Identification of a metabolic brain network characterizing essential tremor.

The neuronal correlate of tremor genesis and cognitive function in essential tremor (ET) and its modulation by deep brain stimulation (DBS) are poorly understood. To explore the underlying metabolic topography of motor and cognitive symptoms, sixteen ET patients (age 63.6 ± 49.

Astroglial Connexin 43 Regulates Synaptic Vesicle Release at Hippocampal Synapses.

Connexin 43, an astroglial gap junction protein, is enriched in perisynaptic astroglial processes and plays major roles in synaptic transmission. We have previously found that astroglial Cx43 controls synaptic glutamate levels and allows for activity-dependent glutamine release to sustain physiological synaptic transmissions and cognitiogns. However, whether Cx43 is important for the release of synaptic vesicles, which is a critical component of synaptic efficacy, remains unanswered.

Draft Whole-Genome Sequence of the Black Yeast Aureobasidium pullulans NRRL 62031.

The black-yeast-like is discussed as a versatile cell factory for many biotechnological applications. This article describes the 25.05-Mb draft genome sequence of Aureobasidium pullulans NRRL 62031, which was isolated in Thailand.

Target of rapamycin signaling couples energy to oxygen sensing to modulate hypoxic gene expression in .

Plants respond to oxygen deprivation by activating the expression of a set of hypoxia-responsive genes (HRGs). The master regulator of this process is a small group of transcription factors belonging to group VII of the ethylene response factors (ERF-VIIs). ERF-VIIs are highly unstable under aerobic conditions due to the continuous oxidation of their characteristic Cys residue at the N terminus by plant cysteine oxidases (PCOs).

Physiological synaptic activity and recognition memory require astroglial glutamine.

Presynaptic glutamate replenishment is fundamental to brain function. In high activity regimes, such as epileptic episodes, this process is thought to rely on the glutamate-glutamine cycle between neurons and astrocytes. However the presence of an astroglial glutamine supply, as well as its functional relevance in vivo in the healthy brain remain controversial, partly due to a lack of tools that can directly examine glutamine transfer.

Morphology and Dendrite-Specific Synaptic Properties of Midbrain Neurons Shape Multimodal Integration.

Multimodal integration facilitates object recognition and response to sensory cues. This depends on spatiotemporal coincidence of sensory information, recruitment of NMDA-type glutamate receptors and inhibitory feedback. Shepherd's crook neurons (SCNs) in the avian optic tectum (TeO) are an ideal model for studying cellular mechanism of multimodal integration.

Imaging the Pathophysiology of Essential Tremor-A Systematic Review.

The pathophysiology underlying essential tremor (ET) still is poorly understood. Recent research suggests a pivotal role of the cerebellum in tremor genesis, and an ongoing controversy remains as to whether ET constitutes a neurodegenerative disorder. In addition, mounting evidence indicates that alterations in the gamma-aminobutyric acid neurotransmitter system are involved in ET pathophysiology.

Data-driven personalization of a physiologically based pharmacokinetic model for caffeine: A systematic assessment.

Physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models have been proposed as a tool for more accurate individual pharmacokinetic (PK) predictions and model-informed precision dosing, but their application in clinical practice is still rare. This study systematically assesses the benefit of using individual patient information to improve PK predictions. A PBPK model of caffeine was stepwise personalized by using individual data on (1) demography, (2) physiology, and (3) cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A2 phenotype of 48 healthy volunteers participating in a single-dose clinical study.

The β-Ketoacyl-CoA Synthase HvKCS1, Encoded by Cer-zh, Plays a Key Role in Synthesis of Barley Leaf Wax and Germination of Barley Powdery Mildew.

The cuticle coats the primary aerial surfaces of land plants. It consists of cutin and waxes, which provide protection against desiccation, pathogens and herbivores. Acyl cuticular waxes are synthesized via elongase complexes that extend fatty acyl precursors up to 38 carbons for downstream modification pathways.

Determinants of postprandial plasma bile acid kinetics in human volunteers.

Bile acids (BA) are signaling molecules with a wide range of biological effects, also identified among the most responsive plasma metabolites in the postprandial state. We here describe this response to different dietary challenges and report on key determinants linked to its interindividual variability. Healthy men and women ( = 72, 62 ± 8 yr, mean ± SE) were enrolled into a 12-wk weight loss intervention.

Use of anterior maxillary distraction osteogenesis in two cleft lip and palate patients.

Distraction osteogenesis (DO) has become a mainstream surgical technique for patients with jaw deformities. The aim of this study was to report the effect of DO done by a hyrax screw incorporated in an acrylic plate in the treatment of two maxillary deficient cases with cleft lip and palate. Two patients, a 24-year-old female and a 29-year-old male who suffered from maxillary deficiency and cleft lip and palate, were treated by DO.

Kidney pericytes: roles in regeneration and fibrosis.

Renal pericytes have been neglected for many years, but recently they have become an intensively studied cell population in renal biology and pathophysiology. Pericytes are stromal cells that support vasculature, and a subset of pericytes are mesenchymal stem cells. In kidney, pericytes have been reported to play critical roles in angiogenesis, regulation of renal medullary and cortical blood flow, and serve as progenitors of interstitial myofibroblasts in renal fibrogenesis.

Evolutionary conserved function of barley and Arabidopsis 3-KETOACYL-CoA SYNTHASES in providing wax signals for germination of powdery mildew fungi.

