Analysis of mitochondrial haplogroups associated with TTR Val30Ala familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy in Chinese patients.

Extracellular deposition of abnormal transthyretin (TTR) amyloid fibrils leads to familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy (FAP), an inherited autsomal dominant disease. A large number of protein variants, each caused by a different point mutation in the TTR gene have been identified, including TTR Val30Ala. Since the age of onset, organ involvement, and disease progression are highly variable in FAP, even among individuals with the same TTR genetic variation. it is likely that other genetic and environmental factors influence FAP disease phenotype. One study has found a relationship between mitochondrial haplogroups and age of onset of FAP. In this study, we wondered whether certain mitochondrial haplogroups were associated with the cases of TTR Val30Ala FAP in a Chinese population. Mitochondrial haplogroup analysis was performed on a group of patients and their relatives and on a group of healthy controls. All FAP probands were unrelated in their maternal lineages. The chi-squared test for independence found no difference in mitochondrial haplogroup distribution between FAP and control groups. This is the first study reporting frequency and distribution of different haplogroups in FAP in a Chinese population. Although the study group was small, TTR Val30Ala FAP in China seems unrelated to mitochondrial haplogroup.

Clinical study on the visceral differentiation-based acupuncture therapy for insomnia.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical effects of acupuncture for insomnia on the basis of visceral differentiation. METHODS: Seventy cases of insomnia were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group. The former was treated by acupuncture based on visceral differentiation and the latter by the routine acupuncture therapy. RESULTS: The clinical effects were significantly better in the treatment group than that of the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The visceral differentiation-based acupuncture therapy may enhance the therapeutic effects for insomnia patients.

Cerebrolysin improves sciatic nerve dysfunction in a mouse model of diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

To examine the effects of Cerebrolysin on the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy, we first established a mouse model of type 2 diabetes mellitus by administering a high-glucose, high-fat diet and a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. Mice defined as diabetic in this model were then treated with 1.80, 5.39 or 8.98 mL/kg of Cerebrolysin via intraperitoneal injections for 10 consecutive days. Our results demonstrated that the number, diameter and area of myelinated nerve fibers increased in the sciatic nerves of these mice after administration of Cerebrolysin. The results of several behavioral tests showed that Cerebrolysin dose-dependently increased the slope angle in the inclined plane test (indicating an improved ability to maintain body position), prolonged tail-flick latency and foot-licking time (indicating enhanced sensitivity to thermal and chemical pain, respectively, and reduced pain thresholds), and increased an index of sciatic nerve function in diabetic mice compared with those behavioral results in untreated diabetic mice. Taken together, the anatomical and functional results suggest that Cerebrolysin ameliorated peripheral neuropathy in a mouse model of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Let-7a gene knockdown protects against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury.

The microRNA (miRNA) let-7 was one of the first miRNAs to be discovered, and is highly conserved and widely expressed among species. let-7 expression increases in brain tissue after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury; however, no studies have reported let-7 effects on nerve injury after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. To investigate the effects of let-7 gene knockdown on cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury, we established a rat model of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction demonstrated that 12 hours after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury, let-7 expression was up-regulated, peaked at 24 hours, and was still higher than that in control rats after 72 hours. Let-7 gene knockdown in rats suppressed microglial activation and inflammatory factor release, reduced neuronal apoptosis and infarct volume in brain tissue after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. Western blot assays and luciferase assays revealed that mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase-1 (MKP1) is a direct target of let-7. Let-7 enhanced phosphorylated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) expression by down-regulating MKP1. These findings suggest that knockdown of let-7 inhibited the activation of p38 MAPK and JNK signaling pathways by up-regulating MKP1 expression, reduced apoptosis and the inflammatory reaction, and exerted a neuroprotective effect following cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Myoclonic epilepsy with ragged-red fibers: A case report.

Myoclonic epilepsy with ragged-red fibers is a maternally inherited disease that is characterized by myoclonic epilepsy, cerebellar ataxia and progressive muscular weakness. The present study reports the case of a 25-year-old male who presented with paroxysmal left upper limb tics and weakness for two years. Neurological examination revealed intact cranial nerves, decreased deep tendon reflexes and decreased sensation of touch, pain and vibration. The gait of the patient was broad and he was unable to walk in a straight line. Local cortical atrophy was also observed in the left temporal-occipital cortex on a magnetic resonance imaging scan. The muscle biopsy revealed ragged-red fibers. Therefore, the present study hypothesized that imaging observations and follow-up examinations are important in patients with myoclonic epilepsy.

[Stimulatory effects of low temperature treatment of germinating seeds on flower-bud differentiation in broccoli].

