The Endoplasmic Reticulum: Networking Inside the Cell
Like a successful business networker, a cell’s endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is the structure that reaches out—quite literally—to form connections with many different parts of a cell. In several important ways, the ER enables those other parts, or organelles, to do their jobs. Exciting new images of this key member of the cellular workforce may clarify how it performs its roles. Such knowledge will also help studies of motor neuron and other disorders, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), that are associated with abnormalities in ER functioning.
Structure Follows Function
An illustration of some of the jobs tha...
Source: Biomedical Beat Blog - National Institute of General Medical Sciences - May 4, 2017 Category: Research Authors: Kathryn Calkins Tags: Cell Biology Cells Cellular Processes Proteins RNA Source Type: blogs
Increased Cardiac Troponin T Associated with Neuromuscular Junction Aging
Decline in the neuromuscular junctions that connect nerve tissue to muscle tissue is one of the ways in which muscles age and lose strength. Researchers here examine changing levels of proteins in neuromuscular junctions, and identify increased amounts of cardiac troponin T as one of the proximate causes of decline. Reducing the amount of this protein improves the function of aged neuromuscular junctions in mice:
Ageing skeletal muscle undergoes chronic denervation, and the neuromuscular junction (NMJ), the key structure that connects motor neuron nerves with muscle cells, shows increased defects with ageing. Prev...
Source: Fight Aging! - April 21, 2017 Category: Research Authors: Reason Tags: Daily News Source Type: blogs
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: MRI
Case Report:35 yr old lady referred for altered behavior , suggests a possible "Wineglass " appearance of symmetrical T2 hyper intensity along the internal capsules, brainstem , with rest of the corticospinal tracts grossly unremarkable at present. Further investigation including clinical, EMG& Lab data correlation is being planned .Teaching points by Dr MGK Murthy1. This greek word is completely self explanatory A (Negative) Myo (Muscle) Trophic (Nourishment) Lateral (spinal cord lateral parts...
Source: Sumer's Radiology Site - April 4, 2017 Category: Radiology Authors: Sumer Sethi Source Type: blogs
New Blood Test May Make ‘Off the Rack’ MS Treatments Closer to ‘Designer Drugs’
Since the mid-1990s, the diagnosing process for most people suspected of having multiple sclerosis (MS) has included a lumbar puncture (also called a spinal tap) to look for certain antibodies and proteins, and an MRI scan to look for lesions in the brain.
Previous to that, immersion into a hot tub (to see if symptoms worsened with heat) and evoked response tests may have been used.
In the future, it’s possible that a test for blood biomarkers could become a standard part of the diagnostic process for MS — and it could also help to determine the best form of treatment for those diagnosed.
Chemical Identifiers of MS Pro...
Source: Life with MS - February 16, 2017 Category: Neurology Authors: Trevis Gleason Tags: multiple sclerosis clinical trials drug trial MS treatment research Source Type: blogs
Scientists Unveil New Communication Device for ‘ Locked-In ’ Patients
An experimental “mind-reading” machine could aid communication for people with neurological conditions who have no control over any body movement.
The device consists of a spectroscope attached to a cap, which reads neural responses using near-infrared light to illuminate blood flow inside the brain. The team of scientists that created the device is led by Niels Birbaumer, professor of behavioral neurobiology and medical psychology at the University of Tübingen in Germany.
According to an article from NBC News, the team successfully read the thoughts of four people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS),...
Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Press Releases - February 8, 2017 Category: Speech Therapy Authors: Shelley D. Hutchins Tags: News Speech-Language Pathology Augmentative Alternative Communication Research Source Type: blogs
I ’ ll pass on the blue latte, thanks
If you’ve been taken in by the hype surrounding the algal food supplement spirulina or quaffing blue lattes made with algal powder and no coffee…
Stop now.
There’s mounting evidence that the neurotoxin BMAA, beta-methylamino-L-alanine (an amino acid that is not used to make proteins) can lead to Alzheimer’s disease (AD), motor neuron disease (MND) also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and related neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinsonism. There’s also evidence that BMAA can be passed from mother to suckling infant in breast milk too.
Thanks to DrRachie for the alert on this.
Th...
Source: David Bradley Sciencebase - Songs, Snaps, Science - July 13, 2016 Category: Science Authors: David Bradley Tags: Science Source Type: blogs
I’ll pass on the blue latte, thanks
If you’ve been taken in by the hype surrounding the algal food supplement spirulina or quaffing blue lattes made with algal powder and no coffee…
Stop now.
There’s mounting evidence that the neurotoxin BMAA, beta-methylamino-L-alanine (an amino acid that is not used to make proteins) can lead to Alzheimer’s disease (AD), motor neuron disease (MND) also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and related neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinsonism. There’s also evidence that BMAA can be passed from mother to suckling infant in breast milk too.
Thanks to DrRachie for the alert on this.
Th...
