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The effects of ethephon on the reproductive systems of mammalian females are still ambiguous. This study was conducted to evaluate the toxic effects of ethephon on the female reproductive system.Forty female C57 mice were used as experimental subjects and evenly divided into 8 groups, which were fed with mixed ethephon (0, 107.3, 214.5, and 429 mg/kg bw/day) and pure water. After 20 and 40 days of gavage, the mice were weighed and individual organ coefficients of the ovaries were measured. Enzyme-linked immunoassay was used to detect the serum levels of serum sex hormones. The cell cycle distribution and rate of apoptosis of mouse ovarian tissues were examined using flow cytometry.Ethephon intoxication significantly decreased serum levels of progesterone (P) and oestradiol (E2) and increased the serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH). The serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) decreased and then increased over time. In addition, ethephon significantly inhibited the apoptosis rate in the ovary and caused G0/G1 and G2/M arrest.These results indicate that prolonged exposure to ethephon may have negative effects on the female reproductive system.

We used light to irradiate skin-derived stem cells and tried to find any cellular protein alterations 24 h after illumination. A 266-nm laser with four intensities was used, and of the nine cell markers that were surveyed in our trials, only CD90 was downregulated at an intensity of 20 μJ for 10 s. Repeated illuminations from the 266-nm laser at seven intensities revealed that CD90 expression was downregulated 14.6–28.8%, depending on light intensity. The maximal effect was noted at an intensity of 30 μJ for 2 s. This innovative finding reveals that a 266-nm laser can regulate protein expression in skin-derivative stem cells.

Background Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare neoplastic disease that occurs in both children and adults, and BRAF V600E is detected in up to 64% of the patients. Several studies have discussed the associations between BRAF V600E mutation and clinicopathological manifestations, but no clear conclusions have been drawn regarding the clinical significance of the mutation in pediatric patients. Results We retrieved the clinical information for 148 pediatric LCH patients and investigated the BRAF V600E mutation using next-generation sequencing alone or with droplet digital PCR. The overall positive rate of BRAF V600E was 60/148 (41%). The type of sample (peripheral blood and formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue) used for testing was significantly associated with the BRAF V600E mutation status (p-value = 0.000 and 0.000). The risk of recurrence declined in patients who received targeted therapy (p-value = 0.006; hazard ratio 0.164, 95%CI: 0.046 to 0.583). However, no correlation was found between the BRAF V600E status and gender, age, stage, specific organ affected, TP53 mutation status, masses close to the lesion or recurrence. Conclusions This is the largest pediatric LCH study conducted with a Chinese population to date. BRAF V600E in LCH may occur less in East Asian populations than in other ethnic groups, regardless of age. Biopsy tissue is a more sensitive sample for BRAF mutation screening because not all of circulating DNA is tumoral. Approaches with low limit of detection or high sensitivity are recommended for mutation screening to avoid type I and II errors.

Frontotemporal lobar degeneration with TDP-43 pathology (FTLD-TDP) is a neurodegenerative disease primarily affecting the frontal and/or temporal cortices. However, a growing body of evidence suggests that the cerebellum contributes to biochemical, cognitive, and behavioral changes in FTLD-TDP. To evaluate cerebellar TDP-43 expression and function in FTLD-TDP, we analyzed TDP-43 protein levels and the splicing of a TDP-43 target, STMN2, in the cerebellum of 95 FTLD-TDP cases and 25 non-neurological disease controls. Soluble TDP-43 was decreased in the cerebellum of FTLD-TDP cases but a concomitant increase in insoluble TDP-43 was not seen. Truncated STMN2 transcripts, an indicator of TDP-43 dysfunction, were elevated in the cerebellum of FTLD-TDP cases and inversely associated with TDP-43 levels. Additionally, lower cerebellar TDP-43 associated with a younger age at disease onset. We provide evidence of TDP-43 loss of function in the cerebellum in FTLD-TDP, supporting further investigation into this understudied brain region.

Pneumoconiosis refers to a spectrum of pulmonary diseases caused by inhalation of mineral dust, usually as the result of certain occupations. The main pathological features include chronic pulmonary inflammation and progressive pulmonary fibrosis, which can eventually lead to death caused by respiratory and/or heart failure. Pneumoconiosis is widespread globally, seriously threatening global public health. Its high incidence and mortality lie in improper occupational protection, and in the lack of early diagnostic methods and effective treatments. This article reviews the epidemiology, safeguard procedures, diagnosis, and treatment of pneumoconiosis, and summarizes recent research advances and future research prospects.

Rationale: Silicosis is a severe occupational lung disease. Current treatments for silicosis have highly limited availability (i.e., lung transplantation) or, do not effectively prolong patient survival time (i.e., lung lavage). There is thus an urgent clinical need for effective drugs to retard the progression of silicosis. Methods: To systematically characterize the molecular changes associated with silicosis and to discover potential therapeutic targets, we conducted a transcriptomics analysis of human lung tissues acquired during transplantation, which was integrated with transcriptomics and metabolomics analyses of silicosis mouse lungs. The results from the multi-omics analyses were then verified by qPCR, western blot, and immunohistochemistry. The effect of Ramatroban on the progression of silicosis was evaluated in a silica-induced mouse model. Results: Wide metabolic alterations were found in lungs from both human patients and mice with silicosis. Targeted metabolite quantification and validation of expression of their synthases revealed that arachidonic acid (AA) pathway metabolites, prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) and thromboxane A2 (TXA2), were significantly up-regulated in silicosis lungs. We further examined the effect of Ramatroban, a clinical antagonist of both PGD2 and TXA2 receptors, on treating silicosis using a mouse model. The results showed that Ramatroban significantly alleviated silica-induced pulmonary inflammation, fibrosis, and cardiopulmonary dysfunction compared with the control group. Conclusion: Our results revealed the importance of AA metabolic reprogramming, especially PGD2 and TXA2 in the progression of silicosis. By blocking the receptors of these two prostanoids, Ramatroban may be a novel potential therapeutic drug to inhibit the progression of silicosis.

To investigate the efficacy and safety of haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (haplo-HSCT) in combination of ATG and post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy) -induced immune tolerance after transplantation in treatment of childhood myelodysplastic syndromes(MDS）.From July 2016 to November 2020, a total of 8 children with MDS receiving the haploidentical allo-HSCT combined with ATG and PTCy-induced immune tolerance after transplantation in our hospital were enrolled, whose clinical data were retrospected and analyzed.Median age at diagnosis of the 8 children (1 male and 7 females) was 6.4 (range, 10 months to 15 years) years old. The median medical history of MDS was 2.7 years (range, 3 months to 8 years). Among the 8 patients, 7 cases were diagnosed with refractory cytopenia of childhood and one with refractory anemia with excess of blasts. The HSC donors were father, mother or brother of patients and HLA matching in 6-9/12 loci were identical. All the donors were healthy and didn't carry the same pathogenic genes as the recipients. The median age of donors was 36.4 (range, 25 to 49) years old. The median mononuclear cell (MNC) number of the graft was 19.8, ranging in (13.2-47.3)×10Haplo-HSCT combined with ATG and PTCy-induced immune tolerance after transplantation is a safe and effective treatment for children with MDS.ATG联合PTCy的Haplo-HSCT方案治疗儿童骨髓增生异常综合征.探讨ATG联合后置环磷酰胺（PTCy）诱导免疫耐受的单倍体型造血干细胞移植（haplo-HSCT）方案治疗儿童骨髓增生异常综合征（MDS）的疗效及安全性.回顾并分析2016年7月至2020年11月在本中心接受ATG联合PTCy诱导免疫耐受的Haplo-HSCT方案治疗的8例儿童MDS患者的临床资料.8例儿童MDS患者中，男1例，女7例，中位年龄6.4岁（10个月-15岁），病史中位数27年（3个月-8年），7例诊断为难治性血细胞减少症，1例诊断为难治性贫血伴原始细胞增多。供者为患者父亲、母亲或哥哥，HLA配型（6-9）/12位点相合，供者经筛查均为健康供者，未携带受者致病基因，中位年龄364（25-49）岁，回输单个核细胞中位数 19.8(13.2-47.3) ×10ATG联合PTCy诱导免疫耐受的Haplo-HSCT方案是治疗儿童MDS安全有效的方法.

