Synaptic and extrasynaptic distribution of NMDA receptors in the cortex of Alzheimer's disease patients.

Background: Synaptic and extrasynaptic distribution of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) has not been addressed in the brain from Alzheimer´s disease (AD) subjects, despite their contribution to neurodegeneration.

Methods: We have developed a protocol to isolate synaptic and extrasynaptic membranes from controls and AD frontal cortex. We characterized the distribution of the NMDAR subunits GluN2B, GluN2A, GluN1, and GluN3A, as well as post-translational modifications, such as phosphorylation and glycosylation.

Disruption of cortical cell type composition and function underlies diabetes-associated cognitive decline.

Aims/hypothesis: Type 2 diabetes is associated with increased risk of cognitive decline although the pathogenic basis for this remains obscure. Deciphering diabetes-linked molecular mechanisms in cells of the cerebral cortex could uncover novel therapeutic targets.

Methods: Single-cell transcriptomic sequencing (scRNA-seq) was conducted on the cerebral cortex in a mouse model of type 2 diabetes (db/db mice) and in non-diabetic control mice in order to identify gene expression changes in distinct cell subpopulations and alterations in cell type composition.

The Absence of FAIM Leads to a Delay in Dark Adaptation and Hampers Arrestin-1 Translocation upon Light Reception in the Retina.

The short and long isoforms of FAIM (FAIM-S and FAIM-L) hold important functions in the central nervous system, and their expression levels are specifically enriched in the retina. We previously described that knockout (KO) mice present structural and molecular alterations in the retina compatible with a neurodegenerative phenotype. Here, we aimed to study KO retinal functions and molecular mechanisms leading to its alterations.

FAIM-L - SIVA-1: Two Modulators of XIAP in Non-Apoptotic Caspase Function.

Apoptosis is crucial for the correct development of the nervous system. In adulthood, the same protein machinery involved in programmed cell death can control neuronal adaptiveness through modulation of synaptic pruning and synaptic plasticity processes. Caspases are the main executioners in these molecular pathways, and their strict regulation is essential to perform neuronal remodeling preserving cell survival.

Characteristics of COVID-19 Workplace Clusters in Rhode Island.

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted certain workplace settings disproportionately, putting some industries at a higher risk for workplace transmission than others. This study examines workplace clusters in Rhode Island between March 2020 and May 2021. There were 14,580 cases associated with 2784 clusters during this period, with the largest number of workplace clusters occurring in manufacturing, food services, and retail.