Genotype-phenotype correlations of heterozygous HTRA1-related cerebral small vessel disease: case report and systematic review.

Cerebral autosomal recessive arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CARASIL) is caused by biallelic HTRA1 pathogenic variants. Recent studies have shown that heterozygous HTRA1 mutations are associated with autosomal dominant cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD). However, large studies evaluating heterozygous HTRA1 carriers are lacking and the genotype-phenotype correlation is unknown. This study aimed to describe these mutations to clarify factors playing a role in the clinical phenotype amongst these patients. We reported two unrelated families and performed a systematic review of all published cases of heterozygous HTRA1-related CSVD. The clinical phenotype severity was independently related to the pathogenicity score (CADD score; p < 0.05) and mutation in the loop 3/loop D domains (p = 0.05); the pathogenicity score was also associated with exon distribution. More importantly, patients with mutations in exon 4 (p = 0.0001) or vascular risk factors (p < 0.05) presented with more severe clinical symptoms. Thus, clinical phenotype severity is influenced by the mutation domain and vascular risk factors. Applying the pathogenicity score to predict clinical outcomes and adopting preventive measures against cerebral vascular risk factors is advantageous.

A Pilot Study of Urinary Exosomes in Alzheimer's Disease.

BACKGROUND: Exosomes are nano-sized extracellular vesicles secreted by most cell types and abundantly present in body fluids, including blood, saliva, urine, cerebrospinal fluid, and breast milk. Exosomes can spread toxic amyloid-beta (Aß) and hyperphosphorylated tau between cells, contributing to neuronal loss in Alzheimer's disease (AD). OBJECTIVE: To explore changes in the morphology, number, and pathological protein levels of urinary exosomes in AD patients compared with age-matched healthy subjects. METHODS: In this study, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the levels of Aß1-42 and P-S396-tau (normalized by CD63) in urinary exosomes of AD patients and matched healthy subjects. We used transmission electron microscopy and nanoparticle tracking analysis to observe the exosomes. RESULTS: We found that the levels of Aß1-42 and P-S396-tau in the urinary exosomes of AD patients were higher than those of matched healthy controls. Exosomes taken from AD patients were more numerous. CONCLUSION: The differences in levels of Aß1-42 and P-S396-tau and the quantity of urinary exosomes between AD patients and healthy controls may provide a basis for early diagnosis of AD.

Co-based Nanozymatic Profiling: Advances Spanning Chemistry, Biomedical, and Environmental Sciences.

Nanozymes, next-generation enzyme-mimicking nanomaterials, have entered an era of rational design; among them, Co-based nanozymes have emerged as captivating players over times. Co-based nanozymes have been developed and have garnered significant attention over the past five years. Their extraordinary properties, including regulatable enzymatic activity, stability, and multifunctionality stemming from magnetic properties, photothermal conversion effects, cavitation effects, and relaxation efficiency, have made Co-based nanozymes a rising star. This review presents the first comprehensive profiling of the Co-based nanozymes in the chemistry, biology, and environmental sciences. The review begins by scrutinizing the various synthetic methods employed for Co-based nanozyme fabrication, such as template and sol-gel methods, highlighting their distinctive merits from a chemical standpoint. Furthermore, a detailed exploration of their wide-ranging applications in biosensing and biomedical therapeutics, as well as their contributions to environmental monitoring and remediation is provided. Notably, drawing inspiration from state-of-the-art techniques such as omics, a comprehensive analysis of Co-based nanozymes is undertaken, employing analogous statistical methodologies to provide valuable guidance. To conclude, a comprehensive outlook on the challenges and prospects for Co-based nanozymes is presented, spanning from microscopic physicochemical mechanisms to macroscopic clinical translational applications.

Spatial distribution, compositional pattern and source apportionment of n-alkanes in surface sediments of the Bohai Sea, Yellow Sea, and East China Sea and implications of carbon sink.

China's marginal seas (CMSs, including the Bohai Sea, Yellow Sea, East China Sea) are a significant sink for both terrestrial organic matter (OM) and marine OM, and they play an important role in the global biogeochemical carbon cycle. The spatial distribution and origin of organic matter based on n-alkanes in the surface sediments of CMSs and the implications of carbon sinks were comparatively analyzed. The n-alkane content in surface sediment from the Bohai Sea was higher than that of the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea. The spatial distribution trends of marine and terrestrial organic matter are obviously different in the surface sediments of China's marginal seas. The n-alkanes in the sediments of the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea were mainly derived from terrestrial higher plants, and land-based influence gradually decreased from the near shore to the open sea. Higher concentration of terrigenous OM are concentrated nearshore, especially near estuaries, such as the Yellow River Estuary, the Old Yellow River Estuary and the Yangtze River Estuary. The input of n-alkanes from woody plants in the Bohai Sea area was slightly higher than that of herbaceous plants, and the input of herbaceous plants in the Yellow Sea and East China Sea was slightly dominant. The distribution of marine organic matter is controlled by marine productivity and the sedimentary environment. Due to climate change, the decomposition and enrichment of organic matter also show the climate effect of carbon molecular combinations. As a semiclosed sea area, the Bohai Sea was beneficial to the growth and reproduction of marine phytoplankton. From the perspective of petroleum pollution, the Bohai Sea was the most serious, followed by the Yellow Sea, and the East China Sea was the lightest. The carbon burial amount of terrestrial organic matter accounts for approximately 7% of the terrestrial organic matter burial amount of global marginal sea sediments, indicating that China's marginal sea plays an important role in the global carbon cycle. The result provide a basis for further understanding the source pattern and burial preservation of sedimentary organic matter in this sea area.

