{"title":"The predictive value of serum CXCL2 and CXCL8 levels for early neurological deterioration in patients with penetrating artery disease-type ischaemic stroke.","authors":"Yi Zhong, Bei Liu","doi":"10.1080/00207454.2026.2664028","DOIUrl":"10.1080/00207454.2026.2664028","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To evaluate whether serum C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CXCL2) and C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 8 (CXCL8) predict early neurological deterioration (END) in penetrating artery disease (PAD)-type ischaemic stroke.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This retrospective study included 146 PAD patients (June 2022-October 2024). Patients were stratified into END (<i>n</i> = 22) and non-END (<i>n</i> = 124) groups. Bioinformatics analysis using the GEO database and protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis were performed. Serum CXCL2 and CXCL8 levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Pearson correlation, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and logistic regression analyses were performed, followed by nomogram construction.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Bioinformatics analysis revealed CXCL2 and CXCL8 upregulation in cerebral infarction. END patients were older, had prolonged onset-to-admission times, higher admission National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores, and a higher branch atheromatous disease prevalence (all <i>p</i> < 0.05). END patients had elevated serum CXCL2 and CXCL8 levels (<i>p</i> < 0.05), which were positively correlated (<i>r</i> = 0.202, <i>p</i> = 0.015). ROC analysis indicated that the combination of CXCL2 and CXCL8 produced an area under the curve of 0.799 (95% CI: 0.720-0.878), outperforming individual markers. LASSO regression identified age, CXCL2, and CXCL8 as key variables. Multivariate analysis revealed age (OR = 1.140, 95% CI: 1.053-1.235, <i>p</i> = 0.001), CXCL2 (OR = 1.024, 95% CI: 1.006-1.043, <i>p</i> = 0.008), and CXCL8 (OR = 1.009, 95% CI: 1.003-1.016, <i>p</i> = 0.003) as independent END risk factors. The nomogram demonstrated excellent discrimination (training: 0.874; validation: 0.856) and good calibration (Hosmer-Lemeshow <i>p</i> > 0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Serum CXCL2 and CXCL8 demonstrate potential as biomarkers for identifying END in acute PAD.</p>","PeriodicalId":14161,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Neuroscience","volume":" ","pages":"1031-1041"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147771116","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Song Xu, Guozhu Wang, Xiongwen Zhang, Xie Dong, Jin Liang, Tao Bai
{"title":"Identification of PANoptosis-related biomarkers in spinal cord injury (SCI) through multi-omics analysis and machine learning.","authors":"Song Xu, Guozhu Wang, Xiongwen Zhang, Xie Dong, Jin Liang, Tao Bai","doi":"10.1080/00207454.2026.2664800","DOIUrl":"10.1080/00207454.2026.2664800","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a severe neurological disorder lacking early diagnostic biomarkers and precise therapeutic targets. PANoptosis, a combined cell death process involving apoptosis, necroptosis, and pyroptosis, is implicated in poor functional recovery after SCI, yet its biomarkers remain unexplored. This study aims to identify biomarkers associated with PANoptosis in SCI.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with SCI were identified using bioinformatics analysis, followed by functional enrichment. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and three machine learning algorithms (random forest, LASSO, and SVM-RFE) were used to identify core PANoptosis-related genes. A protein-protein interaction network and a nomogram model were constructed, and immune infiltration was analyzed. Gene expression and function were validated <i>in vitro</i> using an LPS-induced BV2 microglial injury model.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 1,167 DEGs were identified, mainly enriched in immune and calcium signaling pathways. Five core genes (PPP3CC, DFFB, PSMA6, PRKCQ, and PIK3CB) were identified through integrated analysis. The nomogram showed that higher PIK3CB and PSMA6 expression was associated with increased risk, whereas higher PPP3CC, DFFB, and PRKCQ expression indicated lower risk. These genes were significantly correlated with multiple immune cell subsets. <i>In vitro</i> experiments confirmed altered protein expression after LPS stimulation, with PPP3CC most notably downregulated. PPP3CC overexpression partially restored cell viability and reduced IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α levels.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>PANoptosis appears to play a significant role in the pathogenesis of SCI. The identified genes are potential biomarkers of immune regulation, and PPP3CC may serve as a protective factor and therapeutic target.