Yuqiu Zheng

Neurotropin® alleviates hippocampal neuron damage through a HIF-1α/MAPK pathway

The main purpose was to verify the potent capacity of Neurotropin® against neuronal damage in hippocampus and to explore its underlying mechanisms.

Curcumin-loaded PLGA-PEG nanoparticles conjugated with B6 peptide for potential use in Alzheimer’s disease

Abstract Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder mainly characterized by β-amyloid deposit and tau hyperphosphorylation with no curative treatments. Curcumin (Cur) has been proved to have potential use in Alzheimer’s disease with its anti-amyloid, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidant properties, etc. However, its hydrophobicity and low bioavailability hinder its application. In this paper, we designed a novel brain-target nanoparticle, poly(lactide-co-glycolide)-block-poly(ethylene glycol) (PLGA-PEG) conjugated with B6 peptide and was loaded with Cur (PLGA-PEG-B6/Cur) and administered it into HT22 cells and APP/PS1 Al transgenic mice. The in vitro assays including dynamic light scattering (DLS), flow cytometry (FCM), red blood cell (RBC) lysis, and thromboelastography (TEG) analysis indicated that this nanoparticle could narrow the diameter of Cur, increase its cellular uptake and possess good blood compatibility. The results from Morris water maze proved that PLGA-PEG-B6/Cur could tremendously improve the spatial learning and memory capability of APP/PS1 mice, compared with native Cur. The ex vivo assays including Bielschowsky silver staining, immunostaining, and western blotting demonstrated that PLGA-PEG-B6/Cur could reduce hippocampal β-amyloid formation and deposit and tau hyperphosphorylation. Thus, we suggested that PLGA-PEG-B6/Cur nanoparticles would be of potential and promising use for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.

Magnesium Elevation Promotes Neuronal Differentiation While Suppressing Glial Differentiation of Primary Cultured Adult Mouse Neural Progenitor Cells through ERK/CREB Activation

This study aimed to explore the influence of magnesium elevation on fate determination of adult neural progenitor cells (aNPCs) and the underlying mechanism in vitro. Adult neurogenesis, which is the generation of functional neurons from neural precursors, occurs throughout life in restricted anatomical regions in mammals. Magnesium is the fourth most abundant ion in mammals, and its elevation in the brain has been shown to enhance memory and synaptic plasticity in vivo. However, the effects of magnesium on fate determination of aNPCs, which are vital processes in neurogenesis, remain unknown. NPCs isolated from the dentate gyrus of adult C57/BL6 mice were induced to differentiate in a medium with varying magnesium concentrations (0.6, 0.8, and 1.0 mM) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) inhibitor PD0325901. The proportion of cells that differentiated into neurons and glial cells was evaluated using immunofluorescence. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot methods were used to determine the expression of β-III tubulin (Tuj1) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). The activation of ERK and cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) was examined by Western blot to reveal the underlying mechanism. Magnesium elevation increased the proportion of Tju1-positive cells and decreased the proportion of GFAP-positive cells. Also, the expression of Tuj1 was upregulated, whereas the expression of GFAP was downregulated. Moreover, magnesium elevation enhanced the activation of both ERK and CREB. Treatment with PD0325901 reversed these effects in a dose-dependent manner. Magnesium elevation promoted neural differentiation while suppressing glial cell differentiation, possibly via ERK-induced CREB activation.

