The in vivo effect of N-nitrosomorpholine on the activity of enzymes in rat blood serums and liver

Neoplasm antigens outnumber the enzymes which are utilized to determine the cancer. Cancer development in the living organisms chronologically follows the cytotoxic, organotoxic and mutagenic alterations. Generally, the first symptom for chemical carcinogens is a metabolical response in connection with the detoxification phenomenon and for the infective agents the first symptom is often an immune response. Many nitrosamines similar to N-nitrosomorpholine have been considered as carcinogens. The cancerogenic effect of N-nitrosomorpholine (NMOR) on different animal species has been confirmed experimentally. The aim was to analyse the acute toxic effect of the Nnitrosomorpholineon the Rattus norvegicus race rats in this study. The administration of Nnitrosomorpholine causes alteration of some enzymes. The enzyme activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were determined for all the samples of blood serum and liver tissue. The resultsdemonstrated that there was an increase in the levels of the ALP, ALT, AST and LDH enzyme activities regarding to the in vivo effect of the N-nitrosomorpholine and the increases were evaluated as the metabolic response of liver to hepatotoxic action. NMOR results in the modifications on the biological macromolecules owing to its alkylating characteristic. The degradation and turn over of the protein gains speed gradually till alkylating factor disappear. This case in the circulation appears as theincrease of the enzyme activity. These alterations are responsible for carcinogenicity and happen as liver cancer observation in the liver

Chemosensory and Steroid-Responsive Regions of the Medial Amygdala Regulate Distinct Aspects of Opposite-Sex Odor Preference in Male Syrian Hamsters (Mesocricetus Auratus)

In Syrian hamsters, sexual preference requires integration of chemosensory and steroid cues. Although data suggest that separate pathways within the brain process these two signals, the functional significance of this separation is not well understood. Within the medial amygdala, the anterior region (MEa) receives input from the olfactory bulbs, whereas the posterodorsal region (MEpd) is sensitive to steroid hormones. Lesions of either the MEa or MEpd eliminated preference to investigate female over male odors. Importantly, males with MEpd lesions displayed decreased attraction toward female odors, suggesting a decrease in sexual motivation. In contrast, males with MEa lesions displayed high levels of investigation of both female and male odors, suggesting an inability to categorize the relevance of the odor stimuli. These results suggest that both the MEa and MEpd are critical for the expression of opposite-sex odor preference, although they appear to mediate distinct aspects of this behavior

Sculpting the hippocampus from within: stress, spines, and CRH.

Learning and memory processes carried out within the hippocampus are influenced by stress in a complex manner, and the mechanisms by which stress modulates the physiology of the hippocampus are not fully understood. This review addresses how the production and release of the neuropeptide corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) within the hippocampus during stress influences neuronal structure and hippocampal function. CRH functions in the contexts of acute and chronic stresses taking place during development, adulthood and aging. Current challenges are to uncover how the dynamic actions of CRH integrate with the well-established roles of adrenal-derived steroid stress hormones to shape the cognitive functions of the hippocampus in response to stress

The Cognitive Interview for Eyewitnesses with Autism Spectrum Disorder

The cognitive interview (CI) is one of the most widely accepted forms of interviewing techniques for eliciting the most detailed, yet accurate reports from witnesses. No research, however, has examined its effectiveness with witnesses with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Twenty-six adults with ASD and 26 matched typical adults viewed a video of an enacted crime, and were then interviewed with either a CI, or a structured interview (SI) without the CI mnemonics. Groups did not differ on the quantity or quality of their reports when interviewed with a SI, however, when interviewed with a CI the ASD group was significantly less accurate. Findings indicate that investigative professionals should be cautious in relying on the CI to interview witnesses with ASD

The Travelling Objectivity Norm: Examining the case of the first Chinese journalism handbook

