Thalamocortical control of cell-type specificity drives circuits for processing whisker-related information in mouse barrel cortex.

Excitatory spiny stellate neurons are prominently featured in the cortical circuits of sensory modalities that provide high salience and high acuity representations of the environment. These specialized neurons are considered developmentally linked to bottom-up inputs from the thalamus, however, the molecular mechanisms underlying their diversification and function are unknown. Here, we investigated this in mouse somatosensory cortex, where spiny stellate neurons and pyramidal neurons have distinct roles in processing whisker-evoked signals.

Ten-m4 plays a unique role in the establishment of binocular visual circuits.

The patterning of binocular vision requires distinct molecular pathways for inputs arising from each side of the nervous system. Recent studies have demonstrated important roles for members of the Ten-m/Odz/teneurin family in the development of ipsilateral retinal projections. Here, we further highlight the significance of this gene family in visual development by identifying a role for Ten-m4 during the formation of the ipsilateral projection in the mouse.

Comprehensive literature review on the radiographic findings, imaging modalities, and the role of radiology in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since the outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, over 103214008 cases have been reported, with more than 2231158 deaths as of January 31, 2021. Although the gold standard for diagnosis of this disease remains the reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction of nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs, its false-negative rates have ignited the use of medical imaging as an important adjunct or alternative. Medical imaging assists in identifying the pathogenesis, the degree of pulmonary damage, and the characteristic features in each imaging modality.

Ten-m2 is required for the generation of binocular visual circuits.

Functional binocular vision requires that inputs arising from the two retinae are integrated and precisely organized within central visual areas. Previous studies have demonstrated an important role for one member of the Ten-m/Odz/teneurin family, Ten-m3, in the mapping of ipsilateral retinal projections. Here, we have identified a distinct role for another closely related family member, Ten-m2, in the formation of the ipsilateral projection in the mouse visual system.

Ten-m3 is required for the development of topography in the ipsilateral retinocollicular pathway.

Background: The alignment of ipsilaterally and contralaterally projecting retinal axons that view the same part of visual space is fundamental to binocular vision. While much progress has been made regarding the mechanisms which regulate contralateral topography, very little is known of the mechanisms which regulate the mapping of ipsilateral axons such that they align with their contralateral counterparts.

Results: Using the advantageous model provided by the mouse retinocollicular pathway, we have performed anterograde tracing experiments which demonstrate that ipsilateral retinal axons begin to form terminal zones (TZs) in the superior colliculus (SC), within the first few postnatal days.

Teneurins: important regulators of neural circuitry.

Teneurin (Ten-m/Odz) molecules represent a highly conserved family of four type II transmembrane proteins in vertebrates (Ten-m1-4), which exist as homodimers and undergo homophilic interactions. Each is expressed in distinct, and often interconnected, areas of the developing nervous system. Different Ten-ms have complementary expression patterns.

Regulation of dendritic cell function and T cell priming by the fatty acid-binding protein AP2.

The fatty acid-binding protein (FABP) family consists of a number of conserved cytoplasmic proteins with roles in intracellular lipid transport, storage, and metabolism. Examination of a comprehensive leukocyte gene expression database revealed strong expression of the adipocyte FABP aP2 in human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs). We isolated bone marrow-derived DC from aP2-deficient mice, and showed that expression of DC cytokines including IL-12 and TNF was significantly impaired in these cells.

Identification of T cell-restricted genes, and signatures for different T cell responses, using a comprehensive collection of microarray datasets.

We used a comprehensive collection of Affymetrix microarray datasets to ascertain which genes or molecules distinguish the known major subsets of human T cells. Our strategy allowed us to identify the genes expressed in most T cell subsets: TCR alphabeta+ and gammadelta+, three effector subsets (Th1, Th2, and T follicular helper cells), T central memory, T effector memory, activated T cells, and others. Our genechip dataset also allowed for identification of genes preferentially or exclusively expressed by T cells, compared with numerous non-T cell leukocyte subsets profiled.

Presentation of gamma-irradiated-in-air polyethylene wear in the form of a synovial cyst.

The increased wear of polyethylene sterilized with gamma irradiation in air has well been documented in the total knee arthroplasty literature. Our case report describes a patient with a well-functioning total knee replacement presenting with wear debris synovitis in the form of a large synovial cyst. We discuss this patient's preoperative evaluation, intraoperative findings, and postoperative outcome after synovectomy and polyethylene exchange.

Electromyographic recordings of low back pain subjects and non-pain controls in six different positions: effect of pain levels.

Surface electromyographic (EMG) activity recordings of bilateral paraspinal muscle tension were measured twice on 20 non-pain controls and on 46 low back pain subjects (21 individuals with intervertebral disk disorders and 25 subjects with unspecified musculoskeletal backache) during 6 positions: standing, bending from the waist, rising, sitting with back unsupported, sitting with back supported, and prone. Back pain subjects were measured during both low pain and high pain states. Results revealed a non-significant trend for all subjects, regardless of diagnosis, to have higher paraspinal muscle tension levels on the second (or high pain) assessment.

Electromyographic recordings of 5 types of low back pain subjects and non-pain controls in different positions.

Surface EMG recordings of bilateral paraspinal muscle tension were measured on 207 subjects (29 non-back pain controls, 20 individuals with spondyloarthritis, 52 with intervertebral disk disorders, 66 with unspecified musculoskeletal backache, 17 with some combination of the above 3 groups and 23 subjects with other types of back pain, including unknown, scoliosis and psychogenic) in 6 positions: standing, bending from the waist, rising, sitting with back unsupported, sitting with back supported and prone. Results of both individual and group analyses revealed a significant main effect of diagnosis. Post hoc analyses (Duncan's) revealed controls to have significantly lower overall EMG levels than the intervertebral disk disorders and unspecified musculoskeletal backache groups.