Maintenance of optogenetic channel rhodopsin (ChR2) function in aging mice: Implications for pharmacological studies of inhibitory synaptic transmission, quantal content, and calcium homeostasis.

Disruption of synaptic function is believed to represent a common pathway contributing to cognitive decline during aging. Optogenetics is a prodigious tool for studying relationships between function and synaptic circuitry but models utilizing viral vectors present limitations. Careful characterization of the functionality of channel rhodopsin in transgenic models is crucial for determining whether they can be used across aging.

Late-Onset, Short-Term Intermittent Fasting Reverses Age-Related Changes in Calcium Buffering and Inhibitory Synaptic Transmission in Mouse Basal Forebrain Neurons.

Aging is often associated with cognitive decline and recurrent cellular and molecular impairments. While life-long caloric restriction (CR) may delay age-related cognitive deterioration as well as the onset of neurologic disease, recent studies suggest that late-onset, short-term intermittent fasting (IF), may show comparable beneficial effects as those of life-long CR to improve brain health. We used a new optogenetic aging model to study the effects of late-onset (>18 months), short-term (four to six weeks) IF on age-related changes in GABAergic synaptic transmission, intracellular calcium (Ca) buffering, and cognitive status.

Amitriptyline Decreases GABAergic Transmission in Basal Forebrain Neurons Using an Optogenetic Model of Aging.

The antidepressant drug amitriptyline is used in the treatment of clinical depression and a variety of neurological conditions such as anxiety, neuropathic pain disorders and migraine. Antidepressants are associated with both therapeutic and untoward effects, and their use in the elderly has tripled since the mid-1990s. Because of this widespread use, we are interested in testing the acute effects of amitriptyline on synaptic transmission at therapeutic concentrations well below those that block voltage-gated calcium channels.

Properties of New Glass-Ionomer Restorative Systems Marketed for Stress-Bearing Areas.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the properties (fracture toughness, surface hardness) of newer conventional glass-ionomer restorative materials that are marketed for posterior stress-bearing areas compared with more traditional glass-ionomer restorative materials marketed for non-load-bearing areas and composite-resin restorative materials.

Methods And Materials: Notched-beam fracture toughness specimens were created in a mold with each tested material (Equia Forte, GC America, with and without a surface coating of Equia Forte Coat; Ketac Universal, 3M/ESPE; ChemFil Rock, Dentsply; Fuji IX GP Extra, GC; Ionostar Molar, VOCO; Filtek Z250, 3M/ESPE; Filtek Supreme Ultra, 3M/ESPE) and fractured using a universal testing machine after 24 hours of storage. Hardness values were determined on the surface of the fracture toughness specimens using a hardness tester.

Flexural strength of denture base acrylic resins processed by conventional and CAD-CAM methods.

Statement Of Problem: High flexural strength is one of the desirable properties for denture base resins, yet only few studies have evaluated the physical properties of newer denture bases such as computer-aided design and computer aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) milled products.

Purpose: The purpose of this in vitro study was to compare the flexural strength of 3 different types of denture base resins: compression molded, injection molded, and CAD-CAM milled.

Material And Methods: Three groups (n=10) of acrylic denture base resins were tested: injection molded, compression molded, and CAD-CAM milled resin.