Protective role of metallothioneins in the injured mammalian brain.

Metallothioneins (MTs) are small cysteine-rich proteins which are found widely throughout the mammalian body, including the CNS. There are extensive data on the structure and expression of MTs, and many basic properties pertinent to MT biology in the CNS appear to be well established. As discussed in this review, one isoform class (MT-I/II) is rapidly induced following many types of CNS insult, and is strongly neuroprotective, whilst another isoform class (MT-III) shows major differences in its expression profile and physiological properties.

Binding partners L1 cell adhesion molecule and the ezrin-radixin-moesin (ERM) proteins are involved in development and the regenerative response to injury of hippocampal and cortical neurons.

Regeneration of the adult central nervous system may require recapitulation of developmental events and therefore involve the re-expression of developmentally significant proteins. We have investigated whether the L1 cell adhesion molecule, and its binding partner, the ezrin-radixin-moesin (ERM) proteins are involved in the neuronal regenerative response to injury. Hippocampal and cortical neurons were cultured in vitro on either an L1 substrate or poly-L-lysine, and ERM and other neuronal proteins were localized immunocytochemically both developmentally and following neurite transection of neurons maintained in long-term culture.

Intrinsic regenerative ability of mature CNS neurons.

A prevailing view in neuroscience is that the mature CNS has relatively little capacity to respond adaptively to injury. Recent data indicating a high degree of structural plasticity in the adult brain provides an impetus to reexamine how central neurons react to trauma. An analysis of both in vivo and in vitro experimental studies demonstrates that certain brain neurons may have an intrinsic ability to respond to structural injury by an attempt at regenerative sprouting.

Annular alpha-synuclein species from purified multiple system atrophy inclusions.

Oligodendroglial cytoplasmic inclusions composed of alpha-synuclein filamentous aggregates are the pathological hallmark of multiple system atrophy (MSA). We found that cortical tissue from MSA cases contains increased detergent-resistant high-molecular-weight alpha-synuclein species. To analyse these species, we immunopurified alpha-synuclein aggregates from pathological samples and examined their ultrastructures using scanning electron and atomic force microscopies.

Assessment of satisfaction with care after inpatient treatment for oesophageal and gastric cancer.

Background: Patients' views are becoming increasingly important in the current health system. They provide information on effectiveness of healthcare and how it may be improved. This study aimed to measure patients' satisfaction with care received for treatment of oesophageal and gastric cancer, and to identify areas that contribute most to overall satisfaction scores.

Olfactory ensheathing cells promote neurite sprouting of injured axons in vitro by direct cellular contact and secretion of soluble factors.

Olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) represent an exciting possibility for promoting axonal regeneration within the injured spinal cord. A number of studies have indicated the ability of these cells to promote significant reactive sprouting of injured axons within the injured spinal cord, and in some cases restoration of functional abilities. However, the cellular and/or molecular mechanisms OECs use to achieve this are unclear.

Gaze characteristics of elite and near-elite athletes in ice hockey defensive tactics.

Traditional visual search experiments, where the researcher pre-selects video-based scenes for the participant to respond to, shows that elite players make more efficient decisions than non-elites, but disagree on how they temporally regulate their gaze. Using the vision-in-action [J.N.

Simple and sensitive electrode design for microchip electrophoresis/electrochemistry.

A simple and sensitive electrode design for microchip capillary electrophoresis/electrochemistry (CE-EC) is presented. The system employs metal microwires as the working electrodes for electrochemical detection. Two general approaches for integration of electrodes in microchip CE-EC are commonly used, end-channel and microfabrication.

Positional effects of presenilin-1 mutations on tau phosphorylation in cortical plaques.

Mutations in presenilin-1 (PS-1) account for the majority of familial Alzheimer's disease (AD). While increasing Abeta42 is one mechanism whereby PS-1 mutations are thought to exert their pathogenic effect, little is known about the role of tau in PS-1 AD. This study compares staining (AT8 and tau-2), morphology and quantity of tau-immunoreactive cortical plaques in six PS-1 and five sporadic AD cases.

Olfactory ensheathing cells promote collateral axonal branching in the injured adult rat spinal cord.

In recent years, injection of olfactory ensheathing cells (ECs) into the spinal cord has been used as an experimental strategy to promote regeneration of injured axons. In this study, we have compared the effects of transplanting encapsulated ECs with those injected directly into the spinal cord. The dorsal columns of adult rats were cut at T(8-9) and rats in experimental groups received either EC-filled porous polymer capsules or culture medium (CM)-filled capsules with ECs injected at the injury site.

Neuron-glia communication: metallothionein expression is specifically up-regulated by astrocytes in response to neuronal injury.

Recent data suggests that metallothioneins (MTs) are major neuroprotective proteins within the CNS. In this regard, we have recently demonstrated that MT-IIA (the major human MT-I/-II isoform) promotes neural recovery following focal cortical brain injury. To further investigate the role of MTs in cortical brain injury, MT-I/-II expression was examined in several different experimental models of cortical neuron injury.

The role of preoperative TIPSS to facilitate curative gastric surgery.

The use of TIPSS to facilitate radical curative upper gastrointestinal surgery has not been reported. We describe a case in which curative gastric resection was performed for carcinoma of the stomach after a preoperative TIPSS and embolization of a large gastric varix in a patient with portal hypertension.

Olfactory ensheathing cell phenotype following implantation in the lesioned spinal cord.

Although olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) are used to promote repair in the injured spinal cord, little is known of their phenotype in this environment. In this study, using quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction RT-PCR, expression of neuregulin-1 mitogen/survival factors and the axonal growth regulator Nogo was quantified in OECs and compared with other non-neuronal cells. Their expression was also compared with OECs which had previously been encapsulated in a porous polymer tube and implanted into the injured spinal cord.