</p>","PeriodicalId":14161,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Neuroscience","volume":" ","pages":"1051-1065"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147771078","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Scalable quantum non-local neural network optimised with the tyrannosaurus algorithm for brain tumour detection using MRI images.","authors":"Pabitha Chidambaram, Gaurav Agrawal, Guganathan Loganathan, Anupama Jaiprakash","doi":"10.1080/00207454.2026.2656322","DOIUrl":"10.1080/00207454.2026.2656322","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background:</b> Early and reliable detection of brain tumours using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is essential for timely diagnosis and effective treatment planning. However, automated tumour detection remains challenging due to tumour heterogeneity, complex brain anatomy, image noise, and the limited ability of many deep learning models to capture both global and fine-grained features. Existing approaches also often suffer from high computational complexity and limited generalisability across datasets.</p><p><p><b>Objective:</b> This study aims to develop an efficient and robust automated framework for accurate brain tumour detection from MRI images while addressing limitations related to feature representation, computational efficiency, and model generalisability.</p><p><p><b>Methods:</b> A novel framework integrating advanced preprocessing techniques, accurate tumour segmentation, hierarchical feature extraction, and optimised classification is proposed. The model was evaluated using two publicly available benchmark datasets, BraTS 2018 and Figshare, comprising multi-class brain tumour MRI images with different tumour types and grades.</p><p><p><b>Results:</b> The proposed framework achieved superior performance, with classification accuracy reaching up to 99.8%. Comparative analysis demonstrated improvements in precision, recall, and F1-score over existing state-of-the-art methods. The model also exhibited enhanced feature representation capabilities and reduced computational errors when processing complex tumour structures.</p><p><p><b>Conclusion:</b> The proposed approach provides a reliable and efficient computer-aided diagnostic tool for brain tumour detection. Its high accuracy and robustness across datasets make it a promising tool for assisting clinicians in early diagnosis and informed decision-making, thereby potentially improving clinical outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":14161,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Neuroscience","volume":" ","pages":"968-987"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147673411","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Integrating neurotrophic and anti-inflammatory pathways: press-needle acupuncture as a multi-target therapy for adolescent depression.","authors":"Haomin Zhang, Yufeng Rong, Ruirui Ning, Zhao Yan, Yongqin Zhao, Ying Chen","doi":"10.1080/00207454.2026.2643312","DOIUrl":"10.1080/00207454.2026.2643312","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Press needle therapy, may alleviate depressive-like behaviors.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Male rats were randomly allocated into four groups (<i>n</i> = 8): Normal control group (CON), Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress(CUMS) group (CUMS), Press-needle group (PN), and Fluoxetine group (FLX). A depressive-like model was established by the CUMS paradigm for 28 consecutive days. Body weights were recorded at baseline and on Days 7, 14, and 28. Behavioral assessments were conducted, including: open field test (OFT), elevated plus maze (EPM), forced swim test (FST), and sucrose preference test (SPT). Protein expression levels of BDNF, CREB, TrkB, AKT, PKA, 5-HT1A receptor, and 5-HT2C receptor in hippocampal tissues were quantified by Western blot analysis. Concurrently, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) measured the concentrations of PI3K and AKT in hippocampal homogenates, and IL-6 and TNF-α in both hippocampal homogenates and serum samples. Hippocampal mRNA expression levels of 5-HTT, 5-HT1A receptor, TrkB, MAPK, and BDNF were determined using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). For morphological assessment, hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining was performed on paraffin-embedded hippocampal sections.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Press-needle ameliorated depressive-like behaviors in CUMS-exposed rats, restored body weight gain and improved behavioral performance. The treatment upregulated the hippocampal BDNF/TrkB/CREB signaling pathway, increasing BDNF, TrkB, CREB, AKT, and PI3K in the hippocampus. The therapy modulated serotonergic neurotransmission by increasing hippocampal 5-HTT expression, while downregulating 5-HT1A and 5-HT2C receptors and PKA. Notably, press-needle exerted anti-neuroinflammatory effects, reducing hippocampal and serum levels of TNF-α and IL-6. Histopathological analysis confirmed its neuroprotective efficacy, demonstrating attenuated neuronal damage in hippocampal tissues.