Oxford Immunotec Announces Donation in Support of Coronavirus Testing Efforts to Help Differentiate Tuberculosis from the New China Virus – BioSpace

January 23, 2020 medical

OXFORD, United Kingdom and MARLBOROUGH, Mass., Jan. 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Oxford Immunotec Global PLC (Nasdaq:OXFD) (the Company), a global, high-growth diagnostics company, today announced they are planning a new initiative to commemorate the coming World Tuberculosis Day, bring the benefits of the T-SPOT.TB test to mainland China and assist with differentiating tuberculosis (TB) from other respiratory infections. Oxford Immunotec will donate tests approximately valued at CNY 3,000,000 to Chinese hospitals through a non-profit organization, Bethune Charitable Foundation, in support of their efforts to combat the outbreak of the coronavirus.

Because some pathogens present with similar symptoms as TB, ruling out TB quickly in infected suspects is critical to fighting the spread of the infection. Since its approval in the Peoples Republic of China in 2010, T-SPOT.TB has been recognized for its high level of sensitivity and specificity across patient populations and has become a critical aid in the diagnosis of TB infection.

The donation plan is supported by leading hospitals and KOLs in China. Prof. Mou Xiangdong, Director of Respiratory and Critical Care Department, Beijing Tsinghua Chang Gung Hospital says, We would like to thank Oxford Immunotec for their commitment to the Chinese people. As symptoms of some infections may be similar to TB, this test will help us differentiate these illnesses with greater accuracy during epidemic seasons.

About T-SPOT.TB

The T-SPOT.TB test is available in over 60 countries and recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one the 100 essential diagnostic tests that should be available in every country. In China, the T-SPOT.TB test has been on the market since 2010 and has been rapidly adopted by the leading hospitals and physicians as a critical tool for diagnosing TB infection. Today more than 250 of Chinas top hospitals rely on the T-SPOT.TB test to determine treatment for hard to diagnose patients. There is no comparable technology with similar sensitivity and specificity on the market in China. The T-SPOT.TB test is relied on as an essential tool in the fight against TB.

About Oxford Immunotec

Oxford Immunotec Global PLC is a global, high-growth diagnostics company focused on developing and commercializing proprietary assays for immunology and infectious disease. The Companys T-SPOT.TB test has been approved for sale in over 60 countries, including the United States, where it has received pre-market approval from the Food and Drug Administration, Europe, where it has obtained a CE mark, as well as Japan and China. The Company is headquartered near Oxford, U.K. and in Marlborough, MA. Additional information can be found at http://www.oxfordimmunotec.com.

CONTACTS:

For Media and Investor Inquiries: Matt McLaughlinChief Financial OfficerOxford ImmunotecTel: +1 (508) 573-9953mtmclaughlin@oxfordimmunotec.com

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Oxford Immunotec Announces Donation in Support of Coronavirus Testing Efforts to Help Differentiate Tuberculosis from the New China Virus - BioSpace

Immunology

New Investments Expected To Boost The Z-drugs Market Between ‘ 2019’ And ‘2027’ Dagoretti News – Dagoretti News

January 23, 2020 medical

Global Z-drugs Market Introduction

Nonbenzodiazepines, commonly referred as Z-drugs, are a widely prescribed class of psychoactive drugs for the treatment of different types of sleep disorders, particularly insomnia, which affects millions of people across the world. These drugs have similar effects as benzodiazepines by potentiating GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) activity in the body.

Global Z-drugs Market Competitive Landscape

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Sanofi, and Pfizer, Inc. are the major players operating in the global Z-drugs market. New product development and focus on emerging markets where the prevalence of insomnia is high are the strategies adopted by these players to increase market share.

Report Overview @https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/z-drugs-market.html

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd.

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. is a key manufacturer of generic medicines and a recognized leader in innovative and specialty pharmaceuticals across the globe. The company delivers high quality and patient-centric health care solutions. It has a broad generics portfolio, with more than 1,000 molecules in nearly every therapeutic area. It continues to evaluate opportunities for joint ventures, collaborations, and other activities that support growth. Teva Pharmaceutical Industries focuses on establishing leadership position in its core therapeutic areas of respiratory (including asthma & COPD) and CNS through business development initiatives such as acquisition of Labrys Biologics in 2014 and Auspex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in 2015.

Pfizer, Inc.

