Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology
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To identify factors distinguishing subsequent neuromyelitis optica (NMO) from multiple sclerosis (MS) after first-ever optic neuritis (ON), we compared ophthalmic findings and MRI features of 24 NMO and 55 MS patients who initially presented with ON. The female-to-male ratio was higher, and bilateral ON was more common in NMO patients than in MS patients (p = 0.044 and p = 0.020, respectively). The visual acuity (VA) score was higher in NMO patients (p = 0.034), and a greater proportion of NMO patients had a VA score ≥ 5 (p = 0.003). ⋯ The optic chiasm was affected in 25 % of NMO patients and was unaffected in MS patients, although it did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.096). There were no differences with respect to the severity of swelling and enhancement of the optic nerve. In conclusion, severe optic nerve damage at the first ON attack was associated with subsequent development of NMO, whereas presence of brain MRI abnormalities was associated with developing MS.
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Apigenin, a common plant flavonoid, has been extensively studied and showed a wide variety of beneficial effects. The aim of this study was to determine the therapeutic efficacy of starting apigenin treatment 3 day after spinal cord injury (SCI) in rat and to investigate the underlying mechanism. SCI was induced using the modified weight-drop method in Sprague-Dawley rats. ⋯ In addition, apigenin treatment decreased serum interleukin-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 release after SCI, suggesting an anti-inflammatory effect of apigenin. Finally, apigenin treatment affected the expression level of apoptosis-related gene Bax, Bcl-2 and caspase-3, which indicated its antiapoptosis role after SCI. Our data suggest that apigenin significantly promotes the recovery of rat neuronal function after SCI, which is associated with its antioxidative, anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic properties.
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The present study was designed to replicate previous findings reporting a significant association between the rs548294 polymorphism at the glutamate receptor subunit GluR1 gene (GRIA1) and migraine without aura, either as a single marker or in haplotype combination with rs2195450. In addition, the role of GRIA1 polymorphisms and haplotypes was evaluated in migraine patients without aura as predictive factors for consistency in headache response to triptans. Analysis of rs548294 and rs2195450 polymorphisms of GRIA1 was conducted by Real-time PCR allelic discrimination assay in 186 migraine patients without aura and 312 healthy controls, respectively. ⋯ In addition, no evidence of association was found between GRIA1 polymorphisms/haplotypes and consistent response to triptans. This study failed to replicate previously reported association between GRIA1 rs548294 and migraine without aura, either as single marker or when analyzed in haplotype combination with rs2195450. In addition, no evidence was found for a relevant role of GRIA1 polymorphisms and haplotypes as modulating factors of headache response to triptans.
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Quantifying the number of publications is the easiest way to estimate the scientific production of a country in any scientific field. The aim of this article is to provide information about the scientific production from 2008 to 2011 of Italian neurologists and to compare it with scientific production data of other countries. The analysis regarded the research in Web of Science, in the Subject Category Clinical Neurology, of the publications published from 2008 to 2011, with at least one Italian author belonging to a scientific Italian institution. ⋯ We observed that even if the Gross National Product of Italy registered a slight and gradual reduction from 2008 to 2011, the neurological scientific production of Italian neurologists showed an increase in the number of papers, maintaining the fifth position in these four years after USA, Germany, England and Japan. Moreover, dividing the neurological journals in quartiles according to the impact factor, we observed constant increase of the numbers of Italian publications in the highest quartile journals during the considered period. These data suggest that from 2008 to 2011 Italian neurologists have increased the number of publications, also improving the quality of works.
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Isoflurane anesthesia can cause post-operative cognitive dysfunction in elderly patients. As an isomer of isoflurane, enflurane may also account for cognitive dysfunction. However, the mechanism of enflurane-induced cognitive dysfunction remains obscure. ⋯ In addition, we analyzed the expression level of β-amyloid and phosphorylation level of tau in the hippocampus by immunoblotting. Interestingly, the levels of β-amyloid and phosphorylated tau in the hippocampus increased significantly at early stage and then restored to pre-anesthetic levels. Taken together, our results suggest that increasing of β-amyloid and phosphorylation of tau are important to cause cognitive decline in aged rats during initial stage after enflurane anesthesia.