Childhood obesity and parental smoking as risk factors for childhood ADHD in Liverpool children

ADHD prevalence has risen in parallel with rising prevalence of pregnancy smoking and childhood obesity. The objective was to determine the epidemiological association of pregnancy smoking and childhood obesity with ADHD. A cross-sectional community study was conducted in 2006 using a parental questionnaire. A total of 1,074 schoolchildren aged 5-11 years were enrolled from 15 primary schools in a lower socio-economic area of Merseyside. ADHD was defined by the question "does your child have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, (ADHD), which has been diagnosed by a doctor?" The prevalence estimates for childhood obesity, maternal smoking during pregnancy and childhood ADHD were 14.9% (116/777), 28.0% (269/955), and 3.4% (32/945), respectively. ADHD prevalence increased fivefold in children with obesity (RR, 4.80, 95% CI 2.2-10.4, P < 0.001) and more than twofold in children of mothers who smoked during pregnancy (RR, 2.44, 95% CI 1.2-4.9, P = 0.02). Regression analysis adjusting for obesity, overweight, maternal smoking during pregnancy, heavy maternal smoking, household member smoking during pregnancy, doctor-diagnosed asthma, preterm birth, and low birthweight showed significant independent associations of ADHD prevalence with obesity (AOR, 4.66, 95% CI 1.57-13.89, P = 0.006) and pregnancy smoking (AOR, 3.19, 95% CI 1.08-9.49, P = 0.04). There was a positive dose-response association of ADHD with the number of maternal cigarettes smoked during pregnancy. Measures to reduce both smoking among pregnant women and childhood obesity might reduce prevalence of childhood ADHD.     

Electron Paramagnetic Resonance and Spin Trapping Study of Radicals Formed During Reaction of Aromatic Amines with isoAmyl Nitrite Under Aprotic Conditions

Diazotization of primary aromatic amines with isoamyl nitrite in benzene at room temperature was studied employing EPR and spin trapping techniques. Nitrosodurene (ND). 2-methyl-2-nitrosopropane (MNP). and 5,5-dimethyl-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO) were used as spin trapping agents. Aryl radicals were detected employing ND and MNP. Using DMPO as a spin trap most of the amines produced EPR spectra ascribed to adducts with aniline-type radicals (N-centred radicals). The assignments were verified using ¹⁵JN-labeled anilines. Similar spectra of DMPO adducts were recorded from amines treated with benzoyl peroxide or benzophenone plus UV. Possible mechanisms of formation of these adducts (radical trapping versus nucleophilic addition to DMPO followed by oxidation) during treatment of the amines with isoamyl nitrite are discussed.     

Inhibition of calcium ATPase by phencyclidine in rat brain

Phencyclidine (PCP) is a potent psychotomimetic drug of abuse and has profound effect on the functioning of the central nervous system (CNS). Many of the CNS functions are known to be mediated by calcium (Ca2+). In the present study we have investigated the effects of PCP on Ca2+ ATPase activity in rat brain both in vitro and in vivo. For in vitro studies, synaptic membrane fractions prepared from normal rat brain were incubated with PCP at different concentrations (25-100 M) before the addition of substrate. For n vivo studies, rats were treated with a single moderate dose of PCP (10 mg/kg, IP) and animals were sacrificed at 1,2, 6 and 12 h after treatment. Ca2+ ATPase activity in synaptic membrane fractions was assayed by estimation of inorganic phosphate. PCP inhibited the Ca2+ ATPase in vitro in a concentration dependent manner with significant effect at 50 and 100 M. A significant time-dependent reduction of the Ca2+ ATPase activity was evident in vivo. As early as 2 h after the treatment of rats with PCP the ATPase activity was significantly reduced. The reduction of Ca2+ ATPase observed even at 12 h after treatment suggesting a prolonged presence of the drug in the brain tissue. Further, kinetic studies in vitro indicated PCP to be a competitive inhibitor of Ca2+ ATPase with respect to the substrate, ATP. The present findings indicate that PCP inhibits synaptic membrane Ca2+ ATPase thus altering cellular Ca2+ homeostasis in CNS which may partially explain the pharmacological effects of the drug and/or its neurotoxicity.     

