CB1 knockout mice display impaired functionality of 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A/C receptors

Interaction between brain endocannabinoid (EC) and serotonin (5-HT) systems was investigated by examining 5-HT-dependent behavioural and biochemical responses in CB1 receptor knockout mice. CB1 knockout animals exhibited a significant reduction in the induction of head twitches and paw tremor by the 5-HT2A receptor selective agonist ()DOI, as well as a reduced hypothermic response following administration of the 5-HT1A receptor agonist (±)-8-OH-DPAT. Additionally, exposure to the tail suspension test induced enhanced despair responses in CB1 knockout mice. However, the tricyclic antidepressant imipramine and the 5-HT selective reuptake inhibitor fluoxetine induced similar decreases in the time of immobility in the tail suspension test in CB1 receptor knockout and wild-type mice. No differences were found between both genotypes with regard to 5-HT2A receptor and 5-HT1A receptors levels, measured by autoradiography in different brain areas. However, a significant decrease in the ability of the 5-HT1A receptor agonist (±)-8-OH-DPAT to stimulate 35SGTPS binding was detected in the hippocampal CA1 area of CB1 receptor knockout mice. This study provides evidence that CB1 receptors are involved in the regulation of serotonergic responses mediated by 5-HT2A and 5-HT1A receptors, and suggests that a reduced coupling of 5-HT1A receptors to Gi/o proteins in the hippocampus might be involved in these effects.

Amniotic fluid insulin-like growth factor binding-protein 3 concentration as early indicator of fetal growth restriction

Rapport de synthèse : Introduction : La croissance foetale infra-utérine dépend d'un grand nombre de facteurs maternels, placentaires et foetaux. Une inadéquation d'un ou plusieurs de ces facteurs peut induire un retard de croissance infra-utérin (RCIU) ou au contraire une macrosomie. Les principales causes de RCIU comprennent les infections maternelles, l'éclampsie, les cardiovasculopathies maternelles, la toxicomanie, les malformations foetales et les insuffisances placentaires. Les facteurs endocriniens constituent un petit pourcentage des causes de RCIU, mais méritent que l'on s'y intéresse de plus près. Les facteurs hormonaux les plus importants pour la croissance fatale sont l'insuline et les insuline-like growth factors (IGFs) et non l'hormone de croissance (GH) qui joue un rôle majeur dans la croissance postnatale. Notre attention s'est portée sur IGF-1 qui joue un rôle important dans la croissance intrautérine. Sa biodisponibilité dépend de plusieurs protéines plasmatiques, les IGF-binding proteins (IGFBP 1 à 9). IGFBP-3 est la principale de ces IGFBPs, autant d'un point de vue quantitatif que fonctionnel. Nous avons cherché à déterminer si les concentrations d'IGF-1 et d'IGFBP-3 dans le liquide amniotique au début du deuxième trimestre étaient prédictives de la croissance infra-utérine. Les gènes codant pour IGF-1 et IGFBP-3 contenant certaines séquences polymorphiques, nous avons également étudié leur influence sur la croissance foetale. L'analyse du liquide amniotique présente l'avantage de pouvoir être effectuée dès la 14ème semaine d'aménorrhée alors que la biométrie foetale échographique ne permet pas à ce stade de déceler des anomalies de la croissance infra-utérine. Méthode : Nous avons analysé des échantillons de liquide amniotique prélevés entre la 14ème et la 18ème semaine de grossesse chez 196 patientes. Les concentrations d'IGF-1 et d'IGFBP-3 ont été dosées par ELISA, les polymorphismes analysés par PCR. Ces résultats ont été ensuite analysés en fonction du poids de naissance des nouveaux-nés, répartis en trois groupes normal pour l'âge gestationnel (AGA), petit pour l'âge gestationnel (SGA) et grand pour l'âge gestationnel (LGA). Résultats : Les concentrations d'IGFBP3 dans le liquide amniotique sont significativement plus élevées (p = 0.030) dans le groupe SGA par rapport au groupe AGA, d'autant plus quand les taux sont ajustés en fonction de paramètres tels que l'âge gestationnel lors de l'amniocentèse (ANCOVA analysis : p = 0.009). La distribution du polymorphisme VNTR (variable number of tandem repeat) dans la région promotrice d'IGF-1 au sein du groupe SGA est significativement différente de celle du groupe AGA (p = 0.029). En effet, la fréquence de l'association allélique 19CA/20CA est diminuée dans le groupe SGA. Nous n'avons pas identifié de différence de distribution des séquences polymorphiques d'IGFBP-3 entre les différents groupes. Conclusion : Une concentration élevée d'IGFBP-3 dans le liquide amniotique au début du deuxième trimestre est associée à un risque plus élevé de retard de croissance alors que l'association allélique 19CA/20CA dans la région polymorphique IGF-1 VNTR est un facteur protecteur.