Temporal judgments, hemispheric equivalence, and interhemispheric transfer in adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

This study investigated temporal processing abilities, hemispheric asymmetry, interhemispheric transfer, and stimulant medication effects in adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Pairs of light emitting diodes in a visual half-field display (i.e.

Localization of alpha-, beta-, and gamma-synuclein during neuronal development and alterations associated with the neuronal response to axonal trauma.

Genetic and protein studies have indicated abnormalities in alpha-synuclein in neurodegenerative diseases. However, the developmental localization and cellular role of synuclein isoforms is contentious. We investigated the cellular localization of alpha-, beta-, and gamma-synuclein in developing cultured rat neurons and following axonal transection of relatively mature neurons, a model that disrupts the axonal cytoskeleton and results in regenerative sprouting.

Cytoskeletal and morphological alterations underlying axonal sprouting after localized transection of cortical neuron axons in vitro.

We examined the cytoskeletal dynamics that characterize neurite sprouting after axonal injury to cortical neurons maintained in culture for several weeks and compared these with initial neurite development. Cultured neocortical neurons, derived from embryonic day 18 rats, were examined at 3 d in vitro (DIV) and at various time points after axotomy at 21 DIV. The postinjury neuritic response was highly dynamic, progressing through an initial phase of retraction, followed by substantial axonal sprouting within 4-6 hr.

Metallothionein-IIA promotes initial neurite elongation and postinjury reactive neurite growth and facilitates healing after focal cortical brain injury.

Metallothioneins (MTs) are small, cysteine-rich, metal binding proteins. Their function has often been considered as stress-related proteins capable of protecting cells from heavy metal toxicity and oxidative free radicals. However, recent interest has focused on the brain-specific MT-III isoform, which has neurite-inhibitory properties.

Direct determination of the proportion of intra- and extra-cellular neocortical neurofibrillary tangles in Alzheimer's disease.

We investigated the cellular localisation of neurofibrillary tangles in Alzheimer's disease. All tau-positive tangles were stained for thioflavine S, while approximately 84% of thioflavine S-stained tangles were tau-immunolabelled. Approximately 58-62% and 73-76% of thioflavine S- and tau-labelled tangles, respectively, were present within cortical neurons labelled for microtubule-associated protein-2.

Presenilin-1 mutation L271V results in altered exon 8 splicing and Alzheimer's disease with non-cored plaques and no neuritic dystrophy.

The mutation L271V in exon 8 of the presenilin-1 (PS-1) gene was detected in an Alzheimer's disease pedigree. Neuropathological examination of affected individuals identified variant, large, non-cored plaques without neuritic dystrophy, reminiscent of cotton wool plaques. Biochemical analysis of L271V mutation showed that it increased secretion of the 42-amino acid amyloid-beta peptide, suggesting a pathogenic mutation.

How far ahead do we look when required to step on specific locations in the travel path during locomotion?

Spatial-temporal gaze behaviour patterns were analysed as normal participants wearing a mobile eye tracker were required to step on 17 footprints, regularly or irregularly spaced over a 10-m distance, placed in their travel path. We examined the characteristics of two types of gaze fixation with respect to the participants' stepping patterns: footprint fixation; and travel fixation when the gaze is stable and travelling at the speed of whole body. The results showed that travel gaze fixation is a dominant gaze behaviour occupying over 50% of the travel time.

Characterization of microbial populations and volatile fatty acid concentrations in the jejunum, ileum, and cecum of pigs weaned at 17 vs 24 days of age.

In a series of five 17-d replicate trials, a total of 54 cannulated and 12 noncannulated pigs were used to determine the effects of weaning age (17 d or 24 d) on pH, dry matter percentage, aerobic and anaerobic microflora, lactate, and volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations in the jejunum, ileum, and cecum of weanling pigs. At -14 d of age, cannulated pigs were surgically fitted with T-cannulas in the jejunum (n = 20), ileum (n = 18), or cecum (n = 16). Upon weaning, cannulated pigs were individually caged in an environmentally controlled room with ad libitum access to a phase starter diet and water.

Metallothionein-III inhibits initial neurite formation in developing neurons as well as postinjury, regenerative neurite sprouting.

Human metallothionein-III (MT-III) is an inhibitory factor deficient in the Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain. MT-III has been identified as an inhibitor of neurite sprouting, and its deficiency has been proposed to be involved in the formation of neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) in the neuropathology of AD. However, there has been limited investigation of the proposed neurite growth inhibitory properties of MT-III.

The apolipoprotein epsilon4 gene is associated with elevated risk of normal tension glaucoma.

Purpose: Inheritance of a particular apolipoprotein E gene polymorphism, the epsilon4 allele, has been associated with elevated risk for Alzheimer's disease and a poor outcome following head injury. The neuronal injury associated with Alzheimer's disease and brain injury may have a number of similarities with the nerve cell changes associated with glaucoma. Thus, we have investigated the association of inheritance of apolipoprotein E allelic isoforms (epsilon2, [epsilon]3, and epsilon4) with relative risk for different forms of glaucoma.

Neurofilament triplet proteins are restricted to a subset of neurons in the rat neocortex.

The cellular localisation of neurofilament triplet subunits was investigated in the rat neocortex. A subset of mainly pyramidal neurons showed colocalisation of subunit immunolabelling throughout the neocortex, including labelling with the antibody SMI32, which has been used extensively in other studies of the primate cortex as a selective cellular marker. Neurofilament-labelled neurons were principally localised to two or three cell layers in most cortical regions, but dramatically reduced labelling was present in areas such as the perirhinal cortex, anterior cingulate and a strip of cortex extending from caudal motor regions through the medial parietal region to secondary visual areas.