Bitter taste receptors: Key target to understand the effects of polyphenols on glucose and body weight homeostasis. Pathophysiological and pharmacological implications.

Experimental and clinical research has reported beneficial effects of polyphenol intake on high prevalent diseases such as type 2 diabetes and obesity. These phytochemicals are ligands of taste 2 receptors (T2Rs) that have been recently located in a variety of organs and extra-oral tissues. Therefore, the interaction between polyphenol and T2Rs in brain structures can play a direct effect on appetite/satiety regulation and food intake. T2Rs are also expressed along the digestive tract, and their interaction with polyphenols can induce the release of gastrointestinal hormones (e.g., ghrelin, GLP-1, CCK) influencing appetite, gastrointestinal functionally, and glycemia control. Intestinal microbiota can also influence on network effects of polyphenols-T2Rs interaction and vice versa, impacting innate immune responses and consequently on gut functionally. Furthermore, polyphenols binding to T2Rs present important effects on adipose tissue metabolism. Interestingly, T2R polymorphism could, at least partially, explain the inter-individual variability of the effects of polyphenols on glucose and body weight homeostasis. Together, these factors can contribute to understand the beneficial effects of polyphenol-rich diets but also might aid in identifying new pharmacological pathway targets for the treatment of diabetes and obesity.

Assessing the social impacts of the COVID-19 crisis using phone helplines. The case of the Balearic Islands, Spain.

Background: Crises and health policies to tackle them can increase health inequalities. We explored the scope and usefulness of helplines set up during the COVID-19 crisis and characterised the vulnerability of their users. This study explored the geographic and socioeconomic effects of the telephone helplines set up by the Balearic Islands Government and aimed to characterise the vulnerability of their users. Methods: Telephonic survey combined with a geographical analysis of a sample of calls made between 15th of March and 30th of June of 2020 to five helplines: COVID-19 general information; psychological, social (minimum vital income), labour (temporary employment regulation), and housing (rental assistance) helps. The questionnaire included sociodemographic and housing characteristics, type of problem, and if it was solved or not. We used multinomial regression to explore factors associated with having solved the problem. We calculated the standardised rate of calls by municipality using Chi-squared and z-test to test differences. Results: 1,321 interviews from 2,678 selected (231 excluded, 608 untraceable, and 518 refusals). 63.8% of women, 48.7% were born in another country. They had no internet at home in 3.1%, only on the phone in 17.3%. The 23.5% had no income at home. The Problem was solved in 25.4%, and partly in 30.9%. Factors associated with not solving the problem were not having income at home (p = 0.021), labour (p = 0.008), economic (p = 0.000) or housing (p = 0.000) problems. People from 55 of 67 municipalities did at least one call. The highest rates of calls were from coastal tourist municipalities. Conclusion: Helplines reached most of the territory of the Balearic Islands and were used mainly in tourist municipalities. It probably has not been helpful for families with more significant deprivation. Digital inequalities have emerged.

Acute Retinal Necrosis: Experience in a Reference Center in Santander - Colombia.

INTRODUCTION: Acute retinal necrosis (ARN) is a severe eye disease demanding swift treatment to prevent blindness. Early action involving antiviral medications and corticosteroids is crucial for optimal visual outcomes. OBJECTIVE: We present an ARN case series showcasing treatment experience and results. METHODOLOGY: Patients diagnosed with ARN based on SUN Working Group 2021 criteria were included; all underwent comprehensive eye exams, PCR analysis, and imaging. RESULTS: Eight patients were studied; PCR confirmed ARN in six. Induction treatment, either oral valacyclovir (5/8) or intravenous acyclovir (3/8), lasted 10-14 days. Maintenance included oral valacyclovir (6/8), oral valganciclovir (2/8) for six months, along with intravitreal ganciclovir. Visual outcomes were similar for oral and intravenous therapies; poor baseline acuity and macular involvement tend to result in a worse final acuity. CONCLUSIONS: Swift treatment is vital to ARN management. Our findings emphasize effective treatment strategies' role in visual prognosis. ABBREVIATIONS: ACV: Acyclovir; BCVA: Best Corrected Visual Acuity; CMV: Cytomegalovirus; EBV: Epstein Barr Virus; FTA-ABS: Fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption test; HSV 1-2: Herpes simplex virus 1-2; HIV: Human Immunodeficiency Virus; IV-ACV: Intravenous- Acyclovir; PCR: Polymerase Chain Reaction;Tg: Toxoplasma gondii; VZV: Varicella Zoster Virus; VCV: Valacyclovir; VDRL: Venereal disease research laboratory test.

