A single brain-derived neurotrophic factor infusion into the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex attenuates cocaine self-administration-induced phosphorylation of synapsin in the nucleus accumbens during early withdrawal

BACKGROUND: Dysregulation in the prefrontal cortex-nucleus accumbens pathway has been implicated in cocaine addiction. We have previously demonstrated that one intra-dorsomedial prefrontal cortex brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) infusion immediately following the last cocaine self-administration session caused a long-lasting inhibition of cocaine-seeking and normalized the cocaine-induced disturbance of glutamate transmission in the nucleus accumbens after extinction and a cocaine prime. However, the molecular mechanism mediating the brain-derived neurotrophic factor effect on cocaine-induced alterations in extracellular glutamate levels is unknown. METHODS: In the present study, we determined the effects of brain-derived neurotrophic factor on cocaine-induced changes in the phosphorylation of synapsin (p-synapsin), a family of presynaptic proteins that mediate synaptic vesicle mobilization, in the nucleus accumbens during early withdrawal. RESULTS: Two hours after cocaine self-administration, p-synapsin Ser9 and p-synapsin Ser62/67, but not p-synapsin Ser603, were increased in the nucleus accumbens. At 22 hours, only p-synapsin Ser9 was still elevated. Elevations at both time points were attenuated by an intra-dorsomedial prefrontal cortex brain-derived neurotrophic factor infusion immediately after the end of cocaine self-administration. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor also reduced cocaine self-administration withdrawal-induced phosphorylation of the protein phosphatase 2A C-subunit, suggesting that brain-derived neurotrophic factor disinhibits protein phosphatase 2A C-subunit, consistent with p-synapsin Ser9 dephosphorylation. Further, co-immunoprecipitation demonstrated that protein phosphatase 2A C-subunit and synapsin are associated in a protein-protein complex that was reduced after 2 hours of withdrawal from cocaine self-administration and reversed by brain-derived neurotrophic factor. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, these findings demonstrate that brain-derived neurotrophic factor normalizes the cocaine self-administration–induced elevation of p-synapsin in nucleus accumbens that may underlie a disturbance in the probability of neurotransmitter release or represent a compensatory neuroadaptation in response to the hypofunction within the prefrontal cortex-nucleus accumbens pathway during cocaine withdrawal

Effects of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers on the Growth of NH-Ae 47-4 Variety of Okra

The paper evaluates the effects of organic and inorganic fertilizers on the growth of okra (variety NH-Ae  47-4. Organic fertilizers (cow dung and poultry droppings) and inorganic (NPK 15:15:15 and Urea 64:0) fertilizers were used for the experiment. The fertilizers were weighed and applied at 5g, 10g and 15g and were replicated three times and each having a control. Vegetative growth parameters taken include, shoot fresh weight (g), dry weight (g), plant height (cm), leaf number, stem girth (cm), leaf area (cm2). The results obtained from the experiment showed that the effect of the treatments were significantly difference from the control for all the parameters accessed with urea fertilizer having least effect. Plants treated with poultry litters have best performance by recording the highest fresh and dry weight (0.39g) at 4 weeks after planting (WAP); highest stem height 29.33cm for all the concentrations applied. Similarly, it has highest leaf area and stem girth (64.67cm2and 2.23cm respectively) at 8WAP. ©JASEMKeywords: evaluate, cow-dung, poultry-droppings, okra, vegetative

Effects of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers on the Yield Components of NH-Ae 47-4 Variety of Okra

The experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of organic and inorganic fertilizers on the yield components of okra (variety NH-Ae 47-4). Organic fertilizers (cow dung and poultry droppings) and inorganic (NPK 15:15:15 and Urea 64:0) fertilizers were used for the experiment. The fertilizers were weighed and applied at 5g, 10g and 15g and were replicated three times and each having a control. The fertilizers were mixed three days prior to sowing the seeds. Yield components taken include; fresh pod weight (g), dry pod weight (g), length of pod (cm), number of grooves on the pod, length of stalk (cm) and pod girth (cm). Application of cow dung, poultry litter, and urea and NPK fertilizer had significant effects on all the parameters accessed with Urea fertilizer having least effect. The application of cow dung resulted in significant increase in the yield components. The results obtained from the experiment also showed that the effect of the treatments were significantly difference from the controlKeywords: evaluate, cow-dung, poultry-droppings, okra, yiel

Cytosolic monothiol glutaredoxins function in intracellular iron sensing and trafficking via their bound iron-sulfur cluster

Iron is an essential nutrient for cells. It is unknown how iron, after its import into the cytosol, is specifically delivered to iron-dependent processes in various cellular compartments. Here, we identify an essential function of the conserved cytosolic monothiol glutaredoxins Grx3 and Grx4 in intracellular iron trafficking and sensing. Depletion of Grx3/4 specifically impaired all iron-requiring reactions in the cytosol, mitochondria, and nucleus, including the synthesis of Fe/S clusters, heme, and di-iron centers. These defects were caused by impairment of iron insertion into proteins and iron transfer to mitochondria, indicating that intracellular iron is not bioavailable, despite highly elevated cytosolic levels. The crucial task of Grx3/4 is mediated by a bridging, glutathione-containing Fe/S center that functions both as an iron sensor and in intracellular iron delivery. Collectively, our study uncovers an important role of monothiol glutaredoxins in cellular iron metabolism, with a surprising connection to cellular redox and sulfur metabolisms

