Pyramidal and extrapyramidal dysfunction as a sequela of hypoxic injury: case report

Background  

The clinical and radiological aspects of hypoxic brain injury without ischemia are not well characterized. A spectrum of clinical manifestations have been observed in patients that recover from hypoxic brain injury, including a subset that demonstrate persistent motor system disturbances. Early Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) studies have shown abnormalities in basal ganglia, cerebral and cerebellar cortex.     

Two mechanistically distinct forms of endocytosis in adrenal chromaffin cells: Differential effects of SH3 domains and amphiphysin antagonism

We previously identified two forms of endocytosis using capacitance measurements in chromaffin cells: rapid endocytosis (RE), dynamin-1 dependent but clathrin-independent and slow endocytosis (SE), dynamin-2 and clathrin-dependent. Various recombinant SH3 domains that interact with the proline-rich domain of dynamin were introduced into single cells via the patch pipette. GST-SH3 domains of amphiphysin-1, intersectin-IC, and endophilin-I inhibited SE but had no effect on RE. Grb2-SH3 (N-terminal) or a mutant of amphiphysin-1-SH3 was inactive on either process. These data confirm that dynamin-1 dependent RE is independent of clathrin and show that amphiphysin is exclusively associated with clathrin and dynamin-2-dependent SE.     

Human embryonic stem cell-derived neural precursor transplants in collagen scaffolds promote recovery in injured rat spinal cord

Background aimsSeveral studies have reported functional improvement after transplantation of in vivo-derived neural progenitor cells (NPC) into injured spinal cord. However, the potential of human embryonic stem cell-derived NPC (hESC-NPC) as a tool for cell replacement of spinal cord injury (SCI) should be considered.MethodsWe report on the generation of NPC as neural-like tubes in adherent and feeder-free hESC using a defined media supplemented with growth factors, and their transplantation in collagen scaffolds in adult rats subjected to midline lateral hemisection SCI.ResultshESC-NPC were highly expressed molecular features of NPC such as Nestin, Sox1 and Pax6. Furthermore, these cells exhibited the multipotential characteristic of differentiating into neurons and glials in vitro. Implantation of xenografted hESC-NPC into the spinal cord with collagen scaffold improved the recovery of hindlimb locomotor function and sensory responses in an adult rat model of SCI. Analysis of transplanted cells showed migration toward the spinal cord and both neural and glial differentiation in vivo.ConclusionsThese findings show that transplantation of hESC-NPC in collagen scaffolds into an injured spinal cord may provide a new approach to SCI.     

Development of an enhanced chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA) for detecting urinary albumin

In the present study, a sensitive and competitive chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA) was developed in order to detect human serum albumin (HSA) in urine specimen. The method utilizes a home-made monoclonal anti-albumin antibody conjugated to horseradish peroxidase enzyme (mAb-HRP). Sensitivity, specificity and linearity of the assay were evaluated. According to the results, the proper concentration of HSA and mAb-HRP conjugates was 800?ng/100?μl and 1:200 respectively. In optimal conditions, this method could detect HSA in a high linear range of 10–200?μg?ml^?1 with the low detection limit of 0.025?μg?ml^?1. No evidence of interference with presence of probable substances in the urine samples indicated its high specificity and selectivity. Moreover, high reproducibility as well as high sensitivity and specificity of the test were confirmed using diabetic and non-diabetic samples. Significant concordance was observed between CLIA and immunoturbidimetry assay regarding detection of HSA. The results of the present study can be considered in accordance with the current demands such as reliability, accuracy, convenience and high speed of performance for a precise protein detection method. Furthermore, it may be regarded as a more rapid, simpler and cheaper alternative compared to other sophisticated assays.     

An investigation on the expression of miRNAs including miR-144 and miR-34a in plasma samples of RET-positive and RET-negative medullar thyroid carcinoma patients

Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a scarce cancerous disease, originating from parafollicular C cells of the thyroid gland. MTC can be manifested as an aggressive carcinoma with metastasis, especially in sporadic forms. Mutations of the rearranged during transfection (RET) proto-oncogene occurs in all hereditary and a few somatic MTCs, so detection of RET mutations is needed for prompt and appropriate treatment. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are noncoding regulatory RNAs. Extensive studies have done in progress or suppression of several types of cancers such as MTCs with the remarkable application as prognostic markers. Of the effective miRNAs in cancers, miR-144 and miR-34 were evaluated in our study. Blood samples of 25 RET-positive and 25 RET-negative blood samples of patients with MTC were evaluated for these miRNAs, using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Analysis of the results was performed by the 2 ^−ΔΔCt method, showing that miR-144 and miR-34a expression had a relative increase in patients with MTC compared with normal control samples and also in RET positives versus RET negatives. We recruited 50 out of 350 MTC plasma samples (27 female and 23 male) which were selected based on RET mutation in exon 11 (25 RET-positive and 25 RET-negative), with a mean ± SD age of 37.04 ± 1.74 years. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was done to investigate the prognostic value of these miRNAs; although, they showed no significant prognostic value as MTC biomarkers in plasma samples. In conclusion, miRNAs can be used as biomarkers of cancers such as MTC; however, more studies are needed to find the best candidate miRNAs for the diagnosis of cancers.     

Short-term changes in prostacyclin secretory profile of irradiated rat cervical spinal cord

Prostaglandins changes in radiation myelopathy (RM) have been previously reported. In the present study, we decided to determine the profile of Prostacyclin (PGI2) content in irradiated rat cervical cord. Wistar rats were irradiated with doses of 2,4,6,15,25 and 30 Gy of X-rays. After 24 h, 2 and 13 weeks post-irradiation, samples of spinal cord were prepared for evaluation of PGI2 and histopathologic changes. Prostacyclin content was determined by quantification of 6-keto-prostaglandin-F1alpha (prostacyclin major metabolite). Irradiated segments of spinal cord were stained routinely for histological studies. Results of irradiated were compared to control groups. Average ratio values of 6-keto-PG-F1alpha for doses of 2-30 Gy were between 67.5% and 107%, 65.41% and 100.54%, and 62.20% and 98.89% for 24 h, 2 and 13 weeks post-irradiation, respectively. Histopathological studies showed marked gliosis and vascularities in irradiated specimens. PGI2 bimodal secretory profile was observed along with histopathological changes in this study. Our results can further emphasize on the role of PGI2 in RM.