The Meta VCI Map consortium for meta-analyses on strategic lesion locations for vascular cognitive impairment using lesion-symptom mapping: design and multicenter pilot study

Introduction: The Meta VCI Map consortium performs meta-analyses on strategic lesion locations for vascular cognitive impairment using lesion-symptom mapping. Integration of data from different cohorts will increase sample sizes, to improve brain lesion coverage and support comprehensive lesion-symptom mapping studies. Methods: Cohorts with available imaging on white matter hyperintensities or infarcts and cognitive testing were invited. We performed a pilot study to test the feasibility of multicenter data processing and analysis and determine the benefits to lesion coverage. Results: Forty-seven groups have joined Meta VCI Map (stroke n = 7800 patients; memory clinic n = 4900; population-based n = 14,400). The pilot study (six ischemic stroke cohorts, n = 878) demonstrated feasibility of multicenter data integration (computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging) and achieved marked improvement of lesion coverage. Discussion: Meta VCI Map will provide new insights into the relevance of vascular lesion location for cognitive dysfunction. After the successful pilot study, further projects are being prepared. Other investigators are welcome to join

Retinal pathology as biomarker for cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease

10.1136/jnnp-2011-301628Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry839917-922JNNP

Hydrogen sulfide is a mediator of cerebral ischemic damage

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Genetic variation in the 5-HT2A receptor and altered neocortical [H-3] ketanserin binding in Alzheimer's disease

A common intronic single nucleotide polymorphism (T102C) in the 5-HT2A receptor gene is associated with the development of different neuropsychiatric symptoms, including hallucinations and depressive symptoms in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Differential 5-HT2A receptor binding has also been associated with the development of these symptoms in AD. However, the relationship between 5-HT2A (T102C) genotype and 5-HT2A receptor binding in AD and control human brains has not been examined. We examined the association between different 5-HT2A (T102C) genotypes and [H-3] ketanserin binding in the temporal and frontal cortex of 20 AD and 14 control human brains. In homozygotes, but not heterozygotes, there was a significant reduction in B-max values for [H-3] ketanserin binding in both areas of cortex in AD compared with control subjects. This study suggests a mechanism for the generation of different neuropsychiatric symptoms in AD from a single nucleotide polymorphism with reduced receptor binding in T102C 5-HT2A receptor gene homozygotes correlating with susceptibility to depressive symptoms, whereas the relative preservation of receptor binding in heterozygotes with AD correlating with susceptibility to hallucinations

Response to Letter by Sheikh

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Associations of ankle-brachial index (ABI) with cerebral arterial disease and vascular events following ischemic stroke

10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2012.04.009Atherosclerosis2231219-222ATHS

Ischemic stroke in ethnic South Asians

10.1161/STROKEAHA.109.559443Stroke4010e594-SJCC

South Asian patients with ischemic stroke: Intracranial large arteries are the predominant site of disease

10.1161/STROKEAHA.107.484584Stroke3892592-2594SJCC

APOE epsilon 4 allele affects presynaptic, but not postsynaptic cholinergic markers in Alzheimer's disease neocortex

The present study used electrical stimulation to distinguish the vesicular from the cytoplasmic component of transmitter release in human autopsy synaptosomes. We demonstrate that the present electrical stimulation paradigm can elicit successive release pulses from synaptosome preparation

Impact of Strategically Located White Matter Hyperintensities on Cognition in Memory Clinic Patients with Small Vessel Disease

10.1371/journal.pone.0166261PLoS ONE1111e016626