A First Search for coincident Gravitational Waves and High Energy Neutrinos using LIGO, Virgo and ANTARES data from 2007

We present the results of the first search for gravitational wave bursts associated with high energy neutrinos. Together, these messengers could reveal new, hidden sources that are not observed by conventional photon astronomy, particularly at high energy. Our search uses neutrinos detected by the underwater neutrino telescope ANTARES in its 5 line configuration during the period January - September 2007, which coincided with the fifth and first science runs of LIGO and Virgo, respectively. The LIGO-Virgo data were analysed for candidate gravitational-wave signals coincident in time and direction with the neutrino events. No significant coincident events were observed. We place limits on the density of joint high energy neutrino - gravitational wave emission events in the local universe, and compare them with densities of merger and core-collapse events.Comment: 19 pages, 8 figures, science summary page at http://www.ligo.org/science/Publication-S5LV_ANTARES/index.php. Public access area to figures, tables at https://dcc.ligo.org/cgi-bin/DocDB/ShowDocument?docid=p120000

Antioxidant activity of Spathodea campanulata (Bignoneaceae) extracts Atividade antioxidante de extratos de Spathodea campanulata (Bignoneaceae)

Spathodea campanulata is used in traditional medicine in Africa as diuretic and anti-inflammatory. Although few studies have reported the mechanism of antioxidant action, this study evidenced the antioxidant activity of S. campanulata bark and flower extracts and their possible mechanism of action. Ethanol extracts of S. campanulata bark and flowers showed antioxidant activity on lipid peroxidation of liver microsome induced by Fe3+-ascorbic acid. Bark extract was 5 times more efficient than flower extract. The antioxidant activity of flower extract, previously complexed with increasing concentrations of Fe3+ (20 - 100 μM) which resulted in antioxidant activity loss, was shown to be related to iron complex formation. In contrast, the antioxidant activity of bark extract was not inhibited by the previous incubation with Fe3+, although complexation was demonstrated by spectral analysis of the solution. These results suggest an antioxidant mechanism other than Fe3+ complex formation. Therefore, the antioxidant mechanisms of S. campanulata flower and bark extracts are distinct from each other, reflecting the extract heterogeneous composition and the mechanism of action.Spathodea campanulata é usada na medicina popular na África como diurético e antiinflamatório. Embora poucos estudos relatem o mecanismo de ação antioxidante, neste trabalho foi evidenciado a atividade antioxidante dos extratos da casca e da flor da S. campanulata e o possível mecanismo de ação. Os extratos etanólicos da casca e da flor da S. campanulata mostrou possuir atividade antioxidante sobre a lipoperoxidação de microssoma hepático induzida por Fe3+-ácido ascórbico. O extrato da casca foi 5 vezes mais eficiente que da flor. O extrato da flor foi previamente complexado com concentrações crescentes de Fe3+ (20 - 100 μM) o qual resultou na perda da atividade antioxidante, demonstrando que esta está relacionada com a formação de complexo com o ferro. Por outro lado, a atividade antioxidante do extrato da casca não foi inibida pela prévia incubação com o ferro, embora haja a formação do complexo evidenciado pela análise espectral da solução. Estes resultados sugerem que o mecanismo antioxidante seja outro que não a complexação com o Fe3+. Portanto, o mecanismo antioxidante dos extratos da flor e da casca da S. campanulata é distinto entre si o que reflete a composição heterogênica do extrato e o mecanismo de ação

Inhibition of L-glutamate and GABA synaptosome uptake by crotoxin, the major neurotoxin from Crotalus durissus terrificus venom

