Imbalance of synaptic and extrasynaptic NMDA receptors induced by the deletion of CRMP1 accelerates age-related cognitive decline in mice.

Collapsin response mediator protein 1 (CRMP1) is involved in semaphorin 3A signaling pathway, promoting neurite extension and growth cone collapse. It is highly expressed in the nervous system, especially the hippocampus. The crmp1 knockout (KO) mice display impaired spatial learning and memory, and this phenomenon seemingly tends to deteriorate with age.

Effect of Sulfonation Group on Polyaniline Copolymer Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering with Laminin Treatment under Electrical Stimulation.

Sulfonated copolyanilines (SPANs), SPAN-40 and SPAN-75, were prepared and applied in this tissue engineering study. SPAN scaffolds (SPANs) and control group polyaniline (PANI) were synthesized by performing oxidative polymerization. To further research the effects of neuron regeneration, PC12 cells were cultured on as-prepared PANI and SPANs with laminin (La) treatment under electrical stimulation.

Erinacine A Prevents Lipopolysaccharide-Mediated Glial Cell Activation to Protect Dopaminergic Neurons against Inflammatory Factor-Induced Cell Death In Vitro and In Vivo.

(HE) is a common edible mushroom consumed in several Asian countries and considered to be a medicinal mushroom with neuroprotective effects. Erinacine A (EA) is a bioactive compound in mycelium (HEM) that has been shown to have a neuroprotective effect against neurodegenerative diseases, e.g.

The Effects of Freshwater Clam () Extract on Activated Hepatic Stellate Cells.

Background: The extract of freshwater clams has been used to protect the body against liver diseases in traditional folk medicine. This study aims at investigating the effects of freshwater clam extract on activated hepatic stellate cells (aHSCs), which are critical contributors to liver fibrosis.

Methods: The aHSCs used in this study were derived from hepatic stellate cells that were isolated and purified from the livers of male Wistar rats and then transformed into the activated phenotype by culturing on uncoated plastic dishes.

Diosgenin Prevents Microglial Activation and Protects Dopaminergic Neurons from Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Neural Damage In Vitro and In Vivo.

Background: The prevention of age-related neurodegenerative disorders is an important issue in an aging society. Microglia-mediated neuroinflammation resulting in dopaminergic neuron loss may lead to the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), an endotoxin, induces neuroinflammatory microglial activation, contributing to dopaminergic neuron damage.

Endogenous Conjugation of Biomimetic Dinitrosyl Iron Complex with Protein Vehicles for Oral Delivery of Nitric Oxide to Brain and Activation of Hippocampal Neurogenesis.

Nitric oxide (NO), a pro-neurogenic and antineuroinflammatory gasotransmitter, features the potential to develop a translational medicine against neuropathological conditions. Despite the extensive efforts made on the controlled delivery of therapeutic NO, however, an orally active NO prodrug for a treatment of chronic neuropathy was not reported yet. Inspired by the natural dinitrosyl iron unit (DNIU) [Fe(NO)], in this study, a reversible and dynamic interaction between the biomimetic [(NO)Fe(μ-SCHCHOH)Fe(NO)] () and serum albumin (or gastrointestinal mucin) was explored to discover endogenous proteins as a vehicle for an oral delivery of NO to the brain after an oral administration of .

Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate-Loaded Liposomes Favor Anti-Inflammation of Microglia Cells and Promote Neuroprotection.

Microglia-mediated neuroinflammation is recognized to mainly contribute to the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), known as a natural antioxidant in green tea, can inhibit microglia-mediated inflammation and protect neurons but has disadvantages such as high instability and low bioavailability. We developed an EGCG liposomal formulation to improve its bioavailability and evaluated the neuroprotective activity in in vitro and in vivo neuroinflammation models.

Antioxidative effect of DJ-1 is enhanced in NG108-15 cells by DPMQ-induced copper influx.

Disruption of copper homeostasis is closely involved in neurodegenerative disorders. This study examined whether a hybrid copper-binding compound, ()-2-(4-(dimethylamino)phenylimino)methyl)quinolin-8-ol (DPMQ), is able to protect NG108-15 cells against oxidative stress. We found that treatment of cells with rotenone or hydrogen peroxide increased cellular oxidative stress and resulted in mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis.

