SALM4 suppresses excitatory synapse development by cis-inhibiting trans-synaptic SALM3-LAR adhesion

Synaptic adhesion molecules regulate various aspects of synapse development, function and plasticity. These functions mainly involve trans-synaptic interactions and positive regulations, whereas cis-interactions and negative regulation are less understood. Here we report that SALM4, a member of the SALM/Lrfn family of synaptic adhesion molecules, suppresses excitatory synapse development through cis inhibition of SALM3, another SALM family protein with synaptogenic activity. Salm4-mutant (Salm4) mice show increased excitatory synapse numbers in the hippocampus. SALM4 cis-interacts with SALM3, inhibits trans-synaptic SALM3 interaction with presynaptic LAR family receptor tyrosine phosphatases and suppresses SALM3-dependent presynaptic differentiation. Importantly, deletion of Salm3 in Salm4 mice (Salm3, Salm4) normalizes the increased excitatory synapse number. These results suggest that SALM4 negatively regulates excitatory synapses via cis inhibition of the trans-synaptic SALM3-LAR adhesion. © The Author(s) 2016110101sciescopu

Opposing Regulation of PROX1 by Interleukin-3 Receptor and NOTCH Directs Differential Host Cell Fate Reprogramming by Kaposi Sarcoma Herpes Virus

Lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) are differentiated from blood vascular endothelial cells (BECs) during embryogenesis and this physiological cell fate specification is controlled by PROX1, the master regulator for lymphatic development. When Kaposi sarcoma herpes virus (KSHV) infects host cells, it activates the otherwise silenced embryonic endothelial differentiation program and reprograms their cell fates. Interestingly, previous studies demonstrated that KSHV drives BECs to acquire a partial lymphatic phenotype by upregulating PROX1 (forward reprogramming), but stimulates LECs to regain some BEC-signature genes by downregulating PROX1 (reverse reprogramming). Despite the significance of this KSHV-induced bidirectional cell fate reprogramming in KS pathogenesis, its underlying molecular mechanism remains undefined. Here, we report that IL3 receptor alpha (IL3Rα) and NOTCH play integral roles in the host cell type-specific regulation of PROX1 by KSHV. In BECs, KSHV upregulates IL3Rα and phosphorylates STAT5, which binds and activates the PROX1 promoter. In LECs, however, PROX1 was rather downregulated by KSHV-induced NOTCH signal via HEY1, which binds and represses the PROX1 promoter. Moreover, PROX1 was found to be required to maintain HEY1 expression in LECs, establishing a reciprocal regulation between PROX1 and HEY1. Upon co-activation of IL3Rα and NOTCH, PROX1 was upregulated in BECs, but downregulated in LECs. Together, our study provides the molecular mechanism underlying the cell type-specific endothelial fate reprogramming by KSHV

Conservative management (marsupialization) of unicystic ameloblastoma: literature review and a case report

Abstract Background In this study, we present a case of unicystic ameloblastoma (UA) treated by marsupialization followed by surgical enucleation as a conservative approach. UA is a rare, benign, less aggressive, and less invasive variant of ameloblastoma that is observed quite often in younger patients. Radical approaches have effects on the physical and psychological development of a growing young patient; therefore, conservative approaches are widely used for UA management in children. Case presentation This report described a case of an 11-year-old girl with UA of the mandibular molar–ramus area, which also involved impaction of the second and third molars. The lesion was marsupialized, and 31 months after marsupialization, surgical enucleation was performed with extraction of the impacted third molar. The second molar, which was preserved, spontaneously and completely erupted. No recurrence was observed during a 49-month follow-up. Conclusions Conservative treatments for UA in young patients have more advantages. Our results provide evidence that marsupialization is effective in regressing the lesion size to ease complete removal, preserving mandibular growth, maintaining involved second molar, and promoting the eruption of the tooth

Rearranged Copolyurea Networks for Selective Carbon Dioxide Adsorption at Room Temperature

Copolyurea networks (co-UNs) were synthesized via crosslinking polymerization of a mixture of tetrakis(4-aminophenyl)methane (TAPM) and melamine with hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) using the organic sol-gel polymerization method. The subsequent thermal treatment of between 200 and 400 °C induced the sintering of the powdery polyurea networks to form porous frameworks via urea bond rearrangement and the removal of volatile hexamethylene moieties. Incorporating melamine into the networks resulted in a higher nitrogen content and micropore ratio, whereas the overall porosity decreased with the melamine composition. The rearranged network composed of the tetraamine/melamine units in an 80:20 ratio showed the highest carbon dioxide adsorption quantity at room temperature. The results show that optimizing the chemical structure and porosity of polyurea-based networks can lead to carbon dioxide adsorbents working at elevated temperatures

