9%, and the diagnostic specificity was 92.7%, using 2 serum features and CA 19-9 serum concentration. Healthy controls were differentiated from patients with PC and chronic pancreatitis, with the use of 3 features of the peptidome (diagnostic sensitivity, 98.2%; diagnostic specificity, 97.1%).\n\nConclusions: Standardized serum

peptidome profiling could be a useful tool to improve biochemical diagnosis of PC in combination with the classic tumor marker, CA 19-9.”
“Objective: A National Institute on Aging sponsored work group on preclinical Alzheimer’s disease (AD) articulated the need to characterize cognitive differences between normal aging and preclinical AD.\n\nMethods: Seventy-one apolipoprotein E (APOE) epsilon 4 homozygotes, 194 epsilon 3/epsilon 4 heterozygotes, and 356 epsilon 4 noncarriers age 21 to 87 years who were cognitively healthy underwent this website neuropsychological testing every 2 years. Longitudinal trajectories of test scores were compared between APOE subgroups.\n\nResults: There was a significant effect of age on all cognitive domains in both APOE epsilon 4 carriers and noncarriers. A significant effect of APOE epsilon 4 gene dose was confined to the memory domain and the Dementia Rating Scale. Cross-sectional

comparisons did not discriminate the groups.\n\nConclusions: Although cognitive aging patterns are similar in APOE epsilon 4 carriers and noncarriers, preclinical AD is characterized by a significant buy VS-6063 see more epsilon 4 gene dose effect that impacts memory and is detectable longitudinally. Preclinical neuropsychological testing strategies should emphasize memory-sensitive measures and longitudinal design. (C) 2014 The Alzheimer’s Association. All rights reserved.”
“A survey of epiphytic bryophytes within a tree was conducted in lower montane rainforest at 2400 m in the Peruvian Yungas. The Weinmannia sp. host tree supported 110

species (77 hepatics, one hornwort and 32 mosses). To our knowledge, this is the highest single-tree bryophyte species richness reported to date. We used Johansson zones (lower trunk, upper trunk, mid-crown, mid-outer crown and outer crown) to stratify our sampling and found that the greatest species richness and abundance was on the upper trunk and large branches of the mid-crown. Hepatics, and the Lejeuneaceae in particular, were dominant in all five Johansson zones of the tree. The mid-crown had higher radiation intensity than the dark lower trunk while still having high relative humidity. Non-metric multidimensional scaling indicated the presence of four communities: an outer crown, a mid to mid-outer crown, an upper trunk and a lower trunk community. The outer crown supported only two moss species along with 35 hepatics, which included 17 high-light tolerant hepatics. The climate data suggested that this pattern was due to higher irradiation and exposure.