The mean total numbers of RGCs labeled from the ON, in Swiss (49,493+/-3936; n=18) or C57 mice (42,658+/-1540; n=10) were slightly higher than the mean numbers of RGCs labeled from the SCi, in Swiss (48,733+/-3954; n=43) or C57 mice (41,192+/-2821; n=42), respectively. RGCs were distributed throughout the retina and density maps revealed a horizontal region in the superior retina near the optic disk with highest RGC densities. In conclusion, the population of mice RGCs may be counted automatically with a level of confidence comparable to manual counts. The distribution of RGCs adopts a form of regional specialization that resembles a horizontal visual streak.

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Thrombotic material retrieved from acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients represents a valuable source of biological information. In this study, we have developed a clinical proteomics workflow to characterize the protein cargo of thrombi derived from AIS patients. To analyze the thrombus proteome in a large-scale format, we developed a workflow that combines the isolation of thrombus by endovascular thrombectomy and peptide chromatographic fractionation coupled to mass-spectrometry. Using this workflow, we have characterized a specific proteomic expression profile derived from four AIS patients included in this study. Around 1600 protein species were unambiguously identified in the analyzed material. Functional bioinformatics analyses were performed, emphasizing a clustering of proteins with immunological functions as well as cardiopathy-related proteins with blood-cell dependent functions and peripheral vascular processes. In addition, we established a reference proteomic fingerprint of 341 proteins commonly detected in all patients. Protein interactome network of this subproteome revealed protein clusters involved in the interaction of fibronectin with 14-3-3 proteins, TGFβ signaling, and TCP complex network. Taken together, our data contributes to the repertoire of the human thrombus proteome, serving as a reference library to increase our knowledge about the molecular basis of thrombus derived from AIS patients, paving the way toward the establishment of a quantitative approach necessary to detect and characterize potential novel biomarkers in the stroke field.

Background: The discovery of novel biomarkers of stroke etiology would be most helpful in management of acute ischemic stroke patients. Recently, circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been proposed as candidate biomarkers of neurological conditions due to its high stability. circRNAs function as sponges, sequestering miRNAs and are involved in most relevant biological functions. Our aim was to identify differentially expressed circRNAs in acute ischemic stroke patients according to stroke etiology. Methods: A comprehensive expression profile of blood circRNAs was conducted by Arraystar Human circRNA arrays (13,617 probes) on a discovery cohort of 30 stroke patients with different stroke etiologies by TOAST classification. Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was used to validate array results in a cohort of 50 stroke patients. Functional in silico analysis was performed to identify potential interactions with microRNAs (miRNAs) and pathways underlying deregulated circRNAs. Results: A set of 60 circRNAs were found to be upregulated in atherotrombotic versus cardioembolic strokes (foldchange > = 1.5 and p-value ≤ 0.05). Differential expression of hsa_circRNA_102488, originated from UBA52 gene, was replicated in the validation cohort. RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) sites of hsa_circRNA_102488 clustered around AGO2 and FUS proteins. Further functional analysis revealed interactions between deregulated circRNAs and a set of miRNAs involved in stroke-related pathways, such as fatty acid biogenesis or lysine degradation. Conclusion: Different stroke subtypes show specific profiles of circRNAs expression. circRNAs may serve as a new source of biomarkers of stroke etiology in acute ischemic stroke patients.

Background Inflammatory response plays an important role in many processes related to acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Calprotectin (S100A8/S100A9), released by monocytes and neutrophils, is a key protein in the regulation of inflammation and thrombosis. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the association of circulating calprotectin with other inflammatory biomarkers and AIS prognosis, as well as the calprotectin content in stroke thrombi. Methods Among the 748 patients treated at a comprehensive stroke center between 2015 and 2017, 413 patients with confirmed acute ischemic injury were prospectively evaluated. Patients with systemic inflammation or infection at onset were excluded. Plasma calprotectin was measured by ELISA in blood samples of AIS patients within the first 24 h. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were performed to evaluate its association with mortality and functional independence (FI) at 3 months (defined as modified Rankin Scale < 3) and hemorrhagic transformation (HT) after ischemic stroke. Further, S100A9 was localized by immunostaining in stroke thrombi (n = 44). Results Higher calprotectin levels were associated with 3-month mortality, HT, and lower 3-month FI. After adjusting for potential confounders, plasma calprotectin remained associated with 3-month mortality [OR (95% CI) 2.31 (1.13–4.73)]. Patients with calprotectin ≥ 2.26 μg/mL were 4 times more likely to die [OR 4.34 (1.95–9.67)]. Addition of calprotectin to clinical variables led to significant improvement in the discrimination capacity of the model [0.91 (0.87–0.95) vs 0.89 (0.85–0.93); p < 0.05]. A multimarker approach demonstrated that patients with increased calprotectin, CRP, and NLR had the poorest outcome with a mortality rate of 42.3% during follow-up. S100A9 protein, as part of the heterodimer calprotectin, was present in all thrombi retrieved from AIS patients. Mean S100A9 content was 3.5% and tended to be higher in patients who died (p = 0.09). Moreover, it positively correlated with platelets (Pearson r 0.46, p < 0.002), leukocytes (0.45, p < 0.01), and neutrophil elastase (0.70, p < 0.001) thrombus content. Conclusions Plasma calprotectin is an independent predictor of 3-month mortality and provides complementary prognostic information to identify patients with poor outcome after AIS. The presence of S100A9 in stroke thrombi suggests a possible inflammatory mechanism in clot formation, and further studies are needed to determine its influence in resistance to reperfusion.

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Mancozeb is a ethylene-bis-dithiocarbamate (EBDC) fungicide that contains zinc and manganese. 1 In humans, chronic EBDC inhalation has been associated with neurocognitive impairment and parkinsonism 2 while acute intoxication elicit reversible headache, dizziness, and seizures in a few cases, all of which were rapidly reversible. 3 We report a case of severe and reversible parkinsonism in a man after the accidental oral ingestion of mancozeb.A 55-year-old man with history of alcohol abuse was admitted with a 4 days alcohol withdrawal. At examination, he was found to be alert, oriented, and showed postural tremor and diaphoresis. Treatment with tiapride (300 mg/day during 4 days) and thiamine was started. On the fourth day of hospitalization, he was diagnosed of acute cholecystitis and was surgically treated. Seven days later, he was found to be confused. At physical examination, the patient was alert, slow minded, and disoriented. He had a masked facies (video, segment 2) dysarthria and hypophonia resulting in his speech being unintelligible. He was noted to have poverty and slowness of movements (video, segment 2) and generalized cogwheel rigidity (video, segment 1), particularly in the jaw. His posture was stooped and he was unable to walk without assistance (video, segment 3). Bilateral resting tremor and isolated reflex myoclonus were observed. Startle reflex was pathologic. All deep tendon reflexes were brisk. He recognized having intake accidentally 5 g of a vegetable fungicide containing mancozeb.Laboratory test showed normal concentrations of blood glucose, creatinine, alkaline phosphatise, total bilirrubin, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase level. c-Glutamyl transferase was 112 U/L (normal range 6-38). Hepatitis B and C serologies were negative. Serum ammonium was within normal range but serum or urine manganese was not assessed. Cerebral magnetic resonance (MR) showed moderate generalized atrophy. Electroencephalogram was normal. SPECT examination using [ 123 I]FP-CIT showed a normal dopamine transporter (DAT) uptake in both putamen. Levodopa-carbidopa therapy was initiated with no motor improvement and was interrupted few weeks later. During the following 8 months, the neurological symptoms spontaneously remitted and 16 months later, he was still abstinent and without signs of parkinsonism.