Indicator displacement assays as molecular timers

Dynamic mixtures of Rh-dye complexes can be used to determine the history of chemical events such as the addition of ATP and ADP by UV-vis spectroscopy.

Validation of the potentially avoidable hospital readmission rate as a routine indicator of the quality of hospital care

BACKGROUND: The hospital readmission rate has been proposed as an important outcome indicator computable from routine statistics. However, most commonly used measures raise conceptual issues. OBJECTIVES: We sought to evaluate the usefulness of the computerized algorithm for identifying avoidable readmissions on the basis of minimum bias, criterion validity, and measurement precision. RESEARCH DESIGN AND SUBJECTS: A total of 131,809 hospitalizations of patients discharged alive from 49 hospitals were used to compare the predictive performance of risk adjustment methods. A subset of a random sample of 570 medical records of discharge/readmission pairs in 12 hospitals were reviewed to estimate the predictive value of the screening of potentially avoidable readmissions. MEASURES: Potentially avoidable readmissions, defined as readmissions related to a condition of the previous hospitalization and not expected as part of a program of care and occurring within 30 days after the previous discharge, were identified by a computerized algorithm. Unavoidable readmissions were considered as censored events. RESULTS: A total of 5.2% of hospitalizations were followed by a potentially avoidable readmission, 17% of them in a different hospital. The predictive value of the screen was 78%; 27% of screened readmissions were judged clearly avoidable. The correlation between the hospital rate of clearly avoidable readmission and all readmissions rate, potentially avoidable readmissions rate or the ratio of observed to expected readmissions were respectively 0.42, 0.56 and 0.66. Adjustment models using clinical information performed better. CONCLUSION: Adjusted rates of potentially avoidable readmissions are scientifically sound enough to warrant their inclusion in hospital quality surveillance.

On circuit functionality in boolean networks.

It has been proved, for several classes of continuous and discrete dynamical systems, that the presence of a positive (resp. negative) circuit in the interaction graph of a system is a necessary condition for the presence of multiple stable states (resp. a cyclic attractor). A positive (resp. negative) circuit is said to be functional when it "generates" several stable states (resp. a cyclic attractor). However, there are no definite mathematical frameworks translating the underlying meaning of "generates." Focusing on Boolean networks, we recall and propose some definitions concerning the notion of functionality along with associated mathematical results.

Energy as an indicator of modernisation in Latin America by 1925

In absence of comparable macroeconomic indicators for most of the Latin American economiesbeyond the 1930s, this paper presents an estimate of the apparent consumption per head of coal and petroleum for 25 countries of Latin American and the Caribbean for the year 1925, doubling the number of countries for which energy consumption estimates were previously available. Energy consumption is then used as an indicator of economic modernisation. As a result, the paper provides the basis for a quantitative comparative analysis of modernisation performance beyond the few countries for which historical national accounts are available in Latin America.

Functionality of the plastron in adults of Neochetina eichhorniae Warner (Coleoptera, Curculionidae): aspects of the integument coating and submersion laboratory experiments

The plastron theory was tested in adults of Neochetina eichhorniae Warner, 1970, through the analysis of the structure that coats these insects' integument and also through submersion laboratorial experiments. The tegument processes were recognized in three types: agglutinated scales with large perforations, plumose scales of varied sizes and shapes, and hairs. The experiments were carried out on 264 adult individuals which were kept submerged at different time intervals (n = 11) and in two types of treatment, natural non-aerated water and previously boiled water, with four repetitions for each treatment. The tests showed a maximum mortality after 24 hours of immersion in the previously boiled water treatment. The survival of the adults was negative and significantly correlated with the types of treatment employed and within the different time intervals. The values of oxygen dissolved in water (mg/l) differed significantly within the types of treatment employed. They were positively correlated with the survival of the adults in the two types of treatment, although more markedly in the treatment with previously boiled water. The mortality of adults after 24 hours of submersion in the treatment with previously boiled water may be associated with the physical-chemical conditions of the non-tested water in this study, such as low surface tension and concentration of solutes. These results suggest plastron functionality in the adults of this species.

In vitro functionality of isolated embryonic hypothalamic vasopressinergic and oxytocinergic neurons: modulatory effects of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and angiotensin II.