This paper describes a brief study on the crotoxin mechanism of action, regarding the transport of GABA and L-glutamate in rats cortico-cerebral synaptosomes and in heterologous systems, such as COS-7 cells expressing gabaergic transporters, and C6 glioma cells and Xenopus oocytes expressing glutamatergic transporters. Crotoxin concentrations over 1 µM caused an inhibitory effect of ³H-L-glutamate and ³H-GABA, and reversibly inhibited L-glutamate uptake by C6 glioma cells. When COS-7 cells were assayed, no inhibition of the ³H-GABA transport could be evidenced. Crotoxin kept its inhibitory effect on neurotransmitters uptake even when Ca2+ ions were removed from the medium, therefore, independently of its PLA2 activity. In addition, high concentrations (2 mM) of BPB did not avoid the action of crotoxin on the neurotransmitters uptake. Crotoxin also inhibited ³H-L-glutamate, independently on Na+ channel blockade by TTX. In addition, an evaluation of the lactic dehydrogenase activity indicated that uptake inhibition does not involve a hydrolytic action of crotoxin upon the membrane. We may also suggest that crotoxin acts, at least partially, altering the electrogenic equilibrium, as evidenced by confocal microscopy, when a fluorescent probe was used to verify cell permeability on C6 glioma cells in presence of crotoxin

