Cannot update WordPress General Settings Site Title and Tagline

Can you check your wp-config.php and double check that you are using the correct database, as if you have changed the values within the wp_options table then they should definitely be reflected in the settings in the back-end of WordPress, whereas, updating from WordPress might not have been saving etc.

Sounds like a strange issue though. Are the changes you make to the database still there after you go to another table and back? Or do they not save into the database when using PhpMyAdmin?