ObjectiveThis paper aims to investigate the effects and mechanism of Mimenghua prescription in modulating the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase （MEK）/rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog （Ras）/rapidly accelerated fibrosarcoma kinase （Raf）/extracellular signal-regulated kinase （ERK） signaling pathway to inhibit inflammatory responses in a dry eye animal model. MethodsA total of 60 C57BL/6J mice （eight weeks old， half male and half female） were used in the experiment. Ten mice were randomly selected as the blank control group， while the remaining 50 were exposed to a controlled dry system and received instillation of 0.2% benzalkonium chloride （BAC） into the eyes for four weeks to establish a dry eye mouse model. After successful modeling， the mice were randomly divided into five groups： Model group， sodium hyaluronate group， and Mimenghua prescription groups with low dose （4.83 g·kg^-1）， medium dose （9.67 g·kg^-1）， and high dose （19.34 g·kg^-1）. The mice in the model group received an equal volume of normal saline via gavage for four weeks. The mice in the sodium hyaluronate group received instillation of sodium hyaluronate eye drops twice daily for 14 consecutive days. The tear secretion volume， tear film break-up time （TBUT）， and corneal fluorescein staining were evaluated once every two weeks. After four weeks of administration， mice were euthanized， and their lacrimal gland tissues and corneas were harvested. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining was used to assess histopathological morphology. Western blot was performed to detect the protein expression levels of MEK， Ras， Raf， and ERK. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to measure the contents and expressions of MEK， Ras， Raf， ERK， and interleukin （IL）-1β in lacrimal gland and corneal tissues of the mice in each group. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was employed to determine mRNA expression levels of MEK， Ras， Raf， and ERK. ResultsThe Mimenghua prescription groups and the sodium hyaluronate group exhibited significantly increased tear secretion volume （P<0.05） and prolonged TBUT （P<0.05） after treatment. Ocular surface damage of mice was visibly recovered. Western blot results indicated that protein expression levels of MEK， Ras， Raf， and ERK in the lacrimal gland and corneal tissues were significantly downregulated in the sodium hyaluronate group and Mimenghua prescription group with high dose （P<0.05）. ELISA results showed that IL-1β levels were highest in the model group but significantly reduced in the sodium hyaluronate group and Mimenghua prescription groups （P<0.05）. Both ELISA and Real-time PCR results demonstrated that the expression levels of MEK， Ras， Raf， and ERK in the lacrimal glands and corneal tissues were significantly elevated in the model group （P<0.05）， but markedly downregulated in the sodium hyaluronate group and Mimenghua prescription groups （P<0.05）， suggesting that Mimenghua prescription can decrease the expressions of MEK， Ras， Raf， and ERK in the lacrimal glands and corneal tissues. ConclusionMimenghua prescription can reduce inflammatory responses， increase tear secretion， prolong TBUT， and promote corneal recovery by inhibiting the MEK， Ras， Raf， and ERK signaling pathways in lacrimal gland and corneal tissues.

Objective To observe the glymphatic system functional changes of bilateral cerebral hemispheres in early-stage Parkinson disease(PD)patients complicated with unilateral limb motor symptoms.Methods A total of 52 early-stage PD patients complicated with unilateral limb motor symptoms were prospectively enrolled,including 21 cases of left-onset PD(LPD group),31 cases of right-onset PD(RPD group).Meanwhile,28 healthy individuals were recruited as healthy controls(HC group).Clinical data and indices of diffusion tensor imaging analysis along the perivascular space(DTI-ALPS)were compared among 3 groups and between each 2 groups.The correlations of DTI-ALPS indices and clinical scales were analyzed.Results Significant difference of Hamilton depression scale(HAMD)score was found among 3 groups(P＜0.05).HAMD score of LPD group and RPD group were higher than that of HC group(both P＜0.017).There were significant differences of left and right cerebral hemispheres DTI-ALPS(DTI-ALPS_L,DTI-ALPS_R)indices among 3 groups(both P＜0.05).DTI_ALPS_R in LPD group was lower than that in HC group(P＜0.017),and DTI_ALPS_L in RPD group was lower than that in HC group(P＜0.017).No obvious correlation of bilateral cerebral hemisphere DTI-ALPS indices with clinical scales was detected in PD patients(all P＞0.05).Conclusion Like that of motor symptoms,glymphatic system dysfunction of PD patients had characteristics of laterality,manifested as DTI_ALPS_R decreased in LPD patients while DTI_ALPS_L decreased in RPD patients.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic basis for a patient with autism. METHODS: High-throughput sequencing was carried out to detect copy number variations in the patient. RESULTS: DNA sequencing found that the patient has carried a 0.11 Mb deletion in distal 2p16.3 spanning from genomic position 50 820 001 to 50 922 000, which resulted removal of exon 6 and part of intron 7 of the NRXN1 gene. The same deletion was not found his parents and brother. CONCLUSION Partial deletion of the NRXN1 gene may underlie the disease in this patient.
Autistic Disorder ; genetics ; Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal ; genetics ; DNA Copy Number Variations ; Gene Deletion ; Humans ; Male ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; genetics

Objective: To explore the genetic basis for a patient with autism. Methods: High-throughput sequencing was carried out to detect copy number variations in the patient. Results: DNA sequencing found that the patient has carried a 0.11 Mb deletion in distal 2p16.3 spanning from genomic position 50 820 001 to 50 922 000, which resulted removal of exon 6 and part of intron 7 of the NRXN1 gene. The same deletion was not found his parents and brother. Conclusion Partial deletion of the NRXN1 gene may underlie the disease in this patient.

Objective To investigate the prevalence of cognitive and motor disorders as well as emotional and sleep abnormality in the veterans from military communities in Beijing. Methods The participants underwent a comprehensive in-person evaluation including detailed neuropsychological testing,Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and special questionnaires for movement and sleep disorders. Results The overall prevalence of cognitive impairment, extrapyramidal diseases was 32.7%, 8.8% . The prevalence of mild cognitive impairment, dementia, Parkinson disease, essential tremor, anxiety and depression was 26.2% , 6.5% , 2.0% , 6.1 % , 1.4% and 4.1% respectively. Prevalence of all kinds of sleep disorders ranged from 10. 3% to 53. 9%. The prevalence of cognitive impairment had no significant difference of sex, but were correlated to age and education, the correlation coefficient was 0. 326 and -0.221 ( P<0.01) . Conclusion Veterans from military communities had higher prevalence of cognitive impairment, extrapyramidal diseases and sleep disorders and lower that of anxiety and depression relatively.