The Efficacy of Neurofeedback in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder: An Open Labeled Prospective Study

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of neurofeedback on depressive symptoms and electrophysiological disturbances in patients with major depressive disorder. We recruited participants suffering from depression to evaluate efficacy of left prefrontal beta with alpha/theta training. An 8-week, prospective, open-label study was undertaken. Twenty participants were recruited. The treatment protocol was twice or three times a week training of beta at F3 with alpha/theta at Pz for 8 weeks. When every visit, patients were received beta training for 30 min, and then alpha/theta training for 30 min. Baseline, 4 and 8 week scores of; the Hamilton rating scale for Depression (HAM-D), the Hamilton rating scale for Anxiety (HAM-A), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)-II, the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Clinical global impression-severity (CGI-S), and pre- and post-treatment resting state EEGs were compared. Interhemispheric alpha power asymmetry (A score) was computed for homologous sites F3–F4. Pre- and post-training clinical assessments revealed significant improvements in HAM–D, HAM-A, BDI, and CGI-S scores. Cumulative response rates by HAM-D were 35.0 and 75.0 % at 4 and 8 weeks, respectively, corresponding cumulative remission rates by HAM-D were 15.0 and 55.0 %, respectively. No significant differences were found between pre- and post-treatment A score. Neurofeedback treatment could improve depressive symptoms significantly. In addition, anxiety symptoms and clinical illness severity decreased significantly after neurofeedback treatment. Despite its several limitations, such as, small sample size and lack of a control group, this study suggested neurofeedback has significant effects in patients with major depressive disorder.     

Effects of daunorubicin on ganglioside expression and neuronal differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells

Gangliosides are implicated in neuronal development processes. The regulation of ganglioside levels is closely related to the induction of neuronal cell differentiation. In this study, the relationship between ganglioside expression and neuronal cell development was investigated using an in vitro model of neural differentiation from mouse embryonic stem (mES) cells. Daunorubicin (DNR) was applied to induce the expression of gangliosides in embryoid body (EB) (4+). We observed an increase in expression of gangliosides in all stages of EBs by treatment of DNR (2microM). High-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) showed that gangliosides GD3, GD1a, GT1b, and GQ1b increased in DNR-treated 7-day-old EB (4+) [EB (4+):7]. DNR treatment significantly increased the expression of gangliosides, especially GT1b and GQ1b in comparison to control cells. Interestingly, GQ1b co-localized with microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP-2) expressing cells in DNR-treated EB (4+):7. The co-localization of GQ1b and MAP-2 was found in neurite-bearing cells in DNR-treated 15-day-old EB (4+) [EB (4+):15], whereas no significant expression of GQ1b and less neurite formation were observed in untreated control. Also, the expression of synaptophysin and NF200, both neuronal markers associated with neruites, was increased by DNR treatment. These results demonstrate that DNR increases expression of gangliosides, especially GQ1b, in differentiating neuronal cells. Further, neurite-bearing neuronal cell differentiation can be facilitated by DNR, possibly through the induction of gangliosides. Thus, the present data suggest that DNR is beneficial for facilitating neuronal differentiation from ES cells and among the gangliosides analyzed in the present study, GQ1b is mainly involved in neurite formation.     

On-line recovery of large molecules from mixtures using reciprocating size exclusion chromatography

Blue Dextran, a standard large molecule, was successfully recovered on-line from the aqueous mixture solution with nickel nitrate using a novel reciprocating size exclusion chromatography. After 7 cycles of repeating operations of frontal mode, 70% of Blue Dextran in the feed was isolated as a pure solution. On-line recovery of large molecules from the mixture is an unusual trial, comparing to the routine practice of filtration where small molecule is isolated from the mixture.     

