PRKCG mutation (SCA-14) causing a Ramsay Hunt phenotype.

Progressive myoclonic ataxia, also referred to as Ramsay Hunt syndrome, is characterized by a combination of myoclonus and cerebellar ataxia, infrequently accompanied by tonic-clonic seizures. Its differential diagnosis overlaps with progressive myoclonic epilepsy, a syndrome with myoclonus, tonic-clonic seizures, progressive ataxia and dementia. In patients with progressive myoclonic epilepsy, specific diseases can frequently be recognized, but the diagnostic yield in progressive myoclonic ataxia is much lower. We describe a patient who presented with multifocal myoclonus in his thirties and who later developed cerebellar ataxia and focal dystonia. His father was similarly affected. Genetic studies revealed a mutation in the protein kinase C gamma (PRKCG) gene, known to cause spinocerebellar ataxia type 14 (SCA-14). This case illustrates that both myoclonus and dystonia are part of the clinical spectrum in SCA-14 and that myoclonus can even be the presenting symptom. We suggest that SCA-14 should be considered in the differential diagnosis of progressive myoclonic ataxia.     

Novel multi-probe RNase protection assay set for detection of endotoxin associated receptors gene expression

Objective: To construct the multi-probe ribonuclease protection assay (RPA) template set to be used for detecting expression patterns of MD-2, TLR4, CD14 mRNAs in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Methods : The designed cDNA fragments of the three genes were generated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)using specific primers and directionally cloned into EcoR I and Hind III sites of expression plasmid pSP72 containing the T7/ promoter, the linearized plasmids was used as template to synthesize anti-sense RNA probes. Then we extracted total RNA from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and detected the dynamic expression patterns of the three genes with RPA method. Results: The proper sequence and orientation of the template set were confirmed by sequencing and the template set was successfully used to assay TLR4, MD-2 and CD14 mRNAs in human PBMC. The results showed that the three detected genes decreased transiently 1-3 hours after 100 ng/ml LPS stimulation. Conclusions: These new RPA multi-probe set provided valuable tool for the simultaneous quantitative determination of expression of TLR4, CD14 and MD-2 mRNAs in both constitutive and inducible types.     

Synthesis of 14C‐labeled piperidines and application to synthesis of [14C]SCH 351125, a CCR5 receptor antagonist

1‐Benzyl‐4‐hydroxy[2‐¹⁴C]piperidine, a useful intermediate in labeled compound synthesis, was prepared from [¹⁴C]formaldehyde in high yield. The distribution pattern of ¹⁴C in the product is consistent with a mechanism involving reversible iminium ion formation and rapid equilibration of the iminium ion through a cationic aza‐Cope rearrangement. These steps precede the rate‐determining intramolecular cyclization step. SCH 351125 is a potent, selective CCR5 receptor antagonist with potential as a treatment for HIV infection. [¹⁴C]SCH 351125, required for metabolism studies, was prepared from 1‐benzyl‐4‐hydroxy[2‐¹⁴C]piperidine in six steps. [¹⁴C]SCH 351125 is a mixture of four atropisomers. Preparation of [¹⁴C]SCH 351125 besylate salt of the desired atropisomer pair is also described. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Stereoselective synthesis of radiolabelled avermectins

The natural products avemectin B _1a 1a and B _1b 1b were each site‐specifically ¹⁴C labelled at carbon 23 in a convergent synthesis for metabolism, residue, and environmental studies. The 12‐step radiosynthesis involved a stereoselective aldol condensation and later a coupling to a protected avermectin degradate 2 in a one‐pot Wittig condensation/spiroketalization to reconstitute the dioxaspirane configuration found in the natural products. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

脱水穿心莲内酯珀琥酸半酯单钾盐家兔体内药代动力学实验研究

采用紫外分光光度法测定脱水穿心莲内酯琥珀酸半酯单钾盐血药浓度,并对腹腔单剂量注射给药后家兔体内药代动力学进行了研究。用计算机对血药时间数据进行了曲线拟合。结果表明:该药腹腔注射给药在家兔体内的转运符合二室开模型动力学方程。     

Soluble CD14 but not interleukin-6 is a new marker for clinical activity in atopic dermatitis

