Safranal carried by nanostructured lipid vehicles inhibits generalized epilepsy in mice.

Safranal, a main component of Crocus sativus, is suggested to have neuroprotective effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of safranal and nanostructured lipid vehicle (NLV) carried safranal in acute and chronic experimental mice models of epilepsy. In PILO acute seizure model, safranal dose-dependently extended latency to generalized seizure, decreased the highest seizure stages and the number of generalized seizures. Moreover, NLV carried safranal further enhanced the anti-seizure effect, which is comparable to the action of sodium valproate. Meanwhile, NLV carried safranal reduced and delayed the electroencephalogram spectra power after pilocarpine injection. In histological aspect, safranal dose-dependently reduced the loss of neurons induced by seizure and NLV system further improved this protection at the same dose. In MES acute model, safranal markedly increased the electroconvulsive threshold, where NLV further improved its effect. In PTZ chronic seizure model, NLV carried safranal significantly delayed the kindling rate of progress and the time it took to reach generalized seizures as compared to NLV control group. In conclusion, this study indicates that safranal inhibits generalized seizure in acute and chronic epilepsy models in mice and NLV can enhance this effect. So, NLV carried safranal may have potential value in treatment of generalized epilepsy.

Hotspot of the mutations of keratin 9 gene in a diffuse palmoplantar keratoderma family / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To identify the gene causing diffuse palmoplantar keratoderma in a Chinese pedigree.@*METHODS@#Four normal individuals and 3 patients in a diffuse palmoplantar keratoderma family and 10 unrelated control samples were recruited. The hotspot of the mutations of keratin 9 gene was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction and direct sequencing.@*RESULTS@#We found a G485A transition in ke ratin 9 gene, resulting in the substitution of glutamine for arginine at codon 162 in this diffuse palmoplantar keratoderma family. The mutation was not found in the 10 unrelated control samples and 4 normal individuals.@*CONCLUSION@#The mutation G485A found in keratin 9 gene is the disease-causing mutation in the diffuse palmoplantar keratoderma family.

Mutation analysis of keratin 9 gene in a pedigree with epidermolytic palmoplantar keratoderma / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To identify mutations of keratin 9 (KRT9) gene in a big Chinese family with epidermolytic palmoplantar keratoderma(EPPK) combined with knuckle-pad-like lesions and nail lesions.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Genomic DNA from peripheral blood of all available members in this family and 50 unrelated healthy individuals was used for amplification of the whole coding sequence and the intron-exon boundaries of KRT9 gene by PCR; The mutation was detected by direct sequence analysis and identified by restriction endonuclease Dde I.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A mutation of AAT>AGT at codon 160 (N160S) was found in all patients but not in unaffected family members and 50 controls.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The mutation of AAT>AGT at codon 160 (N160S) is the disease-causing mutation in this Chinese pedigree with EPPK.</p>