Presence of calretinin in neurons of the human intestine]

Calcium-binding proteins are present in different neuron populations in the Central Nervous System. As concerns the Enteric Nervous System, only a few studies have been performed. In the present work we investigated immunohistochemically the localization of Calretinin in neurons of the human intestinal wall. Our results showed the presence of stained cell bodies and fibers with antibodies against Calretinin in the Auerbach plexus. Since most of the enteric neurons are characterized by a slow phase after hyperpolarization caused by Ca2+ dependent K+ channels, the role of Calretinin could be to modulate this particular electrophysiological behaviour.     

Comparison of the Force Exerted by Hippocampal and DRG Growth Cones

Mechanical properties such as force generation are fundamental for neuronal motility, development and regeneration. We used optical tweezers to compare the force exerted by growth cones (GCs) of neurons from the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS), such as Dorsal Root Ganglia (DRG) neurons, and from the Central Nervous System (CNS) such as hippocampal neurons. Developing GCs from dissociated DRG and hippocampal neurons were obtained from P1-P2 and P10-P12 rats. Comparing their morphology, we observed that the area of GCs of hippocampal neurons was 8-10 µm² and did not vary between P1-P2 and P10-P12 rats, but GCs of DRG neurons were larger and their area increased from P1-P2 to P10-P12 by 2-4 times. The force exerted by DRG filopodia was in the order of 1-2 pN and never exceeded 5 pN, while hippocampal filopodia exerted a larger force, often in the order of 5 pN. Hippocampal and DRG lamellipodia exerted lateral forces up to 20 pN, but lamellipodia of DRG neurons could exert a vertical force larger than that of hippocampal neurons. Force-velocity relationships (Fv) in both types of neurons had the same qualitative behaviour, consistent with a common autocatalytic model of force generation. These results indicate that molecular mechanisms of force generation of GC from CNS and PNS neurons are similar but the amplitude of generated force is influenced by their cytoskeletal properties.     

Central nervous system metastasis from osteosarcoma: Case report and literature review

Osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignancy of bone in children and young adults, the highest incidence peak is during adolescence and doesn’t have any gender predominance. The main site of metastasis are the lungs and extrapulmonary cases are occasional. The incidence of metastasis in the Central Nervous System (CNS) is 2–6.5%, increase to 10–15% in patients with pulmonary metastases. Therefore, metastatic disease of the CNS is rare and the information on such patients is limited. Here, we describe a case of a 20-year old patient diagnosed with osteosarcoma in the left distal femur stage IIB, he developed pulmonary disease, during palliative chemotherapy experienced relapse to the brain classified as recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) class II, and was treated with external radiotherapy (30?Gy in 10 fractions) and later he had a poor evolution and died.     

Optimizing Culture Medium Composition to Improve Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Cell Yields In Vitro from Subventricular Zone-Derived Neural Progenitor Cell Neurospheres

Neural Stem and Progenitor Cells (NSC/NPC) are gathering tangible recognition for their uses in cell therapy and cell replacement therapies for human disease, as well as a model system to continue research on overall neural developmental processes in vitro. The Subventricular Zone is one of the largest NSC/NPC niches in the developing mammalian Central Nervous System, and persists through to adulthood. Oligodendrocyte progenitor cell (OPC) enriched cultures are usefull tools for in vitro studies as well as for cell replacement therapies for treating demyelination diseases. We used Subventricular Zone-derived NSC/NPC primary cultures from newborn mice and compared the effects of different growth factor combinations on cell proliferation and OPC yield. The Platelet Derived Growth Factor-AA and BB homodimers had a positive and significant impact on OPC generation. Furthermore, heparin addition to the culture media contributed to further increase overall culture yields. The OPC generated by this protocol were able to mature into Myelin Basic Protein-expressing cells and to interact with neurons in an in vitro co-culture system. As a whole, we describe an optimized in vitro method for increasing OPC.     

