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Takotsubo Syndrome Also Linked to Happy Life Events

Takotsubo Syndrome Also Linked to Happy Life Events

Takotsubo syndrome, a condition that’s also been called “broken heart syndrome,” can be triggered by both positive and negative life stressors, especially in men, a new study suggests.

The findings show that although Takotsubo syndrome, a type of acute heart failure related to atypical patterns of transient left ventricular contraction abnormalities, is often triggered by negative emotional stressors, it can also stem from positive life events, something the researchers are calling “happy heart syndrome.”

In this registry study, males were more likely to experience Takotsubo syndrome from a positive life event, as were those with atypical, nonapical ballooning, report Thomas Stiermaier, MD, of the University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein in Lübeck, Germany, and colleagues.

Patients with negative and positive emotional triggers experienced similar short- and long-term outcomes, they found.

The results were published online May 4 in the JACC: Heart Failure.

Previous studies have shown that Takotsubo syndrome can be related to negative emotional triggers, physical triggers such as heavy physical activity or medical procedures (or, in some cases, neither of these), or even a combination of emotional and physical triggers, the authors say. Research shows that physical triggers are most often linked to poor outcomes.

A vast number of clinical scenarios may lead up to Takotsubo syndrome, noted Jason H. Rogers, MD, a professor of cardiovascular medicine at the University of California, Davis, Medical Center, commenting on these findings.

“Examples would include other medical illness, such as infection or recent surgery, having a heated argument with someone, running to catch a flight at the airport, and even being awakened suddenly by a sick pet,” Rogers told theheart.org | Medscape Cardiology.

But not all patients experience unhappy life stressors before these events occur, he added. “It is possible for patients to have happy life stressors that can lead to Takotsubo syndrome also.”

For this analysis, the research team evaluated 2482 patients using data from the multicenter GErman-Italian-Spanish Takotsubo (GEIST) Registry, one of the largest of its kind. Of these patients, 910 experienced an emotional trigger; of these, 873 had negative preceding events, and 37 had pleasant preceding events. The mean age was about 70 years in both groups.

The study team then compared patients with negative emotional triggers to those with positive emotional triggers, which included weddings, the birth of grandchildren, birthday parties, or anticipation of a trip or Christmas.

There was a 1.5% incidence of pleasant emotional triggers among all Takotsubo syndrome patients.

Among patients with positive prior triggers, there was a higher incidence of atypical ballooning (27.0% vs 12.5%; P = .01), and a higher percentage of these patients were male (18.9% vs 5.0%; P < .01) in comparison with those with negative events prior to Takotsubo syndrome.

Long-term death rates (8.8% vs 2.7%; P = .20) and rates of in-hospital complication outcomes, including cardiogenic shock, stroke, death, or pulmonary edema (12.3% vs 8.1%; P = .45), were similar for patients with negative preceding events and for those with positive preceding events.

Study limitations include that it cannot provide insight into the specific mechanisms of Takotsubo syndrome, it was observational, the sample size of patients in the positive events group was small, and the contributing research facilities assessed cardiac biomarker levels differently.

“Additional research efforts are needed to explore whether numerically lower cardiac-related event rates in patients with happy heart syndrome would be statistically significant in a larger sample size,” the researchers conclude.

Stiermaier reports no relevant financial relations.

JACC Heart Fail. Published online May 4, 2022. Full text

Ashley Lyles is an award-winning medical journalist. She is a graduate of New York University’s Science, Health, and Environmental Reporting Program. Previously, she studied professional writing at Michigan State University, where she also took premedical classes. Her work has taken her to Honduras, Cambodia, France, and Ghana and has appeared in outlets such as The New York Times Daily 360, PBS NewsHour, The Huffington Post, Undark, The Root, Psychology Today, Insider, and Tonic (Health by Vice), among other publications.

