Association between serum apolipoprotein E and cognitive function in Chinese patients with temporal lobe epilepsy

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of serum apolipoprotein E (APOE) levels on cognitive function in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE).

METHODS

Clinical data were collected from 190 subjects including 110 TLE patients and 80 healthy people. Cognitive function was assessed using the Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination Revised (ACE-R) scale. Serum levels of APOE were measured using ELISA kits. Genotyping of APOE in peripheral blood was detected by microarray hybridization.

RESULTS

Patients with TLE had significantly lower ACE-R total score, memory and verbal fluency scores compared to the healthy group. Serum levels of APOE were significantly higher in TLE patients than in the healthy subjects. Serum APOE levels were significantly negatively correlated with ACE-R total score, memory and verbal fluency scores. The cognitive function score of TLE with APOE ε4 allele was lower than that of TLE without APOE ε4 allele.

SIGNIFICANCE

Our study showed that serum APOE levels were higher in TLE patients than in the healthy population. And serum APOE levels were associated with cognitive dysfunction in TLE patients. APOE ε4 allele carriers have poor cognitive function in TLE patients.

An integrated approach for identifying the efficacy and potential mechanisms of TCM against atherosclerosis-Wu-Zhu-Yu decoction as a case study

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Atherosclerosis (AS) is a chronic disease that is associated with high morbidity. However, therapeutic approaches are limited. Wu-Zhu-Yu decoction (WZYD) is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine prescription that is traditionally used to treat headaches and vomiting. Modern studies have demonstrated the cardiotonic effects of WZYD. However, whether WZYD can alleviate AS and its underlying mechanisms remain unclear.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aims to investigate the antiatherosclerotic efficacy of WZYD and illustrate its potential mechanisms using an integrated approach combining in vivo and in vitro assessments, including metabolomics, network pharmacology, cell experiments, and molecular docking analyses.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this work, an atherosclerotic mouse model was established by administering a high-fat diet to apolipoprotein-E deficient (ApoE^-/-) mice for twelve weeks. Meanwhile, the mice were intragastrically administered WZYD at different dosages. Efficacy evaluation was performed through biochemical and histopathological assessments. The potential active constituents, metabolites, and targets of WZYD in atherosclerosis were predicted by metabolomics combined with network pharmacology analysis, the constituents and targets were further assessed through cell experiments and molecular docking analysis.

RESULTS

WZYD decreased the lipid levels in serum, reduced the areas of aortic lesions, and attenuated intimal thickening, which had antiatherosclerotic effects in ApoE^-/- mice. Metabolomics and network pharmacology approach revealed that the ten constituents (6-shogaol, evodiamine, isorhamnetin, quercetin, beta-carotene, 8-gingerol, kaempferol, 6-paradol, 10-gingerol, and 6-gingerol) of WZYD affected 24 metabolites by acting on the candidate targets, thus resulting in changes in five metabolic pathways (sphingolipid metabolism; glycine, serine and threonine metabolism; arachidonic acid metabolism; tryptophan metabolism; and fatty acid biosynthesis pathway). Cell experiments indicated that the ten key compounds showed antiproliferative effects on the vascular smooth muscle cell. Moreover, the key compounds exhibited direct interactions with the key targets, as assessed by molecular docking analysis.

CONCLUSION

This study revealed that WZYD exerted therapeutic effects on atherosclerosis, and the potential mechanisms were elucidated. Furthermore, it offered a powerful integrated strategy for studying the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine and exploring its active components and possible mechanisms.

Association of Drug-Metabolizing Enzyme and Transporter Gene Polymorphisms and Lipid-Lowering Response to Statins in Thai Patients with Dyslipidemia

Purpose

Statins are increasingly widely used in the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. However, there is an inter-individual variation in statin response among patients. The study aims to determine the association between genetic variations in drug-metabolizing enzyme and transporter (DMET) genes and lipid-lowering response to a statin in Thai patients with hyperlipidemia.

Patients and Methods

Seventy-nine patients who received statin at steady-state concentrations were recruited. Serum lipid profile was measured at baseline and repeated after 4-month on a statin regimen. The genotype profile of 1936 DMET markers was obtained using Affymetrix DMET Plus genotyping microarrays.

Results

In this DMET microarray platform, five variants; SLCO1B3 (rs4149117, rs7311358, and rs2053098), QPRT (rs13331798), and SLC10A2 (rs188096) showed a suggestive association with LDL-cholesterol-lowering response. HDL-cholesterol-lowering responses were found to be related to CYP7A1 gene variant (rs12542233). Seven variants, SLCO1B3 (rs4149117, rs7311358, and rs2053098); SULT1E1 (rs3736599 and rs3822172); and ABCB11 (rs4148768 and rs3770603), were associated with the total cholesterol-lowering response. One variant of the ABCB4 gene (rs2109505) was significantly associated with triglyceride-lowering response.

Conclusion

This pharmacogenomic study identifies new genetic variants of DMET genes that are associated with the lipid-lowering response to statins. Genetic polymorphisms in DMET genes may impact the pharmacokinetics and lipid-lowering response to statin. The validation studies confirmations are needed in future pharmacogenomic studies.

Challenges and hopes for Alzheimer's disease

Recent drug development efforts targeting Alzheimer's disease (AD) have failed to produce effective disease-modifying agents for many reasons, including the substantial presymptomatic neuronal damage that is caused by the accumulation of the amyloid β (Aβ) peptide and tau protein abnormalities, deleterious adverse effects of drug candidates, and inadequate design of clinical trials. New molecular targets, biomarkers, and diagnostic techniques, as well as alternative nonpharmacological approaches, are sorely needed to detect and treat early pathological events. This article analyzes the successes and debacles of pharmaceutical endeavors to date, and highlights new technologies that may lead to the more effective diagnosis and treatment of the pathologies that underlie AD. The use of focused ultrasound, deep brain stimulation, stem cell therapy, and gene therapy, in parallel with pharmaceuticals and judicious lifestyle adjustments, holds promise for the deceleration, prevention, or cure of AD and other neurodegenerative disorders.