Glycogen synthase kinase 3β and Alzheimer’s disease: pathophysiological and therapeutic significance

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder associated with cognitive and behavioral dysfunction and is the leading cause of dementia in the elderly. Several studies have implicated molecular and cellular signaling cascades involving the serine-threonine kinase, glycogen synthase kinase β(GSK-3β) in the pathogenesis of AD. GSK-3β may play an important role in the formation of neurofibrillary tangles and senile plaques, the two classical pathological hallmarks of AD. In this review, we discuss the interaction between GSK-3β and several key molecules involved in AD, including the presenilins, amyloid precursor protein, tau, and β-amyloid. We identify the signal transduction pathways involved in the pathogenesis of AD, including Wnt, Notch, and the PI3 kinase/Akt pathway. These may be potential therapeutic targets in AD. Received 19 December 2005; received after revision 24 January 2006; accepted 6 February 2006     

Liver X receptors in cardiovascular and metabolic disease

Liver X receptors (LXRs) α and β are nuclear oxysterol receptors and metabolic sensors initially found to regulate cholesterol metabolism and lipid biosynthesis. Recent studies have elucidated the importance of LXR in the development of cardiovascular diseases and metabolic disorders. LXR agonists prevent development of atherosclerosis by modulation of metabolic as well as inflammatory gene expression in rodent models. Moreover, LXR activation inhibits hepatic gluconeogenesis and lowers serum glucose levels, indicating possible application of LXR activation in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. However, first-generation LXR agonists elevate hepatic and serum trigylceride levels, making subtype-specific agonists and selective LXR modulators rather than unselective LXR agonists a potential pharmacological strategy. This review summarizes the multiple physiological and pathophysiological implications of LXRs and observations that identify LXRs as potential targets for therapeutic interventions in human cardiovascular and metabolic disease. Received 30 August 2005; received after revision 10 October 2005; accepted 4 November 2005     

Phytanic acid: production from phytol, its breakdown and role in human disease

Phytanic acid is a branched-chain fatty acid that accumulates in a variety of metabolic disorders. High levels of phytanic acid found in patients can exceed the millimolar range and lead to severe symptoms. Degradation of phytanic acid takes place by α-oxidation inside the peroxisome. A deficiency of its breakdown, leading to elevated levels, can result from either a general peroxisomal dysfunction or from a defect in one of the enzymes involved in α-oxidation. Research on Refsum disease, belonging to the latter group of disorders and characterized by a deficiency of the first enzyme of α-oxidation, has extended our knowledge of phytanic acid metabolism and pathology of the disease greatly over the past few decades. This review will centre on this research on phytanic acid: its origin, the mechanism by which its α-oxidation takes place, its role in human disease and the way it is produced from phytol. Received 4 October 2005; received after revision 24 February 2006; accepted 26 April 2006     

MPTP慢性帕金森病小鼠海马内氧化应激与细胞凋亡蛋白的表达

目的 观察 MPTP慢性帕金森病小鼠海马氧化应激指标及细胞凋亡相关蛋白的表达.方法 应用MPTP制备慢性帕金森病模型,观察行为学改变,Morris水迷宫实验,检测模型组和对照组小鼠海马内超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、还原型谷胱甘肽（GSH）及丙二醛（MDA）舍量变化,以及免疫组织化学方法、RT-PCR方法、Western blot方法检测海马Bax和Bel-2蛋白表达.结果 慢性帕金森病模型小鼠行为学特点为震颤、活动减少;水迷宫实验结果提示认知功能降低;与对照组海马比较：模型组海马SOD、GSH含量均下降,而MDA含量升高（P〈0.05）;模型组海马Bax蛋白表达增高,而Bel-2蛋白表达下降（P〈0.05）.结论 氧化应激在慢性帕全森病认知功能障碍发病机制中起重要作用,而Bax和Bcl-2蛋白参与了氧化应激诱导海马神经元凋亡的调控过程.     