No treatment for frontotemporal dementia (FTD), the second most common type of early-onset dementia, is available, but therapeutics are being investigated to target the 2 main proteins associated with FTD pathological subtypes: TDP-43 (FTLD-TDP) and tau (FTLD-tau). Testing potential therapies in clinical trials is hampered by our inability to distinguish between patients with FTLD-TDP and FTLD-tau. Therefore, we evaluated truncated stathmin-2 (STMN2) as a proxy of TDP-43 pathology, given the reports that TDP-43 dysfunction causes truncated STMN2 accumulation. Truncated STMN2 accumulated in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons depleted of TDP-43, but not in those with pathogenic TARDBP mutations in the absence of TDP-43 aggregation or loss of nuclear protein. In RNA-Seq analyses of human brain samples from the NYGC ALS cohort, truncated STMN2 RNA was confined to tissues and disease subtypes marked by TDP-43 inclusions. Last, we validated that truncated STMN2 RNA was elevated in the frontal cortex of a cohort of patients with FTLD-TDP but not in controls or patients with progressive supranuclear palsy, a type of FTLD-tau. Further, in patients with FTLD-TDP, we observed significant associations of truncated STMN2 RNA with phosphorylated TDP-43 levels and an earlier age of disease onset. Overall, our data uncovered truncated STMN2 as a marker for TDP-43 dysfunction in FTD.

Objective. To explore the relationship between vitamins levels and disease-related indicators in children with acute leukemia (AL). Methods. A total of 107 hospitalized children with AL were enrolled in this study and assigned to one group in each of the following categories: infected group (n = 52) and noninfected group (n = 55); treatment remission group (n = 56) and nonremission group (n = 51); high-risk (HR) group (n = 44), intermediate risk (IR) group (n = 53), and slight risk (SR) group (n = 8); cyclophosphamide + cytosine arabinoside+6-mercaptopurine + pegaspargase group (CAML, n = 15); methotrexate group (MTX, n = 9); and vindesine + daunomycin + L-asparaginasum + prednisone (VALP, n = 38). Hematological and serological parameters, hepatic and renal function, and changes in vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, B9, B12, C, D, and E serum content in children with AL were analyzed to investigate their relationship with AL disease-related factors. Results. The vitamin D level was significantly higher in the noninfected group than in the infected group ( P < 0.05 ). Compared with the nonremission group, the level of vitamin B1 in the treatment remission group was significantly higher, while the levels of vitamin B6 and B12 were notably lower ( P < 0.05 ). The levels of vitamins B6 and B12 were notably different among the treatment groups. Multivariate analysis showed that hemoglobin (Hb) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were predisposing factors of AL in children. The disease type (acute lymphoblastic leukemia/acute myelogenous leukemia) was the factor affecting remission in AL children. Abnormal kidney function and the occurrence of icterus were the influencing factors for the risk degree in AL children. Platelet (PLT) count, activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), neutrophils (N), and immunophenotype were shown to affect the choice of therapeutic regimens. Conclusion. There are notable vitamins imbalances in children with AL. The imbalances influence disease-related factors and therefore provide some references for the prognosis and treatment of AL.

Organic anion transporting polypeptides (OATPs) 1B1 and 1B3 are two highly homologous transporters expressed in the human liver. However, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) which is the most predominant catechin in green tea has opposite effects on the function of OATP1B1 and 1B3. In the present study, the critical structural domains and amino acid residues for the activation of OATP1B3 by EGCG have been determined by characterizing the function of a series of OATP1B3-derived chimeric transporters, site-directed mutagenesis, and kinetic studies. Our results showed that G45 and F555 in transmembrane domains (TMs) 1 and 10 are the most important amino acid residues for OATP1B3’s activation. Kinetic studies showed that the activation of OATP1B3 by EGCG at low substrate concentration was due to its increased substrate binding affinity. However, EGCG caused increased K(m) and decreased V(max) for 1B3-G45A and 1B3-F555H. The flexibility at position 45 and aromaticity at position 555 might be important for OATP1B3’s activation. While 1B3-G45A and 1B3-F555H could not be activated by EGCG, their transport activity for EGCG was comparable to that of wild-type OATP1B3. In conclusion, the present study elucidated the molecular mechanism for OATP1B3’s activation by EGCG.

Pathogenic mutations in the tau gene (microtubule associated protein tau, MAPT) are linked to the onset of tauopathy, but the A152T variant is unique in acting as a risk factor for a range of disorders including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), corticobasal degeneration (CBD), and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). In order to provide insight into the mechanism by which A152T modulates disease risk, we developed a novel mouse model utilizing somatic brain transgenesis with adeno-associated virus (AAV) to drive tau expression in vivo, and validated the model by confirming the distinct biochemical features of A152T tau in postmortem brain tissue from human carriers. Specifically, TauA152T-AAV mice exhibited increased tau phosphorylation that unlike animals expressing the pathogenic P301L mutation remained localized to the soluble fraction. To investigate the possibility that the A152T variant might alter the phosphorylation state of tau on T152 or the neighboring T153 residue, we generated a novel antibody that revealed significant accumulation of soluble tau species that were hyperphosphorylated on T153 (pT153) in TauA152T-AAV mice, which were absent the soluble fraction of TauP301L-AAV mice. Providing new insight into the role of A152T in modifying risk of tauopathy, as well as validating the TauA152T-AAV model, we demonstrate that the presence of soluble pT153-positive tau species in human postmortem brain tissue differentiates A152T carriers from noncarriers, independent of disease classification. These results implicate both phosphorylation of T153 and an altered solubility profile in the mechanism by which A152T modulates disease risk. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s40478-019-0661-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) has the main manifestations of pulmonary edema in the early stage and characteristic alveolar obstruction and microvascular dysplasia in the late stage, which may be caused by structural and functional destruction of the lung epithelial barrier. The Claudin family is the main component of tight junction and plays an important role in regulating the permeability of paracellular ions and solutes. Claudin-18 is the only known tight junction protein solely expressed in the lung. The lack of Claudin-18 can lead to barrier dysfunction and impaired alveolar development, and the knockout of Claudin-18 can cause characteristic histopathological changes of BPD. This article elaborates on the important role of Claudin-18 in the development and progression of BPD from the aspects of lung epithelial permeability, alveolar development, and progenitor cell homeostasis, so as to provide new ideas for the pathogenesis and clinical treatment of BPD.

As far as we know, there have been no studies exploring the association between maternal sulfur dioxide (SO2 ) exposure and the risk of hypospadias in offspring. We aimed to evaluate this association during the 3 months before conception and the first trimester. A population-based case-control study was conducted in male infants, consisting of 348 cases of hypospadias and 4023 controls. Maternal exposure to SO2 , particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters ≤10 μm (PM10 ), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2 ) was assessed by averaging the concentrations recorded at all stations in the mother's city of residence. Air pollutants were tested for multicollinearity using variance inflation factor analysis. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated by multivariable logistic regression models. SO2 exposure during the 3 months before conception was significantly associated with the risk of hypospadias (highest tertile: OR = 7.40, 95% CI: 3.54-15.62). When focusing on shorter exposure windows, similar associations were observed for SO2 exposure in the first and second month before and the first month after conception. In conclusion, maternal exposure to SO2 during the 3 months before and the first and second months after conception may increase the risk of hypospadias in offspring.

