Antinuclear antibodies in psychiatric illness: their relationship to diagnosis and drug treatment.

Antinuclear antibodies occurred more often and in higher titres in psychiatric patients than in controls. Anti-DNA antibodies were not found. We suggest that antinuclear antibodies may be drug-induced and that lithium carbonate may have a particular tendency to produce this reaction.     

How the religious context affects the relationship between religiosity and attitudes towards immigration

This article approaches two shortcomings in previous research on religiosity and prejudice: (1) the lack of cross-country comparative studies; and (2) a failure to consider any moderating effects of religious contexts. We examine whether the relationship between religiosity and anti-immigration attitudes varies depending on religious contexts in Europe, and we find two things. First, strongly religious people are on average less likely to oppose immigration than non-religious people. Second, different religious contexts moderate the religiosity–attitude relationship in that religious people in Protestant countries and in countries with a low proportion of majority adherents are more tolerant than religious people in Catholic countries and in religiously homogenous countries. State policies also matter in that religious people are more negative where the government favours the majority religion. This calls into question the taken-for-granted understanding of religiosity and out-group attitudes found in the USA.     

Low self-esteem and psychiatric patients: Part I - The relationship between low self-esteem and psychiatric diagnosis

BACKGROUND: The objective of the current study was to determine the prevalence and the degree of lowered self-esteem across the spectrum of psychiatric disorders. METHOD: The present study was carried out on a consecutive sample of 1,190 individuals attending an open-access psychiatric outpatient clinic. There were 957 psychiatric patients, 182 cases with conditions not attributable to a mental disorder, and 51 control subjects. Patients were diagnosed according to DSM III-R diagnostic criteria following detailed assessments. At screening, individuals completed two questionnaires to measure self-esteem, the Rosenberg self-esteem scale and the Janis and Field Social Adequacy scale. Statistical analyses were performed on the scores of the two self-esteem scales. RESULTS: The results of the present study demonstrate that all psychiatric patients suffer some degree of lowered self-esteem. Furthermore, the degree to which self-esteem was lowered differed among various diagnostic groups. Self-esteem was lowest in patients with major depressive disorder, eating disorders, and substance abuse. Also, there is evidence of cumulative effects of psychiatric disorders on self-esteem. Patients who had comorbid diagnoses, particularly when one of the diagnoses was depressive disorders, tended to show lower self-esteem. CONCLUSIONS: Based on both the previous literature, and the results from the current study, we propose that there is a vicious cycle between low self-esteem and onset of psychiatric disorders. Thus, low self-esteem increases the susceptibility for development of psychiatric disorders, and the presence of a psychiatric disorder, in turn, lowers self-esteem. Our findings suggest that this effect is more pronounced with certain psychiatric disorders, such as major depression and eating disorders.     

Clarifying the relationship between body size and extinction risk in amphibians by complete mapping of model space

In vertebrates, large body size is often a key diagnostic feature of species threatened with extinction. However, in amphibians the link between body size and extinction risk is highly uncertain, with previous studies suggesting positive, negative, u-shaped, or no relationship. Part of the reason for this uncertainty is ‘researcher degrees of freedom’: the subjectivity and selectivity in choices associated with specifying and fitting models. Here, I clarify the size–threat association in amphibians using Specification Curve Analysis, an analytical approach from the social sciences that attempts to minimize this problem by complete mapping of model space. I find strong support for prevailing negative associations between body size and threat status, the opposite of patterns typical in other vertebrates. This pattern is largely explained by smaller species having smaller geographic ranges, but smaller amphibian species also appear to lack some of the life-history advantages (e.g. higher reproductive output) that are often assumed to ‘protect’ small species in other taxa. These results highlight the need for a renewed conservation focus on the smallest species of the world''s most threatened class of vertebrates, as aquatic habitats become increasingly degraded by human activity.     

