The value of serum amyloid protein A in the early diagnosis of neonatal sepsis and necrotizing enterocolitis / 中国感染控制杂志

Early/late onset sepsis(EOS/LOS)and necrotizing enterocolitis(NEC)are common diseases during the neonatal period,with poor prognosis in severe cases.The early clinical manifestations are not specific,the diag-nosis is difficult,currently-used non-specific laboratory tests(C-reactive protein,procalcitonin,etc.)have disad-vantages,which may lead to missed diagnosis or misdiagnosis.Serum amyloid A(SAA)is a novel acute phase re-actant that increases significantly in the early stage of EOS/LOS and NEC,and lasts for a long time,it is related to the severity of the disease and can reflect the therapeutic effect,thus it can be used as a biomarker for diagnosis and treatment of these two diseases.This paper reviews SA A and its value in the early diagnosis of EOS/LOS and NEC,providing new references for the diagnosis and treatment of such diseases.

Liuwei Dihuang Pills-elicited inhibition of MMP-2/MMP-9 via RAGE on tight junction protein of Aβ1-40-injured bEnd.3 cells / 中成药

AIM To investigate the protective effects and the mechanism of the Liuwei Dihuang Pills on mouse brain microvascular endothelial(bEnd.3)cells damaged by β-Amyloid protein1-40(Aβ1-40).METHODS CCK8 method was used to detect the effects of Aβ1-40 and medicated serum of Liuwei Dihuang Pills(MSLDP)on cell activity,and to screen the appropriate concentration.bEnd.3 cells of the control group,the Aβ1-40 group,the MSLDP+Aβ1-40 group and the MSLDP group had their low density lipoprotein-associated protein 1(LRP1),receptor for advanced glycation end products(RAGE),matrix metalloproteinase-2(MMP-2),MMP-9,scaffold protein zonule protein-1(ZO-1)detected by Western blot.bEnd.3 cells assigned into the control group,the Aβ1-40 group,the FPS-ZM1(RAGE inhibitor)+Aβ1-40 group and the FPS-ZM1+Aβ1-40+MSLDP group had their expressions of RAGE,MMP-9,MMP-2 and ZO-1 detected by Western blot as well.RESULTS The cell activity of bEnd.3,was dose-dependently decreased by Aβ1-40(P<0.01),but was protected by MSLDP(P<0.05,P<0.01).And 10 μmol/L Aβ1-40 and 10%MSLDP were selected for subsequent experiments.Compared with the control group,the Aβ1-40 group displayed increased protein expressions of RAGE,MMP-2 and MMP-9(P<0.01),decreased protein expressions of LRP1,ZO-1 and BDNF(P<0.05,P<0.01),and decreased fluorescence intensities of LRP1 and ZO-1(P<0.01).Compared with the Aβ1-40 group,the MSLDP group shared decreased expressions of RAGE,MMP-2,MMP-9 proteins and RAGE fluorescence intensity(P<0.05,P<0.01),and increased expressions of LRP1,ZO-1 and BDNF proteins,and the fluorescence intensity of LRP1 and ZO-1(P<0.05,P<0.01);the Aβ1-40+FPS-ZM1 group displayed decreased protein expressions of MMP-2,MMP9 and RAGE(P<0.05,P<0.01),and increased ZO-1 protein expression(P<0.05);and the Aβ1-40+FPS-ZM1+ MSLDP group displayed an even more decreased protein expressions of MMP-2,MMP9 and RAGE(P<0.01),increased ZO-1 protein expression(P<0.01)due to the the combination use of FPS-ZM1 and MSLDP.CONCLUSION Liuwei Dihuang Pills can protect the tight junction of bEnd.3 injured by Aβ1-40 and neurovascular units from Alzheimer's disease by alleviating the dysfunction of the blood-brain barrier via RAGE-mediated MMP-2/MMP-9 pathway inhibition.

