The thalamus plays important roles as a relay station for sensory information in the central nervous system (CNS). Although thalamic glial cells participate in this activity, little is known about their properties. In this study, we characterized the formation of coupled networks between astrocytes and oligodendrocytes in the murine ventrobasal thalamus and compared these properties with those ...

Hidrotic ectodermal dysplasia type 2 (HED2) or Clouston syndrome (OMIM #129500) is a rare autosomal dominant genetic disorder which affects skin and its derivatives, characterized by the major triad of features: nail dystrophy, generalized hypotrichosis, and palmoplantar hyperkeratosis. Here we describe the first case of Clouston syndrome in Russia and the molecular genetic analysis of this case.

This paper uses numerical dynamic stochastic programming methods to show that an insurance market can reduce the long-term extent and depth of poverty in a stylized, risk-prone rural region. This impact operates through both an ex post vulnerability reduction effect and an ex ante investment incentive effect. The result is not only lower poverty, but also substantial savings in public cash tran...

Extracellular ATP controls various signaling systems including propagation of intercellular Ca(2+) signals (ICS). Connexin hemichannels, P2x7 receptors (P2x7Rs), pannexin channels, anion channels, vesicles, and transporters are putative conduits for ATP release, but their involvement in ICS remains controversial. We investigated ICS in cochlear organotypic cultures, in which ATP acts as an IP(3...

BACKGROUND Intracranial hemorrhage occurs in over 60% of severe head injuries in one of three types: extradural (EDH); subdural (SDH); and intraparenchymal (TICH). Prompt surgical removal of significant SDH and EDH is established and widely accepted. However, TICH is more common and is found in more than 40% of severe head injuries. It is associated with a worse outcome but the role for surgica...

.. Objectives: To determine the frequency, clinical presentation and outcome of extradural hematoma in patients with head injury. Study Design: Cross sectional descriptive st study. Setting: Neurosurgery department of Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar. Period: 1 st January 2011 to 1 July 2012. Patients and methods: All patients of head injury, from all ages and both genders were included. Pat...

One of the differences between a mere accumulation of cells and a tissue or even an organ is that in organized forms (tissue, organ) cells typically communicate with each other. They coordinate their function, growth, and differentiation. In addition to cell adhesion molecules, increted hormones and local mediators, direct intercellular communication via gap junction channels plays a key role i...

Background. State-level 'age 21' drinking laws conform generally with the United States National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 (US), and are thought to protect young people from adverse drinking experiences such as heavy episodic drinking (HED, sometimes called 'binge drinking'). We shed light on this hypothesis while estimating the age-specific risk of transitioning from 1st full drink to 1...

Introduction: We present the first mineralogical and oxygen isotope data for the new eucrite Northwest Africa (NWA) 5073 that has some unique features. This meteorite is a desert find with a total mass of 185 g and represents a non-brecciated unequili-brated eucrite with the coarsest texture ever found among samples of the HED suite. Results: NWA 5073 has a basaltic texture, mainly composed of ...

OBJECTIVE Students referred to school administration for alcohol policies violations currently receive a wide variety of interventions. This study examined predictors of response to 2 interventions delivered to mandated college students (N = 598) using a stepped care approach incorporating a peer-delivered 15-min brief advice (BA) session (Step 1) and a 60- to 90-min brief motivational interven...