Effect of Fibrin Glue on the Biomechanical Properties of Human Descemet's Membrane

10.1371/journal.pone.0037456PLoS ONE75

The β-Secretase BACE1 in Alzheimer's Disease

BACE1 (beta-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1) was initially cloned and characterized in 1999. It is required for the generation of all monomeric forms of amyloid-β (Aβ), including Aβ42, which aggregates into bioactive conformational species and likely initiates toxicity in Alzheimer's disease (AD). BACE1 concentrations and rates of activity are increased in AD brains and body fluids, thereby supporting the hypothesis that BACE1 plays a critical role in AD pathophysiology. Therefore, BACE1 is a prime drug target for slowing down Aβ production in early AD. Besides the amyloidogenic pathway, BACE1 has other substrates that may be important for synaptic plasticity and synaptic homeostasis. Indeed, germline and adult conditional BACE1 knockout mice display complex neurological phenotypes. Despite BACE1 inhibitor clinical trials conducted so far being discontinued for futility or safety reasons, BACE1 remains a well-validated therapeutic target for AD. A safe and efficacious compound with high substrate selectivity as well as a more accurate dose regimen, patient population, and disease stage may yet be found. Further research should focus on the role of Aβ and BACE1 in physiological processes and key pathophysiological mechanisms of AD. The functions of BACE1 and the homologue BACE2, as well as the biology of Aβ in neurons and glia, deserve further investigation. Cellular and molecular studies of BACE1 and BACE2 knockout mice coupled with biomarker-based human research will help elucidate the biological functions of these important enzymes and identify their substrates and downstream effects. Such studies will have critical implications for BACE1 inhibition as a therapeutic approach for AD

Capacidade funcional e fatores associados em idosos: estudo populacional Capacidade funcional y factores asociados en ancianos: estudio poblacional Functional capacity and associated factors in the elderly: a population study

OBJETIVO: Analisar a associação do comprometimento da capacidade funcional com condições de saúde e fatores sociodemográficos e comportamentais entre idosos residentes em comunidade do interior do Nordeste brasileiro. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal de base populacional realizado com 316 idosos residentes em Lafaiete Coutinho-BA. A capacidade funcional foi avaliada por escala hierárquica, verificando associação com condições de saúde e fatores sóciodemográficos e comportamentais pela técnica de regressão logística multinomial. RESULTADOS: A dependência nas atividades independentes da vida diária (AIVD) foi associada ao grupo etário > 80 anos, uso de dois ou mais medicamentos e comprometimento cognitivo. A dependência nas atividades básicas da vida diária e AIVD foi associada ao grupo etário > 80 anos, falta de participação em atividades religiosas, hospitalização nos últimos 12 meses, comprometimento cognitivo e sobrepeso. CONCLUSÃO: Houve associação com comprometimento da capacidade funcional e condições de saúde e fatores sociodemográficos entre idosos residentes em comunidade no Nordeste brasileiro.<br>OBJETIVO: Analizar la asociación del compromiso de la capacidad funcional con condiciones de salud y factores sociodemográficos y comportamentales entre ancianos residentes en una comunidad del interior del Noreste brasileño. MÉTODOS: Estudio transversal de base poblacional realizado con 316 ancianos residentes en Lafaiete Coutinho-BA. La capacidad funcional fue evaluada por una escala jerárquica, verificando asociación con condiciones de salud y factores sociodemográficos y comportamentales por la técnica de regresión logística multinomial. RESULTADOS: La dependencia en las atividades independentes de la vida diaria (AIVD) fue asociada al grupo etáreo > 80 años, uso de dos o más medicamentos y compromiso cognitivo. La dependencia en las actividades básicas de la vida diária y AIVD fue asociada al grupo etáreo > 80 años, falta de participación en actividades religiosas, hospitalización en los últimos 12 meses, compromiso cognitivo y sobrepeso. CONCLUSIÓN: Hubo asociación con compromiso de la capacidad funcional y condiciones de salud y factores sociodemográficos entre ancianos residentes en una comunidad del Noreste brasileño.<br>OBJECTIVE: To analyze the association of impaired functional capacity with health conditions and sociodemographic and behavioral factors among elderly residents in a community of northeastern Brazil. METHODS: A cross-sectional population-based study, conducted with 316 elderly residents in Lafaiete Coutinho-BA. Functional capacity was evaluated by hierarchical scaling, by verifying association with health conditions and sociodemographic and behavioral factors by the technique of multinomial logistic regression. RESULTS: The dependence for independent activities of daily living (IADL) was associated with the age group > 80 years, use of two or more medications and cognitive impairment. Dependency in basic activities of daily living and IADL was associated with those in the age group > 80 years, with a lack of participation in religious activities, hospitalization in the past 12 months, cognitive impairment and who were overweight. CONCLUSION: There was an association with impaired functional capacity, health conditions and sociodemographic factors among elderly residents in a community in northeastern Brazil