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Objective To summarize the clinical, imaging and genetic characteristics of spinocerebellar ataxia 2 (SCA2) families presenting as Parkinsonism. Methods and Results Two families with autosomal dominant SCA2 with Parkinson's syndrome diagnosed by genetic test in Peking University First Hospital from May 2019 to December 2020 were included. The probands in 2 families manifested as lead⁃pipe like rigidity and cerebellum ataxia. Electronystagmography (ENG) in proband of family 1 showed gaze nystagmus, understable saccade, decreased smooth tracking ability and disappeared optokinetic nystagmus, proband of family 2 showed slow saccade, decreased smooth tracking ability and decreased optokinetic nystagmus. Head MRI in both probands of 2 families showed slightly enlarged third ventricle, while the proband of family 2 showed atrophy in brain stem and cerebellar. Whole exome sequencing (WES) in 2 probands showed no gene mutations, Sanger sequencing showed dynamic mutation of ATXN2 gene and the copy number of cytosine⁃adenine⁃guanine (CAG) with 37 repeats. Two probands were finally diagnosed as SCA2, and two pedigrees were diagnosed as SCA2 pedigrees. Conclusions SCA2 can present as Parkinsonism, which is easily to be misdiagnosed as Parkinson's disease due to the effective treatment of levodopa. ENG is helpful in detecting subclinical cerebellar lesions. For Parkinsonism patients with family history, especially when cerebellar lesions are involved, ATXN2 gene testing is recommended.

Stress is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, such as atherosclerosis. Stress during pregnancy (maternal stress) may have long-term consequences for the health of the offspring. However, it is not known whether maternal stress affects the offspring's predisposition to develop atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is often related to vascular endothelial dysfunction. We hypothesized that maternal stress affects vascular endothelial function and accelerates development of atherosclerosis in offspring of apolipoprotein E-deficient mice, a model commonly used for atherosclerosis research. Stress was induced by restraining dams in small cylinders for five consecutive days (2 h/day) beginning on gestational day 8 [+ or -] 0.5. Vascular function and development of atherosclerosis in the aorta were determined in male and female offspring at 11-15 wk of age (with early lesions) and at 22-26 wk of age (with established lesions). Endotheliumdependent vasorelaxation was determined using methacholine (0.0001-10 [micro]mol/1) in the absence or presence of the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor [N.sup.[omega]]-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (L-NAME; 100 [micro]mol/l). Male offspring (11-15 wk old) from stressed dams were less dependent on nitric oxide for relaxation compared with controls (L-NAME inhibition: 38 [+ or -] 10 vs. 69 [+ or -] 6%, P < 0.05). Atherosclerotic lesion area was larger in male and female 25- to 26-wk-old offspring from stressed dams compared with corresponding controls [median (interquartile range): males: 6.8 (5.4-7.7) vs. 5.1 (4.4-5.5), P < 0.05, females: 10.0 (8.9-10.9) vs. 7.0 (4.7-8.7), P < 0.05]. In conclusion, maternal stress renders the apolipoprotein E-deficient offspring more susceptible to develop atherosclerosis. fetal origins of adult disease; endothelial function; aorta

Chromones are a group of compounds widely distributed in nature with wide range of biological activities, including antitumor, antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and so on. This review mainly summarizes chromones with antitumor activity in nature and classifies them into three groups, including chromanones, simple chromones, and fused chromones. They exhibit antitumor activity through broad range of mechanisms including cytotoxicity, antimetastasis, antiangiogenesis, chemoprevention, immune regulation, etc. Unlabelled Image [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tinospora sinensis, a kind of Chinese folk medicine, has functions of harmonizing qi and blood, dredging the channels and collaterals, calming and soothing the nerves. In the present study, a method based on high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with linear ion trap-Orbitrap mass spectrometry (HPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap) was developed for the systematical characterization of the non-diterpenoid constituents which possessed remarkable biological activities in T. sinensis, like anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic activity and immunomodulatory activity. Based on the accurate mass measurement (<5 ppm), retention times and MS fragmentation ions, 60 non-diterpenoid constituents were unambiguously or tentatively characterized from T. sinensis extract, including 27 alkaloids, 23 phenylpropanoids, seven sesquiterpenoids and three other constituents. Among them, 13 compounds were tentatively identified as new compounds. Finally, three of the non-diterpenoid constituents were purified and identified, which further confirmed the validity of the results. This study demonstrated that the HPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap MSn platform was a useful and efficient analytical tool to screen and identify constituents in natural medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]