For more news, follow Medscape on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

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BRINGING DREAMS TO LIFE | Wheat and Honey Events helps couples produce their perfect wedding day – VC Reporter | Times Media Group

BRINGING DREAMS TO LIFE | Wheat and Honey Events helps couples produce their perfect wedding day - VC Reporter | Times Media Group

Photo shown above by Innis Casey Photography

by Nancy D. Lackey Shaffer
nshaffer@timespublications.com

The wedding day is meant to be one of the most beautiful, memorable and special events in a person’s life. A lovely location, flowers, delicious food and the betrothed couple bedecked in their nuptial finery are all necessary elements for this most splendid of occasions. But a wedding holds so much more on its tulle-and-lace-draped shoulders. This is a place where the personality, culture and values of the couple take center stage, and no two celebrations are alike.

To truly create the wedding of someone’s dreams requires an extraordinarily personal touch. Such careful craftsmanship is the raison d’etre of Wheat and Honey Events.

“We like to be available to our brides and grooms from the time they hire us until the end of their wedding,” explains owner Annette Kirkhuff. “A lot of people say I’m like a Mama Bear — I care about their weddings as much as their parents do.”

Bringing a vision to life

Wedding coordinators come in all flavors (and price points), of course. There are those who will help you on the big day, directing florists and caterers, getting guests seated and prompting the walk down the aisle. There are those who will work with the couple for a month or so beforehand, helping to organize and finalize the details. But Kirkhuff prefers to work with her couples for a year or more, to make sure every aspect is handled without a hitch.

Elegance en plein air, perfect for an outdoor wedding. Photo by Caroline Yoon

“I’m not a fan of the ‘coordinator for a month or a day’ model,” she says. “We spend a lot of time together. I need to understand their vision and their ideas.”

Wheat and Honey is based in Simi Valley, but puts on weddings (and other events) all over Southern California. Often, Kirkhuff comes on board once the couple has set a date and booked the venue — although she’s also been the one to help them find their location, too. Regardless of which comes first, Wheat and Honey is involved throughout the entire planning process.

“We work with the bride and groom from the beginning to the end,” Kirkhuff confirms.

Communication is key — to get a sense for what the couple is imagining, but also to get to know them. What do they like and dislike? What are their challenges? What kind of budget do they have, and what are their top priorities? Kirkhuff is fully available to offer advice, support and expertise to hammer out all the details.

With an excellent eye for design, Kirkhuff will execute the look and feel of a wedding that reflects what the couple envisions, whether that’s a sophisticated black-tie affair or a rustically elegant outdoor soiree. But first and foremost, she sees the design process as a group endeavor.

“We like to collaborate with our brides and grooms to make their wedding personal and collaborate on design,” she says. “When they walk away, they can feel like it’s *their* wedding.”

But Kirkhuff’s skills go way beyond the look of the event. She’s fully prepared to guide her clients through every step of the wedding planning process. Where and how to spend their budget, finding the right vendors (from rentals and caterers to photographers and florists to hair and makeup people), where flexibility might be required. 

“We get an idea for a budget and a vision and prioritize vendors — what’s most important? We don’t want any surprises on the day of . . . .[Couples] spend a lot of money on these weddings. They need to be executed the way you talk about.”

Personal touch with years of experience

Kirkhuff grew up in North Hollywood, and came to Ventura County in 2008, working for Command Performance Catering. As the sales and event manager, she flawlessly executed around 150 events a year. A photographer friend, who had seen Kirkhuff in action, noted that she had more to offer than just catering skills. Eventually, she decided to take a risk and branch out on her own.

Annette Kirkhuff, founder of Wheat and Honey Events. Photo submitted

In 2016, she opened Wheat and Honey Events with her daughter, Katie, who had run a small company called A Day to Remember. (Katie now lives in Texas and operates Wheat and Honey Events in the Dallas area.) With years of experience under her belt and a solid reputation for professionalism and customer service, she quickly established Wheat and Honey as a leader in the industry, putting on dozens of wedding, corporate and nonprofit events every year. For 2022, the company has been nominated in no less than three categories — Best Overall Vendor, Best Event Design and Best Wedding Planner — by California Wedding Day magazine.

