Cell-Specific Dysregulation of Iron and Oxygen Homeostasis as a Novel Pathophysiology in PSP.

Objective: Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a 4R-tauopathy showing heterogeneous tau cytopathology commencing in the globus pallidus (GP) and the substantia nigra (SN), regions also associated with age-related iron accumulation. Abnormal iron levels have been extensively associated with tau pathology in neurodegenerative brains, however, its role in PSP pathogenesis remains yet unknown. We perform the first cell type-specific evaluation of PSP iron homeostasis and the closely related oxygen homeostasis, in relation to tau pathology in human postmortem PSP brains.

Muscle biopsy technical safety and quality using a self-contained, vacuum-assisted biopsy technique.

Muscle sampling via percutaneous biopsy has been shown to be safe and effective using a Bergström needle; however, the use of a single-operator, self-contained, vacuum-assisted biopsy technique has not been explored. We performed a retrospective chart review of muscle biopsy samples obtained using the Vacora® self-contained vacuum-assisted biopsy system between 2013 and 2016, at the Toronto General Hospital. During this period, 102 single-operator muscle biopsies were performed using the Vacora® system.