Personal exposure from free Wi-Fi hotspots in downtown Mexico City.

In 2019, the Government of Mexico City implemented actions that allowed citizens to approach a free Wi-Fi hotspot, where more than 13000 points have been installed throughout the city. In this work, we present the results of the measurements of personal exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields carried out in Plaza de la Constitución, better known as Zócalo located in the center of Mexico City. The measurements were taken by one of the researchers while walking on a weekday morning and afternoon, in different microenvironments (on the street, on public transport: subway, at the Zócalo, and finally, at home). We also carry out spot measurements in the center of the Zócalo. Subsequently, we carried out a comparative analysis of the different microenvironments, through box plot and violin plot, and we elaborate georeferenced and interpolated maps with intensity levels through the Kriging method, using the Geographic Information System. The Kriging interpolation gives us a good visualization of the spatial distribution of RF-EMF exposure in the study area, showing the highest and lowest intensity levels. The mean values recorded at the measured points in the Zócalo were 326 µW/m2 in the 2.4- to 2.5-GHz Wi-Fi band and 2370 µW/m2 in the 5.15- to 5.85-GHz Wi-Fi band. In the case of the mean values recorded on the street, they were 119 µW/m2 in the 2.4- to 2.5-GHz frequency band and 31.8 µW/m2 in the 5.15- to 5.85-GHz frequency band, like the values recorded at home, 122 µW/m2 and 33.9 µW/m2, respectively. All values are well below the reference levels established by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection.

Drosophila SPG12 ortholog, reticulon-like 1, governs presynaptic ER organization and Ca2+ dynamics.

Neuronal endoplasmic reticulum (ER) appears continuous throughout the cell. Its shape and continuity are influenced by ER-shaping proteins, mutations in which can cause distal axon degeneration in Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia (HSP). We therefore asked how loss of Rtnl1, a Drosophila ortholog of the human HSP gene RTN2 (SPG12), which encodes an ER-shaping protein, affects ER organization and the function of presynaptic terminals. Loss of Rtnl1 depleted ER membrane markers at Drosophila presynaptic motor terminals and appeared to deplete narrow tubular ER while leaving cisternae largely unaffected, thus suggesting little change in resting Ca2+ storage capacity. Nevertheless, these changes were accompanied by major reductions in activity-evoked Ca2+ fluxes in the cytosol, ER lumen, and mitochondria, as well as reduced evoked and spontaneous neurotransmission. We found that reduced STIM-mediated ER-plasma membrane contacts underlie presynaptic Ca2+ defects in Rtnl1 mutants. Our results show the importance of ER architecture in presynaptic physiology and function, which are therefore potential factors in the pathology of HSP.

Improving drug discovery through parallelism.

Compound identification in ligand-based virtual screening is limited by two key issues: the quality and the time needed to obtain predictions. In this sense, we designed OptiPharm, an algorithm that obtained excellent results in improving the sequential methods in the literature. In this work, we go a step further and propose its parallelization. Specifically, we propose a two-layer parallelization. Firstly, an automation of the molecule distribution process between the available nodes in a cluster, and secondly, a parallelization of the internal methods (initialization, reproduction, selection and optimization). This new software, called pOptiPharm, aims to improve the quality of predictions and reduce experimentation time. As the results show, the performance of the proposed methods is good. It can find better solutions than the sequential OptiPharm, all while reducing its computation time almost proportionally to the number of processing units considered.

Electrocatalytic CO2 Reduction with a Binuclear Bis-Terpyridine Pyrazole-Bridged Cobalt Complex.