Kirkhuff’s knowledge of all things related to events no doubt plays a role in Wheat and Honey’s success. But it’s her personal touch and genuine love for what she does that has couples clamoring for her services when they’re ready to tie the knot.

“It isn’t just a job for us,” says Kirkhuff. “I spend a year with the bride and groom and we say goodbye at the end of their wedding. We miss them! Developing the relationships with vendors as well as families is one of the things I love most about this business.”

Planning during a pandemic

“When the pandemic hit, it affected our business . . . along with every other business in the world,” says Kirkhuff. 

The weddings may have been put on hold, but she was still there for her couples, who needed her more than ever. 

“We worked with clients to move their wedding dates into 2021. Some we’d been working with for over 30 months! We all work together in this industry to make this as smooth as possible for our clients.”

Kirkhuff kept busy with some style shoots and mirco-weddings, but never stopped letting her clients know that they were valued and still had her support. Again, that personal touch for which Wheat and Honey Events is known was a balm to many couples nervous about COVID, their weddings and everything else.

When vaccines became available, weddings were back on the books in 2021, and it hasn’t slowed down since. According to Kirkhuff, clients are pleased that things have opened up even more in 2022, with mask mandates dropped, for example. But there are still conversations to be had in the wake of the coronavirus

“We talk a little bit about if COVID hits again,” she explains. “We have clauses in our contracts to protect our clients, too. And of course, we are fully compliant with all health and safety regulations.”

Hospitality heart

A few things Kirkhuff emphasizes again and again about the wedding process: Communication is incredibly important, and the vision of the wedding couple is paramount. Kirkhuff also feels very strongly that the betrothed should be able to *enjoy* their big day . . . not feel stressed out about it. From start to finish, Wheat and Honey Events will guide, advise and support clients through every aspect. As Kirkhuff states on the company’s website: “We at Wheat and Honey Events . . . allow you to be a guest at your own event.” 

“A wedding coordinator and planner needs to have a hospitality heart,” Kirkhuff insists. “Couples should see happy faces from all the vendors and guests to make sure their day is a loving day. And they need to know that it’s all organized — so they can relax.”


Wheat and Honey Events, annette@wheatandhoneyevents.com, 805-624-9350, www.wheatandhoneyevents.com

 

SIDEBAR

hed// Trends for 2022

Annette Kirkhuff of Wheat and Honey Events is quick to say that every wedding is as unique as the people getting married, and trends can be hard to determine. But there are a few things that seem to have become popular the last few years.

 

dek// White on White

“White is really big . . . People are doing a lot of white weddings, with white colors and white florals, or mixing white with soft florals.”

She attributes some of this to the prevalence of Pinterest and Instagram, both of which are “huge in our business.” A bride sees a photo of something she likes, and tries to emulate that. And on these platforms, “white has been big these last two years.”

 

dek// Colored suiting

Interestingly enough, she is seeing more color showing up in menswear, and a move away from high formality.

“I’ve seen a lot of tuxes with color . . . and more casual weddings with cocktail attire rather than black tie.”

 

dek// Sleeves in style

For wedding dresses, Kirkhuff says, “Trending right now are sleeves. A lot of brides are able to have sleeves that are detachable — so that they can take them off for the reception, for example.”

 

dek// Breaking with tradition

As relationships and conventions have changed, so have wedding couples and parties. Weddings for same-sex or nonbinary couples are on the rise, and attendants run the gamut.

“A couple of my weddings have had flower boys and men rather than flower girls. I’ve also seen bridesmen and groomswomen.”

 

dek// Live musicians with DJs

“I’m finding a lot of brides and grooms bring in a live DJ — maybe a drummer or another musician playing while the DJ is spinning.”

 

dek// Food for thought on food trucks

Food trucks have grown in popularity, particularly for outdoor and more casual weddings, but Kirkhuff cautions against jumping too quickly on this particular bandwagon.

