MicroRNA-409-3p Targeting at ATXN3 Reduces the Apoptosis of Dopamine Neurons Based on the Profile of miRNAs in the Cerebrospinal Fluid of Early Parkinson's Disease

Precise recognition of early Parkinson’s disease (PD) has always been a challenging task requiring more feasible biomarkers to be integrated to improve diagnostic accuracy. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) are believed to be potential and promising candidate biomarkers for PD. However, the role of altered miRNAs of CSF play in PD is unclear. Here, we recruited patients with early stages of PD and controls to analyze the expression of miRNA in CSF by the Next Generation Sequencing (NGS). Furthermore, we tested the levels of these miRNA in SH-SY5Y cells treated with MPP⁺ using real-time quantitative PCR. We found 21 miRNAs were upregulated in CSF of early PD patients and miR-409-3p, one of the identified 21 miRNAs, was further confirmed in SH-SY5Y cells treated with MPP⁺. Also, more cells survived in the overexpression of the miR-409-3p group when SH-SY5Y cells and mice were treated with MPP⁺ and MPTP, respectively. Mechanistically, we demonstrated the binding of miR-409-3p and 3’UTR of ATXN3 through a dual luciferase reporter gene assay. Moreover, miR-409-3p mimic reduced the aggregation of polyglutamine-expanded mutant of ATXN3 and apoptosis. Our results provide experimental evidence for miR-409-3p in CSF as a diagnostic marker of PD.

Coupled Sublattice Melting and Charge-Order Transition in Two Dimensions

Two-dimensional melting is one of the most fascinating and poorly understood phase transitions in nature. Theoretical investigations often point to a two-step melting scenario involving unbinding of topological defects at two distinct temperatures. Here, we report on a novel melting transition of a charge-ordered K-Sn alloy monolayer on a silicon substrate. Melting starts with short-range positional fluctuations in the K sublattice while maintaining long-range order, followed by longer-range K diffusion over small domains, and ultimately resulting in a molten sublattice. Concomitantly, the charge order of the Sn host lattice collapses in a multistep process with both displacive and order-disorder transition characteristics. Our combined experimental and theoretical analysis provides a rare insight into the atomistic processes of a multistep melting transition of a two-dimensional materials system.

Efficacy and Tolerability of Intravenous Immunoglobulin and Subcutaneous Immunoglobulin in Neurologic Diseases

PURPOSE

IV immunoglobulin (Ig) therapy has been widely used for the treatment of neurologic disorders, autoimmune diseases, immunodeficiency-related diseases, blood system diseases, and cancers. In this review, we summarize the efficacy and tolerability of IVIg and SCIg therapy in neurologic diseases.

METHODS

We summarized and analyzed the efficacy and tolerability of IVIg and SCIg in neurologic diseases, by analyzing the literature pertaining to the use of IVIg and SCIg to treat nervous system diseases.

FINDINGS

In clinical neurology practice, IVIg has been shown to be useful for the treatment of new-onset or recurrent immune diseases and for long-term maintenance treatment of chronic diseases. Moreover, IVIg may have applications in the management of intractable autoimmune epilepsy, paraneoplastic syndrome, autoimmune encephalitis, and neuromyelitis optica. SCIg is emerging as an alternative to IVIg treatment. Although SCIg has a composition similar to that of IVIg, the applications of this therapy are different. Notably, the bioavailability of SCIg is lower than that of IVIg, but the homeostasis level is more stable. Current studies have shown that these 2 therapies have pharmacodynamic equivalence.

IMPLICATIONS

In this review, we explored the efficacy of IVIg in the treatment of various neurologic disorders. IVIg administration still faces many challenges. Thus, it will be necessary to standardize the use of IVIg in the clinical setting. SCIg administration is a novel and feasible treatment option for neurologic and immune-related diseases, such as chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy and idiopathic inflammatory myopathies. As our understanding of the mechanisms of action of IVIg improve, potential next-generation biologics can being developed.

[Analysis of screening strategy of group B streptococcus in the third trimester and its influence on pregnancy outcome]

Objective: To investigate the screening strategy of group B streptococcus (GBS) in the reproductive tract of women in the third trimester and analyze its impact on pregnancy outcome. Methods: A total of 85 461 pregnant women in 35-37 weeks of gestation from Bao'an Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Jinan University from January 2011 to June 2018 were enrolled. They were divided into 3 periods according to different GBS screening strategies, the unscreened period included 31 384 cases (36.72%), 33 267 cases (38.93%) were included in partial screening period, 20 810 cases (24.35%) were included in screening period. All GBS screening positive pregnant women were given intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP). The impact on pregnancy outcomes, and the impact of different GBS collection transport and culture methods on the positive rate of GBS screening were analyzed. Results: (1) The incidence of neonatal early onset GBS disease (EOGBSD) in unscreened period was 0.03% (11/31 773), in partial screening period was 0.02%(6/33 887), and in screening period, the incidence of neonatal EOGBSD decreased to 0, the difference was statistically significant (χ(2)=7.86, P=0.02).(2) The incidence of hematogenous infection of GBS in pregnant women was 0.02%(6/33 887) in partial screening period, and there was none in screening period, there was no significant difference (adjusted χ(2)=3.75, P=0.05). (3) In the screening period, the positive rate of GBS was 14.08%(2 719/19 306), which was significantly higher than the positive rate of GBS in the partial screening period (11.48%, 2 058/17 920; χ(2)=56.12, P=0.00). (4) Antibiotic sensitivity tests of 4 777 GBS strains showed that the antibiotics with higher resistance rate were tetracycline (81.52%, 3 896/4 777), erythromycin (66.59%, 3 181/4 777), and clindamycin (64.31%, 3 072/4 777). The combination of erythromycin, clindamycin and tetracycline was the most common resistant pattern, accounting for 48.80% (2 331/4 777). No penicillin, ceftriaxone or vancomycin resistant strains was found. Conclusions: GBS screening strategy in different regions could combine the local neonatal EOGBSD incidence rate, maternal GBS colonization rate, and the socioeconomic factors to determine whether universal GBS screening or screening for high-risk maternal women. GBS screening positive rate is related to the population, scope of the investigation, the sample collection, delivery and culture methods. The multi-drug resistance rate of GBS is high.

