scholarly journals The development of a high sensitivity and high linearity fluorescence microphotometry system for distribution analysis of neurotransmitter in the brain.

1988 ◽  
Vol 91 (4) ◽  
pp. 173-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
Den'etsu SUTOO ◽  
Kayo AKIYAMA ◽  
Ichiro MAEDA
Keyword(s):  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Distribution Analysis ◽  
High Linearity ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Fluorescence Microphotometry

Comparison of Cytocidal Activities of L-DOPA and Dopamine in S. cerevisiae and C. glabrata

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 90-93
Author(s):  
Carmen E. Iriarte ◽  
Ian G. Macreadie
Keyword(s):  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Dopaminergic Neurons ◽  
Candida Glabrata ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Time Dependent ◽  
Colony Forming Units ◽  
Dependent Cell ◽  
The Brain

Background: Parkinson's Disease results from a loss of dopaminergic neurons, and reduced levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine. Parkinson's Disease treatments involve increasing dopamine levels through administration of L-DOPA, which can cross the blood brain barrier and be converted to dopamine in the brain. The toxicity of dopamine has previously studied but there has been little study of L-DOPA toxicity. Methods: We have compared the toxicity of dopamine and L-DOPA in the yeasts, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida glabrata by cell viability assays, measuring colony forming units. Results: L-DOPA and dopamine caused time-dependent cell killing in Candida glabrata while only dopamine caused such effects in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The toxicity of L-DOPA is much lower than dopamine. Conclusion: Candida glabrata exhibits high sensitivity to L-DOPA and may have advantages for studying the cytotoxicity of L-DOPA.

scholarly journals Average fractional polarization of extragalactic sources at Planck frequencies

2018 ◽  
Vol 618 ◽  
pp. A29 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Trombetti ◽  
C. Burigana ◽  
G. De Zotti ◽  
V. Galluzzi ◽  
M. Massardi
Keyword(s):  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Point Sources ◽  
Distribution Analysis ◽  
Microwave Background ◽  
Residual Noise ◽  
Upper Limits ◽  
Dusty Galaxies ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Polarization Fraction

Recent detailed simulations have shown that an insufficiently accurate characterization of the contamination of unresolved polarized extragalactic sources can seriously bias measurements of the primordial cosmic microwave background (CMB) power spectrum if the tensor-to-scalar ratio r ∼ 0.001, as predicted by models currently of special interest (e.g., Starobinsky’s R2 and Higgs inflation). This has motivated a reanalysis of the median polarization fraction of extragalactic sources (radio-loud AGNs and dusty galaxies) using data from the Planck polarization maps. Our approach, exploiting the intensity distribution analysis, mitigates or overcomes the most delicate aspects of earlier analyses based on stacking techniques. By means of simulations, we have shown that the residual noise bias on the median polarization fraction, Πmedian, of extragalactic sources is generally ≲0.1%. For radio sources, we have found Πmedian ≃ 2.83%, with no significant dependence on either frequency or flux density, in good agreement with the earlier estimate and with high-sensitivity measurements in the frequency range 5–40 GHz. No polarization signal is detected in the case of dusty galaxies, implying 90% confidence upper limits of Πdusty ≲ 2.2% at 353 GHz and of ≲3.9% at 217 GHz. The contamination of CMB polarization maps by unresolved point sources is discussed.

scholarly journals Optical Imaging of Beta-Amyloid Plaques in Alzheimer’s Disease

Biosensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 255
Author(s):  
Ziyi Luo ◽  
Hao Xu ◽  
Liwei Liu ◽  
Tymish Y. Ohulchanskyy ◽  
Junle Qu
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Optical Imaging ◽  
Imaging Techniques ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Pathological Feature ◽  
Promising Tool ◽  
Abnormal Accumulation ◽  
Accumulation Mechanism ◽  
The Brain

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a multifactorial, irreversible, and incurable neurodegenerative disease. The main pathological feature of AD is the deposition of misfolded β-amyloid protein (Aβ) plaques in the brain. The abnormal accumulation of Aβ plaques leads to the loss of some neuron functions, further causing the neuron entanglement and the corresponding functional damage, which has a great impact on memory and cognitive functions. Hence, studying the accumulation mechanism of Aβ in the brain and its effect on other tissues is of great significance for the early diagnosis of AD. The current clinical studies of Aβ accumulation mainly rely on medical imaging techniques, which have some deficiencies in sensitivity and specificity. Optical imaging has recently become a research hotspot in the medical field and clinical applications, manifesting noninvasiveness, high sensitivity, absence of ionizing radiation, high contrast, and spatial resolution. Moreover, it is now emerging as a promising tool for the diagnosis and study of Aβ buildup. This review focuses on the application of the optical imaging technique for the determination of Aβ plaques in AD research. In addition, recent advances and key operational applications are discussed.