“Food trucks don’t work for traditional weddings,” she says. “They don’t have people serving the guests and taking care of them. Sometimes the bride and groom don’t feel like food is their priority, and that’s fine . . . However, it’s important to have really good service no matter what you’re eating.”

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European Public Health Week 2022: Health throughout the life course

WHO/Europe virtual press briefing: Humanitarian emergency in Ukraine and the wider region

Join European Public Health Week 2022

16-20 May 2022 – online and across Europe and Central Asia

The 2022 European Public Health Week (EUPHW) will take place from 16-20 May 2022. Every year, WHO/Europe supports the European Public Health Association (EUPHA) with the EUPHW campaign, by promoting the themes, providing key messages and organizing EUPHW-related events.

The theme for this year’s EUPHW is ‘Health throughout the life course’, with each campaign day focusing on a different topic:

  • Monday 16 May: A healthy and health-literate youth
  • Tuesday 17 May: Vaccination as a key prevention strategy
  • Wednesday 18 May: Climate change affects our health
  • Thursday 19 May: No health without mental health
  • Friday 20 May: Building resilient health systems.

The European Public Health Week (EUPHW) aims to:

  • Make the case for public health and a more inclusive society across Europe
  • Raise awareness and amplify existing messages on five specific public health themes, in line with key organizations at the European level
  • Create trust and innovative means of collaboration among all professionals, contributing to public health at local, national, regional and European levels.

How you can get involved

  1. You can host an event. Whether you are an institution, a health professional or an ordinary citizen interested in one of this year’s five EUPHW themes, you may organize your own event(s) on one or more days of the week. If you need help setting up your event, please contact: euphacommunications@eupha.org
  2. You can help share information about the week and its five themes. Use the media toolkit to disseminate public health messaging and promote any EUPHW event – see the link below.
  3. You can participate in an event. By joining EUPHW events and activities, you are contributing to the success of event hosts! Click the link below to search for your favourite events and mark your calendars.

For more information, see the EUPHW 2022 website at the link below.

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Life events that influence estrogen levels may be linked to woman’s dementia risk in later life

Life events that influence estrogen levels may be linked to woman's dementia risk in later life

Life events that influence levels of the female hormone estrogen may be linked to a woman’s risk of developing dementia in later life, according to new research.

The analysis found that some reproductive events – like an early or late start to menstruation, early menopause and hysterectomy – were linked to higher risk of dementia while ever having been pregnant or having had an abortion and later menopause were linked to lower risk.

But childbearing was not one of them, with a similar relationship observed between the number of children and dementia risk in men and women.

Lead author Jessica Gong from The George Institute for Global Health said that although it appeared reproductive events related to changes in hormone levels in women may be involved in dementia risk, the exact relationship was still unknown.

“While the risk of developing dementia increases with age, we don’t yet know whether the higher rates seen in women are simply because they live longer,” explained Ms Gong. “But it’s possible that female-specific reproductive factors may be able to explain some of the sex differences.”

Dementia is fast becoming a global epidemic, currently affecting an estimated 50 million people worldwide. This is projected to triple by 2050 – mainly driven by aging populations. Rates of dementia and associated deaths are both known to be higher in women than men.

Estradiol is the most predominant form of estrogen during reproductive life (from the start of menstruation to menopause) and estriol is the primary estrogen during pregnancy. Use of hormones that originate from outside the body, such as oral contraceptives during reproductive years, and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in later life can also influence estrogen levels.

To examine these relationships in more detail, George Institute researchers analyzed data on a total of 273,240 women without dementia who were registered with the UK Biobank, a large-scale biomedical database. After adjusting for other factors that could have influenced the results, they found the following were associated with an increased risk of dementia:

  • Early and late first occurrence of menstruation, younger age at first birth, and hysterectomy – specifically hysterectomy without surgical removal of one or both ovaries, or if the hysterectomy took place after ovary removal.

Conversely, the factors associated with a decreased risk were ever having been pregnant, ever having had an abortion, longer reproductive lifespan and later menopause.