Effects of electroacupuncture with"Zhi San Zhen"on Notch signaling pathway and synaptic plasticity in 5xFAD mice / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND:Alzheimer's disease is a degenerative neurological disorder characterized primarily by cognitive impairment.Acupuncture is a kind of traditional Chinese medicine therapy for treating Alzheimer's disease,but its mechanism is not yet clear. OBJECTIVE:To observe the effects of electroacupuncture with"Zhi San Zhen"on the Notch signaling pathway,β-amyloid protein(Aβ)and synaptic plasticity in 5xFAD mice. METHODS:Sixteen male,6-month-old 5xFAD mice,SPF-grade,were randomly divided into the electroacupuncture with"Zhi San Zhen"group(electroacupuncture group)and the model group,with eight mice in each group.Eight SPF-grade,male,6-month-old C57BL/6 mice were used as the wild control(wild)group.The electroacupuncture group received electroacupuncture with"Zhi San Zhen"intervention,5 times a week for 4 consecutive weeks.The model group and the wild group did not receive electroacupuncture intervention.The Morris water maze was used to preliminarily assess their learning and memory abilities.Thioflavin S staining was performed to detect Aβ plaque deposition.Western blot and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR)were used to measure the expression levels of transmembrane receptor protein Notch-1,Notch 1 intracellular domain(NICD),hairy and enhancer of split 1(Hes 1),hairy and enhancer of split 5(Hes 5),synaptophysin(SYN),postsynaptic density protein-95(PSD-95),and Aβ. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the model group,the wild group and the electroacupuncture group showed shortened escape latency,increased platform crossing times,and longer target quadrant dwell time(P<0.05).Compared with the wild group,the model group had significantly increased deposition of Aβ plaques,while electroacupuncture with"Zhi San Zhen"inhibited the deposition of Aβ plaques in the hippocampus of 5xFAD mice(P<0.05).Compared with the wild group,the model group had decreased mRNA levels of SYN,PSD-95,Notch 1,NICD,Hes 1,and Hes 5 in the hippocampal tissue of mice,and increased mRNA levels of Aβ(P<0.05).Electroacupuncture with"Zhi San Zhen"increased the mRNA levels of SYN,PSD-95,Notch 1,NICD,Hes 1,and Hes 5 in the hippocampal tissue,and decreased the mRNA level of Aβ(P<0.05).Compared with the Wild group,the model group had decreased protein expression levels of SYN,PSD-95,Notch 1,NICD,Hes 1,and Hes 5 in the hippocampal tissue of mice,and increased protein expression levels of Aβ(P<0.05).Electroacupuncture with"Zhi San Zhen"upregulated the protein expression levels of SYN,PSD-95,Notch 1,NICD,Hes 1,and Hes 5,and inhibited the protein expression of Aβ(P<0.05).To conclude,electroacupuncture with"Zhi San Zhen"can improve the learning and memory abilities of 5xFAD mice,possibly by inhibiting the deposition of Aβ protein and activating the Notch signaling pathway in the hippocampus to enhance synaptic plasticity.

Amiloidose renal familiar em cães da raça Shar-Pei / Family renal amyloidosis in Shar-Pei dogs / Amiloidosis renal familiar en perros Shar-Pei

A amiloidose renal familiar é uma doença incomum em cães, que afeta os rins e está associada ao acúmulo anormal de proteínas amiloides, com capacidade de promover danos orgânicos progressivos com comprometimento de funcionalidade. Caracterizada pela presença de conteúdo proteináceo glomerular, a amiloidose frequentemente está associada a quadros de falência renal, com presença de sinais clínicos variados, sendo uma condição grave e complexa. O presente artigo tem como objetivo descrever os achados clínico-laboratoriais, de imagem e histopatológicos de amiloidose familiar em dois cães da raça Shar-pei. Os animais apresentavam parentesco direto e evidenciavam sinais de cansaço, prostração e emagrecimento progressivo. As evidências clínico-laboratoriais e ultrassonográficas sugeriram a presença de glomerulonefropatia, sendo essa confirmada por exame histopatológico. Os dois cães, diante da gravidade do quadro, foram a óbito. A análise histopatológica evidenciou deposição de material proteináceo fibrilar na região glomerular e tubular, bem como infiltrado linfoplasmocítico, característicos de amiloidose renal. É essencial lembrar que a amiloidose renal familiar em cães é uma doença complexa e que as origens devem ser investigadas. O tratamento é desafiador, diante da inexistência de um manejo terapêutico definido para a doença, sendo este muitas vezes ineficaz. A empatia e o cuidado no manejo dessa condição podem ajudar a melhorar a qualidade de vida do paciente e fornecer conforto ao proprietário durante esse processo desafiador.

Family renal amyloidosis is an uncommon disease in dogs, which affects the kidneys and is associated with abnormal accumulation of amyloid proteins, capable of promoting progressive organic damage with impairment of functionality. Characterized by the presence of glomerular proteinaceous content, amyloidosis is often associated with renal failure, with the presence of varied clinical signs, being a serious and complex condition. This article aims to describe the clinical, laboratory, imaging and histopathological findings of familial amyloidosis in two Shar-pei dogs. The animals were directly related and evidenced signs of tiredness, prostration and progressive weight loss. Clinical, laboratory and ultrasonographic evidence suggested the presence of glomerulonephropathy, which was confirmed by histopathological examination. The two dogs, given the severity of the condition, died. Histopathological analysis showed deposition of fibrillar proteinaceous material in the glomerular and tubular region, as well as lymphoplasmocytic infiltrate, characteristic of renal amyloidosis. It is essential to remember that family renal amyloidosis in dogs is a complex disease and that the origins must be investigated. The treatment is challenging, given the lack of a defined therapeutic management for the disease, which is often ineffective. Empathy and care in managing this condition can help improve the patient's quality of life and provide comfort to the owner during this challenging process.

