Emerging evidence suggests that dysbiosis of the gut microbiota is associated with the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD), a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder. The microbiota-gut-brain axis plays a crucial role in the development and progression of PD, and numerous studies have demonstrated the potential therapeutic benefits of modulations in the intestinal microbiota. This review provides insights into the characterization of the gut microbiota in patients with PD and highlights associations with clinical symptoms and underlying mechanisms. The discussion underscores the increased influence of the gut microbiota in the pathogenesis of PD. While the relationship is not fully elucidated, existing research demonstrates a strong correlation between changes in the composition of gut microbiota and disease development, and further investigation is warranted to explain the specific underlying mechanisms.
Humans ; Parkinson Disease/microbiology* ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology* ; Dysbiosis/microbiology*

BACKGROUND: Gait impairment is closely related to quality of life in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). This study aimed to explore alterations in brain microstructure in PD patients and healthy controls (HCs) and to identify the correlation of gait impairment in the ON and OFF states of patients with PD, respectively. METHODS: We enrolled 24 PD patients and 29 HCs from the Movement Disorders Program at Beijing Friendship Hospital Capital Medical University between 2019 and 2020. We acquired magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans and processed the diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) images. Preprocessing of diffusion-weighted data was performed with Mrtrix3 software, using a directional distribution function to track participants' main white matter fiber bundles. Demographic and clinical characteristics were recorded. Quantitative gait and clinical scales were used to assess the status of medication ON and OFF in PD patients. RESULTS: The axial kurtosis (AK), mean kurtosis (MK), and radial kurtosis (RK) of five specific white matter fiber tracts, the bilateral corticospinal tract, left superior longitudinal fasciculus, left anterior thalamic radiation, forceps minor, and forceps major were significantly higher in PD patients compared to HCs. Additionally, the MK values were negatively correlated with Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) scores in both the ON and OFF in PD patients. Within the PD group, higher AK, MK, and RK values, whether the patients were ON or OFF, were associated with better gait performance (i.e., higher velocity and stride length). CONCLUSIONS PD exhibits characteristic regional patterns of white matter microstructural degradation. Correlations between objective gait parameters and DKI values suggest that dopamine-responsive gait function depends on preserved white matter microstructure. DKI-based Tract-Based Spatial Statistics (TBSS) analysis may serve as a tool for evaluating PD-related motor impairments (e.g., gait impairment) and could yield potential neuroimaging biomarkers.
Humans ; Parkinson Disease/diagnostic imaging* ; White Matter/physiopathology* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Gait/physiology* ; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods* ; Diffusion Tensor Imaging/methods*

Objective: To investigate the role of peroxisome proliferator-activated-receptor-γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) in carotid atherosclerosis due to human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection. Methods: Thirty-three samples of carotid arterial sclerosis plaques after carotid endarterectomy (CEA) were collected in the experiment group, and 12 pieces of normal intracranial arteries were collected in the control group. The plaques of carotid artery were studied using in situ hybridization (ISH) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) for the role of PGC-1α in HCMV related atherosclerosis. HCMV immediate early (IE) gene of two groups was detected using ISH, and the expression of PGC-1α using IHC. Results: HCMV IE gene was positive 72.7% in the atherosclerotic plague group, while 16.6% in the control group, there was significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05). As to PGC-1α expression, in the atherosclerosis group, 8/33(24.2%) were strongly positive (+ + + ), 9/33(27.2%) were positive (+ + ), 6/33(18.2%) were weakly positive (+ ), and 10/33(30.3%) were negative (-). While in the control group, 1/12(8.3%) was strongly positive (+ + + ), 2/12(16.7%) were positive (+ + ), and 1/12 (8.3%) was weakly positive (+ ), and 8/12 (66.7%) were negative (-). The differences between the two groups were statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusions HCMV immediate early gene and PGC-1α were both related to athersclerotic plaque formation, suggesting that PGC-1α may play an important role in as the plaque formation due to HCMV infection.

Objective: To investigate the role of lectin-like Ox-LDL receptor-1( LOX-1) in the activation and oxidative stress of cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cell(HUVEC) after human cytomegalovirus(HCMV) infection. Methods: HUVEC were divided into four groups: HCMV, Control, Carrageenan, and HCMV+ Carrageenan. After HCMV AD169 infection, the supernatant of the culture was extracted, and cells were lysed. The levels of LOX-1 mRNA, intercellular adhesion molecule-1(ICAM-1) mRNA and vascular cellular adhesion molecule-1(VCAM-1) in HUVEC were measured by real-time PCR. And the content of nitrogen monoxidum(NO) of the supernatant was detected by nitrate reductase method accordingly. Results: 24 h after infection, the mRNA expression of LOX-1, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in HUVEC of HCMV infected group increased obviously compared to control, and NO quantity increased accordingly. The mRNA expression of LOX-1, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 and the quantity of NO decreased after adding the LOX-1 inhibitor carrageenan. There was significant difference between groups(P<0.05). Conclusions HCMV may increase the mRNA expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 and quantity of NO by upregulating the mRNA expresion of LOX-1, which may contribute to the formation of a therosclerosis(AS).

