Neuroimaging evaluation of the long term impact of a novel paired meditation practice on brain function.

Background: A growing number of advanced neuroimaging studies have compared brain structure and function in long term meditators to non-meditators. The goal is to determine if there may be long term effects on the brain from practicing meditation. In this paper, we present new data on the long term effects of a novel meditation practice in which the focus is on clitoral stimulation.

Rapid yeast-based screen for Functionally Relevant Amino Acids (RS-FRAA) in a protein.

Here, we describe a fast and cost-effective procedure to generate a large array of mutant proteins and immediately screen for those with altered protein function. This protocol is a modification from three existing approaches: fusion PCR, Saccharomyces cerevisiae in-yeast recombination, and semi-quantitative growth assays. We also describe a mating step to reduce the occurrence of false positive findings due to ectopic mutations.

A genetic approach to identify amino acids in Gcn1 required for Gcn2 activation.

The protein kinase Gcn2 is present in virtually all eukaryotic cells. It is best known for its role in helping cells cope with amino acid starvation. Under starvation, Gcn2 phosphorylates the α subunit of the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 (eIF2α), to stimulate a signal transduction pathway that allows cells to cope and overcome starvation.

Continuous glucose monitoring metrics for earlier identification of pre-diabetes: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Glycaemic variability and other metrics are not well characterised in subjects without diabetes. More comprehensive sampling as obtained with continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) may improve diagnostic accuracy of the transition from health to pre-diabetes. Our goal is to investigate the glycaemic system as it shifts from health to pre-disease in adult patients without diabetes using CGM metrics.