Virtual reality and real-time neurofeedback functional MRI: a breakthrough in foreseeing Alzheimer's disease?

This scientific commentary refers to 'Earliest amyloid and tau deposition modulate the influence of limbic networks during closed-loop hippocampal downregulation' by Skouras etal. (doi:10.1093/brain/awaa011)

Towards the fabrication of sintered IDEAL-Cells by tape casting, wet powders spraying and screen printing

The realization of complete anode supported cells reproducing the IDEAL-Cell concept was approached by standard and inexpensive ceramic processes like tape casting, screen printing and wet powder spraying. Both commercial and custom powders were employed to build-up layers for button cells (1 inch footprint) and larger (5?5 cm2) substrates. This paper reports the details of the slurries formulation as well as the deposition parameters and sintering conditions. Resulting microstructural features are also presented together with an outlook on future steps of the activit

P1‐245: Mapping local structural hippocampal changes in Alzheimer's disease and normal aging on MR imaging at 3T

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Detection and Characterization of CD8+ Autoreactive Memory Stem T Cells in Patients With Type 1 Diabetes

Stem memory T cells (Tscm) constitute the earliest developmental stage of memory T cells, displaying stem cell–like properties, such as self-renewal capacity. Their superior immune reconstitution potential has sparked interest in cancer immune therapy, vaccine development, and immune reconstitution, whereas their role in autoimmunity is largely unexplored. Here we show that autoreactive CD8+ Tscm specific for β-cell antigens GAD65, insulin, and IGRP are present in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D). In vitro, the generation of autoreactive Tscm from naive precursors required the presence of the homeostatic cytokine interleukin-7 (IL-7). IL-7 promotes glucose uptake via overexpression of GLUT1 and upregulation of the glycolytic enzyme hexokinase 2. Even though metabolism depends on glucose uptake, the subsequent oxidation of pyruvate in the mitochondria was necessary for Tscm generation from naive precursors. In patients with T1D, high expression of GLUT1 was a hallmark of circulating Tscm, and targeting glucose uptake via GLUT1 using the selective inhibitor WZB117 resulted in inhibition of Tscm generation and expansion. Our results suggest that autoreactive Tscm are present in patients with T1D and can be selectively targeted by inhibition of glucose metabolism

Urinary proteomic profiles of prostate cancer with different risk of progression and correlation with histopathological features

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common tumor in men with extremely variable outcome, varying from latent or indolent form to very aggressive behavior. High grade tumors, expansions exceeding the prostatic capsule into the surrounding soft tissues and spreading through lymph vascular channels, represent the most consistent unfavorable prognostic factors. However, accuracy in the prediction of the disease progression is sometimes difficult. Along with new molecular diagnostic techniques and more accurate histopathological approaches, proteomic studies challenge to identify potential biomarkers predictive of PCa progression. In our study we analyzed the urinary proteomes of 42 patients affected by PCa through two-dimensional electrophoresis associated with mass spectrometry. Proteomic profiles were correlated to histopathological features including pTNM stage and tumor differentiation in order to provide new promising markers able to define more accurately the PCa aggressiveness and driving new therapeutic approaches

Resting state functional connectivity alterations in primary lateral sclerosis

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Dual cells with mixed protonic-anionic conductivity for reversible SOFC/SOEC operation

International audienceThe dual cell concept is a novel design for solid oxide fuel cells operating at intermediate temperature. The cell comprises a series of five layers with different compositions, alternating two dense electrolytes and three porous layers, i.e. the outer electrodes and a central membrane. The dual cell concept makes it possible to separate the compartment for water formation from both fuel and oxidant chambers. Such a three-chamber configuration gives many advantages related to fuel dilution, materials corrosion, and reversibility between fuel cell and electrolyser operational modes (SOFC/SOEC) at high temperature. Dual conductivity (protonic/anionic) can be achieved by joining two dense BaCe0.85Y0.15O3-δ (BCY) and Ce0.85Y0.15O2-δ (YDC) electrolytes through a porous ceramic central membrane made up of both materials. Complete anode-supported dual cells have been fabricated by a combination of pressing, casting, printing, wet spraying, and plasma spraying techniques. Electrochemical tests carried out by impedance spectroscopy showed the feasibility of the concept and successful reversible operation of the dual cell. The fabrication route, the microstructural and electrochemical testing results are reported in this work, and partially compared to simulated results from an electrochemical model developed describing the dual cell concept

Short-Term Exposure to Bisphenol A Does Not Impact Gonadal Cell Steroidogenesis In Vitro

: Bisphenol A (BPA) is a ubiquitous, synthetic chemical proven to induce reproductive disorders in both men and women. The available studies investigated the effects of BPA on male and female steroidogenesis following long-term exposure to the compound at relatively high environmental concentrations. However, the impact of short-term exposure to BPA on reproduction is poorly studied. We evaluated if 8 and 24 h exposure to 1 nM and 1 µM BPA perturbs luteinizing hormone/choriogonadotropin (LH/hCG)-mediated signalling in two steroidogenic cell models, i.e., the mouse tumour Leydig cell line mLTC1, and human primary granulosa lutein cells (hGLC). Cell signalling studies were performed using a homogeneous time-resolved fluorescence (HTRF) assay and Western blotting, while gene expression analysis was carried out using real-time PCR. Immunostainings and an immunoassay were used for intracellular protein expression and steroidogenesis analyses, respectively. The presence of BPA leads to no significant changes in gonadotropin-induced cAMP accumulation, alongside phosphorylation of downstream molecules, such as ERK1/2, CREB and p38 MAPK, in both the cell models. BPA did not impact STARD1, CYP11A1 and CYP19A1 gene expression in hGLC, nor Stard1 and Cyp17a1 expression in mLTC1 treated with LH/hCG. Additionally, the StAR protein expression was unchanged upon exposure to BPA. Progesterone and oestradiol levels in the culture medium, measured by hGLC, as well as the testosterone and progesterone levels in the culture medium, measured by mLTC1, did not change in the presence of BPA combined with LH/hCG. These data suggest that short-term exposure to environmental concentrations of BPA does not compromise the LH/hCG-induced steroidogenic potential of either human granulosa or mouse Leydig cells