“With regard to external hormones, the use oral contraceptive pills was associated with a lower risk of dementia, but our study findings did not support an association between HRT and dementia risk,” Ms Gong said.

The authors proposed that risk variation in women may not be associated with childbearing because a similar pattern was observed between number of children fathered and dementia risk among a similar number men in the same study.

“We found that the higher dementia risk linked to early (natural and artificial) menopause was more pronounced in women of lower socioeconomic status,” she added.

“Social deprivation is likely to be an important determinant of dementia risk as well as other aspects of women’s health.”

With dementia on the rise and in the absence of significant treatment breakthroughs, the focus has been on reducing the risk of developing the disease.

“More research is needed to understand whether these differences are associated with life-long exposure to the body’s own estrogen, and whether external hormone use could influence the risk of developing dementia,” added Ms Gong.

“Our findings may be helpful for identifying high-risk women to participate in future clinical trials to assess potential preventive measures and treatments.”

Source:

Journal reference:

Gong, J., et al. (2022) Reproductive factors and the risk of incident dementia: A cohort study of UK Biobank participants. PLOS Medicine. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1003955.

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Main Street Martinsburg preps for spring, beginning of summer events

Main Street Martinsburg preps for spring, beginning of summer events

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enforces the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and therefore access cannot be granted at this time.

For any issues, contact webmaster@journal-news.net or call 304-263-8931.

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UM pledging up to $1M to emergency bursaries for students impacted by extraordinary life events

Ukraine flag is shown on flag pole. // Image from Piqsels

March 30, 2022 — 

The University of Manitoba has pledged up to $1,000,000 to its Emergency Bursary Fund to provide robust financial support to students in financial distress as a result of the war in Ukraine, international conflicts, environmental catastrophes and extraordinary life events.

Manitoba is home to one of the largest populations of Ukraine diaspora in Canada and we take our obligation to address this crisis seriously. We recognize that war and geopolitical events can impact our international students, and that domestic students can similarly experience emergencies that impact their finances and create unexpected need.

Students lose access to funds for various reasons, and this emergency support will help students pay for the full cost of their tuition, residence, and other living expenses as required. These funds are available to those in need right now.

The university is prioritizing funds toward this immediate need and I want to thank our university community, including our alumni and donors, who continue to step up to meet the increased demand for emergency student supports such the UM Student Food Bank.

The university is committed to ensuring we offer meaningful, targeted support to students whose lives are upended by conflict or natural disaster here or abroad. Students come to UM to pursue an education and though we cannot alleviate all of their burdens, we can offer emergency aid that will allow them to focus on their studies.  

I encourage students in need to apply for this assistance, and to use the other supports we have available. We are here for you. Please reach out to Jane Lastra, Associate Registrar & Director, Financial Aid and Awards to get the help you need.

UM is grateful to have many international students and employees from Ukraine who make rich contributions to our province and university community. Our thoughts are with you, and with all your family and friends who deserve peace, liberty and good governance.

 

Sincerely,
Michael Benarroch

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Life Events team should not be dispatched

Life Events team should not be dispatched

AS JONI MITCHELL sang, “You don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone.” This sentiment was echoed by clergy across the country last week when Canon Sandra Millar, head of the Life Events team since 2013, announced its closure, as part of a restructuring programme at the national church institutions (NCIs) (News, 18 March).

Parish priests in the Anglican Twittersphere were highly critical of the decision, calling it “mind-boggling”, “appalling”, and “shooting ourselves in the foot”. The Revd Sarah Edmonds, an area dean in Warwickshire, said that the team’s work had “transformed thinking and ministry in our parish”. The training that the team offered, online and in person, will clearly be much missed: it isn’t every day that initial ministerial education is praised so highly.

Life Events is the term now used for those services referred to, often humorously, as “hatching, matching, and dispatching”. Between them, they bring the Church of England into close contact with about half a million people every year, providing myriad opportunities to build relationships.

