Reduction of pancreatic β-cells mass, major secondary to increased β-cells apoptosis, is increasingly recognized as one of the main contributing factors to the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes (T2D), and saturated free fatty acid palmitate has been shown to induce endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress that may contribute to promoting β-cells apoptosis. Recent literature suggests that valproate, a diffusely prescribed drug in the treatment of epilepsy and bipolar disorder, can inhibit glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) activity and has cytoprotective effects in neuronal cells and HepG2 cells. Thus, we hypothesized that valproate may protect INS-1 β-cells from palmitate-induced apoptosis via inhibiting GSK-3β.

Objective: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common age-related neurodegenerative disorder. Emerging evidence suggests that synaptic dysfunction is associated with the onset and progression of AD. Interestingly, Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb) is one of the most frequently investigated herbal medicines for enhancing cognition and alleviating neurodegenerative dementia. This study aimed to investigate the effect and the mechanism of EGb on AD-like synaptic disorders. Methods: Scopolamine (SCO)-induced rats were used to mimic AD-like memory deficits. Morris water maze test and fear conditioning test were conducted to evaluate the memory status of rats in response to different treatments. Then, the synapse alterations were assessed by Golgi staining, and Western blotting was conducted to assess the protein expression of PSD95, GluN2B, synapsin-1, and synaptophysin. Reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction was applied to detect the mRNA expression of PSD95 and the levels of miR-1-3p/miR-206-3p. Results: EGb supplement alleviated the learning and memory deficits induced by SCO in behavioral experiments. Moreover, EGb treatment attenuated synaptic damage elicited by SCO, manifested as increased dendritic spine density and the proportion of mushroom-type spines in hippocampal neurons. Further investigation indicated that EGb rescued the expression of synaptic-related proteins, especially PSD95, and decreased the levels of miR-1-3p/miR-206-3p in the rat hippocampus. Conclusion: The application of EGb effectively treats SCO-induced memory impairments probably by suppressing miR-1-3p/miR-206-3p and elevating the expression of PSD95.

Wiedemann–Steiner syndrome (WDSTS) is an autosomal dominant disorder with a broad and variable phenotypic spectrum characterized by intellectual disability, prenatal and postnatal growth retardation, hypertrichosis, characteristic facial features, behavioral problems, and congenital anomalies involving different systems. Here, we report a five-year-old boy who was diagnosed with WDSTS based on the results of Trio-based whole-exome sequencing and an assessment of his clinical features. He had intellectual disability, short stature, hirsutism, and atypical facial features, including a low hairline, down-slanting palpebral fissures, hypertelorism, long eyelashes, broad and arching eyebrows, synophrys, a bulbous nose, a broad nasal tip, and dental/oral anomalies. However, not all individuals with WDSTS exhibit the classic phenotype, so the spectrum of the disorder can vary widely from relatively atypical facial features to multiple systemic symptoms. Here, we summarize the clinical and molecular spectrum, diagnosis and differential diagnosis, long-term management, and care planning of WDSTS to improve the awareness of both pediatricians and clinical geneticists and to promote the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

This report gives an insight into the specific changes in the transcription of four key carotenogenic genes [encoding geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase (crtE), phytoene desaturase (crtI), phytoene synthase lycopene cyclase (crtYB), and astaxanthin synthase (ast), respectively] in Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous cultures, with regard to dissolved oxygen (DO) contents of 10%, 25%, and 40% air saturation, respectively. 25% DO proved to be the most beneficial for yeast growth, transcription of carotenogenic genes, and astaxanthin content.

Objective The Kruppel-like factor 11 (KLF11) gene causes maturity-onset diabetes of the young 7 (MODY7). There are few reports on the clinical and functional characteristics of KLF11 mutations in patients with MODY7, making diagnosis and treatment complicated. Research Design and Methods We report a novel KLF11 variant associated with MODY7 in a Chinese family. The proband had hyperglycemia at 9 years of age, and his mother had developed diabetes at age 28 years. Both required insulin injections from the initial phase of the disease. They were negative for islet cell autoantibodies and had normal fasting C-peptide levels. We observed changes in the levels of fasting blood glucose, C-peptide, and islet cell autoantibodies in the proband over 4.5 years. Results Whole-exon sequencing was used to screen the proband and his family members for KLF11 variants. The heterozygous KLF11 variant (c.1045C>T, p. Pro349Ser) was identified in the proband, his mother, his maternal grandmother, and an elderly aunt, although the latter two individuals were unaffected. In silico analyses indicated that this variant involved a change in the amino acid side chain in the transcriptional regulatory domain 3. Luciferase reporter assays revealed that the variant had impaired insulin promoter regulation activity. Moreover, in vitro analyses showed that this variant impaired insulin secretion from pancreatic beta cells. Conclusions This study documents a novel heterozygous KLF11 variant (p. Pro349Ser) as a potential monogenic mutation associated with MODY7 in a family. This variant impairs insulin secretion from pancreatic beta cells, possibly by repressing insulin promoter regulation activity.

Background: Wiedemann‐Steiner Syndrome (WSS) is an autosomal dominant genetic condition caused by mutations in the KMT2A gene. Lysine methyltransferase, encoded by KMT2A, plays critical roles in the regulation of gene expression during early development.Methods: Trio‐based whole exome sequencing (Trio‐WES) was performed on a 15 months old Chinese girl and her two parents by MyGenostics (Beijing, China) using the Illumina HiSeq X ten system. Variants were confirmed with Sanger sequencing. She exhibited mild/moderate intellectual disability (ID), hypotonia, hypertrichosis cubiti, hypertrichosis on the back, dysmorphic facies, psychomotor retardation, growth delay, small and puffy hands, fat pads anterior to calcanei, and palmar/plantar grooves.Results: Trio‐WES revealed a novel de novo mutation of KMT2A gene (NM_001197104.1: c.3566G>T, p.Cys1189Phe). WSS was diagnosed based on WES and clinical features.Conclusion: Our findings expand the phenotypic and mutation spectra of WSS.