La amiloidosis renal familiar es una enfermedad poco común en perros, que afecta a los riñones y se asocia con la acumulación anormal de proteínas amiloides, con capacidad de promover daño orgánico progresivo con compromiso de la funcionalidad. Caracterizada por la presencia de contenido proteico glomerular, la amiloidosis suele asociarse a insuficiencia renal, con la presencia de signos clínicos variados, siendo una afección grave y compleja. El presente artículo tiene como objetivo describir los hallazgos clínico-laboratorios, imagenológicos e histopatológicos de la amiloidosis familiar en dos perros Sharpei. Los animales estaban directamente emparentados y presentaban signos de cansancio, postración y pérdida progresiva de peso. Los datos clínico-laboratorios y ecográficos sugirieron la presencia de glomerulonefropatía, la cual fue confirmada mediante examen histopatológico. Los dos perros, dada la gravedad del cuadro, fallecieron. El análisis histopatológico mostró depósito de material proteico fibrilar en la región glomerular y tubular, así como infiltrado linfoplasmocitario, característico de la amiloidosis renal. Es fundamental recordar que la amiloidosis renal familiar en perros es una enfermedad compleja y que es necesario investigar sus orígenes. El tratamiento es un desafío, dada la falta de un manejo terapéutico definido para la enfermedad, que muchas veces resulta ineficaz. La empatía y el cuidado en el manejo de esta afección pueden ayudar a mejorar la calidad de vida del paciente y brindar comodidad al propietario durante este desafiante proceso.

The effect of sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor dapagliflozin on cognitive function in middle-aged and elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and related factors / 中华内分泌代谢杂志

Objective:To investigate the effect of dapagliflozin on cognitive function in middle-aged and elderly type 2 diabetes mellitus patients and related factors.Methods:This was a retrospective study. A total of 200 patients who were hospitalized in the Department of Endocrinology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from August 2021 to August 2022 were recruited randomly. They were divided into the dapagliflozin group and control group. Clinical data were collected; plasma levels of β-amyloid protein(Aβ) 40 and Aβ42 were measured. The Montreal cognitive assessment(MoCA) and the mini-mental state examination(MMSE) were employed to assess cognitive function in both groups. Based on MoCA scores, patients in the dapagliflozin group were further categorized into mild cognitive impairment(MCI) and non-MCI subgroups. Differences among groups were analyzed and compared using t-test, χ2 test, and Mann-Whitney U test, and multivariable logistic regression was used to identify relevant factors associated with cognitive impairment in diabetes patients. Results:Compared to the control group, the dapagliflozin group exhibited significant increases in MMSE and MoCA scores, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and plasma concentration Aβ40(all P<0.05); And the incidence of MCI, homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance(HOMA-IR), total cholesterol, triglycerides, urine albumin creatine ratio, plasma Aβ42, and Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio were significantly decreased(all P<0.05). Compared with the MCI subgroup, duration of dapagliflozin treatment in the non-MCI subgroup were significantly increased( P<0.05); There were statistically significant decreased in the non-MCI subgroup in age, systolic blood pressure, fasting plasma C-peptide, and HOMA-IR(all P<0.05). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that duration of dapagliflozin treatment was a protective factor for cognitive dysfunction( OR=0.322, 95% CI 0.150-0.692, P=0.004) and the age and HOMA-IR were risk factors( OR=1.109, 95% CI 1.014-1.212, P=0.023; OR=3.376, 95% CI 1.276-8.931, P=0.014). Conclusion:Dapagliflozin may improve cognitive function and significantly reduce the incidence of MCI in middle-aged and elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, possibly associated with the improvement of insulin resistance.

Inhibitory Effect and Mechanism of Petroleum Ether Extracts from Gastrodia elata on Aβ Protein Toxicity in Caenorhabditis Elegans / 世界科学技术-中医药现代化

Objective To explore the effect and possible mechanism of petroleum ether extract from Gastrodia elata on A amyloid β-protein deposition in Caenorhabditis elegans(C.elegans).Methods C.elegans was used as the model organism,and the experiment was divided into blank group(Control group),GEPEE 0.5 mg·mL-1 group and GEPEE 1 mg·mL-1 group.The effects of GEPEE on paralysis,life span,oxidative stress,heat stress,reactive oxygen species(ROS)level and Aβ aggregation of C.elegans were investigated,qRT-PCR was used to detect the changes of gene expression related to insulin/IGF-1 signaling pathway(IIS)in C.elegans.The main components were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC).Results Compared with Control group,GEPEE could significantly improve the paralysis phenotype of C.elegans(P<0.01),prolong the lifespan of C.elegans(P<0.01),enhance the motility of C.elegans(P<0.01),and increased the resistance to external oxidative stress(P<0.01),the stress ability of high temperature(P<0.01),improved the deposition of Aβ in vivo(P<0.01),decreased the ROS content in C.elegans(P<0.01),decreased the expression levels of Aβ and DAF-2(P<0.01),increased the expression levels of DAF-16 and its target genes SOD-3,GSH-Px,HSF-1 and its target gene HSP-16.2,SKN-1 and its target gene GST-4(P<0.01).Its main components were p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol and p-ethoxylbenzyl alcohol by HPLC.This study showed that GEPEE can reduce Aβ-induced toxicity in CL4176 C.elegans by reducing ROS level in vivo,increasing antioxidant level and regulating IIS pathway.Conclusion GEPEE can inhibit the toxicity of Aβ protein,and its mechanism is related to the regulation of IIS signaling pathway.