To identify relationships between busulfan (Bu) exposure and outcomes of a cohort pediatric patients receiving hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), along with a targeted busulfan-based conditioning regimen. We retrospectively evaluated targeted busulfan concentrations in 53 pediatric patients (age 0.4-16 years) who received busulfan 4 times daily according to recommended weight-based doses in a single-center analysis between 2018 and 2020. In this trial, individual busulfan pharmacokinetics were performed following dose 5 of the conditioning regimen. Twenty four of 53 patients (45.3%) studies did not require dose adjustments. Equal number of patients (24/53) required one dose adjustments while two-dose adjustment applied for 5 of 53 (9.4%). Twenty-one percent of the patients exhibited ll-lV aGVHD. The incidence of veno-occlusive disease (VOD) was in 3.8% of the 53 patients, while incidence of hemorrhagic cystitis (II-III) reached to 9.7%. Engraftment was successful in 98% of the 53 patients with relapse in 2% of cases. The probability of overall survival and disease-free survival at day 100 was 96% and 94%, respectively. In conclusion, therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) and individualization of Bu dosage are essential to improve the efficacy and safety of busulfan-based regimen in Chinese pediatric HSCT recipients.

The pandemic of the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been posing great threats to the world in many aspects. Effective therapeutic and preventive approaches including drugs and vaccines are still unavailable although they are in development. Comprehensive understandings on the life logic of SARS-CoV-2 and the interaction of the virus with hosts are fundamentally important in the fight against SARS-CoV-2. In this review, we briefly summarized the current advances in SARS-CoV-2 research, including the epidemic situation and epidemiological characteristics of the caused disease COVID-19. We further discussed the biology of SARS-CoV-2, including the origin, evolution, and receptor recognition mechanism of SARS-CoV-2. And particularly, we introduced the protein structures of SARS-CoV-2 and structure-based therapeutics development including antibodies, antiviral compounds, and vaccines, and indicated the limitations and perspectives of SARS-CoV-2 research. We wish the information provided by this review may be helpful to the global battle against SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Background Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most frequently diagnosed gastrointestinal cancers throughout the world. Novel prognostic biomarkers are required to predict the prognosis of GC. Aim To identify a multi-long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) prognostic model for GC. Methods Transcriptome data and clinical data were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas. COX and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression analyses were performed to screen for prognosis associated lncRNAs. Receiver operating characteristic curve and Kaplan-Meier survival analyses were applied to evaluate the effectiveness of the model. Results The prediction model was established based on the expression of AC007991.4, AC079385.3, and AL109615.2 Based on the model, GC patients were divided into "high risk" and "low risk" groups to compare the differences in survival. The model was re-evaluated with the clinical data of our center. Conclusion The 3-lncRNA combination model is an independent prognostic factor for GC.

Silicosis is caused by massive inhalation of silica-based particles, which leads to pulmonary inflammation, pulmonary fibrosis and lung dysfunction. Currently, the pathophysiological process of silicosis has not been well studied. Here, we defined the progression of silicosis as four stages by unsupervised clustering analysis: normal stage, inflammatory stage, progressive stage and fibrotic stage. Specifically, in normal stage, the lung function was normal, and no inflammation or fibrosis was detected in the lung tissue. Inflammatory stage showed a remarkable pulmonary inflammation but mild fibrosis and lung dysfunction. In progressive stage, significant lung dysfunction was observed, while pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis continued to deteriorate. Fibrotic stage revealed the most severe pulmonary fibrosis and lung dysfunction but no significant deterioration in inflammation. Since the common features were founded in both silicosis patients and rodents, we speculated that the pathophysiological processes of silicosis in patients might be similar to the rodents. Collectively, our new classification identified the process of silicosis, clarified the pathophysiological features of each stage, and provided some new insights for the progression of the disease.

Background. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most fatal malignancies worldwide. The JAK/STAT signaling pathway is involved in pancreatic cancer tumorigenesis. However, the prognostic value of JAK2 expression in resectable PDAC is unclear. Method. In this study, we performed a clinicopathological analysis of 62 resectable PDAC cases with a primary focus on survival. JAK2 expression was examined by immunohistochemistry. The relationship between JAK2 expression and clinicopathological features and prognosis was analyzed. Results. Survival curve analyses revealed that high levels of JAK2 expression predict a poor prognosis in resectable PDAC patients. Multivariate analysis confirmed that JAK2 expression can predict the prognosis of PDAC. Conclusions. Assessment of JAK2 protein expression may be a promising method to predict prognosis in patients with resectable PDAC.

A G(4)C(2) hexanucleotide repeat expansion in an intron of C9orf72 is the most common cause of frontal temporal dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (c9FTD/ALS). A remarkably similar intronic TG(3)C(2) repeat expansion is associated with spinocerebellar ataxia 36 (SCA36). Both expansions are widely expressed, form RNA foci, and can undergo repeat-associated non-ATG (RAN) translation to form similar dipeptide repeat proteins (DPRs). Yet, these diseases result in the degeneration of distinct subsets of neurons. We show that the expression of these repeat expansions in mice is sufficient to recapitulate the unique features of each disease, including this selective neuronal vulnerability. Furthermore, only the G(4)C(2) repeat induces the formation of aberrant stress granules and pTDP-43 inclusions. Overall, our results demonstrate that the pathomechanisms responsible for each disease are intrinsic to the individual repeat sequence, highlighting the importance of sequence-specific RNA-mediated toxicity in each disorder.

SUMMARY Loss-of-function mutations in the progranulin gene (GRN), which encodes progranulin (PGRN), are a major cause of frontotemporal dementia (FTD). GRN-associated FTD is characterized by TDP-43 inclusions and neuroinflammation, but how PGRN loss causes disease remains elusive. We show that Grn knockout (KO) mice have increased microgliosis in white matter and an accumulation of myelin debris in microglial lysosomes in the same regions. Accumulation of myelin debris is also observed in white matter of patients with GRN-associated FTD. In addition, our findings also suggest that PGRN insufficiency in microglia leads to impaired lysosomal-mediated clearance of myelin debris. Finally, Grn KO mice that are deficient in cathepsin D (Ctsd), a key lysosomal enzyme, have augmented myelin debris and increased neuronal TDP-43 pathology. Together, our data strongly imply that PGRN loss affects microglial activation and lysosomal function, resulting in the accumulation of myelin debris and contributing to TDP-43 pathology., Graphical abstract, In brief Wu et al. show increased microgliosis in white matter of Grn knockout mice. Microglial lysosomes accumulate myelin debris in both Grn knockout mice and patients with GRN-associated FTD, and reducing cathespin D levels exacerbates both myelin debris accumulation and pTdp-43 aggregation. Thus, lysosomal dysfunction affects these pathologies in GRN-related FTD.

The aberrant accumulation of tau protein is a pathological hallmark of a class of neurodegenerative diseases known as tauopathies, including Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. On the basis of previous observations that tau is a direct substrate of histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6), we sought to map all HDAC6-responsive sites in tau and determine how acetylation in a site-specific manner affects tau's biophysical properties in vitro. Our findings indicate that several acetylation sites in tau are responsive to HDAC6 and that acetylation on Lys-321 (within a KCGS motif) is both essential for acetylation-mediated inhibition of tau aggregation in vitro and a molecular tactic for preventing phosphorylation on the downstream Ser-324 residue. To determine the functional consequence of this HDAC6-regulated phosphorylation event, we examined tau's ability to promote microtubule assembly and found that phosphorylation of Ser-324 interferes with the normal microtubule-stabilizing function of tau. Tau phosphorylation of Ser-324 (pSer-324) has not previously been evaluated in the context of tauopathy, and here we observed increased deposition of pSer-324–positive tau both in mouse models of tauopathy and in patients with Alzheimer's disease. These findings uncover a novel acetylation–phosphorylation switch at Lys-321/Ser-324 that coordinately regulates tau polymerization and function. Because the disease relevance of this finding is evident, additional studies are needed to examine the role of pSer-324 in tau pathobiology and to determine whether therapeutically modulating this acetylation–phosphorylation switch affects disease progression in vivo.

