Mapping pathways to neuronal atrophy in healthy, mid-aged adults: From chronic stress to systemic inflammation to neurodegeneration?

Growing evidence implicates systemic inflammation in the loss of structural brain integrity in natural ageing and disorder development. Chronic stress and glucocorticoid exposure can potentiate inflammatory processes and may also be linked to neuronal atrophy, particularly in the hippocampus and the human neocortex. To improve understanding of emerging maladaptive interactions between stress and inflammation, this study examined evidence for glucocorticoid- and inflammation-mediated neurodegeneration in healthy mid-aged adults.

Electrophysiological signatures of veridical head direction in humans.

Information about heading direction is critical for navigation as it provides the means to orient ourselves in space. However, given that veridical head-direction signals require physical rotation of the head and most human neuroimaging experiments depend upon fixing the head in position, little is known about how the human brain is tuned to such heading signals. Here we adress this by asking 52 healthy participants undergoing simultaneous electroencephalography and motion tracking recordings (split into two experiments) and 10 patients undergoing simultaneous intracranial electroencephalography and motion tracking recordings to complete a series of orientation tasks in which they made physical head rotations to target positions.

Workers' Sensation Seeking Matters: Development and Validation of the Need for Sensations at Work Scale (NSWS).

Although sensation seeking (SS) may be a highly relevant trait in the occupational context, it is still understudied in the field of work and organizational psychology. Probably, one reason is the lack of an appropriate SS instrument for the work context. We therefore developed a scale that measures work-related SS.

Mobile Virtual Reality Versus Mobile 360° Video to Promote Enrollment in the Diabetes Prevention Program Among Hispanic Adults: Pilot Study.

Background: Hispanic adults are at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes; however, the rate of enrollment is very low.

Objective: The goal of this pilot project was to determine whether presenting brief motivational mobile videos in virtual reality vs 360° video has differential effects on risk perceptions and enrollment in the DPP.

Parent Interventions Improve Behavior After Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Objective: To examine child behavior change scores from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of parent interventions for pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and CINAHL were searched to identify studies that examined parent interventions for pediatric TBI. Inclusion criteria included (i) a parent intervention for children with TBI; (ii) an RCT study design; (iii) statistical data for child behavior outcome(s); and (iv) studies that were published in English.

The use of machine learning in rare diseases: a scoping review.

Background: Emerging machine learning technologies are beginning to transform medicine and healthcare and could also improve the diagnosis and treatment of rare diseases. Currently, there are no systematic reviews that investigate, from a general perspective, how machine learning is used in a rare disease context. This scoping review aims to address this gap and explores the use of machine learning in rare diseases, investigating, for example, in which rare diseases machine learning is applied, which types of algorithms and input data are used or which medical applications (e.

Taming the Cationic Beast: Novel Developments in the Synthesis and Application of Weakly Coordinating Anions.

This Review gives a comprehensive overview of the most topical weakly coordinating anions (WCAs) and contains information on WCA design, stability, and applications. As an update to the 2004 review, developments in common classes of WCA are included. Methods for the incorporation of WCAs into a given system are discussed and advice given on how to best choose a method for the introduction of a particular WCA.

Gold(I) mediated rearrangement of [7]-helicene to give a benzo[cd]pyrenium cation embedded in a chiral framework.

The facile gold-mediated skeletal rearrangement of [7]-helicene into a cationic polyaromatic hydrocarbon is described. We report in-depth studies on the structure and aromaticity of this novel stable cation and propose a mechanism for its formation.

A systematic investigation of coinage metal carbonyl complexes stabilized by fluorinated alkoxy aluminates.

The reaction of Cu(I), Ag(I), and Au(I) salts with carbon monoxide in the presence of weakly coordinating anions led to known and structurally unknown non-classical coinage metal carbonyl complexes [M(CO)n][A] (A = fluorinated alkoxy aluminates). The coinage metal carbonyl complexes [Cu(CO)n(CH2Cl2)m](+)[A](-) (n = 1, 3; m = 4-n), [Au2(CO)2Cl](+)[A](-), [(OC)nM(A)] (M = Cu: n = 2; Ag: n = 1, 2) as well as [(OC)3Cu⋅⋅⋅ClAl(OR(F))3] and [(OC)Au⋅⋅⋅ClAl(OR(F))3] were analyzed with X-ray diffraction and partially IR and Raman spectroscopy. In addition to these structures, crystallographic and spectroscopic evidence for the existence of the tetracarbonyl complex [Cu(CO)4](+)[Al(OR(F))4](-) (R(F) = C(CF3)3) is presented; its formation was analyzed with the help of theoretical investigations and Born-Fajans-Haber cycles.

