Chemoarchitectonics of metencephalon of Testudo elegant

Histoenzymological study of acid phosphatase (GP-AI), 5-nucleotidase (AMP-A), adenosine triphosphatase (ATP-A) and beta-galactosidase (GLAC-A) of the metencephalon of turtle shows a pattern of distribution of enzymes similar to amphibians and mammalian metencephalon which provides indication of homology of the nuclei and tracts such as nucleus raphe, nuclei cerebelli fasciculus longitudinalis medialis, commissura ansulata and internal arcuate fibers. The nerve fibers, tracts and commissures demonstrate strong activity of GLAC-A as demonstrated in frog and bat by the author in previous studies.     

Interactions in human casein systems: self-association of nonphosphorylated human beta-casein

Since caseins were originally defined as phosphoproteins, nonphosphorylated beta-casein, comprising nearly 5% of the total beta-casein in the isoelectric precipitate from human milk, appears to be unique. Despite the relatively small amount present, its properties suggest that it may play an important role in micelle formation and structure. It has a partial specific volume, v, of 0.749 +/- 0.008 and an absorbance, E1% 1 cm,280 nm of 6.2 +/- 0.2. Sedimentation and viscosity data yield a solvation of 3 g H2O/g protein and an axial ratio of about 5 for the monomer. This would be consistent with a prolate ellipsoid of 10 nm length and 2 nm width. Equilibrium in the system is attained quite slowly and the temperature-dependent polymerization was found to be reversible. With calcium, the solubility behavior reflects an increased hydrophobicity and lower electrostatic repulsion in the molecule. There is essentially no strong calcium binding to this protein but there is evidence which strongly suggests that calcium binds to nonphosphate groups at higher concentrations. Increasing the temperature from 4 to 37 degrees C causes an apparent conformational change and an increase in protein aggregation which is further increased by addition of NaCl at 37 degrees C until a limiting size is reached at about 0.1 M NaCl. This limiting size polymer contains about 75 monomers and is nearly spherical with a radius of about 12 nm and a solvation of 1.5 g H2O/g protein. Laser light scattering measurements on the solution in 0.25 M NaCl revealed a relatively homogeneous particle size with a corrected diffusion coefficient, D20,w, of 2.8 X 10(-7) cm2/s.     

Histochemical studies on the distribution of 5-nucleotidase in the germinating pollen grains ofEschscholtzia californica cham.

The present paper incorporates a detailed study on the distribution of 5-nucleotidase in the germinating pollen grains ofEschscholtzia califomica. The intense activity of this enzyme has been found in the wall of pollen grains and pollen tubes and small positive granules in the lumen of both in the pollen grains and pollen tubes. The presence of this enzyme in the wall is presumably connected with the permeability and transport process and growth regulation of the pollen tubes.     

Histological and histoenzymological studies of medulla oblongata of Taphozous melanopogon Temminck (a Microchiroptera).

The paper deals with the histological and histoenzymological studies of the medulla oblongata of Taphozous melanopogon Temminck (a microchiropteran bat). Three phosphatases, namely acid phosphatase (ACP), thiamine pyrophosphatase (TTP) and glucose-6-phosphatase (G-6-P) were studied. All the enzymes were seen in all the neurons. The large neurons of the different nuclei are more strongly positive for ACP than the small neurons. Further, the areas which contain dense populations of neurons are more strongly stained than the area containing scattered neurons. TPP and G-6-P distributions are almost parallel to that of ACP. The functions of these enzymes in synthesis and secretory processes were discussed.     

Acute pharmacogenetic activation of medial prefrontal cortex excitatory neurons regulates anxiety-like behaviour

The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is implicated in anxiety-like behaviour. In rodent models, perturbations of mPFC neuronal activity through pharmacological manipulations, optogenetic activation of mPFC neurons or cell-type specific pharmacogenetic inhibition of somatostatin interneurons indicate conflicting effects on anxiety-like behaviour. In the present study we examined the effects of pharmacogenetic activation of Ca²⁺/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase α (CamKIIα)-positive excitatory neurons on anxiety-like behaviour. We used clozapine-N-oxide (CNO) to pharmacogenetically activate virally delivered CamKIIα-hM3Dq-DREADD in mPFC excitatory neurons. The effects of acute CNO or vehicle treatment on anxiety-like behaviour in the open field and elevated plus maze tests were examined in rats virally infected with either CamKIIα-hM3Dq-DREADD or CamKIIα-GFP. In addition, the effects of acute CNO treatment on the expression of the neuronal activity marker c-Fos were examined in the mPFC as well as downstream target neuronal circuits using immunohistochemistry. Acute pharmacogenetic activation of mPFC excitatory neurons evoked a significant decrease in anxiety-like behaviour selectively on the elevated plus maze task, but not the open field test. Acute CNO treatment resulted in enhanced c-Fos-immunopositive cell number in the infralimbic, prelimbic and cingulate subdivisions of the mPFC. This was also accompanied by enhanced c-Fos-immunopositive cell number in multiple downstream circuits of the mPFC in CNO-treated hM3Dq animals. Acute pharmacogenetic activation of mPFC excitatory neurons reduces anxiety-like behaviour in a task-specific fashion accompanied by enhanced c-Fos expression in the mPFC and multiple target circuits implicated in the regulation of anxiety-like behaviour.     