Neuronal inclusions of poly(GA), a protein unconventionally translated from G(4)C(2) repeat expansions in C9ORF72, are abundant in patients with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) caused by this mutation. To investigate poly(GA) toxicity, we generated mice that exhibit poly(GA) pathology, neurodegeneration and behavioral abnormalities reminiscent of FTD and ALS. These phenotypes occurred in the absence of TDP-43 pathology and required poly(GA) aggregation. HR23 proteins involved in proteasomal degradation and proteins involved in nucleocytoplasmic transport were sequestered by poly(GA) in these mice. HR23A and HR23B similarly colocalized to poly(GA) inclusions in C9ORF72 expansion carriers. Sequestration was accompanied by an accumulation of ubiquitinated proteins and decreased xeroderma pigmentosum C (XPC) levels in mice, indicative of HR23A and HR23B dysfunction. Restoring HR23B levels attenuated poly(GA) aggregation and rescued poly(GA)-induced toxicity in neuronal cultures. These data demonstrate that sequestration and impairment of nuclear HR23 and nucleocytoplasmic transport proteins is an outcome of, and a contributor to, poly(GA) pathology.

The trematode Eurytrema pancreaticum is a parasite of ruminant pancreatic and bile ducts, and also occasionally infects humans, causing eurytremiasis. In spite of it being a common fluke of cattle and sheep in endemic regions, little is known about the genomic resources of the parasite. We sequenced the complete mitochondrial (mt) genome of E. pancreaticum. It is 15,031 bp in size, and encodes 36 genes: 12 protein-coding genes, two ribosomal RNA genes, and 22 transfer RNA genes. The E. pancreaticum mt gene order is the same as that of Dicrocoelium chinensis and Dicrocoelium dendriticum, and all genes are transcribed in the same direction. Phylogenetic analysis based on the concatenated amino acid sequences of 12 protein-coding genes by Bayesian inference shows that E. pancreaticum is closely related to D. chinensis and other members of the family Dicrocoeliidae with strong posterior probability support. The E. pancreaticum mt genome should prove to be a useful resource for comparative mt genomic studies of digenetic trematodes, and will provide a rich source of DNA markers for studies into the systematics, epidemiology, and population genetics of this parasite and other digenean trematodes.

INTRODUCTION: Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are fatal neurodegenerative diseases that share clinical and neuropathological features. Furthermore, the most common genetic cause of both FTD and ALS is a GGGGCC (G(4)C(2)) repeat expansion in the C9orf72 gene. This repeat expansion leads to several abnormalities, including C9orf72 haploinsufficiency, the accumulation of repeat RNA, and the production of five aggregation-prone proteins composed of repeating dipeptides. However, the contribution of these abnormalities to disease pathogenesis remains unresolved. RATIONALE: Among the five dipeptide repeat proteins nonconventionally translated from expanded G(4)C(2) repeats, proline-arginine (PR) repeat proteins [poly(PR) proteins] have proven especially toxic in various model systems. Their involvement in C9orf72-associated FTD and ALS (c9FTD/ALS) has nevertheless been questioned because poly(PR) pathology is relatively infrequent in c9FTD/ALS patient brains. Postmortem tissues, however, represent end-stage disease and do not necessarily reflect early events in the disease process. Therefore, we generated mice that express poly(PR) in the brain to evaluate the temporal consequences of its expression in a mammalian in vivo model. More specifically, we engineered mice to express green fluorescent protein (GFP)–conjugated (PR)(50) (a 50-repeat PR protein) or GFP via intracerebroventricular administration of adeno-associated viral vectors and then performed behavioral, pathological, and transcriptomic characterizations of poly(PR) mice in comparison with control GFP mice. RESULTS: We found that ~60% of poly(PR)- expressing mice died by 4 weeks of age and had significantly decreased brain and body weights at death compared with age-matched GFP control mice. Poly(PR) mice that escaped premature death developedmotor andmemory impairments, likely as a consequence of their progressive brain atrophy, neuron loss, loss of poly(PR)-positive cells, and gliosis. In investigating the mechanisms by which poly(PR) caused neurodegeneration and functional deficits, we found that poly(PR) localized to heterochromatin (highly condensed regions of transcriptionally silent chromatin) and caused abnormal histone H3 methylation, features that we also detected in brain tissues from patients with c9FTD/ALS. Additionally, we observed aberrations in nuclear lamins and heterochromatin protein 1α (HP1α), key proteins thatmaintain heterochromatin structure and regulate gene silencing. Nuclear lamina invaginations and decreased HP1a protein expression were seen in poly(PR)-positive cells in poly(PR) mice, and in vitro studies demonstrated that poly(PR) disrupted HP1α liquid phases. Because poly(PR)-induced histone H3 posttranslational modifications, lamin invaginations, and decreased HP1α levels could profoundly affect gene expression, we compared transcriptome profiles between control and poly(PR) mice. As well as analyzing differentially expressed genes, we examined repetitive element expression given that repetitive DNA sequences make up a large portion of heterochromatin and that repetitive elements are substantially up-regulated in the brains of c9FTD/ALS patients. Whereas the majority of differentially expressed genes in poly(PR) mice were down-regulated, repetitive elements were markedly up-regulated, and this up-regulation was accompanied by the accumulation of double-stranded RNA. Furthermore, we confirmed that HP1a depletion caused double-stranded RNA accumulation in human induced pluripotent stem cell–derived neurons and decreased their survival. CONCLUSION: Our studies provide compelling evidence that, by disrupting HP1α liquid phases, interacting with heterochromatin, and eliciting aberrant histone posttranslational modifications, poly(PR) adversely influences heterochromatin structure. Consequently, repetitive element expression is induced and double-stranded RNA accumulates, contributing to the neurodegeneration seen in patients with c9FTD/ALS. Rescuing histone methylation, lamin, and HP1α abnormalities and/or inhibiting abnormal repetitive element expression may represent promising therapeutic strategies for treating c9FTD/ALS.

Aim: The present study evaluated the value of serum ferritin (SF) level for the prognosis of patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC). Patients & methods: A total of 79 patients with LAPC treated by chemoradiotherapy were reviewed retrospectively. Pretreatment and post-treatment levels of SF were obtained. Results: Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 11.8 months; median overall survival was 18.3 months. A total of 36 patients with elevated SF level showed significantly worse overall survival and PFS than patients with low SF level (p = 0.002 and p = 0.004, respectively). In total, 17 patients showed normal SF level after chemoradiotherapy, and their median PFS was 3.2 months longer than that of patients whose SF levels were not restored after chemoradiotherapy. Conclusion: SF may serve as a valuable tool to assess prognosis and monitor chemoradiotherapy response in patients with LAPC.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the use and value of maximum standardized uptake value (SUV max) on positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) images as a prognostic marker for patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC).The medical records of all consecutive patients who underwent PET/CT examination in our institution were retrospectively reviewed. Inclusion criteria were histologically or cytologically proven LAPC. Patients with distant metastasis were excluded. For statistical analysis, the SUV max of primary pancreatic cancer was measured. Survival rates were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and multivariable analysis was performed to determine the association of SUV max with overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) using a Cox proportional hazards model.Between July 2006 and June 2013, 69 patients were enrolled in the present study. OS and PFS were 14.9 months [95% confidence interval (CI) 13.1-16.7] and 8.3 months (95% CI 7.1-9.5), respectively. A high SUV max (5.5) was observed in 35 patients, who had significantly worse OS and PFS than the remaining patients with a low SUV max (P = 0.025 and P = 0.003). Univariate analysis showed that SUV max and tumor size were prognostic factors for OS, with a hazard ratio of 1.90 and 1.81, respectively. A high SUV max was an independent prognostic factor, with a hazard ratio of 1.89 (95% CI 1.015-3.519, P = 0.045).The present study suggests that increased SUV max is a predictor of poor prognosis in patients with LAPC.