Mycelium and Its Isolated Compound, Erinacine A, Ameliorate High-Fat High-Sucrose Diet-Induced Metabolic Dysfunction and Spatial Learning Deficits in Aging Mice.

Aging and lifestyle factors, including high-sugar and high-fat diets, promote a systemic metabolic imbalance that promotes neurodegeneration. has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine. Recently, its functional activities, such as antimetabolic dysfunction, antineuroinflammatory activities, and stimulation of nerve growth factor (NGF) synthesis, have been revealed.

PLGA Microspheres Loaded with β-Cyclodextrin Complexes of Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate for the Anti-Inflammatory Properties in Activated Microglial Cells.

Although epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EG) is well-known as a potent antioxidant and free radical scavenger for neurodegenerative diseases, it still has disadvantages that reduce its treatment effectiveness due to low bioavailability, slow absorption, and water solubility. Therefore, the aim of this study is to improve the bioavailability of EG and increase the effectiveness of anti-inflammatory properties to microglial cells by using Poly(Lactide--Glycolide) (PLGA) microspheres as carriers. In this study, we used UV⁻Vis spectroscopy to show the formation of the complex of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and EG (CD-EG).

A Single-Step Surface Modification of Electrospun Silica Nanofibers Using a Silica Binding Protein Fused with an RGD Motif for Enhanced PC12 Cell Growth and Differentiation.

In this study, a previously known high-affinity silica binding protein (SB) was genetically engineered to fuse with an integrin-binding peptide (RGD) to create a recombinant protein (SB-RGD). SB-RGD was successfully expressed in and purified using silica beads through a simple and fast centrifugation method. A further functionality assay showed that SB-RGD bound to the silica surface with an extremely high affinity that required 2 M MgCl₂ for elution.

The Effect of Laminin Surface Modification of Electrospun Silica Nanofiber Substrate on Neuronal Tissue Engineering.

In this study, we first synthesized a slow-degrading silica nanofiber (SNF2) through an electrospun solution with an optimized tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) to polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) ratio. Then, laminin-modified SNF2, namely SNF2-AP-S-L, was obtained through a series of chemical reactions to attach the extracellular matrix protein, laminin, to its surface. The SNF2-AP-S-L substrate was characterized by a combination of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform-infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherms, and contact angle measurements.

Zika virus: An emerging challenge for obstetrics and gynecology.

Microcephaly is a rare birth defect, however, the re-emerging mosquito and sexual transmitted flavivirus, Zika virus (ZIKV), had changed the situation and caused an urgent challenge for the obstetrics and gynecology. This review will brief summarize the epidemiology and virology of ZIKV. And compared the animal models that had developed for the ZIKV infections.

Biomolding Technique to Fabricate the Hierarchical Topographical Scaffold of POMA To Enhance the Differentiation of Neural Stem Cells.

In this paper, a biomolding technique was first used to fabricate a scaffold of hierarchical topography with biomimetic morphology for tissue engineering. First, poly(-methoxyaniline) (POMA) was synthesized by conventional oxidative polymerization, followed by characterizations with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Moreover, the POMA scaffold with 3D biomimetic morphology was fabricated using poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) as negative soft template from natural leaf surfaces of , followed by transferring the pattern of PDMS template to POMA.

The effect of chemically modified electrospun silica nanofiber on the mRNA and miRNA expression profile of neural stem cell differentiation.

A detailed genomic and epigenomic analyses of neural stem cells (NSCs) differentiation in synthetic microenvironments is essential for the advancement of regenerative medicine and therapeutic treatment of diseases. This study identified the changes in mRNA and miRNA expression profile during NSC differentiation on an artificial matrix. NSCs were grown on a surface-modified, electrospun tetraethyl-orthosilicate nanofiber (designated as SNF-AP) by providing a 3D-environment for cell growth and differentiation.

Degradation of the electrospun silica nanofiber in a biological medium for primary hippocampal neuron - effect of surface modification.

