Hippocampal overexpression of NOS1AP promotes endophenotypes related to mental disorders

BACKGROUND\nMETHODS\nFINDINGS\nINTERPRETATION\nFUNDING\nNitric oxide synthase 1 adaptor protein (NOS1AP; previously named CAPON) is linked to the glutamatergic postsynaptic density through interaction with neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS). NOS1AP and its interaction with nNOS have been associated with several mental disorders. Despite the high levels of NOS1AP expression in the hippocampus and the relevance of this brain region in glutamatergic signalling as well as mental disorders, a potential role of hippocampal NOS1AP in the pathophysiology of these disorders has not been investigated yet.\nTo uncover the function of NOS1AP in hippocampus, we made use of recombinant adeno-associated viruses to overexpress murine full-length NOS1AP or the NOS1AP carboxyterminus in the hippocampus of mice. We investigated these mice for changes in gene expression, neuronal morphology, and relevant behavioural phenotypes.\nWe found that hippocampal overexpression of NOS1AP markedly increased the interaction of nNOS with PSD-95, reduced dendritic spine density, and changed dendritic spine morphology at CA1 synapses. At the behavioural level, we observed an impairment in social memory and decreased spatial working memory capacity.\nOur data provide a mechanistic explanation for a highly selective and specific contribution of hippocampal NOS1AP and its interaction with the glutamatergic postsynaptic density to cross-disorder pathophysiology. Our findings allude to therapeutic relevance due to the druggability of this molecule.\nThis study was funded in part by the DFG, the BMBF, the Academy of Finland, the NIH, the Japanese Society of Clinical Neuropsychopharmacology, the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation, and the European Community

Efficiency analysis of dairy farms in the province of Izmir (Turkey): Data envelopment analysis (DEA)

WOS: 000237043100015The production efficiency of dairy farms based on cross section data of 2003 covering 80 farms chosen by the method of proportional sampling, was determined by Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) using three outputs and seven inputs. Fortynine percent of the dairy farms appeared to be fully efficient according to the assumption of constant return to scale (CRS). The average efficiency indices obtained under CRS and variable return to scale (VRS) were 0.934 and 0.954, respectively. Mean scale efficiency, on the other hand, was 0.978. Out of the selected dairy farms 21.2% were observed to be efficient in measuring the efficiency of single output milk production. Average efficiency indices under CRS and VRS and scale efficiency index were measured to be 0.782, 0.832 and 0.938, respectively. This information will contribute to extensive dairy farm projects to be carried out in future

A case with Waardenburg syndrome presenting with two separate translocations - one reciprocal and one complex

A 2-month-old Turkish male with Waardenburg syndrome who has two de novo translocations is described. The translocations are a reciprocal translocation between chromosomes 1 and 8, and a more complex translocation involving chromosomes 4 and 7. Clin Dysmorphol 10: 65-66 (C) 2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins