Parkinson's Disease (PD) is characterized by a loss of nigral dopamine (DA) neurons, followed by a striatal DA deficit. Inhibition of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) reverses L-DOPA sensitive motor symptoms and improves efficacy of pharmacotherapy in PD-patients. The underlying mechanism of these effects, however, remains largely unknown. Previously, we could show in the rat's 6-hydroxyDA (6-OHDA) m

Background: Subjects born with low birth weight (LBW) display a more energy-conserving response to fasting compared with normal birth weight (NBW) subjects. However, the molecular mechanisms explaining these metabolic differences remain unknown. Environmental influences may dynamically affect epigenetic marks, also in postnatal life. Here, we aimed to study the effects of short-term fasting on lep

High-frequency stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus is believed to exert its main effects via the basal ganglia output structures. Previously, we have shown a concomitant increase in striatal dopamine (DA) metabolites in normal and 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned rats. The present study was designed to determine whether this increase in striatal DA metabolites reflects enhanced intraneuronal DA turno

Varje år släpps ungefär 10 gånger mer koldioxid ut av mikroorganismer som lever i jorden vi går på, jämfört med utsläppen som kommer från fossila bränslen. Som tur är tar växter upp ungefär lika mycket koldioxid från atmosfären som mikroorganismerna släpper ut, så de balanserar varandra. En viktig fråga är vad som händer med balans mellan växter och mikroorganismer om klimatet blir varmare. Om växThe aim with this thesis work was to study microorganisms response to milder winters, different seasons, and altered temperature. Winter warming treatments were established in a semi-natural temperate grassland, simulating mild winters for two years. We found that arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi received more carbon (C) from the plants after experiencing milder winters. The amount of plant-deriv

Background: Mitochondrial diseases due to defective respiratory chain complex III (CIII) are relatively uncommon. The assembly of the eleven-subunit CIII is completed by the insertion of the Rieske iron-sulfur protein, a process for which BCS1L protein is indispensable. Mutations in the BCS1L gene constitute the most common diagnosed cause of CIII deficiency, and the phenotypic spectrum arising fr

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) alleviates Parkinson's disease (PD) symptoms. Although widely used, the mechanisms of action are still unknown. In an attempt to elucidate those mechanisms, we have previously demonstrated that STN-DBS increases striatal extracellular dopamine (DA) metabolites in anaesthetized rats. PD being a movement disorder, it remains to be determi

We report on generation of dopamine neurons from long-term cultures of human fetal mesencephalic precursor cells. These CNS precursor cells were successfully expanded in vitro using the mitogens epidermal growth factor (EGF) and fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2). Incubation of these cultures in 3% atmospheric oxygen resulted in higher cellular yields than room air. Following incubation in differe

Deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus is an established therapeutic strategy for patients with Parkinson's disease. Although the exact mechanisms of action remain unknown, it is noteworthy that dopaminergic medication can be markedly reduced after neurostimulation of the subthalamic nucleus. Previously, we have shown that deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus is followed by

A 70 year old woman presented with a 6 year history of medically refractory severe tardive dystonia. After informed consent, a bilateral stereotactic electrode placement targeting the ventral intermediate thalamic nucleus (VIM) and the globus pallidus internus (GPi) was performed. After bilateral stimulation of the GPi, the patient showed a clear and stable improvement of the painful dystonic synd

Promising therapeutic strategies for neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease include replacement of lost striatal dopaminergic neurons by grafting of embryonic mesencephalic cells. However, the poor survival of the transplanted tissue still limits transplantation of these cells into the human brain in a larger number of patients. We addressed the question, if the diameter of the tra

Inhibition or ablation of the hyperactive subthalamic nucleus (STN) in Parkinson's disease (PD) does not only reverse motor deficits, silencing the glutamatergic output of the subthalamic nucleus, but has also been implicated to have neuroprotective effects on nigral neurons in animal models of Parkinson's disease. Ablation of the subthalamic nucleus has been shown to increase the number of tyrosi

Deep brain stimulation of the globus pallidus internus has been recently shown to alleviate parkinsonian symptoms and levodopa-induced dyskinesias. However, its exact mechanisms of action are unclear. Pallidal neurones are connected via various pathways to the dopaminergic nigrostriatal system. In the present study we investigated the hypothesis that deep brain stimulation of the entopeduncular nu

Wood is a major pool of organic carbon that is highly resistant to decay, owing largely to the presence of lignin. The only organisms capable of substantial lignin decay are white rot fungi in the Agaricomycetes, which also contains non–lignin-degrading brown rot and ectomycorrhizal species. Comparative analyses of 31 fungal genomes (12 generated for this study) suggest that lignin-degrading perox

High frequency stimulation (HFS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) can partially alleviate motor symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the mechanism of action of HFS is incompletely understood. We investigated the effect of HFS (130 Hz) and low frequency stimulation (LFS, 20 Hz) of the STN on striatal dopaminergic transmission and metabolism using in vivo microdialysis in ana

Sensory neurons of the embryonic mouse trigeminal ganglion are transiently supported by brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin-3 (NT3), and NT4/5 during the earliest stages of target field innervation before they become dependent on nerve growth factor (NGF) for survival. To determine whether the switch from BDNF/NT3/NT4/5 dependence to NGF dependence occurs autonomously in these n

This article constructs new monetary aggregates for Ireland between 1840 and 1921.Three major findings are gleaned from the data. First, we find that the degreeof monetization on the eve of the Famine was comparatively high. Second, wefind an unprecedented monetary contraction during the Famine. Third, in contrastto previous research, we find that the failure of the Munster Bank in 1885 hadramification

This paper presents results from a project on the experiences of Palestinian refugee youth in Lebanon, taking part in NGO programs for facilitating university education. To what extent may such informal educational projects be instrumental in circumventing and counteracting social exclusion? And how do such initiatives interrelate with constructions of senses of “Palestinianess” among their young