Objective: To have a profound understanding of anti-N-methyl-D-aspartic receptor (anti-NMDAR) encephalitis, through the clinical analysis of 5 cases of anti-NMDAR encephalitis, and literature review. Methods: This is a retrospective analysis. Five cases of anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis treated from May 2010 to June 2015, in the Department of Neurology, Beijing Friendship Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University, were included in this study. The clinical data, including clinical manifestation, past history, radiological features, serum and cerebral spinal fluid examinations, treatment and prognosis, were analyzed. Results: Among the 5 cases, 3 young female and 2 middle-to old-aged male. The clinical features of the onset was mental and behavior disorder, as well as seizure and extrapyramidal features, like facial and limbic involuntary movements or tremor. Coma and hypopnea was severe in 3 young female cases, needing assistance of mechanical ventilator, while the manifestation of 2 male patients was much mild, need not assisted respiration. 1 case had teratoma of ovary, 1 case had Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome. The anti-NMDA receptor antibody was positive in cerebraospinal fluid of all 5 cases, but in serum of 3 cases, serum and CSF Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) IgM antibody was positive in 1 case, while herpes simplex I virus (HSV-1) IgM antibody positive in another case, and anti-myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) antibody was seen in serum and CSF in 1 case. The time interval from the onset to treatment was 10-37 d (18.8±9.8 d). IVIG was used in all of the 5 cases, glucocoticoid in 4 cases, and plasma exchange in 3 cases. One case with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome, having a long time before diagnosis and treatment, died, while the other 4 cases had good prognosis, and had no relapse. Conclusions Mental and behavior disturbance is common at onset of anti-NMDAR encephalitis. The radiological and lab examination may be normal. It may be accompanied with HSV-1 or EBV infection, anti-MOG antibody may be positive in this disease. Active treatment is important.

Objective: To investigate the role of the activation and oxidative stress of cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) after HCMV infection. Methods: HUVECs were divided into four groups: control, HCMV(+ ), after HCMV AD169 infection, and the supernatant of the culture was extracted, and the cells were lysed. The levels of vascular cellular adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) in HUVEC were measured by real-time PCR. And the content of nitrogen monoxide (NO) of the supernatant was detected by nitrate reductasemethod accordingly. Results: Twenty-four hours after infection, the mRNA expression of VCAM-1 in HUVECs of HCMV infected group increased obviously compared to control, and NO quantity increased accordingly and time-dependently. There was significant difference between groups(P<0.01). Conclusions HCMV increases the mRNA expression of VCAM-1 and quantity of NO, which may contribute to the formation of AS.

Objective To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of restless leg syndrome (RLS) in hemodialysis patients after kidney transplantation failure.Methods Patients of hemodialysis after kidney transplantation failure were investigated by face-to-face interviews,from March to July,2015,at four dialysis units in Beijing.RLS was diagnosed according to the International RLS Study Group (IRLSSG) criteria.The severity of RLS was assessed using International RLS Rating scale.Besides,three validated sleep disorder questionnaires (Hamilton anxiety and depression scale,Epworth sleepiness scale and Pittsburgh sleep quality index) were completed by the patients at the same time.Results Ninety-four hemodialysis patients after kidney transplantation failure were enrolled;46 patients (48.94％) met the diagnosis of RLS,the average age was 53.44±l 1.89 years,and the median time of RLS onset after kidney transplantation failure was 46 months.The International RLS Rating scale scores of the patients were 17.26±7.81;76.0％ patients were above moderate.As compared with the non-RLS patients,patients with RLS used more erythropoietin (44/48 vs.46/46),less ferrila (30/48 vs.19/46),and few hypnotic medicine (10/48 vs.3/46),with significant differences (P＜0.05).The serum ion,serum ferritin and serum Vitamin B12 of patients with RLS were significantly lower as compared with non-RLS patients (P＜0.05);and poorer sleep quality and higher depression scale scores in the patients with RLS were noted as compared with those in the non-RLS patients (P＜0.05).Conclusion The prevalence of RLS in hemodialysis patients after kidney transplantation failure is high,low iron protein content,low serum iron content and low vitamin B12 levels may be risk factors for RLS.

Objective To investigate the fluvastatin on apoE-/-mice vascular remodeling caused by cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection.Methods apoE-/-mice were infected with murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV).The extent of aortic atherosclerotic lesions,matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) expression,and fluvastatin effects on these perspectives were observed.Results MCMV infection can aggravate apoE-/-mice aortic atherosclerotic lesion area and vascular cross-sectional area,and the expression of MMP-9; while fluvastatin can improve these indicators.Conclusion Fluvastatin can improve vascular remodeling by MCMV infection of apoE-/-mice.