Genetically and pharmacologically limiting RyR2 open time prevents neuronal hyperactivity of hippocampal CA1 neurons in brain slices of 5xFAD mice.

Neuronal hyperactivity is an early, common manifestation of Alzheimer's disease (AD), and is believed to drive AD progression. Neuronal hyperactivity in the form of baseline activity (or spontaneous Ca transients) has consistently been demonstrated in mouse models of AD using two-photon in vivo Ca imaging of cortical or hippocampal neurons in anesthetized animals. Notably, these AD-related spontaneous Ca transients were hardly detected in acute hippocampal slices, probably due to neuronal damage during brain slicing.

Software for convenient correction of artifacts in sonomicrometry.

Sonomicrometry is widely applied in biomechanics and physiology to measure precise distances with high temporal resolution. Although commonly used, its usefulness is often limited by the presence of artifacts that require correction. Unfortunately, procedures reported in the literature for artifact correction are often unclear.

The cardiac ryanodine receptor luminal Ca2+ sensor governs Ca2+ waves, ventricular tachyarrhythmias and cardiac hypertrophy in calsequestrin-null mice.

CASQ2 (cardiac calsequestrin) is commonly believed to serve as the SR (sarcoplasmic reticulum) luminal Ca2+ sensor. Ablation of CASQ2 promotes SCWs (spontaneous Ca2+ waves) and CPVT (catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia) upon stress but not at rest. How SCWs and CPVT are triggered by stress in the absence of the CASQ2-based luminal Ca2+ sensor is an important unresolved question.

Gene expression profiling of human hibernating myocardium: increased expression of B-type natriuretic peptide and proenkephalin in hypocontractile vs normally-contracting regions of the heart.

A greater understanding of the molecular basis of hibernating myocardium may assist in identifying those patients who would most benefit from revascularization. Paired heart biopsies were taken from hypocontractile and normally-contracting myocardium (identified by cardiovascular magnetic resonance) from 6 patients with chronic stable angina scheduled for bypass grafting. Gene expression profiles of hypocontractile and normally-contracting samples were compared using Affymetrix microarrays.

An unusually late presentation of neuroschistosomiasis.

Schistosomiasis is one of the most widespread parasitic infections in man. Neuroschistosomiasis, referring to schistosomal involvement of the central nervous system, is an uncommon but well recognised complication of schistosomal infection. The duration between time of infection and onset of neurological symptoms typically varies between weeks to months.