Motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease are affected by temperature: A controlled pilot study.

Purpose: The motor symptoms (MS) of Parkinson's disease (PD) have been affecting the quality of life in patients. In clinical practice, most patients with PD report that MS are more severe in winter than in summer, and hyperthermic baths (HTB) could temporarily improve MS. The study aimed to evaluate the effects of seasonal variation and aquatic thermal environment of HTB on the MS of PD.

Drooling disrupts the brain functional connectivity network in Parkinson's disease.

Aims: This study aimed to investigate the causal interaction between significant sensorimotor network (SMN) regions and other brain regions in Parkinson's disease patients with drooling (droolers).

Methods: Twenty-one droolers, 22 PD patients without drooling (non-droolers), and 22 matched healthy controls underwent 3T-MRI resting-state scans. We performed independent component analysis and Granger causality analysis to determine whether significant SMN regions help predict other brain areas.

Dysregulation of Circulatory Levels of lncRNAs in Parkinson's Disease.

Emerging evidence suggested that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) were involved in Parkinson's disease (PD) pathogenesis. Herein, we used gene expression profiles from GEO database to construct a PD-specific ceRNA network. Functional enrichment analysis suggested that ceRNA network might participate in the development of PD.

Contralateral Posterior Putaminal F-Fluorodopa Uptake in Mild Stage Parkinson's Disease: A PET/CT Study.

Objective: Previous studies revealed that 18F-FDOPA uptake was significantly decreased in the subregions of striatum contralateral to the side with predominant symptoms and was helpful for improving the early diagnostic accuracy of PD. However, in these studies, more than half of the PD patients already have bilateral motor symptoms (mH&Y stage≥2). This study was aimed to extend previous findings to a milder disease stage.

Angiotensin-(1-7) reduces α-synuclein aggregation by enhancing autophagic activity in Parkinson's disease.

Abnormal accumulation of α-synuclein contributes to the formation of Lewy bodies in the substantia nigra, which is considered the typical pathological hallmark of Parkinson's disease. Recent research indicates that angiotensin-(1-7) plays a crucial role in several neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinson's disease, but the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. In this study, we used intraperitoneal administration of rotenone to male Sprague-Dawley rats for 4 weeks to establish a Parkinson's disease model.

Han Chinese family with early-onset Parkinson's disease carries novel compound heterozygous mutations in the PARK2 gene.

Purpose: To identify deletions, duplications, and point mutations in 55 previously reported genes associated with Parkinson's disease (PD) and certain genes associated with tremor, spinocerebellar ataxia, and dystonia in a Han Chinese pedigree with early-onset Parkinson's disease (EOPD).

Patients And Methods: Clinical examinations and genomic analyses were performed on six subjects belonging to three generations of a Han Chinese family. Target region capture and high-throughput sequencing were used to screen these genes associated with PD, tremor, spinocerebellar ataxia, and dystonia.

Dihydroergotoxine mesylate for the treatment of sialorrhea in Parkinson's disease.

Background: Many patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) suffer from sialorrhea. Sialorrhea is often treated with anticholinergics and botulinum toxin, but some adverse effects have limited the use of these treatments. Dihydroergotoxine mesylate is an α-adrenergic blocking agents as well as some affinities to the dopaminergic and serotonin (5-HT) receptors.

PM2.5 exposure aggravates oligomeric amyloid beta-induced neuronal injury and promotes NLRP3 inflammasome activation in an in vitro model of Alzheimer's disease.

Background: Numerous studies suggested that PM2.5 exposure was associated with increased risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD). But the precise mechanisms by which PM2.

Azilsartan ameliorates apoptosis of dopaminergic neurons and rescues characteristic parkinsonian behaviors in a rat model of Parkinson's disease.