In vivo-induced suppression of T cell proliferation: the relationship between the specificity of induction and control

We have previously shown that sc immunization of C57BL/10 (H-2b) mice with the tobacco mosaic virus protein (TMVP) or with its tryptic peptide number 8, representing residues 93-112 of TMVP, induces T cells which proliferate in vitro in response to TMVP and to peptide 8. In contrast, immunization of B10.BR (H-2k) mice either with TMVP or with peptide 8 induces T cells which respond in vitro to the homologous but not the heterologous Ag. In the present article , we report that in the B10.BR (H-2k) strain, ip prepriming with (TMVP) 7 days prior to sc immunization with peptide 8 causes a drastic reduction in the in vitro proliferative response of peptide 8-specific T cells while no such effect is seen in the congenic C57BL/10 (H-2b) strain. This suppression of T cell responsiveness can be transferred with TMVP-primed spleen cells. Moreover, deleting T cells from the transferred spleen cells abrogates the suppressive effect. In both H-2 haplotypes, ip prepriming with peptide 8 causes suppression of the proliferative T cell response induced by subsequent immunization with peptide 8. This prepriming has no effect on the response to TMVP immunization of B10.BR mice but does effect the response of C57BL/10 mice. Using various synthetic peptides to analyze the specificity of the suppression, we have determined that (1) T cells involved in the suppression of the proliferative T cell response to a single peptide determinant do not suppress the proliferative T cell response to other determinants on the protein antigen and (2) these T cells with suppressor function, and proliferating T cells which are ultimately regulated, can exhibit specificity for the same epitope. These studies suggest that there may exist fundamental differences as to how T cells which participate in suppression an proliferating T cells (which include mainly T helper cells) recognize protein antigens.     

Dynamic karyotype,dynamic proteome: buffering the effects of aneuploidy

Despite its ubiquity in cancer, link with other pathologies, and role in promoting adaptive evolution, the effects of aneuploidy or imbalanced chromosomal content on cellular physiology have remained incompletely characterized. Significantly, it appears that the detrimental as well as beneficial effects of aneuploidy are due to the altered gene expression elicited by the aneuploid state. In this review we examine the correlation between chromosome copy number changes and gene expression in aneuploid cells. We discuss the primary effects of aneuploidy on gene expression and describe the cellular response to altered mRNA and protein levels. Moreover, we consider compensatory mechanisms that may ameliorate imbalanced gene expression and restore protein homeostasis in aneuploid cells. Finally, we propose a novel hypothesis to explain the hitherto enigmatic abundance compensation of proteins encoded on supernumerary chromosomes.     

从酶的专一性看植酸酶与酸性磷酸酶的关系

迄今为止的资料表明,大多数植酸酶与酸性磷酸酶的关系密切。通过测定Km,即可判断只有以植酸（盐）为最适底物的酶（包括酸性磷酸酶）才是严格意义上的植酸酶。     

Low self-esteem and psychiatric patients: Part II - The relationship between self-esteem and demographic factors and psychosocial stressors in psychiatric patients

BACKGROUND: The objective of the present study was to identify the effects and relative importance of demographic factors and psychosocial stressors on self-esteem of psychiatric patients. METHOD: The present study was carried out on a consecutive sample of 1,190 individuals attending an open-access psychiatric outpatient clinic. Patients were diagnosed according to DSM III-R diagnostic criteria following detailed assessments. At screening, patients and controls completed two self-esteem questionnaires, the Rosenberg self-esteem scale and the Janis and Field Social Adequacy scale. In addition, a large amount of demographic and psychosocial data was collected on all patients. RESULTS: Significantly increased self-esteem was observed with an increase in age, educational achievement and income. Employed patients showed significantly higher self-esteem compared to unemployed patients. Female patients had a significantly lower self-esteem compared to male patients. The self-esteem of psychiatric patients did not vary significantly with their marital status. No relationship was detected between acute stressors and the self-esteem of psychiatric patients, although severe enduring stressors were associated with lower self-esteem in psychiatric patients. CONCLUSION: The results of this large study demonstrate that the self-esteem of adult psychiatric patients is affected by a number of demographic and psychosocial factors including age, sex, educational status, income, employment status, and enduring psychosocial stressors.     

