Lack of association between the Serotonin Transporter Promoter Polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) and Panic Disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The aim of this study is to assess the association between the Serotonin Transporter Promoter Polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) and Panic Disorder (PD).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This is a systematic review and meta-analysis of case-control studies with unrelated individuals of any ethnic origin examining the role of the 5-HTTLPR in PD according to standard diagnostic criteria (DSM or ICD). Articles published in any language between January 1996 and April 2007 were eligible. The electronic databases searched included PubMed, PsychInfo, Lilacs and ISI. Two separate analyses were performed: an analysis by alleles and a stratified analysis separating studies by the quality of control groups. Asymptotic DerSimonian and Laird's Q test were used to assess heterogeneity. Results of individual studies were combined using the fixed effect model with respective 95% confidence intervals.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Nineteen potential articles were identified, and 10 studies were included in this meta-analysis. No statistically significant association between 5-HTTLPR and PD was found, OR = 0.91 (CI95% 0.80 to 1.03, p = 0.14). Three sub-analyses divided by ethnicity, control group quality and Agoraphobia comorbidity also failed to find any significant association. No evidence of heterogeneity was found between studies in the analyses.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Results from this systematic review do not provide evidence to support an association between 5-HTTLPR and PD. However, more studies are needed in different ethnic populations in order to evaluate a possible minor effect.</p

Site analysis in the Argentinean Andean region for the placement of astrophysical observatories and solar photovoltaic power plants: The case of the “Leoncito 2” site

After a detailed search for possible sites where to place astrophysical facilities in Argentinean Andean region, a location labeled as LEO 2 (31°24′22″ S, 69°29′32″ W, 1630 masl) is proposed. It is placed near the largest Astronomical Observatory of Argentina: Complejo AStronómico El LEOncito (CASLEO). Its advantages are: a good altitude to detect the maximum development of cosmic ray showers, high spectral transmittance to UV and visible ranges, very low aerosol content (mean particle concentration measured at ground with an optical particle counter PM2.5 = 1.52 µg m−3 and PM>2.5 = 6.83 µg m−3, mean Aerosol Optical Depth at 550 nm = 0.027 (measured from space using the SeaWiFS instrument on board of the SeaStar NASA satellite). A local meteorological analysis was done, using data measured in situ, which shows a typical desertic site with the following mean annual (std. dev.) values:mean annual temperature 18.93 (7.66) °C, mean annual relative humidity 28.76 (20.55)%, low/ moderate mean annual average wind speed 11.63 (8.78) km/h, low mean water content (0.73 cm) and rather low mean cloud coverage fraction (cloud coverage fraction): 0.29 (0.02) (for the period 2003–2016 from Aqua/NASA satellite MODIS device) and 0.25 (0.01) (for the period 2000–2016, Terra/NASA satellite MODIS device). Concerning the conditions for the placement of photovoltaic solar power plants, some positive aspects that can be remarked are a large rather flat available surface (336 km2) with very good levels of annual mean horizontal solar irradiation: Global (2334 kWh m−2 per year), Direct (3127 kWh m−2 per year) and Diffuse (394 kWh m−2 per year). Optimum angle to place solar panels at this site is determined and the global tilted solar irradiation is calculated (2689 kWh m−2 per year). In comparison with an African (Ouarzazate, Morocco) and Asian (Dubai) sites, the analysed site present better annual irradiation levels being the Global horizontal irradiation at the Argentinean site 8.1% and 10.3% higher than those calculated for the African and Asian site respectively. Also, a comparison is made of different solar cells (monocrystalline Si, polycrystalline Si and perovskite), through the calculation of the generated photocurrent (mean produced solar photovoltaic current per unit cell surface), considering the atmospheric and solar radiation parameters found for the studied site. We thus conclude that the proposed site in the Andes range is well suited for the placement of Astrophysical facilities, as well as Photovoltaic solar power plants.Fil: Freire, Martín Miguel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto de Física de Rosario. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Instituto de Física de Rosario; ArgentinaFil: Della Ceca, Lara Sofia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto de Física de Rosario. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Instituto de Física de Rosario; ArgentinaFil: Micheletti, Maria Isabel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto de Física de Rosario. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Instituto de Física de Rosario; ArgentinaFil: Novara, Ivan Lionel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto de Física de Rosario. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Instituto de Física de Rosario; ArgentinaFil: Garcia, Beatriz Elena. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Tecnología en Detección y Astropartículas. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Instituto de Tecnología en Detección y Astropartículas. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Tecnología en Detección y Astropartículas; ArgentinaFil: Mancilla, Alexis Javier. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Tecnología en Detección y Astropartículas. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Instituto de Tecnología en Detección y Astropartículas. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Tecnología en Detección y Astropartículas; ArgentinaFil: Salum, G. M.. Universidad YachayTech; EcuadorFil: Crinó, E.. Universidad Nacional de San Luis; ArgentinaFil: Piacentini, Ruben Dario Narciso. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto de Física de Rosario. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Instituto de Física de Rosario; Argentin