</p>","PeriodicalId":14161,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Neuroscience","volume":" ","pages":"863-878"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147432442","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Effects of alteplase, aspirin, and clopidogrel on inflammatory factors and neurological function in patients with stroke.","authors":"Jinjin Chen, Xiaoli Yang, Zongyou Zhao","doi":"10.1080/00207454.2026.2627245","DOIUrl":"10.1080/00207454.2026.2627245","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>To evaluate the clinical value of combining alteplase, aspirin, and clopidogrel in patients with stroke, with changes in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score as the primary efficacy assessment indicator.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Clinical data of 122 patients with stroke who received pharmacological treatment between January 2022 and June 2024 were retrospectively collected from the hospital's health information technology (HIT) system. Patients were assigned to two groups according to treatment protocols: a dual-agent group (<i>n</i> = 61; aspirin plus alteplase) and a triple-agent group (<i>n</i> = 61; alteplase, aspirin, and clopidogrel).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>At 24 h, 3 days, and 5 days of treatment, NIHSS scores were lower in the triple-agent group than in the dual-agent group, with a significantly higher NIHSS improvement rate at 5 days (85.0% vs. 75.0%, <i>p</i> = 0.022). At 5 days and at 90-day follow-up, Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores were significantly higher in the triple-agent group (<i>p</i> = 0.002, <i>p</i> < 0.001). The dual-agent group had a longer duration of hospitalization but lower average medical costs than the triple-agent group (<i>p</i> = 0.025). No significant difference in 90-day complication incidence was observed between the groups (<i>p</i> > 0.05). At the 90-day follow-up, the triple-agent group demonstrated significantly better upper and lower limb function and higher Barthel scores compared with the dual-agent group (<i>p</i> < 0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Triple-agent therapy, with alteplase, aspirin, and clopidogrel, may reduce neurological impairment, improve cognitive outcomes, and enhance early functional recovery in patients with stroke, although at the expense of higher medical costs.</p>","PeriodicalId":14161,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Neuroscience","volume":" ","pages":"723-732"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146118971","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Bassel Alrabadi, Yousef Alghzawi, Hasan I Mater, Natalie Bandak, Alwaleed Emad Alshakshir, Raghad Saleh, Hadeel A Alkayed
{"title":"Efficacy, safety and dosing of intravenous alteplase administered beyond 4.5 hours for ischemic stroke: systematic review and meta-analysis.","authors":"Bassel Alrabadi, Yousef Alghzawi, Hasan I Mater, Natalie Bandak, Alwaleed Emad Alshakshir, Raghad Saleh, Hadeel A Alkayed","doi":"10.1080/00207454.2026.2639362","DOIUrl":"10.1080/00207454.2026.2639362","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>To evaluate the efficacy, safety, and dosing of intravenous alteplase administered beyond the conventional 4.5-hour therapeutic window in adults with acute ischemic stroke.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched through December 2025 for randomized controlled trials and observational studies assessing intravenous alteplase administered beyond 4.5 h after stroke onset, including wake-up and imaging-selected strokes. Pooled risk ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using random-effects models. Outcomes included functional recovery, functional independence, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH), and mortality. Sensitivity analyses and Bayesian meta-analyses were also performed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Ten studies comprising 2,050 patients met the inclusion criteria. Late administration of alteplase was associated with improved functional outcomes, including higher rates of favorable modified Rankin Scale scores (RR 1.34, 95% CI 1.19-1.51) and functional independence (RR 1.17, 95% CI 1.07-1.28). Treatment was associated with an increased risk of sICH (RR 4.67, 95% CI 1.85-11.76), while mortality did not differ significantly between treatment and control groups (RR 1.23, 95% CI 0.87-1.73). Bayesian analysis demonstrated consistent functional benefit with standard-dose alteplase (0.9 mg/kg), whereas reduced-dose regimens did not show consistent efficacy.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Intravenous alteplase administered beyond 4.5 h after stroke onset is associated with improved functional outcomes in selected patients, despite an increased risk of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage and no significant effect on mortality. These findings support the use of extended-window thrombolysis when guided by appropriate clinical or imaging-based selection criteria.