Antibodies directed against β-amyloid (Aβ) have been developed for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, the in vivo central efficacy is reduced by the poor penetration of antibodies across the blood–brain barrier (BBB). In addition, these antibodies have been associated with adverse effects like amyloid-related imaging abnormalities. Thus, the development of new antibody-based therapies for AD with improved transport across the BBB may improve efficacy and reduce adverse effects. Antibodies targeting the BBB transferrin receptor (TfR) are able to cross the BBB through receptor-mediated transcytosis, producing a global distribution throughout the brain.

New research shows that specific types of brain cells become active after brain injuries and exhibit properties similar to those of neural stem cells. Astrocyte plasticity might correlate with the upregulation of the Galectin 3 protein, which may significantly contribute to discovery of additional biomarkers. The study discovered that a specific protein regulates these cells and could be a target for therapy and contribute to development of better treatments options for brain injuries. The loss of neurons, which subsequently causes impairment of brain function, is caused by the onset and progression of neurological disorders, like strokes, spinal cord injuries and neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimers / Dementia, ALS and MND. Effective treatment options still need to be improved. However, preclinical research has shown a promising response involving reactive astrocytes, a specific type of glial cell, which is a crucial part of the nervous system alongside neurons. Microglia and Glial cells are regarded as a safeguard for neurons, demonstrating the ability to resume cell proliferation, a mechanism essential for protecting the injury-affected brain from invasion by immune cells.^[1]

Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells to Neuroglia.

Given the importance of astrocyte proliferation, these findings are relevant for understanding how changes in cerebrospinal fluid composition (upregulation of Galectin 3 protein) support the maintenance of astrocyte plasticity in the brain. Identifying Galectin 3 protein as an inducer of astrocyte plasticity has helped discover other biomarkers that offer beneficial modulation inside the injured brain parenchyma. These regulators of astrocyte proliferation after acute injury offer great promise for the future clinical applications of these biomarkers as indicators for detecting a beneficial reaction of glial stem cell therapy or help identify the presence of other cells with stemness potential in an injured patient’s brain ^[5].

Large vestibular schwannomas (VS) often compress the brainstem and differ in their relation to the internal auditory canal (IAC); the significance of these radiographic features on postoperative outcomes remains unclear. This study quantifies the impact of brainstem compression (BSC) and position relative to the IAC on surgical outcomes in VS.

We retrospectively identified 116 patients with sporadic unilateral VS ≥ 3 centimeters (2017–2022). Neurofibromatosis 2 cases were excluded. BSC was quantified with MRI T1 post-contrast axial images as the perpendicular distance from the brainstem-cerebellum to the point of maximal compression. Anterior and posterior IAC extension were measured relative to a line bisecting the IAC from the porus to fundus. Outcomes included postoperative facial nerve (FN) function, extent of resection (EOR), and length of stay (LOS).

Greater anterior extension was associated with decreased EOR in univariate analysis (OR = 1.12, p = 0.03), but not after controlling for tumor size and age (OR = 1.09, p = 0.158). Greater BSC was associated with worse FN function at 2–3 weeks postoperatively on univariate (OR = 1.08, p = 0.036) and approached significance on multivariate analysis (OR = 1.07, p = 0.08). Posterior extension was associated with increased LOS in univariate (β = 217.57 min, p = 0.024), but not multivariate analysis. Neither anterior extension nor BSC were associated with LOS. Older age correlated with a lower rate of GTR and longer LOS in multivariate analysis (EOR: OR = 1.05, p = 0.003; LOS: β = 79.84 min, p = 0.026).