Na^(+)/K^(+)-ATPase:ion pump,signal transducer,or cytoprotective protein,and novel biological functions

Na^(+)/K^(+)-ATPase is a transmembrane protein that has important roles in the maintenance of electrochemical gradients across cell membranes by transporting three Na^(+)out of and two K^(+)into cells.Additionally,Na^(+)/K^(+)-ATPase participates in Ca^(2+)-signaling transduction and neurotransmitter release by coordinating the ion concentration gradient across the cell membrane.Na^(+)/K^(+)-ATPase works synergistically with multiple ion channels in the cell membrane to form a dynamic network of ion homeostatic regulation and affects cellular communication by regulating chemical signals and the ion balance among different types of cells.Therefo re,it is not surprising that Na^(+)/K^(+)-ATPase dysfunction has emerged as a risk factor for a variety of neurological diseases.However,published studies have so far only elucidated the important roles of Na^(+)/K^(+)-ATPase dysfunction in disease development,and we are lacking detailed mechanisms to clarify how Na^(+)/K^(+)-ATPase affects cell function.Our recent studies revealed that membrane loss of Na^(+)/K^(+)-ATPase is a key mechanism in many neurological disorders,particularly stroke and Parkinson's disease.Stabilization of plasma membrane Na^(+)/K^(+)-ATPase with an antibody is a novel strategy to treat these diseases.For this reason,Na^(+)/K^(+)-ATPase acts not only as a simple ion pump but also as a sensor/regulator or cytoprotective protein,participating in signal transduction such as neuronal autophagy and apoptosis,and glial cell migration.Thus,the present review attempts to summarize the novel biological functions of Na^(+)/K^(+)-ATPase and Na^(+)/K^(+)-ATPase-related pathogenesis.The potential for novel strategies to treat Na^(+)/K^(+)-ATPase-related brain diseases will also be discussed.

The Effect of Acupuncture Point Therapy on Insomnia:A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Born in a society where traditional as well as modern medication is used equally on daily basis,it is puzzling yet intriguing to find how,albeit the lack of scientific evidence,the traditional ways are widely adopted in every Chinese family.Various studies are conducted in search for the mechanisms as well as the relative effectiveness of the traditional acupoint therapy as opposed to the Western medicines,yet individually viewing,it is hard to reach a conclusion.Therefore,a meta-analysis is done by collecting and analyzing results from research from multiple reliable databases,trying to determine the strength of acupoint therapy in treating insomnia,a common yet frustrating disease.In this meta-analysis,the methods and results of 13 studies are included,all of which focus on treating primary or secondary(specific causes are analyzed in subgroups)insomnia in humans using randomized control trials.After being selected from four main medical databases,including PubMed,Embase,Psycinfo,and Wanfang,the data were sorted and processed using the Reviewing Manager.Papers that lack credibility or have a low level of relevance were excluded,and the remaining studies showed that all experimental groups using real acupoints yielded a statistically significant improvement in sleep quality in the patients than those in the control group,and finally,a conclusion is drawn that the acupuncture therapy is as,if not more,effective as modern western medicine on treating insomnia.

Biosensing strategies for amyloid-like protein aggregates

Protein aggregate species play a pivotal role in the pathology of various degenerative diseases.Their dynamic changes are closely correlated with disease progression,making them promising candidates as diagnostic biomarkers.Given the prevalence of degenerative diseases,growing attention is drawn to develop pragmatic and accessible protein aggregate species detection technology.However,the performance of current detection methods is far from satisfying the requirements of extensive clinical use.In this review,we focus on the design strategies,merits,and potential shortcomings of each class of detection methods.The review is organized into three major parts:native protein sensing,seed amplification,and intricate program,which embody three different but interconnected methodologies.To the best of our knowledge,no systematic review has encompassed the entire workflow,from the molecular level to the apparatus organization.This review emphasizes the feasibility of the methods instead of theoretical detection limitations.We conclude that high selectivity does play a pivotal role,while signal compilation,multilateral profiling,and other patient-oriented strategies(i.e.less invasiveness and assay speed)are also important.