Serum level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in Parkinson's disease: a meta-analysis

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a critical modulator in the neurodevelopment and maintenance of both central and peripheral nervous systems, is regarded as a potential therapeutic target of Parkinson's disease (PD). However, its association with PD remains unclear and the data are inconsistent. To explore the correlation, studies reporting BDNF levels in PD patients and healthy controls are searched and a sample of 1496 participants are pooled in the meta-analysis, demonstrating significantly decreased serum levels of BDNF in PD patients when compared with the healthy controls (SMD = -1.03; 95% CI [-1.83, -0.23]; P = .012). Meta-regression analysis indicates gender is an important confounding factor (Adj R² = 69.20%, p = .004, I² res = 90.64%), whereas age (Adj R² = 11.91%, P = .95, I² res = 96.86%), H-Y stages of PD progression (Adj R² = -30.18%, P = .612, I² res = 96.62%) and MoCA score assessed cognitive impairment (Adj R² = 2.18%, P = .517, I² res = 64.41%) show few moderating effects. The research provides evidence of moderate quality that blood levels of BDNF are decreased in PD patients despite various influencing factors, supporting an association between decreased level of peripheral BDNF and PD.

[Study on spectrophotometric determination of trace nitrite with brilliant cresol blue]

A new spectrophotometric method for the determination of trace nitrite was studied. The method is based on the diazo-reaction of brilliant cresol blue with nitrite. The linear range for the determination is 0.5-12 microg NO2(-)/25 mL. The detection limit is 0.5 microg NO2(-)/25 mL. The method has been used for the determination of trace nitrite in water. The mechanism of the reaction was discussed.

Progressive detachment of cells from surfaces: a consequence of heterogeneous ligand populations or a multi-site binding equilibrium?

A multi-site binding equilibrium model is proposed to describe the effect of applied shear on the detachment of affinity adsorbed particles or cells from surfaces. Unlike earlier models used to describe this phenomenon the current approach considers the extent to which multiple interactions show surface cooperativity such that the attached fraction can be described in terms of a number of subpopulations linked via differing numbers of ligand/receptor interactions.

Operational properties of an inverted matrix cellulose CM ion-exchanger

Productive CM is a recently available carboxymethyl ion-exchanger based on cellulose supplied by BPS Separation. It is supplied in an 'inverted matrix' form as a coherent structure with large voids and about 90% free volume. This paper reports mainly on the physical properties and robustness under normal use conditions using lysozyme as a model protein. The structure is shown by electron microscopy to be formed of fibrous or sheet material around macropores of around 100 microns in diameter. The material around the macropores is itself porous down to the smallest pores visible at perhaps 50 nm. The capacity under static and dynamic conditions was measured and found in both cases to be only slightly dependent on applied flow velocities up to 8 m h-1. The high porosity allowed cider fermentation broth and diluted egg white to be applied directly to a column without blockage and at a moderate pressure drop yet with a high superficial velocity. Compression of the bed at high flow rates did not occur at free space velocities up to 17 m h-1 with water and slightly lower with other fluids. The adsorption isotherm was determined and found to follow a Langmuir form. It proved to be totally stable to immersion in 1 M NaOH and 1 M NaCl without any measurable volume changes. Many of the properties were compared with those of other ion-exchange resins and found to be equivalent in capacity but superior in terms of stability, sustainable flow rates and dynamic capacity. It is concluded that the stability, performance under high flow rates and good capacity make it eminently suitable for use in large scale applications.

Resolution and productivity of conalbumin and lysozyme from fresh egg-white loaded at very high flow rate on a 250-mm length CM-HVFM column

A 250 x 10 mm I.D. column of CM-HVFM, a novel carboxymethyl ion-exchange matrix, has been used as a preparative chromatographic column to separate fresh egg-white protein. When loading a diluted egg-white solution at pH 4.8 ovalbumin was not adsorbed and lysozyme was preferentially adsorbed compared to the conalbumin. As the column loading was increased from 24 to 450 kg m-3 column volume at the superficial velocity of 6.12 m h-1, the lysozyme continued to be absorbed eventually displacing conalbumin. A maximum lysozyme productivity at 16.7 kg m-3 h-1 was achieved at the highest loading. For conalbumin a maximum productivity of 8.8 kg m-3 h-1 occurred at the lower loading of 100 kg m-3. The purities of lysozyme and conalbumin were comparable at a column loading of 450 kg m-3 h-1. The performance of the column was not degraded, neither was the column blocked or channelled despite the high column loading at the high flow-rate.