Source: David Bradley Sciencebase - Songs, Snaps, Science - July 13, 2016 Category: Science Authors: David Bradley Tags: Science Source Type: blogs
AANP Meeting Presidential Symposium Speaker: Neil Cashman, MD
From the American Association of Neuropathologists front office:Neil Cashman, MDAANP is very excited to have Dr. Neil Cashman present at this year’s Presidential Symposium on Sunday, June 19. His talk will be on Seeding and Propagation of SOD1 Misfolding in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.Dr. Neil Cashman is a neurologist-neuroscientist working in neurodegeneration and neuroimmunology. His special areas of work are the motor neuron diseases, particularly amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and the amyloid encephalopathies, including prion illnesses and Alzheimer’s disease. He is Professor of Medicine at the University o...
Source: neuropathology blog - May 20, 2016 Category: Radiology Tags: meetings motor neuron disease Source Type: blogs
MHCI Proteins and Loss of Muscle Function in Aging
A developmental process responsible for fine-tuning nervous system connections to muscle fibers may inappropriately reactivate in later life, becoming an important contributing cause of the characteristic loss of muscle strength and control that occurs in aging:
Proteins in the family MHCI, or major histocompatibility complex class I, "prune" the connections, or synapses, between motor neurons and muscle fibers. Pruning is necessary during early development because at birth each muscle fiber in humans, mice and other vertebrates receives signals from dozens of neural connections. Proper motor control, however, req...
Source: Fight Aging! - April 14, 2016 Category: Research Authors: Reason Tags: Daily News Source Type: blogs
Fight Aging! Newsletter, April 4th 2016
This study shows for the first time that increasing arterial stiffness is detrimental to the brain, and that increasing stiffness and brain injury begin in early middle life, before we commonly think of prevalent diseases such as atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease or stroke having an impact."
The study also noted that elevated arterial stiffness is the earliest manifestation of systolic hypertension. The large study involved approximately 1,900 diverse participants in the Framingham Heart Study, who underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), as well as arterial tonometry. The tests measured the force of art...
Source: Fight Aging! - April 3, 2016 Category: Research Authors: Reason Tags: Newsletters Source Type: blogs
Recent Papers Linked by the Theme of Exercise and Aging
In this study, we uncovered a remarkable differential susceptibility of certain muscles to age-related decline. Aging rats specifically lose muscle mass and function in the hindlimbs, but not in the forelimbs. By performing a comprehensive comparative analysis of these muscles, we demonstrate that regional susceptibility to sarcopenia is dependent on neuromuscular junction fragmentation, loss of motor neuron innervation, and reduced excitability. Remarkably, muscle loss in elderly humans also differs in vastus lateralis and tibialis anterior muscles in direct relation to neuromuscular dysfunction. By comparing gene express...
Source: Fight Aging! - March 30, 2016 Category: Research Authors: Reason Tags: Medicine, Biotech, Research Source Type: blogs
A behind the scenes peek at BioMed Central publishing roles
What is your science background?
Ben: My main research interest has always been viruses, which started during my undergraduate degree in virology at the University of Warwick. I then spent four years researching influenza virus for my doctoral research at the University of Reading. After this I moved on to a postdoc position at Imperial College London to test safer smallpox vaccines.
Ripu: I have a PhD in human genetics specializing in human diversity and evolution in sub-Saharan African. I also have a Master’s degree in Medical Parasitology and a Diploma in infectious diseases, and while studying for these two degrees, ...
Source: BioMed Central Blog - February 11, 2016 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Dana Berry Tags: Biology Health Medicine #moretoscience careers early career researchers PhD Science>Careers Source Type: blogs
Reviewing Age-Related Changes in the Neuromuscular Junction
In this report, we review our current understanding of the events that lead to NMJ dysfunction with aging, including studies on biomarkers, signaling pathways, and animal models. We propose that interventions aimed at preventing the deterioration of the NMJ should be aimed at reversing the mechanisms that lead to NMJ degeneration with aging. It is important to underline that our comprehension of the global mechanism that lead to NJM impairment with aging is still patchy.
Link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4127816/ (Source: Fight Aging!)
Source: Fight Aging! - January 14, 2015 Category: Research Authors: Reason Tags: Daily News Source Type: blogs
The Saatchi bill won’t find a cure for cancer, but it will encourage charlatans
Jump to follow-up
Maurice Nathan Saatchi, Baron Saatchi is an advertising man who, with his brother, Charles Saatchi ("‘why tell the truth when a good lie will do?), became very rich by advertising cigarettes and the Conservative party. After his second wife died of cancer he introduced a private members bill in the House of Lords in 2012. The Medical Innovation Bill came back to the Lords for its second reading on 24 October 2014.
The debate was deeply depressing: very pompous and mostly totally uninformed. You would never have guessed that the vast majority of those who understand the problem are a...
Source: DC's goodscience - October 24, 2014 Category: Science Authors: David Colquhoun Tags: business CAM cancer Cancer act Saatchi Bill alternative medicine antiscience badscience Source Type: blogs
