Density functional and Møller–Plesset studies of cyclobutanone⋯HF and ⋯HCl complexes

The molecular structure (hydrogen bonding, bond distances and angles), dipole moment and vibrational spectroscopic data [vibrational frequencies, IR and vibrational circular dichroism (VCD)] of cyclobutanone?HX (X?=?F, Cl) complexes were calculated using density functional theory (DFT) and second order Møller–Plesset perturbation theory (MP2) with basis sets ranging from 6–311G, 6–311G^**, 6–311 + + G^**. The theoretical results are discussed mainly in terms of comparisons with available experimental data. For geometric data, good agreement between theory and experiment is obtained for the MP2 and B3LYP levels with basis sets including diffuse functions. Surface potential energy calculations were carried out with scanning HCl and HF near the oxygen atom. The nonlinear hydrogen bonds of 1.81 Å and 175° for HCl and 1.71 Å and 161° for HF were calculated. In these complexes the C=O and H–X bonds participating in the hydrogen bond are elongated, while others bonds are compressed. The calculated vibrational spectra were interpreted and the band assignments reported are in excellent agreement with experimental IR spectra. The C=O stretching vibrational frequencies of the complexes show red shifts with respect to cyclobutanone.     

The Effect of Lactobacillus casei Consumption in Improvement of Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder: an Animal Study

Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) is an important neuropsychiatric disorder worldwide. Common treatments of OCD include serotonergic antidepressants, which can cause potentially serious side effects. We assessed the effects of Lactobacillus casei (L. casei) Shirota consumption in an animal model of OCD. OCD-like symptoms were induced in rats by the chronic injection of the D2/D3 dopamine agonist quinpirole hydrochloride. Rats were classified into five groups of 6 rats. Four groups were injected chronically with quinpirole (0.5 mg/kg, twice weekly for 5 weeks). They were fed with L. casei Shirota (10⁹ CF/g, daily for 4 weeks) (group 1), fluoxetine (10 mg/kg, daily for 4 weeks) (group 2), combination of L. casei Shirota and fluoxetine (group 3), and normal saline (positive control group). The last group did not receive dopamine agonist and was only injected with saline (negative control group). Expression levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (Bdnf), solute carrier family 6 member 4 (Slc6a4), and 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor type 2A (Htr2a) were assessed in orbitofrontal cortex tissues of all rats. Behavioral tests showed improvement of OCD signs in rats treated with L. casei Shirota, fluoxetine, and a combination of drugs. Quantitative PCR analysis showed a remarkable decrease in the expression of Bdnf and an increase in the expression of Htr2a in quinpirole-treated rats. After treatment with L. casei Shirota and fluoxetine, the expression level of Bdnf was increased remarkably, whereas Htr2a expression was decreased. The current study showed the effectiveness of L. casei Shirota in the treatment of OCD in a rat model. The beneficial effects of this probiotic are possibly exerted through the modulation of serotonin-related genes expression.

     

Exploring core competencies for mental health and addictions work within a Family Health Team setting

Approximately 200 Family Health Teams (FHTs) have been implemented in Ontario to improve access to primary healthcare, including mental health and addiction. The objectives of this project were to examine, through a focus group and qualitative methodology with three FHTs, the profile of patients'' mental health and addiction-related needs and to identify the implications for the development of core competencies in these innovative organisations. A spectrum of needs and service trajectories was identified, as well as the importance of a wide range of clinical skills and knowledge. The results indicate that ‘core’ competencies for mental health work in the context of an FHT go well beyond those required for an embedded mental health ‘programme’ or specialised mental health counsellors, but rather they relate to the core and discipline-specific competencies of members of the entire team. In addition to specific knowledge and skills, competencies include common attitudes and values relating to teamwork, good communication and collaboration. Challenges were noted with regard to working with some community service providers, especially addiction services. Implications for core competencies at the individual and organisational level were identified.     

