Search

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are mediators of cellular communication that can be released by almost all cell types in both physiological and pathological conditions and are present in most biological fluids. Such characteristics make them attractive in the research of biomarkers for age-related pathological conditions. Based on this, the aim of the present study was to examine the changes in EV concentration and size in the context of frailty, a geriatric syndrome associated with a progressive physical and cognitive decline. Specifically, total EVs and neural and microglial-derived EVs (NDVs and MDVs respectively) were investigated in plasma of frail and non-frail controls (CTRL), mild cognitive impairment (MCI) subjects, and in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. Results provided evidence that AD patients displayed diminished NDV concentration (3.61 × 109 ± 1.92 × 109 vs 7.16 × 109 ± 4.3 × 109 particles/ml) and showed high diagnostic performance. They are able to discriminate between AD and CTRL with an area under the curve of 0.80, a sensitivity of 78.95% and a specificity of 85.7%, considering the cut-off of 5.27 × 109 particles/ml. Importantly, we also found that MDV concentration was increased in frail MCI patients compared to CTRL (5.89 × 109 ± 3.98 × 109 vs 3.16 × 109 ± 3.04 × 109 particles/ml, P < 0.05) and showed high neurotoxic effect on neurons. MDV concentration discriminate frail MCI vs non-frail CTRL (AUC = 0.76) with a sensitivity of 80% and a specificity of 70%, considering the cut-off of 2.69 × 109 particles/ml. Altogether, these results demonstrated an alteration in NDV and MDV release during cognitive decline, providing important insight into the role of EVs in frailty status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transport of atomic hydrogen in steels can be described by a complex model that takes into account diffusion laws (Fick's laws) and the phenomena of hydrogen capture and release by different traps. Different electrochemical methods for measuring the diffusion coefficient of atomic hydrogen are compared. Three metallurgical structures of low alloy 2·25Cr-1Mo steel and C-Mn microalloyed steel are tested, the latter also with different degrees of plastic deformation. The test methodology that best simulates hydrogen diffusion through a lattice is the partial charge/discharge method. Within the limits of the 'material-environment' combinations selected for this research, highly reproducible values of the diffusion coefficient are obtained, which decrease in the order of annealed (10− 9 m2 s− 1), quenched and tempered (5 × 10− 10 m2 s− 1) and quenched (10− 10 m2 s− 1) samples and also decrease as the plastic deformation increases (from 5 × 10− 10 to 5 × 10− 11 m2 s− 1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Progranulin (GRN) gene variability has been analyzed in a sample of 354 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) compared with 343 controls. No significant differences were observed, but by stratifying according to MS subtypes, a significant increased frequency of the rs2879096 TT genotype was found in primary progressive MS (PPMS) patients versus controls (16.0 vs 3.5%, P=0.023, odds ratio (OR) 5.2, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2–21.4). In addition, in PPMS, an association with the C allele of rs4792938 was observed (55.3 vs 33.5%, P=0.011, OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.2–4.7). An independent population was studied as replication, failing to confirm results previously obtained. Stratifying according to gender, an association with rs4792938 C allele was found in male PPMS patients compared with controls (40.7 vs 26.9%, P=0.002, OR 1.87, 95% CI 1.2–2.8). An association with the rs2879096T allele was observed (29.2 in patients compared with 18.9% in controls, P=0.012, OR 1.77, 95% CI 1.1–2.8). Haplotype analysis showed that TC haplotype frequency is increased in PPMS male patients compared with male controls (25.7 vs 16.6%; P=0.02, OR 1.69, 95% CI 1.1–2.7), whereas the respective GC haplotype seems to exert a protective effect, as its frequency is decreased in patients compared with controls (55.8% vs 70.9%; P=0.001, OR 0.52, 95% CI 0.4–0.8). Therefore, GRN haplotypes likely influence the risk of developing PPMS in males. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Bio Tribune Magazine is the property of Lavoisier and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Noradrenergic transmission has been implicated in the affective component of relapse to tobacco smoking. Evidence in human and laboratory animals showed that smoking or nicotine administration may cause changes of the noradrenergic system resulting in hyperactivity in this system after cessation. It has been hypothesised that the antiadrenergic β-blocker propranolol may decrease affective activation and arousal observed during drug withdrawal or cue-induced relapse. The aim of the present work was to test the effects of propranolol pre-treatment in a rat model of nicotine cue-induced relapse to nicotine seeking. We also tested the effects of propranolol on food cue-induced reinstatement of food seeking in rats trained on food self-administration. Propranolol transiently inhibited nicotine cue-induced reinstatement. The inhibitory effect of propranolol reached a peak after 30 min from the beginning of the reinstatement session and then it declined until it was completely absent at the end of the 3-h session. This inhibitory effect of propranolol was not observed when the drug was tested versus reinstatement with food cues. The present study suggests a weak effect of propranolol to counteract nicotine cue-induced reinstatement of nicotine seeking. Therefore, these findings do not support a potential use of propranolol for prevention of smoking relapse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production and properties of high transverse momentum hadron jets have been measured in the UA2 experiment at the CERN $$\bar pp$$ Collider $$(\sqrt s = 540 GEV)$$ using a highly segmented total absorption calorimeter. The characteristics of a sample of two-jet events with invariant mass up to 200 GeV/c are discussed, including measurements of their fragmentation properties, angular and rapidity distributions, and the properties of the additional energy clusters accompanying the two-jet system. Cross sections for inclusive jet production in the jet transverse momentum range between 30 and 100 GeV/c and for the two-jet invariant mass distribution in the mass range from 60-200 GeV/c are reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using indirect immunofluorescence techniques, we have found that calcitonin gene-related peptide-like immunoreactivity is present in the neuromuscular junctions of somatic muscles as well as in almost all motor neurons of the lumbar enlargement of 1-week-old rats. It gradually decreases in both motor neurons and motor nerve endings as the animal grows up and completely disappears from the neuromuscular junctions in adult rats, persisting only in the motor nerve endings on the intrafusal fibers. In situ hybridization experiments have shown that the down-regulation of calcitonin generelated peptide-like immunoreactivity is strictly related to a reduction in CGRP mRNA levels in the spinal motor neurons. These results indicate that the expression of CGRP is developmentally regulated in spinal cord α motor neurons. They also suggest that the peptide may play an important role at the immature neuromuscular junction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Italian Journal of Neurological Sciences is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)