Mechanism of miR-29a affecting eNOS protein expression and participating in vascular endothelial dysfunction / 中国现代医生

Objective To explore the inhibitory effect of miR-29a on in vitro angiogenesis of vascular endothelial cells by targeting cells with glutaminase,and preliminarily explore the relevant mechanisms of inflammatory factors inducing vascular endothelial dysfunction.Methods Human umbilical vein endothelial cells were selected as research cell lines,and the cell lines were intervened by recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)and serum amyloid A(SAA)respectively.The expression changes of miRNA were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR).The expression changes of endothelial nitric oxide synthase(eNOS)were detected by Western blot.Finally,the vascular protective drug salvia miltiorrhiza was used to reverse verify the expression changes of miR-29a and eNOS.Results The addition of TNF-α and SAA significantly increased the expression level of miR-29a compared with control group(P<0.05).qRT-PCR showed that the higher the level of inflammatory factors,the higher the expression level of cell line miR-29a.With 1.0ng/ml TNF-α and SAA as a constant dose,it was found that the expression level of miR-29a increased gradually with time.Western blot showed that the addition of TNF-α and SAA would decrease the level of eNOS protein in the cell line.The expression level of miR-29a decreased with the increase of salvia miltiorrhiza concentration,and decreased with time at constant salvia miltiorrhiza concentration.After adding salvia miltiorrhiza,the expression of eNOS protein increased obviously.Conclusion Inflammatory factors TNF-α and SAA can participate in the process of vascular endothelial injury by inducing the expression of miR-29a,and eNOS protein is widely involved in this process.The application of vasoprotective drugs can inhibit the over-expression of miR-29a to some extent,reduce the expression of eNOS protein,and thus play a role in protecting blood vessels.

Recent advance in clinical drug therapy for Alzheimer's disease / 中华神经医学杂志

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the first degenerative disease of the nervous system, but no drugs have been found to reverse AD progression. Starting from 2 major pathogenesis of AD, namely amyloid beta (Aβ) cascade and Tau protein, this study systematically reviews anti-Aβ or Tau protein AD new drugs that have entered clinical research; this study also expounds their clinical trial findings and mechanisms, and analyzes the reasons for their success or failure to provide a theoretical basis for AD drug exploitation.

Effects of pranlinide on cognitive behavior, β amyloid protein 6E10, inflammatory factors and neuronal cell morphology in brain and retina of 5×FAD mice and WT mice / 解剖学报

[Abstract] Objective To study the effects of pranlinide on cognitive behavior, β amyloid(Aβ) protein 6E10, inflammatory factors and neuronal cell morphology in brain and retina of 5×FAD mice and WT mice. Methods Thirty two 5×FAD mice and 16 WT mice were selected. All were female. 5×FAD mice were randomly divided into blank group and treatment group; No treatment was given in WT group. Blank group was intraperitoneally injected with PBS; treatment group was received intraperitoneal injection of pranlinide once a day for 8 weeks. The changes of cognitive ability were measured by Morris water maze test. The expression of Aβ6E10 protein in mice hippocampal cells and retina was detected by immunohistochemistry. Tumor necrosis factor α(NF-α) was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The same method was also used for interleukin-1β(IL-1β) detection (The content of inflammatory factors). The arrangement and morphology of nerve cells in mouse hippocampal tissue were determined by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Results The latency time of treatment group was shorter than that of 5×FAD group,and the times of crossing the platform and the percentage of target quadrant stay in the treatment group were higher than those in the 5×FAD group, and the differences were statistically significant (P0. 05). Compared with the 5×FAD group, the nerve cells in the treatment group were arramged in order and clear relatively. The distribution of glial cells was concentrated; The surrounding clearance was small. Conclusion Pranlinide can improve the cognitive ability of mice. The arrangement of nerve cells is regular, the shape is regular and the boundary is clear; The distribution of glial cells is concentrated; surrounding of clearance decrease. Aβ6E10 is synchronized in brain and retina.