Conceptualization of psychiatric illness and help-seeking behavior among Chinese

Problem conceptualizations of Chinese psychiatric patients were studied in relation to the patterns of help-seeking and ways of coping. Patients who conceptualized their initial problems in purely psychological terms were more likely to use self-directed psychological coping methods, delay initial professional consultation, and approach mental health professionals. Patients who used only somatic concepts were least likely to approach mental health professionals initially or any time during their previous consultation history, and tended to approach medical resources to cope with their problems. Patients who conceptualized their problems in mixed terms approached professional help early on and reached psychiatric resources soonest. These results provide a clearer perspective to understand the somatization tendency among Chinese patients.     

Plasma triiodothyronines in fetal sheep: effects of illness and thyroidectomy.

Plasma 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T3) and 3,3',5'-triiodothyronine concentrations were measured in fetal sheep prior to death in utero and after thyroidectomy. In six fetal sheep who subsequently died in utero, plasma rT3 concentrations were elevated in all for 2 to 13 days prior to death. There were no consistent changes in plasma T4 concentrations. In two thyroidectomized fetal sheep, plasma T4 and rT3 concentrations fell to low levels. Plasma T3 concentrations remained low and there was no increase in plasma T3 in the last week prior to parturition like that which occurs in normal fetal sheep. Parturition was preceded by the normal increase in fetal plasma cortisol concentrations and occurred at the normal time. These data indicate that plasma rT3 concentrations are increased as a result of illness in fetal sheep and that such measurements may be useful as an indicator of fetal distress. The normal increase in plasma T3 late in gestation is not necessary for the late gestational cortisol surge or for normal parturition.     

Investigation of restriction enzyme cofactor requirements: a relationship between metal ion properties and sequence specificity

Restriction enzymes are important model systems for understanding the mechanistic contributions of metal ions to nuclease activity. These systems are unique in that they combine distinct functions which have been shown to depend on metal ions: high-affinity DNA binding, sequence-specific recognition of DNA, and Mg(II)-dependent phosphodiester cleavage. While Ca(II) and Mn(II) are commonly used to promote DNA binding and cleavage, respectively, the metal ion properties that are critical to the support of these functions are not clear. To address this question, we assessed the abilities of a series of metal ions to promote DNA binding, sequence specificity, and cleavage in the representative PvuII endonuclease. Among the metal ions tested [Ca(II), Sr(II), Ba(II), Eu(III), Tb(III), Cd(II), Mn(II), Co(II), and Zn(II)], only Mn(II) and Co(II) were similar enough to Mg(II) to support detectable cleavage activity. Interestingly, cofactor requirements for the support of DNA binding are much more permissive; the survey of DNA binding cofactors indicated that Cd(II) and the heavier and larger alkaline earth metal ions Sr(II) and Ba(II) were effective cofactors, stimulating DNA binding affinity 20-200-fold. Impressively, the trivalent lanthanides Tb(III) and Eu(III) promoted DNA binding as efficiently as Ca(II), corresponding to an increase in affinity over 1000-fold higher than that observed under metal-free conditions. The trend for DNA binding affinity supported by these ions suggests that ionic radius and charge are not critical to the promotion of DNA binding. To examine the role of metal ions in sequence discrimination, we determined specificity factors [K(a)(specific)/K(a)(nonspecific)] in the presence of Cd(II), Ba(II), and Tb(III). Most interestingly, all of these ions compromised sequence specificity to some degree compared to Ca(II), by either increased affinity for a noncognate sequence, decreased affinity for the cognate sequence, or both. These results suggest that while amino acid-base contacts are important for specificity, the properties of metal ion cofactors at the catalytic site are also critical for sequence discrimination. This insight is invaluable to our efforts to understand and subsequently design sequence-specific nucleases.     

