Precise and scalable self-organization in mammalian pseudo-embryos.

Gene expression is inherently noisy, posing a challenge to understanding how precise and reproducible patterns of gene expression emerge in mammals. Here we investigate this phenomenon using gastruloids, a three-dimensional in vitro model for early mammalian development. Our study reveals intrinsic reproducibility in the self-organization of gastruloids, encompassing growth dynamics and gene expression patterns.

Push-pull mechanics of E-cadherin ectodomains in biomimetic adhesions.

E-cadherin plays a central role in cell-cell adhesion. The ectodomains of wild-type cadherins form a crystalline-like two-dimensional lattice in cell-cell interfaces mediated by both trans (apposed cell) and cis (same cell) interactions. In addition to these extracellular forces, adhesive strength is further regulated by cytosolic phenomena involving α and β catenin-mediated interactions between cadherin and the actin cytoskeleton.

Through Thick and Thin: Baseline Cortical Volume and Thickness Predict Performance and Response to Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Primary Progressive Aphasia.

Objectives: We hypothesized that measures of cortical thickness and volume in language areas would correlate with response to treatment with high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) in persons with primary progressive aphasia (PPA).

Materials And Methods: In a blinded, within-group crossover study, PPA patients ( = 12) underwent a 2-week intervention HD-tDCS paired with constraint-induced language therapy (CILT). Multi-level linear regression (backward-fitted models) were performed to assess cortical measures as predictors of tDCS-induced naming improvements, measured by the Western Aphasia Battery-naming subtest, from baseline to immediately after and 6 weeks post-intervention.

When a gold standard isn't so golden: Lack of prediction of subjective sleep quality from sleep polysomnography.

Background: Reports of subjective sleep quality are frequently collected in research and clinical practice. It is unclear, however, how well polysomnographic measures of sleep correlate with subjective reports of prior-night sleep quality in elderly men and women. Furthermore, the relative importance of various polysomnographic, demographic and clinical characteristics in predicting subjective sleep quality is not known.

Principal components analysis of agitation outcomes in Alzheimer's disease.

Background: We developed a composite measure of agitation as a secondary outcome of change over time in the Citalopram for Agitation in Alzheimer's disease study (CitAD). CitAD demonstrated a positive effect of citalopram on agitation on the Neurobehavioral Rating Scale agitation subscale (NBRS-A). CitAD included additional agitation measures such as the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory and the Neuropsychiatric Inventory.

Negative Tuberculin Skin Test and Prediction of Reversion of QuantiFERON Interferon Gamma Release Assay in US Healthcare Workers.

QuantiFERON tuberculosis tests (QFT) reverted in (612) 77% of 1,094 low-risk healthcare workers (HCW) testing less than 1.16 IU/mL. Of HCW testing greater than 1.

Ubiquity of Undiagnosed Sleep Disordered Breathing in Community-Dwelling Older Male Veterans.

Objective: To determine the point prevalence of sleep disordered breathing (SDB) in a community-based sample of older male veterans and to determine if common markers of SDB apply to this population.

Methods: Two hundred fourteen older male Veterans (age 55-89 years) were recruited for a study on post-traumatic stress disorder and cognitive decline. Questionnaires concerning anthropomorphic and psychological variables were obtained, as was an overnight polysomnographic examination of sleep.

Sedation mediates part of Citalopram's effect on agitation in Alzheimer's disease.

Background: We found a benefit of citalopram for agitation in the Citalopram for Agitation in Alzheimer's Disease study (CitAD), and wondered if this was mediated by a sedative effect. CitAD was a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel group trial conducted at 8 academic centers in the United States and Canada from August 2009 to January 2013. One hundred sixty-two participants with probable Alzheimer's disease (AD) and clinically significant agitation were analyzed in this study.

Tumor microenvironment promotes dicarboxylic acid carrier-mediated transport of succinate to fuel prostate cancer mitochondria.

Prostate cancer cells reprogram their metabolism, so that they support their elevated oxidative phosphorylation and promote a cancer friendly microenvironment. This work aimed to explore the mechanisms that cancer cells employ for fueling themselves with energy rich metabolites available in interstitial fluids. The mitochondria oxidative phosphorylation in metastatic prostate cancer DU145 cells and normal prostate epithelial PrEC cells were studied by high-resolution respirometry.

Verbal naming test for use with older adults: development and initial validation.

Naming or word-finding tasks are a mainstay of the typical neuropsychological evaluation, particularly with older adults. However, many older adults have significant visual impairment and there are currently no such word-finding tasks developed for use with older visually impaired populations. This study presents a verbal, non-visual measure of word-finding for use in the evaluation of older adults with possible dysnomia.

Longitudinal assessment of sleep disordered breathing in Vietnam veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Purpose: Previous work has demonstrated the relatively high prevalence of risk factors for cognitive impairment, such as sleep disordered breathing (SDB) and obesity, in Vietnam War era veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). No data are currently available on the longitudinal stability of SDB as a risk factor for cognitive decline in that population, which this study now reports.

