Recent developments of tau Positron Emission Tomography (PET) allows assessment of regional neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) deposition in human brain. Among the tau PET molecular probes, 18 F-AV1451 is characterized by high selectivity for pathologic tau aggregates over amyloid plaques, limited non-specific binding in white and gray matter, and confined off-target binding. The objectives of the study are (1) to quantitatively characterize regional brain tau deposition measured by 18 F-AV1451 PET in cognitively normal older adults (CN), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and AD participants; (2) to evaluate the correlations between cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers or Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and 18 F-AV1451 PET standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR); and (3) to evaluate the partial volume effects on 18 F-AV1451 brain uptake. Methods: The study included total 115 participants (CN = 49, MCI = 58, and AD = 8) from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI). Preprocessed 18 F-AV1451 PET images, structural MRIs, and demographic and clinical assessments were downloaded from the ADNI database. A reblurred Van Cittertiteration method was used for voxelwise partial volume correction (PVC) on PET images. Structural MRIs were used for PET spatial normalization and region of interest (ROI) definition in standard space. The parametric images of 18 F-AV1451 SUVR relative to cerebellum were calculated. The ROI SUVR measurements from PVC and non-PVC SUVR images were compared. The correlation between ROI 18 F-AV1451 SUVR and the measurements of MMSE, CSF total tau (t-tau), and phosphorylated tau (p-tau) were also assessed. Results: 18 F-AV1451 prominently specific binding was found in the amygdala, entorhinal cortex, parahippocampus, fusiform, posterior cingulate, temporal, parietal, and frontal brain regions. Most regional SUVRs showed significantly higher uptake of 18 F-AV1451 in AD than MCI and CN participants. SUVRs of small regions like amygdala, entorhinal cortex and parahippocampus were statistically improved by PVC in all groups ( p < 0.01). Although there was an increasing tendency of 18 F-AV-1451 SUVRs in MCI group compared with CN group, no significant difference of 18 F-AV1451 deposition was found between CN and MCI brains with or without PVC ( p > 0.05). Declined MMSE score was observed with increasing 18 F-AV1451 binding in amygdala, entorhinal cortex, parahippocampus, and fusiform. CSF p-tau was positively correlated with 18 F-AV1451 deposition. PVC improved the results of 18 F-AV-1451 tau deposition and correlation studies in small brain regions. Conclusion: The ...

IntroductionPolycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine-metabolic disorders. Evidence of familial aggregation analysis and different clinical traits among different regions and ethnicities indicated that the pathogenesis of PCOS is associated with multiple genetic and environmental factors. Our previous research had identified three susceptibility loci (rs2479106, DENND1A; rs13405728, LHCGR; rs13429458, THADA) for PCOS in Han Chinese women. The overall aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between three susceptibility gene polymorphisms and PCOS in Hui ethnic women.Methods151 patients with PCOS (case group) and 99 healthy women (control group) were recruited from the Reproductive Medicine Center of the General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University. Clinical data and serum hormone characteristics of case and control groups were collected and analyzed. The three susceptibility single-nucleotide polymorphisms have been replicated in both case and control groups. Gene polymorphisms were detected by direct sequencing after polymerase chain reaction.ResultsThe Body Mass Index, LH, LH/FSH ratio and total testosterone were significantly elevated in PCOS patients compared to control group (P<0.05). The frequencies of genotype and allele in rs13405728 were significantly different between the PCOS and the control groups (P<0.05). Of the SNP rs13405728, the PCOS cases with TT genotype stayed at a higher level of total testosterone, TG and LDL than those with the CC and CT genotypes. In contrary, there was no statistical difference between the two groups for SNP rs13429458 and rs2479106 (P>0.05).ConclusionThe present study suggested that the SNP rs13405728 in the LHCGR gene was associated with PCOS in Hui ethnic women, and its TT genotype characterized with higher level of TT, TG and LDL.

Studies have indicated that high levels of ethanol exposure impaired spermatogenesis in mice. However, the effects of chronic and low‐dose alcohol consumption on susceptible populations remain unclear. The previous studies have confirmed that Immp2l mutant mice (Immp2lTg(Tyr)979Ove or Immp2l−/−) suffered from increased levels of oxidative stress(OS) and male infertility, heterozygous lmmp2l mice (Immp2l+/−) showed no altered ROS levels under physiological condition. Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) significantly scavenge oxygen free radicals and enhance antioxidant enzyme activity. The objectives of present study were to research the effects of chronic and low‐dose alcohol‐induced damage on Immp2l+/−, explore the protective function of LBP and possible mechanism. The results indicated that chronic ethanol exposure leads to spermatogenic impairment and triggered a toxic effect on germ cell, 10 mg/kg LBP administration improved the quality of spermatozoon, decreased the ratio of apoptotic germ cells and the expression of Col1a1 and Col1a2, while increased the level of TNP2 and RPL31. In conclusion, the study may provide basic knowledge about LBP’s important role against ethanol‐induced spermiotoxicity and testicular degeneration in Immp2l+/− mice, and the mechanism may be that LBP influenced the state of the spermatogenic epithelium by decreasing the expression of Collagen level leading to alterations in protein biosynthesis during the process of spermatogenesis.