No abstract

Alpha-synuclein (α-synuclein) and beta-synuclein (β-synuclein) are presynaptic proteins playing important roles in neuronal plasticity and synaptic vesicle regulation. To evaluate the association of these two proteins and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), we investigated the plasma α-synuclein and β-synuclein levels in 39 male children with ASD (2 subgroups: 25 autism and 14 pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS)) comparing with 29 sex- and age-matched controls by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We first determined the levels of these two proteins in the ASD subgroups and found that there were no significant differences in both plasma α-synuclein and β-synuclein levels in the autism and PDD-NOS groups. Thus, we could combine the 2 subgroups into one ASD group. Interestingly, the mean plasma α-synuclein level was significantly lower (P < 0.001) in the ASD children (10.82 ± 6.46 ng/mL) than in the controls (29.47 ± 18.62 ng/mL), while the mean plasma β-synuclein level in the ASD children (1344.19 ± 160.26 ng/mL) was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than in the controls (1219.16 ± 177.10 ng/mL). This is the first study examining the associations between α-synuclein and β-synuclein and male ASD patients. We found that alterations in the plasma α-synuclein and β-synuclein levels might be implicated in the association between synaptic abnormalities and ASD pathogenesis.

Background: The molecular description of oligomeric pore formation by B. thuringiensis insecticidal toxins remains unclear.Results: Cry4Ba mosquito-active toxins assemble into a stable prepore trimer upon interaction with non-ionic micelles or lipid membranes. Conclusion: A membrane-bound state of monomers is required for facilitating a potential trimer assembly. Significance: This study reveals a requirement of membrane-bound monomers for forming a prepore trimer capable of perturbing target membranes.

Although the C-terminal domain (DIII) of three-domain Cry insecticidal toxins from Bacillus thuringiensis has been implicated in various biological functions, its exact role still remains to be elucidated. Here, the 21-kDa isolated DIII fragment of the 65-kDa Cry4Ba mosquito-specific toxin was analyzed for its binding characteristics toward lipid-bilayer membranes. When the highly-purified Cry4Ba-DIII protein was structurally verified by attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, it revealed the presence of a distinct β-sheet structure, corresponding to its structure embodied in the Cry4Ba crystal structure. Binding analysis via surface plasmon resonance (SPR) spectroscopy revealed that the 21-kDa Cry4Ba-DIII truncate displayed tight binding to immobilized liposome membranes in a two-step manner, exhibiting a dissociation rate constant (kd) comparable to the 65-kDa full-length toxin. Also similar to the Cry4Ba full-length toxin, its isolated DIII truncate was able to anchor a part of its molecule into the immobilized membrane as the SPR signal was still detected after prolonged treatment with proteinase K. However, unlike the full-length active toxin, the DIII truncate was unable to induce membrane permeability of calcein-loaded liposomes or ion-channel formation in planar lipid bilayers. Together, our present data have disclosed a pivotal role of C-terminal DIII in serving as a membrane anchor rather than a pore-forming moiety of the Cry4Ba mosquito-active toxin, highlighting its potential mechanistic contribution to the interaction of the full-length toxin with lipid membranes in mediating toxicity.

Objective To assess the changes of spot urinary sodium and potassium and blood pressure (BP) throughout pregnancy and their correlations in southern Thailand. Methods A longitudinal study was conducted in southern Thailand from March 2018 to November 2019. Spot urinary excretion of sodium per creatinine (U[Na+]/[Cr]), potassium per creatinine (U[K+]/[Cr]) and U[Na+]/[K+] ratios, and BP were measured at four time points throughout pregnancy. A one‐way analysis of variance with repeated measures and Bonferroni correction with post hoc analysis was used to identify significant differences between time points. The correlations were measured using Pearson’s correlation coefficients. Results A total of 327 pregnant women were included. Both systolic and diastolic BPs decreased gradually from up to 14 weeks of pregnancy to 18–22 weeks and then increased until 30–34 weeks. Mean spot U[Na+]/[Cr] ratios did not significantly change during the study period. Mean spot U[K+]/[Cr] ratios gradually increased, and spot U[Na+]/[K+] ratios gradually decreased. The correlation of spot U[Na+]/[Cr] and U[K+]/[Cr] ratios with BPs was weakly negative at all four time points. Conclusions Spot U[Na+]/[Cr] and U[K+]/[Cr] ratios are inversely correlated with BPs; weak correlations are found among pregnant women in southern Thailand. Further research in different populations is required to confirm its correlation and broader use.

No abstract

No abstract

Aims To assess correlations of anthropometric measurements with glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and 1‐h blood glucose after a 50 g glucose challenge test during the first and late second trimesters and explore their relationships of anthropometric measurements with neonatal birth weight. Methods A longitudinal study was conducted among pregnant Thai women with gestational age ≤14 weeks. Anthropometric measurements, using body mass index, body compositions, and circumferences, and skinfold thickness, were measured at four‐time points: ≤14, 18–22, 24–28, and 30–34 weeks of gestation. HbA1c and 1‐h blood glucose were examined at ≤14 and 24–28 weeks. Neonatal birth weight was recorded. Results Of 312 women, HbA1c was more correlated with anthropometric measurements during pregnancy than 1‐h blood glucose. At 24–28 weeks, women with high/very high body fat percentage were more likely to have higher HbA1c. Women with high subscapular skinfold thickness were more likely to have higher 1‐h blood glucose at ≤14 and 24–28 weeks. High hip circumference significantly increased neonatal birth weights. Conclusion Anthropometric measurements were longitudinally correlated with HbA1c and 1‐h blood glucose, higher in the late second than first trimesters, as well as neonatal birth weight. The mechanisms to explain the relationship of different anthropometric measurements are required to be further studied.