Global patterns of geographic range size in birds

Large-scale patterns of spatial variation in species geographic range size are central to many fundamental questions in macroecology and conservation biology. However, the global nature of these patterns has remained contentious, since previous studies have been geographically restricted and/or based on small taxonomic groups. Here, using a database on the breeding distributions of birds, we report the first (to our knowledge) global maps of variation in species range sizes for an entire taxonomic class. We show that range area does not follow a simple latitudinal pattern. Instead, the smallest range areas are attained on islands, in mountainous areas, and largely in the southern hemisphere. In contrast, bird species richness peaks around the equator, and towards higher latitudes. Despite these profoundly different latitudinal patterns, spatially explicit models reveal a weak tendency for areas with high species richness to house species with significantly smaller median range area. Taken together, these results show that for birds many spatial patterns in range size described in geographically restricted analyses do not reflect global rules. It remains to be discovered whether global patterns in geographic range size are best interpreted in terms of geographical variation in species assemblage packing, or in the rates of speciation, extinction, and dispersal that ultimately underlie biodiversity.     

9,10-seco-9,19-Cyclolanostane arabinosides from the roots of Actaea podocarpa

Seven 9,10-seco-9,19-cyclolanostane arabinosides, named podocarpasides A-G (1-7), were isolated from the roots of Actaea podocarpa DC., a species closely related to black cohosh (a well known dietary supplement). Their structures were determined with the help of spectroscopic data including extensive 2D NMR spectroscopy. The isolates were found inactive, when tested for cytotoxic, estrogenic, and antioxidant activities in cell based assays. They were also tested for anticomplement activity against the classical pathway of complement system and only podocarpaside C (3) inhibited modest complement activity with an IC50 value of 200 microM.     

A new sighting of the Mediterranean Monk Seal,Monachus monachus (Hermann, 1779), in the Marmara Sea (Turkey)

Rhagodes Pocock, 1897 is the most speciose genus within the family Rhagodidae and species diagnosis is often very difficult. We found Rhagodes eylandti (Walter, 1889) for the first time again since the 1930s and redescribe some morphological features of the male and compare them with the literature. The main diagnostic characters are illustrated.     

Leishmania species: Detection and identification by nested PCR assay from skin samples of rodent reservoirs

Many rodent species act as reservoir hosts of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in endemic areas. In the present study a simple and reliable assay based on nested PCR was developed for the detection and identification of Leishmania parasites from rodent skin samples. We designed Leishmania-specific primers that successfully amplified ITS regions of Leishmania major, Leishmania gerbilli and Leishmania turanica using nested PCR. Out of 95 field collected Rhombomys opimus, 21 were positive by microscopic examination and 48 by nested PCR. The percentage of gerbils infected with L. major, L. gerbilli and L. turanica was 3.2%, 1.1% and 27.4%, respectively. In 15.8% of the rodents, we found mixed natural infections by L. major and L. turanica, 1.1% by L. major and L. gerbilli, and 2.1% by the three species. We concluded that this method is simple and reliable for detecting and identifying Leishmania species circulating in rodent populations.     

Inter-Segmental Coordination Pattern in Patients with Anterior Cruciate Ligament Deficiency during a Single-Step Descent

Anterior cruciate ligament injury is a debilitating pathology which may alter lower limb coordination pattern in both intact and affected lower extremities during activities of daily living. Emerging evidence supports the notion that kinematic variables may not be a good indicator to differentiate patients with anterior cruciate ligament deficiency during step descent task. The aim of the present study was to examine alterations in kinematics as well as coordination patterns and coordination variability of both limbs of these patients during a single step descent task. Continuous relative phase technique was used to measure coordination pattern and coordination variability between a group of anterior cruciate ligament deficient (n = 23) and a healthy control group (n = 23). A third order polynomial Curve fitting was utilized to provide a curve that best fitted to the data points of coordination pattern and coordination variability of the healthy control group. This was considered as a reference to compare to that of patient group using nonlinear regression analysis. The results of the present study demonstrated an altered coordination pattern of the supporting shank-thigh and the stepping foot-shank couplings in anterior cruciate ligament deficient subjects. It was further noticed that there was an increased coordination variability in foot-shank and shank-thigh couplings of both supporting and stepping legs. There was no significant difference in the hip, knee and ankle joints kinematics in either side of these patients. Anterior cruciate ligament deficient individuals showed altered strategies in both intact and affected legs, with increased coordination variability. Kinematic data did not indicate any significant difference between the two groups. It could be concluded that more sophisticated dynamic approach such as continuous relative phase would uncover discrepancies between the healthy and anterior cruciate ligament deficient individuals.     

Microbial hydroxylation of progesterone with Acremonium strictum

Microbial hydroxylation of progesterone occurred in the culture of Acremonium strictum PTCC 5282 to produce two hydroxylated pregnene-like steroids. The metabolites were purified and characterized using spectroscopic methods and identified as 15alpha-hydroxyprogesterone and 15alpha-hydroxydeoxycorticosterone.