Changes in brain metabolites measured with magnetic resonance spectroscopy in antidepressant responders with comorbid major depression and posttraumatic stress disorder [Promjene razina moždanih metabolita mjerenih magnetskom rezonantnom spektroskopijom u ispitanika s komorbiditetom depresije i posttraumatskog stresnog poremećaja koji su odgovorili na antidepresivno liječenje]

In a present pilot study, performed on 11 subjects, we studied proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) changes in early to intermediate (3-6 weeks) responders to antidepressant treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). All subjects had diagnosis of major recurrent depression comorbid to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Magnetic spectroscopy was done in the region of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex on a 3T MRI-unit. Participants were selected out of the larger sample due to an early response to antidepressant treatment within 3–6 weeks, measured with Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). We measured levels of neuronal marker N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA), choline (CHO) and creatine (Cr). There was no difference in NAA/Cr ratios between the first and the second spectroscopic scans (p=0.751). However, CHO/Cr ratios showed increasing trend with mean value at the first scan of 1.09 (SD=0.22) while mean value at second scan was 1.25 (SD=0.24), displaying statically significant difference (p=0.015). In conclusion, significant increase in choline to creatine ratio from the first to the second spectroscopic scan during the antidepressant treatment, compared to almost identical values of NAA to creatine ratio, suggests increased turnover of cell membranes as a mechanism of the early response to the antidepressant drug therapy

Changes in Brain Metabolites Measured with Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy in Antidepressant Responders with Comorbid Major Depression and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

In a present pilot study, performed on 11 subjects, we studied proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) changes in early to intermediate (3-6 weeks) responders to antidepressant treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). All subjects had diagnosis of major recurrent depression comorbid to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Magnetic spectroscopy was done in the region of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex on a 3T MRI-unit. Participants were selected out of the larger sample due to an early response to antidepressant treatment within 3–6 weeks, measured with Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). We measured levels of neuronal marker N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA), choline (CHO) and creatine (Cr). There was no difference in NAA/Cr ratios between the first and the second spectroscopic scans (p=0.751). However, CHO/Cr ratios showed increasing trend with mean value at the first scan of 1.09 (SD=0.22) while mean value at second scan was 1.25 (SD=0.24), displaying statically significant difference (p=0.015). In conclusion, significant increase in choline to creatine ratio from the first to the second spectroscopic scan during the antidepressant treatment, compared to almost identical values of NAA to creatine ratio, suggests increased turnover of cell membranes as a mechanism of the early response to the antidepressant drug therapy

Long lasting near-obstruction stenosis of mesencephalic aqueduct without development of hydrocephalus – case report

The aim of this study is to present the five-year longitudinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) follow up of a patient with incidental finding of near-obstruction stenosis of the aqueduct of Sylvius due to a large pineal cyst. The patient was scanned 3 times on a 3T MR device using a set of standard structural sequences supplemented with high-resolution constructive interference of steady state (CISS) T2 sequence for precise delineation of the aqueduct of Sylvius and cardiac-gated phase-contrast sequences for the analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) movement. On all MR scans, the size of the pineal cyst and severity of nearobstruction aqueductal stenosis did not show any morphological changes. There was no significant ventricular enlargement although structural CISS sequence showed a near-obstruction stenosis and cardiac-gated phase-contrast sequences did not detect CSF movement through the aqueduct of Sylvius. Our findings are contradictory to the classic hypothesis of CSF physiology based on secretion, circulation, and absorption of CSF, which states that the impairment of CSF circulation through the aqueduct of Sylvius inevitably leads to a hypertensive hydrocephalus development involving the third and the lateral ventricle. Our research group previously proposed a new hypothesis of CSF physiology, which offers more suitable explanation for such clinical cases

The effects of lumboperitoneal and ventriculoperitoneal shunts on the cranial and spinal cerebrospinal fluid volume in a patient with idiopathic intracranial hypertension

Lumboperitoneal (LP) and ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunts are a frequent treatment modality for idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). Although these shunts have been used for a long time, it is still not clear how they change the total craniospinal CSF volume and what portions of cranial and spinal CSF are affected. This report for the first time presents the results of a volumetric analysis of the total cranial and spinal CSF space in a patient with IIH. We performed an automated segmentation of the cranial and a manual segmentation of the spinal CSF space first with an LP shunt installed and again after the LP shunt was replaced by a VP shunt. When the LP shunt was in place, the total CSF volume was smaller than when the VP shunt was in place (222.4 cm(3) vs 279.2 cm(3)). The difference was almost completely the result of the spinal CSF volume reduction (49.3 cm(3) and 104.9 cm(3) for LP and VP, respectively), while the cranial CSF volume was not considerably altered (173.2 cm(3) and 174.2 cm(3) for LP and VP, respectively). This report indicates that LP and VP shunts in IIH do not considerably change the cranial CSF volume, while the reduction of CSF volume after LP shunt placement affects almost exclusively the spinal part of the CSF system. Our results suggest that an analysis of both the cranial and the spinal part of the CSF space is necessary for therapeutic procedures planning and for an early recognition of numerous side effects that often arise after shunts placement in IIH patients