The survival of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is poor due to high metastasis, and the indispensable step of metastasis includes epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). In the study, by analyzing the dataset of the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), we found that the expression of Canopy homolog 2 (CNPY2) is increased both in adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, which is further confirmed in NSCLC tissues. Not only that, there is a negative correlation between CNPY2 and E-cadherin expression at mRNA level. Wound healing and transwell matrix penetration assay showed that overexpression of CNPY2 promotes the capability for invasion and metastasis of NSCLC cells. Further analysis uncovered that overexpression of CNPY2 can activate the AKT/GSK3β pathway, which leads to the inactivation of GSK-3β. The inactivation of GSK-3β increases the level of Snail, and then decreases the expression of E-cadherin to promote EMT. Eventually, inhibition of AKT suppresses the malignant transformation of CNPY2-upregulated cells. The above results suggest that CNPY2 may be served as a novel therapeutic target to therapy the NSCLC.

The major genetic cause of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a C9orf72 G(4)C(2) repeat expansion(1,2). Proposed mechanisms by which the expansion causes c9FTD/ALS include toxicity from repeat-containing RNA and from dipeptide repeat proteins translated from these transcripts. To investigate the contribution of poly(GR) dipeptide repeat proteins to c9FTD/ALS pathogenesis in a mammalian in vivo model, we generated mice that expressed GFP-(GR)(100) in the brain. GFP-(GR)(100) mice developed age-dependent neurodegeneration, brain atrophy, and motor and memory deficits through the accumulation of diffuse, cytoplasmic poly(GR). Poly(GR) co-localized with ribosomal subunits and the translation initiation factor elF3 eta in GFP-(GR)(100) mice and, of importance, in c9FTD/ALS patients. Combined with the differential expression of ribosome-associated genes in GFP-(GR)(100 )mice, these findings demonstrate poly(GR)-mediated ribosomal distress. Indeed, poly(GR) inhibited canonical and non-canonical protein translation in HEK293T cells, and also induced the formation of stress granules and delayed their disassembly. These data suggest that poly(GR) contributes to c9FTD/ALS by impairing protein translation and stress granule dynamics, consequently causing chronic cellular stress and preventing cells from mounting an effective stress response. Decreasing poly(GR) and/or interrupting interactions between poly(GR) and ribosomal and stress granule-associated proteins may thus represent potential therapeutic strategies to restore homeostasis.

Abnormal accumulation of alpha-synuclein (αsyn) is a pathological hallmark of Lewy body related disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and Dementia with Lewy body disease. During the past two decades, a myriad of animal models have been developed to mimic pathological features of synucleinopathies by over-expressing human αsyn. Although different strategies have been used, most models have little or no reliable and predictive phenotype. Novel animal models are a valuable tool for understanding neuronal pathology and to facilitate development of new therapeutics for these diseases. Here, we report the development and characterization of a novel model in which mice rapidly express wild-type αsyn via somatic brain transgenesis mediated by adeno-associated virus (AAV). At 1, 3, and 6 months of age following intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection, mice were subjected to a battery of behavioral tests followed by pathological analyses of the brains. Remarkably, significant levels of αsyn expression are detected throughout the brain as early as 1 month old, including olfactory bulb, hippocampus, thalamic regions and midbrain. Immunostaining with a phospho-αsyn (pS129) specific antibody reveals abundant pS129 expression in specific regions. Also, pathologic αsyn is detected using the disease specific antibody 5G4. However, this model did not recapitulate behavioral phenotypes characteristic of rodent models of synucleinopathies. In fact no deficits in motor function or cognition were observed at 3 or 6 months of age. Taken together, these findings show that transduction of neonatal mouse with AAV-αsyn can successfully lead to rapid, whole brain transduction of wild-type human αsyn, but increased levels of wildtype αsyn do not induce behavior changes at an early time point (6 months), despite pathological changes in several neurons populations as early as 1 month. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40478-017-0455-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

There is no effective treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a devastating motor neuron disease. However, discovery of a G(4)C(2) repeat expansion in the C9ORF72 gene as the most common genetic cause of ALS has opened up new avenues for therapeutic intervention for this form of ALS. G(4)C(2) repeat expansion RNAs and proteins of repeating dipeptides synthesized from these transcripts are believed to play a key role in C9ORF72-associated ALS (c9ALS). Therapeutics that target G(4)C(2) RNA, such as antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) and small molecules, are thus being actively investigated. A limitation in moving such treatments from bench to bedside is a lack of pharmacodynamic markers for use in clinical trials. We explored whether poly(GP) proteins translated from G(4)C(2) RNA could serve such a purpose. Poly(GP) proteins were detected in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from c9ALS patients and, notably, from asymptomatic C9ORF72 mutation carriers. Moreover, CSF poly(GP) proteins remained relatively constant over time, boding well for their use in gauging biochemical responses to potential treatments. Treating c9ALS patient cells or a mouse model of c9ALS with ASOs that target G(4)C(2) RNA resulted in decreased intracellular and extracellular poly(GP) proteins. This decrease paralleled reductions in G(4)C(2) RNA and downstream G(4)C(2) RNA-mediated events. These findings indicate that tracking poly(GP) proteins in CSF could provide a means to assess target engagement of G(4)C(2) RNA-based therapies in symptomatic C9ORF72 repeat expansion carriers and presymptomatic individuals who are expected to benefit from early therapeutic intervention.

Many studies have shown that human telomerase activity could play potential role as a diagnostic biomarker of pancreatic cancer (PaC). The aim of this meta-analysis is to summarize the clinical value of human telomerase activity in the diagnosis of PaC. Eligible studies from PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Ovid, Sci Verse, Science Direct, Scopus, BioMed Central, Biosis previews, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Technology of Chongqing (VIP), and Wan Fang databases were searched concerning the diagnostic value of human telomerase activity in PaC without language restriction. The quality of each study was scored with the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS). Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratios (PLR and NLR, respectively), and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) for human telomerase activity in the diagnosis of PaC were pooled. Summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curve analysis and the area under the curve (AUC) were used to estimate the overall test performance. Evidence of heterogeneity was evaluated using the Chi-square and I (2) test. Meta-Disc 1.4 and Stata 12.0 software were used to analyze the data. Nine studies with a total 186 PaC patients and 132 control individuals were included in this meta-analysis. All of the included studies are of high quality (QUADAS score ≥10). The summary estimate was 0.83 (95 % confidence interval (CI), 95 % CI = 0.77-0.88) for sensitivity and 0.72 (95 % CI = 0.64-0.79) for specificity. The positive likelihood (PLR), negative likelihood (NLR), and diagnostic odds (DOR) ratios were 3 (95 % CI = 1.67-5.41), 0.25 (95 % CI = 0.13-0.46), and 3 (95 % CI = 4.91-43.23), respectively. The area under the summary ROC curve (AUC) and Q* index for the diagnosis of PaC were 0.88 and 0.81, respectively. Our study demonstrates that telomerase could be a useful tumor marker for PaC diagnosis. Although more studies are needed to highlight the theoretical strengths, these results will provide theoretical basis for bringing telomerase activity detection into PaC screening plan.