Epitope imprinting of iron binding protein of Neisseria meningitidis bacteria through multiple monomers imprinting approach

Epitope imprinting is a promising technique for fabrication of novel diagnostic tools. In this study, an epitope imprinted methodology for recognition of target epitope sequence as well as targeted protein infused by bacterial infection in blood samples of patients suffering from brain fever is developed. Template sequence chosen is a ferric iron binding fbp A protein present in Neisseria meningitidis bacteria. To orient the imprinting template peptide sequence on gold surface of electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM), thiol chemistry was utilized to form the self‐assembled monolayer on EQCM electrode. Here, synergistic effects induced by various noncovalent interactions extended by multiple monomers (3‐sulfopropyl methacrylate potassium‐salt and benzyl methacrylate) were used in fabricating the imprinting polymeric matrix with additional firmness provided by N,N‐methylene‐bis‐acrylamide as cross‐linker and azo‐isobutyronitrile as initiator. Extraction of template molecule was carried out with phosphate buffer solution. After extraction of epitope molecules from the polymeric film, epitope molecularly imprinted polymeric films were fabricated on EQCM electrode surface. Nonimprinted polymers were also synthesized in the similar manner without epitope molecule. Detection limit of epitope molecularly imprinted polymers and imprinting factor (epitope molecularly imprinted polymers/nonimprinted polymers) was calculated 1.39 ng mL^?1 and 12.27 respectively showing high binding capacity and specific recognition behavior toward template molecule. Simplicity of present method would put forward a fast, facile, cost‐effective diagnostic tool for mass health care.     

A retrospective analysis of health care utilization for patients with mitochondrial disease in the United States: 2008–2015

Background

Oral cholic acid (CA) replacement has been shown to be an effective therapy in children with primary bile acid synthesis defects, which are rare and severe genetic liver diseases. To date there has been no report of the effects of this therapy in children reaching adulthood. The aim of the study was to evaluate the long-term effectiveness and safety of CA therapy.

Methods

Fifteen patients with either 3β-hydroxy-Δ⁵-C₂₇-steroid oxidoreductase (3β-HSD) (n = 13) or Δ⁴–3-oxosteroid 5β-reductase (Δ⁴–3-oxo-R) (n = 2) deficiency confirmed by mass spectrometry and gene sequencing received oral CA and were followed prospectively.

Results

The median age at last follow-up and the median time of follow-up with treatment were 24.3 years (range: 15.3–37.2) and 21.4 years (range: 14.6–24.1), respectively. At last evaluation, physical examination findings and blood laboratory test results were normal in all patients. Liver sonograms were normal in most patients. Mean daily CA dose was 6.9 mg/kg of body weight. Mass spectrometry analysis of urine showed that excretion of the atypical metabolites remained low or traces in amount with CA therapy. Liver fibrosis scored in liver biopsies or assessed by elastography in 14 patients, after 10 to 24 years with CA therapy, showed a marked improvement with disappearance of cirrhosis (median score < F1; range: F0-F2). CA was well tolerated in all patients, including five women having 10 uneventful pregnancies during treatment.

Conclusions

Oral CA therapy is a safe and effective long-term treatment of 3β-HSD and Δ⁴–3-oxo-R deficiencies and allows affected children to reach adulthood in good health condition without the need for a liver transplantation.

     

Glycine at hypoglossal motor nucleus: genioglossus activity, CO(2) responses, and the additive effects of GABA.

There is evidence for glycine and GABA(A)-receptor-mediated inhibition of hypoglossal motoneurons in vitro. However, comparable studies have not been performed in vivo, and the interactions of such mechanisms with integrative reflex respiratory control have also not been determined. This study tests the hypotheses that glycine at the hypoglossal motor nucleus (HMN) will suppress genioglossus (GG) muscle activity, even in the presence of hypercapnic respiratory stimulation, and the effects of glycine will be blocked by strychnine. We also determined whether coapplication of glycine and muscimol (GABA(A)- receptor agonist) to the HMN is additive in suppressing GG activity. Twenty-four urethane-anesthetized, tracheotomized, and vagotomized rats were studied. Diaphragm and GG activities, the electroencephalogram, and blood pressure were recorded. Microdialysis probes were implanted into the HMN for delivery of artificial cerebrospinal fluid (control), glycine (0.0001-10 mM), or muscimol (0.1 microM). Increasing glycine at the HMN produced graded suppression of GG activity (P < 0.001), although the GG still responded to stimulation with 7% inspired CO(2) (P = 0.002). Strychnine (0.1 mM) reversed the glycine-mediated suppression of GG activity, whereas combined glycine and muscimol were additive in GG muscle suppression. It remains to be determined whether the recruitment of such glycine and GABA mechanisms explains the periods of major GG suppression in behaviors such as rapid eye movement sleep.