Kinase requirement for retinal growth cone motility

Since cytoplasmic Ca²⁺ levels are reported to regulate neurite elongation, we tested whether calcium-activated kinases might be necessary for growth cone motility and neurite elongation in explant cultures of goldfish retina. Kinase inhibitors and activators were locally applied by micropipette to retinal growth cones and the responses were observed via phase-contrast videomicroscopy. In some cases, growth rates were also quantifed over several hours after general application in the medium. The selective inhibitors of protein kinase C, calphostin C (0.1–1 μM) and chelerythrin (up to 50 μM), caused no obvious changes in growth cones or neurite elongation, and activators of PKC (phorbols, arachidonic acid, and diacylglycerol) also were generally without effects, although phorbols slowed the growth rate. Inhibitors of protein kinase A and tyrosine kinases also produced no obvious effects. The calmodulin antagonists, calmidazolium (0.1 μM), trifluoperazine (100 μM), and CGS9343B (50 μM), however, caused a reversible growth cone arrest with loss of filopodia and lamellipodia. The growth cone became a club-shaped swelling which sometimes moved a short distance back the shaft, leaving evacuated filaments at points of strong filopodial attachments. A similar reversible growth cone arrest occurred with the general kinase inhibitors: H7 at 200 but not at 100 μM, and staurosporine at 100 but not 10 nM, suggesting possible involvement of a calmodulin-dependent kinase (camK) rather than PKC. The selective inhibitor of camKII, KN-62 (tested up to 50 μM), produced no effects but the specific myosin light-chain kinase (MLCK) inhibitors ML-7 (3–5 μM) and ML-9 (5–10 μM) reversibly reproduced the effect, suggesting that MLCK rather than camKII is necessary for growth cone motility. The MLCK inhibitors' effects both on growth cone morphology and on F-actin filaments (rhodamine-phalloidin staining) were similar to those caused by cytochalasin D (5 μM), and are discussed in light of findings that inhibiting MLCK disrupts actin filaments in astrocytes and fibroblasts. 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

重组IL－6与IL－3或／和GM－CSF合用对正常BN大鼠粒单系体外造血的调控效应

本研究探讨了重组人ＩＬ－６与大鼠ＩＬ－３和／或小鼠ＧＭ－ＣＳＦ结合对正常ＢＮ大鼠粒单系体外造血的调控效应。结果表明,ＩＬ－６在１０００－４０００Ｕ／ｍｌ呈剂量依赖性刺激粒系造血祖细胞集落形成及骨髓细胞的ＤＮＡ合成,集落以ＧＭ型为主,其刺激活性低于ＩＬ－３或ＣＭ－ＣＳＦ。ｌＬ－６与ＩＬ－３和／或ＧＭ－ＣＳＦ的结合对粒单系集落形成及ＤＮＡ合成无协同或相加作用,甚至出现拮抗效应,但却显著增大集落。提示ＩＬ－６可能具有双向调控作用,促进早期造血细胞的增殖,拮抗其它因子对晚期粒单系造血的刺激作用;具有重叠生物效应的这３种细胞因子在调控造血时,它们之间的相互作用应是顺序的而不是同时的。     

Genetic dominance and worker interactions affect honeybee colony defense

Colonies of honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) were established thatvaried in the proportions of their workers that were of Europeanand hybrid (Africanized x European) descent. Colony defensiveresponses increased with higher proportions of hybrid workers.Colonies consisting exclusively of hybrid workers did not differin their response from "pure" Africanized colonies, suggestingthat the strong defensive behavior of Africanized workers isgenetically dominant. European workers became more defensivein colonies that also contained hybrid workers, whereas hybridworkers became less defensive in the same mixed colonies. Inmixed colonies hybrid workers were individually more likelythan Europeans to sting a leather target but not more likelyto guard the entrance.     

Stress and disturbance in the phytoplankton community of a shallow,hypertrophic lake

The validity of Connell's intermediate disturbance hypothesis in phytoplankton communities was tested on data from a hypertrophic, shallow lake, Hjarbæk Fjord, Denmark.The present data from Hjarbæk Fjord demonstrate the difficulties in distinguishing stress from disturbance in a phytoplankton community, and show that great changes in the phytoplankton community can take place within few days.A collapse of blue-green algae in late June 1986 caused remineralization of nutrients and resulted in a rapid increase of fast-growing small chlorococcal green algae and phytoplankton species diversity, without any external disturbances acting on the lake. External disturbances in the form of wind action and brackish water intrusion occurred several days after the onset of these events. Carbon depletion and pH 11.0 were severe stress factors on the phytoplankton community. They were induced by calm, warm weather, but eventually acted as a kind of disturbance to the normally well circulated lake.     

An interdisciplinary approach to the treatment of a hyperfunctional voice disorder

The purpose of this article is to describe the treatment of a 45-year-old male with a hyperfunctional voice disorder by a biofeedback therapist and a speech-language pathologist. The interdisciplinary approach to the treatment of this voice disorder involved the combined use of traditional voice therapy techniques and EMG biofeedback procedures together with cognitive behavioral therapy. Voice therapy was facilitated through the use of a computer-based, speech-monitoring system. The remediation of this voice disorder was attributed to the collaborative efforts of two professionals representing diverse professional training and treatment protocols. The results showed reductions in muscle activity in the infrahyoid and laryngeal areas as well as improved use of proper breathing and voicing onset behaviors. Follow-up at 10 and 15 months posttreatment intervals indicated that the client had retained all target voice skills and the tension reduction/biofeedback skills. Results suggest that interdisciplinary, collaborative efforts using biofeedback and voice therapy can prove beneficial in the treatment of hyperfunctional voice disorders.Note: Neither author has been compensated in any way for the use of the CAFET System nor does either have any financial interest in the company.     

