Search

Mossbauer effect and nuclear magnetic resonance facilitate analysis of the influence of heat treatment on phase compositions of crystallized NdFeB alloys. Nd concentration influences the phase composition. Spectra representing pure bct-Fe3B in the NdF4Fe(77.5)B(18.5) alloy annealed at 839 degrees C expand and distort less than that of bct-Fe3B in samples annealed at 670 degrees C. There are differences in spin-spin and spin-lattice relaxation times.

Heat Shock Protein BAP1 (heat shock 27-kDa-associated protein 1, HSPBAP1) inhibits the function of heat shock protein 27, which has a neuroprotective effect during experimentally induced epileptic neuropathology. In our study, fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, western blot were used to test the levels of HSPBAP1 mRNA and protein in surgical samples of the anterior temporal neocortex of patients with intractable epilepsy (IE) and normal controls samples. HSPBAP1 mRNA was abnormally expressed in the anterior temporal neocortex of patients with IE. Moreover, HSPBAP1 was found extensively in the cytoplasm of neurons and glial cells in all epilepsy specimens. Western blot showed a clear immunoreactive band of HSPBAP1 in IE specimens whereas it was absent in control specimens. The expression of HSPBAP1 mRNA and protein in the anterior temporal neocortex from patients with IE may play a role in the development of epileptic seizures in patients with cell loss in this brain region. Additional studies will be required to elucidate the mechanism by which HSPBAP1 affects brain function in IE. Synapse 61:741-747, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: TDAG51 (T cell death-associated gene 51) is an apoptosis-associated protein. Our aim was to investigate TDAG51 expression in the anterior temporal neocortex of patients with intractable epilepsy (IE), and then to discuss the possible role of TDAG51 in IE. Tissue samples from the anterior temporal neocortex of 33 patients who had surgery for IE were used to detect TDAG51 expression by immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and Western blotting. We compared these tissues with nine histologically normal anterior temporal lobes from intracranial hypertension patients who had decompression procedures. TDAG51 was mainly expressed in the cytoplasm of neurons and glial cells. TDAG51 in IE was significantly higher than that in the controls. These findings were consistently observed using Western blotting, immunofluorescence, and immunohistochemistry techniques. TDAG51 in patients with IE was significantly higher when compared with levels in the controls. This finding suggests TDAG51 is consistent with a possible role of this gene in the evolution of the pathology in IE. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Objective: To investigate the expression of PSD-93 mRNA and NR2B mRNA in the brain tissue from the patients with epilepsy so as to explore the possible mechanisms of the pathogenesis of the epilepsy. Methods: Fifty-six patients with epilepsy were divided into intractable epilepsy (IE) and non-intractable epilepsy (NIE) groups. cDNA microarrays prepared from the brain tissues obtained from these two groups were scanned and comparison to those from the non-epileptogenic control (C) was made. Expression level of PSD-93mRNA and NR2BmRNA were examined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (GAPDH gene, internal control). Expression ratio (target gene/GAPDH) was used to evaluate each gene relative expression level. Results: The cDNA microarray analysis showed that the expression of PSD-93 mRNA related to the function of NMDAR-NO signal transduction pathway was significantly higher in epilepsy patients than those in the controlled group. The results of RT-PCR were consistent with those of the cDNA microarrays. The relative expression ratio of PSD-93 in patients with non-epileptogenic control, NIE, and IE was 0.159, 0.368, and 0.341, respectively. Correspondingly, that of NR2B was 0.198, 0.738, and 0.903, respectively. The expressions of PSD-93 and NR2B in the NIE and IE were significantly higher than those of control, respectively (P <0.05). However, there was no significantly difference the expression of PSD-93 between NIE and IE. (P >0.05), neither do that of NR2B (P >0.05). Conclusions: The upregulated expressions of PSD-93 mRNA and NR2BmRNA may be involved in the pathogenesis of epilepsy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Purpose: TRAP220 (thyroid hormone receptor-associated protein) functions as a coactivator for nuclear receptors and stimulates transcription by recruiting the TRAP mediator complex to hormone responsive promoter regions. Thus, TRAP220 enhances the function of thyroid/steroid hormone receptors such as thyroid hormone and oestrogen receptors. This study investigated the expression of TRAP220 mRNA and protein level in epileptic brains comparing with human control. Methods: We examined the expression of TRAP220 mRNA and protein levels in temporal lobes from patients with chronic pharmacoresistant epilepsy who have undergone surgery. Results: Expression of TRAP220 mRNA and protein was shown to be decreased significantly in the temporal cortex of the patients with epilepsy. Conclusions: Our work showed that a decrease in TRAP220 mRNA and protein levels may be involved in the pathophysiology of epilepsy and may be associated with impairment of the brain caused by frequent seizures. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]