Inhibition of Foxp4 Disrupts Cadherin-based Adhesion of Radial Glial Cells, Leading to Abnormal Differentiation and Migration of Cortical Neurons in Mice / 神经科学通报·英文版

Heterozygous loss-of-function variants of FOXP4 are associated with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) that exhibit delayed speech development, intellectual disability, and congenital abnormalities. The etiology of NDDs is unclear. Here we found that FOXP4 and N-cadherin are expressed in the nuclei and apical end-feet of radial glial cells (RGCs), respectively, in the mouse neocortex during early gestation. Knockdown or dominant-negative inhibition of Foxp4 abolishes the apical condensation of N-cadherin in RGCs and the integrity of neuroepithelium in the ventricular zone (VZ). Inhibition of Foxp4 leads to impeded radial migration of cortical neurons and ectopic neurogenesis from the proliferating VZ. The ectopic differentiation and deficient migration disappear when N-cadherin is over-expressed in RGCs. The data indicate that Foxp4 is essential for N-cadherin-based adherens junctions, the loss of which leads to periventricular heterotopias. We hypothesize that FOXP4 variant-associated NDDs may be caused by disruption of the adherens junctions and malformation of the cerebral cortex.

High-Throughput Automatic Training System for Spatial Working Memory in Free-Moving Mice / 神经科学通报·英文版

Efficient behavioral assays are crucial for understanding the neural mechanisms of cognitive functions. Here, we designed a high-throughput automatic training system for spatial cognition (HASS) for free-moving mice. Mice were trained to return to the home arm and remain there during a delay period. Software was designed to enable automatic training in all its phases, including habituation, shaping, and learning. Using this system, we trained mice to successfully perform a spatially delayed nonmatch to sample task, which tested spatial cognition, working memory, and decision making. Performance depended on the delay duration, which is a hallmark of working memory tasks. The HASS enabled a human operator to train more than six mice simultaneously with minimal intervention, therefore greatly enhancing experimental efficiency and minimizing stress to the mice. Combined with the optogenetic method and neurophysiological techniques, the HASS will be useful in deciphering the neural circuitry underlying spatial cognition.

Clinical observation of hemoperfusion combined with plasma exchange in the treatment of severe organic phosphorus pesticide poisoning / 中国现代医生

Objective To discuss the clinical effects of hemoperfusion (HP) combined with plasma exchange (PE) in the treatment of severe organic phosphorus pesticide poisoning. Methods A total of 100 patients with severe organic phos-phorus pesticide poisoning who were admitted to our hospital from February 2012 to October 2014 were selected. Ac cording to patients' disease conditions, 50 patients were assigned to a treatment group (HP+HE), and another 50 patients were assigned to a control group (HP). Dosage of atropine and pralidoxime chloride, recovering time of CHE activity, average hospitalization days, coma time, complications and mortality rate between the two groups were compared. Re-sults Each observational index between the two groups was compared, and the results were significantly different (P<0.05). Effective rate in the treatment group was better than that in the control group, and the morality rate of 20.00%in the control group was significantly higher than that of 12.00% in the treatment group. Conclusion HP combined with PE is able to improve the curative effects of severe organic phosphorus pesticide poisoning significantly, reduce compli-cations and lower mortality rate.

Clinical curative effect of noninvasive mechanical ventilation in treatment of patients with acute respiratory failure / 中国现代医生

Objective To observe the curative effect of noninvasive mechanical ventilation in the treatment of patients with Respiratory failure. Methods 90 cases of patients with Respiratory failure from emergency care unit in November 2012 to November 2014 were randomly divided into observation group and control group,each group included 45 cases. Observation group was provided noninvasive ventilator therapy based on the traditional drug treatment, while the con-trol group was given conventional treatment and oxygen. The heart rate, breathing rate, arterial blood gas index and the clinical curative effect were compared after 5 treatment hours within two groups. Results The breathing rate, heart rate,oxygen partial pressure,blood oxygen saturation had significant differences between before and after treatment in both groups(P<0.05). The treatment effect of observation group was significantly better than the control group,and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05).The difference of total effective rate was statistically significant be-tween two groups(P<0.05). Conclusion Noninvasive mechanical ventilation treatment can rapidly improve the symp-toms and rectify hypoxemia of patients with acute left heart failure,and the curative effect is remarkable.