Assessment of multi-population polygenic risk scores for lipid traits in African Americans.

Polygenic risk scores (PRS) based on genome-wide discoveries are promising predictors or classifiers of disease development, severity, and/or progression for common clinical outcomes. A major limitation of most risk scores is the paucity of genome-wide discoveries in diverse populations, prompting an emphasis to generate these needed data for trans-population and population-specific PRS construction. Given diverse genome-wide discoveries are just now being completed, there has been little opportunity for PRS to be evaluated in diverse populations independent from the discovery efforts.

Distinct Changes in Calpain and Calpastatin during PNS Myelination and Demyelination in Rodent Models.

Myelin forming around axons provides electrical insulation and ensures rapid and efficient transmission of electrical impulses. Disruptions to myelinated nerves often result in nerve conduction failure along with neurological symptoms and long-term disability. In the central nervous system, calpains, a family of calcium dependent cysteine proteases, have been shown to have a role in developmental myelination and in demyelinating diseases.

Functional Domains in Myelinated Axons.

Propagation of action potentials along axons is optimized through interactions between neurons and myelinating glial cells. Myelination drives division of the axons into distinct molecular domains including nodes of Ranvier. The high density of voltage-gated sodium channels at nodes generates action potentials allowing for rapid and efficient saltatory nerve conduction.

Impairment of cognitive flexibility in type 2 diabetic db/db mice.

Impaired executive function is a major peril for patients with type 2 diabetes, reducing quality of life and ability for diabetes management. Despite the significance of this impairment, few animal models of type 2 diabetes examine domains of executive function such as cognitive flexibility or working memory. Here, we evaluated these executive function domains in db/db mice, an established model of type 2 diabetes, at 10 and 24 weeks of age.

Type 2 Diabetes Leads to Axon Initial Segment Shortening in Mice.

Cognitive and mood impairments are common central nervous system complications of type 2 diabetes, although the neuronal mechanism(s) remains elusive. Previous studies focused mainly on neuronal inputs such as altered synaptic plasticity. Axon initial segment (AIS) is a specialized functional domain within neurons that regulates neuronal outputs.