Association study indicates a protective role of phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate-5-kinase against tardive dyskinesia

Background: Tardive dyskinesia is a disorder characterized by involuntary muscle movements that occur as a complication of long-term treatment with antipsychotic drugs. It has been suggested to be related to a malfunctioning of the indirect pathway of the motor part of the cortical-striatal-thalamic-cortical circuit, which may be caused by oxidative stress-induced neurotoxicity. Methods: The purpose of our study was to investigate the possible association between phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate-5-kinase type IIa (PIP5K2A) function and tardive dyskinesia in 491 Caucasian patients with schizophrenia from 3 different psychiatric institutes in West Siberia. The Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale was used to assess tardive dyskinesia. Individuals were genotyped for 3 single nucleotide polymorphisms in PIP5K2A gene: rs10828317, rs746203, and rs8341. Results: A significant association was established between the functional mutation N251S-polymorphism of the PIP5K2A gene (rs10828317) and tardive dyskinesia, while the other 2 examined nonfunctional single nucleotide polymorphisms were not related. Conclusions: We conclude from this association that PIP5K2A is possibly involved in a mechanism protecting against tardive dyskinesia-inducing neurotoxicity. This corresponds to our hypothesis that tardive dyskinesia is related to neurotoxicity at striatal indirect pathway medium-sized spiny neurons

Mytilus galloprovincialis Myticin C: A Chemotactic Molecule with Antiviral Activity and Immunoregulatory Properties

Previous research has shown that an antimicrobial peptide (AMP) of the myticin class C (Myt C) is the most abundantly expressed gene in cDNA and suppressive subtractive hybridization (SSH) libraries after immune stimulation of mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis. However, to date, the expression pattern, the antimicrobial activities and the immunomodulatory properties of the Myt C peptide have not been determined. In contrast, it is known that Myt C mRNA presents an unusual and high level of polymorphism of unidentified biological significance. Therefore, to provide a better understanding of the features of this interesting molecule, we have investigated its function using four different cloned and expressed variants of Myt C cDNA and polyclonal anti-Myt C sera. The in vivo results suggest that this AMP, mainly present in hemocytes, could be acting as an immune system modulator molecule because its overexpression was able to alter the expression of mussel immune-related genes (as the antimicrobial peptides Myticin B and Mytilin B, the C1q domain-containing protein MgC1q, and lysozyme). Moreover, the in vitro results indicate that Myt C peptides have antimicrobial and chemotactic properties. Their recombinant expression in a fish cell line conferred protection against two different fish viruses (enveloped and non-enveloped). Cell extracts from Myt C expressing fish cells were also able to attract hemocytes. All together, these results suggest that Myt C should be considered not only as an AMP but also as the first chemokine/cytokine-like molecule identified in bivalves and one of the few examples in all of the invertebrates

Serum lipids at various stages and morpho-functional types of heart failure in patients with myocardial infarction

Venous blood levels of fatty acids (FA), ATP, and lipid peroxidation products, were examined in heart failure (HF) patients after myocardial infarction. These levels were measured at various stages and in various morpho-functional types ofHF. In more severe HF, FA metabolism was more disturbed, that could be assessed by FA/glycerin coefficient, marker of myocardial insufficiency. In severe HF, ATP synthesis declined, and its level in peripheral blood reduced. By FA/ATP ratio, severity of myocardial insufficiency could be assessed; its greater figures were observed in dilated cardiomyopathy. Hypertrophic morpho-functional HFtype was characterized by less disturbed FA utilization and more pronounced activation of lipid peroxidation. Concentrations of blood biochemical markers, reflecting energy metabolism, correlated with cardiac hemodynamics parameters

Using of BIM, BEM and CFD technologies for design and construction of energy-efficient houses

The article presents the concept and the process of integrated design and construction of energy-efficient house during the life cycle based on the use of BIM (Building Information Model), BEM (Building Energy Modeling) and CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) technologies. The task of complex design is to create a house with harmonious architecture and minimal energy costs to maintain a comfortable microclimate, including using renewable energy sources. The article shows the effectiveness of the use of an integrated approach in the design of a house close to the Passive House standards