A pyrazole-based ligand substituted with terpyridine groups at the 3 and 5 positions has been synthesized to form the dinuclear cobalt complex 1, that electrocatalytically reduces carbon dioxide (CO2 ) to carbon monoxide (CO) in the presence of Brønsted acids in DMF. Chemical, electrochemical and UV-vis spectro-electrochemical studies under inert atmosphere indicate pairwise reduction processes of complex 1. Infrared spectro-electrochemical studies under CO2 and CO atmosphere are consistent with a reduced CO-containing dicobalt complex which results from the electroreduction of CO2 . In the presence of trifluoroethanol (TFE), electrocatalytic studies revealed single-site mechanism with up to 94 % selectivity towards CO formation when 1.47 M TFE were present, at -1.35 V vs. Saturated Calomel Electrode in DMF (0.39 V overpotential). The low faradaic efficiencies obtained (<50 %) are attributed to the generation of CO-containing species formed during the electrocatalytic process, which inhibit the reduction of CO2 .

Small molecule activation with bimetallic systems: a landscape of cooperative reactivity.

There is growing interest in the design of bimetallic cooperative complexes, which have emerged due to their potential for bond activation and catalysis, a feature widely exploited by nature in metalloenzymes, and also in the field of heterogeneous catalysis. Herein, we discuss the widespread opportunities derived from combining two metals in close proximity, ranging from systems containing multiple M-M bonds to others in which bimetallic cooperation occurs even in the absence of M⋯M interactions. The choice of metal pairs is crucial for the reactivity of the resulting complexes. In this context, we describe the prospects of combining not only transition metals but also those of the main group series, which offer additional avenues for cooperative pathways and reaction discovery. Emphasis is given to mechanisms by which bond activation occurs across bimetallic structures, which is ascribed to the precise synergy between the two metal atoms. The results discussed herein indicate a future landscape full of possibilities within our reach, where we anticipate that bimetallic synergism will have an important impact in the design of more efficient catalytic processes and the discovery of new catalytic transformations.

Enhanced Dihydrogen Activation by Mononuclear Iridium(II) Compounds: A Mechanistic Study.

The organometallic chemistry of 4d and 5d transition metals has been vastly dominated by closed-shell states. The reactivity of their metalloradical species is though remarkable, albeit yet poorly understood and with limited mechanistic investigations available. In this work we report the synthesis and characterization of two mononuclear IrII species, including the first dinitrogen adduct. These compounds activate dihydrogen at a dissimilar rate, in the latter case several orders of magnitude faster than its IrI precursor. A combined experimental/computational investigation to ascertain the mechanism of this transformation in IrII compounds is reported.

Corrigendum: LanB1 Cooperates With Kon-Tiki During Embryonic Muscle Migration in Drosophila.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.749723.].

Programa de educación emocional y alfabetización en salud mental en adolescentes de centros residenciales de acción educativa / Programa d’educació emocional i alfabetització en salut mental en adolescents de centres residencials d’acció educativa / Evaluation of the satisfaction of a programme for adolescents assisted in Residential Centres for Educational Action

El objetivo del estudio es evaluar la satisfacción de un programa de educación social,emocional y alfabetización (PESEA) en salud mental para adolescentes que viven en centros residenciales deatención educativa (CRAE) de Barcelona, así como describir su salud emocional y mental. Participan 14 jóvenescon una edad media de 13,57 años (DE 1,55) de tres CRAE. El programa PESEA es considerado interesante, útil ypráctico; muestra una adherencia alta y, por tanto, estaría indicado para promover el bienestar mental y la alfa-betización en salud mental en estos jóvenes.(AU)

The study aims to evaluate the satisfaction of a social, emotional, and literacy education programme (PE-SEA) in mental health for adolescents living in residential educational care centres (CRAE) in Barcelona, as wellas to describe their emotional and mental health. Fourteen young people with an average age of 13,57 (SD 1,55)from three CRAE participated. PESEA programmes are considered interesting, useful, and practical; it shows highadherence and would therefore be suitable for promoting mental wellbeing and mental health literacy in theseyoung people.(AU)

L'objectiu de l'estudi és avaluar la satisfacció d'un programa d'educació social, emocional i alfabetitza-ció (PESEA) en salut mental per a adolescents que viuen en centres residencials d'atenció educativa (CRAE) deBarcelona, així com descriure’n la salut emocional i mental. Hi participen 14 joves amb una edat mitjana de 13,57anys (DE 1,55) de tres CRAE. El programa PESEA és considerat interessant, útil i pràctic; mostra una adherènciaalta i, per tant, estaria indicat per promoure el benestar mental i l'alfabetització en salut mental en aquests joves.(AU)

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus schleiferi subspecies coagulans associated with otitis externa and pyoderma in dogs.

