A cryptic microdeletion including MBD5 occurring within the breakpoint of a reciprocal translocation between chromosomes 2 and 5 in a patient with developmental delay and obesity

The 2q23.1 deletion syndrome has been recently recognized as a neurodevelopmental disorder associated with intellectual disability, epilepsy, and autism spectrum disorder. Recently, methyl‐CpG‐binding domain 5 gene (MBD5), located in the 2q23.1 region, has been considered as a single causative gene of this syndrome. We report on a female patient with a de novo reciprocal translocation between chromosomes 2 and 5. Chromosomal microarray testing revealed a cryptic 896 kb deletion that included MBD5. Although clinical manifestations of this patient are compatible with those of patients with 2q23.1 deletion syndrome, a focal pachygyria revealed by brain magnetic resonance imaging has never been observed in the previously reported cases. Obesity caused by hyperphagia was observed in our patient and 28% of the previously reported patients with the 2q23.1 deletion syndrome. For better medical management, appropriate dietary guidance against hyperphagia should be given to the patients' family. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Perampanel,a selective,noncompetitive α‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐4‐isoxazolepropionic acid receptor antagonist,as adjunctive therapy for refractory partial‐onset seizures: Interim results from phase III,extension study 307

Purpose: To evaluate safety, tolerability, and seizure outcome data during long‐term treatment with once‐daily adjunctive perampanel (up to 12 mg/day) in patients with refractory partial‐onset seizures. Methods: Study 307 was an extension study for patients completing the double‐blind phase of three pivotal phase III trials (studies 304, 305, and 306). The study consisted of two phases: an open‐label treatment phase (including a 16‐week blinded conversion period and a planned 256‐week maintenance period) and a 4‐week follow‐up phase. Patients were blindly titrated during the conversion period to their individual maximum tolerated dose (maximum 12 mg/day). Adverse events (AEs) were monitored throughout the study and seizure frequency recorded. The interim data cutoff date for analyses was December 1, 2010. Key Findings: In total, 1,218 patients were enrolled in the study. At the interim cutoff date, 1,186 patients were in the safety analysis set; 1,089 (91.8%) patients had >16 weeks of exposure to perampanel, 580 (48.9%) patients had >1 year of exposure, and 19 (1.6%) patients had >2 years of exposure. At the interim analysis, 840 (70.8%) patients remained on perampanel treatment. The large majority of patients (n = 1,084 [91%]) were titrated to 10 mg or 12 mg/day. Median (range) duration of exposure was 51.4 (1.1–128.1) weeks. Treatment‐emergent AEs were reported in 87.4% of patients. The most frequent were dizziness (43.9%), somnolence (20.2%), headache (16.7%), and fatigue (12.1%). Serious AEs were reported in 13.2% of patients. In the intent‐to‐treat analysis set (n = 1,207), the frequency of all seizures decreased over the first 26 weeks of perampanel treatment in patients with at least 26 weeks of exposure to perampanel (n = 1,006 [83.3%]); this reduction was maintained in patients with at least 1 year of exposure (n = 588 [48.7%]). The overall median percent changes in seizure frequency in patients included in each 13‐week interval of perampanel treatment were ?39.2% for weeks 14–26 (n = 1,114), ?46.5% for weeks 40–52 (n = 731), and ?58.1% for weeks 92–104 (n = 59). Overall responder rates in patients included in each 13‐week interval of perampanel treatment were 41.4% for weeks 14–26 (n = 1,114), 46.9% for weeks 40–52 (n = 731), and 62.7% for weeks 92–104 (n = 59). During the blinded conversion period, the reduction in seizure frequency in patients previously randomized to placebo (?42.4%, n = 369) was similar to that in patients previously randomized to perampanel (?41.5%, n = 817). Significance: Consistent with pivotal phase III trials, these interim results demonstrated that perampanel had a favorable tolerability profile in patients with refractory partial‐onset seizures over the longer term. The decrease in seizure frequency was consistent and maintained in those patients over at least 1 year of perampanel exposure.     