A crucial part of the Church’s vocation, as the preface to the Declaration of Assent says, is to proclaim the gospel afresh in each generation; and the occasional offices are examples of when non-churchgoers will seek out their parish church. As Canon Angela Tilby commented on Twitter, “Most effective mission is linked to genuine pastoral care at crucial points in people’s lives.”

Indeed, nine out of ten people say that, after one of these services, they would like to hear from the church again, research by the Life Events team suggests.

 

PART of the Church of England’s Vision and Strategy is the vision of “a bolder Church, energised and enthused by the good news of what God has done in Jesus Christ, sharing that with everyone”. This mission is rarely the work of moments, but of many months or more.

Research by the Life Events team with wedding couples showed that it could take three or four years before people became part of a worshipping community — and, even then, they might join one in a different location. Life Events are not the “quick win” of an Alpha course, bringing immediate converts to a committed faith, but this ministry is about unchurched people who have reached out to the Church at an important moment in their lives. This is not grabbing the low-hanging fruit, but sowing seeds for God to harvest in his own time.

Every week, the Church of England is involved with approximately 3000 funerals, 2000 baptisms of children under the age of 12, and 1000 weddings. What an opportunity for everyone who engages with the Church in this way to encounter the transformation that a life centred on Jesus Christ can bring! These moments provide their own special kind of gentle evangelism.

Life Events research showed the three simple things at the heart of this: confidence, relationship, and courage. Canon Millar and her team have helped to provide resources for every step, from first contact to “administration, creative ideas and practical resources”, supporting lay workers and Readers as well as clergy. While the resources remain online, the training will now end, and the fresh perspective that has been encouraged when looking at Life Events seems likely to be lost. The team’s professional research and evidence-based work will not now be updated. In our ever-changing world and Church, that will be much to our detriment.

I wonder how this decision fits with the Archbishop of York’s address to the General Synod in November, during which he declared passionately “the importance of the local. . . Our resources must be focused on this, the local church of missionary disciples” (News, 19 November 2021). The Revd Marcus Walker, not always one to praise the NCIs, commented that the Life Events team had provided “an example of a national Church endeavour that really worked with and for the parishes”.

 

WHEN the specific work in this area began, in 2008, it was part of “projects and developments”. It became known as the “Life Events team” in 2017, reflecting the fact that the work concerning funerals, baptisms, and weddings is ongoing for the Church. The most recent Archbishops’ Council report set out that, in 2021, one of the evangelism priorities was “resources for Life Events and bereavement issues”, especially in response to Covid-19. This provided no hint of the restructuring about to take place.

The Life Events team shared with the wider Church a special blend of theological insights, marketing expertise, and social-media skill. It has been been a wonderful and rare example of intentional two-way communication at the heart of the national Church, its work underpinned by research that “listens to the voices of those who actually come to the Church, trying to hear what it is that people really experience, really think, and really feel at these special times”.

What an irony that, despite the Life Events team’s showing us the importance of listening to others, it is only now that their dedicated expertise is being lost that we hear how vital they have been to so many! Uniting our Church and our clergy to speak up unanimously is not a common event. But, with this sad and short-sighted decision, somehow the national Church may have managed it, albeit in condemnation rather than commendation.

Rebecca Chapman is a General Synod member for Southwark diocese.

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Law Firm Partnership Agreements: Key Life Events of a Law Firm Partnership – ResearchAndMarkets.com

Law Firm Partnership Agreements: Key Life Events of a Law Firm Partnership - ResearchAndMarkets.com

DUBLIN–()–The “Law Firm Partnership Agreements” book has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com’s offering.

The book tackles the key “life events” of a law firm partnership – formation, setting compensation, partner admissions and departures, retirement, dissolution, termination of the partnership, mergers and acquisitions, and much more.

