CD2AP deficiency aggravates Alzheimer's disease phenotypes and pathology through p38 MAPK activation.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of neurodegenerative disorder, which is characterized by a decline in cognitive abilities. Genome-wide association and clinicopathological studies have demonstrated that the CD2-associated protein (CD2AP) gene is one of the most important genetic risk factors for AD. However, the precise mechanisms by which CD2AP is linked to AD pathogenesis remain unclear.

Primary age-related tauopathy in a Chinese cohort.

Primary age-related tauopathy (PART) is characterized by the presence of tau neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) which are typically observed in Alzheimer's disease (AD) brains, with few or without β-amyloid (Aβ) plaques. The diagnosis of PART can be categorized into "definite" or "possible" depending on the amount of Aβ plaques. Definite PART is diagnosed when NFTs are observed and the Braak stage is ≤IV, with Thal Aβ Phase 0 (Crary et al.

Relationship between catecholamine level and gene polymorphism of β1 adrenergic receptor G1165C in children with EV71 infection in hand foot and mouth disease.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the levels of plasma adrenaline and norepinephrine and gene polymorphism of β1 adrenergic receptor G1165C in children with enterovirus 71 (EV71) infection in hand foot and mouth disease (HFMD).

Methods: The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect the expression of gene polymorphism of β1 adrenergic receptor G1165C in vitro. The levels of plasma adrenaline and norepinephrine were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

[Research progress--the role of astrocyte in neuronal functions].

Astrocytes can regulate synaptic transmission by releasing gliotransmitter, and also can promote synaptogenesis and neurogenesis by releasing estrogen, thrombospondins, IL-1beta and IL-6. Astrocytes may play critical roles in neural nutrition and neuroprotection, so that it might be a new target for treatment of certain central nervous system diseases.

[Analysis of autopsy cases in 50 years].

Objective: To evaluate the changing rate for autopsy and the reason during 50 years, and to study the disagreement between pathological and clinical diagnosis in 3162 autopsy cases.

Methods: To retrospectively analyses 3162 autopsy cases in School of Medicine of Zhejiang University from 1950 to 1999.

Results: (1) The most autopsy cases is 1037 cases during 1960 - 1970, while the lowest is 102 cases during 1990 - 1999.

[Effects of power frequency magnetic field on gap junction intercellular communication of astrocytes].

Objective: In order to explore if power frequency magnetic field (PFMF) can act as cancer promoter or be synergistic with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (TPA) in cancer promotion, the effects of 50 Hz MF on gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC) of astrocytes were observed.

Methods: Fluorescence redistribution after photobleaching (FRAP) was adopted to observe the recovery of fluorescence intensity in the bleached cells thus to estimate intercellular communication by gap junction. Comparative fluorescence intensity recovery rate (CFIRR) was as evaluation index.

Involvement of ATM/ATR-p38 MAPK cascade in MNNG induced G1-S arrest.

Aim: To understand the effect of low concentration of N-methyl-N'-nitro-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG), which is a widely distributed environmental mutagen and carcinogen especially for human gastric cancer, on DNA damage and to study its possible pathway in regulating cell cycle arrest.

Methods: The DNA damage effect was measured by Comet assay. A specific phospho-(Ser/Thr) ATM/ATR substrate antibody was used to detect the damage sensor by Western blot.