The incidence rate of anxiety and depression is significantly higher in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) than in the general population. The mechanisms underlying dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced depressive-like behaviors are still unclear. We clarified that IBD mice induced by repeated administration of DSS presented depressive-like behaviors. The paraventricular thalamic nucleus (PVT) was regarded as the activated brain region by the number of c-fos-labeled neurons. RNA-sequencing analysis showed that lipocalin 2 (Lcn2) was upregulated in the PVT of mice with DSS-induced depressive behaviors. Upregulating Lcn2 from neuronal activity induced dendritic spine loss and the secreted protein induced chemokine expression and subsequently contributed to microglial activation leading to blood-brain barrier permeability. Moreover, Lcn2 silencing in the PVT alleviated the DSS-induced depressive-like behaviors. The present study demonstrated that elevated Lcn2 in the PVT is a critical factor for DSS-induced depressive behaviors.
Mice ; Humans ; Animals ; Lipocalin-2/genetics* ; Midline Thalamic Nuclei ; Brain ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; Mice, Inbred C57BL

BACKGROUND: Recently, modern technology such as diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), neuro-navigation and intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IOM) have been actively adopted for the treatment of thalamic tumors. We evaluated surgical outcomes and efficacy of the aforementioned technologies for the treatment of pediatric thalamic tumors. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed clinical data from 37 children with thalamic tumors between 2004 and 2017. There were 44 operations (27 tumor resections, 17 biopsies). DTI was employed in 17 cases, neuro-navigation in 23 cases and IOM in 14 cases. All diagnoses were revised according to the 2016 World Health Organization Classification of Tumors of the Central Nervous System. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were calculated, and relevant prognostic factors were analyzed. The median follow-up duration was 19 months. RESULTS: Fifteen cases were gross total resections (GTR), 6 subtotal resections (STR), and 6 partial resections (PR). Neurological status did not worsen after 22 tumor resections. There were statistically significant differences in terms of the extent of resection between the groups with DTI, neuro-navigation and IOM (n=12, GTR or STR=12) and the group without at least one of the three techniques (n=15, GTR or STR=9, p=0.020). The mean PFS was 87.2±38.0 months, and the mean OS 90.7±36.1 months. The 5-year PFS was 37%, and the 5-year OS 47%. The histological grade (p≤0.001) and adjuvant therapy (done vs. not done, p=0.016) were significantly related to longer PFS. The histological grade (p=0.002) and the extent of removal (GTR/STR vs. PR/biopsy, p=0.047) were significantly related to longer OS. CONCLUSION: Maximal surgical resection was achieved with acceptable morbidity in children with thalamic tumors by employing DTI, neuro-navigation and IOM. Maximal tumor resection was a relevant clinical factor affecting OS; therefore, it should be considered the initial therapeutic option for pediatric thalamic tumors.
Central Nervous System ; Child* ; Classification ; Diagnosis ; Diffusion Tensor Imaging* ; Diffusion* ; Disease-Free Survival ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring* ; Neuronavigation ; Retrospective Studies ; Thalamic Diseases ; Treatment Outcome ; World Health Organization

Adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated gene delivery has been proposed to be an essential tool of gene therapy for various brain diseases. Among several cell types in the brain, astrocyte has become a promising therapeutic target for brain diseases, as more and more contribution of astrocytes in pathophysiology has been revealed. Until now, genetically targeting astrocytes has been possible by utilizing the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) promoter. In some brain areas including thalamus, however, the GFAP expression in astrocytes is reported to be low, making it difficult to genetically target astrocytes using GFAP promoter. To study the function of astrocytes in thalamus, which serves as a relay station, there is a great need for identifying an alternative astrocyte-specific promoter in thalamus. Recently, a new astrocyte-specific promoter of ALDH1L1 has been identified. However, it has not been examined in thalamus. Here we developed and characterized an AAV vector expressing Cre recombinase under the human ALDH1L1 promoter, AAV-hALDH1L1-Cre. To test the cell-type specific expression of AAV-hALDH1L1-Cre, AAV virus was injected into several brain regions of Ai14 (RCL-tdTomato) mouse, which reports Cre activity by tdTomato expression. In thalamus, we observed that tdTomato was found mostly in astrocytes (91.71%), with minimal occurrence in neurons (2.67%). In contrast, tdTomato signal was observed in both neurons and astrocytes of the amygdala (neuron: 68.13%, astrocyte: 28.35%) and hippocampus (neuron: 76.25%, astrocyte: 18.00%), which is consistent with the previous report showing neuronal gene expression under rat ALDH1L1 promoter. Unexpectedly, tdTomato was found mostly in neurons (91.98%) with minimal occurrence in astrocytes (6.66%) of the medial prefrontal cortex. In conclusion, hALDH1L1 promoter shows astrocyte-specificity in thalamus and may prove to be useful for targeting thalamic astrocytes in mouse.
Amygdala ; Animals ; Astrocytes ; Brain ; Brain Diseases ; Dependovirus ; Gene Expression* ; Genetic Therapy ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; Hippocampus ; Humans* ; Mice* ; Neurons ; Prefrontal Cortex ; Rats ; Recombinases ; Thalamus* ; Ventral Thalamic Nuclei

Acupuncture Points ; Aged ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Meridians ; Middle Aged ; Sensation Disorders ; etiology ; therapy ; Stroke ; complications ; Thalamic Diseases ; complications

Acupuncture Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Thalamic Diseases ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo observe therapeutic features of thalamic pain by mind Calming, blood activating and pain relief acupuncture and Carbamazepine.