Loss of dopaminergic neurons within the substantia nigra (SN) is a pathological hallmark of Parkinson's disease (PD), which leads to the onset of motor symptoms. Previously, our in vitro studies revealed that Angiotensin II (Ang II) induced apoptosis of dopaminergic neurons through its type 1 receptor (AT1R), but these findings needed to be confirmed via animal experiments. Here, using a rotenone-induced rat model of PD, we observed an overactivation of Ang II/AT1R axis in the SN, since Ang II level and AT1R expression were markedly increased.

Mitochondrial-dependent mechanisms are involved in angiotensin II-induced apoptosis in dopaminergic neurons.

Introduction: We recently demonstrated that angiotensin II (Ang II) was involved in the etiology of Parkinson's disease (PD) via induction of apoptosis of dopaminergic neurons, but the mechanisms are not completely elucidated. Here, we asked whether mitochondrial-dependent mechanisms contributed to the Ang II-induced dopaminergic neuronal apoptosis.

Materials And Methods: CATH.

Independent Correlation of Serum Homocysteine with Cerebral Microbleeds in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke due to Large-Artery Atherosclerosis.

Background And Aim: The severity of cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) affected the prognosis of patients with acute cerebrovascular disease. Considering the impact of CMBs on clinical decision, it is necessary to assess the risk factors of CMBs. We aimed to evaluate the independent risk factors of CMBs in patients with acute ischemic stroke of large-artery atherosclerosis.

Angiotensin-(1-7) is Reduced and Inversely Correlates with Tau Hyperphosphorylation in Animal Models of Alzheimer's Disease.

As a recently identified bioactive peptide of brain renin-angiotensin system (RAS), angiotensin-(1-7) [Ang-(1-7)] along with its metabolic enzyme angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) 2 and its receptor Mas forms ACE2/Ang-(1-7)/Mas axis. Accumulating evidence suggests an essential role of ACE2/Ang-(1-7)/Mas axis in maintaining normal cognitive functions in both animals and human subjects, and dysregulation of this axis contributed to the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative diseases such as hypertension-induced neurodegeneration and vascular dementia. To date, whether this axis was associated with the etiology and progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most prevalent neurodegenerative disease in the elderly, remains unclear.

The association of ABCC3 promoter methylation with clopidogrel response in Chinese ischemic stroke patients.

Multidrug resistance protein 3 (MRP3), encoded by ABCC3, is an ATP-dependent efflux pump mediating the transport of many drugs, implicated in clopidogrel resistance. This study enrolled 87 ischemic stroke patients with CYP2C1 9*1/*1 genotype, who received clopidogrel (75 mg/day) for at least 5 days before discharge. The maximum platelet aggregation (MPA) was measured by light transmittance aggregometry (LTA) to assess platelet function.

Activation of Autophagy Contributes to the Angiotensin II-Triggered Apoptosis in a Dopaminergic Neuronal Cell Line.

Our recent study indicated that angiotensin II (Ang II), the main component of renin-angiotensin system, participated in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD) by triggering the apoptosis of dopaminergic neuronal cells. However, the underlying mechanisms are still not fully understood. In this study, by using CATH.

Angiotensin II triggers apoptosis via enhancement of NADPH oxidase-dependent oxidative stress in a dopaminergic neuronal cell line.

Numerous studies reveal that Angiotensin II (Ang II), the main effector of renin-angiotensin system, contributes to the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD) via triggering dopaminergic cell loss. However, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unclear. In the current study, by using CATH.

Salubrinal protects against rotenone-induced SH-SY5Y cell death via ATF4-parkin pathway.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, for which there are no effective disease-modifying therapies. Growing evidence from studies in human PD brain, in addition to genetic and toxicological models, indicates that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is a common feature of the disease and contributes to neurodegeneration. We examine whether salubrinal, a ER stress inhibitor, can protect the rotenone-induced SH-SY5Y cell death and explore the mechanisms underlying this protection.

Antiepileptics topiramate and levetiracetam alleviate behavioral deficits and reduce neuropathology in APPswe/PS1dE9 transgenic mice.

