125 research outputs found
Is autopsy tissue a valid control for epilepsy surgery tissue in microRNA studies?
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are differentially expressed in the brain under pathologic conditions
and may therefore represent both therapeutic targets and diagnostic or prognostic
biomarkers for neurologic diseases, including epilepsy. In fact, miRNA expression
profiles have been investigated in the hippocampi of patients with epilepsy in comparison
with control, nonepileptic cases. Unfortunately, the interpretation of these data is
difficult because surgically resected epileptic tissue is generally compared with control
tissue obtained from autopsies. To challenge the validity of this approach, we performed
an miRNA microarray on the laser microdissected granule cell layer of the
human hippocampus obtained from surgical samples of patients with epilepsy, autoptic
nonepileptic controls, and patients with autoptic epilepsy, using the latter as internal
control. Unfortunately, it is extremely difficult to collect autopsy material from
documented epilepsy individuals who died of non–epilepsy-related causes—we found
only two such cases. However, hierarchical clustering of all samples showed that those
obtained from autopsies of patients with epilepsy segregated with the other autoptic
samples (controls) and not with the bioptic tissues from the surgery patients, suggesting
that the origin of the tissue (surgery or autopsy) may be prevalent over the underlying
pathology (epilepsy or not epilepsy). Even taking into account the limitations due
to the small number of cases, this observation arises concerns on the use of autopsy tissue
as control for this kind of studies
In vivo effect of pneumonia on surfactant disaturated-phosphatidylcholine kinetics in newborn infants
Bacterial pneumonia in newborns often leads to surfactant deficiency or dysfunction, as surfactant is inactivated or its production/turnover impaired. No data are available in vivo in humans on the mechanism of surfactant depletion in neonatal pneumonia. We studied the kinetics of surfactant's major component, disaturated-phosphatidylcholine (DSPC), in neonatal pneumonia, and we compared our findings with those obtained from control newborn lungs
MicroRNA profiles in hippocampal granule cells and plasma of rats with pilocarpine-induced epilepsy - Comparison with human epileptic samples
The identification of biomarkers of the transformation of normal to epileptic tissue would help to
stratify patients at risk of epilepsy following brain injury, and inform new treatment strategies.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are an attractive option in this direction. In this study, miRNA microarrays were
performed on laser-microdissected hippocampal granule cell layer (GCL) and on plasma, at different
time points in the development of pilocarpine-induced epilepsy in the rat: latency, first spontaneous
seizure and chronic epileptic phase. Sixty-three miRNAs were differentially expressed in the GCL
when considering all time points. Three main clusters were identified that separated the control and
chronic phase groups from the latency group and from the first spontaneous seizure group. MiRNAs
from rats in the chronic phase were compared to those obtained from the laser-microdissected GCL
of epileptic patients, identifying several miRNAs (miR-21-5p, miR-23a-5p, miR-146a-5p and miR-
181c-5p) that were up-regulated in both human and rat epileptic tissue. Analysis of plasma samples
revealed different levels between control and pilocarpine-treated animals for 27 miRNAs. Two main
clusters were identified that segregated controls from all other groups. Those miRNAs that are
altered in plasma before the first spontaneous seizure, like miR-9a-3p, may be proposed as putative
biomarkers of epileptogenesis
Towards improved, cost-effective surveillance of Ixodes ricinus ticks and associated pathogens using species distribution modelling
Various ticks exist in the temperate hilly and pre-alpine areas of Northern Italy, where Ixodes ricinus is the more important. In this area different tick-borne pathogen monitoring projects have recently been implemented; we present here the results of a twoyear field survey of ticks and associated pathogens, conducted 2009-2010 in North-eastern Italy. The cost-effectiveness of different sampling strategies, hypothesized a posteriori based on two sub-sets of data, were compared and analysed. The same two subsets were also used to develop models of habitat suitability, using a maximum entropy algorithm based on remotely sensed data. Comparison of the two strategies (in terms of number of ticks collected, rates of pathogen detection and model accuracy) indicated that monitoring at many temporary sites was more cost-effective than monthly samplings at a few permanent sites. The two model predictions were similar and provided a greater understanding of ecological requirements of I. ricinus in the study area. Dense vegetation cover, as measured by the normalized difference vegetation index, was identified as a good predictor of tick presence, whereas high summer temperatures appeared to be a limiting factor. The study suggests that it is possible to obtain realistic results (in terms of pathogens detection and development of habitat suitability maps) with a relatively limited sampling effort and a wellplanned monitoring strategy
The Collaborative for the Research on Black Women and Girls
<p>Seven patients per group. **P<0.01 Mann-Whitney U test. Representative granule cell layer hippocampal sections from patients without granule cell pathology (B) or with type-2 GCP (C) exhibiting DAB-labeled ANTXR1-like immunoreactivity (LI). Omitting the primary antibody to estimate nonspecific signal yielded completely negative labeling (data not shown). Note a widespread increase in ANTXR1-LI in granule cells from patients with type-2 GCP (C).</p
