Publications by authors named "B R Witt"
Copper (Cu) is an essential trace element involved in fundamental physiological processes in the human body. Even slight disturbances in the physiological Cu homeostasis are associated with the manifestation of neurodegenerative diseases. While suggesting a crucial role of Cu in the pathogenesis, the exact mechanisms of Cu neurotoxicity involved in the onset and progression of neurological diseases are far from understood.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNeuroendocrine and tuft cells are rare, chemosensory epithelial lineages defined by expression of ASCL1 and POU2F3 transcription factors, respectively. Neuroendocrine cancers, including small cell lung cancer (SCLC), frequently display tuft-like subsets, a feature linked to poor patient outcomes. The mechanisms driving neuroendocrine-tuft tumour heterogeneity, and the origins of tuft-like cancers are unknown.
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- Thyroid disorders are common and can lead to significant psychiatric symptoms that resemble bipolar disorders (BDs), which, while less frequent, have considerable global impact and healthcare costs.
- Research indicates that imbalances in thyroid hormones may contribute to the development of BDs, but there is still much to learn about this relationship.
- This review investigates the connections between thyroid disorders and BDs, looking at neurochemical interactions, the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis, and genetic influences, highlighting the need for targeted therapies that address both conditions' shared mechanisms.
Students as Teachers is a 7-month student-led elective that equips first- and second-year medical students with teaching skills. Pre- and post-course surveys measured participants' knowledge and confidence level in the course's learning objectives such as creating lesson plans, engaging learners, and assessing understanding. Eleven students participated in the course and 10 students completed the pre- and post-course surveys.
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- Masticatory gape and bite force are crucial for understanding the behavior and ecology of Smilodon fatalis, despite ongoing debates about its chewing habits.
- Researchers developed osteological proxies based on modern cats to estimate muscle length, gape, and bite force in S. fatalis.
- Findings suggest that while S. fatalis has a larger angular gape compared to modern felids, its bite force estimates are similar to those of smaller felids; this may indicate a unique predatory strategy involving both canine and carnassial teeth for capturing large prey.