No abstract

Post-translational modification by SUMO was proposed to modulate the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative diseases. Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3/Machado-Joseph disease (SCA3/MJD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disease caused by polyQ-expanded ataxin-3. We have previously shown that ataxin-3 was a new target of SUMOylation in vitro and in vivo. Here we identified that the major SUMO-1 binding site was located on lysine 166. SUMOylation did not influence the subcellular localization, ubiquitination or aggregates formation of mutant-type ataxin-3, but partially increased its stability and the cell apoptosis. Our findings revealed the role of ataxin-3 SUMOylation in SCA3/MJD pathogenesis.

No abstract

No abstract

In this study, the utility of point-of-care lung ultrasound for the clinical classification of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was prospectively assessed. Twenty-seven adult patients with COVID-19 underwent bedside lung ultrasonography (LUS) examinations three times within the first two weeks of admission to the isolation ward. We divided the 81 exams into three groups (i.e., moderate group, severe group, and critically ill group). Lung scores were calculated as the sum of points. A rank sum test and bivariate correlation analysis were carried out to determine the correlation between LUS on admission and the clinical classification of COVID-19. There were dramatic differences in LUS (p<0.001) among the three groups, and LUS scores (r=0.754) correlated positively with clinical severity (p<0.01). In addition, moderate, severe, and critically ill patients were more likely to have low (≤9), medium (9-15), and high scores (≥15), respectively. This study provides stratification criteria of LUS scores to assist in quantitatively evaluating COVID-19 patients.