Multi-omics profiling reveals PLEKHA6 as a modulator of β-catenin signaling and therapeutic vulnerability in lung adenocarcinoma.

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remains the most prevalent and lethal subtype of lung cancer, largely due to late diagnosis and therapeutic resistance. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive multi-omics analysis to characterize the pleckstrin homology domain-containing (PLEKHA) family gene in LUAD. Among the eight members, PLEKHA6 was uniquely overexpressed in LUAD tissues and significantly associated with poor prognosis.

Integration of multi-omics and single-cell transcriptome reveals mitochondrial outer membrane protein-2 (MTX-2) as a prognostic biomarker and characterizes ubiquinone metabolism in lung adenocarcinoma.

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remains to be one of the most prevalent and highly invasive forms of cancer. Mitochondrial outer membrane protein-2 or Metaxin-2 (MTX2), a key regulator of mitochondrial function, has been linked to cellular bioenergetics and stress response mechanisms. However, its roles in the progression and prognosis of LUAD remain largely unexplored.

Restoration of Range of Motion in the Cervical Spine through Single-Segment Artificial Disc Replacement Using the BagueraC Prosthesis.

Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is a standard procedure for degenerative diseases of the cervical spine, providing nerve decompression and spinal stabilization. However, it limits cervical spine motility, restricts fused segment activity, and may lead to adjacent degeneration. Cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA) is an accepted alternative that preserves the structure and flexibility of the cervical spine.

Pachymeningeal en plaque metastasis from gastric cancer mimicking subdural hematoma: illustrative case.

Background: Pachymeningeal metastasis associated with gastric cancer, especially in its early stages, is extremely rare.

Observations: The authors describe a 77-year-old man with a past medical history of lung cancer and previously treated chronic subdural hematoma who was admitted to their hospital because of hematemesis and newly diagnosed gastric cancer. He became unconscious during the hospitalization.

Baicalein Exerts Therapeutic Effects against Endotoxin-Induced Depression-like Behavior in Mice by Decreasing Inflammatory Cytokines and Increasing Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Levels.

Inflammation plays an important role in the pathophysiology of depression. This study aims to elucidate the antidepressant effect of baicalein, an anti-inflammatory component of a traditional Chinese herbal medicine (), on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced depression-like behavior in mice, and to investigate the underlying mechanisms. In vitro, baicalein exhibited antioxidant activity and protected macrophages from LPS-induced damage.

The relationship between theory of mind and the executive functions: Evidence from patients with frontal lobe damage.

"Theory of mind" (ToM) refers to the ability to predict others' thoughts, intentions, beliefs, and feelings. Evidence from neuropsychology and functional imaging indicates that ToM is a domain-specific or modular architecture; however, research in development psychology has suggested that ToM is the full development of the executive functions in individuals. Therefore, the relationship between ToM and the executive functions needs to be clarified.

Mentalizing ability in patients with prefrontal cortex damage.

Introduction: Mentalizing ability is the issue in the social cognition of patients with brain injury that has received the most attention. The present study investigated mentalization ability in patients with prefrontal cortex damage. The aims of this study were to investigate: (a) whether patients with prefrontal cortex damage are impaired in mentalizing ability, including theory of mind (ToM) and empathy; (b) whether patients with ventromedial prefrontal cortex damage are impaired in different aspects of ToM; (c) whether patients with ventromedial prefrontal cortex damage are impaired in different aspects of empathy; and (d) whether impairment of mentalizing ability in patients with prefrontal cortex damage can be explained by executive dysfunction.

(±)3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine inhibits the TEA-sensitive K⁺ current in the hippocampal neuron and the Kv2.1 current expressed in H1355 cells.

The whole-cell patch clamp method was used to study the effects of (±)3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) in hippocampal CA1 neurons from neonatal rats and in lung epithelial H1355 cells expressing Kv2.1. Extracellular application of MDA (30 μM) induced bursts of action potentials in hippocampal CA1 neurons exhibiting single spike action potentials without a bursting firing pattern, and promoted action potential bursts in hippocampal CA1 neurons exhibiting bursting firing of action potentials.