Novel PSEN1 (P284S) Mutation Causes Alzheimer's Disease with Cerebellar Amyloid ß-Protein Deposition.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: AD-associated PSEN1 mutations exhibit high clinical heterogeneity. The discovery of these mutations and the analysis of their associations with cases such as EOAD should be critical to understanding AD's pathogenesis. METHODS: We performed clinical analysis, neuroimaging, target region capture and high-throughput sequencing, and Sanger sequencing in a family of 3 generations. The underlying Alzheimer's pathology was evaluated using biomarker evidence obtained from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) amyloid testing and 18F-florbetapir (AV-45) PET imaging. RESULTS: Target region capture sequencing revealed a novel heterozygous C to T missense point mutation at the base position 284 (c.850 C>T) located in exon 8 of the PSEN1 gene, resulting in a Prolineto- Serine substitution (P284S) at codon position 850. The mutation was also identified by Sanger sequencing in 2 family members, including proband and her daughter and was absent in the other 4 unaffected family members and 50 control subjects. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) amyloid test exhibited biomarker evidence of underlying Alzheimer's pathology. 18F-florbetapir (AV-45) PET imaging indicated extensive cerebral cortex and cerebellar Aß deposition. CONCLUSIONS: We discovered a novel PSEN1 pathogenic mutation, P284S, observed for the first time in a Chinese family with early-onset AD.

Changes in the Morphology, Number, and Pathological Protein Levels of Plasma Exosomes May Help Diagnose Alzheimer's Disease.

Exosomes are nano-sized extracellular vesicles that are secreted by cells and usually found in body fluids. Since they freely cross the blood-brain barrier, neuronal exosomes respond directly to changes in the brain's environment. Recent studies have shown that exosomes contain both amyloid-ß (Aß) and tau proteins and have a controversial role in the Alzheimer's disease (AD) process. In this study, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the levels of P-S396-tau and Aß1-42 in plasma exosomes. We found that levels of P-S396-tau and Aß1-42 in plasma exosomes of AD patients were significantly higher compared to those in matched healthy controls. The difference between plasma exosomes of AD patients and those of matched healthy controls was determined using transmission electron microscopy and nanoparticle tracking analysis. Exosomes from AD patients were smaller and lower in quantity. These data together may provide a basis for early diagnosis of AD.

Elevated CHI3L1 and OPN levels in patients with anti-N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor encephalitis.

Chitinase-3-like 1 (CHI3L1) and osteopontin (OPN) are known biomarkers of neuroinflammation. Herein, we explored the relationship between these inflammatory markers with the disease severity and prognosis in anti-N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis. We recruited 36 anti-NMDAR encephalitis patients and 20 controls. Compared to the levels in the controls, the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum levels of CHI3L1 and OPN were significantly increased in patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis, and the CSF levels were found to be correlated with the initial and 6-month follow-up modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores and abnormal brain MRI (suggestive of encephalitis). In addition, the CSF levels of CHI3L1 were associated with age, the CSF white blood cell (WBC) count and the CSF/serum albumin index (CSF-AI). CHI3L1 and OPN might serve as promising biomarkers for anti-NMDAR encephalitis.

Probable Novel PSEN1 Gln222Leu Mutation in a Chinese Family with Early-Onset Alzheimer's Disease.

BACKGROUND: The rate of occurrence of Alzheimer's disease is increasing around the world. However, there is still no significant breakthrough in the study of its etiology and pathogenesis. OBJECTIVE: To screen Alzheimer's disease pathogenic genes, which may be conducive to the elucidation of the pathogenic mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease And predict the pathogenicity by various computer software. METHODS: Clinical and neuroimaging examination, Whole Exome Sequencing, and Sanger sequencing were performed in the proband. Mutation sites were verified in 158 subjects. RESULTS: We reported a proband carrying a probably novel pathogenic mutation, which clinically manifests as progressive memory loss, visual-spatial disorders, apraxia, psychobehavioral disorders, and temperamental and personality changes. Whole Exome Sequencing detected a novel missense mutation at codon 222 (Q222L), which is a heterozygous A to T point mutation at position 665 (c.665A>T) in exon 5 of the presenilin 1 leading to a glutamine-to-leucine substitution. The mutation was also identified by Sanger sequencing in one family member; nevertheless, it was not detected in the other 7 unaffected family members, 50 sporadic Alzheimer's disease patients and 100 control subjects. CONCLUSION: A novel mutation in exon 5 of the presenilin 1 gene (Gln222Leu) in a Chinese family with early-onset Alzheimer's disease has been reported, besides， it was predicted that the missense mutation was probably a novel pathogenic mutation that was reported for the first time in a Chinese family with early-onset Alzheimer's disease.