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Sex is one of the main risk factors for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Estrogen signaling has thus been implicated as an important factor in the incidence and development of AD. Decreased expression of estrogen receptor-β (ERβ) in female patients with AD has been linked to impaired mitochondrial function and increased markers of oxidative stress. Furthermore, evidence from ERβ-knockout mice suggests that ERβ deficiency increases mitochondrial vulnerability to amyloid-β (Aβ) toxicity, which may contribute to aggravation of AD pathogenesis. Similarly, it has been shown that overexpression of ERβprotects against Aβ-induced cytotoxicity via multiple mechanisms in the absence of 17β-estradiol. The latter finding presents a new strategy for the development of treatments that will selectively activate ERβ in a ligand-independent manner, potentially allowing for efficacious neuroprotection, while avoiding the side effects associated with estrogen replacement therapy. The purpose of the current manuscript is to review the available research on the role of ERβ in pathological cellular events associated with AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An interview with Doctor Kaveh Shojania, Director of the University of Toronto Centre for Patient Safety in Ontario, is presented. When asked to talk about the field of patient safety and quality improvement, Shojania discusses how the field came into being, why he got personally interested in studying medical error, and the most common sources of medical error. He attributes systems problems as the larger source of errors when compared to human error.

An introduction to the journal is presented in which the editors discuss women's mental health issues.

An introduction is presented in which the editors discuss various reports within the issue on topics including the interview with professor Dr. Mark Stabile, the trends in medical expenditures and the case reports that challenged the aspects of treatment and diagnosis.