Explaining religious differences in immigrants' gender role attitudes: the changing impact of origin country and individual religiosity

Religion is often perceived as one of the main barriers to immigrant integration in Europe. By focusing on the contested area of immigrants' gender role attitudes, this study analyses data of first- and second-generation immigrants from multiple origin countries and of different religious affiliations in comparison to the native population. It shows that higher levels of religiosity can explain immigrants' more traditional attitudes to some extent, but that origin country socialization acts as an important additional determinant of attitudes of the first generation. Among second-generation migrants, only Muslims continue to hold more traditional attitudes. Acculturation for longer-staying migrants is partly explained by declining religiosity, with some evidence for a decoupling of attitudes from religious beliefs among female migrants in particular. Intergenerational change, on the other hand, cannot be attributed to a decline in the role of religiosity.     

蛋白质组学在水稻与微生物互作研究中的应用

应用蛋白质组学方法揭示植物与微生物的互作机制是当前植物病理学研究的热点之一。结合水稻感染水稻条纹病毒后的蛋白质组学分析经验,综述了蛋白质组学在水稻与微生物互作研究中的应用,包括水稻与真菌、细菌、病毒互作的蛋白组学和突变体蛋白质组学。在总结研究现状的基础上,提出了水稻与微生物互作的蛋白质组学研究中存在的问题,并对该领域的发展前景进行展望。     

The impact of the glial spatial buffering on the K+ Nernst potential

Astrocytes play a critical role in CNS metabolism, regulation of volume and ion homeostasis of the interstitial space. Of special relevance is their clearance of K⁺ that is released by active neurons into the extracellular space. Mathematical analysis of a modified Nernst equation for the electrochemical equilibrium of neuronal plasma membranes, suggests that K⁺ uptake by glial cells is not only relevant during neuronal activity but also has a non-neglectable impact on the basic electrical membrane properties, specifically the resting membrane potential, of neurons and might be clinically valuable as a factor in the genetics and epigenetics of the epilepsy and tuberous sclerosis complex.     

Antibody conjugates mimic specific B cell presentation of antigen: relationship between T and B cell specificity

We developed antibody conjugates by covalently coupling antibodies against mouse mu-chain and monoclonal antibodies against nominal antigen, myoglobin, as a tool for antigen presentation and as a model of specific presentation of antigen by antigen-specific B cells and T-B interaction. In the presence of the antibody conjugates, myoglobin-specific Iad-restricted cloned T cells proliferated at 1000-fold lower concentration of myoglobin than the stimulatory concentration without the conjugates. This enhanced presentation was observed only when Iad spleen cells were 1000 R-irradiated but not 3300 R-irradiated, consistent with B cell presentation. The simple mixture of each component of the conjugates had no enhancement effects. The conjugates per se had no mitogenic effects on either splenic B cells or the cloned T cells at concentrations employed for antigen presentation. The conjugates reduced the number of antigen-presenting cells required for the maximal response but did not change the kinetics of response. The enhanced presentation by the conjugates required a genetically restricted interaction with B cells. Antigen specificity of the enhanced presentation was confirmed by using various T cell clones or lines with different antigen specificities and different conjugates constructed with monoclonal antibodies of known epitope specificity. The enhanced presentation was significantly inhibited by competition with exogenous mouse IgM or anti-mouse mu-chain but was not significantly inhibited by monoclonal antibodies against Fc receptor. Thus, conjugate-coated B cells serve as models for myoglobin-specific B cells in that they can take up specific antigens at extremely low concentration and can present the antigen to specific T cells. This model system can be applied to any antigen and any species without the need to develop antigen-specific B cell clones, which is not yet possible for most antigens and species of experimental animals. This system allowed us to investigate the relationship between T cell epitope and B cell epitope when these cells interact with each other in an antigen-specific and Ia-restricted manner. Experiments using antibody conjugates of different monoclonal antibodies against myoglobin and various myoglobin-specific cloned T cells of known antigen specificity revealed that there are some particular combinations in which much more limited enhancement of antigen presentation is observed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)