Background: Dermatological infections are the most common cases in the daily pet clinic. Since its discovery in 1990, Staphylococcus schleiferi subspecies coagulans have been reported more frequently in canine otitis externa and pyoderma and even in cases of zoonoses. Aim: Detect the presence of S. schleiferi subsp. coagulans of canine otitis externa and pyoderma, its antimicrobial resistance, and the presence of mecAgen. Methods: Three-hundred-thirty-one swabs from dogs with otitis externa and pyoderma were cultured on bacteriological agar for bacterial isolation and subsequent biochemical and molecular identification. The identified S. schleiferi subsp. coagulans were evaluated for their antimicrobial susceptibility using the Kirby-Bauer technique, including an oxacillin disk, and subsequently, a PCR was run to identify which ones had the mecA gene. Results: Thirty-four (22.97%) and twelve (6.56%) isolates were identified as S. schleiferi subspecies coagulans from otitis externa and pyoderma, respectively. Fluoroquinolones, the most widely used group of antibiotics in Peru, showed a susceptibility of 58.82% (20/34) in cases of otitis externa and 50% (6/12) in cases of canine pyoderma. Meanwhile, nitrofurantoin was the antibiotic with the best efficacy in both cases, with 97% (33/34) in otitis externa and 83% (10/12) in pyoderma. Furthermore, 40% (13/34) of S. schleiferi subsp. coagulans isolated from otitis externa were resistant to methicillin, and 85.29% (29/34) had the mecA gene. On the other hand, the only methicillin-resistant isolate from pyoderma was also the only one with a mecA gene. Conclusion: This study is the first report of S. schleiferi subsp. coagulans in Peru, finding a higher percentage than reported in other South American countries.

Fruit and Vegetable Consumption is Inversely Associated with Plasma Saturated Fatty Acids at Baseline in Predimed Plus Trial.

SCOPE: Plasma fatty acids (FAs) are associated with the development of cardiovascular diseases and metabolic syndrome. The aim of our study is to assess the relationship between fruit and vegetable (F&V) consumption and plasma FAs and their subtypes. METHODS AND RESULTS: Plasma FAs are assessed in a cross-sectional analysis of a subsample of 240 subjects from the PREDIMED-Plus study. Participants are categorized into four groups of fruit, vegetable, and fat intake according to the food frequency questionnaire. Plasma FA analysis is performed using gas chromatography. Associations between FAs and F&V consumption are adjusted for age, sex, physical activity, body mass index (BMI), total energy intake, and alcohol consumption. Plasma saturated FAs are lower in groups with high F&V consumption (-1.20 mg cL-1 [95% CI: [-2.22, -0.18], p-value = 0.021), especially when fat intake is high (-1.74 mg cL-1 [95% CI: [-3.41, -0.06], p-value = 0.042). Total FAs and n-6 polyunsaturated FAs tend to be lower in high consumers of F&V only in the high-fat intake groups. CONCLUSIONS: F&V consumption is associated with lower plasma saturated FAs when fat intake is high. These findings suggest that F&V consumption may have different associations with plasma FAs depending on their subtype and on the extent of fat intake.

Perceived Intensity and Palatability of Fatty Culinary Preparations is Associated with Individual Fatty Acid Detection Threshold and the Fatty Acid Profile of Oils Used as Ingredients.

The term oleogustus was recently proposed to describe a sixth basic taste that could guide preference for fatty foods and dishes to an extent. However, experimental data on food preference based on fatty acid (FA) content is scarce. Our aim was to examine the role of FA profile of oils and preparations as well as FA sensory thresholds on the palatability of salty and sweet culinary preparations representative of traditional Spanish Mediterranean cooking. In this study, we used three oils with similar texture and odor profile but different in their FA composition (saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated) and compared subjects in regard to their FA detection threshold and perceived pleasantness and intensity. Our results indicate that whereas saturated FAs cannot be detected at physiological concentrations, individuals can be categorized as tasters and nontasters, according to their sensory threshold to linoleic acid, which is negatively associated with perceived intensity (r = -0.393, P < 0.001) but positively with palatability (r = 0.246, P = 0.018). These differences may be due to a possible response to a fat taste. This sixth taste, or oleogustus. would allow establishing differences in taste intensity/palatability considering the FA profile of the culinary preparations. Given that tasters can detect linoleic and oleic acid at lower concentrations than nontasters, a greater amount of unsaturated FAs in culinary preparations could provoke an unpleasant experience. This finding could be relevant in the context of the culinary sector and to further our understanding of food preference and eating behavior.