Comparison of Significant Carotid Stenosis for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma between Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy and Conventional Two-Dimensional Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy (RT) serves as the most efficient treatment for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and can cause carotid stenosis. This work compared the incidence of significant carotid stenosis between intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and two-dimensional conventional radiotherapy (2D-RT) for NPC and explored the risk factors. We retrospectively reviewed 233 cases with NPC who underwent carotid ultrasound post IMRT or 2D-RT from 2006 to 2015. The incidence of significant stenosis after RT was 19.3%. Significant stenosis was identified in 20 (14.6%) of 137 patients treated with IMRT and 25 (26.0%) of 96 patients with 2D-RT, respectively (p = 0.035). Multivariate logistic analysis indicated age (odds ratio = 1.054, 95% CI = 1.011–1.099, p = 0.014), radiation technique (IMRT) (odds ratio = 0.471, 95%CI = 0.241–0.919, p = 0.027) and time interval (odds ratio = 1.068, 95%CI = 1.033–1.105, p = 0.001) as independent predictors for significant carotid stenosis. Our study suggests that IMRT was associated with decreased incidence of significant carotid stenosis versus 2D-RT for NPC. Prevention and carotid ultrasound should be considered for older NPC survivors with longer interval from RT, especially those treated with 2D-RT.

Recent Advances on Glioblastoma Multiforme and Nano-drug Carriers: A Review.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most frequent glioma with a poor prognosis. The mainstay treatment for GBM is chemotherapy, but the average survival of GBM remains unsatisfactory due to therapeutic resistance. Poor permeability restricted by the blood brain barrier (BBB) and the presence of glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs) remain as two problems for chemotherapy. Recently, nanocarriers have attracted much attention in the research of GBM, owing to their advantages in self-assembly, biosafety, release controllability, and BBB penetrability, making them promising candidates for GBM treatment. This article aims to review the biologic signatures of BBB and GSCs, as well as the new development of nano-drug delivery systems to facilitate our understanding of targeted treatment for GBM.

Tooth loss as a risk factor for dementia: systematic review and meta-analysis of 21 observational studies

BackgroundTooth loss is suggested to be associated with an increased risk of dementia in many studies. But the relationship between tooth loss and dementia is not yet fully understood. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the relative effect of tooth loss on dementia risk.MethodsAn electronic search of PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Knowledge was conducted in March 2018 to identify relevant observational studies with the English language restriction. Studies were included if they assessed the relationship between tooth loss and risk of dementia. Study quality was detected by the modified Downs and Black scale. Odds risks (ORs) were pooled using a random-effects model in the crude model.ResultsThe literature search initially yielded 1574 articles, and 21 observational studies published between 1994 and 2017 were finally included for the analyses. The crude results with random-effects model showed that patients with multiple tooth loss had higher incidence of dementia (OR 2.62, 95% CI 1.90–3.61, P < 0.001, I2 = 90.40%). The association remained noted when only adjusted results were pooled from 18 studies (OR 1.55, 95% CI 1.41–1.70, P = 0.13, I2 = 28.00%). Meta-regression analysis showed that study design explained about 16.52% of heterogeneity in the crude model. The overall quality rating scores of studies ranged from 11 to 16.ConclusionsFindings from this review evidenced that tooth loss is positively associated with an increased risk of dementia in adults. Future well-designed longitudinal researches examining the direct and indirect relationship between tooth loss and dementia risk are encouraged.

Bilateral ptosis as first presentation of cytophagic histiocytic panniculitis: a case report

BackgroundCytophagic histiocytic panniculitis (CHP) is a rare form of nodular panniculitis that may progress to panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma. We report a case of CHP that first manifested as bilateral ptosis, which is the first reported case of this presentation.Case presentationA 25-year-old woman without medical history was referred to the neurology department of our hospital for evaluation of bilateral ptosis. Three months previously, she suddenly complained of bilateral ptosis without apparent cause. Simultaneously, non-painful tender subcutaneous nodules and eschar-like skin lesions were observed on her extremities and trunk. A diagnosis of CHP was made based on skin biopsy from the left thigh showing lobular panniculitis, vasculitis, and adiponecrosis, with infiltration of inflammatory cells, including lymphocytes, histiocytes, and phagocytic histiocytes. Her condition continued to worsen with corticosteroid and immunosuppressive agent (thalidomide) treatment. Significant improvement was noticed after three cycles of chemotherapy of THP-COP (pirarubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisolone).ConclusionsCHP is a rare condition whose clinical presentation may include bilateral ptosis and biopsy is required for diagnosis of CHP.