Extracellular vesicles in luminal fluid of the ovine uterus.

Microvesicles and exosomes are nanoparticles released from cells and can contain small RNAs, mRNA and proteins that affect cells at distant sites. In sheep, endogenous beta retroviruses (enJSRVs) are expressed in the endometrial epithelia of the uterus and can be transferred to the conceptus trophectoderm. One potential mechanism of enJSRVs transfer from the uterus to the conceptus is via exosomes/microvesicles.

Evidence for alterations in stimulatory G proteins and oxytocin levels in children with autism.

The neurotransmitter oxytocin plays an important role in social affiliation. Low oxytocin levels and defects in the oxytocin receptor have been reported in childhood autism. However, little is known about oxytocin's post-receptor signaling pathways in autism.

Active zones of mammalian neuromuscular junctions: formation, density, and aging.

Presynaptic active zones are synaptic vesicle release sites that play essential roles in the function and pathology of mammalian neuromuscular junctions (NMJs). The molecular mechanisms of active zone organization use presynaptic voltage-dependent calcium channels (VDCCs) in NMJs as scaffolding proteins. VDCCs interact extracellularly with the muscle-derived synapse organizer, laminin β2 and interact intracellularly with active zone-specific proteins, such as Bassoon, CAST/Erc2/ELKS2alpha, ELKS, Piccolo, and RIMs.

Active zone protein Bassoon co-localizes with presynaptic calcium channel, modifies channel function, and recovers from aging related loss by exercise.

The P/Q-type voltage-dependent calcium channels (VDCCs) are essential for synaptic transmission at adult mammalian neuromuscular junctions (NMJs); however, the subsynaptic location of VDCCs relative to active zones in rodent NMJs, and the functional modification of VDCCs by the interaction with active zone protein Bassoon remain unknown. Here, we show that P/Q-type VDCCs distribute in a punctate pattern within the NMJ presynaptic terminals and align in three dimensions with Bassoon. This distribution pattern of P/Q-type VDCCs and Bassoon in NMJs is consistent with our previous study demonstrating the binding of VDCCs and Bassoon.

Presynaptic Active Zone Density during Development and Synaptic Plasticity.

Neural circuits transmit information through synapses, and the efficiency of synaptic transmission is closely related to the density of presynaptic active zones, where synaptic vesicles are released. The goal of this review is to highlight recent insights into the molecular mechanisms that control the number of active zones per presynaptic terminal (active zone density) during developmental and stimulus-dependent changes in synaptic efficacy. At the neuromuscular junctions (NMJs), the active zone density is preserved across species, remains constant during development, and is the same between synapses with different activities.

Molecular mechanism of active zone organization at vertebrate neuromuscular junctions.

Organization of presynaptic active zones is essential for development, plasticity, and pathology of the nervous system. Recent studies indicate a trans-synaptic molecular mechanism that organizes the active zones by connecting the pre- and the postsynaptic specialization. The presynaptic component of this trans-synaptic mechanism is comprised of cytosolic active zone proteins bound to the cytosolic domains of voltage-dependent calcium channels (P/Q-, N-, and L-type) on the presynaptic membrane.

ELKS1 and Ca(2+) channel subunit β4 interact and colocalize at cerebellar synapses.

The cytoskeletal matrix of the active zone and synaptic voltage-dependent calcium channels (VDCCs) are both necessary components for the organization and regulation of synaptic vesicle release. In this study, we report a novel interaction between the cytoskeletal matrix of the active zone protein, ELKS1b, and the VDCC subunit, β4, in the molecular layer of the cerebellum. We found that the two proteins coimmunoprecipitated using antibodies against each protein.

The mitotic Clb cyclins are required to alleviate HIR-mediated repression of the yeast histone genes at the G1/S transition.

The histone genes are an important group of cell cycle regulated genes whose transcription is activated during the G1/S transition and repressed in early G1, late S, and G2/M. The HIR complex, comprised of Hir1, Hir2, Hir3 and Hpc2, regulates three of the four histone gene loci. While relief of repression at the G1/S boundary involves the HIR complex, as well as other cofactors, the mechanism by which this derepression occurs remains unknown.

Active zone density is conserved during synaptic growth but impaired in aged mice.

Presynaptic active zones are essential structures for synaptic vesicle release, but the developmental regulation of their number and maintenance during aging at mammalian neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) remains unknown. Here, we analyzed the distribution of active zones in developing, mature, and aged mouse NMJs by immunohistochemical detection of the active zone-specific protein Bassoon. Bassoon is a cytosolic scaffolding protein essential for the active zone assembly in ribbon synapses and some brain synapses.

Transsynaptic channelosomes: non-conducting roles of ion channels in synapse formation.

Recent findings demonstrate that synaptic channels are directly involved in the formation and maintenance of synapses by interacting with synapse organizers. The synaptic channels on the pre- and postsynaptic membranes possess non-conducting roles in addition to their functional roles as ion-conducting channels required for synaptic transmission. For example, presynaptic voltage-dependent calcium channels link the target-derived synapse organizer laminin β2 to cytomatrix of the active zone and function as scaffolding proteins to organize the presynaptic active zones.

A paradigm shift in the prevention of retinopathy of prematurity.

For more than 50 years it has been known that oxygen therapy can lead to retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Recent clinical research has led many neonatologists to lower the target oxygen saturation alarm limits to 85-93% and to titrate the inspired oxygen in small increments. Despite efforts to optimize oxygen therapy, the number of cases of severe ROP remains high as more extremely low birth weight infants survive.