The effects of low temperature treatment (0-2 degrees C) of germinating seeds in accelerating process of flower-bud differentiation in broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) were studied. The results indicated that low temperature treatment of germinating seeds for 10 d in broccoli (T(10)) lowered 0.86 nodes and advanced 5 d for the critical stage of flower-bud differentiation, stage of primary furcation scape primordium differentiation and stage of secondary and tertiary furcation scape primordium differentiation; Low temperature treatment of germinating seeds for 20 d in broccoli (T(20)) lowered 1.03 nodes and advanced 6 d for the critical stage of flower-bud differentiation , stage of primary furcation scape primordium differentiation and stage of secondary and tertiary furcation scape primordium differentiation. The node number at which flower-bud differentiation started under T(10) and T(20) was significantly lower than that of control while there was no significant difference between T(10) and T(20). In addition, the flower-bud differentiation was accompanied by increase in GA(3) contents, soluble protein contents, POD activities and invertase activities. GA(3) contents, soluble protein contents, POD activities and invertase activities started to increase significantly when plants entered the critical stage of flower-bud differentiation; POD activities, invertase activities and GA(3) contents emerge high apex value when plants entered stage of primary furcation scape primordium differentiation and stage of secondary and tertiary furcation scape primordium differentiation. Curve change trend of these physiological and biochemical indexes under T(10) and T(20) were accord with CK while advent of each high apex value was earlier about a week than CK during flower-bud differentiation. In a word, synthesization of GA(3) was induced firstly after germinating seeds were treated under low temperature, consequently POD activities and invertase activities were increased which took advantage of flower-bud differentiation.

Limb-girdle muscular dystrophies: where next after six decades from the first proposal (Review).

Limb-girdle muscular dystrophies (LGMD) are a heterogeneous group of disorders, which has led to certain investigators disputing its rationality. The mutual feature of LGMD is limb-girdle affection. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), perioral skin biopsies, blood-based assays, reverse­protein arrays, proteomic analyses, gene chips and next generation sequencing are the leading diagnostic techniques for LGMD and gene, cell and pharmaceutical treatments are the mainstay therapies for these genetic disorders. Recently, more highlights have been shed on disease biomarkers to follow up disease progression and to monitor therapeutic responsiveness in future trials. In this study, we review LGMD from a variety of aspects, paying specific attention to newly evolving research, with the purpose of bringing this information into the clinical setting to aid the development of novel therapeutic strategies for this hereditary disease. In conclusion, substantial progress in our ability to diagnose and treat LGMD has been made in recent decades, however enhancing our understanding of the detailed pathophysiology of LGMD may enhance our ability to improve disease outcome in subsequent years.

Human mesenchymal stem cells increases expression of α-tubulin and angiopoietin 1 and 2 in focal cerebral ischemia and reperfusion.

Angiogenesis is associated with improved neurologic recovery after cerebral ischemia. Human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) have been successfully used to treat ischemic stroke and were shown to induce the expression of a number of neurotrophic factors including VEGF, epidermal growth factor (EGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in a rat middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) ischemia model. In this study, we aimed to understand the mechanism underlying the improvement of neurological function following hMSCs transplantation into MCAO rats. We established a rat MCAO model and used immunofluorescence to evaluate α-tubulin expression in the hippocampus. We used RT-PCR to determine the expression of Ang-1 and Ang-2 mRNAs after transplantation of hMSCs into MCAO rats. We showed a significant decrease in α-tubulin expression in rats with cerebral ischemia, suggesting that α-tubulin is a protective protein in cerebral ischemia Transplantation of hMSCs significantly upregulated α-tubulin levels in the hippocampus. Transplantation of hMSCs also resulted in a significant upregulation of Ang-1 and Ang-2 mRNAs in MCAO rats. Ang-2 expression was upregulated earlier than Ang-1, suggesting that (1) transplantation of hMSCs promotes angiogenesis and that (2) Ang-2 may be an initiator of angiogenesis. Our results provide a theoretical basis for the therapeutic use of hMSCs in cerebral ischemia.

Clinical and histopathological features of familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy with transthyretin Val30Ala in a Chinese family.

Familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy (FAP) is characterized by extracellular deposition of amyloid fibrils caused by a point mutation in the transthyretin (TTR) gene. TTR amyloidosis is linked to a vast number of mutations with varying phenotype and tissue distribution. Several Chinese kindred with FAP type 1 have been reported in Beijing, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and elsewhere. Here, histopathological features and TTR gene polymorphism were analyzed by using autopsy and blood specimens from a Chinese proband of a family with FAP. This proband is a 34-year old man with FAP type 1 who developed motor, sensory and autonomic impairments with neuropathy, gastrointestinal dysfunction, and orthostatic hypotension. Genetic findings of TTR revealed a T to C transition in codon 30 causing the mutation TTR Ala30. This patient died of respiratory and circulatory failure 7 years after onset. Autopsy showed heavy amyloid deposition in the peripheral nerves, liver, testes, thyroid, pancreas and muscles. There was moderate deposition in the heart, kidneys, bladder, gastrointestinal tract, tongue, lung, blood vessels, and gall bladder. The spleen showed only slight deposition, and none was observed in the central nervous system. TTR amyloidosis was confirmed by immunochemical staining with a specific TTR antibody. These results indicate that the distribution of amyloid deposition, (i.e., heavy in the liver, testes and slight in the spleen), is a characteristic feature and reflects the severity of FAP with TTR Val30Ala.