Ovariectomy-induced depressive-like behavior and brain glucose metabolism changes in female rats are not affected by chronic mild stress

The increased incidence of depression in women going through peri-menopause suggests that fluctuations in estrogen levels may increase the risk of developing depression. Nonetheless, this psychiatric disorder is likely to be multifactorial and consequently an additional trigger may be needed to induce depression in this population. Stress could be such a trigger. We therefore investigated the effect of ovarian estrogen depletion and chronic mild stress (CMS) on depressive-like behavior and brain metabolism in female rats. Approximately 2 and 9 weeks after estrogen depletion by ovariectomy, behavioral changes were assessed in the open-field test and the forced swim test, and brain metabolism was measured with [18F]FDG PET imaging. A subset of animals was subjected to a 6-weeks CMS protocol starting 17 days after ovariectomy. Short-term estrogen depletion had a significant effect on brain metabolism in subcortical areas, but not on behavior. Differences in depressive-like behavior were only found after prolonged estrogen depletion, leading to an increased immobility time in the forced swim test. Prolonged estrogen depletion also resulted in an increase in glucose metabolism in frontal cortical areas and hippocampus, whereas a decrease glucose metabolism was found in temporal cortical areas, hypothalamus and brainstem. Neither short-term nor prolonged estrogen depletion caused anxiety-like behavior. Changes in body weight, behavior and brain glucose metabolism were not significantly affected by CMS. In conclusion, ovarian estrogen depletion resulted in changes in brain metabolism and depressive-like behavior, but these changes were not enhanced by CMS

Interlayer hydrogen-bonded covalent organic frameworks as high-performance supercapacitors

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have emerged as promising electrode materials in supercapacitors (SCs). However, their insoluble powder like nature, poor capacitive performance in pristine form, integrated with inferior electrochemical stability is a primary concern for their long-term use in electrochemical-devices. Keeping this in perspective, herein, we report a redox active and hydrogen bonded COF with ultrahigh stability in conc. H2SO4 (18 M), conc. HCl (12 M) and NaOH (9 M). The as-synthesized COF fabricated as thin sheets were efficiently employed as a free-standing supercapacitor electrode material using 3 M aq. H2SO4 as an electrolyte. Moreover, the pristine COF sheet showcased outstanding areal capacitance 1600 mFcm-2 (gravimetric 169 Fg-1) and excellent cyclic stability (> 1,00,000) without compromising its capacitive performance or coulombic efficiency. Moreover, as a proof-of-concept, a solidstate supercapacitor device was also assembled and subsequently tested

Principles and philosophies for speech and language therapists working with people with primary progressive aphasia: An international expert consensus

Purpose: Primary progressive aphasia (PPA) is a language-led dementia associated with Alzheimer’s pathology and fronto-temporal lobar degeneration. Multiple tailored speech and language interventions have been developed for people with PPA. Speech and language therapists/speech-language pathologists (SLT/Ps) report lacking confidence in identifying the most pertinent interventions options relevant to their clients living with PPA during their illness trajectory. Materials and methods: The aim of this study was to establish a consensus amongst 15 clinical-academic SLT/Ps on best practice in selection and delivery of speech and language therapy interventions for people with PPA. An online nominal group technique (NGT) and consequent focus group session were held. NGT rankings were aggregated and focus groups video recorded, transcribed, and reflexive thematic analysis undertaken. Results: The results of the NGT identified 17 items. Two main themes and seven further subthemes were identified in the focus groups. The main themes comprised (1) philosophy of person-centredness and (2) complexity. The seven subthemes were knowing people deeply, preventing disasters, practical issues, professional development, connectedness, barriers and limitations, and peer support and mentoring towards a shared understanding. Conclusions: This study describes the philosophy of expert practice and outlines a set of best practice principles when working with people with PPA.Implications for rehabilitation Primary progressive aphasia (PPA) describes a group of language led dementias which deteriorate inexorably over time. Providing speech and language therapy for people with PPA is complex and must be person centred and bespoke. This study describes the philosophy of expert practice and outlines a set of best practice principles for speech and language therapists/pathologists working with people with people with PPA