The Association between Trainer Expertise and Changes in Adolescent Symptomatology in an Evidence-Based Family Prevention Programme.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to assess whether the outcomes of implementations of the Universal Strengthening Families Program (SFP 11-14) are linked to the competences or specific skills of the trainers of social field who gave them. METHOD: The analyzed data was based on ratings awarded by the 174 mothers participating in the SFP 11-14. By conducting a K-means cluster analysis, significant groups were identified, based on the ratings awarded to the trainers. RESULTS/DISCUSSION: A comparison of the clusters led to the identification of significant differences between cluster 2 (trainers with limited skills) and the other clusters in terms of changes in the children's symptoms after participating in the SFP 11-14. Trainers with limited skills were associated with fewer changes in the symptomatology. It highlights the importance of proficient trainers in programme outcomes, and it could serve as a guide for the public social work in the design of EBP.

LanB1 Cooperates With Kon-Tiki During Embryonic Muscle Migration in Drosophila.

Muscle development is a multistep process that involves cell specification, myoblast fusion, myotube migration, and attachment to the tendons. In spite of great efforts trying to understand the basis of these events, little is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying myotube migration. Knowledge of the few molecular cues that guide this migration comes mainly from studies in Drosophila. The migratory process of Drosophila embryonic muscles involves a first phase of migration, where muscle progenitors migrate relative to each other, and a second phase, where myotubes migrate searching for their future attachment sites. During this phase, myotubes form extensive filopodia at their ends oriented preferentially toward their attachment sites. This myotube migration and the subsequent muscle attachment establishment are regulated by cell adhesion receptors, such as the conserved proteoglycan Kon-tiki/Perdido. Laminins have been shown to regulate the migratory behavior of many cell populations, but their role in myotube migration remains largely unexplored. Here, we show that laminins, previously implicated in muscle attachment, are indeed required for muscle migration to tendon cells. Furthermore, we find that laminins genetically interact with kon-tiki/perdido to control both myotube migration and attachment. All together, our results uncover a new role for the interaction between laminins and Kon-tiki/Perdido during Drosophila myogenesis. The identification of new players and molecular interactions underlying myotube migration broadens our understanding of muscle development and disease.

Effect of physiological factors, pathologies, and acquired habits on the sweet taste threshold: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Sweet taste perception is a key factor in the establishment of the food pattern with nonstatic thresholds. Indeed, taste sensitivity can be influenced by physiological factors (age and sex), pathologies (obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus), and acquired habits (tobacco and alcohol consumption). In order to elucidate how these variables influence the sucrose detection threshold (DT) and recognition threshold (RT), a systematic review and meta-analysis of the relevant literature were performed. After a comprehensive search in the PubMed and Scopus databases, a total of 48 studies were qualitatively considered, and 44 were meta-analyzed. The factors of aging (standard mean difference [SMD]: -0.46; 95% confidence interval (CI), -0.74 to -0.19; I2 : 73%; Tau2 : 0.18) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (SMD: 0.30; 95% CI, 0.06 to 0.55; I2 : 0%; Tau2 : 0.00) were found to significantly increase the sucrose RT, whereas the DT only increased in subjects with a higher body mass index (SMD: 0.58; 95% CI, 0.35 to 0.82; I2 : 0%; Tau2 : 0.00). No effects of sex and tobacco smoking were found, and associations with alcohol consumption could not be assessed, as it was included as a variable in only one study. Feasible mechanisms underlying changes in sucrose thresholds include the modulation of hormones involved in energy and body weight homeostasis, taste bud abundance, taste brain signaling, and the gut-brain axis. The present work provides insights into the variables that should be considered when assessing sweet taste sensitivity, discusses the mechanisms underlying differences in sweet taste, and highlights the need for further research in the field of personalized nutrition.