METHODSCrossover trial design was adopted. Eleven patients with confirmed diagnosis of thalamic pain were randomly assigned to two groups according to the minimal unbalance index method, i.e., Group I (Six patients received acupuncture first and then Western medicine.) and Group II (Five patients received Western medicine first and then acupuncture). The therapeutic course for each group was ten days. There was a ten-day elution phase between the two therapeutic methods. The total therapeutic course was thirty days. Eleven patients were enrolled in the two groups for statistical analysis. The therapeutic efficacy was assessed with visual analogue scale (VAS) and the pain assessment scale of Anderson Cancer Center in the USA (MD Pain Evaluation value) respectively. The VAS and MD values of the two groups were recorded every day to get the dynamic curve.

RESULTSThe VAS and MD values obviously decreased in the two groups after treatment (P<0.05). The pain curves of the two groups showed a declining trend during the treatment. A gradual and stable descending process was shown in the acupuncture group. But a greater decrease first appeared in the Western medicine group, then a comparatively greater decrease occurred after one platform stage, showing ladder-shaped curve.

CONCLUSIONSCumulative potency may be the main analgesic effects of acupuncture. Western medicine may possibly play a role by rapid initiate effect.

Acupuncture Analgesia ; methods ; Aged ; Carbamazepine ; therapeutic use ; Cross-Over Studies ; Female ; Headache ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pain Management ; Pain Measurement ; Thalamic Diseases ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

This paper states the essentials of the treatment based on syndrome differentiation practiced by professor WANG Ju-yi's and his experience in clinic. The understanding of basic theory is a key for clinical practices using meridian theory. Based on the understanding of mutual transformations among six meridians, six qi, six zang, and six fu, the theory of meridians and collaterals can be applied to daily acupuncture clinical practices. Doctors should follow the processes of observing meridian, inspection of meridian, selection meridian, selection acupoints in the clinical practices. This paper lists the clinical examples of treating patients with thalamic lesion by using the method of diagnosis and examination practiced by professor WANG Ju-yi's.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Meridians ; Middle Aged ; Thalamic Diseases ; diagnosis ; therapy

Adolescent ; Adult ; Astrocytoma ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Brain Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Child ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Microsurgery ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Thalamic Diseases ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Thalamus ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND: In terms of localizing value, the clinical features of small lesion confined to thalamus are of great interest. The clinical manifestations frequently comprise hemiparesis, hemianesthesia, and neuropsychological abnormalities and the main cause of thalamic infarct is thought to be an arteriolopathy. To better understand the relationship between the location of thalamic lesion and clinical features, we studied the charateristics of patients with thalamogeniculate artery(TGA) territory infarction, which is most common site of thalamic infarction. METHODS: We reviewed 732 ischemic stroke patient registered to our stroke database over 4-year period. On the basis of MRI, we identified 33 cases of small thalamic infarction(<2cm). Among them, 21 cases had a lesion purely confined to TGA territory. RESULTS: The clinical type of manifestations were sensorimotor(10), pure sensory(7), hemiataxia+sensory(2), hemiataxia+ sensorimotor(1) and involunatry movement(1), respectively. No cases had neuropsychological abnormalities. Only 19% of total cases developed classical Dejerine-Roussy syndrome on short term follow-up. Most patients had hypertension and/or diabetes with the absence of large vessel abnormalities on MRA, but none had the cardioembolic source. CONCLUSION: The lesion sizes of pure sensory thalamic infarction were relatively small. The classical Dejerine-Roussy syndrome had been originally described as the effect of TGA occlusion but uncommon in our series.
Arteries* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Infarction* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Paresis ; Stroke ; Thalamic Diseases ; Thalamus

We report a 61-year-old right-handed man developing disturbance of memory after a discrete thalamic infarction. Neuropsychological assessment revealed deficits in memory with retrograde and anterograde components, especially for verbal material. Brain MRI showed a left anterior thalamic infarction with normal angiographic findings. Despite the small lesion in the thalamus, he showed prolonged memory disturbance and a Brain SPECT image revealed decreased uptake in the ipsilateral fronto-temporo-parietal cortex and contralateral cerebellum. This diaschisis, a phenomenon caused by disconnection of the neural pathway helped us to evaluate the functional state of the patient and this imaging technique was valuable for obtaining to get more information for the evaluation of the neurological state and neuronal connections. In conclusion our findings correspond well with the understanding of amnesia as a disconnection syndrome because of the evidence of diaschisis on the Brain SPECT image.
Amnesia/*etiology ; Brain/*radionuclide imaging ; Case Report ; Cerebellum/radionuclide imaging ; Cerebral Infarction/*complications/radionuclide imaging ; Human ; Male ; Middle Age ; Thalamic Diseases/*complications/radionuclide imaging ; *Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon