HERV-W Envelope Triggers Abnormal Dopaminergic Neuron Process through DRD2/PP2A/AKT1/GSK3 for Schizophrenia Risk

An increasing number of studies have begun considering human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) as potential pathogenic phenomena. Our previous research suggests that HERV-W Envelope (HERV-W ENV), a HERV-W family envelope protein, is elevated in schizophrenia patients and contributes to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. The dopamine (DA) hypothesis is the cornerstone in research and clinical practice related to schizophrenia. Here, we found that the concentration of DA and the expression of DA receptor D2 (DRD2) were significantly higher in schizophrenia patients than in healthy individuals. Intriguingly, there was a positive correlation between HERV-W ENV and DA concentration. Depth analyses showed that there was a marked consistency between HERV-W ENV and DRD2 in schizophrenia. Studies in vitro indicated that HERV-W ENV could increase the DA concentration by regulating DA metabolism and induce the expression of DRD2. Co-IP assays and laser confocal scanning microscopy indicated cellular colocalization and a direct interaction between DRD2 and HERV-W ENV. Additionally, HERV-W ENV caused structural and functional abnormalities of DA neurons. Further studies showed that HERV-W ENV could trigger the PP2A/AKT1/GSK3 pathway via DRD2. A whole-cell patch-clamp analysis suggested that HERV-W ENV enhanced sodium influx through DRD2. In conclusion, we uncovered a relationship between HERV-W ENV and the dopaminergic system in the DA neurons. Considering that GNbAC1, a selective monoclonal antibody to the MSRV-specific epitope, has been promised as a therapy for treating type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis (MS) in clinical trials, understanding the precise function of HERV-W ENV in the dopaminergic system may provide new insights into the treatment of schizophrenia.

Bilateral Corneal Ghost Vessels in an Otherwise Healthy Child

We report a rare case of bilateral corneal ghost vessels in a 6–year-old child with an unremarkable past ocular and past medical history. This study was a single observational case report. A 6-year-old girl was referred to our clinic for further evaluation, due to suboptimal visual acuity in both eyes. Her past medical and ocular history revealed no systemic, inflammatory, infectious, or degenerative disorders. Slit-lamp examination revealed regressed blood vessels (“ghost vessels”) in the anterior and mid-corneal stroma as the only pathologic finding. Confocal scanning microscopy of both corneas demonstrated scattered branching railroad-shaped ghost vessels at the level of the middle and anterior stroma. Complete systemic workup was performed for the patient. No identifiable risk factor for the development of corneal vascularization was found. According to our findings, we assume that in our patient, vasculogenesis occurred due to angioblast invasion to the presumptive cornea due to disequilibrium in mechanisms involved in vascular patterning during embryonic development.

Physicochemical properties and antimicrobial activity of calcium hydroxide pastes in association with other compounds

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the pH, Ca2+ release, solubility, and antimicrobial activity of calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) pastes in association with different substances. Methods: Sixty acrylic teeth (n=10) were filled with pastes that associated Ca(OH)2 with the following substances: benzalkonium chloride 5% (G1) and 50% (G2) both in propylene glycol, arnica glycolic extract (G3), green tea glycolic extract (G4), Calen/PMCC™ (G5), and Calen™ (G6). In the group G1 to G4 were used 1g of Ca(OH)2 powder with 0,8g of vehicle. pH and Ca2+ release was measured after 7, 15, and 30 days. For solubility, micro-CT was used immediately and at the periods of 7, 15, and 30 days. For the antimicrobial analysis, a biofilm of E. faecalis was induced in vitro on bovine dentin discs. Live/dead viability dye and confocal scanning microscopy were used. Results: The highest pH values occurred on the first 7 days, and the G6, G1, G3, and G5 presented the highest pH values at this period (P <0.05). Ca2+ release was higher in all groups at 7 days, with the highest values observed in G1, G5, and G6. The volume of all pastes showed no significant difference in the intragroup analysis at 7 and 15 days (P <0.05). G1 and G2 showed the highest antimicrobial action (P <0.05). For the biovolume, there was difference between the G6 and the other groups (P >0.05) with G1 presenting the lowest values. Conclusion: Benzalkonium chloride 5% increases the antimicrobial action of the Ca(OH2), without impairs physicochemical properties.

Nanoscale Changes on RBC Membrane Induced by Storage and Ionizing Radiation: A Mini-Review

The storage lesions and the irradiation of blood cellular components for medical procedures in blood banks are events that may induce nanochanges in the membrane of red blood cells (RBCs). Alterations, such as the formation of pores and vesicles, reduce flexibility and compromise the overall erythrocyte integrity. This review discusses the alterations on erythrocytic lipid membrane bilayer through their characterization by confocal scanning microscopy, Raman, scanning electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy techniques. The interrelated experimental results may address and shed light on the correlation of biomechanical and biochemical transformations induced in the membrane and cytoskeleton of stored and gamma-irradiated RBC. To highlight the main advantages of combining these experimental techniques simultaneously or sequentially, we discuss how those outcomes observed at micro- and nanoscale cell levels are useful as biomarkers of cell aging and storage damage.

Unilateral Idiopathic Lipid Crystalline Keratopathy: A Clinicopathological Report

Lipid keratopathy refers to corneal lipid infiltrations. We report a 54-year-old female without any systemic disorder presented with a slowly progressive yellow-white infiltrate in the inferotemporal part of the left cornea for six years. Due to a visual axis involvement leading to decreased visual acuity, the patient underwent penetrating keratoplasty on the left eye. The excised corneal button specimen was sent for pathological evaluation. Anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) and confocal scanning microscopy showed an intra-stromal hyper-reflective material consistent with lipid crystalline keratopathy diagnosis. Histopathology revealed an excessive amount of fat droplets in corneal stroma presented as clear areas in hematoxylin and eosin (H & E) staining in keeping with Oil Red O staining. Idiopathic lipid crystalline keratopathy is a diagnosis of exclusion. For such a diagnosis, the serum lipid profile should be checked to rule out fat metabolic disorders and ocular diseases causing chronic inflammation leading to secondary corneal lipid depositions.

Understanding the electronic properties of BaTiO3 and Er3+ doped BaTiO3 films through confocal scanning microscopy and XPS: the role of oxygen vacancies

Optical activation and chemical defects were identified with the help of confocal scanning microscopy on films with nano-scale thickness, which was in agreement with SEM measurements, and supported by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.