Branching Morphogenesis of Mouse Embryonic Submandibular Epithelia Cultured under Three Different Conditions

To investigate how the mesenchyme interacts with the epithelium, we employed three different culture systems: System A, in which intact submandibular gland rudiments at the mid 13-day stage were cultured on Millipore filters; System B, in which the 13-day epithelium and mesenchyme were separated once with dispase, recombined again, and cultured on the filter; System C, in which the separated 13-day epithelium was clotted with Matrigel and cultured with the mesenchyme across the filter or in the presence of EGF instead of the mesenchyme. In Systems A and B, 13-day epithelia expanded and produced similar lobules with narrow clefts and stalk. When the 13-day epithelium was cultured in System C under the influence of the mesenchyme, it formed rather oval lobules with stalk that were superficially similar to those in System A, but narrow clefts, as seen in the intact early 13-day gland, were rarely found in System C. Furthermore, no long stalk formation was observed when EGF was introduced in place of the mesenchyme. A bacterial collagenase from Clostridium histolyticum gave a considerable inhibition of branching of the 13-day epithelium in Systems A and B, but no significant inhibition was observed in System C when the mesenchyme or EGF was employed as the source of diffusible factor(s). In contrast, although the 13-day epithelium was significantly resistant to the action of heparitinase I from Flavobacterium heparinum in Systems A and B, the enzyme almost completely inhibited the expansion and branching of the epithelium in System C. Judging from these observations, we conclude that the mechanisms of lobular formation in Systems A and B are not the same as those in System C, where the epithelium is clotted with basement membrane matrix components during tissue culture.     

微弧氧化和碱处理技术在多孔钽修复兔颅骨缺损中的应用

目的观察微弧氧化和碱处理对多孔钽表面性状、生物相容性和成骨能力的影响。方法微弧氧化和碱处理多孔钽片后,扫描电镜观察表面微孔数量、表面钙磷沉积和接触角。植入钽片修复兔颅骨缺损模型,在4周和12周观察骨愈合情况。结果扫描电镜显示处理组表面有更多的微孔和钙磷沉积以及更小的接触角(P<0.05)。植入多孔钽片后,所有动物均生长良好,伤口愈合佳。CT观察多孔钽片和周围骨组织耦合良好;钙黄绿素标记检测显示12周时有新生骨长入多空钽材料内部;扫描电镜观察发现4周时多空钽材料内部有新生血管,12周时有骨小梁长入材料内部。结论微弧氧化和碱处理能改变多孔钽材料表面形状,处理后多孔钽片具有良好的生物相容性和成骨能力。     

Investigation of cytocrom c oxidase gene subunits expression on the Multiple sclerosis

INTRODUCTION:

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune inflamatory disease, which affects the (Central Nervous System) and leads to the destruction of myelin and atrophy of the axons. Genetic factors, in addition to environmental ones, seem to play a role in MS. Numerous studies have reported mitochondrial defects including a reduction in cytochrome c oxidase (COX) complex function related to the reduction of mitochondrial genes expression in the cortex tissue of patients with MS have been reported.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

This study aimed to assess COX5B and COX2 genes expression in MS patients and compare it with normal subjects. We determine expression levels of genes COX5B and COX2, and also gene reference ß-actine using real–time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method. Data were obtained and obtained and standardized with the gene reference and were analyzed using independent sample t-test with SPSS and Excel programs.

RESULT AND DISCUSSION:

The resultshowed COX5B gene expression reduced significant in MS patients compared to normal subjects (P < −0.05) whereas, there was no significant difference in the COX2 gene expression between normal subjects and patients. Thus, it can be claimed that down-regulation of mitochondrial electron transport chain genes supported the hypothesis that hypoxia-like tissue injury in MS may be due to mitochondrial genes, different expression impairment.     

Melanoma central nervous system metastases: current approaches,challenges, and opportunities

Melanoma central nervous system metastases are increasing, and the challenges presented by this patient population remain complex. In December 2015, the Melanoma Research Foundation and the Wistar Institute hosted the First Summit on Melanoma Central Nervous System (CNS) Metastases in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Here, we provide a review of the current status of the field of melanoma brain metastasis research; identify key challenges and opportunities for improving the outcomes in patients with melanoma brain metastases; and set a framework to optimize future research in this critical area.     

