A Vibratory Acoustic Gyroscope

No abstract availabl

Mendelian randomization and type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is a common, complex disease that poses a substantial burden on individual and population health, but we have relatively limited understanding of its underlying pathophysiology. Observational studies have highlighted large numbers of risk factors for T2DM, some of which are modifiable through behavioural or pharmacological intervention. Determining which of these risk factors plays a causal role in the development of T2DM has been a challenge, but Mendelian randomisation (MR) studies are harnessing genetic data in population studies to offer new insights. Using evolving analytical methods, MR studies continue to address questions of causality related to T2DM, including exploring the roles of adiposity, blood lipids and inflammation. The causal roles of a number of important modifiable risk factors have been confirmed by MR studies, while the relevance of others has been called into question. As more MR studies are conducted, methods are developed and refined in order to make the most efficient and reliable use of available genetic and phenotypic data. In this review, the design and findings of some important MR studies related to T2DM are explored and their relevance for translation to clinical practice considered

The effects of memantine on prepulse inhibition.

Reduced prepulse inhibition (PPI) of startle provides evidence of deficient sensorimotor gating in several disorders, including schizophrenia. The role of NMDA neurotransmission in the regulation of PPI is unclear, due to cross-species differences in the effects of NMDA antagonists on PPI. Recent reports suggest that drug effects on PPI differ in subgroups of normal humans that differ in the levels of baseline PPI or specific personality domains; here, we tested the effects of these variables on the sensitivity of PPI to the NMDA antagonist, memantine. PPI was measured in male Sprague-Dawley rats, after treatment with memantine (0, 10 or 20 mg/kg, s.c.). Baseline PPI was then measured in 37 healthy adult men. Next, subjects were tested twice, in a double-blind crossover design, comparing either (1) placebo vs 20 mg of the NMDA antagonist memantine (n=19) or (2) placebo vs 30 mg memantine (n=18). Tests included measures of acoustic startle amplitude, PPI, autonomic indices and subjective self-rating scales. Memantine had dose- and interval-dependent effects on PPI in rats. Compared with vehicle, 10 mg/kg increased short-interval (10-20 ms) PPI, and 20 mg/kg decreased long-interval (120 ms) PPI. In humans, memantine caused dose-dependent effects on psychological and somatic measures: 20 mg was associated with increased ratings of happiness, and 30 mg was associated with increased ratings of dizziness. PPI at the 120 ms prepulse interval was increased by 20 mg, but not 30 mg of memantine. Subgroups most sensitive to the PPI-enhancing effects of memantine were those with low baseline PPI, or with personality scale scores suggestive of high novelty seeking, high sensation seeking, or high disinhibition. NMDA blockade with memantine appears to have dose- and interval-dependent effects on sensorimotor gating in rats and humans, particularly among specific subgroups of normal human subjects. These findings are discussed as they relate to consistencies across other studies in humans, as well as apparent inconsistencies in the NMDA regulation of PPI across species

P-42 Using the Raspberry Pi for ECL Reaction Analysis

Using a Raspberry Pi and its camera module, we developed an affordable and easily available system for photographing and analyzing electrochemiluminescent (ECL) reactions. These reactions can be represented as a function of average light intensity over time, allowing for a future program to determine the concentration of certain reactants. Such ECL reactions will be useful in the diagnosis of medical conditions such as cancer without the need for expensive equipment or laboratories. The proposed system will make certain diagnoses easy and available to people across the globe and will likely require only a small blood sample. It will also be useful in educational environments for learning about ECL reactions

Of Mice and Men and the Search for an Alzheimer's Disease Treatment

Translational Vision and Neuroscience Research PanelAlzheimer's disease is a common affliction that disrupts the lives of millions and costs the country hundreds of millions of dollars. The federal government, state governments, philanthropic foundations, and industry have all committed resources to solving the Alzheimer's disease problem. Clinical and basic science investigators with a wide range of backgrounds have dedicated themselves to this disease. This talk will review the current state of Alzheimer's disease research and discuss where we stand in terms of a cure. This talk will try to predict where Alzheimer's disease research will go in the near future by considering where it's been in the recent past

Tracing the Evolution of the \u3cem\u3eTarasoff\u3c/em\u3e Duty in California

Since the first Tarasoff decision in 1974, the question of mental health professionals’ “duty to protect” third-parties has been a topic of vigorous debate. The ensuing forty-three years witnessed considerable shifts in the statutory and legal landscape in the United States, including several significant changes in California state law over the past decade alone. In this historical review, I trace the evolution of the Tarasoff duty with a specific focus on the state in which that duty originated, California, with the intention of elucidating the major policy, ethical, and practical questions that have followed in the wake of the Tarasoff decision