Pfizer, Inc. operates through two business segments: Pfizer Innovative Health and Pfizer Essential Health. The company has been issued 129 patents in the U.S. and 1,807 in the rest of the world for its products. It offers products in multiple therapeutic areas such as endocrinology, neurology, immunology, oncology, HIV, rare diseases, and hematology in more than 125 countries. Pfizer, Inc. has developed a strong supply chain network, which is directly responsible for addressing the patients needs. With technological advancements, the company tracks movement of products throughout the entire supply chain.

Sanofi

Sanofi is a global provider of health care solutions. The company has broad product portfolio that caters to areas such as rare diseases, multiple sclerosis, oncology, immunology, infectious diseases, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, vaccines, and consumer health care. Sanofi focuses on acquisitions, in-licensing, and collaborations with key players in the market to reinforce its product pipeline. The company emphasizes on strategic reshaping of the product portfolio in order to strengthen its position in developed and emerging markets.

Global Z-drugs Market Dynamics

Large Patient Pool of Sleep Disorder Drives Demand for Z-drugs

Sleep disorder is a health concern for a larger percentage of the general population of the world. According to the Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, prevalence of sleep disorder is 10% to 30% of the global population, and insomnia in particular is on the rise. It is common in older adults, women, and people with medical and mental ill health. Such large population base of sleep disorder, especially insomnia, drives demand for Z-drugs.

Major Side Effects of Z-drugs to Hamper Market

Users of nonbenzodiazepines have reportedly experienced side effects such as short-term memory loss, sleepwalking, sleep driving, dizziness, headache, back pain, and rashes. This induces them to stop taking the drugs for long-term treatment, which in turn hampers sales of the drugs.

North America Dominated Global Z-drugs Market in 2018

According to the National Sleep Foundation, insomnia is the most common sleep disorder in the U.S. Moreover, around 40 million people in North America are affected by insomnia each year. The foundation also stated that prevalence of insomnia has increased among women and older adults in the region. Availability of drugs, high awareness about the effects of sleep disorder, and high prevalence of sleep disorders drive demand for Z-drugs in North America.

For More Details, Request A PDF Brochure Report @https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=71355

Global Z-drugs Market Segmentation

In terms of, the global Z-drugs market can be classified into:

Based on application, the global Z-drugs market can be categorized into:

In terms of distribution channel, the global Z-drugs market can be divided into:

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New Investments Expected To Boost The Z-drugs Market Between ' 2019' And '2027' Dagoretti News - Dagoretti News

Physiology

The Best Wool Socks According to Experts – GearJunkie

January 23, 2020 medical

On a mission to track down the best pairs of wool socks, we sought help from the pros.

Wool has long been touted as the best material for overall warmth and odor resistance during outdoor pursuits. These pros love their choice wool socks for breathability, comfort, and long lifespans.

From ice climbing and ski mountaineering in the Rockies to polar adventures at the worlds farthest ice caps and running the hardest ultramarathons on the planet, here are the top five best wool socks according to the experts.

Polar adventurer and expedition guide Eric Larsen is the first person in history to complete expeditions to the South Pole, the North Pole, and the Mount Everest summit in a continuous 365-day period. He also accomplished the first-ever summer expedition to the North Pole.

Keeping all 20 digits healthy is pretty important on those self-supported missions in the coldest environments on the planet. The best sock, in Larsens experience, is the Wigwam Ice Sock.

I got my first pair in 2008. Ive had a few pairs since then, but, usually, I get about 2-3 years use out of one pair, he said. That means Larsen wears a single pair on a polar expedition for nearly 2 months straight.

So, in a single year, hell use that pair for 3-5 months of polar travel and training. He prefers the Wigwam for polar expeditions to the North and South poles, teaching his polar training course, crossing the Greenland ice cap you know, common everyday athletic pursuits as well as ice fishing and dog sledding.

They are a simple wool knit that breathes incredibly, he noted. They are a heavier, thick sock, so they provide more insulation than any other sock Ive ever used and are super durable. I dont use them in lightweight hiking boots, but in pack boots and my polar boots they are amazing.

Shop Now

Got cold feet? Use these ten tips from Polar Explorer Eric Larsen to keep your feet warm in the winter and cold weather. Read more

Chantelle Robitaille, an endurance coach at Carmichael Training Systems, recently earned her master of science degree in High Altitude Exercise Physiology. She has also worked as an exercise physiologist and researcher at Colorados Western Colorado University, near where she lives. When shes not doing science, she races 100-mile ultramarathons across the world.