Tricarboxylic acid cycle-sustained oxidative phosphorylation in isolated myelin vesicles

The Central Nervous System (CNS) function was shown to be fueled exclusively by oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). This is in line with the sensitivity of brain to hypoxia, but less with the scarcity of the mitochondria in CNS. Consistently with the ectopic expression of F_oF₁-ATP synthase and the electron transfer chain in myelin, we have reported data demonstrating that isolated myelin vesicles (IMV) conduct OXPHOS. It may suggest that myelin sheath could be a site for the whole aerobic degradation of glucose.     

BOOK REVIEWS

Book reviewed in this article;
Serotonin In Mental Abnormalities (Editor D. J. BOULLIN)
Neurological Classics in Modern Translation
Chemical Communication within the Nervous System and its Disturbance in Disease (Editors A. TAYLOR & M. T. JONES).     

Preventing Zika Virus Infection during Pregnancy Using a Seasonal Window of Opportunity for Conception

It has come to light that Zika virus (ZIKV) infection during pregnancy can result in trans-placental transmission to the fetus along with fetal death, congenital microcephaly, and/or Central Nervous System (CNS) malformations. There are projected to be >9,200,000 births annually in countries with ongoing ZIKV transmission. In response to the ZIKV threat, the World Health Organization (WHO) is strategically targeting prevention of infection in pregnant women and funding contraception in epidemic regions. I propose that the damaging effects of ZIKV can be reduced using a seasonal window of opportunity for conception that may minimize maternal exposure. Like other acute viral infections—including the related flavivirus, dengue virus (DENV)—the transmission of ZIKV is anticipated to be seasonal. By seasonally planning pregnancy, this aspect of pathogen ecology can be leveraged to align sensitive periods of gestation with the low-transmission season.     

Thermodynamics of Light Emission and Free-Energy Storage in Photosynthesis

A Planck law relationship between absorption and emission spectra is used to compute the fluorescence spectra of some photosynthetic systems from their absorption spectra. Calculated luminescence spectra of purple bacteria agree well but not perfectly with published experimental spectra. Application of the Planck law relation to published activation spectra for Systems I and II of spinach chloroplasts permits independent calculation of the luminescence spectra of the two systems; if the luminescence yield of System I is taken to be one-third the yield of System II, then the combined luminescence spectrum closely fits published experimental measurement.

Consideration of the entropy associated with the excited state of the absorbing molecules is used to compute the oxidation-reduction potentials and maximum free-energy storage resulting from light absorption. Spinach chloroplasts under an illumination of 1 klux of white light can produce at most a potential difference of 1.32 ev for System I, and 1.36 ev for System II. In the absence of nonradiative losses, the maximum amount of free energy stored is 1.19 ev and 1.23 ev per photon absorbed for Systems I and II, respectively. The bacterium Chromatium under an illumination of 1 mw/cm² of Na D radiation can produce at most a potential difference of 0.90 ev; the maximum amount of free energy stored is 0.79 ev per photon absorbed.

The combined effect of partial thermodynamic reversibility and a finite trapping rate on the amount of luminescence is considered briefly.

     

Bis-anthracenyl isoxazolyl amides have enhanced anticancer activity

Dimeric analogs of Anthracenyl Isoxazole Amides (AIMs) (the designation AIM is in honor of the memory of Professor Albert I. Meyers) were prepared and dimer 6 exhibited the highest efficacy to date for this class of anti-tumor compounds against the human glioma Central Nervous System cell line SNB-19.     

Closed-loop Neuro-robotic Experiments to Test Computational Properties of Neuronal Networks

Information coding in the Central Nervous System (CNS) remains unexplored. There is mounting evidence that, even at a very low level, the representation of a given stimulus might be dependent on context and history. If this is actually the case, bi-directional interactions between the brain (or if need be a reduced model of it) and sensory-motor system can shed a light on how encoding and decoding of information is performed. Here an experimental system is introduced and described in which the activity of a neuronal element (i.e., a network of neurons extracted from embryonic mammalian hippocampi) is given context and used to control the movement of an artificial agent, while environmental information is fed back to the culture as a sequence of electrical stimuli. This architecture allows a quick selection of diverse encoding, decoding, and learning algorithms to test different hypotheses on the computational properties of neuronal networks.     

Book Review

Book reviewed in this article:
Progress in Clinical and Biological Research, Vol. 79: Proteins in the Nervous System: Structure and Function edited by Barnard Haber, Jose Regino Perez-Polo, and Joe Dan Coulter.