Multiple facets of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 in neurological diseases

<正>The highly conserved abundant nuclear protein poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase-1(PARP-1)is activated by DNA damage.PARP-1 activation is associated in DNA repair,cell death and inflammation.Since oxidative stress induced robust DNA damage and wide spread inflammatory responses are common pathologies of various CNS diseases,the attention towards PARP-1 as a therapeutic     

Optogenetic approaches to evaluate striatal function in animal models of Parkinson disease

Optogenetics refers to the ability to control cells that have been genetically modified to express light-sensitive ion channels. The introduction of optogenetic approaches has facilitated the dissection of neural circuits. Optogenetics allows for the precise stimulation and inhibition of specific sets of neurons and their projections with fine temporal specificity. These techniques are ideally suited to investigating neural circuitry underlying motor and cognitive dysfunction in animal models of human disease. Here, we focus on how optogenetics has been used over the last decade to probe striatal circuits that are involved in Parkinson disease, a neurodegenerative condition involving motor and cognitive abnormalities resulting from degeneration of midbrain dopaminergic neurons. The precise mechanisms underlying the striatal contribution to both cognitive and motor dysfunction in Parkinson disease are unknown. Although optogenetic approaches are somewhat removed from clinical use, insight from these studies can help identify novel therapeutic targets and may inspire new treatments for Parkinson disease. Elucidating how neuronal and behavioral functions are influenced and potentially rescued by optogenetic manipulation in animal models could prove to be translatable to humans. These insights can be used to guide future brain-stimulation approaches for motor and cognitive abnormalities in Parkinson disease and other neuropsychiatric diseases.     

Comparison between the classical and a modified trans-septal technique of alar cinching for Le Fort I osteotomies: a prospective randomized controlled trial

The aim of this prospective randomized control trial was to analyse the efficacy of a new trans-septal alar base cinch suture in controlling alar width in patients undergoing maxillary intrusion and setback by comparing it with the traditional cinch suture. Statistical evaluation was carried out in 62 of 76 patients. Group I (31 patients) received the traditional alar base cinch suture, and group II (31 patients) received the alar base cinch suture with an anchoring bite taken through the nasal septum 10 mm behind its anterior edge. In both groups the accurate identification of alar fibroareolar tissue was facilitated by an 18 gauge green needle passed extra orally. Alar base width was measured before and 6 months after surgery using Vernier callipers. Preoperative alar base width for group I was 29.76 mm (1.901 SD) and for group II 29.79 mm (3.141 SD); the postoperative values were 32.42 mm (1.858 SD) and 29.94 mm (2.568 SD), respectively. Mean alar base widening was 2.661 mm (0.800 SD) in group I and 0.145 mm (2.050) in group II. The difference in alar widening was statistically significant (p < 0.001). In conclusion, the trans-septal modified alar cinch suture offers better control of alar base architecture in maxillary intrusion and setback.     

Imaging manifestations of acquired elastopathy resembling pseudoxanthoma elasticum in patients with beta thalassaemia major and sickle cell disease

Development of an acquired systemic elastopathy resembling pseudoxanthoma elasticum in patients with chronic haemoglobinopathies such as beta thalassaemia major and sickle cell disease is well documented. There is paucity of any comprehensive literature on the radiological manifestations of this entity. This pictorial review aims to describe and illustrate the multi system and multi modality imaging findings of this condition.     

Robot-assisted partial nephrectomy: analysis of the first 100 cases from a single institution

Robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) is an alternative to open and laparoscopic partial nephrectomy for small renal tumors. Our objectives were to report our experience and short-term outcomes from the first 100 cases of robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) performed at a single institution, as well as to evaluate the effect of the learning curve and identify any factors associated with adverse perioperative outcomes. Patient records of the first 100 RAPN cases performed by three surgeons between October 2007 and March 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. The cases were divided into two groups to analyze a possible learning curve effect. Group 1 consisted of the first half (chronologically) of the cases performed by each surgeon, and Group 2 consisted of the second half. For the entire series, the median warm ischemia time was 24 min (range 11–49), mean length of follow-up was 13.4 months, and the median postoperative change in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was −6.6 mL/min/1.73 m². Three patients had microscopically positive margins on final pathology, three intraoperative complications occurred, and 13 postoperative complications were recorded (10 Clavien grade IIIa or less). Median operative time was significantly longer in Group 1 (193 min) than in Group 2 (165 min, P = 0.003). Multivariate analysis identified male gender and cases done in Group 1 to be associated with increased operative time, while male gender and higher nephrometry scores were associated with increased blood loss. Tumor characteristics associated with greater reductions in GFR included higher nephrometry scores, endophytic tumors, and hilar tumors. In conclusion, RAPN appears to be safe and the major effect of the learning curve appears to be on operative time. Warm ischemia times are sufficiently low to prevent significant renal impairment, while male gender and higher nephrometry scores may be predictors of longer operative times and more intraoperative blood loss. Overall operative time decreased with increasing case volume, although this was not uniform among the three surgeons in the study. Further longitudinal study is necessary to establish oncologic outcomes.     

Characterization of dental caries by LIF spectroscopy with 404-nm excitation

The potential of laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) spectroscopy for the characterization of different stages of dental caries using 404-nm diode laser excitation was investigated. In vitro spectra from 16 sound, 10 noncavitated carious and 10 cavitated carious molar teeth were recorded on a miniature fibre-optic spectrometer. The areas under the receiver operating characteristics (ROC-AUC) were calculated and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed. The LIF spectra of the carious teeth showed two peaks at 635 and 680 nm in addition to a broad band seen at 500 nm in sound teeth. The fluorescence intensity ratios, F500/F635 and F500/F680, in carious teeth were always lower than those in sound teeth. The ROC-AUC for discriminating between carious and sound teeth was 0.94, and for discriminating between noncavitated and cavitated carious teeth was 0.87. Statistically significant differences (p<0.001) were seen between sound, noncavitated carious and cavitated carious teeth. The results showed that LIF spectroscopy has the potential to be useful for characterizing different stages of caries in a clinical setting.