First report on rhinoceros from the late Neogene Qin Basin of Shanxi, China.

Dihoplus is a rhinoceros distributed across East Asia and Europe from the Late Miocene to Pliocene. This study describes a new skull from the Qin Basin in Shanxi Province, China, referred to as Dihoplus ringstroemi, which has long been debated in taxonomic identity. This skull confirms that D. ringstroemi is an independent species and reveals the presence of the upper incisor and variations in the degree of constriction of the two lingual cusps of upper cheek teeth. In addition, the new skull indicates that the Qin Basin has a late Neogene sediment and fauna comparable to that of the Yushe Basin.

Presenilin1 inhibits glioblastoma cell invasiveness via promoting Sortilin cleavage.

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease (AD) and glioblastoma are the most common and devastating diseases in the neurology and neurosurgery departments, respectively. Our previous research reports that the AD-related protein Presenilin1 represses cell proliferation by inhibiting the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway in glioblastoma. However, the function of Presenilin1 and the underlying mechanism need to be further investigated. METHODS: The correlations of two genes were conducted on the R2 microarray platform and CGGA. Wound healing, Transwell assays and glioblastoma transplantation were performed to detect invasion ability. Phalloidin staining was employed to show cell morphology. Proximity ligation assays and protein docking assays were employed to detect two protein locations. We also employed western blotting to detect protein expression. RESULTS: We found that Presenilin1 clearly repressed the migration, invasion and mesenchymal transition of glioblastoma cells. Intriguingly, we observed that the expression of Presenilin1 was positively correlated with Sortilin, which is identified as a pro-invasion molecule in glioma. Furthermore, Presenilin1 interacted with Sortilin at the transmembrane domain and repressed Sortilin expression by cleaving it in glioblastoma cells. First, we found that Sortilin introduced the function of Presenilin1 in phosphorylating ß-catenin and repressing invasion in glioblastoma cells. Last, Presenilin1 stimulation sharply suppressed the invasion and mesenchymal transition of glioblastoma in mouse subcutaneous and intracranial transplantation models. CONCLUSIONS: Our study reveals that Sortilin mediates the regulation of ß-catenin by Presenilin1 and transduces the anti-invasive function of Presenilin1, which may provide novel therapeutic targets for glioblastoma treatment. Video Abstract.

Multifocal glioblastoma-two case reports and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Multifocal glioblastoma is a rare type of glioblastoma with worse prognosis. In this article, we aimed to report two cases of classical multifocal glioblastoma. CASE PRESENTATION: In case 1, a 47-year-old male presented with dizziness, and once had a sudden loss of consciousness accompanied by convulsion of limbs. Contrast-enhanced MRI showed multiple lesions with heterogeneously ring-enhanced characters in the left hemisphere, diagnosed as multifocal glioblastoma. He underwent a craniotomy of all lesions, concurrent radiotherapy and chemotherapy as well as additional chemotherapy of temozolomide. After 2 cycles, repeat MRI showed that the new lesions already occurred and progressed. Eventually, he abandoned the chemotherapy after the 2 cycles and died 1 year later. In case 2, a 71-year-old male presented with a history of headache, left limb weakness, and numbness. Discontinuous convulsion of limbs once occurred. Contrast-enhanced MRI showed multiple lesions located in the right hemisphere, diagnosed as multifocal glioblastoma. He underwent a right frontoparietal craniotomy of the main lesion. Hemorrhage of the residual tumor and pulmonary artery embolism occurred synchronously. Eventually, his family decided not to pursue any further treatment and opted for hospice care and he passed away within 11 days of surgery. CONCLUSIONS: We reported two cases of typical multifocal glioblastoma. Valid diagnosis is crucial; then, resection of multiple lesions and canonical radio-chemotherapy probably bring survival benefits.

Paeoniflorin Atttenuates Amyloidogenesis and the Inflammatory Responses in a Transgenic Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is associated with the inflammatory response in response to amyloid ß-peptide (Aß). Previous studies have suggested that paeoniflorin (PF) shows anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects in inflammation-related diseases. However, the impacts of PF on AD have not been investigated. In the present study, we showed that a 4-week treatment with PF could significantly inhibit Aß burden, Aß-induced over activation of astrocytes and microglia, downregulation of proinflammatory cytokines, and upregulation of anti-inflammatory cytokines in the brain. In addition, we demonstrated that chronic treatment with PF inhibited the activation of glycogen synthase kinase 3ß (GSK-3ß) and reversed neuroinflammtory-induced activation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathways. Moreover, PF exerted inhibitory effects on NALP3 inflammasome, caspase-1, and IL-1ß. Collectively, in the present study, we demonstrated that PF exhibits neuroprotective effects in amyloid precursor protein (APP) and presenilin 1 (PS1) double-transgenic (APP/PS1) mice via inhibiting neuroinflammation mediated by the GSK-3ß and NF-κB signaling pathways and nucleotide-binding domain-like receptor protein 3 inflammasome. Thus, these results suggest that PF might be useful to intervene in development or progression of neurodegeneration in AD through its anti-inflammatory and anti-amyloidogenic effects.

Three new pigment protein tyrosine phosphatases inhibitors from the insect parasite fungus Cordyceps gracilioides: terreusinone A, pinophilin C and cryptosporioptide A.

