The Cytotoxic Effect of α-Synuclein Aggregates

Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder involving a functional protein, α-synuclein, whose primary function is related to vesicle trafficking. However, α-synuclein is prone to form aggregates, and these inclusions, known as Lewy bodies, are the hallmark of Parkinson's disease. α-synuclein can alter its conformation and acquire aggregating capacity, forming aggregates containing β-sheets. This protein's pathogenic importance is based on its ability to form oligomers that impair synaptic transmission and neuronal function by increasing membrane permeability and altering homeostasis, generating a deleterious effect over cells. First, we establish that oligomers interfere with the mechanical properties of 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC) membrane, as demonstrated by nanoindentation curves. In contrast, nanoindentation revealed that the α-synuclein monomer's presence leads to a much more resistant lipid bilayer. Moreover, the oligomers’ interaction with cell membranes can promote lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, suggesting the activation of cytotoxic events.     

Effect of Notoginsenoside-Rg1 on the Expression of Several Proteins in the Striatum of Rat Models with Parkinson＇s Disease

After establishing hemi-Parkinsonian rat models, the relationships between neuron death and the expression of several proteins, such as c-Fos, GFAP, GDNF, NF-κB and some cytokines were determined. Therapeutics experiments with notoginsenoside-Rg1 were carried out. The research results show that the expressions of GFAP, NF-Kκ and c-Fos will obviously increase in the lesion side of the striatum and the expression of GDNF will decrease, which implies that the signal transduction pathway may participate in the apoptosis in neurons. The levels of some cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-1β in the striatum of PD rat models increased compared to those of normal rats. The results of the therapeutics experiments show that notoginsenoside-Rg1 may repress the immune inflammation response and regulate the immune function through the neuro-immune molecular network. Therefore, notoginsenoside-Rg1 can be used as an effective drug for anti-oxidation and anti-inflammation, and can be used in the therapy of Parkinson＇s disease（PD）.     

Fluorescent humic substances–arsenic complex in well water in areas where blackfoot disease is endemic in Taiwan

The relationship between the four components, (1) fluorescence intensity, (2) arsenic concentration, (3) pH and (4) total dissolved solids, (TDS) measured in well waters from areas in Taiwan where blackfoot disease (BFD) is endemic was studied, as well as the relationships between the four degrees of BFD and each of the above four symptomatic components, in order to evaluate the etiological factors of BFD more progressively. The following 95% confidence intervals were obtained in well water samples (n = 1189): fluorescence intensity, 26.837–32.570; arsenic concentration, 0.103–0.127 mg dm^?3; pH, 7.466–7.519; and TDS 733.063–801.647 mg dm^?3. Fluorescence intensities of the four degrees of BFD were not all the same (F = 64.54, P < 0.001), and nor were arsenic concentrations (F = 72.03, P < 0.001), pH values (F = 7.30, P < 0.001), nor TDS values (F = 10.76, P < 0.001). In addition, multiple comparisons indicate that the higher the epidemical degree, the higher the fluorescence intensities, arsenic concentrations and pH values become; however, such a relationship is not found for TDS values. Moreover, the fluorescence intensities have positive linear correlations with arsenic concentrations (r = 0.49, P < 0.001), pH (r = 0.25, P < 0.001), and TDS (r = 0.18, P < 0.001), as do the arsenic concentrations with pH (r = 0.22, P < 0.001). Of the four epidemical degree groups, pairs are not significantly different from one another in correlation coefficients between fluorescence intensity and arsenic concentration, which implies a steady relationship between fluorescent compounds and arsenic. We conclude that fluorescent compounds in well water, as possible etiological factors of BFD, are closely related to arsenic along with pH and TDS values in the areas where BFD is endemic. In addition, we infer that a complex is formed by fluorescent compounds, arsenic and other metals.     

非终身免疫传染病模型解的适定性

本文将讨论非终生免疫性传染病模型解的适定性及正则性；同时证明了整体解的存在，以及解对初值的连续依赖。     

罗氏沼虾幼苗体内一种极小病毒的序列测定与分析

从患罗氏沼虾幼苗肌肉白浊病的幼虾体内分离到两种病毒颗粒,诺达病毒(MrNV)和直径只有15nm的小病毒颗粒(extrasmallvirus,XSV),本文通过建立病毒cDNA文库获得XSV基因组的部分序列,在此基础上合成探针,用从病虾组织中提取的总PNA进行Northern杂交,结果表明XSV基因组至少包括两条RNA片段.利用不同的方法对XSV的两端序列进行克隆和测定,分别得到了872、831和662bp3个相互重叠的序列片段,这3个序列的阅读框编码一个相同的大小在17×103左右的蛋白.     

微量元素与精神病的研究

一些基础医学实验研究和临床观察的资料表明，精神疾病患者体内的微量元素存在着显著的异常，已引起了国内外学者广泛关注，本文根据近年来的国内外文献报道，概述了微量元素锌（Ｚｎ），铜（Ｃｕ），铁（Ｆｅ）和常量元素钙（Ｃａ），镁（Ｍｇ）的生理作用及与精神病关系的研究进展。     

环境微量元素与大骨节病

通过对两个自然村的大骨节病的流行病学调查结果表明，患病率在１７．２％，从Ｘ线检查病变部位都在干骺端，说明致病因素的持续作用仍在发展中，所采水样中微量元素低于国家饮水标准，在今后疾病的防治中，应根据营养条件，生态环境，元素比例，农作物的病害，制作相关的防治措施。     

微量元素与老年性痴呆

阐明了几种微量元素在人体内某些部位的含量变化及其对神经系统产生的影响 ,以及与阿尔茨海默病 (老年性痴呆病 ,AD)临床症状的关系。研究表明 ,一些AD发病机制诸如突触及神经元的丢失、细胞内神经原的缠结和细胞外的老年斑等 ,与病人体内某些微量元素含量的异常密切相关 ,而且影响机制复杂 ,途径多样。探明微量元素的作用机制 ,对AD病的防治和诊断意义重大     

Aluminium(III) as a promoter of cellular oxidation

Aluminium has been known as a neurotoxic agent to experimental animals since the last century (Arch. Exp. Pharmacol. 40 (1897) 98). However, great interest arose in it bioinorganic chemistry as well biology when it was demonstrated to be the causative agent in pathologies related to the long-term dialysis treatment of uremic subjects with renal failure (Life Chem. 11 (1994) 197), and as a potential etiopathogenic cofactor for several neurodegenerative diseases. The inorganic biochemistry of aluminium is still largely to be discovered. In this review the pro-oxidative property of aluminium toward biological membrane will be presented and its implications in involvement in human pathology will be discussed in an interdisciplinary frame from the bioinorganic point of view.