Neuropathological hints from CSF and serum biomarkers in corticobasal syndrome (CBS): a systematic review

Corticobasal syndrome (CBS) is a clinical syndrome determined by various underlying neurodegenerative disorders requiring a pathological assessment for a definitive diagnosis. A literature review was performed following the methodology described in the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews to investigate the additional value of traditional and cutting-edge cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum/plasma biomarkers in profiling CBS. Four databases were screened applying predefined inclusion criteria: (1) recruiting patients with CBS; (2) analyzing CSF/plasma biomarkers in CBS. The review highlights the potential role of the association of fluid biomarkers in diagnostic workup of CBS, since they may contribute to a more accurate diagnosis and patient selection for future disease-modifying agent; for example, future trial designs should consider baseline CSF Neurofilament Light Chains (NfL) or progranulin dosage to stratify treatment arms according to neuropathological substrates, and serum NfL dosage might be used to monitor the evolution of CBS. In this scenario, prospective cohort studies, starting with neurological examination and neuropsychological tests, should be considered to assess the correlations of clinical profiles and various biomarkers.

The moderating role of mental health on the association between gaming time and gaming disorder symtoms

Introduction

Video games are among the most popular leisure time activities. While majority of gamers play in a healthy manner, a minority shows gaming disorder (GD) symptoms and experiences detrimenting effects in their lives. Even though gaming time is moderately associated with gaming disorder symtoms, research suggests that it is not a reliable predictor by itself.

Objectives

The aim of the present study is to explore whether depression symptoms, self-esteem, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and escapism (when gaming is motivated by the avoidance of everyday problems) moderate the association between gaming time and GD symptoms and whether this is different for boys and girls.

Methods

Data was collected from a representative sample of 5^th grade students of public education institutions in Budapest. Sample selection was carried out by one-step sampling stratified for school type, district, and maintainer; the sampling unit was the class. Data from 2126 students were analyzed (49.3% male, mean age 10.7 years, SD=0.54).

Results

Depression symptoms moderated the association between gaming time and GD symtoms in both genders. For those with higher depression symptoms the aforementioned association was stronger. Furthermore, self-esteem had a moderator effect only among girls, while escapism motivation and ADHD only among boys. In these cases, the association between gaming time and GD symptoms was stronger among those with lower self-esteem, and higher ADHD and escapism scores.

Conclusions

Results suggest that gaming time is more strongly connected to GD symptoms in certain conditions, but its predictive value is limited even in those cases.

Disclosure

Funding statement: This study was supported by the Hungarian National Research, Development and Innovation Office (KKP126835). Orsolya Király was supported by the János Bolyai Research Scholarship of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and by the ÚNKP-21-5

A new hybrid approach for MHC genotyping: high-throughput NGS and long read MinION nanopore sequencing, with application to the non-model vertebrate Alpine chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra)

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) acts as an interface between the immune system and infectious diseases. Accurate characterization and genotyping of the extremely variable MHC loci are challenging especially without a reference sequence. We designed a combination of long-range PCR, Illumina short-reads, and Oxford Nanopore MinION long-reads approaches to capture the genetic variation of the MHC II DRB locus in an Italian population of the Alpine chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra). We utilized long-range PCR to generate a 9 Kb fragment of the DRB locus. Amplicons from six different individuals were fragmented, tagged, and simultaneously sequenced with Illumina MiSeq. One of these amplicons was sequenced with the MinION device, which produced long reads covering the entire amplified fragment. A pipeline that combines short and long reads resolved several short tandem repeats and homopolymers and produced a de novo reference, which was then used to map and genotype the short reads from all individuals. The assembled DRB locus showed a high level of polymorphism and the presence of a recombination breakpoint. Our results suggest that an amplicon-based NGS approach coupled with single-molecule MinION nanopore sequencing can efficiently achieve both the assembly and the genotyping of complex genomic regions in multiple individuals in the absence of a reference sequence.

Carotid artery disease: novel pathophysiological mechanisms identified by gene-expression profiling of peripheral blood

OBJECT

The pathogenesis of carotid artery stenosis (CAS) as well as the mechanisms underlying the different localisation of the atherosclerotic lesions remains poorly understood. We used microarray technology to identify novel systemic mediators that could contribute to CAS pathogenesis. Moreover, we compared gene-expression profile of CAS with that of patients affected by abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), previously published by our group.

