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Acidovorax citrulli can be divided into two genetic groups: group I and group II based primarily on pulsed-field gel electrophoresis ( PFGE) and multilocus sequence classification ( MLST). To distinguish more rapidly between strains of the two groups, a pair of specific primer for specific polymerase chain reaction ( PCR) that can identify group II strains was designed based on the pilL gene of a group II strain, AAC00-1. PCR results showed that a 332-bp band was generated for 51 of 52 group II strains whereas only three of 93 group I strains were positive, largely consisting with previous studies of A. citrulli classification. Results of PCR showed the primers were able to detect group II strains of A. citrulli and distinguish between strains of groups I and II rapidly and accurately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the most frequent age-associated neurodegenerative disorder. Presence of α-synuclein-containing aggregates in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) and loss of dopaminergic (DA) neurons are among the characteristic of PD. One of the hallmarks of PD pathophysiology is chronic neuroinflammation. Activation of glial cells and elevated levels of pro-inflammatory factors are confirmed as frequent features of the PD brain. Chronic secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines by activated astrocytes and microglia exacerbates DA neuron degeneration in the SNpc. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are among endogenous non-coding small RNA with the ability to perform post-transcriptional regulation in target genes. In that regard, the capability of miRNAs for modulating inflammatory signaling is the center of attention in many investigations. MiRNAs could enhance or limit inflammatory signaling, exacerbating or ameliorating the pathological consequences of extreme neuroinflammation. This review summarizes the importance of inflammation in the pathophysiology of PD. Besides, we discuss the role of miRNAs in promoting or protecting neural cell injury in the PD model by controlling the inflammatory pathway. Modifying the neuroinflammation by miRNAs could be considered a primary therapeutic strategy for PD., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Urinary 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanosine (8-oxoGuo) and 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2′- deoxyguanosine (8-oxodGuo) are considered biomarkers of oxidative stress, and patients with nephrotic syndrome have been reported to have increased oxidative stress levels. In this study, we aimed to assess the value of 8-oxoGuo and 8-oxodGuo as novel biomarkers to evaluate the severity of nephrotic syndrome. In total, 107 patients with nephrotic syndrome and 116 healthy controls were recruited for this study. The concentrations of urinary 8-oxoGuo and 8-oxodGuo were measured using isotope-labeled liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. Urinary creatinine was used to regulate 8-oxoGuo and 8-oxodGuo concentrations. Urinary 8-oxoGuo and 8-oxoGuo/Cr levels in patients with nephrotic syndrome were significantly higher than those in healthy control participants. 8-oxoGuo/Cr showed a positive correlation with the 24 h urinary total protein (UTP) and UTP levels and negative correlations with serum total protein and albumin levels. After treatment, urinary 8-oxoGuo and 8-oxoGuo/Cr levels were significantly lower in the group with a low 24 h-UTP value (<3.5 g/d) than in the high value group. 8-oxoGuo can be used as a feasible and reliable biomarker for the assessment of nephrotic syndrome. Urinary 8-oxoGuo level was significantly increased in patients with nephrotic syndrome. Urinary 8-oxoGuo level increased with an increase in plasma protein and a decrease in urine protein. Urinary 8-oxoGuo level decreased with nephrotic syndrome remission when urinary microalbumin showed no significant change. Urinary 8-oxoGuo level can be used as novel biomarkers of nephrotic syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The EVEN‐plus syndrome (epiphyseal–vertebral–ear–nose dysplasia plus associated findings) is an extremely rare autosomal recessive inherited disease characterised by specific facial features and skeletal dysplasia. It has a prenatal onset due to defects in the HSPA9 gene. The syndrome has not been reported previously in China. Methods: This study reported the characteristics, examination results, diagnosis and treatment of a female case aged 3 years and 3 months. Results: The patient had global developmental delay and specific facial features, including a prominent forehead, a bilateral auricle deformity, a collapsed nose, a high palatine arch, a short neck and other appearance abnormalities. Her hip joint magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results showed bilateral femoral head epiphyseal dysplasia with a fork‐shaped malformation at the distal end, and her brain MRI showed white matter myelin dysplasia. HSPA9 compound heterozygous variants c.882_c.883delAG and c.613A>G were identified by exome sequencing. Conclusions: This finding expands the spectra of EVEN‐plus syndrome phenotype and pathogenic variants and suggests that c.882_c.883delAG may have a higher distribution frequency in East Asian populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: CYP2C19 is an important member of the cytochrome P450 enzyme superfamily. We recently identified 31CYP2C19 alleles in the Han Chinese population; studying the effects of CYP2C19 on drug metabolism can help reduce adverse drug reactions and therapeutic failure. Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the catalytic activities of 31 allelic isoforms and their effects on the metabolism of clomipramine in vitro. Methods: The wild-type and 30 CYP2C19 variants were expressed in insect cells, and each variant was characterized using clomipramine as the substrate. Reactions were performed at 37°C with 5–150 μmol/L substrate for 30 min. By using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry to detect the products, the kinetic parameters Km, Vmax, and intrinsic clearance (Vmax/Km) of N-desmethyl clomipramine were determined. Results: Among the CYP2C19 variants tested, CYP2C19*29, L16F, and T130M showed extremely increased intrinsic clearance of clomipramine, CYP2C19*3C, and N277K showed similar intrinsic clearance (Vmax/Km) values with CYP2C19*1, while the intrinsic clearance values of other variants were significantly decreased (from 0.65% to 63.28%). In addition, CYP2C19*3 and 35FS could not be detected because they have no detectable enzyme activity. Conclusions: As the first report of 31 CYP2C19 alleles for clomipramine metabolism, our study could provide corresponding reference for clomipramine for further studies in vivo and offer valuable information relevant to the personalized medicine for CYP2C19-metabolized drug. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]