Erratum to: 36th International Symposium on Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s13054-016-1208-6.]

Neurodegeneration of the retina in mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease: what can we learn from the retina?

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an age-related progressive neurodegenerative disease commonly found among elderly. In addition to cognitive and behavioral deficits, vision abnormalities are prevalent in AD patients. Recent studies investigating retinal changes in AD double-transgenic mice have shown altered processing of amyloid precursor protein and accumulation of β-amyloid peptides in neurons of retinal ganglion cell layer (RGCL) and inner nuclear layer (INL). Apoptotic cells were also detected in the RGCL. Thus, the pathophysiological changes of retinas in AD patients are possibly resembled by AD transgenic models. The retina is a simple model of the brain in the sense that some pathological changes and therapeutic strategies from the retina may be observed or applicable to the brain. Furthermore, it is also possible to advance our understanding of pathological mechanisms in other retinal degenerative diseases. Therefore, studying AD-related retinal degeneration is a promising way for the investigation on (1) AD pathologies and therapies that would eventually benefit the brain and (2) cellular mechanisms in other retinal degenerations such as glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration. This review will highlight the efforts on retinal degenerative research using AD transgenic mouse models

Specific Activation of Estrogen Receptor Alpha and Beta Enhances Male Sexual Behavior and Neuroplasticity in Male Japanese Quail

Two subtypes of estrogen receptors (ER), ERα and ERβ, have been identified in humans and numerous vertebrates, including the Japanese quail. We investigated in this species the specific role(s) of each receptor in the activation of male sexual behavior and the underlying estrogen-dependent neural plasticity. Castrated male Japanese quail received empty (CX) or testosterone-filled (T) implants or were daily injected with the ER general agonist diethylstilbestrol (DES), the ERα-specific agonist PPT, the ERβ-specific agonist DPN or the vehicle, propylene glycol. Three days after receiving the first treatment, subjects were alternatively tested for appetitive (rhythmic cloacal sphincter movements, RCSM) and consummatory aspects (copulatory behavior) of male sexual behavior. 24 hours after the last behavioral testing, brains were collected and analyzed for aromatase expression and vasotocinergic innervation in the medial preoptic nucleus. The expression of RCSM was activated by T and to a lesser extent by DES and PPT but not by the ERβagonist DPN. In parallel, T fully restored the complete sequence of copulation, DES was partially active and the specific activation of ERα or ERβ only resulted in a very low frequency of mount attempts in few subjects. T increased the volume of the medial preoptic nucleus as measured by the dense cluster of aromatase-immunoreactive cells and the density of the vasotocinergic innervation within this nucleus. DES had only a weak action on vasotocinergic fibers and the two specific ER agonists did not affect these neural responses. Simultaneous activation of both receptors or treatments with higher doses may be required to fully activate sexual behavior and the associated neurochemical events

Evaluation of the antiviral activity of kaempferol and its glycosides against human cytomegalovirus

The antiviral activity of seven flavonoids, belonging to the kaempferol series, was evaluated against human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) by a rapid method of detection of the immediate-early (IE) antigen, induced by the virus in infected cells. Flavonoids bearing acyl substituents were found to be the most active compounds

Antiviral in vitro activity of Hypericum perforatum L. extract on the human cytomegalovirus (HCMV)

The total methanol extract and chromatographic fractions of the extract of the aerial parts of Hypericum perforatum L. were investigated for their antiviral activity against human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) AD169 laboratory strain by modification of the widely used diagnostic method ‘shell-vial’ culture. The plant selection was based on its traditional use against viruses of the Herpes family in Greece. The results showed extract fraction III had the most potent antiviral activity against HCMV which was also superior to that of ganciclovir. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

Antiviral in vitro activity of Hypericum perforatum L. Extract on the human cytomegalovirus (HCMV)

The total methanol extract and chromatographic fractions of the extract of the aerial parts of Hypericum perforatum L. were investigated for their antiviral activity against human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) AD-169 laboratory strain by modification of the widely used diagnostic method 'shell-vial' culture. The plant selection was based on its traditional use against viruses of the Herpes family in Greece. The results showed extract fraction III had the most potent antiviral activity against HCMV which was also superior to that of ganciclovir