microRNA‑34a (miRNA‑34a) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of leukemia. This study aimed to explore its role in the proliferation of HL‑60 cells and the correlation with some of its predicted target genes: the cyclin‑dependent kinase 4 (CDK4), the oncogene MYB and the silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1). We first analyzed the expression of miR‑34a, CDK4, MYB and SIRT1 in peripheral blood samples from acute leukemia (AL) patients and healthy controls, and conducted a correlation analysis. HL‑60 cells were then transfected with miR‑34a and control 'scramble̓ miRNA, and quantitative RT‑PCR and western blotting were used to analyze the effects of the interfering sequence in HL‑60 cells. The expression of miR‑34a was significantly reduced in AL patients compared to healthy controls (P0.01), and negatively correlated with the expression of CDK4 and MYB. Sub‑group analysis revealed that the expression of MYB was significantly lower in AL children3 years old compared to those3 years. Following the transfection of HL‑60 cells with miR‑34a, the mRNA level of CDK4, MYB and SIRT1 decreased by 53.2, 43.3 and 33.5%, respectively, compared to the control, similarly to the respective changes in protein levels. This study showed that the expression of miR‑34a negatively correlates with the expression of CDK4 and MYB in pediatric patients with acute leukemia. miRNA‑34a downregulates the expression of the CDK4, MYB and SIRT1 genes in vitro; it may thus represent a novel therapeutic target for acute leukemia.

Pseudolaric acid B (PAB) is a diterpene acid isolated from the root and trunk bark of Pseudolarix kaempferi Gordon (Pinaceae). Recent studies have reported that PAB exhibits cytotoxic effects in several cancer cell lines. In the present study, we assessed its antitumor activity and molecular mechanisms in HO-8910 and A2780 ovarian cancer cells in vitro. We found that PAB reduced cell viability and induced apoptosis in a dose- and time-dependent manner in HO-8910 and A2780 human ovarian cancer cells. The induction of apoptosis was also accompanied by the regulation of Bcl-2 and XIAP family proteins, cytochrome c and Apaf-1. Moreover, we observed that PAB treatment resulted in the activation of caspase-3 and -9, which may partly explain the anticancer activity of PAB. Collectively, the present study for the first time suggests that PAB enhances apoptosis of HO-8910 and A2780 cells through regulation of Bcl-2 and IAP family proteins. Moreover, the triggering of caspase-3 and -9 activation mediated apoptotic induction. Our results suggest that PAB may be a new therapeutic option for the treatment of ovarian cancers.

Jolkinolide B from the roots of Euphorbia fischeriana Steud exhibits significant antitumor activities against several tumor lines. Previous study has shown that Jolkinolide B could induce apoptosis in human leukemia cells. However, the exact mechanism and signaling pathway involved in Jolkinolide B-induced apoptosis have not been fully elucidated. In the present study, we found that Jolkinolide B reduced cell viability and induced apoptosis in dose- and time-dependent manner in human leukemic HL-60 and THP-1 cells. The induction of apoptosis was accompanied by the downregulation of JAK2/STAT3. Our results also suggest that expression of Bcl-2 and mitochondrial cytochrome c was dosedependently reduced following Jolkinolide B-treated THP-1 and HL-60 cells, whereas Jolkinolide B up-regulated the expression of Bax and cytosolic cytochrome c. Moreover, we observed that Jolkinolide B treatment resulted in activation of caspase-3, -8, and -9. JSI-124, a STAT-3 inhibitor, was able to block the negative effect of Jolkinolide B on cell apoptosis. Taken together, our study for the first time suggests that Jolkinolide B is able to enhance apoptosis of human leukemic HL-60 and THP-1 cells, at least in part, through downregulation of JAK2/STAT3 and bcl-2, and upregulation of Bax and cytosolic cytochrome c. Moreover, the triggering of caspase-3, -8, and -9 activation mediated apoptotic induction.

Toxoplasma gondii , an obligatory intracellular protozoan, can cause serious public health problems and economic losses worldwide. Two novel dense granule proteins (GRA17 and GRA23) were recently identified as T. gondii -secreted proteins which are localized to the parasitophorous vacuole membrane (PVM) and can mediate the movement of small molecules between the host cell and parasitophorous vacuole (PV). In the present study, we evaluated the protective immunity induced by DNA vaccination with genes encoding GRA17 and GRA23 against acute toxoplasmosis in mice. Eukaryotic expressing plasmids pVAX-TgGRA17 and pVAX-TgGRA23 were constructed. Then, BALB/c mice were intramuscularly immunized with pVAX-TgGRA17, pVAX-TgGRA23, or pVAX-TgGRA17 + pVAX-TgGRA23 followed by challenge infection with the highly virulent RH strain of T. gondii . The specific immune responses and protective efficacy against T. gondii were examined by cytokine and serum antibody measurements, lymphocyte proliferation assays, flow cytometry of lymphocytes and the survival time after challenge. Our results showed that mice immunized with pVAX-TgGRA17, pVAX-TgGRA23, or pVAX-TgGRA17 + pVAX-TgGRA23 induced specific humoral and cellular responses, with higher level of IgG antibody, increased levels of Th1-type cytokines IFN-γ and IL-12 (p70), and CD3 + CD4 + CD8 − and CD3 + CD8 + CD4 − T cells, as well as prolonged survival time (9.1 ± 0.32 days for pVAX-TgGRA17, 10.8 ± 0.79 days for pVAX-TgGRA23, and 12.6 ± 2.55 days for pVAX-TgGRA17 + pVAX-TgGRA23) compared to the blank control (7.11 ± 0.33 days), PBS control (7.22 ± 0.44 days), and pVAX I control (7.11 ± 0.33 days). These results demonstrated that both TgGRA17 and TgGRA23 are potential vaccine candidates, TgGRA23 has a better immunogenicity, and co-immunization of pVAX-TgGRA17 and pVAX-TgGRA23 induces better protective efficacy.

Organic anion transporting polypeptide 2B1 (OATP2B1), which is highly expressed in enterocytes and hepatocytes could be a key determinant for the intestinal absorption and hepatic uptake of its substrates, most of which are amphipathic organic anions. Tryptophan residues may possess a multitude of functions for a transport protein through aromatic interactions, such as maintaining the proper protein structure, guiding the depth of membrane insertion, or interacting directly with substrates. There are totally six tryptophan residues in OATP2B1. However, little is known about their role in the function and expression of OATP2B1. Our results show that, while W272, W276, and W277 located at the border of extracellular loop 3 and transmembrane domain 6 exhibit a moderate effect on the surface expression of OATP2B1, W611 located at the middle of transmembrane domain 11 plays a critical role in the function of OATP2B1. The tryptophan-to-alanine mutation of W611 changes the kinetic characteristics of OATP2B1-mediated estrone-3-sulfate (E3S) transport radically, from a monophasic saturation curve (with K

Purpose Median survival of patients with brain metastases from non-small cell lung cancer is poor. This study was to investigate the radiation-enhancing effect of sodium glycididazole combined with whole-brain radiotherapy of multiple brain metastases from non-small cell lung cancer. Patients and methods Sixty-four patients with multiple brain metastases from non-small cell lung cancer were included: the study group ( n = 32) received whole-brain radiotherapy combined with sodium glycididazole at a dose of 700 mg/m 2 intravenous infusion 30 minutes before radiotherapy, three times a week; the control group ( n = 32) only received whole-brain radiotherapy. The primary end point was central nervous system (CNS) progression-free survival and overall survival. The treatment-related toxicity was also recorded. Results The CNS disease control rate was better (90.6% vs 65.6%, P = 0.016) in the study group than in the control group at 3 month of follow-up. The median CNS progression-free survival time was longer in the study group than in the control group (7.0 months vs 4.0 months, P = 0.038). There was no significant difference of the median overall survival time between the study group and the control group (11.0 months vs 9.0 months, P = 0.418). On the other hand, the treatment-related toxicity showed no statistically significant difference between these two groups ( P > 0.05). Conclusions The study indicated that sodium glycididazole was an effective, promising radiation-enhancing agent that improved CNS disease control rate, extended the median CNS progression-free survival time and was well tolerated in patients suffering from non-small cell lung cancer with multiple brain metastases.