This study investigates the significance of Xu Baohuang’s 1919 textbook Xin wen xue on the articulation of an objectivity norm in the early Republican-era in China. It addresses issues raised by cross-cultural or comparative analysis of journalistic norms. It also considers the need to maintain awareness of differences in the political and journalistic field in Republican-era China. Following Michael Schudson’s 1981 essay “The Objectivity Norm in American Journalism,” our analysis focuses on the articulation of the objectivity norm and looks for unique aspects of norm formation arising out of the Chinese context. As such, we see Xu’s role as more than importing an American norm into China. Rather he codifies and legitimizes a norm that has a distinct relationship to local issues and media practice. We argue that while Xu’s text articulates what can only be considered a nascent ideal, and not a fully matured objectivity norm, his work nevertheless codifies a new sense of news, and also a journalistic commitment to the cultivation of healthy public opinion

Degeneration and regeneration of peripheral nerves: role of thrombin and its receptor PAR-1

The peripheral nervous system has a striking regeneration potential and after damage extensive changes in the differentiation state both of the injured neurons and of the Schwann cells are observed. Schwann cells, in particular, undergo a large scale change in gene expression becoming able to support axonal regeneration. Nerve injury is generally associated to inflammation and activation of the coagulation cascade. Thrombin acts as a polyfunctional signalling molecule exerting its physiological function through soluble target proteins and G-protein-coupled receptors, the protease-activated receptors (PARs) [1]. Recently, we have demonstrated that the activation of the main thrombin receptor, PAR-1, in Schwann cells favours their regenerative potential determining the release of factors which promote axonal regrowth [2]. The pro-regenerative potential of thrombin seems to be exerted in a narrow range of concentrations (pM-nM range). In fact, our preliminary data indicate that high levels of thrombin in the micromolar range slow down Schwann cell proliferation and induce cell death. On the contrary, PAR-1 activating peptides mimic the pro-survival but not the pro-apoptotic effects of thrombin. Controlling thrombin concentration may preserve neuronal health during nerve injury and represent a novel target for pharmacologic therapies

PAR1 activation induces the release by Schwann cells of factors promoting cell survival and neuritogenesis

Protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR1) is a member of a family of four G-protein-coupled receptors which are activated by proteolytic cleavage of their N-terminal extracellular domain. The expression and the role of PAR1 in peripheral nervous system (PNS) is still poorly investigated, although high PAR1 mRNA expression was found in the dorsal root ganglia and in the non-compacted Schwann cell myelin microvilli at the nodes of Ranvier. Schwann cells (SCs) are the principal population of glial cells of the PNS which myelinate axons and play a key role in axonal regeneration and remyelination. Aim of the present study was to determine if the activation of PAR1 affects the neurotrophic properties of SCs. By double immunofluorescence we observed a specific staining for PAR1 in S100ȕ-positive cells of rat sciatic nerve and sciatic teased fibers. Moreover, PAR1 was highly expressed in SC cultures obtained from both neonatal and adult rat sciatic nerves. When PAR1 specific agonists were added to these cultures an increased proliferation rate was observed. Moreover, the conditioned medium obtained from primary SCs treated with PAR1 agonists increased cell survival and neurite outgrowth on PC12 cells respect to controls. By proteomics, western blot and RT-PCR analyses we identified five proteins which are released by SCs following PAR1 stimulation: Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (Mif), Aldose reductase (Akr1b1), Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (Mmp2), Syndecan-4 (Sdc) and Decorin (Dcn). Conversely, a significant decrease in the level of three proteins was observed: Complement C1r subcomponent (C1r) and Complement component 1 Q subcomponent-bindingprotein (C1qbp). When PAR1 expression was silenced by siRNA the observed pro-survival and neurotrophic properties of SCs appear to be reduced respect to controls. References PAR1 activation affects the neurotrophic properties of Schwann cells. Pompili E1, Fabrizi C2, Somma F2, Correani V3, Maras B3, Schininà ME3, Ciraci V2, Artico M4, Fornai F5, Fumagalli L2. 2017 Jan 4;79:23-33. doi: 10.1016/j.mcn.2017.01.001.Schwann cells (SCs) regulate a wide variety of axonal functions in the peripheral nervous system, providing a supportive growth environment following nerve injury (1). Here we show that rat SCs express the protease-activated receptor-1 (PAR1) both in vivo and in vitro. PAR1 is a G-protein coupled receptor eliciting cellular responses to thrombin and other proteases (2). To investigate if PAR1 activation affects the neurotrophic properties of SCs, this receptor was activated by a specific agonist peptide (TFLLR) and the conditioned medium was transferred to PC12 pheocromocytoma cells for assessing cell survival and neurite outgrowth. Culture medium from SCs treated with 10 µM TFLLR reduced significantly the release of LDH and increased the viability of PC12 cells with respect to the medium of the untreated SCs. Furthermore, conditioned medium from TFLLR-treated SCs increased neurite outgrowth on PC12 cells respect to control medium from untreated cells. To identify putative neurotrophic candidates we performed proteomic analysis on SC secretoma and real time PCR experiments after PAR1 activation. Stimulation of SCs with TFLLR increased specifically the release of a subset of five proteins: Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (Mif), Aldose reductase (Akr1b1), Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (Mmp2), Syndecan-4 (Sdc) and Decorin (Dcn). At the same time there was a significant decrease in the level of three proteins: Complement C1r subcomponent (C1r), Complement component 1 Q subcomponent-binding protein (C1qbp) and Angiogenic factor with G patch and FHA domains 1 (Aggf1). These data indicate that PAR1 stimulation does induce the release by SCs of factors promoting cell survival and neuritogenesis. Among these proteins, Mif, Sdc, Dcn and Mmp2 are of particular interest