Background: The close relationship between epileptic seizure and Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been demonstrated in the past decade. Valproic acid, a traditional first-line antiepileptic drug, exerted protective effects in transgenic models of AD. It remains uncertain whether new antiepileptic drugs could reverse neuropathology and behavioral deficits in AD transgenic mice.

Safety and efficacy of single-incision laparoscopic surgery for appendectomies: a meta-analysis.

Aim: To compare single incision laparoscopic surgery for an appendectomy (SILS-A) with conventional laparoscopic appendectomy (C-LA) when implemented by experienced surgeons.

Methods: Studies and relevant literature regarding the performance of single-incision laparoscopic surgery vs conventional laparoscopic surgery for appendectomy were searched for in the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Clinical Trials, MEDLINE, EMBASE and World Health Organization international trial register. The operation time (OR time), complications, wound infection and postoperative day using SILS-A or C-LA were pooled and compared using a meta-analysis.

Inhibition of endoplasmic reticulum stress is involved in the neuroprotective effects of candesartan cilexitil in the rotenone rat model of Parkinson's disease.

Recent studies indicated that angiotensin II (Ang II) receptor blockers could reduce neurotoxins-induced dopaminergic (DA) cell death, but the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. Given that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress plays a major role in rotenone-induced neuronal apoptosis, we investigated whether candesartan cilexetil, a selective and high-affinity Ang II receptor antagonist, could protect the DA neuron via reducing ER stress in a chronic rotenone rat model for Parkinson's disease (PD). Our data showed that candesartan cilexetil could ameliorate the descent latency in catalepsy tests, and decrease rotenone-induced DA neuron apoptosis.

Parkinson's disease in China.

Paralysis agitans was first documented in 1817 by James Parkinson, and therefore the syndrome was named Parkinson's disease (PD). In fact, as early as more than 2000 years ago, the clinical manifestations of this disease have been described in Chinese medicine classics, such as the "Huangdi Neijing (Yellow Emperor's Internal Classic)" and "Zhong Zang Jing (Hua's Zhong Zang Classic)." In recent years, especially in the past 30 years after reform and opening-up, PD has drawn a lot of attention by Chinese scholars.

Overexpression of 14-3-3 protein protects pheochromocytoma cells against 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium toxicity.

Objective To investigate the effects of 14-3-3 protein overexpression on the 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP(+)) induced pheochromocytoma (PC12) cell death and the potential mechanisms. Methods pcDNA3.1(+)-14-3-3 plasmids, which could be expressed in mammalian cell, were constructed and transfected into PC12 cells with Lipofectamine 2000.

Favorable effects of VEGF gene transfer on a rat model of Parkinson disease using adeno-associated viral vectors.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a specific angiogenic peptide, which has been identified to play a critical role in neurodegeneration, and has beneficial effects on neurons. In this study, we investigated whether neurodegeneration in a rat model of Parkinson disease could be prevented by VEGF gene transfer mediated by adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors. Our results demonstrated that a single injection of a VEGF-expressing AAV vector into striatum improved the rotational behavior of rat Parkinson disease models, and promoted the survival of dopaminergic neurons and fibers.

[Adenovirus mediated vascular endothelial growth factor gene transfer protects dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson's disease: experiment with rats].

Objective: To evaluate the protective effect of adenovirus mediated vascular endothelial growth factor 165 (VEGF165) gene transfer on dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson disease (PD).

Methods: Adenovirus vector coding VEGF165 (Ad-VEGF165) was injected into the striate bodies of 16 SD rats, and adenovirus Ad-LacZ was injected into 25 rats and phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) was injected into 16 rats as controls. Then 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) was injected to establish PD model.

[Collection of a Chinese pedigree with Parkinson's disease and linkage analysis of nine susceptibility genes].

Objective: To analyze the susceptibility genes of a Parkinson's Disease (PD) family.

Methods: The blood samples of a four-generation classic idiopathic PD family were collected. Two-point LOD score method was applied to analyze the linkage disequilibrium between the disease locus and microsatellite markers.