The influence of body position on cerebrospinal fluid pressure gradient and movement in cats with normal and impaired craniospinal communication

Intracranial hypertension is a severe therapeutic problem, as there is insufficient knowledge about the physiology of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure. In this paper a new CSF pressure regulation hypothesis is proposed. According to this hypothesis, the CSF pressure depends on the laws of fluid mechanics and on the anatomical characteristics inside the cranial and spinal space, and not, as is today generally believed, on CSF secretion, circulation and absorption. The volume and pressure changes in the newly developed CSF model, which by its anatomical dimensions and basic biophysical features imitates the craniospinal system in cats, are compared to those obtained on cats with and without the blockade of craniospinal communication in different body positions. During verticalization, a long-lasting occurrence of negative CSF pressure inside the cranium in animals with normal cranio-spinal communication was observed. CSF pressure gradients change depending on the body position, but those gradients do not enable unidirectional CSF circulation from the hypothetical site of secretion to the site of absorption in any of them. Thus, our results indicate the existence of new physiological/pathophysiological correlations between intracranial fluids, which opens up the possibility of new therapeutic approaches to intracranial hypertension

Način nasleđivanja indeksa oblika lukovice crnog luka (Allium cepa L.)

Onion (Allium cepa L.) is a very important and widespread vegetable crop. Bulb shape index is a very significant biological and commercial trait. Bulb shape impacts the price, processing, resistance to diseases, etc., which is the reason why it is a very important economical trait. Success of the breeding process depends on genetic determination of the traits that were targeted in the selection process. In order to assess the genetic determination of bulb shape index, the trial was set up in the random block system with five replications, with diallel crossing without reciprocals. Bulb shape index in F1 generation was from flat-round to oval shaped. The most common heredity mode of the bulb shape index was superdomination. The highest value of GCA for shape index was found in 'Makoi bronzi', which was the indicator of the best combining abilities. The highest SCA in F1 and F2 generation was found in the hybrid 'Makoi bronzi' x 'AC 101'.Crni luk (Allium cepa L.) je izuzetno važna i široko raspostranjena povrtarska vrsta. Indeks oblika lukovice crnog luka predstavlja veoma značajno biološko i tržišno svojstvo. Oblik lukovica ima uticaja na tržišnu cenu crnog luka, proces dorade, otpotnost na bolesti, itd. Zbog ovoga, indeks oblika se ubraja u važnu ekonomsku osobinu lukovice crnog luka. Genetska determinisanost osobine utiče na uspešnost procesa selekcije. Kako bi utvrdili genetsku determinisanost indeksa oblika lukovice, postavljen je ogled po slučajnom blok sistemu u pet ponavljanja. Primenjen je metod dialelnog ukrštanja bez recipročnog. Posmatrajući hibridne kombinacije Fi generacije može se uočiti da se njihov indeks oblika lukovice kretao od pljosnato-okruglog do ovalnog. Najzastupljeniji način nasleđivanja indeksa oblika lukovice u ovom istraživanju je super dominacija. Najveću vrednost OKS za indeks oblika imala je linija 'Makoi bronzi'. Najvišu vrednost za PKS u F1 i F2 generaciji imao je hibrid dobijen ukrštanjem linije 'Makoi bronzi' x 'AC 101'

Phenolic compounds and biological activity of Capsicum annuum L.

The objective of this study was to evaluate antifungal and antioxidant activities of vegetable extracts (Capsicum annuum L. cv. Dora, cv. Strizanka, cv. Morava), grown in Serbia. Different experimental models have included the determination content of total phenolics, total flavonoids, antioxidant capacity and minimum inhibitory concentration of the extract. The phenolic composition of different extracts was determined by the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. The highest amounts of phenols and highest antioxidant capacity were found in the cultivar Dora extracts. The highest phenolic content has been shown in cultivar Strizanka ethanol extract. All of the extracts showed strong antimicrobial activity. On the basis of the results obtained, the extracts were found to serve as a potential source of natural antioxidants and antimicrobial due to their marked activity. The obtained results may be useful in the evaluation of new dietary and food products.Key words: High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), phenolic components, antimicrobial activity, antioxidant activity

Complex intrachromosomal rearrangement in 1q leading to 1q32.2 microdeletion: a potential role of SRGAP2 in the gyrification of cerebral cortex