The risk of Alzheimer′s disease transmitted by blood transfusion based on APP/PS1 double transgenic mice / 中国输血杂志

【Objective】 To explore the risk of Alzheimer′s disease (AD) transmitted by blood transfusion. 【Methods】 There were 10 APP/PS1 mice of 3, 6 and 9 months old, half female and half male, and the cognitive and behavioral abilities of C57 mice of the same age were measured, and the blood of the oldest APP/PS1 mice with no behavioral changes were collected to detect the contents of Aβ40 and Aβ42. The polymers Aβ40 and Aβ42 were prepared and Western blotting analysis was conducted. Kunming mice aged from 6 to 7 months were randomly divided into 6 groups (10 mice/ group, half male and half female). The blood of APP/PS1 mice was injected intravenously in experimental group 1-2(100 μL/mouse) with high frequency injection (3 times/week) and low frequency injection (1 time/week), respectively. In experimental group 3-4, Aβ40 and Aβ42 polymerized mixture (100 μL/mouse) were injected in high frequency and low frequency, respectively. The control group 1-2 was injected with the same amount of normal saline, with high frequency and low frequency, respectively. The above groups were injected for 4 weeks, and the cognitive and behavioral abilities were tested and analyzed one week after injection. Finally, the contents of Aβ40 and Aβ42 in blood of Kunming mice were detected. 【Results】 Change in cognitive and behavioral ability showed in 9 months old APP/PS1 mice, but not in 3 and 6 months old APP/PS1 mice. The contents of Aβ40 and Aβ42 (pg/mL) in blood of 6-7 months old APP/PS1 mice were 418.40±2.18 and 15.68±0.20, respectively. Except for monomers, most of the polymerized mixtures of Aβ40 and Aβ42 were dimers and trimers. In both high frequency and low frequency, Kunming mice transfused with blood of APP/PS1 mice (experimental group 1-2) showed a certain degree of anxiety-like behavior and short-term memory shortening in open-field test and conditioned fear test, but without significant difference. There was no significant difference in open field test, new object recognition, Barnes maze and cognitive behavior analysis of conditioned fear between experimental group 3-4 and the control group. The levels of blood Aβ40 and Aβ42(pg/mL) of Kunming mice detected by ELISA were 10.30±0.08 and 3.360±0.005, respectively, and there was no significant difference between the two groups. 【Conclusion】 Blood transfusion of APP/PS1 mice and the mixture of Aβ40 and Aβ42 have no significant effect on the cognitive function of healthy Kunming mice in a short time, and the risk of AD transmission is relatively low.

BRAIN MALARIA: PRESENTATION OF A CASE AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

Malaria is a zoonotic disease caused by protozoa of the genus Plasmodium, acquired through the bite of a female of the Anopheles mosquito genus. The initial symptoms of malaria are usually non-speci?c, presenting with fever, moderate to severe dehydration, tachycardia and tachypnea, with systolic blood pressure usually within normal ranges and in some cases with headache, nausea and vomiting. The clinical diagnosis can be con?rmed by the presence of malarial retinopathy or the presence of parasites in at least 20% of the capillaries in the histopathological study of the brain. The drugs of choice are those derived from artemisinin, artesunate and quinine. We present a case of severe malaria with brain involvement.

Pay attention to the diagnosis and treatment of cerebral amyloid angiopathy-related inflammation / 中华神经科杂志

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy-related inflammation is an inflammatory reaction process caused by beta-amyloid protein deposited in the cortical and leptomeningeal vessels, which is a rare type of cerebral amyloid angiopathy. Most of the patients are middle-aged and elderly, and manifest as progressive cognitive impairment, headache, seizures, and focal neurological deficits. Brain magnetic resonance imaging shows asymmetric T 2/fluid attenuated inversion recovery hyperintensity in cortical and subcortical white matter, in addition to multiple cerebral microbleeds. The disease often needs to be differentiated from primary angiitis of the central nervous system, glioma, and varicella-zoster virus encephalitis. Although the disease is rare, prompt treatment with glucocorticoids and immune suppressants can reduce death and disability and significantly improve outcome. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the ability of early diagnosis and treatment of this disease.

