Parkinson's disease(PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder harming mainly the elderly.Astrocyte may be involved in the pathogenesis of PD.However,it also plays a protective role in PD by releasing neurotrophic factors and glutathione to support the survival of dopaminergic neurons.Astrocyte may also release proinflammatory cytokines to promote the development of PD.

Aim To investigate whether prostaglandin E2(PGE2)can increase endogenous Nurr1 expression in a dopamine-synthesizing cell line(MN9D) with immature characteristics and to study whether tyrosine hydroxylase(TH) expression is up-regulated in response to Nurr1-overexpression,in order to investigate the role of Nurr1 during dopaninergic neurons development.Methods MN9D cells were treated with 100 ?g?L-1 PGE2 for 2 h to 6 h.The morphology changes of MN9D cells were observed under phase-contrast microscope. The expression of Nurr1 and TH in MN9D cells was analyzed by using immunohistochemical staining and Western blot analysis.Results ① The morphology of MN9D cells did not change significantly following PGE2 treatment for 2 h,4 h and 6h compared with that of MN9D cells left untreated.② Nurr1-positive staining in MN9D cells treated with PGE2 for 2 h,4 h and 6 h was much stronger than that of untreated cells while the percent of TH-positive MN9D cells after PGE2 treatment for 2 h,4 h and 6 h was similar to that of untreated.③ The expression of Nurr1 protein in MN9D cells treatment with PGE2 for 6 h was significantly higher than that of untreated(P

Plasmodium vivax reemerged in 1993. It has been sustained for more than 25 years and become one of the important indigenous parasitic diseases in northern and western parts of the Republic of Korea near the demilitarized zone. In particular, relapse is a significant concern for the control of malaria, as short- and long-term incubation periods vary among those infected in Korea. In this study, the prevalence of asymptomatic carriers was examined among residents of high endemic areas of vivax malaria during nonseasonal transmission of mosquitoes. Blood samples from 3 endemic regions in northwestern Korea were evaluated by microscopic examination, rapid diagnostic testing, and nested PCR to identify asymptomatic patients carrying malaria parasites in the community. However, no positive malaria case among residents of endemic areas was detected. Additionally, serological analysis was carried out to measure antibodies against 3 antigenic recombinant proteins of P. vivax, merozoite surface protein 1-19, circumsporozoite surface protein-VK210, and liver-stage antigen (PvLSA-N), by the protein array method. Interestingly, seropositivity of sera between previous exposure and samples without exposure to malaria was significantly higher using the PvLSA-N antigen than the other antigens, suggesting that PvLSA-N can be used as a serological marker to analyze the degree of exposure for malaria transmission in endemic areas. This indicates a very low asymptomatic carrier prevalence during the nonmalaria season in the endemic areas of Korea.

Plasmodium vivax reemerged in 1993. It has been sustained for more than 25 years and become one of the important indigenous parasitic diseases in northern and western parts of the Republic of Korea near the demilitarized zone. In particular, relapse is a significant concern for the control of malaria, as short- and long-term incubation periods vary among those infected in Korea. In this study, the prevalence of asymptomatic carriers was examined among residents of high endemic areas of vivax malaria during nonseasonal transmission of mosquitoes. Blood samples from 3 endemic regions in northwestern Korea were evaluated by microscopic examination, rapid diagnostic testing, and nested PCR to identify asymptomatic patients carrying malaria parasites in the community. However, no positive malaria case among residents of endemic areas was detected. Additionally, serological analysis was carried out to measure antibodies against 3 antigenic recombinant proteins of P. vivax, merozoite surface protein 1-19, circumsporozoite surface protein-VK210, and liver-stage antigen (PvLSA-N), by the protein array method. Interestingly, seropositivity of sera between previous exposure and samples without exposure to malaria was significantly higher using the PvLSA-N antigen than the other antigens, suggesting that PvLSA-N can be used as a serological marker to analyze the degree of exposure for malaria transmission in endemic areas. This indicates a very low asymptomatic carrier prevalence during the nonmalaria season in the endemic areas of Korea.