Im a big fan of the Point6 Colorado Mini Crew, said Robitaille, who got the pair as a Valentines Day gift about 4 years ago. The socks are ideal for running, biking, and hiking. She loves them so much that shes since bought a variety of other Point6 socks, including ski and compression.

This is the only brand of wool socks Ive owned that dont get a hole in the big toe within a few wears.They are never too hot or too cold and never get stinky.I even wore a pair of Point6 socks while pacing at Badwater 135 this summer. If a pair of socks can withstand one of the worlds toughest footraces, we approve.

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Professional skimo racer and trail runner Cam Smith is based in Crested Butte, Colorado. Hes a member of the U.S. Ski Mountaineering team and a two-time winner of the Grand Traverse Triple Crown.

I havea few pairs of Darn Tough socks that are my absolute go-to all winter long, said Smith. His favorite? Smith uses the Darn Tough Mountain Top Over-The-Calf Cushionfor all types of skiing from alpine to backcountry to nordic.

Theyre warm enough for sitting on chairlifts but light and breathable enough for skinning hard up a mountain. Hell even wear them in the summer on cold mornings while camping or for predawn runs.

The little bit of extra cushion adds comfort, which is nice when youre in ski boots all day. I find theyre great in any cold-weather activity, he said.

Theyre 2 years old and show only a few signs of wear despite being shoved into my ski boots for hours and hours all winter. Darn Tough also has an awesome lifetime warranty, and if I ever needed to I could exchange them at a local shop.

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Master bootfitter Sam Tischendorf helps skiers from all over the world hone their ski boot fit at Bootdoctors Telluride and as a national Masterful University Instructor. Shes the only female master bootfitter in the entire United States.

For ski boots, thin, even knitting and consistent thickness around the foot is the most ideal type of sock, she explained. I wear wool socks for everything skiing, snowboarding, running, biking, and kicking around town. My most memorable is a pair of FITS Micro Light. They can get wet but dont irritate my feet or cause friction in my shoes.

Tischendorf got the socks about four summers ago, and they were a staple for her mountain endeavors. They just sprung a hole this summer, so theyre relegated to being worn with boots and jeans, she said.

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Dawn Glanc is an AMGA-certified rock and alpine guide. Specializing in mixed and ice terrain, veteran Glanc has been a professional climber for more than 20 years. A resident of Ouray, Colorado, shes among the earliest wave of female ice climbers to push the sport, including first ascents in the Westfjord of Iceland and becoming the first woman in the Americas to climb M11.

A pair of tall socks from Darn Tough are my favorite wool socks, said Glanc of the now 10-year-old Vertex Over-the-Calf Ultra-Light. She wears these socks year-round in the summer as hiking socks and in winter for skiing as well as ice and mixed climbing.

For length, she prefers tall for the functionality and extreme fashion.The socks will not wear out! They have outlasted every other pair of socks I have had, she said.

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From hiking boots to snow boots, these are the best men's winter boots of 2020; Including top picks from Sorel, KEEN, Kamik, and more. Read more

We tested and reviewed the best women's winter boots of 2020. Check out winter hiking boots and snow boots from Kamik, Bogs, and more. Read more

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The Best Wool Socks According to Experts - GearJunkie

Physiology

In the wake of the Fukushima nuclear disaster, some animals are thriving – The Hill

January 23, 2020 medical

It has been nearly nine years since the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant nuclear disaster, and while people still remain evacuated from the areas most contaminated by radioactivity, many wonder: What happened to the wildlife left behind?

A newly released study by a team of scientists from the University of Georgia and Fukushima University found that years after the disaster at Fukushima, populations of mid-to-large-sized mammals and birds are thriving in the absence of human pressure.

The March 11, 2011, nuclear disaster in Japans Fukushima Prefecture caused by the tsunami that resulted from a massive magnitude-9 earthquake was one of the worst nuclear plant disasters in human history, second only to the 1986 Chernobyl incident in Ukraine.

A wild boar. Courtesy of the University of Georgia.

Through remotely operated, motion-activated cameras placed at 106 sites, researchers saw that some species like raccoons and wild boar were more abundant in the humans excluded zone the most contaminated area people are not allowed to live in when compared to the humans restricted zone where people have returned and the humans inhabited zone that was never evacuated.

The fact that animals seem to be doing well at a population level is counterintuitive. I mean, these are very contaminated landscapes, says James Beasley, the wildlife ecology professor at the University of Georgia who led this project. He says the popular movie or video game perception of abandoned nuclear wastelands is not exactly real life at Fukushima or Chernobyl.

