135 research outputs found
Mitochondrial quality control and neurological disease: an emerging connection
The human brain is a highly complex organ with remarkable energy demands. Although it
represents only 2% of the total body weight, it accounts for 20% of all oxygen
consumption, reflecting its high rate of metabolic activity. Mitochondria have a crucial
role in the supply of energy to the brain. Consequently, their deterioration can have
important detrimental consequences on the function and plasticity of neurons, and is
thought to have a pivotal role in ageing and in the pathogenesis of several neurological
disorders. Owing to their inherent physiological functions, mitochondria are subjected to
particularly high levels of stress and have evolved specific molecular quality-control
mechanisms to maintain the mitochondrial components. Here, we review some of the most
recent advances in the understanding of mitochondrial stress-control pathways, with a
particular focus on how defects in such pathways might contribute to neurodegenerative
disease
Immunoregulatory effects of AFP domains on monocyte-derived dendritic cell function
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a tumor-associated glycoprotein that functions in regulation of both ontogenic and oncogenic growth. Recent study showed that AFP can induce apoptosis or impair monocyte-derived dendritic cell (MDDC) function. However, it is still unclear which AFP domain (D-AFP) plays major role in this function.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>As expected monocytes cultured in the presence of Granulocyte Macrophage-Colony Stimulating Factor (GM-CSF) and Interleukin-4 (IL-4) developed into MDDC. Up-regulation of HLA-DR and CD11c as well as loss of CD14 molecules could be observed. Full length AFP (FL-AFP), domain 2 AFP (D2-AFP) and D3-AFP, but not D1-AFP, significantly inhibited the expression of HLA-DR<sup>high</sup>/CD11c<sup>high </sup>and CD80<sup>+</sup>/CD86<sup>high </sup>molecules. In contrast, CD83 expression was substantially down-regulated in all samples. Expression of CD40 was significantly suppressed by FL-AFP but not by any D-AFPs. Finally, both FL-AFP and D-AFP impaired the MDDC ability to secrete IL-12 (p70).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>D2- and D3- but not D1-AFP extensively suppresses the MDDC function. All the recombinant AFP proteins impaired the ability of MDDC to secrete IL-12.</p
Outcomes for 18 to 25-year-olds with borderline personality disorder in a dedicated young adult only DBT programme compared to a general adult DBT programme for all ages 18
Aim
Targeting young adults with borderline personality disorder (BPD) for treatment may carry significant social and clinical benefits. We aimed to evaluate a communityābased Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) programme delivered exclusively to young adults with BPD.
Methods
We describe a naturally occurring nonāequivalent, quasiāexperimental comparison of outcomes for young adults (18ā25āyears) with BPD following 1 year of treatment in either a young adult only DBT programme or a general adult DBT programme (18+ years). Twentyāfour young adults enrolled in a communityābased young adult DBT programme open only to 18ā to 25āyearāolds with BPD. Another 13 young adults, also 18ā25āyears, enrolled in a general adult DBT programme open to all ages above 18āyears. Both treatment conditions offered all modes of standard DBT for 1 year. Participants completed a battery of selfāreport measures on mental health symptoms at baseline and again at treatment completion after 1 year. Discharge rates at 2 years postātreatment completion were also recorded.
Results
Better outcomes were found on borderline symptom severity and general psychopathology among completers of young adult DBT, with a large effect size for treatment condition as well as greater clinically significant change. Discharge rates from mental health services 24āmonths later were also higher for completers of young adult DBT.
Conclusions
There may be advantages in delivering DBT to young adults in an ageāspecific programme, possibly due to group cohesion. Methodological limitations apply, such as small sample size and nonārandomization. Further controlled research is needed
Methodology for Y Chromosome Capture: A complete genome sequence of Y chromosome using flow cytometry, laser microdissection and magnetic streptavidin-beads
This study is a comparison of the efficiency of three technologies used for Y chromosome capture and
the next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies applied for determining its whole sequence. Our
main findings disclose that streptavidinābiotin magnetic particle-based capture methodology offers
better and a deeper sequence coverage for Y chromosome capture, compared to chromosome sorting
and microdissection procedures. Moreover, this methodology is less time consuming and the most
selective for capturing only Y chromosomal material, in contrast with other methodologies that result
in considerable background material from other, non-targeted chromosomes. NGS results compared
between two platforms, NextSeq 500 and SOLID 5500xl, produce the same coverage results. This is the
first study to explore a methodological comparison of Y chromosome capture and genetic analysis. Our
results indicate an improved strategy for Y chromosome research with applications in several scientific
fields where this chromosome plays an important role, such as forensics, medical sciences, molecular
anthropology and cancer sciences.Spanish Alfonso Martin Escudero Foundation for the financial support to one of the
authors of the present work (MJ Alvarez āCubero)
Deformation Aware Augmented Reality for Craniotomy using 3D/2D Non-rigid Registration of Cortical Vessels
International audienceIntra-operative brain shift is a well-known phenomenon that describes non-rigid deformation of brain tissues due to gravity and loss of cerebrospinal fluid among other phenomena. This has a negative influence on surgical outcome that is often based on pre-operative planning where the brain shift is not considered. We present a novel brain-shift aware Augmented Reality method to align pre-operative 3D data onto the deformed brain surface viewed through a surgical microscope. We formulate our non-rigid registration as a Shape-from-Template problem. A pre-operative 3D wire-like deformable model is registered onto a single 2D image of the cortical vessels, which is automatically segmented. This 3D/2D registration drives the underlying brain structures, such as tumors, and compensates for the brain shift in sub-cortical regions. We evaluated our approach on simulated and real data composed of 6 patients. It achieved good quantitative and qualitative results making it suitable for neurosurgical guidance
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