Biological And Enzymatic Activities Of Micrurus Sp. (coral) Snake Venoms

The venoms of Micrurus lemniscatus carvalhoi, Micrurus frontalis frontalis, Micrurus surinamensis surinamensis and Micrurus nigrocinctus nigrocinctus were assayed for biological activities. Although showing similar liposome disrupting and myotoxic activities, M. frontalis frontalis and M. nigrocinctus nigrocinctus displayed higher anticoagulant and phospholipase A2 (PLA 2) activities. The latter induced a higher edema response within 30 min. Both venoms were the most toxic as well. In the isolated chick biventer cervicis preparation, M. lemniscatus carvalhoi venom blocked the indirectly elicited twitch-tension response (85±0.6% inhibition after a 15 min incubation at 5 μg of venom/mL) and the response to acetylcholine (ACh; 55 or 110 μM), without affecting the response to KCl (13.4 mM). In mouse phrenic nerve-diaphragm preparation, the venom (5 μg/mL) produced a complete inhibition of the indirectly elicited contractile response after 50 min incubation and did not affect the contractions elicited by direct stimulation. M. lemniscatus carvalhoi inhibited 3H-l-glutamate uptake in brain synaptosomes in a Ca2+-, but not time, dependent manner. The replacement of Ca2+ by Sr2+ and ethylene glycol-bis(β-aminoethyl ether) (EGTA), or alkylation of the venom with p-bromophenacyl bromide (BPB), inhibited 3H-l-glutamate uptake. M. lemniscatus carvalhoi venom cross-reacted with postsynaptic α-neurotoxins short-chain (antineurotoxin-II) and long-chain (antibungarotoxin) antibodies. It also cross-reacted with antimyotoxic PLA2 antibodies from M. nigrocinctus nigrocinctus (antinigroxin). Our results point to the need of catalytic activity for these venoms to exert their neurotoxic activity efficiently and to their components as attractive tools for the study of molecular targets on cell membranes. © 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.1401125134Aird, S.D., Da Silva, N.J., Comparative enzymatic composition of Brazilian coral snake (Micrurus) venoms (1991) Comp. Biochem. Physiol., B, 99, pp. 287-294Alape-Girón, A., Lomonte, B., Gustafsson, B., Da Silva, N.J., Thelestam, M., Electrophoretic and immunochemical studies of Micrurus snake venoms (1994) Toxicon, 32, pp. 713-723Alape-Girón, A., Stiles, B., Schmidt, J., Giron-Cortes, M., Thelestam, M., Jornvall, H., Bergman, T., Characterization of multiple nicotinic acetylcholine receptor-binding proteins and phospholipases A2 from the venom of the coral snake Micrurus nigrocinctus (1996) FEBS Lett., 380, pp. 29-32Alape-Girón, A., Persson, B., Cederlund, E., Flores-Diaz, M., Gutiérrez, J.M., Thelestam, M., Bergman, T., Jornvall, H., Elapid venom toxins: Multiple recruitements of ancient scaffolds (1999) Eur. J. Biochem., 259, pp. 225-234Alvarado, J., Gutiérrez, J.M., Anticoagulant effect of myotoxic phospholipase A2 isolated from the venom of the snake Bothrops asper (Viperidae) (1988) Rev. Biol. Trop., 36, pp. 563-565Angulo, Y., Nunez, C.E., Lizano, S., Soares, A.M., Lomonte, B., Immunochemical properties of the N-terminal helix of myotoxin II, a lysine-49 phospholipase A2 from Bothrops asper snake venom (2001) Toxicon, 39, pp. 879-887Bazan, N.G., Rodriguez De Turco, E.B., Allan, G., Mediators of injury in neurotrauma: Intracellular signal transduction and gene expression (1995) J. Neurotrauma., 12, pp. 791-814Bolaños, R., (1984) Serpientes, Venenos Y Ofidismo en Centroamerica, , Editorial Universidad de Costa Rica San José, Costa RicaBulbring, E., Observations on the isolated phrenic nerve-diaphragm preparation of the rat (1946) Br. J. Pharmacol., 1, pp. 38-61Cecchini, A.L., Soares, A.M., Giglio, J.R., Amara, S., Arantes, E.C., Inhibition of l-glutamate and GABA synaptosome uptake by crotoxin, the major neurotoxin from Crotalus durissus terrificus venom (2004) J. Venom Anim. Toxins Icl. Trop. Dis., 10, pp. 260-279Clapp, L.E., Klette, K.L., Decoster, M.A., Bernton, E., Petras, J.M., Dave, J.R., Laskosky, M.S., Tortella, F.C., Phospholipase A2-induced neurotoxicity in vitro and in vivo in rats (1995) Brain Res., 693, pp. 101-111De Haas, G.H., Postema, N.M., Nieuwenhuizen, W., Van