Expression of NR2B in Cerebellar Granule Cells Specifically Facilitates Effect of Motor Training on Motor Learning

It is believed that gene/environment interaction (GEI) plays a pivotal role in the development of motor skills, which are acquired via practicing or motor training. However, the underlying molecular/neuronal mechanisms are still unclear. Here, we reported that the expression of NR2B, a subunit of NMDA receptors, in cerebellar granule cells specifically enhanced the effect of voluntary motor training on motor learning in the mouse. Moreover, this effect was characterized as motor learning-specific and developmental stage-dependent, because neither emotional/spatial memory was affected nor was the enhanced motor learning observed when the motor training was conducted starting at the age of 3 months old in these transgenic mice. These results indicate that changes in the expression of gene(s) that are involved in regulating synaptic plasticity in cerebellar granule cells may constitute a molecular basis for the cerebellum to be involved in the GEI by facilitating motor skill learning

Heterostructures for High Performance Devices

Contains an introduction and reports on ten research projects.Charles S. Draper Laboratory, Contract DL-H-315251Joint Services Electronics Program, Contract DAAL03-89-C-0001National Science Foundation Grant, Grant EET 87-03404MIT FundsInternational Business Machines CorporationNational Science Foundation Grant ECS 84-1317

Heterostructures for Optical Devices

Contains research objectives and reports on eight research projects.Joint Services Electronics Program (Contract DAAL03-86-K-0002)Joint Services Electronics Program (Contract DAALO3-89-C-0001)National Science Foundation (Grant EET 87-03404)Charles Stark Draper Laboratory (Contract DL-H-315251)Xerox Corporation FellowshipMIT Fund

Optics and Quantum Electronics

Contains table of contents for Section 2 and reports on eleven research projects.Joint Services Electronics Program Contract DAAL03-89-C-0001National Science Foundation Grant EET 87-00474U.S. Air Force - Office of Scientific Research Contract F49620-88-C-0089Charles S. Draper Laboratory Contract DL-H-404179National Center for Integrated PhotonicsNational Science Foundation Grant ECS 87-18417NEC Research InstituteNational Science Foundation Grant ECS 85-52701Medical Free Electron Laser Program Contract N00014-86-K-0117National Institutes of Health Grant 5-RO1-GM35459Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Contract B048704U.S. Department of Energy Grant DE-FG02-89-ER14012Columbia University Contract P016310

Optics and Quantum Electronics

Contains reports on eleven research projects.National Science Foundation (Grant EET 87-00474)Joint Services Electronics Program (Contract DAALO03-86-K-O002)Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc. (Grant DL-H-2854018)National Science Foundation (Grant DMR 84-18718)National Science Foundation (Grant EET 87-03404)National Science Foundation (ECS 85-52701)US Air Force - Office of Scientific Research (Contract AFOSR-85-0213)National Institutes of Health (Contract 5-RO1-GM35459)US Navy - Office of Naval Research (Contract N00014-86-K-0117

Optics and Quantum Electronics

Contains table of contents for Section 2 and reports on eighteen research projects.National Science Foundation (Grant EET 87-00474)Joint Services Electronics Program (Contract DAAL03-86-K-0002)Joint Services Electronics Program (Contract DAALO3-89-C-0001)Charles Stark Draper Laboratory (Grant DL-H-285408)Charles Stark Draper Laboratory (Grant DL-H-2854018)National Science Foundation (Grant EET 87-03404)National Science Foundation (Grant ECS 84-06290)U.S. Air Force - Office of Scientific Research (Contract F49620-88-C-0089)AT&T Bell FoundationNational Science Foundation (Grant ECS 85-52701)National Institutes of Health (Grant 5-RO1-GM35459)Massachusetts General Hospital (Office of Naval Research Contract N00014-86-K-0117)Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (Subcontract B048704

Predictors of very early stroke recurrence in the POINT trial population

Background: Recent trials of acute secondary prevention in patients with minor ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) have demonstrated high rates of early recurrence within days of the initial event. Identifying clinical features associated with early recurrence may guide focused management. Methods: Using logistic regression applied to the data of the Platelet Oriented Inhibition in New TIA and Minor Ischemic Stroke (POINT) trial, we evaluated what baseline clinical factors predict outcome events occurring within 7 days of randomization. Results: In the POINT trial, 181 subjects (3.7%) had early recurrence, defined as primary outcome events within 7 days of trial entry, whereas only 100 outcome events occurred over the remainder of the 90 day trial. Protective effects of dual antiplatelet therapy with clopidogrel plus aspirin were seen only as a reduction in these early recurrences, without any impact on later events. In univariate analysis, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, serum glucose, initial carotid imaging results, study cohort (minor stroke or TIA), and treatment assignment were significantly associated with early recurrence. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified a number of factors with significant independent associations with early recurrence, including carotid stenosis or occlusion (Odds Ratio [OR] 2.77; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.78–4.31), cohort (minor stroke versus TIA) (OR 1.86; 95% CI 1.33–2.58), race (OR 1.57; 95% CI 1.10–2.25), baseline statin use (OR 0.68; 95% CI 0.49–0.95), systolic blood pressure (OR 1.10; 95% CI 1.03–1.18), serum glucose (OR 1.03; 95% CI 1.01–1.05), and age (OR 1.02; 95% CI 1.00–1.03). Receiver Operator Characteristic (ROC) analysis showed a 70% accuracy of the resulting logistic model in predicting early recurrence. Conclusions: Early recurrence is high, and is concentrated in the first 7 days, in patients with minor stroke or TIA. A number of baseline clinical factors, including carotid disease, presentation with minor stroke rather than TIA, race, absence of statin usage, systolic blood pressure, and serum glucose, are independently associated with early event recurrence in the POINT trial population.</p