Research advances in gene therapy for Parkinson's disease

During the long period of time when people have been seeking for an effective therapeutic method for PD, the gene therapy has shown greater and greater advantages over other methods. It can be performed mainly in two ways: ex vivo and in vivo. With the former, TH gene as well as some neurotrophic factor genes (such as GDNF, BNDF genes) can be invited to some cell lines or primary cells thus forming engineered cells and then implanting them into brain. While with the latter, viral vectors including HSV-1, Ad, AAV that can be utilized to construct recombinant viruses, or non-virus vectors can be used to delived DNA into brain directly. The present review summarizes the recent research advances in the gene therapy for PD, and it is reasonable for us to predict a notable progress in prevention and treatment for PD in the next decade.     

水稻抗条纹叶枯病分子标记在不同品种中的扩增比较

以感水稻条纹叶枯病品种＂日本晴＂、高抗品种＂kasalath＂以及14个目前在我国长三角地区水稻生产中被认为在抵抗条纹叶枯病方面具有较好效果的水稻品种为材料,分析比较了14对分子标记引物扩增16个水稻品种基因组获得的DNA产物.结果显示：在14对分子标记引物中,有8对在扩增感病品种＂日本晴＂和高抗品种＂Kasalath＂水稻基因组时可获得多态性条带.因此推断这8个标记可在以这两个品种为亲本的抗条纹叶枯病选育中使用;并且,本研究结果还将为利用本试验收集的14个水稻品种为亲本的分子标记辅助育种提供重要的背景信息.     

考虑心理因素和饱和治疗的H7N9禽流感动力学模型分析

研究了一种带治疗的病媒传播疾病的流行模型.得到了模型的基本再生数R_0,模型的平衡点和阈值由R_0确定.利用Bendixson-Dulac定理,证明了当R_01时,该模型的唯一正平衡点是全局稳定的.该结果可以帮助探索控制媒介传染病传播的方法.最后对模型进行了数值模拟,验证了该结论.     

魔芋内生细菌抗软腐病菌株筛选

通过组织分离法从魔芋块茎中分离得到内生细菌,用牛津杯法皿内测试内生细菌对魔芋软腐病菌的拮抗作用,以筛选拮抗软腐病菌能力强的菌株。结果显示从魔芋块茎中分离得到35株内生细菌,35株内生细菌对魔芋软腐病菌均有不同程度的拮抗活性,不同菌株间拮抗活性存在显著差异。初筛中,对软腐病菌相对抑制率(RIR)达到50%以上的内生细菌有17株,100%的有11株。复筛中RIR为100%的内生细菌有8株,其中7株胞外产物的RIR超过了150%。     

免疫鸡群新城疫病毒检测和分离的研究

以ＳＰＦ鸡抗新城疫病毒（ＮＤＶ）ＩｇＧ为包被抗体（５μｇ／ｍＬ）,兔抗ＮＤＶＶｅｒｏ细胞培养纯化毒ＩｇＧ为第二抗体（１∶２００～６００）,酶标记羊抗兔ＩｇＧ（１∶５０００）为指示抗体建立间接夹心ＥＬＩＳＡ,检测实验免疫鸡、攻毒鸡及现地免疫鸡口腔或泄殖腔外分泌物。结果表明：新城疫无毒力Ｖ４疫苗免疫后２ｄ,口腔内病毒抗原随机检出率为４／１０,第１０天为１０／１０;泄殖腔为０～１／１０,并持续１８ｄ以上。滴鼻攻毒后１ｄ,口腔和泄殖腔内病毒抗原检出率分别是８／１０和６／１０;第１３天,泄殖腔内病毒抗原检出阴性。ＮＤＶ灭活疫苗免疫６０ｄ后攻毒,第２天有７／２０口腔和８／２０泄殖腔检出阳性,并一直到攻毒后第１４天。非免疫对照鸡攻毒后第３天直到死亡时,口腔和泄殖腔均可检出病毒抗原。对各地临床上无任何症状的ＮＤＶ免疫鸡群检测发现,泄殖腔ＮＤＶ抗原阳性率０％～９．３％,分离到８株ＮＤＶ流行毒株,生物学试验证实这些毒株的毒力属中等毒力偏强或强毒。     

蕲艾油对尿酸的增溶作用

通过紫外光谱和高效液相色谱研究了蕲艾油对尿酸的增溶作用，探讨了蕲艾油治疗痛风病的作用机制。实验结果表明：在人体正常体温37℃下，蕲艾油可使尿酸溶解度提高1倍左右，且随着蕲艾油浓度增大尿酸的溶解度增大。