Beasley and the team went to the Fukushima exclusion zone in 2016 to begin this camera study. They set up the cameras across the landscape, including the zone in which people can no longer live because the radiation dose rates are still above the recommended safety threshold.

Even in the most contaminated zones of the field site, Beasley says, it is still safe to set up the cameras if one doesnt linger too long. They wear heavy rubber boots and an alarm that sounds if a certain radiation dose rate is exceeded.

It's okay to put a camera up for a few minutes and then move on. But, you know, that's not the sort of place you want to stop and have your lunch, for example, he adds.

Macaque monkeys. Courtesy of the University of Georgia

Caught on Camera

The observation period lasted for 120 days from 2016 to 2017, and in that time, more than 267,000 photos were captured on the motion-activated cameras. In total, 20 species of mammal and birds were spotted roaming across the three zones surveyed.

Out of all the animals spotted on the cameras, wild boar showed up in the human-excluded zone the most in more than 26,000 of the images to be precise. This is not exactly surprising, Beasley says, because wild boar are opportunistic and reproduce at a high rate. In comparison, wild boar were caught on camera more than 7,200 times in the human-inhabited region during the observation period.

Red foxes, masked palm civets, green pheasant, Japanese macaques, Japanese hares and raccoon dogs were all captured on the cameras. The one lucky camera snap of a baby macaque riding on its mothers back is not just adorable, it is evidence reproduction is happening in this area despite the contamination.

A Japanese serow. Courtesy of the University of Georgia

Timothy Mousseau, a biology professor at the University of South Carolina, was not involved in this study, but also does similar research in Fukushima and Chernobyl. He says the findings in this study reflect what he has seen in his own work in Fukushima: that population-wise, human presence can impact animal abundance more than the radiation effects.

He says the massive clean-up effort of the area was likely a large disturbance for animals in the region. All of this noise and dust and human activity seems to be a much bigger factor shaping the abundance and distribution of the mammals than the radiation effects, says Mousseau.

A hare. Courtesy of the University of Georgia

This study examines the population-level impacts of the disaster and not the molecular-level impacts of radiation. Beasley says while there may not be enough of an impact on physiology or reproduction from the radiation to suppress the population, they will conduct more research on animal health at Fukushima in the future to learn more.

Mousseau did a study on barn swallows in Fukushima shortly after the disaster in 2011 and found they did have genetic damage, but it was minimal. Another study on genetic damage in earthworms and wild boars shows there are molecular impacts of radiation exposure, but these studies need to be continued over time to see if this DNA damage manifests at the population level.

In this case at Fukushima, the inverse correlation of human presence and animal abundance indicates people leaving the area has a positive impact on the rewilding of the landscape, which is similar to findings from longterm wildlife abundance studies in Chernobyl.

Many of the organisms like the birds and insects were pretty dramatically impacted in the first year or two after the accident, Mousseau says. But now, the main message can be optimism.

It's clear that many of these organisms have come back...these areas can self-remediate just by being left alone for a little while.

A badger. Courtesy of the University of Georgia

Physiology

Reelin reverts main pathological processes related to Alzheimer’s and other tauopathy – Mirage News

January 23, 2020 medical

Image of a primary neuronal cell culture with detection of MAP2 dendritic marker (red) and Neurofilament axon marker (green).

Promoting the signalling pathway of reelin an essential extracellular protein for the neuronal migration and synaptic plasticity- could be an effective therapeutical strategy to counterbalance the main cognitive, biochemical and behavioural alterations seen in Alzheimers and other pathologies associated with Tau protein, as shown in a new study with animal models published in the journal Progress in Neurobiology.

The study proves the determining role of reelin in the modulation of pathological processes associated with Alzheimers and other tauopathies (accumulation of amyloid plaques, aberrant distribution of Tau phosphorylated, synaptic dysfunction and memory loss), and opens a new perspective to design future therapeutical targets and drugs to fight these disorders.

The first author of this study is the researcher Daniela Rossi, and it is led by Eduardo Soriano and Llus Pujadas, members of the Faculty of Biology and the Institute of Neurosciences (UBNeuro) of the University of Barcelona, the Network Center for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED) and the Vall dHebron Research Institute (VHIR).

