Transcriptome analyses of chronic traumatic encephalopathy show alterations in protein phosphatase expression associated with tauopathy

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that is associated with repetitive head injury and has distinctive neuropathological features that differentiate this disease from other neurodegenerative diseases. Intraneuronal tau aggregates, although they occur in different patterns, are diagnostic neuropathological features of CTE, but the precise mechanism of tauopathy is not known in CTE. We performed whole RNA sequencing analysis of post-mortem brain tissue from patients with CTE and compared the results to normal controls to determine the transcriptome signature changes associated with CTE. The results showed that the genes related to the MAP kinase and calcium-signaling pathways were significantly downregulated in CTE. The altered expression of protein phosphatases (PPs) in these networks further suggested that the tauopathy observed in CTE involves common pathological mechanisms similar to Alzheimer's disease (AD). Using cell lines and animal models, we also showed that reduced PPP3CA/PP2B phosphatase activity is directly associated with increases in phosphorylated (p)-tau proteins. These findings provide important insights into PP-dependent neurodegeneration and may lead to novel therapeutic approaches to reduce the tauopathy associated with CTE.

Volume difference in upper central incisor preparation according to the changes of restorative design and marginal location / 대한치과보철학회지

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the volumetric change of teeth after preparation for various designs and margin locations through Micro CT analysis (Skyscan 1076: SKYSCAN, Konitch, Belgium). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The 36 artificial teeth were used to determine reduction volume of upper central incisor. According to the restorative design these 36 teeth were divided into 4 groups and according to the marginal location each group was divided into 3 subgroups. The volume of unprepared teeth was obtained by using Micro CT and the volume of prepared teeth was obtained in the same method. The CT scanned images before and after preparation were superimposed. RESULTS: The volume difference was significantly increased as follows: traditional laminate veneer < full laminate veneer < all ceramic crown < metal ceramic crown. One-way ANOVA and Tukey multiple comparison analyses were used to analyze the data in this study. In each group the volume difference was significantly increased as follows: 1 mm above CEJ < CEJ < 1 mm below CEJ (P<.05). The % volume difference of all ceramic crown and metal ceramic crown was 31 - 48% and that of laminate veneer was 14 - 30%. The volume difference of the traditional laminate veneer was 1/3 of that of metal ceramic crown. The full laminate (1 mm below CEJ) and all ceramic crown (1 mm above CEJ) showed a similar volume difference. Metal ceramic crown showed 13.7 % more volume difference than all ceramic crown. CONCLUSION: There exists the difference in volumetric change according to designs of restoration and margin locations of preparation.

Spontaneous Occipital Artery Aneurysm: A Case Report

The authors presented an unusual case of an occipital artery aneurysm which developed spontaneously. The patient was a 41-year-old woman who suffered from the sudden onset of right hemiparesis and slurred speech. Computerized tomography scans of the brain demonstrated an intracerebral hemorrhage in the left parietal lobe. The carotid angiography revealed an incidental saccular aneurysm in the left occipital artery. The aneurysm was not treated because the patient's relatives refused operation and there were no subjective complaints by the patient. Certain particularities of this lesion are discussed in the context of the literature.