Estimating short-run and long-run interaction mechanisms in interictal state

We address the issue of analyzing electroencephalogram (EEG) from seizure patients in order to test, model and determine the statistical properties that distinguish between EEG states (interictal, pre-ictal, ictal) by introducing a new class of time series analysis methods. In the present study: firstly, we employ statistical methods to determine the non-stationary behavior of focal interictal epileptiform series within very short time intervals; secondly, for such intervals that are deemed non-stationary we suggest the concept of Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) process modelling, well known in time series analysis. We finally address the queries of causal relationships between epileptic states and between brain areas during epileptiform activity. We estimate the interaction between different EEG series (channels) in short time intervals by performing Granger-causality analysis and also estimate such interaction in long time intervals by employing Cointegration analysis, both analysis methods are well-known in econometrics. Here we find: first, that the causal relationship between neuronal assemblies can be identified according to the duration and the direction of their possible mutual influences; second, that although the estimated bidirectional causality in short time intervals yields that the neuronal ensembles positively affect each other, in long time intervals neither of them is affected (increasing amplitudes) from this relationship. Moreover, Cointegration analysis of the EEG series enables us to identify whether there is a causal link from the interictal state to ictal state.     

The Safety Assessment of Toxic Metals in Commonly Used Pharmaceutical Herbal Products and Traditional Herbs for Infants in Jordanian Market

The objective of this study was to assess the levels of contamination by toxic metals (Pb, Al, Ni, Cd and As) that may be present in 25 infant pharmaceutical herbal products and 15 traditional herbs in Jordan. Both products and medicinal herbs are currently prescribed by paediatricians. They are available as over-the-counter medicines and are sold the in herbal market, ensuring easy accessibility for parents. Inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), with limit of detections (LODs) of 0.10, 1.00, 0.20, 0.15 and 2.00 mg.kg⁻¹ for Pb, Al, Ni, Cd and As respectively, was employed to measure the levels of toxic metals in the samples. Pb, Al and Ni were detected in 88, 76 and 4% of the analysed samples of pharmaceutical herbal products and in 93, 87 and 13% of the analysed samples of traditional herbs, respectively. Neither Cd or As were detected in all analysed samples. The data obtained were subsequently compared by referral to the acceptable limits of toxic heavy metals according to World Health Organisation (WHO) standards. Largely, the results showed acceptable toxic metal levels in the finished pharmaceutical products and the traditional medicinal herbs for infants. One exception to this was Persian Thyme (Satureja thymbra) with Pb content of 41.18 mg.kg⁻¹. Also, the daily intake of detected metals through pharmaceutical herbal products was found to be lower than the daily tolerable intake limit set by the regulatory bodies, except of 8% of products that exceeded the tolerable daily intake of Pb set by US FDA, as compared to traditional medicinal herbs, where the tolerable daily intake for Pb, Al and Ni were exceeded in 40, 60 and 8% of the analysed herbs, respectively. The results obtained revealed that the excessive use of medicinal plants as alternative medicine should be used with caution keeping in mind the safety factor in infants.

     

Surgical Sympathetic Denervation Increases α1Adrenoceptor-Mediated Accumulation of myo-Inositol Trisphosphate and Muscle Contraction in Rabbit Iris Dilator Smooth Muscle

Sympathetic denervation of the iris muscle produces increases in both the breakdown of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) and in muscle contraction in response to norepinephrine (NE). To shed more light on the biochemical basis underlying this supersensitivity we investigated: the effects of NE on PIP2 breakdown, measured as myo-inositol trisphosphate (IP3) accumulation, and on muscle contraction in normal and denervated rabbit iris dilator; and the effects of denervation on selected biochemical properties of this muscle. The data obtained from these studies can be summarized as follows: The EC50 values (microM) for NE-induced IP3 accumulation in normal and denervated dilators were 14 and 3, respectively. This accumulation of IP3 was blocked by prazosin (1 microM). The EC50 values (microM) for NE-induced contraction for the normal and denervated muscles were 10 and 0.6, respectively. The NE-induced muscle contraction was blocked by prazosin (1 microM). The t1/2 values (s) for IP3 accumulation in normal and denervated muscles were 31 and 11, respectively, and for contraction the values were 19 and 9, respectively. Denervation increased significantly (15-18%) the basal labelling of phosphoinositides from myo-[3H]inositol, but not from 32P or [14C]arachidonic acid. Denervation had little effect on the activities of the enzymes involved in phosphoinositide metabolism. However, the activities of protein kinase C and Ca2+-ATPase increased in the denervated muscle. It is concluded that sympathetic denervation of the iris dilator renders the coupling between alpha1 receptors and PIP2 breakdown into IP3 and 1,2-diacylglycerol (DG) more efficient.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Stem cell engineering might be protective against severe malaria

Hemoglobin variants are associated with protection from malaria. Stem cell engineering may yield erythrocytes with new modified hemoglobin which might protect against severe malaria.     

Genetic variation assessment of acid lime accessions collected from south of Iran using SSR and ISSR molecular markers

Iran has a long history of acid lime cultivation and propagation. In this study, genetic variation in 28 acid lime accessions from five regions of south of Iran, and their relatedness with other 19 citrus cultivars were analyzed using Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR) and Inter-Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) molecular markers. Nine primers for SSR and nine ISSR primers were used for allele scoring. In total, 49 SSR and 131 ISSR polymorphic alleles were detected. Cluster analysis of SSR and ISSR data showed that most of the acid lime accessions (19 genotypes) have hybrid origin and genetically distance with nucellar of Mexican lime (9 genotypes). As nucellar of Mexican lime are susceptible to phytoplasma, these acid lime genotypes can be used to evaluate their tolerance against biotic constricts like lime “witches’ broom disease”.