DENN/MADD/IG20 alternative splicing changes and cell death in Alzheimer's disease.

The potential effects of alternative splicing of death-domain expressing genes and neuronal death have not been determined in Alzheimer's disease (AD). We analyzed DENN/MADD/IG20 (DMI), the complex of four splice variants. IG20 is known to be involved in cell death and the DENN/MADD splice variant (DM-SV) in cell survival in non-neural systems.

Exercise elevates dopamine D2 receptor in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease: in vivo imaging with [¹⁸F]fallypride.

The purpose of the current study was to examine changes in dopamine D2 receptor (DA-D2R) expression within the basal ganglia of MPTP mice subjected to intensive treadmill exercise. Using Western immunoblotting analysis of synaptoneurosomes and in vivo positron emission tomography (PET) imaging employing the DA-D2R specific ligand [¹⁸F]fallypride, we found that high intensity treadmill exercise led to an increase in striatal DA-D2R expression that was most pronounced in MPTP compared to saline treated mice. Exercise-induced changes in the DA-D2R in the dopamine-depleted basal ganglia are consistent with the potential role of this receptor in modulating medium spiny neurons (MSNs) function and behavioral recovery.

The dominant role of solvent in the sequestering of bile salts by hydrophobic cationic polymeric resins.

The binding behavior of sodium cholate, a trihydroxy hydrophobic bile salt, by a polyacrylamide resin with N,N,N-trimethylammonium dodecyl chloride (QPDA12) pendant group was determined with varying buffer conditions and in the presence of 1,2-propanediol as a solvent perturbant. Binding constants extracted from the fit of the binding isotherms to the Langmuir equation were obtained at several temperatures. The temperature dependence of the binding behavior indicated that binding, in comparison with that of the dihydroxy chenodeoxycholate, was weaker due to a smaller positive entropic change, despite a lowered enthalpic barrier.