N-cadherin is a Novel ERα Anchor that Protects Against 6-OHDA Damage to Dopaminergic Cells

Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by the selective loss of dopaminergic (DA) neurons. In this study, we investigated the protective roles of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and 17β-estradiol (E2) in the neuron cell line MN9D following treatment with 6-hydroxydopamine. This result showed that phosphorylation of protein kinase B (Akt) was significantly increased in treated MN9D cells following co-application of GDNF and E2 compared with only GDNF or E2. Moreover, GDNF enhanced the E2-induced translocation of estrogen receptor α (ERα) from the cytosol to the membrane. Immunoprecipitation experiments showed that the translocated ERα interacted with neural cadherin (N-cadherin) in the membrane. Site-directed mutagenesis of Tyr860 (Y860) in N-cadherin inhibited its interaction with ERα. Combined with the fact that GDNF can stimulate N-cadherin Y860 phosphorylation, we hypothesize that N-cadherin is a novel anchor for ERα, and phosphorylation at Y860 further increases ER’s capacity to activate the neuroprotective phosphatidyl inositol-3 kinase/Akt pathway. This study provides evidence that co-application of GDNF and E2 exert important protective effects on DA neurons by increasing the interaction between ERα and N-cadherin.     

西藏巨柏核型的图象自动分析与识别的研究

我们应用图象自动分析和识别的原理和方法,建立了植物染色体自动分析CHROMHUK软件系统,并首次对西藏巨柏进行了核型自动分析,抽取了染色体多个特征多数:相对长度、臂比、着丝点指数、相对体密度和次缢痕相对长度.对247个巨柏体细胞进行多参数数据统计和分析,并设置95°.置信判别区域和树分类判别.实现了染色体自动配对和分类,并由计算机直接输出染色体的组型图和核型模式图.分析结果表明:巨柏体细胞的染色体数目为2n=22,按Levan的分类标准,其核型公式为2n=4m(SC)+16m+2sm.据Stabbins分类为1A型.     

海南黎药蛇王藤质量标准研究

为制定海南黎药蛇王藤的质量标准,依据《中华人民共和国药典》2020年版质量检定的基本原则为指导,采用性状观察法、显微观察法、薄层色谱法、烘干法、总灰分测定法、醇溶性热浸法分别研究蛇王藤的性状和显微结构特征、薄层色谱鉴别、水分、总灰分以及醇溶性浸出物。本研究明确了蛇王藤药材的性状和显微结构特征,建立了薄层鉴别方法;规定蛇王藤药材水分不得超过12.0%、总灰分不得超过7.0%、水溶性浸出物不得少于8.0%。本研究制定的蛇王藤药材质量标准可为该药材的质量控制提供依据。     

Increased Interleukin-17 in Peripheral Blood and Cerebrospinal Fluid of Neurosyphilis Patients

BackgroundTreponema pallidum infection evokes vigorous immune responses, resulting in tissue damage. Several studies have demonstrated that IL-17 may be involved in the pathogenesis of syphilis. However, the role of Th17 response in neurosyphilis remains unclear.ConclusionsThese findings indicate that Th17 response may be involved in central nervous system damage and associated with clinical symptoms in neurosyphilis patients. Th17/IL-17 may be used as an alternative surrogate marker for assessing the efficacy of clinical treatment of neurosyphilis patients.     

On the origin of SARS-CoV-2——The blind watchmaker argument

正In the comparison with SARS-CoVof 2003, SARS-CoV-2 is extremely well adapted to the human populations and its adaptive shift from the animal host to humans must have been even more extensive. By the blind watchmaker argument, such an adaptive shift can only happen prior to the onset of the current pandemic and with the aid of step-by-step selection.     

Risk Factors of Dilated Virchow-Robin Spaces Are Different in Various Brain Regions

Background and Purpose

Few studies have reported on the risk factors of dilated Virchow-Robin Spaces (dVRS) in large samples of ischemic stroke patients. Little evidence exists regarding the relationship between dVRS and etiologic subtype of ischemic stroke or lacune. We aimed to investigate the risk factors associated with the severity of dVRS in a large sample of ischemic stroke patients.

Methods

We consecutively enrolled 1,090 patients who experienced an ischemic stroke within the past seven days and underwent a 3.0 T MRI scan in the Chinese IntraCranial AtheroSclerosis Study (ICAS). Clinical data and cranial MRI information of patients included age, sex, vascular risk factors, dVRS, leukoaraiosis, lacune, and etiologic subtype of ischemic stroke. Analyses were performed regarding the risk factors associated with the severity of dVRS by univariate analysis and multivariable ordinal logistic regression analysis.

Results

Through multivariable ordinal logistic regression analysis, age, the severity of leukoaraiosis, lacune, admission National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) ≤3, and the severity of dVRS in the white matter (WM) and hippocampus (Hip) were correlated with the severity of dVRS in basal ganglia (BG); male, history of hypertension, admission NIHSS ≤3, and the severity of dVRS in BG and Hip were correlated with the severity of dVRS in WM; female, the severity of leukoaraiosis, admission NIHSS >3, small artery occlusion subtype of ischemic stroke, and the severity of dVRS in BG and WM were correlated with the severity of dVRS in Hip.

Conclusion

dVRS is an indicator of cerebral small vessel diseases such as leukoaraiosis and lacune. However, the risk factors of dVRS differ in various brain regions.     

Autophagy‐related gene Atg5 is essential for astrocyte differentiation in the developing mouse cortex

Astrocyte differentiation is essential for late embryonic brain development, and autophagy is active during this process. However, it is unknown whether and how autophagy regulates astrocyte differentiation. Here, we show that Atg5, which is necessary for autophagosome formation, regulates astrocyte differentiation. Atg5 deficiency represses the generation of astrocytes in vitro and in vivo. Conversely, Atg5 overexpression increases the number of astrocytes substantially. We show that Atg5 activates the JAK2‐STAT3 pathway by degrading the inhibitory protein SOCS2. The astrocyte differentiation defect caused by Atg5 loss can be rescued by human Atg5 overexpression, STAT3 overexpression, and SOCS2 knockdown. Together, these data demonstrate that Atg5 regulates astrocyte differentiation, with potential implications for brain disorders with autophagy deficiency.