Synthesis, screening for antiacetylcholinesterase activity and binding mode prediction of a new series of [3-(disubstituted-phosphate)-4,4,4-trifluoro-butyl]-carbamic acid ethyl esters

A series of nine new [3-(disubstituted-phosphate)-4,4,4-trifluoro-butyl]-carbamic acid ethyl esters (phosphate-carbamate compounds) was obtained through the reaction of (4,4,4-trifluoro-3-hydroxybut-1-yl)-carbamic acid ethyl esters with phosphorus oxychloride followed by the addition of alcohols. The products were characterized by ¹H, 13C, 31P, and 19F NMR spectroscopy, GC-MS, and elemental analysis. All the synthesized compounds were screened for acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity using the Ellman method. All compounds containing phosphate and carbamate pharmacophores in their structures showed enzyme inhibition, being the compound bearing the diethoxy phosphate group (2b) the most active compound. Molecular modeling studies were performed to investigate the detailed interactions between AChE active site and small-molecule inhibitor candidates, providing valuable structural insights into AChE inhibition.Uma nova série de nove 3-fosfato-(4,4,4-trifluor-butil)-carbamatos de etila (compostos fosfato-carbamato), foram obtidos através da reação de (4,4,4-trifluor-3-hidroxibut-1-il)-etil carbamatos com oxicloreto de fósforo seguido de adição de álcoois. Os produtos foram caracterizados por espectroscopia de RMN de ¹H, 13C, 31P e 19F, CG-EM e análise elementar. Todos os compostos sintetizados foram testados para a inibição da enzima acetilcolinesterase (AChE) usando o método de Ellman. Todos os compostos analisados contendo os grupos carbamato e fosfato em sua estrutura, mostraram inibição enzimática, sendo que o composto contendo o grupo dietóxi (2b) apresentou a maior atividade inibitória. Estudos de modelagem molecular foram realizados para obter informações detalhadas entre o sítio ativo da enzima acetilcolinesterase e os compostos candidatos a inibição, obtendo-se valiosas informações estruturais com relação à inibição de enzima acetilcolinesterase.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)FAPES

Telomere length and epigenetic age acceleration in adolescents with anxiety disorders

Evidence on the relationship between genetics and mental health are flourishing. However, few studies are evaluating early biomarkers that might link genes, environment, and psychopathology. We aimed to study telomere length (TL) and epigenetic age acceleration (AA) in a cohort of adolescents with and without anxiety disorders (N = 234). We evaluated a representative subsample of participants at baseline and after 5 years (n = 76) and categorized them according to their anxiety disorder diagnosis at both time points: (1) control group (no anxiety disorder, n = 18), (2) variable group (anxiety disorder in one evaluation, n = 38), and (3) persistent group (anxiety disorder at both time points, n = 20). We assessed relative mean TL by real-time quantitative PCR and DNA methylation by Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip. We calculated AA using the Horvath age estimation algorithm and analyzed differences among groups using generalized linear mixed models. The persistent group of anxiety disorder did not change TL over time (p = 0.495). The variable group had higher baseline TL (p = 0.003) but no accelerated TL erosion in comparison to the non-anxiety control group (p = 0.053). Furthermore, there were no differences in AA among groups over time. Our findings suggest that adolescents with chronic anxiety did not change telomere length over time, which could be related to a delay in neuronal development in this period of life