Memory for Emotionally Arousing Events Over Time in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Emotionally arousing events are typically better remembered and more resistant to forgetting than neutral events. Findings from word list paradigms suggest that this may not hold for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), who also tend to be less accurate as eyewitnesses under some circumstances. To test whether attenuated effects of arousal on memory may be responsible for poorer eyewitness testimonies in ASD, we asked adults with and without the disorder to view either arousing or neutral versions of a narrated slide sequence (Experiment 1) or video clip (Experiment 2) before assessing their memory for the material. Both groups exhibited increases in psychophysiological arousal during the arousing compared with the neutral version of the narratives, and both groups also demonstrated a memory advantage for the arousing events. Contrary to predictions, these observations indicate that stimulus induced arousal modulates memory for naturalistic events relatively typically in ASD

Memory for Emotionally Arousing Events Over Time in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Emotionally arousing events are typically better remembered and more resistant to forgetting than neutral events. Findings from word list paradigms suggest that this may not hold for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), who also tend to be less accurate as eyewitnesses under some circumstances. To test whether attenuated effects of arousal on memory may be responsible for poorer eyewitness testimonies in ASD, we asked adults with and without the disorder to view either arousing or neutral versions of a narrated slide sequence (Experiment 1) or video clip (Experiment 2) before assessing their memory for the material. Both groups exhibited increases in psychophysiological arousal during the arousing compared with the neutral version of the narratives, and both groups also demonstrated a memory advantage for the arousing events. Contrary to predictions, these observations indicate that stimulus induced arousal modulates memory for naturalistic events relatively typically in ASD

Mock juror perceptions of child witnesses on the autism spectrum: the impact of providing diagnostic labels and information about autism

Research suggests that autistic children can provide accurate and forensically useful eyewitness evidence. However, members of a jury also rely on non-verbal behaviours when judging the credibility of a witness, and this could determine the verdict of a case. We presented mock jurors with videos (from an experimental study) of one of two child witnesses on the autism spectrum being interviewed about a mock minor crime. Results demonstrated that providing jurors with generic information about autism and/or informing them of the child’s diagnostic label differentially affected credibility ratings, but not for both children. Implications for how to present information about child witnesses with autism to a jury – highlighting the need for approaches tailored to individual children – are discussed