Methods: Sample consisted of 48 veterans of the Vietnam War with PTSD who completed longitudinal sleep assessments over a 3-year period.

Effects of body mass index-related disorders on cognition: preliminary results.

Background: Well-known risk factors for cognitive impairment are also associated with obesity. Research has highlighted genetic risk factors for obesity, yet the relationship of those risk factors with cognitive impairment is unknown. The objective of this study was to determine the associations between cognition, hypertension, diabetes, sleep-disordered breathing, and obesity.

The evidence base of sleep restriction therapy for treating insomnia disorder.

Sleep restriction therapy is routinely used within cognitive behavioral therapy to treat chronic insomnia. However, the efficacy for sleep restriction therapy as a standalone intervention has yet to be comprehensively reviewed. This review evaluates the evidence for the use of sleep restriction therapy in the treatment of chronic insomnia.

Actigraphic motor activity in mild cognitive impairment patients carrying out short functional activity tasks: comparison between mild cognitive impairment with and without depressive symptoms.

Background: Individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) may exhibit changes in motor activity in conducting their activities of daily living. Depression, one of the most frequent neuropsychiatric symptoms, might affect motor activity in MCI.

Objective: To assess motor activity in MCI subjects carrying out short functional activity tasks using ambulatory actigraphy.

Nocturia reported in nightly sleep diaries: common occurrence with significant implications?

Objective: Nocturia (nocturnal awakenings associated with urination) is so common a nocturnal behavior that its association with poor sleep is often overlooked. This study examined nocturia and its potential role in poor sleep by examining reported nightly awakenings and associated bathroom trips.

Methods: Sleep diaries were kept by 119 adults with poor sleep for intervals up to 14 days.

Phenotyping apathy in individuals with Alzheimer disease using functional principal component analysis.

Objectives: To determine if there is a specific pattern of gross motor activity associated with apathy in individuals with Alzheimer disease (AD).

Design: Examination of ad libitum 24-hour ambulatory gross motor activity patterns.

Setting: Community-dwelling, outpatient.

Nocturia compounds nocturnal wakefulness in older individuals with insomnia.

Study Objectives: To determine the impact of nocturia on objective measures of sleep in older individuals with insomnia.

Methods: The sleep and toileting patterns of a group of community-dwelling older men (n = 55, aged 64.3 ± 7.

Management of apathy in nursing homes using a teaching program for care staff: the STIM-EHPAD study.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a nursing home (NH) staff education to manage apathy in older individuals with a diagnosis of dementia.

Methods: Sixteen NHs agreed to participate, and 230 demented apathetic residents were randomly assigned to the reference group (RG) or the intervention group (IG). IG received a month of weekly 4-h training.

Dissemination of CBTI to the non-sleep specialist: protocol development and training issues.

Strong evidence supports the efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBTI). A significant barrier to wide dissemination of CBTI is the lack of qualified practitioners. We describe challenges and decisions made when developing a CBTI dissemination program in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).

Brief morning light treatment for sleep/wake disturbances in older memory-impaired individuals and their caregivers.

Background: Scheduled exposure to bright light (phototherapy) has been used, with varying degrees of success, to treat sleep disruption in older individuals. Most of these studies have been done in institutional settings and have used several hours of daily light exposure. Such a regimen in the home setting may be untenable, especially when the individual with the sleep disruption has memory impairment and is being cared for by a family member.

Modeling the effects of obstructive sleep apnea and hypertension in Vietnam veterans with PTSD.

Purpose: The present work aimed to extend models suggesting that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with worse cognitive performance in community-dwelling older adults. We hypothesized that in addition to indices of OSA severity, hypertension is associated with worse cognitive performance in such adults.

Methods: The PTSD Apnea Clinical Study recruited 120 community-dwelling, male veterans diagnosed with PTSD, ages 55 and older.

Decreased daytime motor activity associated with apathy in Alzheimer disease: an actigraphic study.

Objective: Across all stages of Alzheimer disease (AD), apathy is the most common neuropsychiatric symptom. Studies using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) have found that apathy is present in up to 70% of individuals with Alzheimer disease. One of the main difficulties in assessing apathy and other neuropsychiatric symptoms is the absence of reliable, objective measures.

Effectiveness of evening phototherapy for insomnia is reduced by bright daytime light exposure.

Objective: To examine the effect of ambulatory daytime light exposure on phase delays and on the advances produced by timed exposure to bright evening or morning light.

Methods: As a subset of a larger study, 32 older (63.0 ± 6.

Lack of Association Between COMT Polymorphisms and Apathy in Alzheimer's Disease.

We tested the hypothesis that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) are associated with apathy in individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD). We analyzed a cohort of 105 Caucasian individuals with AD (age = 79.3 ± 7.