Deenen, L.L.M., Purification and properties of phospholipase a from porcine pancreas (1968) Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 159, pp. 103-110De Oliveira, U.C., Assui, A., Da Silva, A.R., De Oliveira, J.S., Ho, P.L., Cloning and characterization of a basic phospholipase A2 homologue from Micrurus corallinus (coral snake) venom gland (2003) Toxicon, 42, pp. 249-255Díaz, C., Gutiérrez, J.M., Lomonte, B., Gené, J.A., The effect of myotoxins isolated from Bothrops snake venoms on multilamellar liposomes: Relationship to phospholipase A2, anticoagulant and myotoxic activities (1991) Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 1070, pp. 455-460Dorandeu, F., Antier, D., Pernot-Marino, I., Lapeyre, P., Lallement, G., Venom phospholipase A2-induced impairment of glutamate uptake: An indirect and nonselective effect related to phospholipid hydrolysis (1998) J. Neurosci. Res., 51, pp. 349-359Endo, T., Tamiya, N., Current view on the structure-function relationship of postsynaptic neurotoxins from snake venoms (1987) Pharmacol. Ther., 34, pp. 403-451Francis, B., Williams, E.S., Seebart, C., Kaiser, I.I., Proteins isolated from the venom of the common tiger snake (Notechis scutatus scutatus) promote hypotension and hemorrhage (1993) Toxicon, 31, pp. 447-458Francis, B.R., Da Silva Junior, N.J., Seebart, C., Casais Silva, E.L.L., Schmidt, J.J., Kaiser, I.I., Toxins isolated from the venom of the Brazilian coral snake (Micrurus frontalis frontalis) include hemorrhagic type phospholipases A2 and postsynaptic neurotoxins (1997) Toxicon, 35, pp. 1193-1203Goularte, F.C.L., Cogo, J.C., Gutiérrez, J.M., Rodrigues-Simioni, L., Effects of Micrurus nigrocinctus snake venom on mouse and chick neuromuscular preparation (1983) Toxicon, 31, pp. 135-136Gray, E.G., Whittaker, V.P., The isolation of nerve endings from brain: An electron-microscopic study of cell fragments derived by homogenization and centrifugation (1962) J. Anat., 96, pp. 79-87Gutiérrez, J.M., Chaves, F., Rojas, E., Bolaños, R., Local effects induced by Micrurus nigrocinctus venom in white mice (1980) Toxicon, 18, pp. 633-639Gutiérrez, J.M., Lomonte, B., Portilla, E., Cerdas, L., Rojas, E., Local effects induced by coral snake venoms: Evidence of myonecrosis after experimental inoculations of venoms of five species (1983) Toxicon, 21, pp. 777-783Gutiérrez, J.M., Arroyo, O., Chaves, F., Lomonte, B., Cerdas, L., Pathogenenis of myonecrosis induced by coral snake (Micrurus nigrocinctus) venom in mice (1986) Br. J. Exp. Pathol., 67, pp. 1-12Gutiérrez, J.M., Rojas, E., Da Silva, N.J., Nuñez, J., Experimental myonecrosis induced by the venoms of South American Micrurus (coral snakes) (1992) Toxicon, 30, pp. 1299-1302Harvey, A.L., Barfaraz, A., Thompson, E., Faiz, A., Preston, S., Harris, J.B., Screening of snake venoms for neurotoxic and myotoxic effects using simple in vitro preparations from rodents and chicks (1994) Toxicon, 32, pp. 257-265Hawgood, B., Bon, C., Snake venom presynaptic toxins (1995) Handbook of Natural Toxins, pp. 3-52. , Tu A. Marcel Dekker New YorkHe, P., Curry, F.E., Measurement of membrane potential of endothelial cells in single perfused microvessels (1995) Microvasc. Res., 50, pp. 183-198Jorge-Da-Silva, N.J., Griffin, P.R., Aird, S.D., Comparative chromatography of Brazilian coral snake (Micrurus) venoms (1991) Comp. Biochem. Physiol., B, 100, pp. 117-126Kolko, M., Decoster, M.A., De Turco, E.B., Bazan, N.G., Synergy by secretory phospholipase A2 and glutamate on inducing cell death and sustained arachidonic acid metabolic changes in primary cortical neuronal cultures (1996) J. Biol. Chem., 271, pp. 32722-32728Kumar, V., Rejent, T., Elliot, W., Anticholinesterase activity of elapid venoms (1973) Toxicon, 11, pp. 131-138Lomonte, B., Tarkowski, A., Hanson, L.A., Host response to Bothrops asper snake venom. Analysis of edema formation, inflammatory cells, and cytokine release in a mouse model (1993) Inflammation, 17, pp. 93-105Miller, H.P., Levey, A.I., Rothstein, J.D., Tzingounis, A.V., Conn, P.J., Alterations in glutamate transporter protein levels in kindling-induced epilepsy (1997) J. Neurochem., 68, pp. 1564-1570Ng, R.H., Howard, B.D., Deenergization of nerve terminals by alfa-bungarotoxin (1978) Biochemistry, 17, pp. 4978-4986Ng, R.H., Howard, B.D., Inhibition by neurotoxic phospholipases A2 of synaptosomal uptake of aminobutyric acid (1981) J. Neurochem., 36, pp. 310-312Ramsey, H.W., Taylor, W.J., Boruchow, I.B., Nyder, G.K., Mechanism of shock produced by an elapid snake (Micrurus f. fulvius) venom in dogs (1972) Am. J. Physiol., 222, pp. 782-786Rose, J.A., Bernal-Carlo, A., Las serpientes corales venenosas del genero Leptomicrurus (serpentes, Elapidae) da Sulamérica com descripción de una nueva subespécie (1987) Boll.