ABSTRACT
Previous studies have suggested that glutathione-S-transferase π (GST-π) over-expression in the brain tissue is associated with refractory epilepsy.However,whether the change in GST-π level in the peripheral blood is in line with that in brain tissue remains unknown.This study examined the correlation between GST-π in brain tissue and that in peripheral blood in rat models of pilocarpine-induced refractory epilepsy.The animals were divided into drug-resistant group and drug-responsive group according to the response to anti-epileptic drugs.GST-π expression in brain tissue was immunohistochemically determined,while the expression of GST-π in peripheral blood was analyzed by Western blotting.In the hippocampus and cortex,GST-π was mainly found in the cytoplasm and membrane of neurons,and the GST-π expression level was higher in drug-resistant group than in the drug-responsive group and saline control group (P＜0.05).Moreover,there was no significant difference between responders and saline control animals (P＞0.05).The change in expression of GST-π in peripheral blood showed the same pattern as that in brain tissues,suggesting GST-π might contribute to drug resistance in epilepsy.Importantly,the GST-π over-expression in peripheral blood could be used as a marker for resistance to anti-epileptic agents.
ABSTRACT
The objective of this study was to assess the clinical evidence for or against mood stabilizers as a treatment for Alzheimer's disease (AD). We searched 5 databases from their inception to January 2010. Five randomized clinical trials of mood stabilizers to treat human patients suffering from AD were included. These trials assessed the effectiveness of mood stabilizers as an adjunct treatment to conventional anti-dementia drugs on behavioral and psychological symptoms, especially on agitation. Methodological quality was assessed using the Jadad score. The results suggested a significant effect in favor of placebo on the Mini-Mental Status Examination [n=270, weight mean difference (WMD), -0.89; 95% confidence intervals (Cis) -1.69 to -0.09, P=0.03] and on the Neuropsychiatric Inventory total (NPI total) (n=51, WMD, 3.71; 95% Cis 0.15 to 7.26, P=0.04). There were no significant differences in change scores on total Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS total),NPI/BPRS agitation, Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory total and Physical Self Maintenance Scale between mood stabilizers and placebo. Only one of these studies was free of methodological limitations (Jadad score=5). In conclusion, based on the existing evidence, mood stabilizers are ineffective or even harmful as a treatment for AD.
ABSTRACT
This study investigated the effect and mechanism of cell cycle reentry induced by 6-hydrodopamine (6-OHDA) in PCI2 cells.By using neural differentiated PCI2 cells treated with 6-OHDA,the apoptosis model of dopaminergic neurons was established.Cell viability was measured by MTT.Cell apoptosis and the distribution of cell cycle were assessed by flow cytometry.Western blot was used to detect the activation of extracellular regulator kinasel/2 (ERK1/2) pathway and the phosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein (RB).Our results showed that after PC12 cells were treated wtih 6-OHDA,the viability of PC12 cells was declined in a concentration-dependent manner.Flow cytometry revealed that 6-OHDA could increase the apoptosis ratio of PC12 cells in a time-dependent manner.The percentage of cells in G0/G1 phase of cell cycle was decreased and that in S phase and G2/M phase increased.Simultaneously,ERK1/2 pathway was activated and phos- phorylated RB increased.It was concluded that 6-OHDA could induce cell cycle reentry of dopa-minergic neurons through the activation of ERK1/2 pathway and RB phosphorylation.The aberrant cell cycle reentry contributes to the apoptosis of dopaminergic neurons.
ABSTRACT
The study was aimed to examine the prevalence of depression in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and identify its features. A total of 131 out-patients,diagnosed as having idiopathic PD in accordance with the United Kingdom Parkinson's Disease Society Brain Bank criteria,were interviewed with questionnaire and evaluated by Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE),Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS),Hohen & Yahr staging (H & Y staging) and Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD). Patients were divided into three groups in terms of HRSD score:depression group,sub-threshold depression group and non-depression group. The clinical variables and symptom profiles were obtained and compared among the three groups. The results showed that 27 patients (20.6%) fell into the depression group,71 (54.2%) into the sub-threshold depression group,and 33 (25.2%) into the non-depression group. There were no differences in age,gender or tremor score among the groups (P＞0.05). Significant differences were found in duration of PD,UPDRS score,rigidity score and H&Y stage between the sub-threshold depression group (or the depression group) and the non-depression group (P＜0.05). Moreover,the clinical variables in the subthreshold depression group had the trend of increasing with the severity of PD and their values were similar to those in the depression group. Anhedonia,feeling of incapability,sleep disturbance,gastrointestinal symptoms and depressive moods were most common in the depression group. And these symptoms also were more common in the other two groups. It is concluded that depression and sub-threshold depression are common in PD and share similar clinical features. Furthermore,subthreshold depression might be the prodrome of depression and may develop into depression as the condition progresses.