Fly Fam161 is an essential centriole and cilium transition zone protein with unique and diverse cell type-specific localizations.

Family with sequence similarity 161 (Fam161) is an ancient family of microtubule-binding proteins located at the centriole and cilium transition zone (TZ) lumen that exhibit rapid evolution in mice. However, their adaptive role is unclear. Here, we used flies to gain insight into their cell type-specific adaptations.

Tackling of Immunorefractory Tumors by Targeting Alternative Immune Checkpoints.

Physiologically, well known or traditional immune checkpoints (ICs), such as CTLA-4 and PD-1, are in place to promote tolerance to self-antigens and prevent generation of autoimmunity. In cancer, the ICs are effectively engaged by the tumor cells or stromal ells from the tumor microenvironment through expression of cognate ligands for the ICs present on the cell surface of CD8 T lymphocytes. The ligation of ICs on CD8 T lymphocytes triggers inhibitory signaling pathways, leading to quiescence or an exhaustion of CD8 T lymphocytes.

A pilot longitudinal study of hippocampal volumes in pediatric maltreatment-related posttraumatic stress disorder.

Background: Adult posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with decreased hippocampal volumes; however, decreased hippocampal volumes were not seen in pediatric maltreatment-related PTSD. We examined hippocampal volumes longitudinally to determine if a history of childhood traumatic stress alters hippocampal growth during puberty.

Methods: Magnetic resonance imaging was used to measure temporal lobes, amygdala, and hippocampal volumes in nine prepubertal maltreated subjects with pediatric maltreatment-related PTSD and nine sociodemographically matched healthy nonmaltreated yoked control subjects at baseline and after at least 2 years follow-up (during the later stages of pubertal development) using identical equipment and measurement methodology.

Sex differences in brain maturation during childhood and adolescence.

Brain development during childhood and adolescence is characterized by both progressive myelination and regressive pruning processes. However, sex differences in brain maturation remain poorly understood. Magnetic resonance imaging was used to examine the relationships between age and sex with cerebral gray and white matter volumes and corpus callosal areas in 118 healthy children and adolescents (61 males and 57 females), aged 6-17 years.

A pilot study of amygdala volumes in pediatric generalized anxiety disorder.

Background: The neurodevelopment of childhood anxiety disorders is not well understood. Basic research has implicated the amygdala and circuits related to these nuclei as being central to several aspects of fear and fear-related behaviors in animals.

Methods: Magnetic resonance imaging was used to measure amygdala volumes and comparison brain regions in 12 child and adolescent subjects with generalized anxiety disorder and 24 comparison subjects.