CD34^(+ )progenitor cells as diagnostic and therapeutic targets in Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer’s disease(AD)is the main neurodegenerative disease leading to dementia and cognitive impairment in the elderly.Considering AD to be an epidemic,an increase from the current 50 million to more than 150 million patients is expected by the year 2050.

Endothelial progenitor cells as a therapeutic option in intracerebral hemorrhage

Intracerebral hemorrhage （ICH） is the most severe cerebrovascular disease, which represents a leading cause of death and disability in developed countries. However, therapeutic options are limited, so is mandatory to investigate repairing processes after stroke in order to develop new therapeutic strategies able to promote brain repair processes. Therapeutic angiogenesis and vasculogenesis hold promise to improve outcome of ICH patients. In this regard, circulating endothelial progenitor cells （EPCs） have recently been suggested to be a marker of vascular risk and endothelial function. Moreover, EPC levels have been associated with good neurological and functional outcome as well as reduced residual hematoma volume in ICH patients. Finally, experimental and clinical studies indicate that EPC might mediate endothelial cell regeneration and neovascularization. Therefore, EPC-based therapy could be an excellent therapeutic option in ICH. In this mini-review, we discuss the present status of knowledge about the possible therapeutic role of EPCs in ICH, molecular mechanisms, and the future perspectives and strategies for their use in clinical practice.

sTWEAK is a marker of early haematoma growth and leukoaraiosis in intracerebral haemorrhage

Objective To study the association between early growth of haematoma with biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction such as leukoaraiosis(LA)and the soluble tumour necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis(sTWEAK)in patients with intracerebral haemorrhage(ICH).Methods This is a retrospective observational study of patients with nontraumatic ICH.Clinical and biochemical parameters were analysed.sTWEAK levels were measured by ELISA.LA was analysed in the hemisphere without haemorrhage to avoid interference with the acute injury.The main endpoint was the haematoma growth evaluated by the difference in volume between the second and the initial neuroimage.Poor functional outcome,defined as a modified Rankin Scale>2 at 3 months,was considered as secondary endpoint.Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to stablish the best cut-off for sTWEAK levels associated with haematoma growth.Results We included 653 patients with ICH in our analysis(71.1±11.9 years,44%women).Haematoma growth was observed in 188 patients(28.8%).sTWEAK levels≥5600 pg/mL predicted ICH growth with a sensitivity of 84%and a specificity of 87%.sTWEAK levels≥5600 pg/mL and the presence of LA were associated with haematoma growth(OR:42.46;(CI 95%22.67 to 79.52)and OR:2.73(CI 95%1.39 to 5.34),respectively).Also,the presence of LA(OR:4.31(CI 95%2.89 to 6.42))and the interaction between ICH growth and sTWEAK(OR:2.23(CI 95%1.40 to 3.55))were associated with poor functional outcome at 3 months.Conclusion sTWEAKs,together with the presence and grade of LA,are biomarkers able to predict ICH growth and poor functional outcome in patients with ICH.