Synapsins serve as flagships among the presynaptic proteins due to their abundance on synaptic vesicles and contribution to synaptic communication. Several studies have emphasized the importance of this multi-gene family of neuron-specific phosphoproteins in maintaining brain physiology. In the recent times, increasing evidence has established the relevance of alterations in synapsins as a major determinant in many neurological disorders. Here, we give a comprehensive description of the diverse roles of the synapsin family and the underlying molecular mechanisms that contribute to several neurological disorders. These physiologically important roles of synapsins associated with neurological disorders are just beginning to be understood. A detailed understanding of the diversified expression of synapsins may serve to strategize novel therapeutic approaches for these debilitating neurological disorders.
Animals ; Central Nervous System Diseases ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Synapsins ; physiology

Microglia are resident macrophages of central nervous system (CNS), and thus act as the crucial stuff of immune response and play very important roles in the progress of various CNS diseases. There are two different polarization statuses of activated microglia, M1 and M2 phenotypes. M1 polarized microglia are important for eradicating bacterial and promoting inflammation, whereas M2 cells are characterized by anti-inflammation and tissue remodeling. Recently, more and more evidence indicated that different polarized microglia showed diverse microRNA (miRNA) expression profiles. MiRNAs regulate microglia polarization, and thus affect the progress of CNS diseases. Fully exploring the polarization status of microglia during CNS diseases and the role of miRNAs in microglia polarization will be very helpful for a deep understanding of the roles of microglia in immunopathologic mechanism of different CNS diseases and offer the theoretical foundation of searching more effective therapies for these disorders.
Central Nervous System Diseases ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Macrophages ; physiology ; MicroRNAs ; physiology ; Microglia ; physiology

Brain ; pathology ; Central Nervous System Diseases ; congenital ; diagnosis ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Mobius Syndrome ; diagnosis ; pathology ; physiopathology

All of neural stem cell within the central nervous system and derived from transplantation or embryonic stem cell have the ability of differentiating into various kinds of neural cells. Regeneration of neural cells plays a critical role on function recovery damaged central nervous system (CNS). Advances in repairing of injury in central nervous system with neural stem cell and embryonic stem cell in recent years are reviewed in this article.
Adult Stem Cells ; cytology ; Animals ; Central Nervous System Diseases ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Embryonic Stem Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; Nerve Regeneration ; physiology ; Neuronal Plasticity ; Neurons ; cytology ; Stem Cell Transplantation

Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) is a proline-directed serine/threonine kinase, and plays multiple roles in neuron development and synaptic plasticity. The active form of Cdk5 is found primarily in the central nervous system (CNS) due to its activator proteins p35 or p39 ubiquitously expressed in neuronal cells. Normally, the transcription and activity of Cdk5 are strictly regulated by several ways. In the physiological condition, Cdk5 plays a key role in the CNS development by phosphorylating the specific serine or threonine site of numerous substrate proteins that are closely associated with the neuronal migration, synaptogenesis, synaptic transmission as well as synaptic plasticity. Under pathological conditions, p35 can be truncated into p25, which can strongly and consistently activate Cdk5, change the cellular localization of Cdk5 and lead to neuronal death ultimately. The increasing evidence has showed that Cdk5 is involved in the pathogenesis of many neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis etc., indicating that Cdk5 may be a potential target in the treatment of the neurodegenerative diseases. In this article, we reviewed the recent progress regarding the roles of Cdk5 in CNS development and neurodegenerative diseases.
Alzheimer Disease ; physiopathology ; Animals ; Central Nervous System ; growth & development ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 5 ; physiology ; Humans ; Huntington Disease ; physiopathology ; Neurodegenerative Diseases ; enzymology ; physiopathology ; Neuronal Plasticity ; physiology ; Neurons ; cytology ; Parkinson Disease ; physiopathology ; Synaptic Transmission ; physiology

Transcranial magnetic stimulation-motor evoked potential (TMS-MEP) test is one of the electrophysiological examination methods to evaluate the function of central nervous system. The value of the TMS-MEP has been recognized by some clinical forensic workers recently. This article reviews the principle and advantages of TMS-MEP and its application in functional evaluation of central nervous system and clinical treatment. The value of TMS-MEP in forensic medicine, especially in objective assessment of muscle strength after injury of central nervous system is also discussed.
Central Nervous System Diseases/physiopathology* ; Disability Evaluation ; Evoked Potentials, Motor/physiology* ; Forensic Medicine/methods* ; Humans ; Monitoring, Physiologic/methods* ; Motor Cortex/physiopathology* ; Muscle, Skeletal/physiopathology* ; Neural Conduction/physiology* ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Severity of Illness Index ; Spinal Cord Injuries/physiopathology* ; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