Non-Hodgkin's B-cell lymphoma of a lumbar nerve root: a rare cause of lumbar radiculopathy.

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma involving the spinal nerve roots is rare. The presentation of nerve root lymphoma mimics other forms of radiculopathy. In vivo, nerve root lymphomas are difficult to differentiate from nerve sheath tumors by imaging studies.

Action potential bursts in central snail neurons elicited by procaine: roles of ionic currents.

The role of ionic currents on procaine-elicited action potential bursts was studied in an identifiable RP1 neuron of the African snail, Achatina fulica Ferussac, using the two-electrode voltage clamp method. The RP1 neuron generated spontaneous action potentials and bath application of procaine at 10 mM reversibly elicited action potential bursts in a concentration-dependent manner. Voltage clamp studies revealed that procaine at 10 mM decreased [1] the Ca2+ current, [2] the Na+ current, [3] the delayed rectifying K+ current I(KD), and [4] the fast-inactivating K+ current (I(A)).

Evidence of D-phenylglycine as delivering tool for improving L-dopa absorption.

Background: L-dopa has been used for Parkinson's disease management for a long time. However, its wide variety in the rate and the extent of absorption remained challenge in designing suitable therapeutic regime. We report here a design of using D-phenylglycine to guard L-dopa for better absorption in the intestine via intestinal peptide transporter I (PepT1).

An unusual primitive neuroectodermal tumor in the thoracic epidural space.

Primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) is a generic term used to describe a group of histologically indistinguishable neoplasms, including cerebellar medulloblastomas, which are located at various sites in the central nervous system. Primary epidural PNETs are rare and few patients have been reported. We report a 15-year-old girl who presented with gradual onset, over 1 month, of upper back pain and bilateral lower leg weakness.

Ecstasy and methamphetamine elicit action potential bursts via different mechanisms in a central snail neuron.

This study sought to determine the effects of (+) methamphetamine (METH) and its ring-substituted analog (+/-)3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; ecstasy) on electrophysiological behavior and their relationships to second messenger systems in an identifiable RP4 neuron of the African snail, Achatina fulica Ferussac. Extracellular application of MDMA at 1mM and METH at 3mM elicited action potential bursts that were not blocked after immersing the neurons in Ca(2+)-free solution. Notably, MDMA- (1mM) elicited action potential bursts were blocked by pretreatment with the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors chelerythrine (20 microM) and Ro 31-8220 (20 microM), but not by the PKA inhibitors KT-5720 (10 microM) and H89 (10 microM).

Arsenic trioxide modulates the central snail neuron action potential.

Background/purpose: The electropharmacological effect of arsenic trioxide (As2O3) is unknown. The present study investigated the effects of As2O3 on spontaneous neuronal impulse activity.

Methods: Intracellular recordings and the two-electrode voltage clamp method were used to study the effect of As2O3 on the RP4 neuron, the number 4 neuron in the right partial ganglion of the giant African snail (Achatina fulica Ferussac).

Inflammatory mediators of cerebrospinal fluid from patients with spinal cord injury.

Background: The guidelines of MP treatment for acute SCI are still under debate. We examined the inflammatory mediators of CSF in patients with SCI and assessed the effect of MP treatment.

Methods: We studied 7 patients with acute SCI at the cervical level and examined the mediators of CSF in patients by cytokine antibody array, ELISA and gelatin zymography.

Effects of sodium azide, barium ion, d-amphetamine and procaine on inward rectifying potassium channel 6.2 expressed in Xenopus oocytes.

Background/purpose: Inward rectifying potassium channel 6.2 (Kir6.2DelataC26 channel) is closely related to ATP-sensitive potassium channels.

Analgesic effect of lidocaine patch 5% in the treatment of acute herpes zoster: a double-blind and vehicle-controlled study.

Background And Objectives: Although lidocaine patch 5% has been widely used for postherpetic neuralgia, its analgesic effect on the intense pain associated with acute herpes zoster has not been investigated because of its potential hazard to damaged skin.

