Posttranslational modification impact on the mechanism by which amyloid-β induces synaptic dysfunction.

Oligomeric amyloid-β (Aβ) 1-42 disrupts synaptic function at an early stage of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Multiple posttranslational modifications of Aβ have been identified, among which N-terminally truncated forms are the most abundant. It is not clear, however, whether modified species can induce synaptic dysfunction on their own and how altered biochemical properties can contribute to the synaptotoxic mechanisms.

A proliferation control network model: the simulation of two-dimensional epithelial homeostasis.

Despite the recent progress in the description of the molecular mechanisms of proliferation and differentiation controls in vitro, the regulation of the homeostasis of normal stratified epithelia remains unclear in vivo. Computer simulation represents a powerful tool to investigate the complex field of cell proliferation regulation networks. It provides huge computation capabilities to test, in a dynamic in silico context, hypotheses about the many pathways and feedback loops involved in cell growth and proliferation controls.

An experimental inter-expert telepathology network using static imaging.

Aims: To set up a network for remote consultation using static imaging telepathology via Internet connection between pathologists in different European countries, and to collect some numerical and subjective impressions on the usefulness of this form of telepathology.

Methods: A static image remote consultation network between 11 pathologists in nine European countries was set up; all pathologists were equipped with the same telepathology system. The pathologists formed three subject oriented subgroups concerned with prostate, melanoma, and soft tissue sarcoma pathology.

Quantitation of AgNORs by flow versus image cytometry.

AgNORs are nucleolar proteins that interact specifically with silver salts. The size of silver precipitates measured by image analysis (ICM) in cycling cells proved to be inversely proportional to the cell cycle time and provided a significant correlation with prognosis for a large spectrum of cancers. Because ICM is time-consuming and poorly reproducible among laboratories using different imaging settings, this article presents a new approach to AgNOR quantitation based on flow cytometry (FCM).

Correlation between silver-stained nucleolar organizer region area and cell cycle time.

Background: The relationship between the population doubling time and the quantity of silver-stained nucleolar organizer region (AgNOR) interphase proteins was studied in cell culture at three different temperatures used to modulate the cell cycle duration.

Methods: After MIB 1 and AgNOR combined staining, the quantity of AgNOR proteins was measured in cycling cells by image cytometry.

Results: Among the several parameters calculated, the AgNOR relative area showed a strong correlation with the changes of the population doubling time induced by different temperatures.