AIM: To investigate the relationship between Alzheimer disease(AD) and alpha 2-macroglobulin(α2M) initially so as to provide evidence for the pathogenesis of late-onset AD.METHODS: The significance of α2M in the late-onset AD was revealed through pathology of α2M in AD and the polymorphism of α2M in AD patients.RESULTS: The association between AD and α2M region on the twelfth chromatosome was analyzed with the genic linkage, and pathological symptom of α2M in AD patients was supported by many evidences. Two polymorphism sites of α2M were located on the 12P12-13, which could increase more risks to AD patients.CONCLUSION: It is significant to investigate the frequency, mutation,polymorphism and expression of gene α2M for the pathogenesis of late-onset AD and its genic diagnosis.

In the clinic postgraduate cultivation,the student-centralized teaching philosophy claims to elevate students’ activeness,develop their leading function sufficiently,carry out students-centralized and teachers-assisted case discussion,and meanwhile proceed phase tests. In this way,it is profitable for improving students’ ability of thinking and teaching effectiveness.

Objective:To examine the clinical subtypes of patients with multisystem atrophy(MSA)that may indicate the prognosis of patients.Additionally, we aim to compare the ability to perform daily activities among patients of each subtype using cluster analysis.Methods:The retrospective analysis included demographic data, clinical symptoms and signs, scale scores, and ancillary examinations of 94 patients diagnosed with multisystem atrophy at Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University.The study aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics of each subtype obtained through clustering.Additionally, a comparison was made between patients with traditional motor subtypes and those with new subtypes in terms of activities of daily living.The study consisted of 94 MSA patients, with an average age of 61 years and a female representation of 51.1%.Using the data collected on the continuum, a full linkage hierarchical cluster analysis was performed to classify MSA patients into four clinical subtypes: gait disorder(17 cases, 18.1%), malignant tonic hyperkinetic with premature haircut(25 cases, 26.6%), intermediate(43 cases, 45.7%), and autonomic benign type(9 cases, 9.6%).Each subtype exhibited various clinical motor and non-motor symptoms, including UPDRS-Ⅲ( χ2=27.90, P<0.001), gait disturbance( χ2=33.23, P<0.001), MoCA( χ2=10.98, P=0.012), HAMA( χ2=12.14, P=0.007), HAMD( χ2=13.62, P=0.003), smell score( χ2=10.16, P=0.017), postural hypotension( χ2=14.59, P=0.028), and a statistically significant difference in the ability to perform daily living score( χ2=25.35, P<0.001).No statistically significant differences in non-motor symptoms and activities of daily living abilities were observed between the cerebellar and Parkinsonian types of traditional motor typing( P>0.05). Conclusions:The hierarchical clustering analysis conducted in this study reveals that the clinical phenotype of MSA provides a more accurate reflection of patients' clinical characteristics and their impact on quality of life compared to the traditional motor phenotype.Additionally, it may help predict variations in the underlying pathological impairment and the rate of disease progression.These findings offer a foundation for precise diagnostic interventions in patients with MSA.

Objective:To summarize and compare the characteristics of orthostatic hypotension (OH)　in　patients　with　Parkinson′s disease and multiple system atrophy (MSA).Methods:The active standing test data of 210 Parkinson′s disease patients (Parkinson′s disease group) and 85 MSA patients (MSA group) admitted to the Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University from January 2021 to March 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Demographic information, clinical data, Hoehn-Yahr staging, and Unified Parkinson′s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), Non-Motor Symptoms Questionnaire (NMSQ), Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale and Mini-Mental State Examination scores were collected. The comparative analysis of OH was conducted according to the changes of heart rate and blood pressure during the active standing test.Results:Among the 85 patients with MSA, 52 were found with MSA parkinsonism variant (MSA-P) and 33 with MSA cerebellar variant (MSA-C). The 210 Parkinson′s disease patients were aged (61.5±11.0) years, with 116 males (55.2%). The 85　MSA　patients　were aged (60.1±6.8) years, with 44 males (51.8%). Compared with the Parkinson′s disease group, the Hoehn-Yahr staging [2.0(2.0, 3.0) vs 3.0(2.0, 3.0), Z=-5.278, P<0.001], NMSQ[ 25.0(11.0,46.5) vs 45.0(24.0,70.0), Z=-3.632, P<0.001] and UPDRS scores [50.0(32.0,68.0) vs 65.5(44.5,78.5), Z=-3.073, P=0.003] in the MSA group were higher. The incidence of OH in the MSA group was higher than that in the Parkinson′s disease group [63.5% (54/85) vs 25.7%(54/210), χ 2= 37.284, P<0.001], but there was no statistically significant difference between the MSA-P and MSA-C groups . Compared with the Parkinson′s disease group, the MSA group had a higher incidence of classical OH [54.1%(46/85) vs 12.9%(27/210), χ 2=55.316, P<0.001] and neurogenic OH [36.5%(31/85) vs 9.0%(19/210), χ 2=32.326, P<0.001],but there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of initial OH and delayed OH between the two groups. The incidence of severe OH in the MSA group was also higher than that in the Parkinson′s disease group [57.6%(49/85) vs 16.7%(35/210), χ 2=49.894, P<0.001], but there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of pre-clinical OH and mild OH between the two groups. Conclusions:The incidence, time change, severity and pathophysiological basis of OH in Parkinson′s disease and MSA patients are different. Different types of OH may help to distinguish MSA from Parkinson′s disease.