In this work, silica nanofibers (SNFs) were prepared by an electrospinning method and modified with poly-d-lysine (PDL) or (3-aminopropyl) trimethoxysilane (APTS) making biocompatible and degradable substrates for neuronal growth. The as-prepared SNF, modified SNF-PDL, and SNF-APTS were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy, nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherms, contact angle measurements, and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. Herein, the scanning electron microscopic images revealed that dissolution occurred in a corrosion-like manner by enlarging porous structures, which led to loss of structural integrity.

Inhibitory Effects of Purple Sweet Potato Leaf Extract on the Proliferation and Lipogenesis of the 3T3-L1 Preadipocytes.

Purple sweet potato leaves (PSPLs) are healthy vegetable that is rich in anti-oxidants. A solution of boiling water extract of PSPL (PSPLE) is believed to be able to prevent obesity and metabolic syndrome in the countryside of Taiwan, but its efficacy has not yet been verified. The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible anti-adipogenesis effect of PSPLE in vitro.

Purple Sweet Potato Leaf Extract Induces Apoptosis and Reduces Inflammatory Adipokine Expression in 3T3-L1 Differentiated Adipocytes.

Background. Purple sweet potato leaves (PSPL) are widely grown and are considered a healthy vegetable in Taiwan. PSPL contain a high content of flavonoids, and the boiling water-extracted PSPL (PSPLE) is believed to prevent metabolic syndrome.

Sedum mexicanum Britt. Induces Apoptosis of Primary Rat Activated Hepatic Stellate Cells.

Background. Liver fibrosis is a significant liver disease in Asian countries. Sedum mexicanum Britt.

Potential natural products for Alzheimer's disease: targeted search using the internal ribosome entry site of tau and amyloid-β precursor protein.

Overexpression of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) and the hyperphosphorylation of the tau protein are vital in the understanding of the cause of Alzheimer's disease (AD). As a consequence, regulation of the expression of both APP and tau proteins is one important approach in combating AD. The APP and tau proteins can be targeted at the levels of transcription, translation and protein structural integrity.

Chemically modified electrospun silica nanofibers for promoting growth and differentiation of neural stem cells.

In this study, pure silica nanofibers (SNFs) were fabricated by the electrospinning technique. Subsequently, the as-prepared SNFs were modified with (3-aminopropyl) trimethoxysilane (APTS) for applications in neural tissue engineering. The structure and properties of the as-prepared SNFs and the modified SNFs (SNF-APxM, x = 1-3) were evaluated with FTIR, TGA, nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherms, and SEM.

Determination of amino acids by microemulsion electrokinetic chromatography laser induced fluorescence method.

In this study, detection of 20 FITC-derivatized amino acids using an MEEKC-LIF was demonstrated. In order to achieve good separation for hydrophobic amino acids, the MEEKC method was employed and detection limits were obtained in the range of 0.32-2.

Neat poly(ortho-methoxyaniline) electrospun nanofibers for neural stem cell differentiation.

In this manuscript, neat electrospun poly(o-methoxyaniline) (POMA) fibers were applied for the first time in the growth of neural stem cells. POMA was synthesized by chemical oxidative polymerization, followed by dissolving in tetrahydrofuran/dimethylformamide to prepare electrospinning solution. Subsequently, the solution was electrospun to produce polymeric fibers.

Microfluidic Platform for Enzyme-Linked and Magnetic Particle-Based Immunoassay.

This article presents design and testing of a microfluidic platform for immunoassay. The method is based on sandwiched ELISA, whereby the primary antibody is immobilized on nitrocelluose and, subsequently, magnetic beads are used as a label to detect the analyte. The chip takes approximately 2 h and 15 min to complete the assay.

Capillary electrophoresis-laser-induced fluorescence detection of rat brain catecholamines with microwave-assisted derivatization.

In this study, a rapid and sensitive method is described for the catecholamines detection in rat brain. CE with LIF detection for the determination of FITC derivatized catecholamines (dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine) was demonstrated. Conventional water bath and microwave-assisted derivatization methods were employed and a significant reduction in the derivatization time from 2 h for the conventional water bath at room temperature (ca.