Abstract: A double-stranded DNA biomarker derived from exosomes is useful in early diagnosis and preoperative evaluation of pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma, and applications thereof. The biomarker is genome double-stranded DNA fragment specifically derived from exosomes in blood serum of pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma patients. The double-stranded DNA can represent variations of RET, VHL, and HIF2A with high frequency of somatic cell mutation, and metastatic phenotype-related SDHB, which are susceptibility genes of PCCs and PGLs. The circulating exosome DNA in patient's peripheral blood contains 97% of the same chromosomal point mutation information as the tumor cells from which the DNA originated. There is evidence of the existence of double-stranded DNA in the serum exosomes of PCCs and PGLs. The double-stranded DNA can be used to identify mutations in tumor cells and provide a noninvasive molecular marker for the clinical diagnosis and preoperative evaluation of PCCs and PGLs.

Abstract: A scorpion venom heat-resistant synthetic peptide (SVHRSP) contains an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO 1. One or more amino acids the amino acid sequence can be substituted or deleted. A pharmaceutical composition that contains the SVHRSP has numerous applications. The pharmaceutical composition can be used to protect neuronal cell against amyloid beta-induced toxic effects, or to inhibit the sodium channel current of a hippocampal neuronal cell, or to protect a neuronal cell against NMDA-induced injury. It may also promote the formation of a pluripotent neural stem cell from a type II astrocyte, or treats a subject, such as a human, having epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, or Parkinson's disease.

Abstract: A scorpion venom heat-resistant synthetic peptide (SVHRSP) contains an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO 1. One or more amino acids the amino acid sequence can be substituted or deleted. A pharmaceutical composition that contains the SVHRSP has numerous applications. The pharmaceutical composition can be used to protect neuronal cell against amyloid beta-induced toxic effects, or to inhibit the sodium channel current of a hippocampal neuronal cell, or to protect a neuronal cell against NMDA-induced injury. It may also promotes the formation of a pluripotent neural stem cell from a type II astrocyte, or treats a subject, such as a human, having epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, or Parkinson's disease.