Iatrogenic Gastric Dilatation: A Rare and Transient Cause of Hepatic-portal Venous Gas

Gas in the portal veins is rare and in most cases is associated with serious diseases and poor clinical outcome. A case of gas in the hepatic-portal veins with gastric dilatation, as shown by CT-scanning for abdominal trauma, is reported. The condition was clinically benign and resolved spontaneously. An abdominal CT scan documented the findings

Intra-abdominal pectus bar migration – a rare clinical entity: case report

We present the case of a 20-year-old male who underwent successful surgical correction of pectus excavatum with the Highly Modified Ravitch Repair (HMRR). At 29 months the attempted operative removal of the Ravitch bar was unsuccessful despite the impression of adequate bar location on chest x-ray. Subsequent imaging with computed tomography was unclear in determining whether the bar was supra or infra-diaphragmatic due to the tissue distortion subsequent to initial surgery. Video assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) successfully retrieved the bar and revealed that it was not in the thorax, but had migrated to the intra-abdominal bare area of the liver, with no evidence of associated diaphragmatic defect or hernia. Intra-abdominal pectus bar migration is a rare clinical entity, and safe removal can be facilitated by the use of the VATS technique

Phytochemical Analysis, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Properties of Hexane, Ethyl acetate, and Methanol Leaf Extracts of Ipomoea hildebrandtii Vatke Shrub Plant

Ipomoea hildebrandtii Vatke have been effectively used to relieve general body pains, treat wounds and cuts in the semi-arid region of Kenya. Hence the objective of this paper was to evaluate the phytochemical analysis, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol leaf extracts of Ipomoea hildebrandtii Vatke shrub plant. The profiling of the phytochemicals was carried out using the Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and Gas Chromatography-Mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) analyses. Antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of the methanol, hexane and ethyl acetate extracts of I. hildebrandtii were determined using disk diffusion and 2,2-diphenyl-l-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assays respectively. Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed that the leaf extracts are enriched with alkaloids, tannins, terpenoids, steroids, glycosides, flavonoids, phenols, quinones, and saponins. With GC-MS, the major compound tetratetracontane (73.14%) was identified in hexane and 9-octadecanamide, (Z)- in ethyl acetate and methanol extracts (30.99%) and (43.09%) respectively. The IR spectroscopy revealed various functional groups such as C=O, C=C, –OH and –NH. The methanol extract showed good antimicrobial activity at 1000 mg/mL against all the microorganisms tested except Escherichia coli while the hexane extract was the best antimicrobial activity against E. coli at 1000 mg/mL. The ethyl acetate extract showed the best antioxidant activity against DPPH (IC50 = 48.70 ± 1.54 µg/mL) compared to the standard ascorbic acid (IC50 = 21.24 ± 0.12 µg/mL). The experimental findings showed that all extracts from I. hildebrandtii leaves possess significant antimicrobial and antioxidant activities justifying its use in traditional medicine. These biological activities might be due to the presence of the presence of the identified phytochemicals in them

Activity profiles of elite wheelchair rugby players during competition

To quantify the activity profiles of elite wheelchair rugby and establish classification-specific arbitrary speed zones. Additionally, indicators of fatigue during full matches were explored. Methods: Seventy-five elite wheelchair rugby players from eleven national teams were monitored using a radio-frequency based, indoor tracking system across two international tournaments. Players who participated in complete quarters (n = 75) and full matches (n = 25) were included and grouped by their International Wheelchair Rugby Federation functional classification: group I (0-0.5), II (1.0-1.5), III (2.0-2.5) and IV (3.0-3.5). Results: During a typical quarter, significant increases in total distance (m), relative distance (m·minˉ¹), and mean speed (m·sˉ¹) were associated with an increase in classification group (P < 0.001), with the exception of group III and IV. However, group IV players achieved significantly higher peak speeds (3.82 ± 0.31 m·sˉ¹) than groups I (2.99 ± 0.28 m·sˉ¹), II (3.44 ± 0.26 m·sˉ¹) and III (3.67 ± 0.32 m·sˉ¹). Groups I and II differed significantly in match intensity during very low/low speed zones and the number of high-intensity activities in comparison with groups III and IV (P < 0.001). Full match analysis revealed that activity profiles did not differ significantly between quarters. Conclusions: Notable differences in the volume of activity were displayed across the functional classification groups. However, the specific on-court requirements of defensive (I and II) and offensive (III and IV) match roles appeared to influence the intensity of match activities and consequently training prescription should be structured accordingly