Other participants are the experts Agns Gruart, Jos M Delgado and Gerardo Contreras-Murillos (University Pablo de Olavide), Jess vila (Center for Molecular Biology Severo Ochoa, CBM), and Ashraf Muhaisen (UB-UBNeuro-CIBERNED-VHIR). This new study on neurosciences counts on the support of the Research Challenges program (Biomedicine) from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) and La Marat de TV3.

Reelin, an essential protein for brain plasticity

Alzheimers disease is a neurodegenerative disease known for the loss of connection between neurons and neuronal death. It is largely linked to the creation of senile plaques (formed by the amyloid-beta peptide, or A), and the presence of neurofibrillary balls (insoluble deposit of Tau).

In the adult brain, the loss of reelin has been related to an increase in the phosphorylation of Tau protein a factor which is related to the microtubules mainly expressed in neurons- which ends up in neurofibrillary ball form typical from Alzheimers.

Therefore, the different states of phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of Tau represent a determining factor in the stability of the cell cytoskeleton and, as a result, of the synaptic and dendritic stability. Hyperphosphorilation and accumulation of Tau causes neuronal death.

In this context, the function of the reelin protein to promote synaptic plasticity and reduce Tau phosphorylation was considered a potential mechanism to reduce the consequences of the neurodegenerative process and protect the brain from neuronal damage.

New beneficial effects of reelin in animal models with tauopahy

In previous studies, experts had affirmed the alteration of reelin in Alzheimers disease and its role in intracellular signalling pathways related to neuronal survival and the physiology of the adult brain. Researchers had described the active role of reelin in the recovery of cognitive functions and the reduction of fibers of the A peptide in vitro and amyloid deposit in the brain in animal models with Alzheimers (Pujadas et al. Nature Communications, 2014).

The published study in Progress in Neurobiology describes new molecular data on the signalling pathway of reelin and reveals how this protein can reverse the main pathological affectations of Alzheimers at different levels in animal models affected by tauopathies. In particular, the results reveal that overexpression of reelin is able to modulate levels of phosphorylation of the Tau protein in in vivo models.

Moreover, the in vitro studies confirm the ability of reelin to modulate the anomalous distribution of neurofilaments and Tau protein in dendrites, which is shown in the first phases of these neuropathologies. Last, regarding the cognitive and physiological fields, overexpression of reelin revealed an improvement of deficits that affected a new animal model of tauopathy.

Article reference:

Rossi, D.; Gruart, A.; Contreras-Murillo, G; Muhaisen, A.; vila, J.; Delgado-Garca, J.; Pujadas, L.; Soriano, E. Reelin reverts biochemical, physiological and cognitive alterations in mouse models of Tauopathy. Progress in Neurobiology, December, 2019. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pneurobio.2019.101743

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Reelin reverts main pathological processes related to Alzheimer's and other tauopathy - Mirage News

Physiology

Mota Ventures Forms Research and Development Partnership with Leading Colombian University & Research Hospital – GuruFocus.com

January 23, 2020 medical

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / January 23, 2020 / Mota Ventures Corp. (CSE:MOTA)(FSE:1WZ:GR)(OTC:PEMTF) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that its wholly owned subsidiary Ihuana S.A.S ("Ihuana") has entered into a research cooperation agreement (the "Agreement") with La Fundacion Universitaria de Ciencias de la Salud (The University Foundation of Health Sciences) (the "University") located in Bogota, Colombia. Pursuant to the Agreement, the parties intend to engage in research and formulation of medicinal products made with non-psychoactive cannabis and cannabis byproducts.

The University is a not-for-profit private educational and health care university founded in 1976. Between their two locations, including a Children's Hospital in San Jose, the University has the necessary technology for highly specialized medical and surgical treatments including an automated clinical laboratory, diagnostic imaging, neurological sciences, internal medicine and outpatient care. Additionally, the foundation offers laboratories in biology, biochemistry, anatomy, physiology, genetics, immunology, histology, microbiology and clinical stimulation.

Ihuana and the University will cooperate in the development of scientific investigations related to the medical use of products made with cannabis. The research teams from both groups will work closely to design and execute studies, with the University providing the infrastructure and connections to different researchers and Ihuana supplying various resources, including testing materials. Cost of the research will be negotiated between the two parties for each individual research product and intellectual property from the study will be divided based on capital input from each side.

The University agrees to enable access and interaction with partner hospitals and research centers that will take part in clinical studies and trials and will allow access to institutional resources to finance research through existing relationships.

"This partnership gives us an immediate foothold in the medicinal market in Colombia. We are very fortunate to partner with one of the leading universities in South America. This will allow for rapid development of new products for the domestic and international markets," stated Joel Shacker, CEO of the Company.