Variability of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mya arenaria</Emphasis> growth along an environmental gradient in the Plum Island Sound estuary,Massachusetts, USA

An understanding of the environmental factors that determine how clam growth varies in space and time improves effective mariculture and shellfish management. We examined the importance of temperature, salinity and chlorophyll-a in controlling the spatial pattern of Mya arenaria growth, the commercially important soft-shell clam, in the Plum Island Sound estuary in northeastern Massachusetts, USA. We collected clams (>5.08 cm) monthly during the April to November growing season from which we determined growth rate, maximum size (L-infinity), and time to reach a harvestable size. We also surveyed selected sites along the estuary to estimate the relationship between clam size and weight. We collected environmental data along the estuary, and our data were complemented with data collected and maintained by the Plum Island ecosystems long-term ecological research project. Clams reached harvestable size fastest and had the greatest L-infinity at the most oceanic site (Yacht Club) in the estuary. Clams had the smallest L-infinity and were slowest to reach the harvestable size at the least oceanic site (Railroad Meander). The spatial patterns of clam growth were best explained by a positive distribution of salinity. Salinity significantly accounted for 95 % of the spatial variation of clam growth in the estuary. Snow melt in spring increases freshwater input to the estuary and results in the lowest spring salinity during a year, and this explained the upper estuary limit of clam distribution. IPCC-projected climate change will cause sea-level rise and increasing precipitation in the northeastern USA, which will modify the spatial pattern of salinity in the region’s estuaries. Our research therefore suggests that future management of M. arenaria, an important economic resource for the local economy, should be concerned with the changes of salinity distribution under climate and land-use change.     

Belling the Chinese Dragon at Sea: Western Theories and Asian Realities

Against the backdrop of projections of either conflict escalation or legal settlement by Western international relations theories, this article provides a more nuanced and subtle balance between Western theories and Asian realities.     

Change in platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 immunoreactivity in the dentate gyrus in gerbils fed a folate-deficient diet

Folate deficiency increases stroke risk. We examined whether folate deficiency affects platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1), which is an immunoglobulin-associated cell adhesion molecule and mediates the final common pathway of neutrophil transendothelial migration, in blood vessels in the gerbil dentate gyrus after transient forebrain ischemia. Gerbils were exposed to a folic acid-deficient diet (FAD) for 3 months and then subjected to common carotid artery occlusion for 5 min. In the control diet (CD)- and FAD-treated sham-operated groups, weak PECAM-1 immunoreactivity was detected in the blood vessels located in the dentate gyrus. PECAM-1 immunoreactivity in both groups was increased by 4 days after ischemic insult. PECAM-1 immunoreactivity in the FAD-treated group was twice as high that in the CD-treated-sham-operated group 4 days after ischemic insult. Western blot analyses showed that the change patterns in PECAM-1 protein levels in the dentate gyrus in both groups after ischemic insult were similar to changes in PECAM-1 immunohistochemistry in the ischemic dentate gyrus. Our results suggest that folate deficiency enhances PECAM-1 in the dentate gyrus induced by transient ischemia.     

Mind bomb 1-expressing intermediate progenitors generate notch signaling to maintain radial glial cells

Notch signaling is critical for the stemness of radial glial cells (RGCs) during embryonic neurogenesis. Although Notch-signal-receiving events in RGCs have been well characterized, the signal-sending mechanism by the adjacent cells is poorly understood. Here, we report that conditional inactivation of mind bomb-1 (mib1), an essential component for Notch ligand endocytosis, in mice using the nestin and hGFAP promoters resulted in complete loss of Notch activation, which leads to depletion of RGCs, and premature differentiation into intermediate progenitors (IPs) and finally neurons, which were reverted by the introduction of active Notch1. Interestingly, Mib1 expression is restricted in the migrating IPs and newborn neurons, but not in RGCs. Moreover, sorted Mib1+ IPs and neurons can send the Notch signal to neighboring cells. Our results reveal that not only newborn neurons but also IPs are essential Notch-ligand-presenting cells for maintaining RGC stemness during both symmetric and asymmetric divisions.     

Extraordinary tertiary constrictions of Tripsacum dactyloides chromosomes: implications for karyotype evolution of polyploids driven by segmental chromosome losses

Tripsacum dactyloides (2n = 2x = 36) is an ancient tetraploid species. Here we report that T. dactyloides chromosomes contain an extraordinary tertiary constriction, which causes a radical and distant separation of a terminal segment from the chromosome. The relationships between extraordinary tertiary constriction and segmental chromosome loss as well as karyotype evolution of polyploid species are discussed.