For firms in the course of development, here is the advice you need for selecting the form of the entity – general partnership, professional corporation, or limited liability partnership – with the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Also included are a state-of-the-art model partnership agreement and other practical forms of agreement, such as a “memorandum of understanding” for lateral partners that serves as an adjunct to the main agreement. In short, You’ll get everything you need to ensure that your firm’s partnership agreement is up to snuff. And all forms and clauses are available with the online version of this book.

Filled with advice on structuring your firm to attract and keep talented lawyers, Law Firm Partnership Agreements will help your firm retain its competitive edge.

For more information about this book visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/o1dw48

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world’s leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

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Study provides insights into how early life events can affect brain wiring patterns

Study provides insights into how early life events can affect brain wiring patterns

A new study of brain development in mice shortly after birth may provide insights into how early life events can affect wiring patterns in the brain that manifest as disease later in life – specifically such disorders as schizophrenia, epilepsy and autism.

Researchers focused on two types of brain cells that have been linked to adult neurological disorders: neurons in a modulating system nestled deep in the brain and other neurons in the cortex, the brain’s outermost layer, that counteract excitation in other cells using inhibitory effects. The modulating cells send long-range cables to the cortex to remotely influence cortical cell activity.

The study is the first to show that these two types of cells communicate very early in brain development. A chemical released from the modulating cells initiates the branching, or arborization, of axons, the long, slender extensions of nerve cell bodies that transmit messages, on the cortical cells – and that arborization dictates how effective the cells in the cortex are at doing their job.

Though there is still a lot to learn about the impact of this cellular interaction in the postnatal brain, the researchers said the study opens the door to a better understanding of how neurological diseases in adults may relate to early-life events.

It’s known that abnormal early-life experiences can impact kids’ future sensation and behavior. This finding may help explain that kind of mechanism.”


Hiroki Taniguchi, associate professor of pathology, The Ohio State University College of Medicine and senior author of the study

“This study provides new insight into brain development and brain pathology. It’s possible that during development, depending on animals’ experiences, this modulating system activity can be changed and, accordingly, the cortical circuit wiring can be changed.”

Taniguchi completed the work with co-authors André Steinecke and McLean Bolton while he was an investigator at the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience.

The research is published today (March 9, 2022) in the journal Science Advances.

The study involved chandelier cells, a type of inhibitory neurons in the cortical section of the brain, and neurons of the cholinergic system – one of the systems that monitor the environment and the internal state, and send signals to the rest of the brain to trigger memory and appropriate behaviors.

“Both of these types of cells have been separately studied in the context of adult functions or modulations so far. The developmental role of cholinergic neurons in the brain wiring remains poorly understood,” Taniguchi said.

Chandelier cells are named for the spray of signal-transmitting synapses (called synaptic cartridges) at the branch terminals that resemble candles of a traditional chandelier, a pattern that gives them inhibitory control over hundreds of cells at a time.

“These cells have output control,” said Steinecke, first author of the study who is now working at Neuway Pharma in Germany. “Chandelier cells can put a brake on excitatory cells and tell them they’re not ready to fire. As inhibitory cells, chandelier cells are thought to regulate waves of firing – which is important, because the waves contain information that is transmitted over large distances of the brain.”

Previous post-mortem studies have shown that the synaptic terminals located at the end of chandelier cell axons appear to be reduced in the brains of patients with schizophrenia.

“This axonal ‘arbor’ being reduced suggests they don’t make as many connections to downstream targets, and the connections themselves are also altered and don’t work that well,” Steinecke said.

The team used two techniques to observe chandelier cells during early-life brain development in mice: genetically targeting and using a dye to label and detect cells that differentiate into chandelier cells, and transplanting genetically manipulated cells back into animals shortly after birth. “This enabled us to watch brain development as it happens and manipulate conditions to test what the mechanisms are,” Taniguchi said.

The researchers first observed how chandelier cell axons develop their branching structures, noting that small protrusions emerging from axons were the first signs that branches would sprout. And they identified the chemical needed to start that sprouting process – the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which is released by cholinergic system cells.