About Mota Ventures Corp.

Mota Ventures is seeking to become a vertically integrated global CBD brand. Its plan is to cultivate and extract CBD into high-quality value-added products from its Latin American operations and distribute it both domestically and internationally. Its existing operations in Colombia consist of a 2.5-hectare site that has optimal year-round growing conditions and access to all necessary infrastructure. Mota Ventures a seeking to become a vertically integrated, revenue-producing CBD company with operations in both Europe and North America. Mota is looking to establish sales channels and a distribution network internationally through the acquisition of the Sativida and First Class CBD brands. Low cost production, coupled with international, direct to customer sales channels will provide the foundation for the success of Mota Ventures.

About the University Foundation of Health Sciences

The University Foundation of Health Sciences is a modernized private educational and health care university founded in 1976. Between two locations, including a Children's Hospital in San Jose, the University has the necessary technology for highly specialized medical and surgical treatments including an automated clinical laboratory, diagnostic imaging, neurological sciences, internal medicine and outpatient care. Additionally, the foundation offers laboratories in biology, biochemistry, anatomy, physiology, genetics, immunology, histology, microbiology and clinical stimulation.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORSMOTA VENTURES CORP.

Joel ShackerChief Executive Officer

For further information, readers are encouraged to contact Joel Shacker, President & CEO at +604.423.4733 or by email at [emailprotected] or http://www.motaventuresco.com

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release, which has been prepared by management.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statement

All statements in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, are "forward-looking information" with respect to the Company within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including with respect to research and development projects with the University, its plans to become a vertically integrated global CBD brand, its plans to cultivate and extract cannabis to produce CBD and high-quality value added CBD products in Latin America for distribution domestically and internationally and its plans to acquire revenue-producing CBD brands and operations in Europe and North America. The Company provides forward-looking statements for the purpose of conveying information about current expectations and plans relating to the future and readers are cautioned that such statements may not be appropriate for other purposes. By its nature, this information is subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that may be general or specific and which give rise to the possibility that expectations, forecasts, predictions, projections or conclusions will not prove to be accurate, that assumptions may not be correct and that objectives, strategic goals and priorities will not be achieved. These risks and uncertainties include but are not limited those identified and reported in the Company's public filings under the Company's SEDAR profile at http://www.sedar.com. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise unless required by law.

SOURCE: Mota Ventures Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/573898/Mota-Ventures-Forms-Research-and-Development-Partnership-with-Leading-Colombian-University-Research-Hospital

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Mota Ventures Forms Research and Development Partnership with Leading Colombian University & Research Hospital - GuruFocus.com

Physiology

Reelin can reverse the main pathological processes associated with Alzheimer’s, other tauopathies – News-Medical.net

January 23, 2020 medical

Promoting the signaling pathway of reelin -an essential extracellular protein for the neuronal migration and synaptic plasticity- could be an effective therapeutical strategy to counterbalance the main cognitive, biochemical and behavioral alterations seen in Alzheimer's and other pathologies associated with Tau protein, as shown in a new study with animal models -published in the journal Progress in Neurobiology.

The study proves the determining role of reelin in the modulation of pathological processes associated with Alzheimer's and other tauopathies (accumulation of amyloid plaques, aberrant distribution of Tau phosphorylated, synaptic dysfunction and memory loss), and opens a new perspective to design future therapeutical targets and drugs to fight these disorders.

Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disease known for the loss of connection between neurons and neuronal death. It is largely linked to the creation of senile plaques (formed by the amyloid-beta peptide, or A), and the presence of neurofibrillary balls (insoluble deposit of Tau).

In the adult brain, the loss of reelin has been related to an increase in the phosphorylation of Tau protein -a factor which is related to the microtubules mainly expressed in neurons- which ends up in neurofibrillary ball form -typical from Alzheimer's.

In previous studies, experts had affirmed the alteration of reelin in Alzheimer's disease and its role in intracellular signaling pathways related to neuronal survival and the physiology of the adult brain. Researchers had described the active role of reelin in the recovery of cognitive functions and the reduction of fibers of the A peptide in vitro and amyloid deposit in the brain in animal models with Alzheimer's (Pujadas et al. Nature Communications, 2014).

The published study in Progress in Neurobiology describes new molecular data on the signaling pathway of reelin and reveals how this protein can reverse the main pathological affectations of Alzheimer's at different levels in animal models affected by tauopathies. In particular, the results reveal that overexpression of reelin is able to modulate levels of phosphorylation of the Tau protein in in vivo models.