Disturbance-dependent Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis) predation on Larid chicks decreases with chick age

Predation is one of the key factors shaping the dynamics of animal populations. In birds, nest loss due to predation can be a significant cause of low reproductive success. Ground-nesting birds are among the bird groups most susceptible to predation, mainly because their nests are easily accessible to a broad suite of potential predators. For these birds, anthropogenic disturbances can generate changes in nest predation risk by altering their antipredator behaviour and also by altering the behaviour of the predator species, i.e. the predator becoming much more aware of predation opportunities due to frequent disturbances and/or motivated to repeat predation attempts when some are successful. To date, most previous studies investigating this have focused on a single effect, either predation or disturbance, on chick survival. It remains unknown how the risk of predation with and without disturbance varies with chick age. In this study, we used behavioural observations to assess how the interaction between predators and disturbance affects predation risk in chicks and how this interacts with chick age. Specifically, we investigated the effect of disturbance caused by humans and stray dogs on the predation of Slender-billed Gull Chroicocephalus genei chicks by Yellow-legged Gulls Larus michahellis, and whether this depended on the age of the chicks. Our results revealed that disturbance had a significant positive effect on predation measures of Slender-billed Gull chicks by Yellow-legged Gulls, but that this effect was mediated both by disturbance type and the age of chicks. Stray dogs entering the colony had a stronger disturbance effect on chicks than passing humans, increasing predation risk by Yellow-legged Gulls. Our results also showed that chick age interacts with disturbance type to determine the predation risk. This is probably mediated by chicks' capacity to escape predation by gathering in a single large crèche that runs into the water when disturbed. To preserve Slender-billed Gull colonies in one of its few remaining breeding sites in Tunisia, and as gulls tend to react even when the disturbance occurs relatively far from the colonies, it is crucial to (1) restrict human access to dikes and islets where large colonies breed and (2) construct artificial islets attractive to gulls and inaccessible to stray dogs.     

失眠障碍患者脑部CT影像学变化与学习记忆功能变化、临床特征相关性分析

摘要 目的：探讨失眠障碍患者脑部CT影像学变化与学习记忆功能变化、临床特征相关性。方法：回顾性选择2018年6月至2021年6月来我院诊治的失眠障碍患者50例,选择同期来我院体检的健康人群30例。两组受试者均使用飞利浦64排CT进行扫描,检测计算额角指数与海马指数,对比两组受试者的额角指数、海马指数,对比两组受试者的临床记忆评分、睡眠质量评分、WCST评分,分析两组受试者的临床症状,分析观察组患者额角指数、海马指数与临床记忆评分、睡眠指数评分、WCST评分、临床症状评分的相关性。结果：观察组的额角指数、海马指数明显较对照组低（P<0.05）。观察组的临床记忆评分明显较对照组低（P<0.05）。观察组的睡眠质量评分明显较对照组低（P<0.05）。观察组的完成测验数、选择错误率、完成第一个应答数、持续错误率、错误应答数明显较对照组高,完成分类数、概念化水平百分比明显较对照组低（P<0.05）。观察组的躯体感觉评分及心理感觉评分明显较对照组高（P<0.05）。额角指数、海马指数与临床记忆评分呈正比,与睡眠质量评分、临床症状评分呈反比,与WCST评分中的完成分类数、概念化水平百分比呈正比,与WCST评分中的完成测验数、选择错误率、完成第一个应答数、持续错误率、错误应答数呈反比（P<0.05）。结论：脑部CT影像学结果发现,失眠障碍存在学习记忆功能变化,与患者的临床特征相关性、睡眠质量存在存在一定相关性。     

Prevalence and trends of common mental disorders from 2007-2009 to 2019-2022: results from the Netherlands Mental Health Survey and Incidence Studies (NEMESIS), including comparison of prevalence rates before vs. during the COVID-19 pandemic

Up-to-date information on the prevalence and trends of common mental disorders is relevant to health care policy and planning, owing to the high burden associated with these disorders. In the first wave of the third Netherlands Mental Health Survey and Incidence Study (NEMESIS-3), a nationally representative sample was interviewed face-to-face from November 2019 to March 2022 (6,194 subjects; 1,576 interviewed before and 4,618 during the COVID-19 pandemic; age range: 18-75 years). A slightly modified version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview 3.0 was used to assess DSM-IV and DSM-5 diagnoses. Trends in 12-month prevalence rates of DSM-IV mental disorders were examined by comparing these rates between NEMESIS-3 and NEMESIS-2 (6,646 subjects; age range: 18-64 years; interviewed from November 2007 to July 2009). Lifetime DSM-5 prevalence estimates in NEMESIS-3 were 28.6% for anxiety disorders, 27.6% for mood disorders, 16.7% for substance use disorders, and 3.6% for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Over the last 12 months, prevalence rates were 15.2%, 9.8%, 7.1%, and 3.2%, respectively. No differences in 12-month prevalence rates before vs. during the COVID-19 pandemic were found (26.7% pre-pandemic vs. 25.7% during the pandemic), even after controlling for differences in socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents interviewed in these two periods. This was the case for all four disorder categories. From 2007-2009 to 2019-2022, the 12-month prevalence rate of any DSM-IV disorder significantly increased from 17.4% to 26.1%. A stronger increase in prevalence was found for students, younger adults (18-34 years) and city dwellers. These data suggest that the prevalence of mental disorders has increased in the past decade, but this is not explained by the COVID-19 pandemic. The already high mental disorder risk of young adults has particularly further increased in recent years.