-Mus. Reg. Sci. Nat. Torino, 5, pp. 573-608Rosso, J.P., Vargas-Rosso, O., Gutiérrez, J.M., Rochat, H., Bougis, P.E., Characterization of alpha-neurotoxin and phospholipase A2 activities from Micrurus venoms. Determination of the amino acid sequence and receptor-binding ability of the major alpha-neurotoxin from Micrurus nigrocinctus nigrocinctus (1996) Eur. J. Biochem., 238, pp. 231-239Russel, F.E., (1983) Snake Venom Poisoning, , Scholium New YorkSanchez, E.F., Freitas, T.V., Ferreira-Alves, D.L., Velarde, D.T., Diniz, M.R., Cordeiro, M.N., Agostini-Cotta, G., Diniz, C.R., Biological activities of venoms from South American snakes (1992) Toxicon, 30, pp. 95-103Serafim, F.G., Reali, M., Cruz-Hofling, M.A., Fontana, M.D., Action of Micrurus dumerilii carinicauda coral snake venom on the mammalian neuromuscular junction (2002) Toxicon, 40, pp. 167-174Silveira-De-Oliveira, J., Rossan De Brandao Prieto Da Silva, A., Soares, M.B., Stephano, M.A., De Oliveira Dias, W., Raw, I., Ho, P.L., Cloning and characterization of an alpha-neurotoxin-type protein specific for the coral snake Micrurus corallinus (2000) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 267, pp. 887-891Smith, C.C.T., Bradford, H.F., Thompson, E.J., McDerma, J., Actions of α-bungarotoxin on aminoacid transmitter release (1980) J. Neurochem., 34, pp. 487-494Soares, A.M., Andrião-Escarso, S.H., Angulo, Y., Lomonte, B., Gutiérrez, J.M., Marangoni, S., Toyama, M.H., Giglio, J.R., Structural and functional characterization of myotoxin I, a Lys49 phospholipase A2 homologue from Bothrops moojeni (Caissaca) snake venom (2000) Arch. Biochem. Biophys., 373, pp. 7-15Soares, A.M., Guerra-Sá, R., Borja-Oliveira, C.R., Rodrigues, V.M., Rodrigues-Simioni, L., Rodrigues, V., Fontes, M.R.M., Giglio, J.R., Structural and functional characterization of BnSP-7, a Lys49 myotoxic phospholipase A2 homologue from Bothrops neuwiedi pauloensis venom (2000) Arch. Biochem. Biophys., 378, pp. 201-209Soares, A.M., Andrião-Escarso, S.H., Rodrigues-Simioni, L., Arni, R.K., Bortoleto, R.K., Ward, R.J., Gutiérrez, J.M., Giglio, J.R., Dissociation of enzymatic and pharmacological properties of piratoxins-I and -III, two myotoxic phospholipases A2 from Bothrops pirajai snake venom (2001) Arch. Biochem. Biophys., 387, pp. 188-196Tan, N.-H., Ponnudurai, G., The biological properties of venoms of some American coral snakes (genus Micrurus) (1992) Comp. Biochem. Physiol., B, 101, pp. 471-474Valentin, E., Lambeau, G., What can venom phospholipase A2 tell us about functional diversity of mammalian secreted phospholipase A2 (2000) Biochimie, 82, pp. 815-831Valentin, E., Gomashchi, F., Gelb, M.H., Lazdunski, M., Lambeau, G., On the diversity of secreted phospholipase A2. Cloning, tissue distribution, and functional expression of two novel mouse group II enzymes (1999) J. Biol. Chem., 274, pp. 31195-31202Vital-Brazil, O., Neurotoxins from South American rattlesnake venom. Taiwan I Hsueh Hui Tsa Chih (1972) J. Formos. Med. Assoc., 1, pp. 394-400Vital-Brazil, O., Coral snake venoms: Mode of action and pathophysiology of experimental envenomation (1987) Rev. Inst. Med. Trop. Sao Paulo, 29, pp. 119-126Vital-Brazil, O., Vieira, R.J., Neostigmine in the treatment of snake accidents caused by Micrurus frontalis: Report of two cases (1) (1996) Rev. Inst. Med. Trop. Sao Paulo, 38, pp. 61-67Zhu, B.G., Chen, Y.Z., Xing, B.R., Effect of calcium on the uptake of glutamate by synaptosomes: Possible involvement of two different mechanisms (1999) J. Neural Transm., 106, pp. 257-26