Effect of Aloe-emodin on Aβ42 Aggregation and Cytotoxicity in Presence of Al3+ / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo study the inhibitory effect of aloe-emodin （AE） on aluminum ion （Al3+）-induced β-amyloid protein 42 （Aβ42） aggregation and its depolymerization on formed Aβ42-Al3+ aggregates in vitro， and to investigate the effect of AE on the cytotoxicity of Aβ42 aggregation in the presence of Al3+. MethodThe Aβ42 group， Aβ42+Al3+ group， Aβ42+AE group， Aβ42+Al3++AE group and the depolymerization test group were set up in the experiment. The aggregation fibrosis process， aggregation morphology， aggregation size and cytotoxicity of Aβ42 in each group were detected by thioflavin T （ThT） fluorescence assay， transmission electron microscopy （TEM）， dynamic light scattering （DLS） experiment and thiazolyl blue （MTT） cytotoxicity assay. ResultCompared with the Aβ42 group， Al3+ could promote Aβ42 aggregation， increase the fluorescence intensity of ThT by 124.48%， induce the aggregation of Aβ42 to form fiber bundles with larger particle size， and significantly reduce the cell viability of human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells （P<0.01）， thus reducing the cell survival rate to 51.05%. AE not only inhibited Aβ42 aggregation， but also inhibited Al3+-induced Aβ42 aggregation in a concentration-dependent manner. Compared with the Aβ42+Al3+ group， high concentration of AE could reduce the ThT fluorescence intensity to 41.66%， and change the polypeptide aggregation pathway to form amorphous aggregates with small particle size. Besides， it significantly inhibited the cytotoxicity of Aβ42 induced by Al3+ （P<0.01）， and restored the cell survival rate to 84.87%. Further depolymerization was conducted， AE could depolymerize Aβ42-Al3+ aggregates to make the formed aggregates disappear and form some small-particle short fibers and amorphous structure aggregates with low toxicity. ConclusionAE can inhibit Aβ42 aggregation and cytotoxicity in the presence of Al3+， depolymerize the formed Aβ42-Al3+ aggregates and alleviate the cytotoxicity， thus laying the foundation for exploring the mechanism of AE in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Effect of Aloe-emodin on Aβ42 Aggregation and Cytotoxicity in Presence of Al3+ / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo study the inhibitory effect of aloe-emodin （AE） on aluminum ion （Al3+）-induced β-amyloid protein 42 （Aβ42） aggregation and its depolymerization on formed Aβ42-Al3+ aggregates in vitro， and to investigate the effect of AE on the cytotoxicity of Aβ42 aggregation in the presence of Al3+. MethodThe Aβ42 group， Aβ42+Al3+ group， Aβ42+AE group， Aβ42+Al3++AE group and the depolymerization test group were set up in the experiment. The aggregation fibrosis process， aggregation morphology， aggregation size and cytotoxicity of Aβ42 in each group were detected by thioflavin T （ThT） fluorescence assay， transmission electron microscopy （TEM）， dynamic light scattering （DLS） experiment and thiazolyl blue （MTT） cytotoxicity assay. ResultCompared with the Aβ42 group， Al3+ could promote Aβ42 aggregation， increase the fluorescence intensity of ThT by 124.48%， induce the aggregation of Aβ42 to form fiber bundles with larger particle size， and significantly reduce the cell viability of human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells （P<0.01）， thus reducing the cell survival rate to 51.05%. AE not only inhibited Aβ42 aggregation， but also inhibited Al3+-induced Aβ42 aggregation in a concentration-dependent manner. Compared with the Aβ42+Al3+ group， high concentration of AE could reduce the ThT fluorescence intensity to 41.66%， and change the polypeptide aggregation pathway to form amorphous aggregates with small particle size. Besides， it significantly inhibited the cytotoxicity of Aβ42 induced by Al3+ （P<0.01）， and restored the cell survival rate to 84.87%. Further depolymerization was conducted， AE could depolymerize Aβ42-Al3+ aggregates to make the formed aggregates disappear and form some small-particle short fibers and amorphous structure aggregates with low toxicity. ConclusionAE can inhibit Aβ42 aggregation and cytotoxicity in the presence of Al3+， depolymerize the formed Aβ42-Al3+ aggregates and alleviate the cytotoxicity， thus laying the foundation for exploring the mechanism of AE in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Time dependent expression profiling of PTK2B and its relationship with Aβ, Tau and LRP-1 in hippocampus and blood of APPswe/PS1dE9 double-transgenic mouse / 中国应用生理学杂志

Objective: To uncover the time-dependent expression pattern of ptk2b gene and ptk2b-encoded protein, protein tyrosine kinase 2 beta(PTK2B), in the brain tissues of transgenic animal models of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and its relationship with the levels of Aβ1-42, phosphorylation of Tau (p-Tau) and low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-1(LRP-1) in blood and brain tissues. Methods: In this study, 5-, 10- and 15-month-old APPswe/PS1dE9 double-transgenic mice harboring the genotype of AD confirmed by the gene test were divided into the 5-, 10- and 15-month-old experiment groups, and simultaneously, age-matched C57BL/6J mice were placed into the corresponding control groups, with 8 mice in each group. All mice were subjected to the Morris Water Maze for test of cognitive and behavioral ability. Expression profiles of PTK2B, Aβ1-42, p-Tau/Tau and LRP-1 in the hippocampus or blood of mice were quantified by using the immunohistochemistry staining, Western blot or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), while the mRNA expression of ptk2b in the hippocampus was quantified by using the real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Results: Results of experiment groups demonstrated that as mice aged, the expression levels of PTK2B, ptk2b mRNA, Aβ1-42 and p-Tau/Tau in the hippocampus were increased, and the expression of LRP-1 was decreased gradually. While in the blood, the level of Aβ1-42 was decreased, and the cognitive and behavioral ability was decreased in an age-dependent manner (all P＜ 0.05). However, comparisons among the control groups, only the age-dependent downregulation of LRP-1 were observed in hippocampus(P＜0.05), but other indicators had no significant differences (P＞0.05). Conclusion: In the hippocampus of APP/PS1 double-transgenic mice, the expressions of PTK2B, Aβ1-42 and p-Tau/Tau are upregulated, LRP-1 is downregulated, while cognitive and behavioral ability is decreased, and such changes are presented in a time-dependent manner.

