Calcium dysregulation via L-type voltage-dependent calcium channels and ryanodine receptors underlies memory deficits and synaptic dysfunction during chronic neuroinflammation

BACKGROUND: Chronic neuroinflammation and calcium (Ca(+2)) dysregulation are both components of Alzheimer’s disease. Prolonged neuroinflammation produces elevation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and reactive oxygen species which can alter neuronal Ca(+2) homeostasis via L-type voltage-dependent Ca(+2) channels (L-VDCCs) and ryanodine receptors (RyRs). Chronic neuroinflammation also leads to deficits in spatial memory, which may be related to Ca(+2) dysregulation. METHODS: The studies herein use an in vivo model of chronic neuroinflammation: rats were infused intraventricularly with a continuous small dose of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or artificial cerebrospinal fluid (aCSF) for 28 days. The rats were treated with the L-VDCC antagonist nimodipine or the RyR antagonist dantrolene. RESULTS: LPS-infused rats had significant memory deficits in the Morris water maze, and this deficit was ameliorated by treatment with nimodipine. Synaptosomes from LPS-infused rats had increased Ca(+2) uptake, which was reduced by a blockade of L-VDCCs either in vivo or ex vivo. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, these data indicate that Ca(+2) dysregulation during chronic neuroinflammation is partially dependent on increases in L-VDCC function. However, blockade of the RyRs also slightly improved spatial memory of the LPS-infused rats, demonstrating that other Ca(+2) channels are dysregulated during chronic neuroinflammation. Ca(+2)-dependent immediate early gene expression was reduced in LPS-infused rats treated with dantrolene or nimodipine, indicating normalized synaptic function that may underlie improvements in spatial memory. Pro-inflammatory markers are also reduced in LPS-infused rats treated with either drug. Overall, these data suggest that Ca(+2) dysregulation via L-VDCCs and RyRs play a crucial role in memory deficits resulting from chronic neuroinflammation

First step toward the numerical analysis of subchondral cystic lesions of the medial femoral condyle of adult horses

Diplomarbeit - Veterinärmedizinische Universität Wien - 2024Das Hauptziel dieser Untersuchung bestand darin, eine Methode zu entwickeln, mit der Röntgenaufnahmen des medialen Femurkondylus (MFC) erwachsener Pferde mit und ohne subchondrale zystische Läsionen (SCLs) durch numerische Mustererkennung unterschieden wer den können. Zu diesem Zweck wurde eine Stichprobengruppe von 44 Röntgenaufnahmen des medialen Femurkondylus erwachsener Pferde (22 mit und 22 ohne SCL) aus der Datenbank der Veterinärmedizinischen Universität Wien (TIS) gesammelt. Für die endgültige Method e wurden die Röntgenaufnahmen rechteckig zugeschnitten, wobei die lateralen und medialen Ränder des MFC verwendet wurden, wobei die Höhe der proximalen Ausdehnung der Eminentia intercondylaris bis zum oberen Rand reichte und der untere Rand innerhalb des G elenkraums des Femorotibialgelenks lag. Diese zugeschnittenen Bilder wurden dann in ImageJ geöffnet und in Rasterquadrate mit einer Größe von 7 x 7 Pixeln unterteilt und der durchschnittliche Grauwert für diese Quadrate berechnet. Anschließend wurden diese Werte mit Microsoft Excel verarbeitet, bis ein statistisch signifikanter Unterschied zwischen den Werten der MFCs mit und ohne SCLs auftrat. Die erfolgreichsten entwickelten Methoden ergaben, dass die Standardabweichung der Differenz zwischen benachbarten QuerQuer- und Längsgitterquadraten zur Berechnung eines statistisch signifikanten Werts verwendet wurde. Die letzten beiden Methoden hatten eine Spezifität von 77,2 % und 86,3 % und beide hatten eine Sensitivität von 63,6 %. Diese Methoden wurden auch mit dre izehn MFCs mit unsicheren Diagnosen getestet, die von zwei Radiologen in der Reihenfolge „am wahrscheinlichsten“ bis „am wenigsten wahrscheinlich an einem SCL“ eingestuft wurden. Bei diesem Test stellte sich heraus, dass die entwickelten Methoden größtente ils nicht mit der Interpretation der Röntgenbilder durch die Radiologen übereinstimmten. Abschließend sind weitere Untersuchungen erforderlich, aber vorläufige Ergebnisse zeigen, dass diese Methode sinnvoll ist.Diploma thesis - University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna - 2024In this investigation, the primary goal was to develop a method through which to differentiate radiographs of the medial femoral condyle (MFC) of adult horses with and without subchondral cystic lesions (SCLs) through numerical pattern recognition. To do this a sample group of forty-four radiographs of the medial femoral condyle of adult horses were collected (twenty-two with an SCL and twenty-two without) from the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna’s database, TIS. For the final method the radiographs were cropped rectangularly using the lateral and medial borders of the MFC, the level of the proximal extent of the eminentia intercondylaris provided to top border and the bottom border was within the joint space of the femorotibial joint. These cropped images were then opened in ImageJ and sectioned into grid squares that were 7x7 pixels large and the average grey value for those squares was calculated. Then using Microsoft Excel these values were processed until there was a statistically significant difference between the values of the MFCs with and without SCLs. The most successful methods developed found that the standard deviation of the difference between neighboring transverse and longitudinal grid squares was used to calculate a statistically significant value. The final two methods had a specificity of 77.2% and 86.3%, and both had a sensitivity of 63.6%. These methods were also tested with thirteen MFCs with uncertain diagnoses that were ranked in order from most likely to least likely to have an SCL by two radiologists. This test revealed that the methods developed mostly did not correspond to the radiologists’ interpretation of the radiographs. To conclude further investigation is needed but preliminary results show this method has merit