The interaction between the distant cell types was confirmed through a series of experiments: Knocking out receptors that bind to acetylcholine and decreasing activity of cholinergic neurons lessened branch development, and making cholinergic neurons more likely to fire led to more widespread branching.

“The key is that we didn’t previously know how neuromodulatory systems regulate the cortical circuits – and both of them have been implicated in brain diseases,” Taniguchi said. “Now that we’ve found that cholinergic neurons could remotely impact cortical circuit development, especially cortical inhibitory signals, the question is what kind of environment or emotional state of change can impact cortical inhibitors’ development? We may want to see if we can find a link as a next step.”

This work was supported by funding from the Max Planck Society and the Brain Behavior and Research Foundation.

Source:

Journal reference:

Steinecke, A., et al. (2022) Neuromodulatory control of inhibitory network arborization in the developing postnatal neocortex. Science Advances. doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abe7192.

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Los Gatos springs to life with art, gardening events

Los Gatos springs to life with art, gardening events

Winning artworks in the Greater Bay Area Open are up at New Museum Los Gatos through March 12. The theme of the juried exhibit is “Listen, Learn, Change, Grow,” matching the title of a recent campaign launched by the Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce. Jurors included Preston Metcalf, executive director of the Triton Museum of Art in Santa Clara, and NUMU art curator Julie Ericsson.106 E. Main St., www.numulosgatos.org

In another contest, Marianne Hamilton, a dedicated Los Gatos volunteer and a longtime contributor to the Los Gatos Weekly Times, has been named Ms. Senior Universe 2022. No bathing suit competition here; this pageant celebrates women over 60 who are actively giving back to their communities.

“I’ll be 70 this year, and after a bout with breast cancer in 2020, I’m delighted by the notion of hitting that milestone,” says Hamilton, who joins others in “a refusal to accept that age dictates boundaries.”

To learn more about Hamilton and the Ms. Senior Universe Pageant, visit msseniorusa.org/ms-senior-universe-pageant-1.

Los Gatos maker Christan Mercurio is set to sell his wares at the Saratoga Rotary Art Show will be back again April 30-May 1.

“I make sustainable luxury leather handbags that are cut, punched and sewn by hand with USA-sourced vegetable-tanned leather. I make my bags for people who prefer unique handcrafted bags over those mass-produced in a factory on an assembly line abroad.”

Mercurio adds that his handbags “are made for years of hard use, a lifetime if cared for, and every element can be repaired and replaced. Production is limited as everything is saddle stitched, no machines are used, and I have a day job in high tech in Silicon Valley.” www.christanmercurio.com

Local author Kathleen Canrinus’s book, “The Lady with the Crown” is now available on Amazon and a perfect Book Club read. When Canrinus was 15, her mother barely survived a car accident. “The Lady with the Crown” explores how, in the blink of an eye, trauma can transform a normal family into a uniquely wounded one. It’s a story of resilience and courage, but also the reinvention of joy.

Andrew Fanelli, founder of All Pro Tae Kwon Do Studio in Los Gatos, is now a Grandmaster in the art of tae kwon do. This level achieved by few, so not a surprise that more than 300 people were on hand for the ceremony. For 35 years, Fanelli has trained thousands of students in the martial art. All Pro Tae Kwon Do, 15545 Los Gatos Blvd, Suite D, www.allprotkd.com.

Spring seems to be springing earlier this year. A victim of the pandemic, the wildly popular Master Gardener’s Spring Garden Market will not be held. Santa Clara County Master Gardeners, organizers of the event, say they “hope to return with a full event in 2023.”

Love Apple Farms, on the other hand, has terrific vegetables for sale. “Our spring tomato plant sale—now with lots of other veggies and herbs—will be held from March 27 to June 27. The farm, which serves as the kitchen garden for Manresa restaurant in Los Gatos, is located at 5311 Scotts Valley Drive in Scotts Valley. If you need gardening know-how, classes are offered. www.growbetterveggies.com

If you have news about events or businesses in Los Gatos, please let me know: debby@debbyrice.com.