Altered mitochondrial unfolded protein response and protein quality control promote oxidative distress in down syndrome brain.

Down Syndrome (DS) is a genetic disorder caused by the presence of an extra copy of chromosome 21, and leading to various developmental and cognitive defects. A critical feature of DS is the occurrence of oxidative distress particularly in the brain, which exacerbates neurodevelopmental processes. Mitochondria play a crucial role in cell energy metabolism and their impairment is one of the major causes of oxidative distress in several pathologies.

Evidence of brines interconnections and different flow patterns within the boulder clay glacier and its moraine (Victoria Land, East Antarctica).

Multi-technique integrated surveys were carried out to investigate brine characteristics, connectivity and flow patterns in the Boulder Clay Glacier area, Victoria Land, East Antarctica. Specifically, electromagnetic geophysical surveys focused mainly on Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and integrated by Frequency Domain induction, not only demonstrated the presence of brines in the subsurface, but also allowed to image several structures and glaciological elements. Chemical analyses suggested the origin and differentiation of the brines, providing evidence for interconnected pathways.

Evaluation of Methodologies in Anti-nephrin Autoantibody Detection.

Recent studies discovered the prominent presence of anti-nephrin autoantibodies in minimal change disease, steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome and/or post-transplant recurrent focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). However, widely different, and often unconventional autoantibody detection methods were used among these studies, making it challenging to assess the pathogenic role for the antibodies. Here we examined methods of conventional ELISA, magnetic on-beads ELISA, immunoprecipitation-immunoblotting (IP-IB), and cell- and tissue-based antibody assays with 127 plasma samples of kidney and non-kidney diseases.