A missense variant (P10L) of the melanopsin (OPN4) gene in seasonal affective disorder

Background: Melanopsin, a non-visual photopigment, may play a role in aberrant responses to low winter light levels in Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). We hypothesize that functional sequence variation in the melanopsin gene could contribute to increasing the light needed for normal functioning during winter in SAD. Methods: Associations between alleles, genotypes, and haplotypes of melanopsin in SAD participants (n = 130) were performed relative to controls with no history of psychopathology (n = 90). Results: SAD participants had a higher frequency of the homozygous minor genotype (T/T) for the missense variant rs2675703 (P10L) than controls, compared to the combined frequencies of C/C and C/T. Individuals with the T/T genotype were 5.6 times more likely to be in the SAD group than the control group, and all 7 (5%) of individuals with the T/T genotype at P10L were in the SAD group. Limitations: The study examined only one molecular component of the non-visual light input pathway, and recruitment methods for the comparison groups differed. Conclusion: These findings support the hypothesis that melanopsin variants may predispose some individuals to SAD. Characterizing the genetic basis for deficits in the non-visual light input pathway has the potential to define mechanisms underlying the pathological response to light in SAD, which may improve treatment. © 2008 Elsevier B.V

Calcium dynamics and circadian rhythms in suprachiasmatic nucleus neurons

The hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) has a pivotal role in the mammalian circadian clock. SCN neurons generate circadian rhythms in action potential firing frequencies and neurotransmitter release, and the core oscillation is thought to be driven by "clock gene" transcription-translation feedback loops. Cytosolic Ca2+ mobilization followed by stimulation of various receptors has been shown to reset the gene transcription cycles in SCN neurons, whereas contribution of steady-state cytosolic Ca2+ levels to the rhythm generation is unclear. Recently, circadian rhythms in cytosolic Ca2+ levels have been demonstrated in cultured SCN neurons. The circadian Ca2+ rhythms are driven by the release of Ca2+ from ryanodine-sensitive internal stores and resistant to the blockade of action potentials. These results raise the possibility that gene translation/transcription loops may interact with autonomous Ca2+ oscillations in the production of circadian rhythms in SCN neurons

The effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy for emotional distress in breast cancer

En los últimos años, el cáncer de mama se ha constituido como una enfermedad crónica con alta prevalencia y costes económicos asociados elevados. El presente estudio examina la efectividad de un tratamiento protocolizado cognitivoconductual sobre las principales variables psicosociales (calidad de vida, estrategias afrontamiento, ansiedad, depresión e ira) en el contexto clínico real. Siete mujeres diagnosticadas de cáncer de mama siguieron un tratamiento psicológico completo. Los resultados mostraron incrementos estadísticamente significativos en su calidad de vida, especialmente en las dimensiones de rol y emocional. Por otro lado, se observó una reducción significativa en la estrategia de afrontamiento de refrenar emoción, así como una reducción significativa de sintomatología ansiosa, depresiva, niveles de ira rasgo junto con un aumento significativo de control ira interna. Dichos resultados se acompañaron de tamaños del efecto grandes

Terminología especializada de satélites espaciales : teledetección en el programa Copernicus

En el idioma español, observamos un vacío en la denominación terminológica especializada de la teledetección. Este hecho resulta impactante dados los retos del mundo actual: el constante desarrollo tecnológico, el ímpetu por conocer cada vez más nuestro planeta y la necesidad de buscar formas de hacer la vida humana más sencilla. Con tal de garantizar la disponibilidad de terminología y asegurar un uso adecuado, en este trabajo se expone un primer paso para la creación de un diccionario terminológico de la teledetección, dirigido a profesionales de la materia, traductores, correctores y estudiantes. Para llevarlo a cabo, se ha establecido un corpus con textos especializados del ámbito y, mediante la herramienta de análisis de corpus lingüísticos AntConc, se extraen los términos que siguen las pautas establecidas. Para cada uno de estos se ha rellenado una ficha terminológica que incluye la denominación, categoría gramatical, un contexto de uso real y la referencia de donde se extrae. Un diccionario de esta índole supondría una base importante en el campo de la terminología de la cartografía y la teledetección, que ya existe en otros idiomas como el catalán.En l'idioma espanyol observem un buit en la denominació terminològica especialitzada de la teledetecció. Aquest fet resulta impactant atesos els reptes del món actual: el constant desenvolupament tecnològic, l'ímpetu per conèixer cada cop més el nostre planeta i la necessitat de buscar maneres de fer la vida humana més senzilla. Per tal de garantir la disponibilitat de terminologia i assegurar-ne un ús adequat, en aquest treball s'exposa un primer pas per la creació d'un diccionari terminològic de la teledetecció, adreçat a professionals de la matèria, traductors, correctors i estudiants. Per fer-ho, s'ha establert un corpus amb textos especialitzats de l'àmbit i, mitjançant l'eina d'anàlisi de corpus lingüístics AntConc, s'extreuen els termes seguint les pautes establertes. Per a cadascun s'ha emplenat una fitxa terminològica que inclou la denominació, la categoria gramatical, un context d'ús real i la referència d'on s'extreu. Un diccionari d'aquesta mena suposaria una base important en el camp de la terminologia de la cartografia i la teledetecció, que ja existeix en altres idiomes com el català.In Spanish, we observe a gap in specialized terminological designation in the field of remote sensing. This is a shocking fact given the challenges of the current world: constant technological development, a drive to deeply understand our planet, and the need to find ways to simplify human life. To ensure the availability of terminology and in order to promote its proper usage, this study presents an initial step towards the creation of a terminological dictionary of remote sensing, aimed at professionals in the field, translators, proofreaders, and students. To accomplish this, a corpus of specialized texts in the domain has been established, and the terms that follow the established guidelines have been extracted using the corpus analysis tool AntConc. For each term, a terminological record has been created, including its designation, grammatical category, real usage context, and the source from which it was extracted. A dictionary of this kind would serve as an important foundation in the field of cartography and remote sensing terminology, which already exists in other languages such as Catalan