Summary Levels of soluble IL-2 receptors, IL-6, soluble CD23, soluble CD14 and ECP (eosinophilic cationic protein) were measured as markers of T-cell, B-cell, monocyte and eosinophilic leucocyte activation in 26 patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) on admission to (A) and at discharge from (D) the Department of Dermatology in Zurich. The serum levels of sIL-2R, IL-6, sCD23, sCD14 and ECP were significantly elevated in AD patients in comparison with the normal values of healthy donors. A significant decrease in sIL-2R (p=0.0093) and in sCD14 (p=0.0134) levels was demonstrated between A and D, correlating with the improvement in the skin intensity score (SIS). In addition, a significant correlation of the sCD14 levels and the SIS at A was demonstrated (p=0.0415). These results also incriminate monocytes in the pathogenesis of AD, indicating that, besides sIL-2R and ECP, SCD14 could also be a possible marker for the disease activity.     

dC14可抑制小鼠SRS腹水瘤的发病和生长

作者曾经体外实验证明,均聚寡脱氧胞嘧啶核苷酸片段(dC14)有抗病毒活性,现继续研究其在体内的作用。不给dC14的对照组小鼠,接种腹水瘤细胞后:100％发病和死亡,潜伏期为6d,存活期11d;给每只小鼠dC14 1.3～3.2 mg,发病率和死亡率降低至20％,疾病潜伏期和存活期推迟。在未经dC14处理的种瘤细胞和淋巴组织与经处理的淋巴组织中,多聚酶链反应(PCR)法都检测到病毒核酸,而正常小鼠中则无此种病毒核酸顺序。研究结果提示,dC14对小鼠SRS腹水瘤的发病和生长有抑制作用。此种抑制作用可能是通过抑制病毒基因的表达来实现的。     

Cerenkov counting of low-energy beta-emitters using a new ceramic with high refractive index

The threshold beta-ray energy for Cerenkov photon production can be reduced to about 0.07 MeV by using a transparent ceramic with a high refractive index. This makes it possible to measure the low-energy beta-emitters ¹⁴C and ⁴⁵Ca by Cerenkov counting with efficiencies of 1.5% and 2.3%, respectively.     

Diffusion‐Weighted MRI in Creutzfeldt‐Jakob Disease: A Better Diagnostic Marker Than CSF Protein 14‐3‐3?

Two middle-aged patients presented with rapidly progressive dementia and ataxia, nonspecific electroencephalography findings, and negative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) protein 14-3-3. Both patients underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans that demonstrated abnormalities on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) sequences, and both were later confirmed to have Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. (CJD) by tissue examination. Because a recent position paper from the American Academy of Neurology characterized CSF protein 14-3-3 as a gold standard for clinically diagnosing CJD, the authors reviewed studies of CJD in which DWI-MRI imaging and CSF protein 14-3-3 studies were both performed. Among 19 reported cases of CJD with DWI-MRI lesions, CSF protein 14-3-3 was negative in 6 cases and positive in 2 others. The authors' findings suggest that multifocal cortical and subcortical hyperintensities confined to gray matter regions in DWI-MRI may be a more useful noninvasive diagnostic marker for CJD than CSF protein 14-3-3. These observations provide a compelling rationale for a prospective comparative study.     

Creutzfeldt-Jakob病脑组织14-3-3蛋白表达及其意义

目的探讨Creutzfeldt—Jakob病（CJD）脑组织内14-3-3蛋白表达及其诊断意义。方法实验组为5例cJD额叶组织，对照组为4例非CJD额叶组织。采用14-3-3B和s抗体，通过链霉菌抗生物素蛋白-过氧化酶（S—P）免疫组织化学方法进行检测。并参照KB、胶质纤维酸性蛋白（GFAP）、PrP免疫组织化学染色和129基因型检测结果。结果实验组5例脑组织14—3-3蛋白有较多地表达，其中3例灰质与星形胶质细胞尤著。其表达程度与PrP沉积类型有关，而与PrP129基因型无关。对照组4例中除2例急性脑挫伤仅个别神经细胞有表达外，肾上腺脑白质营养不良与额颞叶痴呆灰质和白质均无表达。结论14-3．3蛋白在脑内较多地表达，有利于CJD的病理诊断。