Intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD) manifests systemic atherosclerosis in the intracranial arterial bed. It is the most common risk factor for ischemic stroke in Chinese population, with symptomatic ICAD (sICAD) patients at higher stroke risk. Continuous cerebral hypoperfusion and hemodynamic decompensation caused by arterial stenosis or occlusion are the main pathological mechanisms for stroke recurrence and cognitive impairment in sICAD patients. Despite receiving reinforced medical therapy, about 10% of sICAD patients still suffer stroke recurrence. Blood flow reconstruction techniques are not yet established as routine stroke prevention for sICAD due to complex perioperative complications. Limb remote ischemic conditioning (LRIC) can effectively reduce the incidence of ischemic stroke, and composite cerebrovascular diseases, and improve cerebral perfusion, brain metabolism, and cerebrovascular reserve (CVR) in sICAD patients, serving as a novel therapeutic strategy. However, the protective mechanisms of LRIC and the optimal treatment regimen for sICAD still require further exploration. Exploring imaging biomarkers with high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis is of great significance in evaluating and predicting stroke risk in sICAD patients.

Microglia are immune-competent cells involved in maintaining brain homeostasis through their capacity to prune synapses and continuously survey the brain environment. The activation of microglia is one of the most prominent characteristics of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a severe neurodegenerative disease featuring extracellular deposits of amyloid-β plaques (Aβ plaques) and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) as the result of tau hyperphosphorylation. Whether microglia activation is beneficial or detrimental for brains with AD is still controversial. In this article, we review recent studies focusing on microglia phenotypes in AD by single-cell omics, to understand the signature genes, functions, and regulatory factors of each phenotype. A profound understanding of the heterogeneity of microglial phenotypes will suggest new avenues for treatments for AD.

Postoperative delirium (POD) is a common postoperative complication that can lead to adverse consequences such as prolonged hospitalization, increased medical costs, and higher patient mortality. Chemical medications have demonstrated effectiveness as an intervention in the prevention and treatment of POD, and as a result, have garnered much research attention in recent years. The purpose of this paper is therefore to review and evaluate the research on chemical medications for the treatment of POD systematically, to summarize the current findings, and to discuss future directions.

While accumulating evidence indicates a relationship between ulcerative colitis (UC) and Parkinson's disease (PD), the interactions between them have not been thoroughly examined. In this study we explored their association via genetic characterization and functional enrichment. Assessment and validation were conducted in a novel dataset comprising whole blood RNA sequencing (RNAseq) data and in three datasets retrieved from the Gene Expression Omnibus database (GSE107499, GSE75214, and GSE100054). Weighted gene co-expression network analysis was used to determine the most relevant differentially expressed genes (DEGs) for the clinical features. Hub genes were identified using molecular complex detection (MCODE) application. In the training and validation datasets, we found two hub genes platelet factor 4 (PF4) and C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 5 (CXCL5), which showed significant upregulation in all four datasets. The receiver operating characteristic curve indicated a diagnostic role for PF4 and CXCL5 in UC and PD. Therefore, PF4 and CXCL5 may provide key insights into the relationship between UC and PD.

Objective: To investigate the changes of mRNA expression level of zinc finger and SCAN domain containing 12 (ZSCAN12) in peripheral blood of first-episode schizophrenia (SCZ). Methods: For our study we selected 17 individuals who had a first episode of SCZ and were hospitalized in the Affiliated Mental Hospital of Kunming Medical University from January 2024 to June 2024; we measured the mRNA expression level of ZSCAN12 in peripheral lymphocytes by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR) method in the study group and compared it to a control group consisting of 15 healthy patients. Results: There was no significant difference in the expression of ZSCAN12 mRNA in peripheral blood lymphocytes of SCZ patients and healthy controls (P > 0.05). Conclusion: The expression of ZSCAN12 mRNA was not significantly abnormal in SCZ patients in this study.

Objective: To describe the clinical features of delayed post-hypoxic leukoencephalopathy after smoke inhalation from dry burning. Methods: We collected the clinical history and examination data of a patient who presented with delayed post-hypoxic leukoencephalopathy due to smoke poisoning. Results: Patients exposed to heavy smoke from dry burning carbonization can develop delayed post-hypoxic leukoencephalopathy. Conclusion: Delayed post-hypoxic leukoencephalopathy after smoke poisoning during cooking is rare. Family should bring patients to a hospital as soon as possible when observing abnormal neurologic symptoms after smoke inhalation to prevent irreversible damage to the brain.