Junctional adhesion molecule (JAM)-C deficient C57BL/6 mice develop a severe hydrocephalus

The junctional adhesion molecule (JAM)-C is a widely expressed adhesion molecule regulating cell adhesion, cell polarity and inflammation. JAM-C expression and function in the central nervous system (CNS) has been poorly characterized to date. Here we show that JAM-C−/− mice backcrossed onto the C57BL/6 genetic background developed a severe hydrocephalus. An in depth immunohistochemical study revealed specific immunostaining for JAM-C in vascular endothelial cells in the CNS parenchyma, the meninges and in the choroid plexus of healthy C57BL/6 mice. Additional JAM-C immunostaining was detected on ependymal cells lining the ventricles and on choroid plexus epithelial cells. Despite the presence of hemorrhages in the brains of JAM-C−/− mice, our study demonstrates that development of the hydrocephalus was not due to a vascular function of JAM-C as endothelial re-expression of JAM-C failed to rescue the hydrocephalus phenotype of JAM-C−/− C57BL/6 mice. Evaluation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) circulation within the ventricular system of JAM-C−/− mice excluded occlusion of the cerebral aqueduct as the cause of hydrocephalus development but showed the acquisition of a block or reduction of CSF drainage from the lateral to the 3rd ventricle in JAM-C−/− C57BL/6 mice. Taken together, our study suggests that JAM-C−/− C57BL/6 mice model the important role for JAM-C in brain development and CSF homeostasis as recently observed in humans with a loss-of-function mutation in JAM-C

Long Term outcomes after NORSE: Treatment with Vagus Nerve Stimulation

New-onset refractory status epilepticus (NORSE) is associated with high mortality, therapy resistant epilepsy (TRE) and poor cognitive and functional outcomes. Some patients develop multifocal TRE, for whom surgery with a curative intention, is not an option. In these patients, Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) is performed as a palliative treatment. We report the long-term outcomes regarding seizure frequency, functional and cognitive outcome, and effectiveness of VNS in two patients with TRE as a consequence of NORSE. In the first patient with cryptogenic NORSE, VNS implantation occurred during the acute stage, probably contributing to the cessation of her status epilepticus. However, in the long-term follow-up, the patient persisted with daily multifocal seizures. In the second patient, VNS implantation was delayed to manage his epilepsy when the NORSE, ultimately due to autoimmune encephalitis, had resolved. During long-term follow-up, no reduction in seizure frequency was achieved. The current evidence supporting the use of VNS in patients with TRE after NORSE warrants further investigation

Active flight increases the gain of visual motion processing in Drosophila

We developed a technique for performing whole-cell patch-clamp recordings from genetically identified neurons in behaving Drosophila. We focused on the properties of visual interneurons during tethered flight, but this technique generalizes to different cell types and behaviors. We found that the peak-to-peak responses of a class of visual motion–processing interneurons, the vertical-system visual neurons (VS cells), doubled when flies were flying compared with when they were at rest. Thus, the gain of the VS cells is not fixed, but is instead behaviorally flexible and changes with locomotor state. Using voltage clamp, we found that the passive membrane resistance of VS cells was reduced during flight, suggesting that the elevated gain was a result of increased synaptic drive from upstream motion-sensitive inputs. The ability to perform patch-clamp recordings in behaving Drosophila promises to help unify the understanding of behavior at the gene, cell and circuit levels

Experienced Quality of Post-Acute and Long-Term Care From the Care Recipient's Perspective-A Conceptual Framework

This article aims to conceptualize experienced quality of post-acute and long-term care for older people as perceived by care recipients. An iterative literature review and consultations with stakeholders led to the development of the INDividually Experienced QUAlity of Long-term care (INDEXQUAL) framework. INDEXQUAL presents the process of an individual care experience consisting of a pre (expectations), during (experiences), and post (assessment) phase. Expectations are formed prior to an experience by personal needs, past experiences, and word-of-mouth. An experience follows, which consists of interactions between the players in the caring relationships. Lastly, this experience is assessed by addressing what happened and how it happened (perceived care services), how this influenced the care recipient's health status (perceived care outcomes), and how this made the care recipient feel (satisfaction). INDEXQUAL can serve as a framework to select or develop methods to assess experienced quality of long-term care. It can provide a framework for quality monitoring, improvement, and transparency. (C) 2019 AMDA - The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine

Disruption of Toxoplasma gondii Parasitophorous Vacuoles by the Mouse p47-Resistance GTPases

The p47 GTPases are essential for interferon-γ-induced cell-autonomous immunity against the protozoan parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, in mice, but the mechanism of resistance is poorly understood. We show that the p47 GTPases, including IIGP1, accumulate at vacuoles containing T. gondii. The accumulation is GTP-dependent and requires live parasites. Vacuolar IIGP1 accumulations undergo a maturation-like process accompanied by vesiculation of the parasitophorous vacuole membrane. This culminates in disruption of the parasitophorous vacuole and finally of the parasite itself. Over-expression of IIGP1 leads to accelerated vacuolar disruption whereas a dominant negative form of IIGP1 interferes with interferon-γ-mediated killing of intracellular parasites. Targeted deletion of the IIGP1 gene results in partial loss of the IFN-γ-mediated T. gondii growth restriction in mouse astrocytes

Comunidades académicas virtuales en entornos de Television Digital Interactiva

Este artículo presenta la descripción general del Sistema STCAV- Servicios de T-Learning para Soportar una Comunidad Académica Virtual, el cual ha sido desarrollado por el Grupo de Ingeniería Telemática de la Universidad del Cauca en Colombia y se centra en el sistema para soportar la gestión de aplicaciones interactivas y contenido multimedia en un entorno de TDi usando el estándar DVB, teniendo en cuenta la carga, actualización, edición, eliminación, planificación y control del mismo, a través de la implementación y validación de una arquitectura basada en componentes distribuidos soportada en un entorno web.Facultad de Informátic

Comunidades académicas virtuales en entornos de Television Digital Interactiva

Este artículo presenta la descripción general del Sistema STCAV- Servicios de T-Learning para Soportar una Comunidad Académica Virtual, el cual ha sido desarrollado por el Grupo de Ingeniería Telemática de la Universidad del Cauca en Colombia y se centra en el sistema para soportar la gestión de aplicaciones interactivas y contenido multimedia en un entorno de TDi usando el estándar DVB, teniendo en cuenta la carga, actualización, edición, eliminación, planificación y control del mismo, a través de la implementación y validación de una arquitectura basada en componentes distribuidos soportada en un entorno web.Facultad de Informátic

Comunidades académicas virtuales en entornos de Television Digital Interactiva

Este artículo presenta la descripción general del Sistema STCAV- Servicios de T-Learning para Soportar una Comunidad Académica Virtual, el cual ha sido desarrollado por el Grupo de Ingeniería Telemática de la Universidad del Cauca en Colombia y se centra en el sistema para soportar la gestión de aplicaciones interactivas y contenido multimedia en un entorno de TDi usando el estándar DVB, teniendo en cuenta la carga, actualización, edición, eliminación, planificación y control del mismo, a través de la implementación y validación de una arquitectura basada en componentes distribuidos soportada en un entorno web.Facultad de Informátic