Procjena izloženosti UV zračenju tijekom ljetnih mjeseci u Hrvatskoj s pomoću jednostavne približne formule

The Tropospheric Ultraviolet-Visible (TUV) model, version 4.2 developed by Madronich (2003) was usedto estimate the extent of ultraviolet (UV) exposure of general population in Croatia over the summer. Solarnoon values (13 h local time, CEST) of the ultraviolet index (UVI) for the period April to October 2004 were calculated for 61 cities in Croatia. The results showed that the risk of sunburn at 13 h local time inclear weather was high between April and September (UVI >7) and very high in July (UVI >10). In July, the UVI exceeded 8 between 11 h and 15 h local time. In this study, we developed a simple approximate formula to estimate UVI. The formula includes data on the time, date, altitude and clouds. The difference between our estimate and the TUV model for the summer months of June, July and August at 10 h to16 h local time was less than 10 %.Tropospheric Ultraviolet-Visible (TUV) model, verzija 4.2 autora S. Madronicha (2003.) upotrijebljen je zaprocjenu izloženosti ultraljubičastom (UV) zračenju stanovništva u Hrvatskoj. Podnevne vrijednosti (13 hprema lokalnom vremenu) ultraljubičastog indeksa (UVI) izračunane su za 61 mjesto u Hrvatskoj za razdobljetravanj - listopad. Rezultati pokazuju da je u 13 h prema lokalnom vremenu rizik od nastanka opeklina izazvanih sunčevim zračenjem u danima bez naoblake visok između travnja i rujna (UVI > 7) te da je rizikvrlo visok tijekom srpnja (UVI >10). U srpnju tijekom dana UV indeks prelazi vrijednost 8 između 11 h i15 h prema lokalnom vremenu. U ovom radu za procjenu UV indeksa razvijena je jednostavna približna formula. Formula omogućava procjenu UV indeksa na temelju podataka o datumu, satu, nadmorskoj visini i naoblaci. Prilikom usporedbe rezultata dobivenih formulom i točnih rezultata dobivenih TUV modelom za ljetne mjesece lipanj, srpanj i kolovoz te razdoblje od 10 h do 16 h među rezultatima dobivena je razlikamanja od 10 %

Efeito do cálcio na produção de ácido lático a partir de glicerol por Lactobacillus plantarum.

O objetivo principal deste trabalho foi analisar o impacto de dois sais de cálcio, nitrato de cálcio e cloreto de cálcio, na produção de ácido lático a partir do glicerol, por processo fermentativo utilizando uma cepa de Lactobacillus plantarum (BRMCTAA179). Diferentes concentrações dos sais foram avaliadas em experimentos conduzidos em batelada durante 48 horas de cultivo. A condição com melhor desempenho foi selecionada para ensaios posteriores em batelada alimentada com duração de 72 horas, a alimentação foi com meio a 200 g/L e realizada a cada 24 horas. Observou&#8209;se que o nitrato de cálcio teve um efeito inibitório significativo na produção de ácido lático, especialmente em concentrações mais elevadas. Por outro lado, a presença do cloreto de cálcio em uma concentração de 1 g/L mostrou resultados promissores, permitindo uma produção expressiva de ácido lático a partir do glicerol. A produção de ácido lático nos ensaios em batelada alimentada também foi expressiva, atingindo um valor de 29,07 g/L, enquanto o glicerol foi quase completamente consumido após 72 horas de cultivo. Consequentemente, a escolha adequada do sal de cálcio revelou&#8209;se um fator crucial para a produção eficiente de ácido lático a partir do glicerol