Immunologically mediated dementias.

Although most dementias are due to neurodegenerative or vascular disease, it is important to diagnose immunologically mediated dementias quickly because they can be both rapidly progressive and readily treatable. They usually affect function of limbic and cortical structures, but subcortical involvement can also occur. Because of the variety of symptoms and the rapid course, these dementias present a particular challenge to the clinician and may require evaluation and intervention in the inpatient setting.

Biofield perception: a series of pilot studies with cultured human cells.

Background: Energy medicine (EM) practitioners often claim to be able to perceive an energetic field associated with the body and to be able to use this skill to diagnose illness and guide treatment strategies. If a biofield associated with cells growing in culture is perceptible to EM practitioners, such an in vitro model would be a useful resource for investigating biofield perception that would provide some unique advantages over clinical models.

Objective: To evaluate whether EM practitioners can perceive the presence of cultured human cells without visual cues.

Molecular interpretation of ERK signal duration by immediate early gene products.

The duration of intracellular signalling is associated with distinct biological responses, but how cells interpret differences in signal duration are unknown. We show that the immediate early gene product c-Fos functions as a sensor for ERK1 (extracellular-signal-regulated kinase 1) and ERK2 signal duration. When ERK activation is transient, its activity declines before the c-Fos protein accumulates, and under these conditions c-Fos is unstable.

Gold nanoparticle-mediated transfection of mammalian cells.

Mixed monolayer protected gold clusters (MMPCs) functionalized with quaternary ammonium chains efficiently transfect mammalian cell cultures, as determined through beta-galactosidase transfer and activity. The success of these transfection assemblies depended on several variables, including the ratio of DNA to nanoparticle during the incubation period, the number of charged substituents in the monolayer core, and the hydrophobic packing surrounding these amines. Complexes of MMPCs and plasmid DNA formed at w/w ratios of 30 were most effective in promoting transfection of 293T cells in the presence of 10% serum and 100 microM chloroquine.