Modular Mass Spectrometric Tool for Analysis of Composition and Phosphorylation of Protein Complexes

The combination of high accuracy, sensitivity and speed of single and multiple-stage mass spectrometric analyses enables the collection of comprehensive sets of data containing detailed information about complex biological samples. To achieve these properties, we combined two high-performance matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass analyzers in one modular mass spectrometric tool, and applied this tool for dissecting the composition and post-translational modifications of protein complexes. As an example of this approach, we here present studies of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae anaphase-promoting complexes (APC) and elucidation of phosphorylation sites on its components. In general, the modular concept we describe could be useful for assembling mass spectrometers operating with both matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) and electrospray ionization (ESI) ion sources into powerful mass spectrometric tools for the comprehensive analysis of complex biological samples

Postpartum psychiatric disorders

Pregnancy is a complex and vulnerable period that presents a number of challenges to women, including the development of postpartum psychiatric disorders (PPDs). These disorders can include postpartum depression and anxiety, which are relatively common, and the rare but more severe postpartum psychosis. In addition, other PPDs can include obsessive–compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and eating disorders. The aetiology of PPDs is a complex interaction of psychological, social and biological factors, in addition to genetic and environmental factors. The goals of treating postpartum mental illness are reducing maternal symptoms and supporting maternal–child and family functioning. Women and their families should receive psychoeducation about the illness, including evidence-based discussions about the risks and benefits of each treatment option. Developing effective strategies in global settings that allow the delivery of targeted therapies to women with different clinical phenotypes and severities of PPDs is essential

Delineating childhood autism spectrum symptoms from a maladaptive trait perspective

Children with autism spectrum disorders comprise a highly heterogeneous group within the DSM-IV (American Psychiatric Association 1994) Pervasive Developmental Disorder section. Inadequate inclusion criteria and indefinite boundaries between different manifestations tend to hamper unambiguous diagnosis within the current DSM-IV taxonomy, resulting in a large group of children diagnosed with pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (Myhr, Canadian Journal of Psychiatry 43:589–595, 1998) or diagnoses that do not comprehensively cover the symptomatology of the individual child. Suggestions for DSM-V include a reconceptualization of the autism spectrum in terms of two distinct symptom dimensions characterized by communication deficits and repetitive behaviours respectively (Swedo 2009) that may provide a more comprehensive description of autism manifestations. The current study corroborates this suggestion and introduces a new perspective on the autism spectrum at a young age, exploring the contribution of specific developmental personality pathology facets in characterizing these underlying dimensions of autism symptoms