Speech and language therapy approaches to managing primary progressive aphasia

The term primary progressive aphasia (PPA) describes a group of neurodegenerative disorders with predominant speech and language dysfunction as their main feature. There are three main variants – the semantic variant, the nonfluent or agrammatic variant and the logopenic variant – each with specific linguistic deficits and different neuroanatomical involvement. There are currently no curative treatments or symptomatic pharmacological therapies. However, speech and language therapists have developed several impairment-based interventions and compensatory strategies for use in the clinic. Unfortunately, multiple barriers still need to be overcome to improve access to care for people with PPA, including increasing awareness among referring clinicians, improving training of speech and language therapists and developing evidence-based guidelines for therapeutic interventions. This review highlights this inequity and the reasons why neurologists should refer people with PPA to speech and language therapists

Prospects of new chickpea varieties in Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh is an important chickpea growing state in southern India, with spectacular increase in chickpea area from 120,000 ha in 1997/98 to 638,000 ha in 2007/08. The chickpea revolution in Andhra Pradesh has improved the prospects of many resource-poor, small land holding and rainfed farmers of Andhra Pradesh. However, the growing season of chickpea in Andhra Pradesh is warm and short (90-110 days), and drought is the foremost factor responsible for significant yield losses. Rainfall in major chickpea-growing regions is quite uncertain and erratic, resulting in poor yields. The Regional Agricultural Research Station of Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University, Nandyal, Andhra Pradesh, India is the lead centre responsible for location-specific research in chickpea in Andhra Pradesh. With support from ICRISAT and ICAR, the centre has initiated crop improvement programmes during 2004 and has released four promising chickpea varieties for commercial cultivation. Three desi varieties viz., Nandyal Sanaga 1(NBeG 3), Dheera (NBeG 47), and Nandyal Gram 49 (NBeG 49) released for Andhra Pradesh and one large-seeded kabuli Nandyal Gram 119 (NBeG 119) released for the southern zone comprising Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, are cutting across chickpea growing regions of Andhra Pradesh. Nandyal Sanaga 1, released in 2012, is a bold-seeded desi variety tolerant to drought and heat; Dheera released during 2015 is also a desi variety and the first of its kind in India, suitable for mechanical harvesting. Nandyal Gram 49 released during 2016 is a highyielding desi variety with attractive seeds; whereas Nandyal Gram 119 is early bold-seeded kabuli variety released during 2015. These varieties have clearly demonstrated their advantage (10%-15 % increase over popular varieties of the tract) in farmers’ holdings in large-scale demonstrations and are being preferred by farmers of not only Andhra Pradesh, but also Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Odisha and Maharastra. Efforts are underway to promote large-scale adoption of these varieties to maximize long term productivity of chickpeas in rainfed vertisols

In vivo imaging of brain estrogen receptors in rats:a 16α-18F-fluoro-17β-estradiol PET study

UNLABELLED: The steroid hormone estrogen is important for brain functioning and is thought to be involved in brain diseases, such as Alzheimer disease and depression. The action of estrogen is mediated by estrogen receptors (ERs). To understand the role of estrogens in brain functioning, it is important to study ERs in the brain. The aims of the present study were to determine whether ERs could be measured in the rat brain by PET with the ER ligand 16α-(18)F-fluoro-17β-estradiol ((18)F-FES) and to evaluate whether tracer uptake was affected by endogenous estrogen. METHODS: Small-animal PET was used to determine (18)F-FES uptake in female rats in the diestrous phase of the estrous cycle, the proestrous phase, and after ovariectomy. Coinjection of (18)F-FES with 17β-estradiol was performed to determine whether tracer binding was specific for ERs. Additionally, (18)F-FES uptake was quantified with kinetic modeling in female rats in the proestrous phase and after ovariectomy and in male rats. RESULTS: The highest levels of uptake of (18)F-FES were found (in descending order) in the pituitary, hypothalamus, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, and amygdala. Other brain regions showed low levels of brain uptake. The level of (18)F-FES uptake was higher in the pituitary and hypothalamus in rats after ovariectomy than in rats in the proestrous phase. Coinjection with 17β-estradiol resulted in a decrease in (18)F-FES uptake in the pituitary and hypothalamus. The volume of distribution and binding potential determined with kinetic modeling were higher in the pituitary than in the other brain regions in all 3 groups. No differences were found among the groups. CONCLUSION: (18)F-FES PET imaging of ER availability in the rat brain is feasible for brain regions with high ER densities