The serotonin1A receptor is an important member of the G-protein coupled receptor family, and is involved in the generation and modulation of a variety of cognitive, behavioral, and developmental functions. Solubilization of the hippocampal serotonin1A receptor by 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)-dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate (CHAPS) is accompanied by loss of membrane cholesterol which results in a...

The Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome (SLOS), is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by a 7-dehydrocholesterol reductase deficiency, which is characterized by abnormally elevated amniotic fluid 7-DHC (7-dehydrocholesterol) concentrations. A GC/FID (gas-chromatography with a flame ionization detector) and GC/MS (gas-chromatography with a mass detector) method was optimized for the detection of chole...

We investigated the role of the evolutionarily conserved protein Lis1 in cell division processes of Caenorhabditis elegans embryos. We identified apparent null alleles of lis-1, which result in defects identical to those observed after inactivation of the dynein heavy chain dhc-1, including defects in centrosome separation and spindle assembly. We raised antibodies against LIS-1 and generated t...

BACKGROUND This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of drotaverine hydrochloride (DHC) in Chinese patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). METHODS Totally, 144 patients with IBS were included and randomly divided into treatment group and placebo group in a 1:1 ratio. Patients received either DHC or placebo 80-mg tablet, 3 times daily for a total of 4 weeks. The primary outcome ...

Aim. This case-control retrospective study is aimed at assessing if obese adolescents need more orthodontic treatment in comparison with normal-weight patients of the same age. Methods. The test group included 100 obese subjects (50 males and 50 females; average age: 13.09 ± 1.19 years old) and the control group included 100 normal-weight patients matched for age and sex (50 males and 50 female...

11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11beta-HSD-1) intracellularly regenerates active corticosterone from circulating inert 11-dehydrocorticosterone (11-DHC) in specific tissues. The hippocampus is a brain structure particularly vulnerable to glucocorticoid neurotoxicity with aging. In intact hippocampal cells in culture, 11beta-HSD-1 acts as a functional 11beta-reductase reactivating in...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The use of decompressive hemicraniectomy (DHC) for the treatment of malignant cerebral edema can decrease mortality rates. However, this benefit is not sufficient to justify its use in elderly patients. We investigated the effects of therapeutic hypothermia (TH) on safety, feasibility, and functional outcomes in elderly patients with malignant middle cerebral artery (MCA)...

Soon after the discovery of reduced cholesterol synthesis in the Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome (SLOS), several trials with dietary supplementation were initiated with the aim of increasing cholesterol and reducing the de novo synthesis and accumulation of 7- and 8-dehydrocholesterol (DHC). Dietary cholesterol raises cholesterol levels in the circulation with only marginal effects on levels of DHC....

Novel phosphorylated dihydroceramide (PDHC) lipids produced by the periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis include phosphoethanolamine (PE DHC) and phosphoglycerol dihydroceramides (PG DHC) lipids. These PDHC lipids mediate cellular effects through Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) including promotion of IL-6 secretion from dendritic cells and inhibition of osteoblast differentiation and functi...

Disruptions of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca(2+) homeostasis are heavily linked to neuronal pathology. Depletion of ER Ca(2+) stores can result in cellular dysfunction and potentially cell death, although adaptive processes exist to aid in survival. We examined the age and region dependence of one postulated, adaptive response to ER store-depletion (SD), hyperpolarization-activated cation-nonsp...