Through masculine eyes : A qualitative study on men's roles in elderly care with a focus on gender

The purpose of this study is to see how men experience eldercare, with a particular focus on gender. By analyzing and interpreting collected data, the research highlights the complex relationships between stereotypes and prejudices against men working in eldercare. The study addresses the following questions: How do men working in eldercare perceive their work environment and workplace culture? How is the division of labor between men and women in eldercare structured? Using a qualitative approach and thematic analysis of data from interviews with male caregivers in eldercare, the study identifies patterns and themes related to gender differences in the workplace. The study employs theories such as gender practices, gender regimes, and masculinities to interpret the results and understand the complexity of gender dynamics in the care sector. The findings indicate the presence of gender-based practices and norms within the organization, which affect the distribution of tasks and workload between men and women. The study emphasizes the importance of challenging and addressing gender norms and practices within eldercare to promote a more equitable and inclusive work environment for all employees

Through masculine eyes : A qualitative study on men's roles in elderly care with a focus on gender

The purpose of this study is to see how men experience eldercare, with a particular focus on gender. By analyzing and interpreting collected data, the research highlights the complex relationships between stereotypes and prejudices against men working in eldercare. The study addresses the following questions: How do men working in eldercare perceive their work environment and workplace culture? How is the division of labor between men and women in eldercare structured? Using a qualitative approach and thematic analysis of data from interviews with male caregivers in eldercare, the study identifies patterns and themes related to gender differences in the workplace. The study employs theories such as gender practices, gender regimes, and masculinities to interpret the results and understand the complexity of gender dynamics in the care sector. The findings indicate the presence of gender-based practices and norms within the organization, which affect the distribution of tasks and workload between men and women. The study emphasizes the importance of challenging and addressing gender norms and practices within eldercare to promote a more equitable and inclusive work environment for all employees

Through masculine eyes : A qualitative study on men's roles in elderly care with a focus on gender

The purpose of this study is to see how men experience eldercare, with a particular focus on gender. By analyzing and interpreting collected data, the research highlights the complex relationships between stereotypes and prejudices against men working in eldercare. The study addresses the following questions: How do men working in eldercare perceive their work environment and workplace culture? How is the division of labor between men and women in eldercare structured? Using a qualitative approach and thematic analysis of data from interviews with male caregivers in eldercare, the study identifies patterns and themes related to gender differences in the workplace. The study employs theories such as gender practices, gender regimes, and masculinities to interpret the results and understand the complexity of gender dynamics in the care sector. The findings indicate the presence of gender-based practices and norms within the organization, which affect the distribution of tasks and workload between men and women. The study emphasizes the importance of challenging and addressing gender norms and practices within eldercare to promote a more equitable and inclusive work environment for all employees

Regulatory BC200 RNA in peripheral blood of patients with invasive breast cancer

Regulatory brain cytoplasmic 200 RNA (BC200 RNA) is highly expressed in human mammary carcinoma cells. Here, we ask whether BC200 RNA becomes detectable in peripheral blood of patients with invasive breast cancer. Using quantitative reverse-transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) methodology, we observed that BC200 RNA blood levels were significantly elevated, in comparison with healthy subjects, in patients with invasive breast cancer prior to tumorectomy (p=0.001) and in patients with metastatic breast cancer (p=0.003). In patients with invasive breast cancer who had recently undergone tumorectomy, BC200 RNA blood levels were not distinguishable from levels in healthy subjects. However, normality analysis revealed a heterogeneous distribution of patients in this group, including a subgroup of individuals with high residual BC200 RNA blood levels. In blood from patients with invasive breast cancer, BC200 RNA was specifically detected in the mononuclear leukocyte fraction. The qRT-PCR approach is sensitive enough to detect as few as three BC200 RNA-expressing tumor cells. Our work establishes the potential of BC200 RNA detection in blood to serve as a molecular indicator of invasive breast malignancy