Tuning Activity and Selectivity during Alkyne Activation by Gold(I)/Platinum(0) Frustrated Lewis Pairs.

Introducing transition metals into frustrated Lewis pair systems has attracted considerable attention in recent years. Here we report a selection of three metal-only frustrated systems based on Au(I)/Pt(0) combinations and their reactivity toward alkynes. We have inspected the activation of acetylene and phenylacetylene. The gold(I) fragments are stabilized by three bulky phosphines bearing terphenyl groups. We have observed that subtle modifications on the substituents of these ligands proved critical in controlling the regioselectivity of acetylene activation and the product distribution resulting from C(sp)-H cleavage of phenylacetylene. A mechanistic picture based on experimental observations and computational analysis is provided. As a result of the cooperative action of the two metals of the frustrated pairs, several uncommon heterobimetallic structures have been characterized.

Experiencia de la atención de enfermeras de salud mental durante la pandemia de la COVID-19 / Experience of care by Mental Health Nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic

En marzo de 2020 la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) declara la situación de pandemia por COVID-19. En situaciones de crisis como puede ser una pandemia, las personas reaccionan y responden de diversas maneras en el ámbito psicosomático. Existe evidencia de que la Primera Ayuda Psicología (PAP) resulta un apoyo efectivo tras un acontecimiento crítico. En este artículo se expone la experiencia de un equipo de enfermeras especialistas en salud mental en el Servicio de Urgencias del Hospital Galdakao-Usansolo (Bizkaia) durante la pandemia de la COVID-19 en el periodo comprendido entre marzo y mayo del año 2020. El objetivo de este texto es dar a conocer las actuaciones desarrolladas durante esta crisis sanitaria para que pueda servir como modelo de futuros protocolos de actuación que recojan estas acciones o similares, con el fin último de mejorar la calidad de la atención a las familias, pacientes y profesionales (sobre todo desde el plano emocional) en una situación de pandemia y/o aislamiento hospitalario, tanto en el hospital en el que se han llevado a cabo, como en otros centros sanitarios y sociosanitarios, dentro y fuera de la comunidad autónoma vasca

On March, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the pandemic situation by COVID-19. In scenarios of crisis such as a pandemic, persons will react and respond in different ways in the psychosomatic setting. There is evidence that Psychological First Aid (PFA) provides effective support after a critical event. This article describes the experience of a team of nurses specialized in mental health from the Emergency Unit of the Hospital Galdakao-Usansolo (Basque Country) during the COVID-19 pandemic in the period between March and May, 2020. The objective of this article is to make public the actions conducted during this health crisis, in order to become the model for future protocols of action collecting these or similar actions, with the ultimate goal to improve care for families, patients and professionals (particularly at emotional level) in a scenario of pandemic and/or hospital isolation, in the hospital where they have been implemented as well as in other healthcare and sociosanitary centers, inside and outside the Basque Autonomous Community

Endoplasmic Reticulum Lumenal Indicators in Drosophila Reveal Effects of HSP-Related Mutations on Endoplasmic Reticulum Calcium Dynamics.

Genes for endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-shaping proteins are among the most commonly mutated in hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP). Mutation of these genes in model organisms can lead to disruption of the ER network. To investigate how the physiological roles of the ER might be affected by such disruption, we developed tools to interrogate its Ca2+ signaling function. We generated GAL4-driven Ca2+ sensors targeted to the ER lumen, to record ER Ca2+ fluxes in identified Drosophila neurons. Using GAL4 lines specific for Type Ib or Type Is larval motor neurons, we compared the responses of different lumenal indicators to electrical stimulation, in axons and presynaptic terminals. The most effective sensor, ER-GCaMP6-210, had a Ca2+ affinity close to the expected ER lumenal concentration. Repetitive nerve stimulation generally showed a transient increase of lumenal Ca2+ in both the axon and presynaptic terminals. Mutants lacking neuronal reticulon and REEP proteins, homologs of human HSP proteins, showed a larger ER lumenal evoked response compared to wild type; we propose mechanisms by which this phenotype could lead to neuronal dysfunction or degeneration. Our lines are useful additions to a Drosophila Ca2+ imaging toolkit, to explore the physiological roles of ER, and its pathophysiological roles in HSP and in axon degeneration more broadly.