Adverse Reactions after BNT162b2 Messenger RNA Vaccination for Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Healthcare Workers Compared with Influenza Vaccination

This study aimed to compare adverse reactions following BNT162b2 and influenza vaccinations in healthcare workers. This study included healthcare workers who received the BNT162b2 vaccine and/or inactivated influenza vaccine, quadrivalent (IIV4), on 18–29 October 2021 at a tertiary hospital in Korea. IIV4 was administered and BNT162b2 was subsequently administered one week later. The participants responded to a mobile questionnaire regarding adverse events. The overall adverse reaction rates were 90.6% in the BNT162b2 + IIV4 group, 90.4% in the BNT162b2 alone group, and 44.1% in the IIV4 alone group (p p p p < 0.001). Adverse reactions occurred at a significantly higher frequency after BNT162b2 than after IIV4. The frequency of adverse reactions one week after vaccination with IIV4 and BNT162b2 was not different from that after vaccination with BNT162b2 alone. Therefore, coadministration of influenza vaccine with BNT162b2 can be expected to be safe

Analysis of microstructure in mouse femur and decalcification effect on microstructure by electron microscopy

Microstructure and decalcification effect by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) on microstructure were studied for the compact bone of mouse femur by optical and electron microscopy. Especially the (002) reflection plane on the selected area electron diffraction (SAED) of hydroxyapatite (HA) was analyzed in detail. Two types of HA crystals were observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). One was needle-like crystals known as general HA crystals, and the other was flake-like crystals. Major constituents of two types of crystals were calcium, phosphorus, and oxygen. The Ca/P ratios of two types of crystals were close to the ideal value of HA within experimental error. Intensity data obtained from each crystals were also very similar. These results indicated that two types of crystals were actually same HA crystals. It was noticed that the (002) reflection plane on SAED displayed ring, spot, or arc patterns in accordance with orientations of HA crystals. Decalcification by EDTA process obsecured outline of osteons and havarsian canals, and changed morphology of the bone section. As the results of decalcification it was observed by TEM-EDS (Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy) that all peaks of calcium and phosphorus disappeared, and intensity of oxygen peak was substantially reduced. Moreover, collagen appeared to be disaggreated

Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Heterocarpin from the Salt Marsh Plant Corydalis heterocarpa in LPS-Induced RAW 264.7 Macrophage Cells

The inhibitory effect of three chromones 1–3 and two coumarins 4–5 on the production of nitric oxide (NO) was evaluated in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. Among the compounds tested heterocarpin (1), a furochromone, significantly inhibited its production in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, heterocarpin suppressed prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production and expression of cytokines such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6)

Adsorption Phenomenon of VOCs Released from the Fiber-Reinforced Plastic Production onto Carbonaceous Surface

The manufacturing of fiber-reinforced plastics has been linked to the discharge of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), particularly toluene and benzene, which have been identified as posing substantial risks to human health and the environment. To counteract this issue, activated carbons have been suggested as a means of reducing VOC emissions through adsorption. The objective of this study was to investigate the adsorption characteristics of toluene and benzene onto activated carbons produced from coal (AC) and coconut shells (CAC). The study was carried out in an aqueous medium. The findings revealed that the AC sample with higher surface characteristics exhibited a higher adsorption capacity (toluene: 196.0784 mg g−1 and benzene: 181.8182 mg g−1) in comparison to the CAC sample (toluene: 135.1351 mg g−1 and benzene: 116.2791 mg g−1). The superior adsorption performance of AC on both VOCs can be attributed to its higher surface characteristics. The Langmuir model was found to be more appropriate than the Freundlich model, as indicated by the higher coefficient of determination (R2) value of the Langmuir isotherm (avg. R2 = 0.9669) compared to that of the Freundlich isotherm (avg. R2 = 0.9654), suggesting the use of a monolayer adsorption mechanism. The adsorption kinetics of the samples were analyzed using the pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order models, and the former was found to be more fitting, indicating that the rate of adsorption is directly proportional to the concentration difference between the solution and the sample surface. The adsorption process was found to be spontaneous and favorable based on the positive value of ΔG_ads. Furthermore, the adsorption process was endothermic and disordered, as indicated by the positive values of ΔH_ads and ΔS_ads. The regeneration efficiency of all the samples was secured more than 95% upon the fifth cycle