Phosphatidylserine synthase plays an essential role in glia and affects development, as well as the maintenance of neuronal function.

Phosphatidylserine (PS) is an integral component of eukaryotic cell membranes and organelles. The Drosophila genome contains a single PS synthase (PSS)-encoding gene (Pss) homologous to mammalian PSSs. Flies with Pss loss-of-function alleles show a reduced life span, increased bang sensitivity, locomotor defects, and vacuolated brain, which are the signs associated with neurodegeneration. We observed defective mitochondria in mutant adult brain, as well as elevated production of reactive oxygen species, and an increase in autophagy and apoptotic cell death. Intriguingly, glial-specific knockdown or overexpression of Pss alters synaptogenesis and axonal growth in the larval stage, causes developmental arrest in pupal stages, and neurodegeneration in adults. This is not observed with pan-neuronal up- or down-regulation. These findings suggest that precisely regulated expression of Pss in glia is essential for the development and maintenance of brain function. We propose a mechanism that underlies these neurodegenerative phenotypes triggered by defective PS metabolism.

How to evaluate appendices with borderline diameters on CT: proposal of a quick solution to overcome the limitations of the established CT criteria.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: To propose a useful computed tomography (CT) criterion, the diameter with compression (DWC), especially in appendices with borderline diameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively collected 216 patients with visible appendices on CT after clinicopathologic confirmation of appendicitis. Each CT criterion of appendicitis was evaluated by an experienced abdominal radiologist: maximal outer diameter (MOD), DWC, mural thickness and enhancement, periappendiceal infiltration, and appendicolith. DWC is the expected diameter after deduction of the intraluminal compressible contents such as air and feces. All the CT criteria were compared in the appendicitis and nonappendicitis group. RESULTS: The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of the MOD and the DWC were 0.967 and 0.973, respectively. The optimal cutoff value was 8.2 mm for the MOD and 6.6 mm for the DWC. Twenty-five of the 80 appendicitis patients (31.2%) and 62 of the 136 nonappendicitis patients (45.6%) had MODs between 5.7 mm and 9.8 mm in the overlap between the two groups. In this overlap, the AUC of the MODs declined sharply to 0.767, whereas the AUC of the DWCs remained 0.923. Use of the criterion of DWC >6.6 mm yielded a sensitivity of 84.0%, a specificity of 88.7%, and an accuracy of 87.4%. There were no other criteria with both sensitivity and specificity >80% in the range of overlap. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed CT criterion of the DWC is not affected by normal distension or periappendiceal inflammation but only by true appendicitis. Therefore, DWC can improve the diagnostic performance of appendicitis regardless of the MOD.