Escitalopram moderately outperforms citalopram towards anti-neuroinflammation and neuroprotection in 6-hydroxydopamine-induced mouse model of Parkinson's disease.

Citalopram and escitalopram are structurally close-related antidepressants and both forms are widely used in the world. We aimed to comparatively evaluate the anti-neuroinflammatory and neuroprotective effects of escitalopram and citalopram in Parkinson's disease (PD) mouse model. Mice were randomly divided into six groups and received 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) or vehicle administration.

Association analyses of apolipoprotein E genotypes and cognitive performance in patients with Parkinson's disease.

Background: Cognitive impairment is a common non-motor symptom of Parkinson's disease (PD). The apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 genotype increases the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the effect of APOEε4 on cognitive function of PD patients remains unclear.

Homochiral light-sensitive metal-organic framework photoelectrochemical gated transistor for enantioselective discrimination of monosaccharides.

As pure antipodes may differ in biological interactions, pharmacology, and toxicity, discrimination of enantiomers is important in the pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries. Two major challenges in enantiomer determination are transducing and amplifying the distinct chiral-recognition signals. In this study, a light-sensitive organic photoelectrochemical transistor (OPECT) with homochiral character is developed for enantiomer discrimination.

Gene-wide significant association analyses of genetic variants with Parkinson's disease.

DNA methylation plays an important role in Parkinson's disease (PD) pathogenesis. DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) is critical for maintaining DNA methylation in mammals. The link between polymorphisms and PD remains elusive.

Zinc Deficiency Exacerbates Behavioral Impediments and Dopaminergic Neuron Degeneration in a Mouse Model of Parkinson Disease.

Background: Circulating zinc (Zn) concentrations are lower than normal in patients with Parkinson disease (PD). It is unknown whether Zn deficiency increases the susceptibility to PD.

Objectives: The study aimed to investigate the effect of dietary Zn deficiency on behaviors and dopaminergic neurons in a mouse model of PD and to explore potential mechanisms.

Integration of phosphate functionalized Pt/TiO and Ru(bpy) sensitization for ultrasensitive assay of adenosine deaminase activity on a novel split-typed PEC aptasensor.

To date, it is still a challenge for high-performance photoelectrochemical (PEC) assay of low-abundance adenosine deaminase (ADA) in fundamental research and clinical diagnosis. Herein, phosphate-functionalized Pt/TiO (termed PO/Pt/TiO) was prepared as ideal photoactive material to develop a split-typed PEC aptasensor for detection of ADA activity, coupled by a Ru(bpy) sensitization strategy. We critically studied the effects of the PO and Ru(bpy) on the detection signals, and discussed the signal-amplified mechanism.

Reduced platelet 5-HT content is associated with rest tremor in Parkinson's disease.

Introduction: Parkinson's disease (PD) is highly heterogeneous in manifestations and pathogenesis. Serotonergic neurotransmitter system dysfunction is frequently implicated in PD tremor. Serotonin (5-HT) content in platelets is highly correlated with that in cerebrospinal fluid.

Learning from magnetotactic bacteria: protects stem cells from oxidative damage.

Oxidative damage generally exists in stroke and impairs stem cells' survival; however, the problem is difficult to treat. In order to help stem cells to resist this damage, we inserted a magnetotactic bacteria (MB) gene, , into the neural stem cell genome by lentiviral transfection. It was found that the transfection of significantly improved the survival rate of stem cells in the condition of iron overload but not hypoxia.

Parkinsonism-Hyperpyrexia Syndrome and Dyskinesia-Hyperpyrexia Syndrome in Parkinson's Disease: Two Cases and Literature Review.

Parkinsonism-hyperpyrexia syndrome (PHS) and dyskinesia-hyperpyrexia syndrome (DHS) are rare but exhibit life-threatening complications in Parkinson's disease (PD). We herein presented two cases of PD patients and performed a comprehensive and comparative literature review for these two syndromes. The first case was diagnosed as PHS with cerebral salt wasting syndrome caused by abrupt withdrawal of antiparkinsonian medication.

An antisense Alu transposon insertion/deletion polymorphism of ALDH1A1 may functionally associate with Parkinson's disease.

Background: Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (encoded by ALDH1A1) has been shown to protect against Parkinson's disease (PD) by reducing toxic metabolites of dopamine. We herein revealed an antisense Alu element insertion/deletion polymorphism in intron 4 of ALDH1A1, and hypothesized that it might play a role in PD.  METHODS: A Han Chinese cohort comprising 488 PD patients and 515 controls was recruited to validate the Alu insertion/deletion polymorphism following a previous study of tag-single nucleotide polymorphisms, where rs7043217 was shown to be significantly associated with PD.

Polymorphisms of Cytochromes P450 and Glutathione S-Transferases Synergistically Modulate Risk for Parkinson's Disease.

Background: Environmental substances such as pesticides are well-known in link with Parkinson's disease (PD) risk. Enzymes including cytochromes P450 (CYPs), esterases and glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are responsible for the xenobiotic metabolism and may functionally compensate each other for subtypes in the same class. We hypothesize that the genetic effects of each class modulate PD risk stronger in a synergistic way than individually.

Autoimmune Disease Associated Variants Convey Risk of Parkinson's Disease in Han Chinese.

CLEC16A is a membrane-associated endosomal protein implicated in regulating autophagy and antigen presentation. Its genetic variants are broadly associated with multiple autoimmune diseases. Parkinson's disease (PD), which undergoes autophagy disruption and neuroinflammation, has been clinically observed, for an extensive amount of time, to be associated with autoimmune diseases.

