Three-repeat and four-repeat tau isoforms form different oligomers.

Different tauopathies are characterized by the isoform-specific composition of the aggregates found in the brain and by structurally distinct tau strains. Although tau oligomers have been implicated as important neurotoxic species, little is known about how the primary structures of the six human tau isoforms affect tau oligomerization because the oligomers are metastable and difficult to analyze. To address this knowledge gap, here, we analyzed the initial oligomers formed by the six tau isoforms in the absence of posttranslational modifications or other manipulations using dot blots probed by an oligomer-specific antibody, native-PAGE/western blots, photo-induced cross-linking of unmodified proteins, mass-spectrometry, and ion-mobility spectroscopy.

Customizing a clinical data warehouse for housestaff education in practice-based learning and improvement.

We developed Systems and Practice Analysis for Resident Competencies (SPARC), a Web-based tool to support teaching the practice-based learning and improvement (PBLI) ACGME competencies. SPARC allows Department of Medicine residents to explore de-identified, population-based data about their patient panels with peer comparisons. Data primarily comes from an existing data warehouse that has been customized for this application.

Ibn Sina (Avicenna). Historical note.

Ibn Sina (often known by his last name in Latin, Avicenna; 980-1037 A.D.) was the most famous physician and philosopher of his time.