Tissue-specific alterations of methyl group metabolism with DNA hypermethylation in the Zucker (type 2) diabetic fatty rat

Background Altered methyl group and homocysteine metabolism were tissue‐specific, persistent, and preceded hepatic DNA hypomethylation in type 1 diabetic rats. Similar metabolic perturbations have been shown in the Zucker (type 2) diabetic fatty (ZDF) rat in the pre‐diabetic and early diabetic stages, but tissue specificity and potential impact on epigenetic marks are unknown, particularly during pathogenesis. Methods ZDF (fa/fa) and lean (+/?) control rats were killed at 12 and 21 weeks of age, representing early and advanced diabetic conditions. Blood and tissues were analysed with respect to methyl group and homocysteine metabolism, including DNA methylation. Results At 12 weeks, hepatic glycine N‐methyltransferase (GNMT), methionine synthase, and cystathionine β‐synthase (CBS) activity and/or abundance were increased in ZDF rats. At 21 weeks, GNMT activity was increased in liver and kidney; however, only hepatic CBS protein abundance (12 weeks) and betaine‐homocysteine S‐methyltransferase mRNA expression (21 weeks) were significantly elevated (78 and 100%, respectively). Hepatic phosphatidylethanolamine N‐methyltransferase expression was also elevated in the ZDF rat. Homocysteine concentrations were decreased in plasma and kidney, but not in liver, at 12 and 21 weeks. In contrast to hepatic DNA hypomethylation in the type 1 diabetic rat, genomic DNA was hypermethylated at 12 and 21 weeks in the liver of ZDF rats, concomitant with an increase in DNA methyltransferase 1 expression at 21 weeks. Conclusions The pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes in the ZDF rat was associated with tissue and disease stage‐specific aberrations of methyl group and homocysteine metabolism, with persistent hepatic global DNA hypermethylation. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

EFFECTS OF NITRIC OXIDE SYNTHESIS INHIBITION ON FK506-INDUCED NEPHROTOXICITY IN RATS

This study was designed to evaluate the role of nitric oxide (NO) in FK506-induced nephrotoxicity by administering an inhibitor of NO synthesis, Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) to rats treated with FK506. After one week of treatment with FK506 (3.2 mg/kg/day, intramuscularly) and/or L-NAME (5 mg/100 mL of L-NAME in the drinking water), the arterial pressure, urinary NOx, and parameters for renal function were measured, and histological analysis of the kidney was made. In the L-NAME without FK506 group, L-NAME administration effectively inhibited urinary NOx excretion and increased mean arterial pressure (MAP) without any change in renal function. In the FK506 without L-NAME group, FK506 treatment showed increase in urinary NOx excretion and mild renal dysfunction. In the FK506 with L-NAME group, urinary NOx excretion was decreased by L-NAME administration and renal function was significantly worsened than FK506 without L-NAME group. The plasma creatinine, BUN and urinary N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase increased 2-, 3-, and 3-fold, respectively and the creatinine clearance was reduced by 50% as compared with that in the FK506 without L-NAME group. Histological analysis revealed severe interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy in the FK506 + L-NAME treatment group. Thus, results suggest that NO synthesis is enhanced in the kidney during FK506-induced nephrotoxicity and that NO synthesis inhibition aggravates FK506-induced nephrotoxicity. NO may play a protective role attributable to the balance of vasoactive substances in FK506-induced nephrotoxicity.     

Pentoxifylline and propentofylline prevent proliferation and activation of the mammalian target of rapamycin and mitogen activated protein kinase in cultured spinal astrocytes

Astrocyte activation is an important feature in many disorders of the central nervous system, including chronic pain conditions. Activation of astrocytes is characterized by a change in morphology, including hypertrophy and increased size of processes, proliferation, and an increased production of proinflammatory mediators. The xanthine derivatives pentoxifylline and propentofylline are commonly used experimentally as glial inhibitors. These compounds are generally believed to attenuate glial activity by raising cyclic AMP (cAMP) levels and inhibiting glial tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production. In the present study, we show that these substances inhibit TNF and serum‐induced astrocyte proliferation and signaling through the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway, demonstrated by decreased levels of phosphorylated S6 kinase (S6K), commonly used as a marker of mTOR complex (mTORC) activation. Furthermore, we show that pentoxifylline and propentofylline also inhibit JNK and p38, but not ERK, activation induced by TNF. In addition, the JNK antagonist SP600125, but not the p38 inhibitor SB203580, prevents TNF‐induced activation of S6 kinase, suggesting that pentoxifylline and propentofylline may regulate mTORC activity in spinal astrocytes partially through inhibition of the JNK pathway. Our results suggest that pentoxifylline and propentofylline inhibit astrocyte activity in a broad fashion by attenuating flux through specific pathways. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Enhanced prefrontal serotonin 2A receptor signaling in the subchronic phencyclidine mouse model of schizophrenia