Identification of antimony resistance markers in Leishmania tropica field isolates through a cDNA-AFLP approach

Pentavalent antimonial compounds have been the first line therapy for leishmaniasis; unfortunately the rate of treatment failure of anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) is increasing due to emerging of drug resistance. Elucidation of the molecular mechanisms operating in antimony resistance is critical for development of new strategies for treatment. Here, we used a cDNA-AFLP approach to identify gene(s) which are differentially expressed in resistant and sensitive Leishmania tropica field isolates. We identified five genes, aquaglyceroporin (AQP1) acts in drug uptake, ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter (MRPA) involved in sequestration of drug, phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) implicated in glycolysis metabolism, mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) and protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) responsible for phosphorylation pathway. The results were confirmed using real time RT-PCR which revealed an upregulation of MRPA, PTP and PGK genes and downregulation of AQP1 and MAPK genes in resistant isolate. To our knowledge, this is the first report of identification of PTP and PGK genes potentially implicated in resistance to antimonials. Our findings support the idea that distinct biomolecules might be involved in antimony resistance in L. tropica field isolates.     

Effects of different amino acids on somatic embryogenesis of strawberry (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Fragaria</Emphasis> × <Emphasis Type="Italic">ananassa</Emphasis> Duch.)

This study was conducted to optimize different types and concentrations of amino acids on somatic embryogenesis induction, development and maturation of leaf explants in strawberry cultivars (‘Camarosa’, ‘Paros’ and ‘Kurdistan’). Calli derived from leaf sections were transferred onto MS medium with 1.0 mg/l 2,4-d + 0.5 mg/l BAP supplemented with 0.0, 50, 100, 150 or 200 mg/l concentrations of proline, alanine and glutamine. Stimulation of embryogenesis and embryo development was strictly dependent on the type and concentration of amino acid in the medium. Proline (100 mg/l) was much more effective than glutamine and alanine, on induction and development of somatic embryogenesis in all cultivars. Cultures grown on amino acid-free medium attained lower somatic embryos than cultures grown on amino acid treated medium. Low concentrations (50 mg/l) and high concentrations (200 mg/l) of amino acids tested were inefficient for embryogenesis induction as well as for somatic embryos development.     

Facies characteristic and paleoenvironmental reconstruction of the Fahliyan Formation,Lower Cretaceous,in the Kuh-e Siah area,Zagros Basin,southern Iran

The Lower Cretaceous Fahliyan Formation, part of the Khami Group, unconformably overlies the Hith Formation and is conformably overlain by the Gadvan Formation in the study area in southern Iran. The Fahliyan Formation is a reservoir rock in Zagros Basin. This formation was investigated by a detailed petrographic analysis in order to clarify the depositional facies and sedimentary environment in the Kuh-e Siah Anticline in Boushehr Province. Petrographic studies led to the recognition of 25 microfacies that were deposited in four facies belts: tidal flat, lagoon, and shoal in inner ramp and shallow open-marine in mid-ramp environment. An absence of turbidite deposits, reefal facies, and gradual facies changes indicate that the Fahliyan Formation was deposited on a carbonate ramp. Calcareous algae and benthic foraminifera are abundant in the shallow marine carbonates of the Fahliyan Formation. These skeletal grains have been studied in order to increase the understanding of their distributions in time and space. A total of ten genera belonging to different groups of calcareous algae and 16 genera of benthic foraminifera are recognized from the Fahliyan Formation at Kuh-e Siah section.     

Comparative plastome analysis of Blumea,with implications for genome evolution and phylogeny of Asteroideae

The genus Blumea (Asteroideae, Asteraceae) comprises about 100 species, including herbs, shrubs, and small trees. Previous studies have been unable to resolve taxonomic issues and the phylogeny of the genus Blumea due to the low polymorphism of molecular markers. Therefore, suitable polymorphic regions need to be identified. Here, we de novo assembled plastomes of the three Blumea species B. oxyodonta, B. tenella, and B. balsamifera and compared them with 26 other species of Asteroideae after correction of annotations. These species have quadripartite plastomes with similar gene content, genome organization, and inverted repeat contraction and expansion comprising 113 genes, including 80 protein‐coding, 29 transfer RNA, and 4 ribosomal RNA genes. The comparative analysis of codon usage, amino acid frequency, microsatellite repeats, oligonucleotide repeats, and transition and transversion substitutions has revealed high resemblance among the newly assembled species of Blumea. We identified 10 highly polymorphic regions with nucleotide diversity above 0.02, including rps16‐trnQ, ycf1, ndhF‐rpl32, petN‐psbM, and rpl32‐trnL, and they may be suitable for the development of robust, authentic, and cost‐effective markers for barcoding and inference of the phylogeny of the genus Blumea. Among these highly polymorphic regions, five regions also co‐occurred with oligonucleotide repeats and support use of repeats as a proxy for the identification of polymorphic loci. The phylogenetic analysis revealed a close relationship between Blumea and Pluchea within the tribe Inuleae. At tribe level, our phylogeny supports a sister relationship between Astereae and Anthemideae rooted as Gnaphalieae, Calenduleae, and Senecioneae. These results are contradictory to recent studies which reported a sister relationship between “Senecioneae and Anthemideae” and “Astereae and Gnaphalieae” or a sister relationship between Astereae and Gnaphalieae rooted as Calenduleae, Anthemideae, and then Senecioneae using nuclear genome sequences. The conflicting phylogenetic signals observed at the tribal level between plastidt and nuclear genome data require further investigation.     