Source:

Journal reference:

Rossi, D., et al. (2019) Reelin reverts biochemical, physiological and cognitive alterations in mouse models of Tauopathy. Progress in Neurobiology. doi.org/10.1016/j.pneurobio.2019.101743.

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Reelin can reverse the main pathological processes associated with Alzheimer's, other tauopathies - News-Medical.net

Neuroscience

The Spinal Cord Organizes Locomotion Like a Three-gear Engine – Technology Networks

January 23, 2020 medical

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have revealed a new principle of organisation which explains how locomotion is coordinated in vertebrates akin to an engine with three gears. The results are published in the scientific journal Neuron.

A remarkable feature of locomotion is its capacity for rapid starts and to change speed to match our intentions. However, there is still uncertainty as to how the rhythm-generating circuit - the locomotor engine - in the spinal cord is capable of instantaneously translating brain commands into rhythmic and appropriately paced locomotion.

Using zebrafish as a model organism, researchers at Karolinska Institutet reveal in detail a full reconstruction of the rhythm-generating engine driving locomotion in vertebrates.

"We have uncovered a novel principle of organisation that is crucial to perform an intuitively simple, yet poorly understood function: the initiation of locomotion and the changing of speed," says Abdel El Manira, Professor at the Department of Neuroscience at Karolinska Institutet, who led the study.

The researchers performed a comprehensive and quantitative mapping of connections (synapses) between neurons combined with behavioural analyses in zebrafish. The results revealed that the excitatory neurons in the spinal cord which drive locomotion form three recurrent, rhythm-generating circuit modules acting as gears which can be engaged at slow, intermediate or fast locomotor speeds. These circuits convert signals from the brain into coordinated locomotor movements, with a speed that is aligned to the initial intention.

"The insights gained in our study can be directly applicable to mammals, including humans, given that the organising principle of the brainstem and spinal circuits is shared across vertebrate species," says Abdel El Manira. "Understanding how circuits in the brainstem and spinal cord initiate movements and how speed is controlled will open up for new research avenues aimed at developing therapeutic strategies for human neurological disorders, including traumatic spinal cord injury, and motoneuron degenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)."

Reference: Song, J., Pallucchi, I., Ausborn, J., Ampatzis, K., Bertuzzi, M., Fontanel, P., Picton, L. D., & Manira, A. E. (2020). Multiple Rhythm-Generating Circuits Act in Tandem with Pacemaker Properties to Control the Start and Speed of Locomotion. Neuron, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2019.12.030

This article has been republished from the following materials. Note: material may have been edited for length and content. For further information, please contact the cited source.

Neuroscience

In Today’s Hyper-Connected Workplace, Nearly Half of Professionals Think Vacation Is More Stressful Than It’s Worth – Yahoo Finance

January 23, 2020 medical

In a survey commissioned by Neuvana the South Florida-based neuroscience company at the intersection of wellness and technology - working professionals in the U.S. open up about the stress associated with constant connectivity in the workplace and beyond.

For professionals in corporate America, work-life balance is nearly non-existent. As a result, many find themselves in a constant state of [work] stress, with no "clocking out" in sight.

While nearly 6 in 10 working professionals work remotely once per month or more frequently, 51% of this group say working from home adds to their feelings of stress and 43% agree working from home is more stressful than working at the office. Nearly one-third of all respondents state they always work more than the hours expected of them per week, which can primarily be attributed to the stress of meeting deadlines (26%) and a desire to get ahead (26%).

A little over half feel stressed when disconnected from work-related communication while out of the office:

Leaving work emails behind at the end of the day is a thing of the past, as 61% feel pressure to respond to work-related communications outside of working hours.

While switching off the computer may have signaled the workday was done in prior years, these days, the number of communication platforms that are always on is taking its toll on corporate America.

In terms of the various communication channels used to communicate with colleagues day-to-day, 39% use 3 or 4 different platforms, with email and text topping the list, followed by personal phones and Skype. Quantity in this case is not a pro, with 47% noting that having multiple methods of communication makes it harder to focus and 43% saying multiple communication platforms often makes them feel less productive.

Think youre off the hook when you miss a work email? Not so fast. Most working professionals (82%) have been contacted by a colleague via a personal channel about a work-related matter 35% of this group say these messages come through once or more per day! Overall, 64% feel that constant work-related alerts from communication platforms adds to stress, and at the end of the day, nearly 7 in 10 would prefer to return exclusively to email for work-related communication.