Abdominal acupoint thread embedding therapy based on "brain-intestinal connection" for mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease and its effects on serum levels of APP and Aβ / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To compare the clinical efficacy of abdominal acupoint thread embedding therapy based on "brain-intestinal connection" combined with donepezil hydrochloride tablets and oral donepezil hydrochloride tablets alone for mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD) and observe its effects on amyloid precursor protein (APP) and β-amyloid protein@*METHODS@#Sixty patients with AD were randomly divided into an observation group (30 cases, 3 cases dropped off) and a control group (30 cases, 3 cases dropped off). The patients in the control group were treated with donepezil hydrochloride tablets (5 mg per day); based on the treatment in the control group, the patients in the observation group were treated with abdominal acupoint thread embedding therapy at Zhongwan (CV 12), Xiawan (CV 10), Huaroumen (ST 24), Wailing (ST 26), Daheng (SP 15), etc., once every 10 days. Both groups were treated for 2 months. The mini-mental state examination (MMSE), Alzheimer's disease assessment scale-cognitive subscale (ADAS-Cog), activity of daily living scale (ADL), neuropsychiatric inventory questionnaire (NPI) as well as the serum levels of APP and Aβ@*RESULTS@#After treatment, the MMSE scores in the two groups were higher than those before treatment (@*CONCLUSION@#The abdominal acupoint thread embedding therapy based on the theory of "brain-intestinal connection" combined with donepezil hydrochloride tablets can improve cognitive function, self-care ability of daily life and mental behavior, and reduce the serum levels of APP and Aβ

Regulation of Amyloidogenesis and Clearance of p-Amyloid in Alzheimer' s Disease / 中国生物化学与分子生物学报

Alzheimer ' s disease (AD ) , an age-associated chronic progressive neurodegeneration disorder, is characterized by progressive loss of memory, cognitive impairment and behavioral changes.The pathological hallmarks of AD are (3-amyloid (A(3) deposition, neurofibrillary tangles induced by phosphorylation of tau protein, upregulation of inflammation and neuronal apoptosis.Amyloid is a polypeptide consisting of 39-42 amino acids which is produced by a series of enzymatic hydrolysis of amyloid precursor protein in neurons.Studying the regulation of the production and clearance of Ais of great importance which may help in finding potential intervention to effectively delay or even reverse the process of Alzheimer's disease.As the key enzyme of A(3 production, (3-secretase ((3-site APP cleaving enzyme 1, BACE'l) plays an essential role in the development of AD.The aggregation of inflammatory cells around senile plaques suggests that A(3 is highly associated with neuroinflammation.Neuroinflammation-related cells participate in the clearance of A(3 and multiple cytokines regulate the level of A0.In addition, although non-coding UNA is rarely involved in the production, deposition and clearance of A(3 directly, it can regulate the production of A(3 through other pathways.In this article, we will focus on the important role of BACE1, neuroinflammation and non-coding RNA in the regulation of A(3 and review the mechanism of production and clearance of A(3 in AD.

Study on the Mechanism of Sinapic Acid against PC 12 Cell Injury Induced by Aβ1-42 Based on PI 3K/Akt/GSK3β Signaling Pathway / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE：To investigate the mechanism of sinapic acid （SA）against PC 12 cell injury induced by Amyloid β1-42 protein（Aβ1-42）based on PI 3K/Akt/GSK3β signaling pathway. METHODS：PC12 cells of rats were randomly divided into control group，Aβ group（Aβ1-42 2 μmol/L），Aβ+SA group（Aβ1-42 2 μmol/L+SA100 μmol/L），Aβ+SA+LY group [Aβ1-42 2 μmol/L+SA 100 μmol/L+LY294002（PI3K inhibitor ）10 μmol/L]，Aβ+LY group（Aβ1-42 2 μmol/L+LY294002 10 μmol/L）and LY group （LY294002 10 μmol/L）. Except for control group and LY group ，the cells of other groups were replicated the damage model with Aβ1-42. After 24 hours of culture ，the morphology of cells was obsened in each group with a microscope ，and MTT assay was adopted to determine the cell viability of PC 12 cells in each group. Western blotting assay was used to detect the expression of PI 3K，p-PI3K， Akt，p-Akt，GSK3β and p-GSK3β in cells of each group. RESULTS：Compared with control group ，the number of cells decreased and some synaptic breaks disappeared in Aβ group while cell viability，ratio of p-PI 3K/PI3K，p-Akt/Akt and p-GSK 3β/GSK3β in Aβ group were decreased significantly（P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Compared with Aβ group，the cells became round and synapses became more in Aβ+SA group while cell viability，the ratio of p-PI 3K/PI3K，p-Akt/Akt and p-GSK 3β/GSK3β were increased significantly（P＜0.05）. Compared with Aβ+SA group，some synaptic breaks occurred in Aβ+SA+LY group while cell viability， the ratio of p-PI 3K/PI3K，p-Akt/Akt and p-GSK 3β/GSK3β were decreased significantly（P＜0.05）；Aβ+LY group had more cell debris，and t he cell viability was decreased ，but the difference was not significant ，and the ratio of p-PI 3K/PI3K，p-Akt/Akt and p-GSK3 β/GSK3 β had no significant change （P＞0.05）; LY294002 alone had no significant effect on morphology ，cellviability and the ratio of p-PI 3K/PI3K，p-Akt/Akt or p-GSK 3β/ GSK3 β （P＞0.05）. CONCLUSIONS ： SA may play aprotective role against PC 12 cell injury induced by A β 1-42 through activating PI 3K/Akt/GSK-3β.