Methods: Forty-six patients suffering from moderate to severe pain caused by acute herpes zoster infection (within 4 weeks of onset) were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled, parallel study. Lidocaine patch 5% or vehicle patch were applied to the intact portion of the painful skin area without blisters at 12-hour intervals twice a day for 2 consecutive days.

d-Amphetamine inhibits inwardly rectifying potassium channels in Xenopus oocytes expression system.

Effects of d-amphetamine on the renal outer medullary potassium (ROMK1) channels were tested in the Xenopus oocytes expression system. Xenopus oocytes were injected with mRNA coding for wild-type or mutant ROMK1 channels. Giant inside-out patch-clamp recordings were performed.

Effects of penicillin on procaine-elicited bursts of potential in central neuron of snail, Achatina fulica.

Effects of penicillin on changes in procaine-elicited bursts of potential (BoP) were studied in a central neuron (RP4) of snail, Achatina fulica Ferussac. Procaine elicited BoP in the RP4 neuron while penicillin elicited depolarization of the neuron. Penicillin decreased the BoP elicited by procaine in a concentration-dependent manner.

Neurotoxicity of a novel local anesthetic agent, ropivacaine: the possible roles of bursts of potential and cytoplasmic second messenger.

Background/purpose: Ropivacaine has been shown to induce convulsion following overdose or accidental intravenous injection, but the mechanisms are poorly understood. Using an identifiable central neuron from giant African snail, the authors studied the mechanism of ropivacaine-elicited bursts of potential and explored the possible mechanisms of ropivacaine-induced neurotoxicity.

Methods: Ropivacaine action on a central neuron (RP4) of the giant African snail (Achatina fulica Ferussac) was recorded by conventional electrophysiologic technique.

Bursts of potential elicited by d-amphetamine in central snail neuron: effect of sodium azide.

Effects of sodium azide (NaN(3)) on spontaneously generated action potential and bursts of potential elicited by d-amphetamine (d-amphetamine-elicited BoP) were studied on the right parietal 4 (RP4) neuron of the snail Achatina fulica Ferussac in vitro. Sodium azide altered the spontaneous action potential of RP4 neuron in a concentration-dependent manner. In lower concentrations, neither NaN(3) (30, 100, 300 microM; 1 and 3 mM) nor d-amphetamine (135 microM) affect the resting membrane potential, amplitude and frequency of RP4 neurons, while in the higher concentrations NaN(3) (30 mM) did abolish the spontaneous action potential on RP4 neurons and depolarized the RP4 neurons reversibly.

Phylogenetic characterization of Newcastle disease viruses isolated in Taiwan during 2003-2006.

Isolates of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) from chicken cases were obtained from various locations in Taiwan during 2003-2006 and were genotypically analyzed by using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with primers specific to the viral fusion (F) protein gene (534 bp). Part of the amplified F protein DNA product (nucleotide sequence 47-418) and the deduced amino acid sequences were compared phylogenetically with those from strains previously reported in Taiwan and other geographic regions. Our results showed that all Taiwanese isolates (n=20) collected during 2003-2006, according to the phylogenetic tree, belong to the genotype VIId.

(+/-)3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine elicits action potential bursts in a central snail neuron.

The effects of (+/-)3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) were studied in an identifiable RP4 neuron of the African snail, Achatina fulica Ferussac, using the two-electrode voltage-clamp method. The RP4 neuron generated spontaneous action potentials. Extracellular or intracellular application of MDA elicited action potential bursts of the central RP4 neuron.

Effects of selective unilateral dorsal root(s) rhizotomy on micturition reflex in anesthetized rats.

Purpose: To clarify the contributions of sensory inputs and glutamate transmissions to the spinal micturition reflex.

Materials And Methods: Cystometrogram and external urethral sphincter electromyogram activities evaluated the L6 and/or S1 levels.

Results: Changes in intravesicular pressure (IVP) in response to saline infusion (0.