There are only a few studies on the ontogeny and differentiation process of the hypothalamic supraoptic-paraventriculo-neurohypophysial neurosecretory system. In vitro neuron survival improves if cells are of embryonic origin; however, surviving hypothalamic neurons in culture were found to express small and minimal amounts of arginine-vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin (OT), respectively. The aim of this study was to develop a primary neuronal culture design applicable to the study of magnocellular hypothalamic system functionality. For this purpose, a primary neuronal culture was set up after mechanical dissociation of sterile hypothalamic blocks from 17-day-old Sprague-Dawley rat embryos (E17) of both sexes. Isolated hypothalamic cells were cultured with supplemented (B27)-NeuroBasal medium containing an agent inhibiting non-neuron cell proliferation. The neurosecretory process was characterized by detecting AVP and OT secreted into the medium on different days of culture. Data indicate that spontaneous AVP and OT release occurred in a culture day-dependent fashion, being maximal on day 13 for AVP, and on day 10 for OT. Interestingly, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and Angiotensin II (A II) were able to positively modulate neuropeptide output. Furthermore, on day 17 of culture, non-specific (high-KCl) and specific (Angiotensin II) stimuli were able to significantly (P < 0.05) enhance the secretion of both neuropeptides over respective baselines. This study suggests that our experimental design is useful for the study of AVP- and OT-ergic neuron functionality and that BDNF and A II are positive modulators of embryonic hypothalamic cell development.

Is football an indicator of development at the international level?

[spa] El objetivo de este trabajo es examinar si el fútbol puede ser considerado como un indicador de desarrollo a nivel internacional. Se ha diseñado un modelo econométrico empírico con el fin de analizar el desarrollo en términos de niveles de PIB per cápita y del crecimiento del PIB. Se utiliza información transversal y temporal. Los resultados sugieren que la clasificación FIFA de las selecciones nacionales se puede utilizar para complementar nuestra comprensión del desarrollo multidimensional en aquellos países donde la disponibilidad de la información no es tan buena como los investigadores quisieran.

Is football an indicator of development at the international level?

[spa] El objetivo de este trabajo es examinar si el fútbol puede ser considerado como un indicador de desarrollo a nivel internacional. Se ha diseñado un modelo econométrico empírico con el fin de analizar el desarrollo en términos de niveles de PIB per cápita y del crecimiento del PIB. Se utiliza información transversal y temporal. Los resultados sugieren que la clasificación FIFA de las selecciones nacionales se puede utilizar para complementar nuestra comprensión del desarrollo multidimensional en aquellos países donde la disponibilidad de la información no es tan buena como los investigadores quisieran.

Monosomal karyotype in acute myeloid leukemia: a better indicator of poor prognosis than a complex karyotype.

PURPOSE: To investigate the prognostic value of various cytogenetic components of a complex karyotype in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Cytogenetics and overall survival (OS) were analyzed in 1,975 AML patients age 15 to 60 years. RESULTS: Besides AML with normal cytogenetics (CN) and core binding factor (CBF) abnormalities, we distinguished 733 patients with cytogenetic abnormalities. Among the latter subgroup, loss of a single chromosome (n = 109) conferred negative prognostic impact (4-year OS, 12%; poor outcome). Loss of chromosome 7 was most common, but outcome of AML patients with single monosomy -7 (n = 63; 4-year OS, 13%) and other single autosomal monosomies (n = 46; 4-year OS, 12%) did not differ. Structural chromosomal abnormalities influenced prognosis only in association with a single autosomal monosomy (4-year OS, 4% for very poor v 24% for poor). We derived a monosomal karyotype (MK) as a predictor for very poor prognosis of AML that refers to two or more distinct autosomal chromosome monosomies (n = 116; 4-year OS, 3%) or one single autosomal monosomy in the presence of structural abnormalities (n = 68; 4-year OS, 4%). In direct comparisons, MK provides significantly better prognostic prediction than the traditionally defined complex karyotype, which considers any three or more or five or more clonal cytogenetic abnormalities, and also than various individual specific cytogenetic abnormalities (eg, del[5q], inv[3]/t[3;3]) associated with very poor outcome. CONCLUSION: MK enables (in addition to CN and CBF) the prognostic classification of two new aggregates of cytogenetically abnormal AML, the unfavorable risk MK-negative category (4-year OS, 26% +/- 2%) and the highly unfavorable risk MK-positive category (4-year OS, 4% +/- 1%).

Complexometric titration with potenciometric indicator to determination of calcium and magnesium in soil extracts¹

This study proposes a method of direct and simultaneous determination of the amount of Ca2+ and Mg2+ present in soil extracts using a Calcium Ion-Selective Electrode and by Complexometric Titration (ISE-CT). The results were compared to those obtained by conventional analytical techniques of Complexometric Titration (CT) and Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (FAAS). There were no significant differences in the determination of Ca2+ and Mg2+ in comparison with CT and FAAS, at a 95 % confidence level. Additionally, results of this method were more precise and accurate than of the Interlaboratorial Control (IC).