</p>","PeriodicalId":14161,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Neuroscience","volume":" ","pages":"823-833"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147326030","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"High MAP3K6 expression in spinal cord injury tissues enhances neuronal apoptosis: insights from multi-omics data integrating WGCNA, machine learning and experimental validation.","authors":"Yanbing Liu, Zhao Liu, Yiqing Shi","doi":"10.1080/00207454.2026.2639364","DOIUrl":"10.1080/00207454.2026.2639364","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a major global health issue with severe complications, yet effective biomarkers remain elusive. We analyzed the GSE226238 dataset from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and identified 4621 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between SCI and controls, comprising 2684 upregulated and 1577 downregulated genes. Functional enrichment analyses revealed these DEGs are predominantly involved in protein degradation pathways, immune-related processes and ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis. Immune infiltration analysis using multiple algorithms showed significant alterations in B cells, T cells, NK cells and neutrophils, indicating a complex immune microenvironment post-SCI. Using WGCNA, we constructed a scale-free co-expression network and identified nine modules; the green module showed the strongest positive correlation with SCI. Intersecting DEGs, WGCNA module genes, and random forest-selected features identified five candidate genes: MAP3K6, ATP5MPL, NDUFB1, RNASE2 and MIR373. Single-cell RNA sequencing further revealed that MAP3K6 exhibited the highest expression among candidates, predominantly in neuroepithelial and neuronal cells. Validation in independent GSE151371 dataset confirmed significantly elevated MAP3K6 expression in SCI, with ROC analysis demonstrating robust diagnostic efficacy (AUC = 0.918). <i>In vitro</i>, MAP3K6 knockdown in mouse spinal cord neuronal cells promoted cell growth and inhibited apoptosis, decreasing pro-apoptotic proteins (BAX, caspase-3, cleaved caspase-3) and increasing anti-apoptotic Bcl-2. Collectively, our multi-omics analysis integrated with experimental validation identifies MAP3K6 as a key regulator in SCI pathogenesis, offering new insights into molecular mechanisms and highlighting its potential as a diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target.</p>","PeriodicalId":14161,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Neuroscience","volume":" ","pages":"834-848"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147354829","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Time-dependent neurovascular unit dysfunction in ischemic stroke: mechanisms of neurovascular uncoupling and its clinical impact.","authors":"Rijhul Lahariya, Mainak Sinha, Bandana Kumari, Keyush Venket Subramanian, Gargee Anand","doi":"10.1080/00207454.2026.2627246","DOIUrl":"10.1080/00207454.2026.2627246","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>Neurovascular unit (NVU) dysfunction is a central determinant of tissue injury, reperfusion failure, and long-term neurological outcomes after ischemic stroke. This review critically examines the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying NVU disruption, with a particular focus on inflammation, oxidative stress and blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity, and evaluates emerging NVU-targeted therapeutic strategies.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A focused narrative review synthesized studies on ischemic stroke-related NVU alterations, integrating cellular mechanisms, biomarkers and phase-specific therapeutic strategies targeting BBB dysfunction, inflammation, oxidative stress and neurorestoration.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Acute ischemic injury induces endothelial tight-junction disruption, pericyte constriction and loss, astrocytic activation and microglial-driven inflammation, resulting in BBB breakdown, impaired neurovascular coupling (NVC) and restricted microvascular reperfusion. These processes facilitate leukocyte infiltration, exacerbate secondary neuronal damage and increase hemorrhagic transformation risk. Circulating and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers, including MMP-9, GFAP, S100B and pro-inflammatory cytokines, reflect NVU injury severity and correlate with functional outcomes. In the chronic phase, persistent BBB permeability, maladaptive VEGF signaling and sustained low-grade inflammation contribute to white matter injury, impaired neuroplasticity and post-stroke cognitive decline. Therapeutic strategies targeting NVU dysfunction include anti-inflammatory agents, COX-2 inhibitors and NADPH oxidase (NOX) inhibitors, alongside stem cell-based and extracellular vesicle-mediated approaches that promote vascular stabilization and repair. Neuroplasticity-enhancing interventions and nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems further support functional recovery.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>NVU dysfunction underlies both acute injury amplification and chronic recovery failure after stroke. Biomarker-guided, phase-specific therapeutic strategies targeting inflammation, oxidative stress and BBB instability represent a promising framework for personalized stroke management.</p>","PeriodicalId":14161,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Neuroscience","volume":" ","pages":"733-744"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146124940","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}