Microglia-astrocyte crosstalk regulates synapse remodeling via Wnt signaling.

Astrocytes and microglia are emerging key regulators of activity-dependent synapse remodeling that engulf and remove synapses in response to changes in neural activity. Yet, the degree to which these cells communicate to coordinate this process remains an open question. Here, we use whisker removal in postnatal mice to induce activity-dependent synapse removal in the barrel cortex.

MicroRNA governs bistable cell differentiation and lineage segregation via a noncanonical feedback.

Positive feedback driven by transcriptional regulation has long been considered a key mechanism underlying cell lineage segregation during embryogenesis. Using the developing spinal cord as a paradigm, we found that canonical, transcription-driven feedback cannot explain robust lineage segregation of motor neuron subtypes marked by two cardinal factors, Hoxa5 and Hoxc8. We propose a feedback mechanism involving elementary microRNA-mRNA reaction circuits that differ from known feedback loop-like structures.

Palliative medicine family conferences and caregiver psychological distress during prolonged mechanical ventilation.

Objectives: Little is known about the experience of family caregivers of patients who require prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV). We examined the perspectives of caregivers of patients who died after PMV to explore the role of palliative care and the quality of dying and death (QODD) in patients and understand the psychological symptoms of these caregivers.

Methods: A longitudinal study was performed in five hospitals in Taipei, Taiwan.

A comparably high virulence strain of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus isolated in Taiwan.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) has been endemic in Taiwan since 1991. This study aimed to present a highly virulent PRRSV in Taiwan based on farm data collection and both in vitro and in vivo evaluations in virus challenge studies. This virulent PRRSV strain was first noticed on Farm TSYM due to continuously high nursery mortality rate and severe PRRSV-associated pneumonia.