The incidence of specific intracranial parenchymal lesions of HIV-infected patients varies considerably between countries. In the Republic of Korea, the number of HIV-infected patients is increasing, but little is known regarding the spectrum of intracranial parenchymal lesions in these patients. The aim of the present study was to obtain this information. To identify HIV patients with intracranial parenchymal lesions, the electronic database of radiological reports for 1,167 HIV-infected patients, seen from 1999 to 2008 at the Seoul National University Hospital, were reviewed. Neuroradiologic studies were performed on 165 of these patients, and intracranial parenchymal lesions were detected in 40 (3.4%) of them. Thirty-seven were male, and median age was 41 yr (range, 26-61). At the time of the diagnosis of intracranial parenchymal lesions, median CD4+ lymphocyte count was 40 cells/microL (range 5-560) and in 33 (82.5%) patients, it was less than 200 cells/microL. Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (12 patients) is the most frequent intracranial parenchymal lesions, followed by intracranial tuberculoma (7 patients), primary central nervous system lymphoma (7 patients), intracranial cryptococcoma (4 patients), Toxoplasma encephalitis (4 patients), and disseminated non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection (3 patients).
AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections/epidemiology/*pathology/physiopathology/virology ; Adult ; Central Nervous System Diseases/epidemiology/*pathology/physiopathology/*virology ; Female ; HIV Infections/*pathology/physiopathology/virology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology

AIM: Trichosanthes dioica Roxb. (Cucurbitaceae), commonly known as pointed gourd in English, is a dioecious climber grown widely in the Indian subcontinent. Traditionally, this plant has been used in India for several medicinal purposes. The present study aimed to evaluate certain neuropharmacological properties of the hydroalcoholic extract of T. dioica root (TDA) in experimental animal models. METHODS: TDA (at 100 and 200 mg·kg(-1) body weight, p.o.) was evaluated for anti-nociceptive activity by the acetic acid-induced writhing and tail flick methods. Locomotor depressant activity was measured by means of an actophotometer. Skeletal muscle relaxant effects were evaluated by using a rota-rod apparatus, and the sedative potentiating property by a phenobarbitone-induced sleep potentiation study. RESULTS: The results of the present study revealed significant (P < 0.001) and dose dependent anti-nociceptive, locomotor depressant, muscle relaxant, and sedative potentiating effects of TDA, demonstrating its depressant action on the central nervous system (CNS). CONCLUSION From the present study, it can be concluded that T. dioica root possessed prominent anti-nociceptive, as well as depressant, action on the CNS, as manifested by these important neuropharmacological properties in mice.
Analgesics ; administration & dosage ; Animals ; Central Nervous System Diseases ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Humans ; India ; Male ; Mice ; Muscle Relaxants, Central ; administration & dosage ; Muscle Relaxation ; drug effects ; Neuropharmacology ; Plant Extracts ; administration & dosage ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Trichosanthes ; chemistry

Thirty eight cases of moyamoa disease, 21 children, 17 adults were encountered during a 16-year period at Yonsei University Medical Center. Clinical manifestations, together with computed tomography (CT) and angiographic findings were analyzed with a review of the literature. The mean age was 6.3 +/- 3.5 years in children and 36.8 +/- 9.9 years in adults. The majority of attacks occurred in spring in both adults and children. The most common chief complaint on admission was hemiparesis followed by convulsion in children, while in adults, loss of consciousness was most common followed by headache. Of transient neurologic deficits, hemiplegia was most common in children, while cranial nerve involvement was common in adults. Hemiplegia, also was the most common permanent neurologic manifestation in children, while hemiparesis and intellectual deterioration were the most common in adults. Of the children, 90.6% showed infarction on CT, while 88.2% of adults had hemorrhage. Bilateral occlusion of the carotid arteries was the most common site of lesions in both adults and children on cerebral angiogaphy.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Central Nervous System Diseases/physiopathology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cranial Nerves/pathology ; Female ; Human ; Korea/epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Age ; Moyamoya Disease/*epidemiology/physiopathology/radiography ; Retrospective Studies ; Seasons ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between heavy metals exposure and neurobehavioral function impairment in welders.

METHODSThe metals exposure in 82 welders and 51 operators were investigated with blood Pb, Cd and Mn via AAS, and the nervous impairment was evaluated with neurobehavioral core test battery (NCTB).

RESULTSPb [(115.49 +/- 79.22) microg/L] and Cd [(3.67 +/- 3.19) microg/L] in welders were significantly higher than operators [(69.32 +/- 50.79) and (0.83 +/- 0.76) microg/L respectively] (P < 0.05). Welders had worse standard scores of NCTB 13 items such as depression-dejection than non-welders (P < 0.05). Significant difference of confusion-bewilderment and forward digit span in welders only existed in different groups of Pb and Mn, respectively. A dose-effect relationship was found between forward digit span and serum Mn level in welders. General linear regression analysis indicated that Pb exposure, Mn exposure and alcohol consume had negative relation with the loss of nervous system function.

CONCLUSIONThe nervous impairment in welders is attributed to occupational exposure to Pb and Mn, concomitantly.

Adult ; Air Pollutants, Occupational ; adverse effects ; Central Nervous System Diseases ; chemically induced ; physiopathology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Metals, Heavy ; adverse effects ; Neuropsychological Tests ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; Welding ; Young Adult