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It has been proposed that sleep readies the brain for novel learning, and previous work has shown that sleep loss impairs the ability to encode new memories. In the present study, we examined if a daytime nap would increase mnemonic discrimination (MD) performance. MD is the ability to differentiate between memories that are similar but not identical. Participants performed the Mnemonic Similarity
Hurler syndrome (HS), the most severe phenotype in the spectrum of mucopolysaccharidosis type I, is caused by a deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme alpha-L-iduronidase (IDUA). At present, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the only treatment able to prevent disease progression in the central nervous system, and therefore considered the treatment of choice in HS patients. Because IDUA
Background: There is growing evidence that the neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders depression, ataxia and dystonia share common biological pathways. We therefore aimed to increase our understanding of their shared pathophysiology by investigating their shared biological pathways and molecular networks. Methods: We constructed gene sets for depression, ataxia, and dystonia using the Human P
We demonstrate the use of Light Sheet Fluorescence Microscopic (LSFM) imaging for viewing the dynamic of atomizing sprays with high contrast and resolution. The technique presents several advantages: first liquid fluorescence gives a more faithful representation of the structure of liquid bodies, droplets and ligaments than Mie scattering does. The reason for this is that the signal is emitted by
The potential for using germline genome editing (GGE) in humans has garnered a lot of attention, both for its scientific possibilities as well as for the ethical, legal, and social challenges it ignites. The ethical debate has focused primarily on the suggestions of using GGE to establish a pregnancy (i.e., to offer it in a clinical setting), which is, to date, illegal in many jurisdictions. The u
Background and purpose — Operative treatment of hip displacement in cerebral palsy (CP) includes adductor–psoas lengthening (APL) or varus derotation osteotomy (VDRO) of the proximal femur, sometimes combined with pelvic osteotomy. After both operations, there is a significant risk of relapse and need for reoperation. We used the migration percentage (MP) to compare the development of hip displace
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to monitor blood perfusion in human upper eyelid skin flaps and examine how the perfusion is affected by the thickness of the flap.METHODS: Twenty upper eyelids were dissected as part of a blepharoplasty procedure in patients. The medial end of the blepharoplasty flap remained attached to mimic a flap design often used in reconstruction in the periocular area,
Although BMAP-28 is a potent cathelicidin-derived bovine antimicrobial peptide, its cytotoxic activity against the human and other mammalian cells is of concern for converting it into a novel antimicrobial drug. We have identified a short leucine and isoleucine zipper sequences at the N- and C-terminals of BMAP-28, respectively. To understand the possible role of these structural elements in BMAP-
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic presents great challenges on transmission prevention, and rapid diagnosis is essential to reduce the disease spread. Various diagnostic methods are available to identify an ongoing infection by nasopharyngeal (NPH) swab sampling. However, the procedure requires handling by health care professionals, and therefore limits the application in household and community s
Willow (Salix spp.) trees have been used commercially since the 1980s to produce renewable energy. Some benefits with these trees are that they can clean soil from heavy metals, reduce the risk of nutrient leakage and eutrophication. They could be an alternative to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel, but they are known to emit high rates of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs)
All cells of the musculoskeletal system possess transmembrane syndecan proteoglycans, notably syndecan-4. In fibroblasts it regulates integrin-mediated adhesion to the extracellular matrix. Syndecan-4 null mice have a complex wound repair phenotype while their fibroblasts have reduced focal adhesions and matrix contraction abilities. Signalling through syndecan-4 core protein to the actin cytoskel
More than 100 distinct mutations in the gene (SOD1) for human copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD) have been associated with familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (fALS). Studies of these mutant proteins, which often have been performed under far from physiological conditions, have indicated effects on protein stabilities, catalytic activity, and metal binding affinities but with no common
Purpose—Ischemic myocardial contracture (IMC) or ‘‘stoneheart’’ is a condition with rapid onset following circulatory death. It inhibits transplantability of hearts donated uponcirculatory death (DCD). We investigate the effectiveness of hemodynamic normalization upon withdrawal of life-sustaining therapy (WLST) in a large-animal controlled DCD model, with the hypothesis that reduction in cardiac
BACKGROUND: Surgical safety during posterior sagittal anorectal plasty (PSARP) for anorectal malformations (ARM) depends on accurate pre-operative fistula localization. This study aimed to evaluate accuracy of pre-operative fistula diagnostics.METHODS: Ethical approval was obtained. Diagnostic accuracy of pre-PSARP symptoms (stool in urine, urine in passive ostomy, urinary tract infection) and exa
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by airway inflammation, small airway remodeling, and emphysema. Airway remodeling in patients with COPD involves both the airway epithelium and the subepithelial extracellular matrix (ECM). However, it is currently unknown how epithelial remodeling in COPD airways depends on the relative influence from inherent defects in the epithelial
Population bottlenecks associated with founder events strongly impact the establishment and genetic makeup of populations. In addition to their genotype, founding individuals also bring along parasites, as well as symbionts that can manipulate the phenotype of their host, affecting the host population establishment, dynamics and evolution. Thus, to understand introduction, invasion, and spread, we
The Kathmandu Valley in Nepal is facing a water quantity and quality crisis due to rapid urbanization and haphazard water and wastewater planning and management. Annually, groundwater extractions in the Kathmandu Valley exceed capture, resulting in groundwater table declines. Streams are often important sources of recharge to (or destination of discharges from) aquifers. However, stream-aquifer in
Developing organisms typically mature earlier and at larger sizes in favorable growth conditions, while in rarer cases, maturity is delayed. The rarer reaction norm is easily accommodated by general life history models, whereas the common pattern is not. Theory suggests that a solution to this paradox lies in the existence of critical size thresholds at which maturation or metamorphosis can commen
Background: Recent studies suggest a possible causal role for smoking in schizophrenia and psychosis. Most studies have focused on cigarette smoking, the most common form of tobacco use, but other forms of tobacco exist, including smokeless products such as Swedish snuff (or "snus"). Methods: We explored whether snus use is associated with schizophrenia and non-affective psychotic illness in a lar
Melanocortin therapy by using adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) or non-steroidogenic melanocortin peptides attenuates proteinuria and glomerular injury in experimental glomerular diseases and induces remission of nephrotic syndrome in patients with diverse glomerulopathies, even those resistant to steroids. The underlying mechanism remains elusive, but the role of melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) h
