Basic Science and Pathogenesis.

Background: Anticholinergic (AC) use remains common in older adults despite evidence of safety risks, including dementia risk. Evidence from population studies suggests that dementia risk may vary by AC class. This variation might be explained by confounding by indication.

Basic Science and Pathogenesis.

Background: Late Onset Alzheimer's Disease (LOAD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder. Carriers of an ɛ4 allele of the apolipoprotein E gene (APOE) have significantly increased risk of developing LOAD. LOAD is also strongly sex biased.

Selenium Protects Mouse Hypothalamic Cells from Glucocorticoid-Induced Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Vulnerability and Insulin Signaling Impairment.

The use of glucocorticoid medications is known to cause metabolic side effects such as overeating, excess weight gain, and insulin resistance. The hypothalamus, a central regulator of feeding behavior and energy expenditure, is highly responsive to glucocorticoids, and it has been proposed that it plays a role in glucocorticoid-induced metabolic defects. Glucocorticoids can alter the expression and activity of antioxidant enzymes and promote the accumulation of reactive oxygen species.

Female Mice with Selenocysteine tRNA Deletion in Agrp Neurons Maintain Leptin Sensitivity and Resist Weight Gain While on a High-Fat Diet.

The role of the essential trace element selenium in hypothalamic physiology has begun to come to light over recent years. Selenium is used to synthesize a family of proteins participating in redox reactions called selenoproteins, which contain a selenocysteine residue in place of a cysteine. Past studies have shown that disrupted selenoprotein expression in the hypothalamus can adversely impact energy homeostasis.

The Fold-Illuminator: A low-cost, portable, and disposable incubator-illuminator device.

Fluorescent reporters have revolutionized modern applications in the fields of molecular and synthetic biology, enabling applications ranging from education to point-of-care diagnostics. Past advancements in these fields have primarily focused on improving reaction conditions, the development of new applications, and the broad dissemination of these technologies. However, field and classroom-based applications have remained limited in part due to the nature of fluorescent signal detection, which often requires the use of costly lab equipment to observe and quantify fluorescence readouts.