Role of GABAergic signaling and the GABAA receptor subunit gene cluster at 15q11-q13 in autism spectrum disorders, schizophrenia, and heroin addiction

AbstractAutism spectrum disorders, schizophrenia, and heroin addiction are all complex disorders with both genetic and environmental components to their etiology. The most common chromosomal abnormality in autism is a maternally derived duplication at 15q11-q13, which is where a cluster of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABAA) receptor subunit genes lies. In addition, copy number variations in this area have been implicated in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. These findings suggest that GABAergic signaling might play a crucial role in contributing to susceptibility to the development of autism and schizophrenia. Furthermore, there is considerable evidence supporting a role for GABA neurotransmission in mediating the addictive properties of heroin. Hence, this review explores recent findings related to the involvement of GABAergic system in autism, schizophrenia, and heroin addiction. We also outline the implications that the presence of genetic variants in the GABAA receptor subunit cluster at 15q11-q13 may have on the risk of developing these psychiatric disorders. Finally, we make recommendations for future work that might help define the mechanisms underpinning the neuropathology that contributes to these psychiatric disorders

Did the contagion effect exist? Evidence from Abu Dhabi, Jordan and America

This article aims to test the contagion effect between the stock markets of Abu Dhabi, Jordan and America. The Lagrange multiplier (LM) principle for causality in variance test is used in this study. Four American stock indexes, Dow Jones Industrial Average, NASDAQ Composite, RUSSELL 2000, and PHLX Semiconductor Sector Index, are in this study. The testing results of the four major American stock price indexes and the Jordan stock index (Amman) are significant. The testing results of the four American stock price indexes and the Abu Dhabi stock index (ADX) are also significant. This study finds that the variances of returns of four major American stock price indexes have the contagion effects on the variances of stock index returns of Jordan and Abu Dhabi

Perioperative Stroke Following General Surgery

AbstractPerioperative stroke is rare; however, patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery are considered to be at high risk for perioperative stroke. Here, we outline a case where perioperative stroke occurred following total hip replacement surgery. The risk factors and possible causes of the stroke in this patient are discussed. In addition, we reiterate the appropriate management approaches needed to prevent perioperative stroke. Briefly, the importance of precise preoperative evaluation and of proper intraoperative and postoperative management should not be overlooked. Finally, it is important to realize that decreasing perioperative strokes and the disabilities associated with them will lower the financial burden on families and the community

High-resolution carbonate stratigraphy of IMAGES core MD972151 from South China Sea

High-resolution carbonate stratigraphy of the deep-sea core MD972151 from the southwestern South China Sea shows millennial-scale variability similar to oxygen isotopic fluctuations recorded in ice cores from Greenland. In a long term of glacial-interglacial scale, carbonate contents in the interglacial time (up to 25 % by weight) were higher than that in the glacial periods (5-15 % by weight). Even for the last glacial, carbonate contents are relatively high in the interstadial events and low in the stadial horizons. This demonstrates clearly that carbonate content in the continental slope above the lysocline in the southwestern South China Sea is primarily controlled by dilution of terrigenous inputs, which in turn is due to sea-level fluctuations in response to changes of ice volume in high latitude regions

Submandibular Cavernous Hemangiomas with Multiple Phleboliths Masquerading as Sialolithiasis

Vasoformative tumors (almost exclusively hemangiomas) are the most common lesions of the major salivary glands during infancy and early childhood. They are more common in the parotid gland but are particularly rare in the submandibular gland. Changes in blood flow dynamics within hemangiomas result in thrombus formation and phleboliths. Hemangiomas of the salivary glands in adults are histologically unlike those in infants, the former being characteristically of the cavernous variant. Most cavernous hemangiomas require surgery since they do not show a tendency to regress. A case of an adult man with cavernous hemangioma affecting the submandibular salivary gland that clinically simulated sialolithiasis is presented to alert surgeons to the possibility of such a lesion. We describe the clinical course and review the literature

Understanding the Bloggers’ Continuance Usage: Integrating Flow into the Expectation-Confirmation Theory Information System Model

Blogs are very popular nowadays. Many big website portals, such as Yahoo Blog, PC home Blog, try to offer different functions and personal services to attract the potential users to be their Blog member, because this will bring more advertising income. For the portals, how to obtain users to continue use is very important to survival. Most previous articles focused on investigating system function and information quality issues on Blogs, but these technologies are very steady already. There are fewer studies to discuss the users’ flow experience on using Blogs. The aim of this study investigated whether the users’ flow experience affected the Bloggers’ satisfaction and intention to continue using. 303 Bloggers were surveyed online. The research findings indicated that confirmation, perceived usefulness, flow, challenge, and arousal were positively affected to the Bloggers’ satisfaction in using that Blog; perceived usefulness, satisfaction, flow were also positively influenced to the Bloggers’ intention to continue using. In addition, the findings point out that the flow factors which we extend into ECTIS model weak positively influence satisfaction. The higher satisfaction users have, the more are continuance intention users get. Recommendations are given on how to make the Bloggers continue using Blogs for the service providers

An Empirical Evaluation Of User Satisfaction With A School Nursing Information System

The adoption of a school nursing information system is considered one of the most efficient ways in which to document health records as well as monitor health conditions electronically. However, despite the importance of computerized health records in school nursing practice, few studies have examined user satisfaction of a school nursing information system. The aim of this study is to investigate the critical factors effecting school nurses’ satisfaction with a school nursing information system Utilizing a survey approach, questionnaires are distributed to nurses working in a primary or high school which introduces a new school nursing information system. The findings show several factors, including perceived usefulness, perceived of ease of use, training and workload are significant with user satisfaction. These results suggest that school nursing information system designers should comprehensively understand users’ demands and perceptions about the system, which will further facilitate user satisfaction, decrease their workload, and ultimately enhance job performance