Ultrasensitive photoelectrochemical aptasensor for detecting telomerase activity based on AgS/Ag decorated ZnInS/CN 3D/2D Z-scheme heterostructures and amplified by Au/Cu-boron-nitride nanozyme.

Enzyme-mediated signal amplification strategies have gained substantial attention in photoelectrochemical (PEC) biosensing, while natural enzyme on the photoelectrode inevitably obstructs the interfacial electron transfer, in turn deteriorating the photocurrent responses. Herein, Au nanoparticles and Cu-modified boron nitride nanosheets (AuNPs/Cu-BNNS) behaved as nanozyme to achieve remarkable magnification in the PEC signals from a novel signal-off aptasensor for ultra-sensitive assay of telomerase (TE) activity based on AgS/Ag nanoparticles decorated ZnInS/CN Z-scheme heterostructures (termed as AgS/Ag/ZnInS/CN, synthesized by hydrothermal treatment). Specifically, telomerase primer sequences (TS) were extended by TE in the presence of deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates (dNTPs), which was directly bond with the thiol modified complementary DNA (cDNA), achieving efficient linkage with the nanozyme via Au-S bond.

A Matrigel-based 3D construct of SH-SY5Y cells models the α-synuclein pathologies of Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is associated with α-synuclein-based Lewy body pathology, which has been difficult to observe in conventional two-dimensional (2D) cell culture and even in animal models. We herein aimed to develop a three-dimensional (3D) cellular model of PD to recapitulate the α-synuclein pathologies. All-trans-retinoic acid-differentiated human SH-SY5Y cells and Matrigel were optimized for 3D construction.

A signal-off photoelectrochemical aptasensor for ultrasensitive 17β-estradiol detection based on rose-like CdS@C nanostructure and enzymatic amplification.

Carbon-coated cadmium sulfide rose-like nanostructures (CdS@C NRs) were prepared via a facile solvothermal approach and used as the photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensing platform for the integration of functional biomolecules. Based on this, a novel "signal-off" PEC aptasensor mediated by enzymatic amplification was proposed for the sensitive and selective detection of 17β-estradiol (E2). In the presence of E2, alkaline phosphatase-modified aptamer (ALP-apta) were released from the electrode surface through the specific recognition with E2, which caused the negative effect on PEC response due to the decrease of ascorbic acid (AA) produced by the ALP in situ enzymatic catalysis.

Association Analysis Between HLA-DQA1 Loci and Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder in a Han Chinese Population.

Background: Genome-wide association studies for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) have established an association between HLA-DQ alpha 1 (DQA1) and risk for NMOSD. Though ethnicity is generally considered a major influencing factor in genetic analyses, little is known regarding the association of HLA-DQA1 polymorphisms with NMOSD in the Han population, especially the single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at HLA-DQA1 .

Methods: We genotyped SNP at loci rs28383224 in a case-control study consisting of 137 subjects (51 patients with NMOSD and 86 unrelated controls were recruited) of Han ethnicity.

A signal-on photoelectrochemical aptasensor for chloramphenicol assay based on 3D self-supporting AgI/Ag/BiOI Z-scheme heterojunction arrays.

Severe challenges are still remained for development of highly sensitive, selective and stable photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensing technology, albeit with its broad application for chloramphenicol (CAP) detection. Herein, a novel "signal-on" PEC aptasensor was fabricated based on a 3D self-supporting Z-scheme AgI/Ag/BiOI heterojunction arrays subtly integrated with in-situ formed biocatalytic precipitation (BCP) for highly sensitive and selective determination of CAP. Impressively, the HRP modified CAP aptamer (HRP-CAP aptamer) was released from the electrode by its strong affinity to the introduced CAP, and gradually terminated the BCP reaction, in turn recovering the photocurrent.

DNA Methyltransferase 1 Is Dysregulated in Parkinson's Disease via Mediation of miR-17.

Aberrant DNA methylation is closely associated with the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) are the enzymes for establishment and maintenance of DNA methylation patterns. It has not been clearly defined how DNMTs respond in PD and what mechanisms are associated.

Association Analyses of Autonomic Dysfunction and Sympathetic Skin Response in Motor Subtypes of Parkinson's Disease.

Autonomic dysfunction is a common and disabling non-motor symptom of Parkinson's disease (PD). We aimed to understand autonomic dysfunction in PD motor subtypes, the pattern of sympathetic skin response (SSR) to motor asymmetry, and the association of SSR with autonomic and motor dysfunctions. A total of 101 PD patients of Han Chinese were included.

The cis-Regulatory Element of SNCA Intron 4 Modulates Susceptibility to Parkinson's Disease in Han Chinese.

A novel functional cis-regulatory element (CRE) located at intron 4 has recently been identified in association with Parkinson's disease (PD) risk in European descendants. We aimed to investigate whether this CRE is associated with PD in Han Chinese ethnicity. A Chinese cohort comprising 513 sporadic PD patients and 517 controls was recruited.

Diagnostic value of serum human epididymis protein 4 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Numerous studies have demonstrated that human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) is overexpressed in various malignant tissues including ovarian, endometrial, lung, breast, pancreatic, and gastric cancers. However, no study has examined the diagnostic impact of HE4 in patient with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) until now.

Aim: To analyze the value of four serum tumor markers for the diagnosis of ESCC, and examine the associations of serum levels of HE4 with ESCC patients' clinicopathological characteristics.