Hypothalamic deep brain stimulation in the treatment of chronic cluster headache

Cluster headache (CH) is a short-lasting unilateral headache associated with ipsilateral craniofacial autonomic manifestations. A positron emission tomography (PET) study has shown that the posterior hypothalamus is activated during CH attacks, suggesting that hypothalamic hyperactivity plays a key role in CH pathophysiology. On this basis, stimulation of the ipsilateral posterior hypothalamus was hypothesized to counteract such hyperactivity to prevent intractable CH. Ten years after its introduction, hypothalamic stimulation has been proved to successfully prevent attacks in more than 60% of 58 hypothalamic implanted drug-resistant chronic CH patients. The implantation procedure has generally been proved to be safe, although it carries a small risk of brain haemorrhage. Long-term stimulation is safe, and nonsymptomatic impairment of orthostatic adaptation is the only noteworthy change. Microrecording studies will make it possible to better identify the target site. Neuroimaging investigations have shown that hypothalamic stimulation activates ipsilateral trigeminal complex, but with no immediate perceived sensation within the trigeminal distribution. Other studies on the pain threshold in chronically stimulated patients showed increased threshold for cold pain in the distribution of the first trigeminal branch ipsilateral to stimulation. These studies suggest that activation of the hypothalamus and of the trigeminal system are both necessary, but not sufficient to generate CH attacks. In addition to the hypothalamus, other unknown brain areas are likely to play a role in the pathophysiology of this illness. Hypothalamus implantation is associated with a small risk of intracerebral haemorrhage and must be performed by an expert neurosurgical team, in selected patients

Maternal and perinatal outcomes of pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 infection

Objectives: To evaluate the maternal and perinatal outcomes of pregnancies affected by SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: This was a multinational retrospective cohort study including women with a singleton pregnancy and laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, conducted in 72 centers in 22 different countries in Europe, the USA, South America, Asia and Australia, between 1 February 2020 and 30 April 2020. Confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection was defined as a positive result on real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay of nasopharyngeal swab specimens. The primary outcome was a composite measure of maternal mortality and morbidity, including admission to the intensive care unit (ICU), use of mechanical ventilation and death. Results: In total, 388 women with a singleton pregnancy tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 on RT-PCR of a nasopharyngeal swab and were included in the study. Composite adverse maternal outcome was observed in 47/388 (12.1%) women; 43 (11.1%) women were admitted to the ICU, 36 (9.3%) required mechanical ventilation and three (0.8%) died. Of the 388 women included in the study, 122 (31.4%) were still pregnant at the time of data analysis. Among the other 266 women, six (19.4% of the 31 women with first-trimester infection) had miscarriage, three (1.1%) had termination of pregnancy, six (2.3%) had stillbirth and 251 (94.4%) delivered a liveborn infant. The rate of preterm birth before 37 weeks' gestation was 26.3% (70/266). Of the 251 liveborn infants, 69/251 (27.5%) were admitted to the neonatal ICU, and there were five (2.0%) neonatal deaths. The overall rate of perinatal death was 4.1% (11/266). Only one (1/251, 0.4%) infant, born to a mother who tested positive during the third trimester, was found to be positive for SARS-CoV-2 on RT-PCR. Conclusions: SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnant women is associated with a 0.8% rate of maternal mortality, but an 11.1% rate of admission to the ICU. The risk of vertical transmission seems to be negligible. © 2020 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology. © 2020 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecolog