To investigate the relationship between dopamine receptors and expanded htt, we transfected enhanced green fluorescent proteins (EGFP) tagged to normal (25 CAG) or mutant (103 CAG) htt in SK-N-MC neuroblastoma cells that endogenously express D1 receptors. Forming nuclear and cytoplasmic aggregates, mutant htt-EGFP was toxic to cells beyond 24 h post-transfection. Remarkably, low doses of a selective D1 receptors agonist or forskolin, an Verubecestat concentration activator of adenylate cyclase, accelerated the formation of mutant htt nuclear aggregates, whereas the number of cytoplasmic

aggregates was decreased. These effects were associated with a minor increase in cell death. Understanding the functional bases of these effects may further elucidate the role of dopamine receptors signaling DAPT in the complex pathophysiology of HD. (c) 2008 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Background In Japan, a nationwide programme between 1984

and 2003 screened all infants for urinary catecholamine metabolites as a marker for neuroblastoma. Before 1989, this was done by qualitative spot tests for vanillylmandelic acid in urine, and subsequently by quantitative assay with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). However, the Japanese government stopped the mass-screening programme in 2003, after reports that it did not reduce mortality due to neuroblastoma. We aimed to assess the effectiveness of the programme, by comparing the rates of incidence and mortality from neuroblastomas diagnosed before 6 years of age in three cohorts.

Methods We did a retrospective population-based cohort study on all children born between 1980 and 1998, except for a 2-year period from 1984. We divided these 22 289 695 children into three cohorts: children

born before screening in 1980-83 (n=6 130 423); those born during qualitative screening in 1986-89 (n=5 290 412); and those born during quantitative screening 1990-98 (n=10 868 860). We used databases from hospitals, next screening centres, and national cancer registries. Cases of neuroblastoma were followed up for a mean of 78.7 months.

Findings 21.56 cases of neuroblastorna per 100 000 births over 72 months were identified in the qualitatively screened group (relative risk [RR] 1 . 87, 95% Cl 1 . 66-2. 10), and 29.80 cases per 100 000 births over 72 months in the quantitatively screened group (RR 2.58, 2.33-2.86). The cumulative incidence of neuroblastorna in the prescreening cohort (11 . 56 cases per 100 000 births over 72 months) was lower than that in other cohorts (p<0 . 0001 for all comparisons), but more neuroblastomas were diagnosed after 24 months of age in this cohort (p=0 . 0002 for qualitative screening vs prescreening, p<0 . 0001 for quantitative screening vs prescreening). Cumulative mortality was lower in the qualititative screening (3.90 cases per 100 000 livebirths over 72 months) and quantitative screening cohorts (2.