Mechanisms of electroacupuncture for improving Alzheimer's disease from reducing β amyloid protein level / 针刺研究

Alzheimer's disease (AD), a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by amyloid deposits and neurofibrillary degeneration, is the most common type of dementia and has no incurable therapies at the moment. Electroacupuncture (EA) therapy has been widely used in clinical treatment of AD, and has attained approving effects. This article reviews the development of researches on the mechanisms of EA underlying improving AD by diminishing β amyloid protein （Aβ） neurotoxicity, from 1) up-regulating hippocampal cellular autophagy, 2) improving cerebral energy metabolism by activating oxidation stress-related factors peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1 alpha and sirtuin 1 in the hippocampus and frontal cerebral cortex, 3) relieving inflammatory reaction by lowering expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and high-mobility group box 1 and increasing expression of Interleukin 10, and 4) promoting degradation of Aβ1-42 by down-regulating expression of insulin degeneration enzyme, lipoprotein, transthyretin, apolipoprotein and α2 mcroglobulin. Meanwhile, a comprehensive clinical therapy of AD is proposed.

Effect of Naringenin on Oxidative Stress and Tau Protein Phosphorylation of Aβ25-35-induced PC12 Cell Injury / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To investigate the effects of naringenin on oxidative stress and Tau protein phosphorylation of adrenal pheochromocytoma（PC12） cells injured by β-amyloid（Aβ）25-35 and its relationship with estrogen receptor（ER） and phosphatidylinositol -3 kinase/protein kinase B（PI3K/Akt） signaling pathway. Method:The PC12 cells were intervened with Aβ25-35 to prepare the injury model. The experiment was divided into blank group， model group， naringenin（400，40，4，0.4，0.04，4×10-3，4×10-4，4×10-5 μmol·L-1）group， positive drugs estradiol（E2）（1 nmol·L-1）+Aβ25-35 group， naringenin（0.4，0.04，4×10-3，4×10-4，4×10-5 μmol·L-1）+Aβ25-35 group， E2+Aβ25-35+ER antagonist（ICI182780）（1 μmol·L-1） group， naringenin+Aβ25-35+ICI182780 group， E2+Aβ25-35+PI3K blocker（LY294002）（50 μmol·L-1） group， naringenin+Aβ25-35+LY294002 group. Methye thiazolye telrazlium（MTT）method was used to detect the cell proliferation index， 2'，7'-Dichlorodi -hydrofluorescein diacetate（DCFH-DA） was used as a fluorescent probe to detect the content of reactive osygen species（ROS）， the content of malondialdehyde（MDA） and the activity of superoxide dismutase（SOD） were measured by thiobarbituric acid（TBA） and oxidase methods， Western blot was used to detect the expression of phosphorylated Tau protein/total Tau protein（p-Tau/t-Tau）. Result:According to the results of MTT experiment， 0.4 μmol·L-1 was selected as the best effective concentration of naringenin， compared with the blank group， the cell proliferation index of model group decreased significantly （P<0.01）， compared with model group， the cell proliferation index of naringenin+Aβ25-35 group increased significantly （P<0.01）. In addition， compared with blank group， the content of ROS， MDA and the expression of p-Tau/t-Tau in the model group increased significantly （P<0.01）， and the activity of SOD decreased significantly （P<0.01）， compared with model group， the content of ROS， MDA and the expression of p-Tau/t-Tau in naringenin+Aβ25-35 group decreased significantly （P<0.01）， and the activity of SOD increased significantly （P<0.01）， compared with naringenin+Aβ25-35 group， the addition of ICI182780 and LY294002 significantly reversed the role of naringenin in the above indicators （P<0.01）. The effect of naringenin was similar to that of E2. Conclusion:Naringenin can improve the cell proliferation index and protect PC12 cells from Aβ25-35 injury， which may be achieved by activating ER and PI3K/Akt signaling pathway to reduce ROS， MDA content， p-Tau/t-Tau expression and promote SOD activity.