scholarly journals The Spatial and Cell-Type Distribution of SARS-CoV-2 Receptor ACE2 in the Human and Mouse Brains

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rongrong Chen ◽  
Keer Wang ◽  
Jie Yu ◽  
Derek Howard ◽  
Leon French ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Inhibitory Neurons ◽  
Middle Temporal Gyrus ◽  
Distribution Analysis ◽  
Cell Type ◽  
Type Distribution ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Human And Mouse

By engaging angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2 or Ace2), the novel pathogenic severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) invades host cells and affects many organs, including the brain. However, the distribution of ACE2 in the brain is still obscure. Here, we investigated the ACE2 expression in the brain by analyzing data from publicly available brain transcriptome databases. According to our spatial distribution analysis, ACE2 was relatively highly expressed in some brain locations, such as the choroid plexus and paraventricular nuclei of the thalamus. According to cell-type distribution analysis, nuclear expression of ACE2 was found in many neurons (both excitatory and inhibitory neurons) and some non-neuron cells (mainly astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and endothelial cells) in the human middle temporal gyrus and posterior cingulate cortex. A few ACE2-expressing nuclei were found in a hippocampal dataset, and none were detected in the prefrontal cortex. Except for the additional high expression of Ace2 in the olfactory bulb areas for spatial distribution as well as in the pericytes and endothelial cells for cell-type distribution, the distribution of Ace2 in the mouse brain was similar to that in the human brain. Thus, our results reveal an outline of ACE2/Ace2 distribution in the human and mouse brains, which indicates that the brain infection of SARS-CoV-2 may be capable of inducing central nervous system symptoms in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. Potential species differences should be considered when using mouse models to study the neurological effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

scholarly journals The Effect of Oral Tactile Sensitivity on Texture Perception and Mastication Behavior in Humans

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grace E. Shupe ◽  
Arran Wilson ◽  
Curtis R. Luckett
Keyword(s):  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Tactile Feedback ◽  
Interindividual Variation ◽  
Texture Perception ◽  
Tactile Acuity ◽  
Force Sensitivity ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Low Sensitivity ◽  
Oral Sensitivity ◽  
The Brain

AbstractMastication behavior is a notable source of interindividual variation in texture perception and could be linked to oral sensitivity. As oral sensitivity declines so does the amount of tactile feedback relayed to the brain, resulting in less effective manipulation or food and a reduced ability to discriminate differences. To address these hypotheses, we measured masticatory behavior and related this to texture discrimination and oral sensitivity. The study was performed on 41 participants in two groups, with high (n = 20) or low (n=21) sensitivity. Oral sensitivity was measured using a battery of tests that included: oral stereognosis, lingual tactile acuity, and bite force sensitivity. Sensitivity to texture changes was measured using a series of triangle tests with confectionaries of different hardness, with masticatory patterns and behaviors being video recorded and analyzed using jaw tracking software. Overall, there was no significant difference between high and low sensitivity participants and their ability to distinguish texture changes. But, there were significantly different trends found between the groups based on their masticatory behaviors including chewing pattern and overall number of chews. But, it was found that multiple masticatory behaviors were being modulated by oral sensitivity, including overall chewing cycles used (p < 0.0001). More, specifically those in the high sensitivity group used more stochastic chewing movements, while those in the low sensitivity group were found to use crescent-shaped chewing cycles. It was also noted that in the high sensitivity group the jaw moved further distances (p < 0.0001) in all phases and moved at a higher velocity when opening (p < 0.0001) but not when closing, when compared to the low sensitivity group. These results help bolster evidence that mastication and oral sensitivity are related.

scholarly journals Recording brain activities in unshielded Earth’s field with optically pumped atomic magnetometers

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (24) ◽  
pp. eaba8792 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rui Zhang ◽  
Wei Xiao ◽  
Yudong Ding ◽  
Yulong Feng ◽  
Xiang Peng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Medical Diagnosis ◽  
Alpha Rhythm ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Noninvasive Method ◽  
Optically Pumped ◽  
Field Noise ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
The Brain