For plant pathogenic fungi, such as powdery mildews, that survive only on a limited number of host plant species, it is a matter of vital importance that their spores sense that they landed on the right spot to initiate germination as quickly as possible. We investigated a barley (Hordeum vulgare) mutant with reduced epicuticular leaf waxes on which spores of adapted and nonadapted powdery mildew fungi showed reduced germination. The barley gene responsible for the mutant wax phenotype was cloned in a forward genetic screen and identified to encode a 3-KETOACYL-CoA SYNTHASE (HvKCS6), a protein participating in fatty acid elongation and required for synthesis of epicuticular waxes.

Mechanistic rationale for targeting the unfolded protein response in pre-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

The unfolded protein response (UPR) pathway, a stress-induced signaling cascade emanating from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), regulates the expression and activity of molecules including BiP (HSPA5), IRE1 (ERN1), Blimp-1 (PRDM1), and X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1). These molecules are required for terminal differentiation of B cells into plasma cells and expressed at high levels in plasma cell-derived multiple myeloma. Although these molecules have no known role at early stages of B-cell development, here we show that their expression transiently peaks at the pre-B-cell receptor checkpoint.

Spacer application for prostate cancer radiation therapy.

Definitive radiotherapy is a well-recognized treatment option for localized prostate cancer. Rectum toxicity is the dose-limiting toxicity. Dose-volume correlations have been reported in many studies.

Hematologic changes during prostate cancer radiation therapy are dependent on the treatment volume.

Aim: To assess hematologic changes of modern prostate radiation therapy (RT) comparing different target volumes.

Patients & Methods: Blood samples were evaluated before (T1), during (T2-T4) and 6-8 weeks after (T5) RT in a group of 113 patients. Whole-pelvic RT up to 46 Gy was applied in 27 cases.

Optical tomography of MMP activity allows a sensitive noninvasive characterization of the invasiveness and angiogenesis of SCC xenografts.

For improved tumor staging and therapy control, imaging biomarkers are of great interest allowing a noninvasive characterization of invasiveness. In squamous epithelial skin and cervix lesions, transition to invasive stages is associated with enhanced matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity, increased angiogenesis, and worsened prognosis. Thus, we investigated MMP activity as imaging biomarker of invasiveness and the potential of optical tomography in characterizing the angiogenic and invasive behavior of skin squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) xenografts.

Unusual structure, bonding and properties in a californium borate.

The participation of the valence orbitals of actinides in bonding has been debated for decades. Recent experimental and computational investigations demonstrated the involvement of 6p, 6d and/or 5f orbitals in bonding. However, structural and spectroscopic data, as well as theory, indicate a decrease in covalency across the actinide series, and the evidence points to highly ionic, lanthanide-like bonding for late actinides.

Connexin 30 sets synaptic strength by controlling astroglial synapse invasion.

Astrocytes play active roles in brain physiology by dynamic interactions with neurons. Connexin 30, one of the two main astroglial gap-junction subunits, is thought to be involved in behavioral and basic cognitive processes. However, the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms are unknown.

Bicarotid trunk: how much is "not uncommon"?

Background: Bicarotid trunk is the most common variation of aortic arch branching patterns. Bicarotid trunk can be a decisive factor in the surgical management of congenital heart defects. Our objective was to determine the prevalence of the bicarotid trunk among pediatric patients with congenital heart defects and to identify whether there is an association between bicarotid trunk and aortic coarctation.

Polytetrafluoroethylene-coated pacemaker leads as surgical management of contact allergy to silicone.

We have previously reported an 18-year-old girl with a congenital heart defect who developed complete heart block after one of her corrective surgeries and who needed an epicardial pacemaker implantation. She developed contact sensitivity to silicone compounds. The problem was solved by implanting a silicone-free pacemaker system utilizing silicone-free transvenous leads.

Smooth muscle cells relay acute pulmonary inflammation via distinct ADAM17/ErbB axes.

In acute pulmonary inflammation, danger is first recognized by epithelial cells lining the alveolar lumen and relayed to vascular responses, including leukocyte recruitment and increased endothelial permeability. We supposed that this inflammatory relay critically depends on the immunological function of lung interstitial cells such as smooth muscle cells (SMC). Mice with smooth muscle protein-22α promotor-driven deficiency of the disintegrin and metalloproteinase (ADAM) 17 (SM22-Adam17(-/-)) were investigated in models of acute pulmonary inflammation (LPS, cytokine, and acid instillation).

Multisensory integration of dynamic emotional faces and voices: method for simultaneous EEG-fMRI measurements.

Combined EEG-fMRI analysis correlates time courses from single electrodes or independent EEG components with the hemodynamic response. Implementing information from only one electrode, however, may miss relevant information from complex electrophysiological networks. Component based analysis, in turn, depends on a priori knowledge of the signal topography.

Overexpression of CREMα in T cells aggravates lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury.

Transcription factor cAMP response element modulator (CREM)α contributes to various cellular and molecular abnormalities in T cells, including increased IL-17 and decreased IL-2 expression. For development of acute lung injury (ALI), the invasion and regulation of immune cells are highly important, but the role of T cells remains unclear. In this study, we show that CREMα is upregulated in LPS-induced ALI.

Night vision in barn owls: visual acuity and contrast sensitivity under dark adaptation.

Barn owls are effective nocturnal predators. We tested their visual performance at low light levels and determined visual acuity and contrast sensitivity of three barn owls by their behavior at stimulus luminances ranging from photopic to fully scotopic levels (23.5 to 1.