ABSTRACT
<p><b>Background</b>Progressive myoclonus epilepsies (PMEs) comprise a group of rare genetic disorders characterized by action myoclonus, epileptic seizures, and ataxia with progressive neurologic decline. Due to clinical and genetic heterogeneity of PMEs, it is difficult to decide which genes are affected. The aim of this study was to report an action myoclonus with or without renal failure syndrome (EPM4) family and summarize the clinical and genetic characteristics of all reported EPM4 patients.</p><p><b>Methods</b>In the present study, targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) was applied to screen causative genes in a Chinese PME family. The candidate variant was further confirmed by cosegregation analysis and further functional analysis, including the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blot of the proband's muscle. Moreover, literature data on the clinical and mutational features of all reported EPM4 patients were reviewed.</p><p><b>Results</b>The gene analysis revealed a novel homozygous splicing mutation (c.995-1G>A) of the SCARB2 gene in two brothers. Further functional analysis revealed that this mutation led to loss function of the SCARB2 protein. The classification of the candidate variant, according to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics standards and guidelines and functional analysis, was pathogenic. Therefore, these two brothers were finally diagnostically confirmed as EPM4.</p><p><b>Conclusions</b>These present results suggest the potential for targeted NGS to conduct a more rapid and precise diagnosis for PME patients. A literature review revealed that mutations in the different functional domains of SCARB2 appear to be associated with the phenotype of EPM4.</p>
ABSTRACT
To estimate the effect of ligustrazine on the expression of PECAM-1/CD31 and hematopoietic reconstitution in syngenic bone marrow transplanted mice, 56 BALB/c mice were divided into 3 groups: normal control group, BMT control group, ligustrazine treated group (BMT + Ligustrazine) and syngenic BMT mouse models were established according to the literatures. The BMT control group and the ligustrazine treated group were given orally 0.2 ml saline and 2 mg ligustrazine twice a day respectively. On days 7, 14, 21 after BMT, mice were killed and peripheral blood cells, bone marrow nucleated cells (BMNC) were detected. Histological observation of bone marrow was made and the CD31 expression was assayed by flow cytometry. The results showed that in ligustrazine treated group the peripheral blood cell, BMNC counts on days 7, 14, 21 after BMT were higher than in the BMT control group (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). The expression of CD31 in ligustrazine treated group on days 7, 14, 21 after BMT was also higher than in the BMT control group (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). In conclusion, ligustrazine enhances CD31 expression in bone marrow cells after syngenic bone marrow transplantation of mice, which may be related to the mechanisms underlying the ligustrazine accelerating hematopoietic reconstitution in syngeneic bone marrow transplantation.