Effect of brain-derived neurotrophic factor Val66Met polymorphism and serum levels on the progression of mild cognitive impairment

Objectives. Abnormalities in neurotrophic systems have been reported in Alzheimer`s disease (AD), as shown by decreased serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels and association with BDNF genetic polymorphisms. In this study, we investigate whether these findings can be detected in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which is recognized as a high risk condition for AD. We also address the impact of these variables on the progression of cognitive deficits within the MCI-AD continuum. Methods. One hundred and sixty older adults with varying degrees of cognitive impairment (30 patients with AD, 71 with MCI, and 59 healthy controls) were longitudinally assessed for up to 60 months. Baseline serum BDNF levels were determined by sandwich ELISA, and the presence of polymorphisms of BDNF and apolipoprotein E (Val66Met and APOE*E4, respectively) was determined by allelic discrimination analysis on real time PCR. Modifications of cognitive state were ascertained for non-demented subjects. Results. Mean serum BDNF levels were reduced in patients with MCI and AD, as compared to controls (509.2 +/- 210.5; 581.9 +/- 379.4; and 777.5 +/- 467.8 pg/l respectively; P < 0.001). Baseline serum BDNF levels were not associated with the progression of cognitive impairment upon follow-up in patients with MCI (progressive MCI, 750.8 +/- 463.0; stable MCI, 724.0 +/- 343.4; P = 0.8), nor with the conversion to AD. Although Val66Met polymorphisms were not associated with the cross-sectional diagnoses of MCI or AD, the presence of Met-BDNF allele was associated with a higher risk of disease-progression in patients with MCI (OR = 3.0 CI(95%) [1.2-7.8], P = 0.02). We also found a significant interaction between the APOE*E4 and Met-BDNF allele increasing the risk of progression of cognitive impairment in MCI patients (OR = 4.4 CI(95%) [1.6-12.1], P = 0.004). Conclusion. Decreased neurotrophic support, as indicated by a reduced systemic availability of BDNF, may play role in the neurodegenerative processes that underlie the continuum from MCI to AD. The presence of Met-BDNF allele, particularly in association with APOE*E4, may predict a worse cognitive outcome in patients with MCI.

Världsbild under sammanställning : individ, ensamhet och gemenskap i Ulla-Lena Lundbergs författarskap

Subjektivitet och världsbild är studiens nyckeltermer. Jag undersöker temat ensamhet kontra gemenskap i Ulla-Lena Lundbergs författarskap. Inledningsvis antar jag inte bara att temat är centralt i författarskapet, utan också att individualism – som ett kännetecken för det moderna och senmoderna västerlandet – ofta ifrågasätts i Lundbergs verk. Med fokus på subjekt som ideologiska fenomen, knutna till tid och rum, är Sibirien. Ett självporträtt med vingar (1993) av särskilt intresse. Avhandlingen kan beskrivas som en dubbel analys av Sibirien, som analyseras både som en självbiografi och en antisjälvbiografi. Sibirien är ett individualistiskt uttryck men omfattar samtidigt kritik av individualism, som förknippas med ensamhet. Problematiken individ–omvärld och ensamhet–gemenskap, som är knuten till frågan om vad meningen med livet är, följs också genom sju av Lundbergs romaner. Studien utgör ett slags författarskapsstudie, eftersom Sibirien läses mot bakgrund av dessa verk och inte enbart mot bakgrund av den självbiografiska genren. Problematiken kan vara antingen uttalad eller implicerad i en kärleks- och dödstematik. Centralt i författarskapet är ett intresse för förmoderna och ickevästerländska kulturer, vilket får mig att fråga: Vilken betydelse har föreställningarna om ”det gamla” och ”det främmande” för ifrågasättandet av individualism? Författarskapet förstås här som en aktuell kommentar till dess utomlitterära samtid – med individualism som ett kännetecken och antiindividualism som ett annat.

The impact of a computer based adult literacy program on literacy and numeracy : evidence from India

With over 700 million illiterate adults in the world, many governments have implemented adult literacy programs across the world, although typically with low rates of success partly because the quality of teaching is low. One solution may lie in the standardization of teaching provided by computer-aided instruction. We present the first rigorous evidence of the effectiveness of a computer-based adult literacy program. A randomized control trial study of TARA Akshar Plus, an Indian adult literacy program, was implemented in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. We find large, significant impacts of this computer-aided program on literacy and numeracy outcomes. We compare the improvement in learning to that of other traditional adult literacy programs and conclude that TARA Akshar Plus is effective in increasing literacy and numeracy for illiterate adult women.