The spatial and temporal expression of VEGF and its receptors 1 and 2 in post-traumatic bone bridge formation of the growth plate

Injuries to growth plates may initiate the formation of reversible or irreversible bone-bridges, may leading to bone length discrepancy or axis deviation. As vascular invasion is essential for the formation of bone tissue, the aim of our study was to investigate the kinetic expression of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) and its receptors R1 and R2 and the ingrowth of vessels in the formation of bone bridges in a rat physeal injury model. Quantitative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction was performed for VEGF and its receptors. Samples from the proximal physis of the tibial bone were immunohistochemically evaluated for the expression of VEGF and its R1 and R2 receptors and Laminin. Morphologically, physeal bone bridge formation was validated by means of Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Kinetic expression of VEGF and VEGF-R1 mRNA documented a tendency towards an increase in expression on day 7. Histological analyses showed a hematoma containing bone debris on day 1 which was replaced with bony trabeculae by day 14, forming a bone bridge by day 28 which was preceded and accompanied by angiogenesis and consistent with MRI data. VEGF and VEGF-R2 was expressed on the debris within the hematoma and bone trabeculae from days 1 to 28. VEGF-R1 expression was only noted until day 14. The findings of our study suggest that physeal bone bridge formation is in part triggered by VEGF expression and associated with angiogenesis, which was shown to precede bone bridge formation and may be further stimulated through VEGF-positive bone debris.     

Small-animal PET imaging of amyloid-beta plaques with [11C]PiB and its multi-modal validation in an APP/PS1 mouse model of Alzheimer's disease

In vivo imaging and quantification of amyloid-β plaque (Aβ) burden in small-animal models of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a valuable tool for translational research such as developing specific imaging markers and monitoring new therapy approaches. Methodological constraints such as image resolution of positron emission tomography (PET) and lack of suitable AD models have limited the feasibility of PET in mice. In this study, we evaluated a feasible protocol for PET imaging of Aβ in mouse brain with [(11)C]PiB and specific activities commonly used in human studies. In vivo mouse brain MRI for anatomical reference was acquired with a clinical 1.5 T system. A recently characterized APP/PS1 mouse was employed to measure Aβ at different disease stages in homozygous and hemizygous animals. We performed multi-modal cross-validations for the PET results with ex vivo and in vitro methodologies, including regional brain biodistribution, multi-label digital autoradiography, protein quantification with ELISA, fluorescence microscopy, semi-automated histological quantification and radioligand binding assays. Specific [(11)C]PiB uptake in individual brain regions with Aβ deposition was demonstrated and validated in all animals of the study cohort including homozygous AD animals as young as nine months. Corresponding to the extent of Aβ pathology, old homozygous AD animals (21 months) showed the highest uptake followed by old hemizygous (23 months) and young homozygous mice (9 months). In all AD age groups the cerebellum was shown to be suitable as an intracerebral reference region. PET results were cross-validated and consistent with all applied ex vivo and in vitro methodologies. The results confirm that the experimental setup for non-invasive [(11)C]PiB imaging of Aβ in the APP/PS1 mice provides a feasible, reproducible and robust protocol for small-animal Aβ imaging. It allows longitudinal imaging studies with follow-up periods of approximately one and a half years and provides a foundation for translational Alzheimer neuroimaging in transgenic mice.