[7]-Helicene: a chiral molecular tweezer for silver(I) salts.

We have unambiguously demonstrated the binding of the silver(I) ion in the central cavity of [7]-helicene, given that the counterion is weakly coordinating. In such a binding mode, the helicene is functioning as a chiral molecular tweezer.

Magnetic resonance perfusion of the myocardium: semiquantitative and quantitative evaluation in comparison with coronary angiography and fractional flow reserve.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate if a quantitative evaluation of a magnetic resonance (MR) perfusion examination of the myocardium can achieve a comparable diagnostic accuracy as a semiquantitative evaluation.

Methods: A total of 31 patients with suspected coronary artery disease underwent MR imaging and conventional coronary angiography. Stenoses with a diameter reduction between 50% and 75% were evaluated by an intracoronary pressure wire examination (fractional flow reserve) for assessment of their hemodynamic relevance.

Buffer-dependent regulation of aquaporin-1 expression and function in human peritoneal mesothelial cells.

Background: Biocompatible peritoneal dialysis fluids (PDF) are buffered with lactate and/or bicarbonate. We hypothesized that the reduced toxicity of the biocompatible solutions might unmask specific effects of the buffer type on mesothelial cell functions.

Methods: Human peritoneal mesothelial cells (HPMC) were incubated with bicarbonate (B-)PDF or lactate-buffered (L-)PDF followed by messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein analysis.

Cu[Al(OR(F))4] starting materials and their application in the preparation of [Cu(S(n))]+ (n=12, 8) complexes.

An effective route to stable, almost-"naked" Cu(I) salts of weakly coordinating anions (WCAs) of the type [Al(OR(F))4]- has been developed. Born-Fajans-Haber cycles and theoretical calculations suggest that this methodology is useful for the generation of Cu(I) salts regardless of the larger WCA used. The first homoleptic Cu(I)-arene complex [Cu(1,2-F2C6H4)2](+)[Al{OC(CF3)3}4]- (1), the first Cu(I)-methylenechloride complex [Cu(CH2Cl2)Al{OC(CH3)(CF3)2}4] (2), and the donor-free dimer [CuAl{OCH(CF3)2}4]2 (3) were synthesized in quantitative yields by sonicating Li[Al(OR(F))4] (R(F)=C(CF3)3, C(CH3)(CF3)2, or CH(CF3)2), AgF, and a three-fold excess of CuI in 1,2-F2C6H4 (1) or CH2Cl2 (2, 3).

C5a-blockade improves burn-induced cardiac dysfunction.

We previously reported that generation of the anaphylatoxin C5a is linked to the development of cardiac dysfunction in sepsis due to C5a interaction with its receptor (C5aR) on cardiomyocytes. Burn injury involves inflammatory mechanisms that can lead to C5a generation as well. In this study, we investigated the effects of C5a blockade on burn-induced cardiac dysfunction.

Chloride and bicarbonate have similar affinities to the intestinal anion exchanger DRA (down regulated in adenoma).

DRA (down regulated in adenoma, SLC26A3) is an anion exchanger that mediates electroneutral NaCl absorption in the ileum and proximal colon together with NHE3 (Na/H exchanger isoform 3), and that is involved in duodenal and possibly pancreatic bicarbonate secretion. Thus, its chloride and bicarbonate affinities are important for both processes. [Cl]i and pHi transients were measured using MQAE and BCECF.

Molecular examination of the transmembrane requirements of the platelet-derived growth factor beta receptor for a productive interaction with the bovine papillomavirus E5 oncoprotein.

The small transmembrane E5 protein of bovine papillomavirus (BPV) transforms cells by forming a stable complex with and activating the platelet-derived growth factor beta receptor (PDGFbetaR). The E5/PDGFbetaR interaction is thought to involve specific physical contacts between the transmembrane domains of the two proteins. Lys(499) at the extracellular juxtamembrane position and Thr(513) within the transmembrane domain of the PDGFbetaR are required for the interaction and are predicted to contact analogously positioned residues in the E5 protein.