The generation and maturation of adult neural stem/progenitor cells are impaired in many neurodegenerative diseases, among them is Parkinson's disease (PD). In mammals, including humans, adult neurogenesis is a lifelong feature of cellular brain plasticity in the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) and in the subventricular zone (SVZ)/olfactory bulb system. Hyposmia, depression, and anxiety are early non-motor symptoms in PD. There are parallels between brain regions associated with non-motor symptoms in PD and neurogenic regions. In autosomal dominant PD, mutations in the leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) gene are frequent. LRRK2 homologs in non-vertebrate systems play an important role in chemotaxis, cell polarity, and neurite arborization. We investigated adult neurogenesis and the neurite development of new neurons in the DG and SVZ/olfactory bulb system in bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) human Lrrk2 G2019S transgenic mice. We report that mutant human Lrrk2 is highly expressed in the hippocampus in the DG and the SVZ of adult Lrrk2 G2019S mice. Proliferation of newly generated cells is significantly decreased and survival of newly generated neurons in the DG and olfactory bulb is also severely impaired. In addition, after stereotactic injection of a GFP retrovirus, newly generated neurons in the DG of Lrrk2 G2019S mice exhibited reduced dendritic arborization and fewer spines. This loss in mature, developed spines might point towards a decrease in synaptic connectivity. Interestingly, physical activity partially reverses the decrease in neuroblasts observed in Lrrk2 G2010S mice. These data further support a role for Lrrk2 in neuronal morphogenesis and provide new insights into the role of Lrrk2 in adult neurogenesis.

Levofloxacin (LVFX), a fluoroquinolone agent, has a broad spectrum that covers Gram-positive and -negative bacteria and atypical pathogens. It demonstrates good clinical efficacy in the treatment of various infections, including lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) and urinary tract infections (UTIs). To evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral LVFX 500 mg once daily, a large open-label clinical trial was conducted in 1266 patients (899 with LRTIs and 367 with UTIs) at 32 centers in China. In the per-protocol population, the clinical efficacy rate (cure or improvement) at 7 to 14 days after the end of treatment was 96.4% (666/691) for LRTIs and 95.7% (267/279) for UTIs. In 53 patients diagnosed with atypical pneumonia the treatment was effective. The bacteriological efficacy rate was 96.6% (256/265) for LRTIs and 93.3% (126/135) for UTIs. The eradication rate of the causative pathogens was 100% (33/33) for Haemophilus influenzae and 96.0% (24/25) for Streptococcus pneumoniae in LRTIs, and 94.1% (80/85) for Escherichia coli in UTIs. The overall efficacy rates were 89.3% (617/691) for LRTIs and 87.8% (245/279) for UTIs. The incidence of drug-related adverse events (ADRs) was 17.3% (215/1245), and the incidence of drug-related laboratory abnormalities was 15.7% (191/1213). Common ADRs were dizziness, nausea, and insomnia. Common laboratory abnormalities included "WBC decreased", "alanine aminotransferase (ALT) increased", "aspartate aminotransferase (AST) increased", and "lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) increased". All of these events were mentioned in the package inserts of fluoroquinolones including LVFX, and most events were mild and transient. Thirty-four patients (2.7%) were withdrawn from the study because of the ADRs. No new ADRs were found. This study concluded that the dosage regimen of LVFX 500 mg once daily was effective and tolerable for the treatment of LRTIs and UTIs.

Neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) are a pathological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease and other tauopathies, but recent studies in a conditional mouse model of tauopathy (rTg4510) have suggested that NFT formation can be dissociated from memory loss and neurodegeneration. This suggests that NFTs are not the major neurotoxic tau species, at least during the early stages of pathogenesis. To identify other neurotoxic tau protein species, we performed biochemical analyses on brain tissues from the rTg4510 mouse model and then correlated the levels of these tau proteins with memory loss. We describe the identification and characterization of two forms of tau multimers (140 and 170 kDa), whose molecular weight suggests an oligomeric aggregate, that accumulate early in the pathogenic cascade in this mouse model. Similar tau multimers were detected in a second mouse model of tauopathy (JNPL3) and in tissue from patients with Alzheimer's disease and FTDP-17 (frontotemporal dementia and parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17). Moreover, levels of the tau multimers correlated consistently with memory loss at various ages in the rTg4510 mouse model. Our findings suggest that accumulation of early-stage aggregated tau species, before the formation of NFT, is associated with the development of functional deficits during the pathogenic progression of tauopathy.

Aberrant tau protein accumulation drives neurofibrillary tangle (NFT) formation in several neurodegenerative diseases. Currently, efforts to elucidate pathogenic mechanisms and assess the efficacy of therapeutic targets are limited by constraints of existing models of tauopathy. In order to generate a more versatile mouse model of tauopathy, somatic brain transgenesis was utilized to deliver adeno-associated virus serotype 1 (AAV1) encoding human mutant P301L-tau compared with GFP control. At 6 months of age, we observed widespread human tau expression with concomitant accumulation of hyperphosphorylated and abnormally folded proteinase K resistant tau. However, no overt neuronal loss was observed, though significant abnormalities were noted in the postsynaptic scaffolding protein PSD95. Neurofibrillary pathology was also detected with Gallyas silver stain and Thioflavin-S, and electron microscopy revealed the deposition of closely packed filaments. In addition to classic markers of tauopathy, significant neuroinflammation and extensive gliosis were detected in AAV1-Tau(P301L) mice. This model also recapitulates the behavioral phenotype characteristic of mouse models of tauopathy, including abnormalities in exploration, anxiety, and learning and memory. These findings indicate that biochemical and neuropathological hallmarks of tauopathies are accurately conserved and are independent of cell death in this novel AAV-based model of tauopathy, which offers exceptional versatility and speed in comparison with existing transgenic models. Therefore, we anticipate this approach will facilitate the identification and validation of genetic modifiers of disease, as well as accelerate preclinical assessment of potential therapeutic targets.

Accumulation of the microtubule-associated protein tau into neurofibrillary lesions is a pathological consequence of several neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease. Hereditary mutations in theMAPTgene were shown to promote the formation of structurally distinct tau aggregates in patients that had a parkinsonian-like clinical presentation. Whether tau aggregates themselves or the soluble intermediate species that precede their aggregation are neurotoxic entities in these disorders has yet to be resolved; however, recentin vivoevidence supports the latter. We hypothesized that depletion of CHIP, a tau ubiquitin ligase, would lead to an increase in abnormal tau. Here, we show that deletion of CHIP in mice leads to the accumulation of non-aggregated, ubiquitin-negative, hyperphosphorylated tau species. CHIP−/−mice also have increased neuronal caspase-3 levels and activity, as well as caspase-cleaved tau immunoreactivity. Overexpression of mutant (P301L) human tau in CHIP−/−mice is insufficient to promote either argyrophilic or “pre-tangle” structures, despite marked phospho-tau accumulation throughout the brain. These observations are supported in postdevelopmental studies using RNA interference forCHIP(chn-1) inCaenorhabditis elegansand cell culture systems. Our results demonstrate that CHIP is a primary component in the ubiquitin-dependent degradation of tau. We also show that hyperphosphorylation and caspase-3 cleavage of tau both occur before aggregate formation. Based on these findings, we propose that polyubiquitination of tau by CHIP may facilitate the formation of insoluble filamentous tau lesions.