METHODS AND RESULTS

By global gene-expression profiling in a pool of 10 CAS patients and 10 matched controls, we found 82 genes differentially expressed. Validation study in pools used for profiling and replication study in larger numbers of CAS patients (n = 40) and controls (n = 40) of 14 genes by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) confirmed microarray results. Fourteen out of 82 genes were similarly expressed in AAA patients. Gene ontology analysis identified a statistically significant enrichment in CAS of differentially expressed transcripts involved in immune response and oxygen transport. Whereas alteration of oxygen transport is a common tract of the two localisations, alteration of immune response in CAS and of lipid metabolic process in AAA represents distinctive tracts of the two atherosclerotic diseases.

CONCLUSIONS

We describe the systemic gene-expression profile of CAS, which provides an extensive list of potential molecular markers.

Gene expression profiling of peripheral blood in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm

OBJECT

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) pathogenesis remains poorly understood. This study investigated the gene expression profile of peripheral blood from patients with AAA using microarray technology.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We determined gene expression profiles in pooled RNA from 10 AAA patients and 10 matched controls with arrays representing 14,000 transcripts. Microarray data for selected genes were confirmed by real-time PCR in two different AAA (n=36) and control (n=36) populations and integrated with biochemical data. We identified 91 genes which were differentially expressed in AAA patients. Gene Ontology analysis indicated a significant alteration of oxygen transport (increased hemoglobin gene expression) and lipid metabolism [including monoglyceride lipase and low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5 (LRP5) gene]. LRP5 expression was associated inversely with serum lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] concentration.

CONCLUSIONS

Increased expression of hemoglobin chain genes as well as of genes involved in erythrocyte mechanical stability were observed in the AAA RNA pools. The association between low levels of LRP5 gene expression and increased levels of Lp(a) in AAA patients suggests a potential role of LRP5 in Lp(a) catabolism. Our data underline the power of microarrays in identifying further molecular perturbations associated with AAA.

Genetic analysis of 56 polymorphisms in 17 genes involved in methionine metabolism in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm

BACKGROUND

Previous studies suggested an association between abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and hyperhomocysteinaemia, a complex trait determined by genetic and environmental factors. Our hypothesis was that polymorphisms in genes directly or indirectly involved in methionine metabolism may contribute to AAA susceptibility.

METHOD

We studied 56 polymorphisms in MTHFR, MTR, MTRR, CBS, MTHFD1, SLC19A1, NNMT, TCN2, AHCY, BHMT, BHMT2, FOLH1, TYMS, ENOSF1, SHMT1, PON1, PON2 genes according to their demonstrated/putative function, localisation in promoter or regulatory and coding regions and/or heterozygosity values >0.300. Polymorphisms were evaluated by using a primer extension based microarray technology in 423 AAA patients and 423 matched controls.

RESULTS

All polymorphisms resulted in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in patients and controls. At the multiple logistic regression analysis adjusted for traditional cardiovascular risk factors (sex, age, hypertension, smoking habit, dyslipidaemia, diabetes) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), rs8003379 MTHFD1 (odds ratio (OR) 0.41, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.26 to 0.65) and rs326118 MTRR (OR 0.47, 95% CI 0.29 to 0.77) polymorphisms resulted in independent susceptibility factor for AAA.

CONCLUSIONS

After haplotype reconstruction, logistic regression analyses adjusted for traditional risk factors and COPD showed a significant association among AAA and AHCY, FOLH1, MTHFD1, MTR, NNMT, PON1 and TYMS haplotypes. Our findings offer new insights into the pathogenesis of AAA.

Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry registers bone mineral in the liver

OBJECTIVE

To analyse the difference in bone mineral content (BMC) between the left and right trunk generally obtained by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) by creating identical images over the liver region and the contralateral side.

PATIENTS AND DESIGN

Fifty-four patients were selected at random from 1,722 subjects examined by DXA because of osteoporosis. Another five patients were selected who had been followed for osteoporosis by repeated DXA two to five times at intervals from 2 to 36 months. One healthy volunteer was followed for one day by means of DXA total body measurements. All protocols were analysed with respect to BMC, fat mass (FM) and lean tissue mass (LTM) of the imaged trunk and liver.

RESULTS

BMC of the right trunk exceeded that of the left trunk in 78% of the investigated subjects. The right (liver) image dominated in all 81 investigations calculated from 60 subjects. There were intraindividual short- and longterm variations between repeated DXA examinations. The amounts of FM and LTM were distributed symmetrically between the right and left trunk.

CONCLUSIONS

DXA registers BMC in the liver, which explains the general dominance of the right trunk. The absorption over the liver region varies in the same individual in repeated measurements at intervals of hours to months.