The use of enzyme immunoassay for the quantitative analysis of an insect growth regulator and insect juvenile hormone from environmental andbiological matrices.

Two immunoassay formats were developed for the detection of low levels of the insect growth regulator, methoprene. The generation of methoprene-specific antibodies needed for such assays relied on the preparation of a methoprene-carrier immunogen. 11-Methoxy-3,7,11-trimethyl-2E,4E-dodecadienoic acid was covalently bound to a protein carrier via a spacer group. Two activated ester methods were used to prepare the immunogen, one of which forms a water soluble, activated ester of methoprene. Polyclonal antibodies raised against the methoprene immunogen were highly specific for methoprene. An indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (iELISA) and a competitive inhibition enzyme immunoassay (CIEIA) were developed using the polyclonal antisera. The range of the methoprene indirect ELISA was from 5 to 300 ng/mL (ppb), with an I\sb{50} of 50 ng/mL, while the CIEIA has a range from 1.0 to 10 ppb, with an I\sb{50} of 3.5 ppb. An indirect ELISA was also developed for insect juvenile hormone III from rabbit polyclonal antisera. The synthesis of several juvenile hormone derivatives used to prepare a juvenile hormone immunogen is described. The immunogen consisted of juvenile hormone III bound to a spacer arm via an ester, which was bound, in turn to a carrier protein via an amide bond. The resulting immunochemical assay showed high specificity for juvenile hormone III, with an I\sb{50} of 225 ng/well. The juvenile hormone homologs, I and II, had I\sb{50}\u27s of 5000 and 800 ng/well, respectively. Other juvenile hormone analogs cross reacted with the juvenile hormone III antibody to a much lesser degree. The juvenile hormone III indirect ELISA has great potential for becoming the first readily available, easy-to-use analytical technique for the quantification of the hormone from biological materials

Protons as Intercellular Messengers

Muscle contractions are driven by neurotransmitters released at neuromuscular junctions. In this issue, Beg et al. (2008) report that protons, in the absence of neurotransmitters and neurons, can stimulate muscle contractions involved in the defecation cycle of the worm Caenorhabditis elegans. Their results identify protons as a new intercellular messenger and suggest that proton-mediated intercellular communication may be a widespread phenomenon

A chemical-genetic strategy reveals distinct temporal requirements for SAD-1 kinase in neuronal polarization and synapse formation

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Neurons assemble into a functional network through a sequence of developmental processes including neuronal polarization and synapse formation. In <it>Caenorhabditis elegans</it>, the serine/threonine SAD-1 kinase is essential for proper neuronal polarity and synaptic organization. To determine if SAD-1 activity regulates the establishment or maintenance of these neuronal structures, we examined its temporal requirements using a chemical-genetic method that allows for selective and reversible inactivation of its kinase activity <it>in vivo</it>.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We generated a PP1 analog-sensitive variant of SAD-1. Through temporal inhibition of SAD-1 kinase activity we show that its activity is required for the establishment of both neuronal polarity and synaptic organization. However, while SAD-1 activity is needed strictly when neurons are polarizing, the temporal requirement for SAD-1 is less stringent in synaptic organization, which can also be re-established during maintenance.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study reports the first temporal analysis of a neural kinase activity using the chemical-genetic system. It reveals that neuronal polarity and synaptic organization have distinct temporal requirements for SAD-1.</p

Recurrent haemorrhagic ovarian cyst and anticoagulant therapy: a case report with review of treatment modalities

The common gynaecological causes of acute pelvic pain include ruptured ectopic pregnancy, haemorrhagic corpus luteal cyst or torsion of an ovarian cyst. Ovarian vascular accidents are reported in women on oral anticoagulation presenting as an acute pelvic pain. Although such vascular accidents with anticoagulation therapy are an unusual entity, a meticulous history, clinical examination, and laboratory workup to confirm the diagnosis and timely intervention is needed to reduce attending morbidity and mortality. However, a standard algorithm for management is not described in the literature. We hereby report successful management of recurrent hemorrhagic ovarian cyst due to coagulopathy in a woman with mechanical heart valves with timely surgical intervention. This case report discusses operative versus non operative management approach and may provide value addition to readers encountering such cases in their clinical practice

Long-term neural and physiological phenotyping of a single human

Psychiatric disorders are characterized by major fluctuations in psychological function over the course of weeks and months, but the dynamic characteristics of brain function over this timescale in healthy individuals are unknown. Here, as a proof of concept to address this question, we present the MyConnectome project. An intensive phenome-wide assessment of a single human was performed over a period of 18 months, including functional and structural brain connectivity using magnetic resonance imaging, psychological function and physical health, gene expression and metabolomics. A reproducible analysis workflow is provided, along with open access to the data and an online browser for results. We demonstrate dynamic changes in brain connectivity over the timescales of days to months, and relations between brain connectivity, gene expression and metabolites. This resource can serve as a testbed to study the joint dynamics of human brain and metabolic function over time, an approach that is critical for the development of precision medicine strategies for brain disorders