Serotonin 2 Receptors, Agomelatine, and Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia in Alzheimer's Disease.

There are nearly 50 million Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients worldwide, 90% of whom develop behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), which increase the mortality rate of patients, and impose an economic and care burden on families and society. As a neurotransmitter and neuromodulator, serotonin is involved in the regulation of psychoemotional, sleep, and feeding functions. Accumulating data support the importance of serotonin in the occurrence and development of BPSD. Studies have shown that reduction of serotonin receptors can increase depression and mental symptoms in AD patients. At present, there is no drug treatment for AD approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. Among them, agomelatine, as a new type of antidepressant, can act on serotonin 2 receptors to improve symptoms such as depression and anxiety. At present, research on BPSD is still in the preliminary exploratory stage, and there are still a lot of unknowns. This review summarizes the relationship between serotonin 2 receptors, agomelatine, and BPSD. It provides a new idea for the study of the pathogenesis and treatment of BPSD.

Viral encephalitis complicated by acute retinal necrosis syndrome: A case report.

Acute retinal necrosis syndrome (ARN) is a viral infection characterized by focal retinal necrosis. Viral meningitis complicated by ARN is relatively rare. In the present case study, a 44-year-old male presented with fever, headache and mental disorder. After four days, the patient developed blurred vision. The patient was diagnosed with viral encephalitis complicated by bilateral ARN, based on the examination results. After treatment with antivirals and systemic glucocorticoids, the symptoms of the patient improved. Viral encephalitis may be an important risk factor for ARN. For a patient with viral encephalitis who experiences decreased visual acuity or vitreous opacification, the possibility of ARN should be considered.

Significance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigen expression in cerebrospinal fluid monocytes in diagnosing tuberculous meningitis.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the significance of positive expression of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, (MTB) antigen in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) monocytes in diagnosing tuberculous meningitis (TBM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 50 inpatients of TBM, 30 viral meningitis and 20 healthy controls were studied at the 1 st , 2 nd , and 4 th week during their treatment course. Immunohistochemical assay were used to detect early secreted antigenic target 6 (ESAT-6) positive cells, and positive cases were also observed. RESULTS: The percentage of positive cases and positive cells of ESAT-6 in CSF monocytes were all higher in the 1 st and 2 nd week than in the 4 th week in TBM patients (P < 0.01); and percentage of positive cases and positive cells of MTB antigen in CSF monocytes were higher in TBM patients than in viral meningitis and health control in the 1 st and 2 nd week (P < 0.01). The sensitivity was 90% and the specificity was 92% in the early stage (within 2 weeks) of TBM. CONCLUSION: The positive expression of ESAT-6 in CSF monocytes is helpful for the early diagnosis of TBM.

[Cytological observation of anther abortion and starch distribution of a cytoplasm male sterile pepper (Capsicum annum L.)].

A cytoplasm male sterile pepper (Capsicum annum L.) was examined using cytochemical method to study its pollen abortion. Thick sections of both anthers of male sterility line 8214A and its maintainer 8214B at different stages were stained using Periodic Acid-Schiff's (PAS) reaction to detect starch distribution. Anther structure and starch distribution in both anthers of male sterility and maintainer line were similar before the meiosis of microspore mother cells. After meiosis, the size of tapetal cells of fertile anthers of maintainer line increased and became high vacuolation. Abundant small starches appeared in the connective cells from tetrad stage to early stage of microspore development. At the late stage of microspore, the tapetal cells began to degenerate and the starches in the connective cells became large. Bi-cellular pollen synthesized starches after the large vacuole of vegetative cell disappeared, and abundant starches were stored in the mature pollen. In the anthers of male sterile line, meiosis of microspore mother could occurred and the tetrads could be formed in the locule, but the tetrads were extruded together because the locule could not enlarge its space. Finally, the tetrad microspores degenerated. The development of vascular tissue of the sterile anthers was normal and abundant starches were stored in the connective cells, which suggested that the function of plant transporting polysaccharide into anther was normal but tapetum could not transport the polysaccharide into locule. According to our result, the pollen abortion occurred in the tetrad stage and the abnormal development of tapetal cells might be the reason which induced tetrad microspore abortion in this male sterile pepper.