While at one time a vacation or some time off was often the key to avoiding long-term burnout, the pressure of todays connected workplace has made "de-stressing" nearly impossible.

Sadly, 48% say taking time off for vacation causes more work-related stress than its worth, with 23% unable to completely disconnect from work while on vacation.

For many, taking time off presents an array of challenges such as falling behind at work (23%), the amount of work to get done prior to leaving (21%) and getting work covered by colleagues (19%).

"If todays corporate America doesnt even have time for vacation, how are we supposed to bake stress-relief into our daily lives?" says Neuvana founder and inventor, Dr. Richard Cartledge. "The last decade saw us 'busier' than ever at the expense of our health and wellness, but awareness of this problem is only the first step to changing work-life balance in the decade ahead. At Neuvana, were making it easy to add some stress-relief to your day, simply through listening to the music or podcast you already love. Xen by Neuvana was designed to electronically provide added wellness benefits, including reducing stress, and improving your mood through Vagus Nerve stimulation

For more information on Vagus Nerve stimulation and Neuvana, visit: NeuvanaLife.com.

Click here for the raw data and other assets.

*This survey was fielded on January 3, 2020 and included 1,076 working professionals in the U.S. Consumer sample was provided by Pollfish.

About NeuvanaNeuvana is a South Florida-based brand at the intersection of wellness and technology, continually striving to improve peoples lives through accessible Neuroscience. Founded in 2014 by Dr. Richard Cartledge, an avid inventor and Chief of Cardiovascular Surgery at Boca Raton Regional Hospital, the company is made up of physicians, intellectual property experts, engineers, experienced business professionals and a world-class scientific advisory board with a shared goal: a platform to make the necessary benefits of neuroscience safe, easy and accessible to everyone.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200123005111/en/

Contacts

Hanna Thornton305-298-0249

Continued here:
In Today's Hyper-Connected Workplace, Nearly Half of Professionals Think Vacation Is More Stressful Than It's Worth - Yahoo Finance

Neuroscience

Former Shuswap residents head to Mars habitat for brain research – Pentiction Western News

January 23, 2020 medical

When Olav Krigolson was five years old, he told his mom he was going to be an astronaut.

Turns out, he wasnt too far off.

In December, Krigolson and Kent Hecker, who both grew up in Salmon Arm, took part in a unique trip to outer space to measure how fatigue affects the brain function of astronauts. The men were part of a five-member Canadian research team taking part in a project on a Mars simulation on the Big Island of Hawaii.

The site is called the HI-SEAS or Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation and is used by space agencies.

There they donned bulky spacesuits and lived in the Hab, or Mars habitat, a golf ball-like dome, for eight days, collecting data, eating freeze-dried food and, at times during their 16-hour days, venturing outside on exploratory trips of lava flows.

So if youd told us both in high school wed get PhDs in neuroscience and be going to Mars together, we would have fallen over laughing, remarked Krigolson.

It was awesome, enthused Hecker. We got to put on space suits and explore lava caves. We reverted back to being kids again.

The purpose of the mission, which was spearheaded by Krigolson, was actually a proof of concept or test run of brain-testing software that is both mobile and fast, as opposed to a typical EEG (electroencephalogram).

It uses the commercially available Muse EEG headband which evaluates electrical activity in the brain.

Then, via software developed by Krigolsons lab at the University of Victoria, brain waves are translated into scores measuring characteristics such as fatigue.

To do that, the researchers would play simple games on an iPad three times per day to test their brain function.

Although both men have PhDs in neuroscience, Krigolson says hes really a mathematician.

I wrote the algorithm that takes the brain wave data and gives you fatigue scores, he explained.

Accompanying them were PhD students Chad Williams and Tom Ferguson, as well as Gord Binsted, Dean of the Health and Social Development Faculty at UBCO in Kelowna, who was instrumental in the mission.

Binsteds sister Kim is a professor at the University of Hawaii and runs the Mars simulation for NASA.

One highlight came about when the heating in the Hab broke down.

In order to empty the dome to facilitate the repair, the researchers were told a solar flare had occurred and they would have to go down into a lava tube to escape the radiation.

One of the students mentioned he had Star Wars, the movie, on his laptop, so there they were, in a lava tube, watching Star Wars.

Now that, I believe, is a fairly unique experience, said Krigolson.