Influence of spraying parameters on the electrochemical behaviour of HVOF thermally sprayed stainless steel coatings in 3.4% NaCl

Stainless steel coatings obtained by High Velocity Oxygen Fuel (HVOF) were characterized using optical (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron probe micro-analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), open-circuit potential (E-OC) measurements, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and polarisation tests. Differences among coated steels were mainly related with the gun-substrate distance parameter (310 nm for samples A and B and 260 min for C and D). The open-circuit potential values measured for all the samples after 18 h of immersion in aerated and unstirred 3.4% NaCl solution were: - 0.334, - 0.360, - 0.379 and - 0.412 V vs. Ag/AgCl,KClsat. for samples A to D, respectively. For EIS measurements, Nyquist plots showed higher capacitive semi-circle for samples sprayed at longer distance, indicating higher corrosion resistance in NaCl solution. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

5a-Butyl-1,3,8,10-tetra-chloro-7,13-bis-(4-nitro-benzo-yl)-5a,6a,12a,12b-tetra-hydro-7H,13H-thieno[2,3-b:4,5-b']bis-(1,4-benzoxazine)

The title compound, C(34)H(24)Cl(4)N(4)O(8)S, is a linear penta-cyclic system formed of two substituted benzoxazinyl groups fused to 2-n-butyl-tetra-hydro-thio-phene. The oxazine ring, which is fused to the n-butyl-substituted side of the thio-phene ring, is in a boat conformation. The other fused oxazine ring and the tetra-hydro-thiene ring are each in an envelope conformation. The bridgehead C atom alpha to both the S and N atoms forms the flap of each envelope. This results in a twist of the penta-cyclic system such that the dihedral angle between the terminal dichloro-benzene rings is 82.92 (8)°. In the crystal, inversion-related mol-ecules form a weakly hydrogen-bonded dimer, with two C-H⋯O inter-actions between an H atom on the oxazine ring and an amide O atom. Additionally, C-H⋯O inter-actions occur between an H atom on a screw-related nitro-benzene ring and an O atom on the nitro-benzene ring of one mol-ecule. One of the Cl atoms and the butyl group are disordered over two sets of sites with occupancy ratios of 0.94 (2):0.06 (2) and 0.624 (4):0.376 (4), respectively.

Na 1 Nachlass Max Horkheimer, 16 - Korrespondenzen u.a. mit Gerhart Jacoby Gordon (p. I 8, 202-379)

2 Briefe von A. Gandon an Max Horkheimer, Februrar 1936; 1 Brief von Max Horkheimer an Lloyd K. Garrison, 25.03.1941; 4 Briefe zwischen Moritz Geiger und Max Horkheimer, 01.12.1935, 1935; 1 Lebenslauf von Alvin Johnsson an Friedrich Pollock; 1 Brief von Alvon Johnson an Friedrich Pollock, 39.09.1940; 1 Brief von Max Horkheimer an Harald Genssler, 04.09.1949; 1 Brief von der George Washington University Washington an Max Horkheimer, 01.03.1939; 2 Briefe von Wolfgang Gerloff an Max Horkheimer, 1934, 1939; 2 Briefe zwsichen Hans Gerth und Max Horkheimer, 28.10.1937, 16.11.1937; 1 Brief von M. Getzer anMax Horkheimer, 04.05.1934; 12 Briefe zwsichen Edgar V. M. Gilbert und Max Horkheimer, 1935-1940; 1 Brief von der Gillespie, Kinsports & Bears Travel Agency New York an Max Horkheimer, 16.04.1935; 1 Entwurf von Max Horkheimer an Morris Ginsberg, Dezember 1935; 19 Briefe zwsichen Morris Ginsberg, Ethel Ginsberg und Max Horkheimer, 1935-1938; 2 Briefe zwischen Robert Morrison MacIver und Max Horkheimer, 18.08.1937, 16.08.1937; 1 Brief von H. Girsberger an Max Horkheimer, 17.08.1938; 1 Brief von Max Horkheimer an Glass, 24.12.1940; 1 Brief von der Glidden Buick Corporation New York an Max Horkheimer, 05.06.1940; 1 Heiratsanzeige von Vera Gold; 4 Briefe zwischen Oskar Goldberg und Max Horkheimer, 1941, 27.08.1941; 10 Briefe zwischen Hans Goldmann und Max Horkheimer, 1934-1937; 14 Briefe zwischen Alfons Goldschmidt und Max Horkheimer, 1936-1938; 7 Briefe zwsichen dem Greater New York Coordinating Committee for German Refugees, New York und Max Horkheimer, 1937-1939; 1 Brief von Max Horkheimer an Simon Guggenheim, 24.01.1938; 3 Briefe zwischen Aron Goldschmidt und Max Horkheimer, 02.02.1939, Mai 1942; 2 Briefe zwischen Berta Goldschmidt und Max Horkheimer, 14.01.1941, 25.02.1941; 4 Briefe von Emma Goldschmidt an Juliette Favez, 1938-1940; 5 Briefe zwischen Emma Goldschmidt und Max Horkheimer, 1938-1940; 2 Briefe zwischen Ernst L. Goldschmidt und Max Horkheimer, 08.07.1937, 18.06.1937; 1 Brief von Thea Goldschmidt an Max Horkheimer, 16.04.1935; 14 Briefe zwischen Kurt Goldstein und Max Horkheimer, 1934-1941; 19 Briefe zwsichen Gerhart Jacoby Gordon und Max Horkheimer, 1934-1937;