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Objective To explore the clinical and imaging features of Hallervorden-Spatz syndrome (HSS) and its deep brain stimulation (DBS) treatment.Methods A 12-year-old boy with HSS,admitted to our hospital from June 2010,was chosen in our study; the clinical and imaging features and the DBS therapy outcome were retrospectively analyzed.Results The patient (12 years old) was at an early onset,predominantly presented with dystonia,cognitive impairment,dysarthria and pyramidal signs; the symptoms were rapidly progressive.Brain MRI revealed a typical "eye-of-tiger" sign.Significant improvement of motor function after DBS of the internal globus pallidus (Gpi) and no significant improvement of cognitive dysfunction and dysarthria were noted; and the benefit of surgery was maintained during the 1 year follow-up.Conclusion The characteristic imaging manifestations and clinical features are very important for HSS diagnosis; DBS of the internal globus pallidus (Gpi) can improve the motor function; and DBS is one of the limited optional therapies for HSS.
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Objective To study the role of SIRT 1 in apoptosis of PC 12 neuronal cells induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Methods PC12 cells were cultured with different concentrations of LS (50 μg/mL,500 μg/mL,750 μg/mL,1000 μg/mL and 1250 μg/mL),and some other PC12 cells were routinely cultured as controls. MTT assay was employed to identify the cell survival 24 h after the inducement,and accordingly,the suitable LPS concentration for subsequent experiments was determined based on MTT results. And then, cell apoptosis in the experimental groups under the suitable LPS concentration at different times (1/2,2,18,24,and 48 h) and control group was noted by flow cytometry and Hoechst 33258 staining; Western blotting was used to detect the SIRT1 level in PC12 cells. Results Hoechst 33258 staining indicated that a few apoptotic bodies were noted 1/2 h after inducement,expressing as karyopyknosis and karyorrhexis; apoptotic bodies began to increase 18 h after inducement,reaching their peak level 24 h after inducement; and a decreased trend was observed 48 h after inducement. Flow cytometry indicated that significantly higher apoptosis rate at each time point was noted as compared with that in the control group (P＜0.05); and Hoechst 33258 staining showed the same result. Western blotting revealed that the SIRT1 expression was (1.84±0.04) in the control group,decreasing to (1.17±0.09) 1/2 h after the inducement,and reaching the lowest level (0.62±0.03) 24 h after the inducement; and then, the expression was increased to (0.77±0.02) 48 h after the inducement;significant difference on the expression at each time point was noted as compared with that in the control group (P＜0.05). Conclusion LPS can induce PC12 cell apoptosis and SIRT1 protein expression is inhibited,indicating that SIRT1 may take part in the apoptosis and play a protective role to PC12 cells.
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Objective To investigate the association of post-stroke depression (PSD) with gene polymorphisms of catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT) Val1 08/158Met and dopamine transporter 40bp variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) in dopamine metabolism system. Methods Sixty-eight patients with PSD and 91 patients only suffered from stroke, admitted to our hospital from January 2010to June 2010, were chosen; the gene polymorphisms ofCOMT Val108/158Met and DAT 40 bp VNTR were analyzed by using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Results The genotypes of COMT gene amplifications were wild type (G/G),homozygous mutant type (A/A) and heterozygous type (A/G); 7 repeated genotypes (7/7, 9/7, 10/7, 10/9,10/10, 11/10 and 11/11) were noted in the DA T gene amplifications; frequencies of COMT alleles and genotypes were significantly different between the 2 groups (x2=5.703, P=0.017;x2=6.489, P=0.039). The frequencies of COMT alleles and genotypes were significantly different between the 2 female groups (x2=4.610, P=0.032;x2=6.547, P=0.024), but no significant differences were found between the 2 male groups (P＞0.05). The frequencies and heterozygosity of DAT alleles and genotypes showed no obvious differences between the 2 groups (P＞0.05). Conclusion The gene polymorphism of COMT Val108/158Met may be associated with PSD, while that of DAT 40bp VNTR is not.
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Objective To explore the protective effect of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) on apoptosis of dopaminergic neurons induced by L-dopa via JAK/STAT signaling pathway. Methods PC12 cells were induced to differentiate into dopaminergic neurons with 100 μg/L β-NGF; MTT assay was employed to identify the changes in the viability of PC12 cells following L-dopa treatment at 0, 10,20, 50, 100, 150 and 200 μmol/L, and the different concentrations of IGF-1 at 0, 10, 25, 50 and 100 nmol/L with the same concentration of L-dopa (150 μmol/L); Western blotting was used to detect the levels of P-JAK2/P-STAT3 in PC12 cells treated with PBS (controls), L-dopa, L-dopa+IGF-1 and L-dopa+IGF-1+AG490 for 24 h, and then the apoptosis rate was assessed by flow cytometry and Hchest33258 staining. Results Western blotting showed that the expressions of P-JAK2 and P-STAT3 were detected in the L-dopa+IGF-1 and L-dopa+IGF-1+AG490 treatment groups but not in the control group or L-dopa treatment group; the expression of P-STAT3 in the L-dopa+IGF-1+AG490 treatment group was obviously lower than that in the L-dopa+IGF-1 treatment group (P<0.05). Hchest33258 staining indicated that L-dopa treatment group had the most obvious karyopyknosis and karyorrhexis,much more apoptotic bodies than the L-dopa+IGF-1 and L-dopa+IGF-1+AG490 treatment groups. Flow cytometry showed that the apoptosis rate was significantly different among the 4 groups (F=180.991,P=0.000): as compared with the control group, the other 3 groups had a higher apoptosis rate (P<0.05);L-dopa treatment group (38.13 ±2.54 %) enjoyed the highest level, followed by L-dopa+IGF-1 +AG490treatment group (25.60±1.30 %) and L-dopa+IGF-1 treatment group (20.17±1.54 %). Conclusion L-dopa has toxic effect on PC12 cells; IGF-1 could protect the PC12 cells from the neurotoxic effect of L-dopa and JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway is activated in this procedure.