Promoting innovation and excellence to face the rapid diffusion of Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS) in the EU : the outcomes of the ReDNet project
Objectives: The recent emergence of new psychoactive compounds (NPS) has raised prominent challenges in the fields of drug policy, substance use research, public health and service provision. The Recreational Drugs European Network (ReDNet) project, funded by the European Commission, was implemented to improve the information stream to young people and professionals about effects/risks of NPS identifying online products and disseminating relevant information through technological tools. Methods: Regular multilingual qualitative assessments of websites, drugs fora and other online resources were carried out using the Google search engine in 8 languages from collaborating countries. These included: the UK, Norway, Belgium, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Italy and Spain. Products were tested and prevention messages were developed and disseminated via technological tools such as interactive websites, SMS alert, social networking (Facebook, Twitter), Multimedia (You Tube), Smartphone applications (iPhone), and virtual learning environments (Second Life). Results: The ReDNet project established itself as the first Europe-wide prevention programme designed for NPS based on the efficacy of novel ICT-based forms of intervention. More than 650 NPS products and combinations were identified; relevant information was disseminated to target population and advice was given to both EU/ international agencies and national policy makers. Conclusions: Web monitoring activities are essential for mapping the diffusion of NPS and the use of technological tools can be successfully incorporated in specific prevention programmes. Furthermore, the involvement of multi-disciplinary international partnerships was and continues to be fundamental for responding to such a prominent challenge.Peer reviewedSubmitted Versio
Genetic diversity and host alternation of the egg parasitoid Oencyrtus pityocampae between the pine processionary moth and caper bug
Research ArticleThe increased use of molecular tools for species identification in recent decades revealed
that each of many apparently generalist parasitoids are actually a complex of morphologically
similar congeners, most of which have a rather narrow host range. Ooencyrtus pityocampae
(OP), an important egg parasitoid of the pine processionary moth (PPM), is
considered a generalist parasitoid. OP emerges from PPM eggs after winter hibernation,
mainly in spring and early summer, long before the eggs of the next PPM generation occurs.
The occurrence of OP in eggs of the variegated caper bug (CB) Stenozygum coloratum in
spring and summer suggests that OP populations alternate seasonally between PPM and
CB. However, the identity of OP population on CB eggs seemed uncertain; unlike OP-PPM
populations, the former displayed apparently high male/female ratios and lack of attraction
to the PPM sex pheromone. We studied the molecular identities of the two populations
since the morphological identification of the genus Ooencyrtus, and OP in particular, is difficult.
Sequencing of COI and ITS2 DNA fragments and AFLP analysis of individuals from
both hosts revealed no apparent differences between the OP-PPM and the OP-CB populations
for both the Israeli and the Turkish OPs, which therefore supported the possibility of
host alternation. Sequencing data extended our knowledge of the genetic structure of OP
populations in the Mediterranean area, and revealed clear separation between East and
West Mediterranean populations. The overall level of genetic diversity was rather small,
with the Israeli population much less diverse than all others; possible explanations for this
finding are discussed. The findings support the possibility of utilizing the CB and other hosts
for enhancing biological control of the PPMinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Convulsant Doses of a Dopamine D1 Receptor Agonist Result in Erk-Dependent Increases in Zif268 and Arc/Arg3.1 Expression in Mouse Dentate Gyrus
Activation of dopamine D1 receptors (D1Rs) has been shown to induce epileptiform activity. We studied the molecular changes occurring in the hippocampus in response to the administration of the D1-type receptor agonist, SKF 81297. SKF 81297 at 2.5 and 5.0 mg/kg induced behavioural seizures. Electrophysiological recordings in the dentate gyrus revealed the presence of epileptiform discharges peaking at 30–45 min post-injection and declining by 60 min. Seizures were prevented by the D1-type receptor antagonist, SCH 23390, or the cannabinoid CB1 receptor agonist, CP 55,940. The effect of SKF 81297 was accompanied by increased phosphorylation of the extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases 1 and 2 (ERK), in the granule cells of the dentate gyrus. This effect was also observed in response to administration of other D1-type receptor agonists, such as SKF83822 and SKF83959. In addition, SKF 81297 increased the phosphorylation of the ribosomal protein S6 and histone H3, two downstream targets of ERK. These effects were prevented by genetic inactivation of D1Rs, or by pharmacological inhibition of ERK. SKF 81297 was also able to enhance the levels of Zif268 and Arc/Arg3.1, two immediate early genes involved in transcriptional regulation and synaptic plasticity. These changes may be involved in forms of activity-dependent plasticity linked to the manifestation of seizures and to the ability of dopamine to affect learning and memory
Systems genetics identifies Sestrin 3 as a regulator of a proconvulsant gene network in human epileptic hippocampus
Peer reviewe
Understanding Factors Associated With Psychomotor Subtypes of Delirium in Older Inpatients With Dementia
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