Soil fauna as an indicator of soil quality in forest stands, pasture and secondary forest

The interactions between soil invertebrates and environmental variations are relatively unknown in the assessment of soil quality. The objective of this study was to evaluate soil quality in areas with different soil management systems, based on soil fauna as indicator, in Além Paraíba, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The soil invertebrate community was sampled using pitfall traps, in the dry and rainy seasons, from areas with five vegetation types (acacia, mimosa, eucalyptus, pasture, and secondary forest). The abundance of organisms and the total and average richness, Shannon's diversity index, the Pielou uniformity index, and change index V were determined. The fauna was most abundant in the areas of secondary forest and mimosa plantations in the dry season (111.3 and 31.7 individuals per trap per day, respectively). In the rainy season, the abundance of organisms in the three vegetation types did not differ. The highest values of average and total richness were recorded in the secondary forest in the dry season and in the mimosa stand in the rainy season. Shannon's index ranged from 1.57 in areas with acacia and eucalyptus in the rainy season to 3.19 in the eucalyptus area in the dry season. The uniformity index was highest in forest stands (eucalyptus, acacia and mimosa) in the dry season, but higher in the rainy season in the pasture and secondary forest than in the forest stands. The change index V indicated that the percentage of extremely inhibited groups was lowest in the area with mimosa, both in the dry and rainy season (36 and 23 %, respectively). Of all forest stands, the mimosa area had the most abundant soil fauna.

Frequency-dependent attenuation as a potential indicator of oil saturation

At seismic frequencies, wave-induced fluid flow is a major cause of P-wave attenuation in partially saturated porous rocks. Attenuation is of great importance for the oil industry in the interpretation of seismic field data. Here, the effects on P-wave attenuation resulting from changes in oil saturation are studied for media with coexisting water, oil, and gas. For that, creep experiments are numerically simulated by solving Biot's equations for consolidation of poroelastic media with the finite-element method. The experiments yield time-dependent stress?strain relations that are used to calculate the complex P-wave modulus from which frequency-dependent P-wave attenuation is determined. The models are layered media with periodically alternating triplets of layers. Models consisting of triplets of layers having randomly varying layer thicknesses are also considered. The layers in each triplet are fully saturated with water, oil, and gas. The layer saturated with water has lower porosity and permeability than the layers saturated with oil and gas. These models represent hydrocarbon reservoirs in which water is the wetting fluid preferentially saturating regions of lower porosity. The results from the numerical experiments showed that increasing oil saturation, connected to a decrease in gas saturation, resulted in a significant increase of attenuation at low frequencies (lower than 2 Hz). Furthermore, replacing the oil with water resulted in a distinguishable behavior of the frequency-dependent attenuation. These results imply that, according to the physical mechanism of wave-induced fluid flow, frequency-dependent attenuation in media saturated with water, oil, and gas is a potential indicator of oil saturation.

Conviction Statistics as an Indicator of Crime Trends in Europe from 1990 to 2006

Convictions statistics were the first criminal statistics available in Europe during the nineteenth century. Their main weaknesses as crime measures and for comparative purposes were identified by Alphonse de Candolle in the 1830s. Currently, they are seldom used by comparative criminologists, although they provide a less valid but more reliable measure of crime and formal social control than police statistics. This article uses conviction statistics, compiled from the four editions of the European Sourcebook of Crime and Criminal Justice Statistics, to study the evolution of persons convicted in European countries from 1990 to 2006. Trends in persons convicted for six offences -intentional homicide, assault, rape, robbery, theft, and drug offences- and up to 26 European countries are analysed. These trends are established for the whole of Europe as well as for a cluster of Western European countries and a cluster of Central and Eastern European countries. The analyses show similarities between both regions of Europe at the beginning and at the end of the period under study. After a general increase of the rate of persons convicted in the early 1990s in the whole of Europe, trends followed different directions in Western and in Central and Eastern Europe. However, during the 2000s, it can be observed, throughout Europe, a certain stability of the rates of persons convicted for intentional homicides, accompanied by a general decrease of the rate of persons convicted for property offences, and an increase of the rate of those convicted for drug offences. The latter goes together with an increase of the rate of persons convicted for non lethal violent offences, which only reached some stability at the end of the time series. These trends show that there is no general crime drop in Europe. After a discussion of possible theoretical explanations, a multifactor model, inspired by opportunity-based theories, is proposed to explain the trends observed.