Prefrontal serotonin 2A receptors (5‐HT_2ARs) have been linked to the pathogenesis and treatment of schizophrenia. Many antipsychotics fully occupy 5‐HT_2AR at clinical relevant doses, and activation of 5‐HT_2A receptors by lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and LSD‐like drugs induces a schizophrenia‐like psychosis in humans. Subchronic phencyclidine (PCP) administration is a well‐established model for schizophrenia‐like symptoms in rodents. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether subchronic PCP administration changes expression, binding, or functionality of cortical 5‐HT_2ARs. As a measure of 5‐HT_2AR functionality, we used the 5‐HT_2AR agonist 2,5‐dimethoxy‐4‐iodoamphetamine (DOI)‐induced head‐twitch response (HTR) and mRNA expression of the immediate‐early genes (IEGs) activity‐related cytoskeletal associated‐protein (Arc), c‐fos, and early growth response protein 2 (egr‐2) in the frontal cortex. Mice were treated with PCP (10 mg/kg) or saline for 10 days, followed by a 5‐day washout period. The PCP pretreatment increased the overall induction of HTR and frontal cortex IEG mRNA expression following a single challenge with DOI. These functional changes were not associated with changes in 5‐HT_2AR binding. Also, binding of the 5‐HT_1AR and the 5‐HT transporter was unaffected. Finally, basal mRNA level of Arc was increased in the prefrontal cortex after subchronic PCP administration as revealed with in situ hybridization. Together these findings indicate that PCP administration produces changes in the brain that result in an increase in the absolute effect of DOI. Therefore, neurotransmission involving the 5‐HT_2AR could contribute to the behavioral deficits observed after PCP treatment. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

New thiazolyl-pyrazoline derivatives bearing nitrogen mustard as potential antimicrobial and antiprotozoal agents

A new series of N-substituted pyrazoline derivatives 6a–g , 7a–g , 8a–g , and 9a–g was synthetized by reaction of hydrazine derivatives and chalcone–thiazole hybrids bearing nitrogen mustard 5a–g . The chalcones 5a–g were obtained by Claisen–Schmidt condensation of thiazole-2-nitrogen mustard 3 and selected acetophenones 4a–g . These new compounds 6/7/8/9a–g were screened for their antifungal activity against Cryptococcus neoformans, with IC₅₀ values of 3.9–7.8 µg/ml for the N-3,5-dichlorophenyl pyrazolines 9e – g . Interestingly, those compounds show low cytotoxic effects toward erythrocytes (RBC). In addition, N-acetyl ( 6a,b ) and N-formyl pyrazolines ( 7a , 7b , 7c , and 7g ) showed inhibitory activity against methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant S. aureus, and vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus, with the most important minimum inhibitory concentration values ranging from 31.25 to 125 µg/ml. Regarding the antiprotozoal activity, thiazolyl-pyrazolines 9g , 8f , and 7c display high activity against Plasmodium falciparum, Leishmania (V) panamensis, and Trypanosoma cruzi, with EC₅₀ values of 11.80, 6.46, and 4.98 μM, respectively, and with 7c being approximately 2.6-fold more potent than benznidazole with a selectivity index of 1.61 on U-937 human cells, showing promising potential as a novel antitrypanosomal agent.     

蒺藜果实的化学成分研究

目的研究蒺藜科植物蒺藜Tribulus terrester的干燥成熟果实的化学成分。方法利用硅胶柱色谱、Sephadex LH-20凝胶柱色谱、制备HPLC和薄层色谱等方法进行分离、纯化,并结合HR-ESI-MS与现代波谱学技术鉴定化合物结构。结果从蒺藜果实中分离得到14个化合物,分别鉴定为N-p-阿魏酰酪胺(1)、N-trans-p-coumaroyl-3-O-methyldopamine(2)、甲基阿魏酸(3)、咖啡酸甲酯(4)、原儿茶酸甲酯(5)、trifilines A(6)、5β-spirost-25(27)-en-3β-ol-12-one 3-O-{β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-O-[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)]-β-D-glucopyranoside}(7)、tribulosaponin B(8)、isoterrestrosin B(9)、25(R)-螺甾烷-3,5-二烯-12-酮(10)、25(R)-螺甾烷-24β-羟基-4-烯-3,12-酮(11)、26-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(25S)-5α-furostane-20(22)-en-12-one-3β,26-diol-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)]-β-D-galactopyranoside(12)、terrestrinone A1(13)和terrestrinone A2(14)。结论化合物1～7为首次从蒺藜科植物中分离得到。