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Bioengineered neuronal ‘circuit board’ mimics conditions of the human brain

A new bioengineered neuronal circuit board “BioConNet” allows scientists to artificially engineer human brain-like wiring at scale and can be used to engineer any possible circuit. The fully programmable, open-source system allows generation of large-scale circuits, while maintaining the ability to focus on single connections between neurons.

This is a key advance in engineering human-like neural circuits as it allows for a new level of wiring complexity compared to previous systems. BioConNet allows scientists increased control over wiring in the culture compared to existing methods such as organoids and commercially available systems. The research is published in the journal Advanced Healthcare Materials.

“By combining engineering and neurobiology with the most recent stem cell culture techniques, we can now create human-specific, functional, large-scale complex neural circuits in the lab,” said senior author, Dr. Andrea Serio, Reader in Neural Tissue Engineering, Group Leader at the UK Dementia Research Institute (UK DRI) at King’s and Senior Group Leader at the Crick.

High-Pressure Freezing EM Tomography of Entire Ribbon Synapses in the Retina

JNeurosci: Using advanced electron microscopy in rats, Zhang et al. captured 3D images of chemical synapses that perform visual computations in the retina. Their findings reveal how neural connections are structured for efficient visual signaling.

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In the retina, presynaptic active zones in photoreceptors and bipolar cells are distinguished by a plate-like “ribbon” linked to the plasma membrane (PM) and surrounded by dozens of synaptic vesicles (SVs) tethered to it. SVs at the base of the ribbon, closest to the PM, are thought to constitute the readily releasable vesicle pool (RRP), i.e., SVs primed to be released 1–2 ms following stimulation. The number of SVs in the RRP is a critical synaptic parameter that influences synaptic strength and varies with light levels to enable ribbon synapses to compute visual information. Physiological RRP measurements agree well with anatomical estimates obtained via electron microscopy (EM), although EM often employs chemical fixation, which causes exocytotic artifacts that may influence RRP size.

BREAKING: A Dark Mysterious Force Just Ripped Across the Milky Way

A viral post claimed that a mysterious force passed through the Milky Way without light or warning. But what are astronomers actually observing? In this video, we break down the real science behind high-velocity gas clouds, dark matter halos, and how our galaxy continues to evolve.

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction.
00:51 DISCOVERY
03:05 SCIENTIFIC IMPORTANCE & THEORIES
05:32 IMPLICATIONS & WHAT’S NEXT
08:15 Outro.
08:39 Enjoy.

MUSIC TITLE : Starlight Harmonies.

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Blood test predicts which bladder cancer patients may safely skip surgery

Circulating tumor DNA, or ctDNA, can predict metastatic risk in patients who receive bladder-sparing treatment for muscle-invasive bladder cancer, but it is not a good predictor of local recurrence within the bladder, according to new data presented today by Fox Chase Cancer Center researchers.

The study also showed that the absence of ctDNA predicted favorable outcomes, regardless of whether the patient’s bladder was removed or not. Circulating tumor DNA are tiny fragments of DNA left behind by cancer cells as they die off during treatment.

The study, which reports updated data from the phase 2 RETAIN-2 clinical trial, could be used to help guide treatment decisions for patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), said first author Pooja Ghatalia, MD, an Associate Professor in the Department of Hematology/Oncology at Fox Chase. She conducted the study with senior author Daniel M. Geynisman, MD, Chief of the Division of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, and a number of other Fox Chase clinicians.

GATA-3 localization shapes lymphocyte function

Saikali et al. describe differential compartmentalization of GATA-3 in Th cell and ILC subsets. Changing it modifies functional characteristics of the cells. Importin-β mediates GATA-3’s nuclear import. The short half-life of nuclear GATA-3 necessitates continuous GATA-3 import to maintain Th2 cell function. GATA-3’s nuclear import is a critical rheostat of lymphocytes.

Distances and charges along the Orai1 nexus-TM3 interface control STIM1 binding and pore opening

Calcium influx through CRAC channels requires STIM1 binding to Orai1. Using crosslinking and mutagenesis, Söllner et al. show that widening the nexus-TM3 interface near the STIM1 coupling site is crucial for channel opening, while hydrophobicity and charges support signal transmission to the pore. Nexus-TM3 dynamics are vital for Orai1 function.

Baseline Fatigue and Severe Toxic Effects in Patients With Cancer Receiving Systemic Therapy

Among over 7,000 patients with cancer, higher baseline fatigue before systemic therapy was linked to an increased risk of severe, life-threatening, and fatal adverse events.

Question Is baseline patient-reported fatigue associated with subsequent cancer treatment−related adverse events?

Findings In this cohort study and pooled analysis of 7,086 patients from 17 SWOG phase 2 and 3 randomized clinical trials, patients who reported baseline fatigue had a significantly higher risk of severe, life-threatening, and fatal adverse events. In addition, a dose-response pattern was observed, with patients reporting high fatigue vs no fatigue having a nearly 5-fold increased risk of fatal toxic effects.

Meaning Patient fatigue reported before cancer treatment may serve as an early clinical marker of risk for toxic effects and could help guide personalized treatment strategies.

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