18F-FDG PET/CT: an unexpected case of Huntington's disease

Circadian Interventions in Preclinical Models of Huntington's Disease: A Narrative Review

Huntington's Disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by an autosomal-dominant mutation in the huntingtin gene, which manifests with a triad of motor, cognitive and psychiatric declines. Individuals with HD often present with disturbed sleep/wake cycles, but it is still debated whether altered circadian rhythms are intrinsic to its aetiopathology or a consequence. Conversely, it is well established that sleep/wake disturbances, perhaps acting in concert with other pathophysiological mechanisms, worsen the impact of the disease on cognitive and motor functions and are a burden to the patients and their caretakers. Currently, there is no cure to stop the progression of HD, however, preclinical research is providing cementing evidence that restoring the fluctuation of the circadian rhythms can assist in delaying the onset and slowing progression of HD. Here we highlight the application of circadian-based interventions in preclinical models and provide insights into their potential translation in clinical practice. Interventions aimed at improving sleep/wake cycles' synchronization have shown to improve motor and cognitive deficits in HD models. Therefore, a strong support for their suitability to ameliorate HD symptoms in humans emerges from the literature, albeit with gaps in our knowledge on the underlying mechanisms and possible risks associated with their implementation.

Coexisting amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and chorea: A case report and literature review

BACKGROUND

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) coexisting with chorea is very rare.

CASE REPORT

We present the case of a 48-year-old man with ALS and chorea; the diagnostic certainty was high based on clinical examination results. Combining the data from literature, we analyzed the characteristics of patients with ALS and chorea. We found that ALS coexisting with chorea is very rare, but is often hereditary with a genetic mutation. Most patients with ALS and chorea are caused by abnormal amplification of a CAG sequence in the HTT gene, and these patients have a mild course of disease. The FUS, VCP, and SETX genes also have low mutation frequencies in patients with ALS and chorea.

CONCLUSION

The abnormal amplification of a CAG sequence in the HTT gene in ALS with chorea has an obvious familial genetic tendency, and most patients have a mild disease course.

Metabolomic profiling identifies a novel mechanism for heat stroke‑related acute kidney injury

Heat stroke can induce a systemic inflammatory response, which may lead to multi‑organ dysfunction including acute kidney injury (AKI) and electrolyte disturbances. To investigate the pathogenesis of heat stroke (HS)‑related AKI, a mouse model of HS was induced by increasing the animal's core temperature to 41˚C. Blood samples obtained from the tail vein were used to measure plasma glucose and creatinine levels. Micro‑positron emission tomography‑computed tomography (micro‑PET/CT), H&E staining and transmission electron microscopy were conducted to examine metabolic and morphological changes in the mouse kidneys. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and western blot analyses were performed to investigate the expression of apoptosis‑inducing factor mitochondria‑associated 2 (Aifm2), high‑mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) and receptor for advanced glycosylation end products (RAGE). Liquid chromatography‑mass spectrometry analysis was conducted to find differential metabolites and signaling pathways. The HS mouse model was built successfully, with significantly increased creatinine levels detected in the serum of HS mice compared with controls, whereas micro‑PET/CT revealed active metabolism in the whole body of HS mice. H&E and TUNEL staining revealed that the kidneys of HS mice exhibited signs of hemorrhage and apoptosis. IHC and western blotting demonstrated significant upregulation of Aifm2, HMGB1 and RAGE in response to HS. Finally, 136 differential metabolites were screened out, and enrichment of the 'biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids' pathway was detected. HS‑associated AKI is the renal manifestation of systemic inflammatory response syndrome, and may be triggered by the HMGB1/RAGE pathway. Metabolomics indicated increased adrenic acid, docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid may serve as metabolic biomarkers for AKI in HS. The findings suggested that a correlation between the HMGB1/RAGE pathway and biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids may contribute to the progression of HS‑related AKI.