Subjective embodiment during the rubber hand illusion predicts severity of premonitory sensations and tics in Tourette Syndrome

In Tourette Syndrome, the expression of tics and commonly preceding premonitory sensations is associated with perturbed subjective feelings of self-control and agency. We compared responses to the Rubber Hand Illusion in 23 adults with TS and 22 controls. Both TS and control participants reported equivalent subjective embodiment of the artificial hand: feelings of ownership, location, and agency were greater during synchronous visuo-tactile stimulation, compared to asynchronous. However, individuals with TS did not manifest greater proprioceptive drift, an objective marker of embodiment observed in controls. An 'embodiment prediction error' index of the difference between subjective embodiment and objective proprioceptive drift correlated with severity of premonitory sensations. Feelings of ownership also correlated with premonitory sensation severity, and feelings of agency with tic severity. These findings suggest that subjective bodily ownership, as measured by the rubber hand illusion, contributes to susceptibility to the premonitory sensations that may be a precipitating factor in tics

Cyclic dinucleotides bind the C-linker of HCN4 to control channel cAMP responsiveness

cAMP mediates autonomic regulation of heart rate by means of hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels, which underlie the pacemaker current If. cAMP binding to the C-terminal cyclic nucleotide binding domain enhances HCN open probability through a conformational change that reaches the pore via the C-linker. Using structural and functional analysis, we identified a binding pocket in the C-linker of HCN4. Cyclic dinucleotides, an emerging class of second messengers in mammals, bind the C-linker pocket (CLP) and antagonize cAMP regulation of the channel. Accordingly, cyclic dinucleotides prevent cAMP regulation of If in sinoatrial node myocytes, reducing heart rate by 30%. Occupancy of the CLP hence constitutes an efficient mechanism to hinder β-adrenergic stimulation on If. Our results highlight the regulative role of the C-linker and identify a potential drug target in HCN4. Furthermore, these data extend the signaling scope of cyclic dinucleotides in mammals beyond their first reported role in innate immune system

Right Temporoparietal Gray Matter Predicts Accuracy of Social Perception in the Autism Spectrum

Individuals with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) show hallmark deficits in social perception. These difficulties might also reflect fundamental deficits in integrating visual signals. We contrasted predictions of a social perception and a spatial–temporal integration deficit account. Participants with ASD and matched controls performed two tasks: the first required spatiotemporal integration of global motion signals without social meaning, the second required processing of socially relevant local motion. The ASD group only showed differences to controls in social motion evaluation. In addition, gray matter volume in the temporal–parietal junction correlated positively with accuracy in social motion perception in the ASD group. Our findings suggest that social–perceptual difficulties in ASD cannot be reduced to deficits in spatial–temporal integration

Ganho de peso de bovinos em pastagens de Brachiaria decumbens pura e consorciada com Stylosanthes spp. cv. Campo Grande.

RESUMO - Recentemente a EMBRAPA Gado de Corte (2000) lançou uma cultivar de Stylosanthes spp. é conposta de duas espécies de legujinosa, sendo uma o S.capitata e a outra S.macrocephala, ao qual denominou de estilodantes Campo Grande. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos da introdução do estilosantes Campo Grande em pastagem de Braquiária decumbens sobre o desempenho animal e sobre a produção e qualidade da forragem. Este estudo foi conduzido na Agropecuária Ribeirão, município de Chapadão do Sul - MS em latossolo Vermelho Amarelo (LVA) em uma área de 48 hectares de pastagem degradada de Brachiaria decumbens cv. Australiana durante três anos consecutivos. Foram avaliados seis tratamentos, em um delineamento experimental de blocos ao acaso com duas repetições, em arranjo fatorial 2 x 3 sendo, dois tipos de pastagem (braquiária pura ou braquiária consorciada com estilosantes. Campo Grande) e três taxas de lotação (0,6; 1,0 e l,4 unidade/hectare). Determinou-se o ganho de peso por área e ganho diário por ano a disponibilidade e composição botânica e o teor de proteína bruta das pastagens. A consorciação de braquiária decumbens, com estilosantes Campo Grande, aumentou o ganho de peso animal por área e o ganho de peso diário de bovinos. Também aumentou a disponibilidade de matéria seca e o teor de proteína bruta da forragem. ABSTRACT - Embrapa Gado de Corte (2000) have recomended a Stylosanthes spp cultivar called stylo Campo Grande, in wich are envolved two legume species: one is S. capitata and the other one is S. macrocephala. This study aims to avaluatte, during tree years, the animal performance and the pastures atributes on a pasture of Brachiaria decumbens mixed with this stylo Campo Grande. The experiment was carried at Ribeirão farm, in Chapadão do Sul – MS on Yellow Red Latosol (Oxisol). There were six treatments in a randomized block design with two replicates, as follow: two pastures (pure brachiaria and brachiaria mixed with stylo Campo Grande) and tree stocking rate (0,6; 1,0 and 1,4 AU/ha). The associated pasture resulted in higher liveweigh gain per animal and per area tham the pure grass. Also increased the forage disponibility and crude protein content.Título em inglês: Gain weigth of bulls on Brachiaria decumbens pasture mixed with Stylosanthes spp. cv. Campo Grande

Quantitative Sensory Testing in adults with Tourette syndrome

INTRODUCTION: Abnormal sensory perceptions, for instance hypersensitivity to certain external stimuli or premonitory urges preceding tics, are core features in Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS). Aberrant awareness of externally applied stimuli in terms of altered sensory perception thresholds might contribute to these sensory phenomena in GTS. METHODS: We used the well-established and standardized “Quantitative Sensory Testing” (QST) battery (German Research Network on Neuropathic Pain) to investigate 13 sensory parameters including thermal, mechanical/tactile and pain thresholds in 14 GTS patients without clinically significant comorbidities and 14 healthy controls matched for age and gender. RESULTS: There were no relevant group differences in any of the 13 QST parameters and no specific QST pattern in GTS patients. There was no correlation between QST parameters and “Premonitory Urge for Tics scale” (PUTS) scores. CONCLUSION: Our data show that the perceptual threshold detection of externally applied sensory stimuli is normal in adults with GTS. This indicates that other perceptual mechanisms, such as abnormal central sensorimotor processing and/or aberrant interoceptive awareness might underlie the clinically significant sensory abnormalities in GTS

Multicompartment Polyion Complex Micelles Based on Triblock Polypept(o)ides Mediate Efficient siRNA Delivery to Cancer‐Associated Fibroblasts for Antistromal Therapy of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Drug Delivery Technolog

Decomposição da liteira de Panicum maximum, com diferentes teores de nitrogênio e de fósforo em solo Podzólico vermelho-amarelo distrofico.

A taxa de decomposicao e liberacao de nutrientes da liteira de plantas depositada no solo e funcao da atividade microbiana afetada por varios fatores principalmente clima e qualidade do substrato. A qualidade do substrato dependera da especie vegetal e seu estado nutricional. O objetivo deste trabalho conduzido no Instituto de Zootecnia, SP, foi o de avaliar a decomposicao da liteira de quatro cultivares de Panicum maximum, cultivado em um solo PVd, adubado com diferentes niveis de N e P. Os resultados indicaram que a liteira do cv Aruana, se decompos com maior velocidade (meia vida, MV=35dias), seguida da liteira do cv. Vencedor, Tanzania e Tobiata. A adubacao com 80 kg, N ha produziu liteira de melhor qualidade e mais facilmente decomposta (MV=55 d) comparado com a testemunha (MV=75d), A aplicacao de 100 kg. P2O2/ha na graminea reduziu a MV da liteira de 63 para 45 dias