Understanding the relationship between brain activity and specific mental function is important for medical diagnosis of brain symptoms, such as epilepsy. Magnetoencephalography (MEG), which uses an array of high-sensitivity magnetometers to record magnetic field signals generated from neural currents occurring naturally in the brain, is a noninvasive method for locating the brain activities. The MEG is normally performed in a magnetically shielded room. Here, we introduce an unshielded MEG system based on optically pumped atomic magnetometers. We build an atomic magnetic gradiometer, together with feedback methods, to reduce the environment magnetic field noise. We successfully observe the alpha rhythm signals related to closed eyes and clear auditory evoked field signals in unshielded Earth’s field. Combined with improvements in the miniaturization of the atomic magnetometer, our method is promising to realize a practical wearable and movable unshielded MEG system and bring new insights into medical diagnosis of brain symptoms.

scholarly journals Characterization of the microtubule-activated ATPase of brain cytoplasmic dynein (MAP 1C).

1988 ◽  
Vol 107 (3) ◽  
pp. 1001-1009 ◽  
Author(s):  
H S Shpetner ◽  
B M Paschal ◽  
R B Vallee
Keyword(s):  
Ionic Strength ◽  
Divalent Cations ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Retrograde Transport ◽  
Cytoplasmic Dynein ◽  
Maximum Activity ◽  
Scanning Transmission ◽  
Sulfhydryl Oxidation ◽  
The Brain

We recently found that the brain cytosolic microtubule-associated protein 1C (MAP 1C) is a microtubule-activated ATPase, capable of translocating microtubules in vitro in the direction corresponding to retrograde transport. (Paschal, B. M., H. S. Shpetner, and R. B. Vallee. 1987b. J. Cell Biol. 105:1273-1282; Paschal, B. M., and R. B. Vallee. 1987. Nature [Lond.]. 330:181-183.). Biochemical analysis of this protein (op. cit.) as well as scanning transmission electron microscopy revealed that MAP 1C is a brain cytoplasmic form of the ciliary and flagellar ATPase dynein (Vallee, R. B., J. S. Wall, B. M. Paschal, and H. S. Shpetner. 1988. Nature [Lond.]. 332:561-563). We have now characterized the ATPase activity of the brain enzyme in detail. We found that microtubule activation required polymeric tubulin and saturated with increasing tubulin concentration. The maximum activity at saturating tubulin (Vmax) varied from 186 to 239 nmol/min per mg. At low ionic strength, the Km for microtubules was 0.16 mg/ml tubulin, substantially lower than that previously reported for axonemal dynein. The microtubule-stimulated activity was extremely sensitive to changes in ionic strength and sulfhydryl oxidation state, both of which primarily affected the microtubule concentrations required for half-maximal activation. In a number of respects the brain dynein was enzymatically similar to both axonemal and egg dyneins. Thus, the ATPase required divalent cations, calcium stimulating activity less effectively than magnesium. The MgATPase was inhibited by metavandate (Ki = 5-10 microM for the microtubule-stimulated activity), 1 mM NEM, and 1 mM EHNA. In contrast to other dyneins, the brain enzyme hydrolyzed CTP, TTP, and GTP at higher rates than ATP. Thus, the enzymological properties of the brain cytoplasmic dynein are clearly related to those of other dyneins, though the brain enzyme is unique in its substrate specificity and in its high sensitivity to stimulation by microtubules.

scholarly journals Retinal correlates of neurological disorders

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 204062231988220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy E. Yap ◽  
Shiama I. Balendra ◽  
Melanie T. Almonte ◽  
M. Francesca Cordeiro
Keyword(s):  
Imaging Techniques ◽  
Prion Diseases ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Cellular Level ◽  
Correct Treatment ◽  
Optical Media ◽  
Developing Area ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Lateral Sclerosis

Considering the retina as an extension of the brain provides a platform from which to study diseases of the nervous system. Taking advantage of the clear optical media of the eye and ever-increasing resolution of modern imaging techniques, retinal morphology can now be visualized at a cellular level in vivo. This has provided a multitude of possible biomarkers and investigative surrogates that may be used to identify, monitor and study diseases until now limited to the brain. In many neurodegenerative conditions, early diagnosis is often very challenging due to the lack of tests with high sensitivity and specificity, but, once made, opens the door to patients accessing the correct treatment that can potentially improve functional outcomes. Using retinal biomarkers in vivo as an additional diagnostic tool may help overcome the need for invasive tests and histological specimens, and offers the opportunity to longitudinally monitor individuals over time. This review aims to summarise retinal biomarkers associated with a range of neurological conditions including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), multiple sclerosis (MS), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and prion diseases from a clinical perspective. By comparing their similarities and differences according to primary pathological processes, we hope to show how retinal correlates can aid clinical decisions, and accelerate the study of this rapidly developing area of research.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document