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Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease that is characterized by the production and deposition of β-amyloid protein (Aβ) and hyperphosphorylated tau, leading to the formation of β-amyloid plaques (APs) and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). Although calcium ions (Ca2+) promote the formation of APs and NFTs, no systematic review of the mechanisms by which Ca2+ affects the development and progression of AD has been published. Therefore, the current review aimed to fill the gaps between elevated Ca2+ levels and the pathogenesis of AD. Specifically, we mainly focus on the molecular mechanisms by which Ca2+ affects the neuronal networks of neuroinflammation, neuronal injury, neurogenesis, neurotoxicity, neuroprotection, and autophagy. Furthermore, the roles of Ca2+ transporters located in the cell membrane, endoplasmic reticulum (ER), mitochondria and lysosome in mediating the effects of Ca2+ on activating neuronal networks that ultimately contribute to the development and progression of AD are discussed. Finally, the drug candidates derived from herbs used as food or seasoning in Chinese daily life are summarized to provide a theoretical basis for improving the clinical treatment of AD.

Additional file 1: Figure S1. AIM2 knocking down is responsible for decreasing the cleavage of caspase1 and the production of IL-1�� in microglial cells. Figure S2. OPTN was downregulated during the course of AD development and progression. Figure S3. OPTN was expressed in microglial cells of mice. Figure S4. The expression of NLRP3, NLRP1, Pyrin and NLRC4 in AD patients and APP/PS1 Tg mice. Figure S5. The mRNA expressions of OPTN were analyzed in the familial or sporadic AD patients.

Background UFM1 has been found to be involved in the regulation of tumor development. This study aims to clarify the role and potential molecular mechanisms of UFM1 in the invasion and metastasis of gastric cancer. Methods Expression of UFM1 in gastric tumor and paired adjacent noncancerous tissues from 437 patients was analyzed by Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and realtime PCR. Its correlation with the clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of gastric cancer patients was analyzed. The effects of UFM1 on the invasion and migration of gastric cancer cells were determined by the wound and trans-well assays, and the effect of UFM1 on subcutaneous tumor formation was verified in nude mice. The potential downstream targets of UFM1 and related molecular mechanisms were clarified by the human protein kinase assay and co-immunoprecipitation technique. Results Compared with the corresponding adjacent tissues, the transcription level and protein expression level of UFM1 in gastric cancer tissues were significantly downregulated (P

The common hepatic artery (CHA) is an important blood vessel that must be vascularized during D2 lymphadenectomies for gastric cancer. When the CHA is absent, the risk of vascular injury increases. To explore the anatomic classification of CHA absence and its application value in laparoscopic radical resections for gastric cancer. Clinical data were collected prospectively from 2170 gastric cancer patients from June 2007 to December 2013, and the data were analyzed retrospectively. The anatomy of CHA absence was assessed synthetically by combining preoperative CT scans and intraoperative images, which were classified according to the anatomy of replaced hepatic arteries (RHAs) and were grouped into the early-year group (2007–2011) and the later-year group (2012–2013) based on the year in which the operation was performed. CHA absence was noted in 38 cases (1.8%) and was classified into 6 types: type I (replaced CHA [RCHA] from the superior mesenteric artery [SMA] with retropancreatic course, 28), type II (RCHA from the SMA with circumambulated course, 1), type III (RCHA from the aortic artery, 1), type IV (replaced left hepatic artery [RLHA] from the left gastric artery [LGA] and replaced right hepatic artery [RRHA] from the SMA, 5), type V (RLHA from the LGA and RRHA from the celiac artery, 2), and type VI (RLHA from the aberrant gastroduodenal artery and RRHA from the SMA, 1). Of the 38 cases, 17 cases (44.7%) belong to the early-year group, and 21 cases (55.3%) belong to the later-year group. The vascular injury rate was significantly lower in the later-year group than in the early-year group (4.8% [1/21] vs 41.2% [7/17], P = 0.005]. Additionally, the alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and total bilirubin (TBIL) values were significantly lower in the later-year group than in the early-year group on postoperative day 3 (all P