biopsy for atypical diseases in brain.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Using MRI volume scan and multiplane reconstruction, MRI-guided stereotactic brain biopsies were performed with CRW stereotactia frame in twenty-six patients whose lesions were atypical or unable to be detected by CT scanning.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>No serious complication (intracranial hematoma, paralysis) caused by brain biopsy was found in all twenty-six patients. Definite pathologic diagnosis and appropriate treatment were given to these patients. The lesions included gliomatosis cerebri, brain cysticercosis and Krabbe's disease, et al.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>MRI-guided stereotactic brain biopsy is more accurate for pathological diagnosis than CT-guided stereotactic brain biopsy. MRI-guided stereotactic biopsy can provide reliable diagnosis and treatment especially for the questionable lesions in brain.</p>