Non-governmental organizations' perceptions of challenges and opportunities for participating in the provision of government-purchased community-based psychiatric rehabilitation services in Shanghai, China: a qualitative study.

Background: In recent years, the Chinese government has increased its support for the development of community-based psychiatric rehabilitation (CBPR) services and initiated pilot programs for government purchasing of CBPR services from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in order to address the inadequacy of the government's own supply capacity of CBPR services. This study investigated how the NGOs in Shanghai perceived the challenges and opportunities for participating in the provision of government-purchased CBPR services.

Methods: A qualitative descriptive approach was employed in this study.

Autosomal Recessive Hypophosphatemic Rickets Type 2 Associated with a Novel Variant in a Taiwanese Girl.

Autosomal recessive hypophosphatemic rickets (HR) type 2 (ARHR2) is a rare form of HR caused by variant of the gene encoding ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase 1 (). Our patient presented with a history of unsteady gait and progressively bowing legs that had commenced at the age of 1 year. Laboratory tests revealed an elevated level of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), hypophosphatemia, and a high urine phosphate level.

Influences on treatment-seeking and antibiotic use for common illnesses in eastern China.

Background: Antibiotic resistance rates remain high in China where antibiotics are widely used for common illnesses. This study aimed to investigate the influences on people's decisions on treatment and antibiotic use for common illnesses in eastern China.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 29 patients recruited through convenience sampling between July 2020 and January 2021 in one hospital in County A in Zhejiang Province, and one hospital and one village clinic in County B in Jiangsu Province, respectively.

Endocrine and Growth Disorders in Taiwanese Children With 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome.

Background: Endocrine disorders are common in patients with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS).

Neuroinflammation Upregulated Neuronal Toll-Like Receptors 2 and 4 to Drive Synucleinopathy in Neurodegeneration.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by intraneuronal α-synuclein aggregation called Lewy bodies and progressive dopaminergic neurodegeneration. Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling is a major pathway mediating inflammation. The molecular link on how neuroinflammation upregulates neuronal TLRs and induces accumulation of α-synuclein aggregates to drive synucleinopathy remains to be determined.

Clinical and functional characterization of a novel STUB1 frameshift mutation in autosomal dominant spinocerebellar ataxia type 48 (SCA48).

Background: Heterozygous pathogenic variants in STUB1 are implicated in autosomal dominant spinocerebellar ataxia type 48 (SCA48), which is a rare familial ataxia disorder. We investigated the clinical, genetic and functional characteristics of STUB1 mutations identified from a Taiwanese ataxia cohort.

Methods: We performed whole genome sequencing in a genetically undiagnosed family with an autosomal dominant ataxia syndrome.

In vitro genome editing rescues parkinsonism phenotypes in induced pluripotent stem cells-derived dopaminergic neurons carrying LRRK2 p.G2019S mutation.

Background: The c.G6055A (p.G2019S) mutation in leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) is the most prevalent genetic cause of Parkinson's disease (PD).

UQCRC1 engages cytochrome c for neuronal apoptotic cell death.

Human ubiquinol-cytochrome c reductase core protein 1 (UQCRC1) is an evolutionarily conserved core subunit of mitochondrial respiratory chain complex III. We recently identified the disease-associated variants of UQCRC1 from patients with familial parkinsonism, but its function remains unclear. Here we investigate the endogenous function of UQCRC1 in the human neuronal cell line and the Drosophila nervous system.

Generation of a human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) line (IBMS-iPSC-070-02) from a patient with neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation (NBIA) having compound heterozygous mutations in PANK2 gene.

Neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation (NBIA) is a genetically and phenotypically heterogeneous group of inherited neurodegenerative disorder characterized by basal ganglia iron deposition. Mutations in Pantothenate Kinase 2 (PANK2) are major genetic causes for patients with NBIA. The location of PANK2 in the mitochondria suggests mutant PANK2 causing mitochondrial dysfunction in the pathogenesis of NBIA.

A dual inhibitor targeting HMG-CoA reductase and histone deacetylase mitigates neurite degeneration in parkinsonism.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is among the most common neurodegenerative disorders, and its etiology involves both genetic and environmental factors. The leucine-rich repeat kinase (LRRK2) G2019S mutation is the most common genetic cause of familial and sporadic PD. Current treatment is limited to dopaminergic supplementation, as no disease-modifying therapy is available yet.

Generation of a human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) line (IBMS-iPSC-057-05) from a patient with familial parkinsonism and polyneuropathy having a heterozygous p.Y314S mutation in UQCRC1 gene.

A novel missense mutation, c.941A > C (p.Y314S), in mitochondrial ubiquinol-cytochrome c reductase core protein I (UQCRC1) gene, was recently identified in a family with autosomal-dominant late-onset parkinsonism and polyneuropathy.

Reprogramming of a human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) line from a patient with neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation (NBIA) harboring a novel frameshift mutation in C19orf12 gene.

Mutations in an open-reading frame on chromosome 19 (C19orf12) were identified as one of the causative genes for neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation (NBIA). Because of the mitochondrial localization of the derived protein, this variant is referred to as mitochondrial membrane protein-associated neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation (MPAN). Here, we used the Sendai virus delivery system to generate induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of a female patient with MPAN having a novel heterozygous frameshift mutation caused by an insertion, c.

Genotype-phenotype correlations of adult-onset PLA2G6-associated Neurodegeneration: case series and literature review.

Background: Phospholipase A2 group VI (PLA2G6) mutations associated with neurodegeneration (PLAN) manifest as heterogeneous neurodegenerative disorders with variable ages of onset. The genotype-phenotype correlation is not well-established. We aim to describe three adult patients with PLAN and combined these data with results from previous studies to elucidate adult-onset PLA2G6 phenotype-genotype correlations.

Generation of a human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) line (IBMS-iPSC-048-05) from a patient with ALS and parkinsonism having a hexanucleotide repeat expansion mutation in C9orf72 gene.

A hexanucleotide repeat expansion in chromosome 9 open reading frame 72 (C9orf72) gene causes a heterogeneous neurodegenerative disorder that includes amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), frontotemporal degeneration (FTD), and parkinsonism. Here, we used the Sendai virus delivery system to generate induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of a male patient with an increased hexanucleotide repeat expansion in C9orf72. The resulting iPSCs exhibited pluripotency, confirmed by immunofluorescent staining for pluripotency markers, and differentiated into three germ layers in vivo.

Genetic analysis of PODXL gene in patients with familial and young-onset Parkinson's disease in a Taiwanese population.

Mutations in the podocalyxin-like gene (PODXL) have been recently identified in a consanguineous Indian family with juvenile-onset Parkinson's disease (PD) and 3 unrelated patients with PD. However, the pathogenicity of PODXL mutations in the disease and their role in other PD populations remain unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the PODXL mutations in a Taiwanese cohort with familial and young-onset PD.

Altered gut microbiota and inflammatory cytokine responses in patients with Parkinson's disease.

Objective: Emerging evidence suggests that gut microbiome composition alterations affect neurodegeneration through neuroinflammation in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). Here, we evaluate gut microbiota alterations and host cytokine responses in a population of Taiwanese patients with PD.

Methods: Fecal microbiota communities from 80 patients with PD and 77 age and gender-matched controls were assessed by sequencing the V3-V4 region of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene.

Mammalian target of rapamycin is a critical regulator of cardiac hypertrophy in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Evidence exists that protein kinase C and the mammalian target of rapamycin are important regulators of cardiac hypertrophy. We examined the contribution of these signaling kinases to cardiac growth in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). Systolic blood pressure was increased (P<0.