Three new pigment compounds--terreusinone A (1), pinophilin C (2) and cryptosporioptide A (3)-were isolated from a solid culture of Cordyceps gracilioides. The structures of these compounds were determined by extensive spectroscopic analysis including HRESIMS, 1D- and 2D-NMR. The structure of terreusinone A (1) was further confirmed by single-crystal X-ray crystallographic diffraction analysis. In an in vitro activity assay, 1, 2 and 3 exhibited high inhibitory activity against PTP1B, SHP2, CDC25B, LAR and SHP1. Terreusinone A (1) inhibited PTP1B, SHP2, CDC25B, LAR and SHP1 enzyme with IC50 values 12.5, >50, 4.1, 10.6, 5.6 µg/mL, respectively; pinophilin C (2) with IC50 values 6.8, 8.0, 4.5, 4.7, 3.4 µg/mL, respectively; and cryptosporioptide A (3) with IC50 values 7.3, 5.7, 7.6, >50, 4.9 µg/mL, respectively.

A novel oxybis cresol verticilatin with highly varying degrees of biological activities from the insect pathogenic fungus Paecilomyces verticillatus.

A novel oxybis cresol compound named verticilatin (1), together with two known compounds, 5-methylresorcinol (2) and 2,4-dihydroxy-3,6-dimethylbenzaldehyde (3), was isolated from cultures of the insect pathogenic fungi Paecilomyces verticillatus. The structures of compounds were determined by extensive spectroscopic analysis of HR-ESI-MS and 1D and 2D NMR including HSQC, HMBC, COSY, and ROESY. Fortunately, compound 1 exhibited significant inhibitory activities against CDC25B, cathepsin B, MEG2, and SHP2 enzyme, with IC50 values of 11.5, 3.5, 7.8, and 15 µg/ml, respectively.

Twenty-nine cases of resection of suprasellar meningioma through small bone window: an interhemispheric approach.

AIM OF THE STUDY: The present study aims to discuss the value and the effect of resection of suprasellar meningioma through the interhemispheric approach. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-nine cases of patients with suprasellar meningioma diagnosed through enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans and postoperative histopathological examination underwent resection of tumours (the largest diameter ranged from 3 cm to 6 cm) by the microsurgical technique of a small bone window (about 4 cm × 5 cm) through the interhemispheric approach. RESULTS: Among all cases, 25 (86%) (Simpson I, II) were of total resection of tumours and 4 were of subtotal resection of tumours. 19 (65%) were of improvement of vision and visual field, 2 (7%) were of postoperative diabetes insipidus, and 1 (3%) was of electrolyte imbalance. No operative death occurred. CONCLUSIONS: The small bone window interhemispheric approach can be used to expose tumours, lightly stretch brain tissues, reduce the incidence of complications, and improve the total resection rate of tumours of patients with sellae meningiomas growing forward, upward, and into the sella.

Two new oxysporone derivatives from the fermentation broth of the endophytic plant fungus Pestalotiopsis karstenii isolated from stems of Camellia sasanqua.

Two new oxysporone derivatives, pestalrone A (1) and pestalrone B (2), along with two known structurally related compounds 3, 4, were from the fermentation broth of the endophytic plant fungus Pestalotiopsis karstenii isolated from stems of Camellia sasanqua. Their structures and relative configurations were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis and comparison of chemical shifts with related known compounds. Compound 2 exhibited significant activities agains HeLa, HepG2 and U-251 with IC50 values of 12.6, 31.7 and 5.4 µg/mL, respectively.

Effect of erythrocytes on brain water content and haem oxygenase-1 expression in rats with traumatic intracerebral haemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: Studies have demonstrated that brain oedema formation following spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage is associated with substances derived from blood clots or blood components. However, these studies did not completely reveal the role of blood components in brain oedema formation following traumatic intracerebral haemorrhage (TICH). Here, we explore the role of erythrocytes in brain oedema development by studying the effect of erythrocytes on brain water content (BWC) and expression of haem oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in rats with TICH. METHODS: A total of 120 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four experimental treatment groups: traumatic brain injury (TBI), TBI plus whole blood (WB), TBI plus lysed red blood cells (RBCs; LRBC) and TBI plus packed RBCs (PRBC). Following TBI, which was established by applying a free-falling device, WB, LRBC or PRBC were infused with stereotactic guidance into the injured cortex to produce a model of TICH. All rats were killed at 1, 3 or 5 days after TBI or TICH. BWC was measured, and immunohistochemistry for HO-1 was performed. RESULTS: In the WB, PRBC and TBI groups, BWC at 3 days post-TBI or post-TICH was the greatest. However, BWC in the LRBC group at 1 day was markedly higher than that at 3 and 5 days. Comparisons among the four groups showed that BWC in the LRBC group was the highest at 1 day, and the highest at 3 days in the WB and PRBC groups; there was no significant difference at 5 days. Positive expression of HO-1 in the WB, PRBC and LRBC groups coincided with changes in BWC. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that erythrocytes play an important role in delayed brain oedema formation (3 days post-injury) following TICH, but have no significant influence on brain oedema at early stages (1 day post-injury), and that the mechanisms of delayed brain oedema involve RBC breakdown products.

[Thrombin preconditioning reduces brain injury caused by intracerebral infusion of high dose thrombin].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of the cerebral thrombin preconditioning on the thrombin-induced brain edema, to detect the expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and to analyse the relationship between TNF-alpha and the thrombin-induced brain edema. METHODS: Forty SD rats were randomly divided into a ST group and a TT group. The rats received 50 L saline (ST group) or 1 U thrombin infusion (TT group), and received the second infusion (10 U thrombin) 24 h later. The rats were sacrificed at 24 and 72 h after the second infusion in order to examine the changes of brain water and sodium contents as well as the expression of TNF-alpha in the brain. RESULTS: The brain water and sodium contents in the ST group were significantly higher than those on the TT group, and those on the 1st day were higher than those on the 3 th day. The positive expression of TNF-alpha and in the change of water content were identical in the TT group and the ST group. CONCLUSION: Thrombin preconditioning can alleviate the thrombin-induced brain edema. The increase of TNF-alpha expression after thrombin treatment may be related to the thrombin-induced brain edema.