MicroRNA (miR)-216a expression is significantly downregulated in human pancreatic cancer, however, the underlying mechanism remains unknown. In the present study, we aimed to identify and characterize the direct target gene and potential function of miR-216a in pancreatic cancer cells. Bioinformatics analysis and dual-luciferase reporter gene assay showed that Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) was a direct target gene of miR-216a. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis demonstrated that miR-216a decreased the mRNA and protein levels of JAK2 in pancreatic cancer cells. Phosphorylation of the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) was also downregulated by miR-216a, whereas the anti-miR-216a treatment had an opposite effect. Treatment of pancreatic cancer cells with miR-216a significantly inhibited cell growth and promoted cell apoptosis. In addition, the downstream genes of JAK2/STAT3, survivin and X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein, which are anti‑apoptotic genes, were also decreased by miR-216a. Moreover, miR-216a overexpression markedly inhibited the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway and xenograft tumor growth in vivo. Compared with miR-216a treatment, anti-miR-216a treatment exhibited opposite effects throughout the entire experiment, confirming the inhibitory effect of miR-216a on pancreatic cancer by regulating the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. The results provided evidence that miR-216a targeting JAK2 negatively regulated the development of pancreatic cancer cells and may be used to develop a miRNA-based therapeutic strategy against pancreatic cancer.

To evaluate the effect of a new schistosomiasis control strategy based on the infection source control in four-lake regions of Hubei Province.The new strategy based on the infection source control included the safe water supply, feces harmless treatment, replacing cattle with machine, captive livestock, chemotherapy, Oncomelania hupensis snail control in susceptible areas, hardening ditches, etc, and the new control strategy was implemented for 7 years in 9 counties (cities or districts) of the four-lake regions. The schistosomiasis situations were investigated before and after the intervention of the new strategy.The coverage rates of feces harmless toilets (three format toilets), biogas digesters, and safe water supply were 42.00%, 23.16% and 93.76%, respectively. The number of ditch hardening was 1 960; the area of eliminating snails was 1378.42 hm2; the number of persons who received the health education was 3,524,818 accounting for 92.17% of the total population; the number of person-time of taking active protection measures was 516,636,963. The average annual decline rates of schistosome infection were 24.42% and 38.38% in residents and cattle, respectively. The endemic villages decreased by 4.77%, the villages with snails decreased by 7.05%, and the villages with snails accounted between 63.19% and 66.21% of the total endemic villages. The area with snails decreased by 90.35%, and the advance schistosomiasis patients decreased by 5.55%, and the fatality rate of advanced schistosomiasis patients decreased by 1.24%. No acute schistosomiasis patients occurred. Type One and Two endemic (heavy endemic) villages decreased to zero; Type Three endemic (moderate endemic) villages decreased by 10.22%; but Type Four endemic (mild endemic) villages increased by 66.38%; and Type Five endemic (no endemic for 5 years) villages decreased by 0.22%. The standards of schistosomiasis transmission controlled have achieved on schedule.The implementation of the new schistosomiasis control strategy based on the infection source control in four-lake regions of Hubei Province can effectively control schistosomiasis.

The purpose of this study was to develop a sensitive method for the detection of malignant B lymphocytes in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) who were considered as risk of central nervous system (CNS) involvement. Nine CSF samples were collected and then centrifuged. The cell precipitate was lysed directly. The supernatant was used to detect immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) gene rearrangement (characteristic changes of malignant B lymphocytes ) by BIOMED-2 PCR. The sensitivity of this method was compared with that of cytology defection and flow cytometry. In addition, through a series of quantity/concentration of tumor cells, the sensitivity differences caused by two sample handling methods (direct cell lysis vs traditional DNA extraction) were analyzed, and the sensitivity of direct cell lysis combined with BIOMED-2 PCR was evaluated. The results showed that the positive clonality of IgH gene rearrangement were detected by BIOMED-2 PCR in 5 cases, but the positive were detected by cytology defection/flow cytometry only in 2 cases, which indicated that the BIOMED-2 PCR assay gives a better yield. In addition, when combined with BIOMED-2 PCR, direct cell lysis produced sensitivity much higher than DNA extraction. The former can enable clonality detection from a minimum of 0.1%/20 tumor cells. It is concluded the method of direct cell lysis combined with BIOMED-2 PCR is sensitive and suitable for paucicellular CSF detection. It may aid the diagnosis of CNS involvement in patients with DLBCL.

Gastric hyperplastic polyps (GHPs) are the most common polypoid lesion of the stomach, and their malignant potential has been demonstrated. In the present study, we evaluated the mucin phenotypes of GHPs and investigated the relationships among mucin phenotypes and clinical-pathological factors, proliferative activity and p53 expression in GHPs.The CD10, MUC2, MUC5AC and MUC6 expression patterns of 238 GHPs were examined by immunohistochemical staining. The GHP mucin phenotypes were divided into 4 subtypes: the gastric mucin phenotype (G-type), the intestinal mucin phenotype (I-type), the mixed or gastrointestinal mucin phenotype (GI-type) and the unclassified mucin phenotype (U-type).The G and GI types were observed in 58% and 42% of the GHPs, respectively. However, no I or U type GHPs were found in the present study. The GI type was more common in lesions with dysplasia or carcinoma than in polyps without dysplasia or carcinoma (P0.001). P53-positivity rate and high index of Ki-67 tumors were significantly more common in the GI-type than in the G-type polyps (P0.001).The mucin phenotype may serve as a useful marker for the malignant potential of GHPs, and GI-type GHPs should be considered to be a lesion with malignant potential.

Objective To assess the contribution of wild-type, mutant and loss of leucine-rich repeat kinase-2 (LRRK2; Lrrk2) on dendritic neuronal arborization. Background LRRK2 mutations are recognized as the major genetic determinant of susceptibility to Parkinson’s disease for which a cellular assay of Lrrk2 mutant function would facilitate the development of targeted molecular therapeutics. Methods Dendritic neuronal arborization (neurite length, branching and the number of processes per cell) was quantified in primary hippocampal and midbrain cultures derived from five lines of recombinant LRRK2 mice, including human BAC wild-type and mutant overexpressors (Y1699C and G2019S), murine knock-out and G2019S knock-in animals. Results Neuronal arborization in cultures from BAC Lrrk2 wild-type animals is comparable to non-transgenic littermate controls, despite high levels of human transgene expression. In contrast, primary neurons from both BAC mutant overexpressors presented with significantly reduced neuritic outgrowth and branching, although the total number of processes per cell remained comparable. The mutant-specific toxic gain-of-function observed in cultures from BAC mutant mice may be partially rescued by staurosporine treatment, a non-specific kinase inhibitor. In contrast, neuronal arborization is far more extensive in neuronal cultures derived from murine knock-out mice that lack endogenous Lrrk2 expression. In Lrrk2 G2019S knock-in mice, arguably the most physiologically relevant system, neuritic arborization is not impaired. Conclusions Impairment of neuritic arborization is an exaggerated, albeit mutant specific, consequence of Lrrk2 over-expression in primary cultures. The phenotype and assay described provides a means to develop therapeutic agents that modulate the toxic gain-of-function conferred by mutant Lrrk2.