Fer tyrosine kinase is required for germinal vesicle breakdown and meiosis-I in mouse oocytes.

The control of microtubule and actin-mediated events that direct the physical arrangement and separation of chromosomes during meiosis is critical since failure to maintain chromosome organization can lead to germ cell aneuploidy. Our previous studies demonstrated a role for FYN tyrosine kinase in chromosome and spindle organization and in cortical polarity of the mature mammalian oocyte. In addition to Fyn, mammalian oocytes express the protein tyrosine kinase Fer at high levels relative to other tissues.

Calcium channels link the muscle-derived synapse organizer laminin β2 to Bassoon and CAST/Erc2 to organize presynaptic active zones.

Synapse formation requires the organization of presynaptic active zones, the synaptic vesicle release sites, in precise apposition to postsynaptic neurotransmitter receptor clusters; however, the molecular mechanisms responsible for these processes remain unclear. Here, we show that P/Q-type and N-type voltage-dependent calcium channels (VDCCs) play essential roles as scaffolding proteins in the organization of presynaptic active zones. The neuromuscular junction of double knock-out mice for P/Q- and N-type VDCCs displayed a normal size but had significantly reduced numbers of active zones and docked vesicles and featured an attenuation of the active-zone proteins Bassoon, Piccolo, and CAST/Erc2.

Treatment of acne vulgaris using blue light photodynamic therapy in an African-American patient.

Background: Studies indicate photodynamic therapy is an effective treatment of inflammatory acne lesions on patients with Fitzpatrick skin types 1-3. There is a lack of evidence in the literature regarding the use of photodynamic therapy to treat acne vulgaris in African American patients. This article reports the first case of blue light photodynamic therapy to treat moderate inflammatory facial acne on an African American patient with type 5 skin.

Optical coherence tomography findings in welder's maculopathy.

Purpose: To describe the optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings in two patients with welder's maculopathy.

Methods: Retrospective cases series. In addition to examination by slit lamp biomicroscopy, color fundus photographs and OCT images were obtained from patients with welder's maculopathy.

Efficacy of variable-angle screws in transpedicular fixation.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness and efficacy of variable-angle screws in transpedicular fixation. Sixteen patients (10 men and six women, age range 44-73 years) underwent a posterior transpedicular fixation procedure in which variable-angle screws were placed at two or more levels. Four patients experienced spinal instability secondary to trauma, 10 patients suffered from degenerative spondylosis requiring fusion, and two patients were treated for spinal metastatic disease.

Magnetic resonance microscopy of spinal cord injury in mouse using a miniaturized implantable RF coil.

A magnetic resonance neuroimaging method is described for high-resolution imaging of spinal cord injury in live mouse. The method is based on a specially designed radio frequency coil system formed by a combination of an implantable coil and an external volume coil. The implantable coil is a 5 mm x 10 mm rectangular design with a 9.

Violet and blue light blocking intraocular lenses: photoprotection versus photoreception.

Aim: To analyse how intraocular lens (IOL) chromophores affect retinal photoprotection and the sensitivity of scotopic vision, melanopsin photoreception, and melatonin suppression.

Methods: Transmittance spectra of IOLs, high pass spectral filters, human crystalline lenses, and sunglasses are used with spectral data for acute ultraviolet (UV)-blue photic retinopathy ("blue light hazard" phototoxicity), aphakic scotopic luminous efficiency, melanopsin sensitivity, and melatonin suppression to compute the effect of spectral filters on retinal photoprotection, scotopic sensitivity, and circadian photoentrainment.

Results: Retinal photoprotection increases and photoreception decreases as high pass filters progressively attenuate additional short wavelength light.

Inductively-overcoupled coil design for high resolution magnetic resonance imaging.

Background: Maintaining the quality of magnetic resonance images acquired with the current implantable coil technology is challenging in longitudinal studies. To overcome this challenge, the principle of 'inductive overcoupling' is introduced as a method to tune and match a dual coil system. This system consists of an imaging coil built with fixed electrical elements and a matching coil equipped with tuning and matching capabilities.

A new device for experimental modeling of central nervous system injuries.

This article introduces a new device for inducing central nerve system injuries in experimental studies with animal models. The construction of the device is based on a commercially available servo-drive system incorporating the latest instrumentation technology and software developed in house to control the motion profile of the injury bit. The software, which is available upon request from the author, was designed such that the user can set the mechanical properties of the motion.

Smoking policies in U.S. outpatient drug treatment facilities.

Most drug treatment patients smoke cigarettes, and some facilities are beginning to help patients quit. Facility smoking policies can help or hinder this effort. The present study describes smoking policies in outpatient drug treatment.

Magnetic resonance angiography of rat spinal cord at 9.4 T: a feasibility study.

In this study we investigated the feasibility of performing 3D time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography to remotely image the arteries of rat spinal cord. Using a custom-designed implantable radiofrequency coil, we acquired angiograms from normal and injured cords. The potential of the approach was evaluated in terms of longitudinally monitoring the vascular reorganization of spinal cord following an injury.

Strategies for community-based organization capacity building: planning on a shoestring budget.

Community-based organizations often capacity build to successfully enable themselves to be adaptable and responsive to constantly changing environments. However, community-based organizations are stretched for time, staffing, and funding, and the added obligation of regularly performing management planning tools, such as strategic planning, needs assessments, program evaluations, or market demand forecasting, strain limited resources. Through case studies, this article illustrates how collaborations between universities and community-based organizations can result in the development of successful management planning tools through the use of geographic information systems and secondary resources.