BACKGROUND: Van der Woude syndrome (MIM: 119300, VWS) is a dominantly inherited and the most common orofacial clefting syndrome; it accounts for ~2 % of all cleft lip and palate cases. Intellectual disability (ID) is characterized by significant limitations, both in intellectual functioning (cognitive deficit) and in adaptive behavior as expressed in conceptual, social and practical adaptive skills. Karyotyping has been the first standard test for the detection of genetic imbalance in patients with ID for more than 35 years. Advances in genetic diagnosis have laid chromosomal microarrays (CMA) as a new standard and first first-line test for diagnosis of patients with ID, as well as other conditions, such as autism spectrum disorders or multiple congenital anomalies. ----- CASE PRESENTATION: The present case was initially studied due to unexplained cognitive deficit. Physical examination at the age of 18 years revealed cleft palate, lower lip pits and hypodontia, accompanied with other dysmorphic features and absence of speech. Brain MRI uncovered significantly reduced overall volume of gray matter and cortical gyrification. Banding cytogenetics revealed an indistinct intrachromosomal rearrangement in the long arm of one chromosome 1, and subsequent microarray analyses identified a 5.56 Mb deletion in 1q32.1-1q32.3, encompassing 52 genes; included were the entire IRF6 gene (whose mutations/deletions underlay VWS) and SRGAP2, a gene with an important role in neuronal migration during development of cerebral cortex. Besides, a duplication in 3q26.32 (1.9 Mb in size) comprising TBL1XR1 gene was identified. Multicolor banding for chromosome 1 and molecular cytogenetics applying a battery of locus-specific probes covering 1q32.1 to 1q44 characterized a four breakpoint-insertional-rearrangement-event, resulting in 1q32.1-1q32.3 deletion. ----- CONCLUSIONS: Considering that the human-specific three-fold segmental duplication of SRGAP2 gene evolutionary corresponds to the beginning of neocortical expansion, we hypothesize that aberrations in SRGAP2 are strong candidates underlying specific brain abnormalities, namely reduced volume of grey matter and reduced gyrification

Rezultati oplemenjivanja salatnog krastavca (Cucumis sativus L.) u Institutu za povrtarstvo, Smederevska Palanka

Market significance of cucumber for fresh consumption and the new technology of growing make it one of the most attractive vegetable variety. Interest of producers is higher every day, while the selection of new varieties is very low. The aim of this research was the selection of cucumber intended for fresh consumption with good agronomic traits intended for growing in the greenhouses and in the open field. The researchers of the Institute for Vegetable Crops, Smederevska Palanka created new cucumber hybrid which was recognized by Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Water Management of the Republic of Serbia, Department for Plant protection in 2013, under the name 'Kralj'.Tržišna značajnost salatnog krastavca i nove tehnologije gajenja čine da on postaje jedna od najatraktivnijih povrtarskih vrsta. Zainteresovanost proizvođača je sve veća a domaća selekcija sorata na ovoj povrtarskoj vrsti je jako oskudna. Cilj ovog istraživanja je selekcija salatnog krastavca sa dobrim agronomskim osobinama namenjenog za gajenje u zaštićenom prostoru i na otvorenom polju. Novi hibrid salatnog krastavca Kralj, kreiran je u Institutu za povrtarstvo, Smederevska Palanka. Hibrid je priznat kod MPVŠ, RS, Uprava za zaštitu bilja, 2013 godine pod nazivom Kralj

Potential Error in Ventriculocisternal Perfusion Method for Determination of Cerebrospinal Fluid Formation Rate in Cats

The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) formation rate (Vf) has been extensively studied by the ventriculocisternal perfusion, a method still regarded as the most precise one. This method as well as the equation for the calculation of the CSF formation rate (Vf) was established by Heisey et al4 on indicator dilution in perfusate. They assumed that the dilution of the indicator substance in perfusion is a consequence of newly formed CSF i.e. a higher CSF formation rate would result in a higher degree of dilution of the indicator substance. Therefore, such method is indirect and any mistake in the interpretation of the degree of indicator dilution would lead to questionable and often contradictory results regarding CSF formation rates. According to Heisey’s equation, Vf shoud not depend on the rate of ventriculocisternal perfusion. However it has been shown that Vf is perfusion dependt value10, and also that during perfusion the indicator substance is partially absorbed into surrounding tissue. It is possible that obtained Vf dependence on perfusion rate was caused by observed absorption of indicator substances. For that reason, in anaesthetised cats ventriculocisternal perfusion was performed at higher (252.0 mL/min) and at lower perfusion rate (65.5 mL/min) and Vf was calculated at both experimental and corrected (just for absorbed amount) values of indicator substance. Since (inspite of the correction) the difference of 12.4 mL/min between lower (15.0 mL/min) and higher perfusion rate (27.4 mL/min) was obtained, it is obvious that ventriculocisternal perfusion method cannot be considered reliable for measuring CSF formation rate