Mutational status of K- ras and TP53 genes in primary sarcomas of the heart

We investigated three patients with cardiac angiosarcomas and two with cardiac rhabdomyosarcomas, all for mutations at exons 5, 6, 7 and 8 of the p53 gene and at exon 1 of K- ras. No point mutations were observed in the p53 gene in any of the five cases; however, at exon 1 of K- ras, three patients (60%) presented the same mutation at the first base of codon 13 (G to A transition). Interestingly, this mutation was detected in both rhabdomyosarcoma and angiosarcoma histologic sarcoma types. © 2000 Cancer Research Campaig

Melanopsin (Opn4) Requirement for Normal Light-Induced Circadian Phase Shifting

like the latter two groups, mammals lack functional extraocular photoreceptors (28); thus, redundancy in photoreception is confined to the retina. One challenge is to determine the relative contributions of melanopsin, rod/cone opsins, cryptochromes, and other currently uncharacterized photopigments in communicating photic information to the circadian system. Fluorescent lights (Philips F32T8/TL741 Hi-Vision, 4100 K) were used both for light pulses and for overhead lighting in the activity recording room. Light intensity on the cage floor ranged from 20 to 60 W⅐cm Ϫ2 or 70 to 280 lux for light pulses and from 10 to 30 W⅐cm Ϫ2 or 30 to 120 lux for LD and LL conditions, depending on the location of the sensor in the cage. Light was measured in both radiometric (International Light, model IL-1405 Radiometer System) and photometric (Iso-Tech, ILM 350) units of measure to facilitate comparison between traditional photoreception and circadian studies. Mice used for in situ hybridization were sacrificed at the end of the light or dark pulse and their brains were frozen on dry ice. In situ experiments were performed as described in (16). Small sample sizes precluded statistical evaluation of c-fos levels

Low-dislocation-density GaN from a single growth on a textured substrate

The density of threading dislocations (TD) in GaN grown directly on flat sapphire substrates is typically greater than 10{sup 9}/cm{sup 2}. Such high dislocation densities degrade both the electronic and photonic properties of the material. The density of dislocations can be decreased by orders of magnitude using cantilever epitaxy (CE), which employs prepatterned sapphire substrates to provide reduced-dimension mesa regions for nucleation and etched trenches between them for suspended lateral growth of GaN or AlGaN. The substrate is prepatterned with narrow lines and etched to a depth that permits coalescence of laterally growing III-N nucleated on the mesa surfaces before vertical growth fills the etched trench. Low dislocation densities typical of epitaxial lateral overgrowth (ELO) are obtained in the cantilever regions and the TD density is also reduced up to 1 micrometer from the edge of the support regions

Low-Dislocation-Density GaN from a Single Growth on a Textured Substrate

The density of threading dislocations (TD) in GaN grown directly on flat sapphire substrates is typically greater than 10{sup 9}/cm{sup 2}. Such high dislocation densities degrade both the electronic and photonic properties of the material. The density of dislocations can be decreased by orders of magnitude using cantilever epitaxy (CE), which employs prepatterned sapphire substrates to provide reduced-dimension mesa regions for nucleation and etched trenches between them for suspended lateral growth of GaN or AlGaN. The substrate is prepatterned with narrow lines and etched to a depth that permits coalescence of laterally growing III-N nucleated on the mesa surfaces before vertical growth fills the etched trench. Low dislocation densities typical of epitaxial lateral overgrowth (ELO) are obtained in the cantilever regions and the TD density is also reduced up to 1 micrometer from the edge of the support regions