Improved Working Memory but No Effect on Striatal Vesicular Monoamine Transporter Type 2 after Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Supplementation

Studies in rodents indicate that diets deficient in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) lower dopamine neurotransmission as measured by striatal vesicular monoamine transporter type 2 (VMAT2) density and amphetamine-induced dopamine release. This suggests that dietary supplementation with fish oil might increase VMAT2 availability, enhance dopamine storage and release, and improve dopamine-dependent cognitive functions such as working memory. To investigate this mechanism in humans, positron emission tomography (PET) was used to measure VMAT2 availability pre- and post-supplementation of n-3 PUFA in healthy individuals. Healthy young adult subjects were scanned with PET using [11C]-(+)-α-dihydrotetrabenzine (DTBZ) before and after six months of n-3 PUFA supplementation (Lovaza, 2 g/day containing docosahexaenonic acid, DHA 750 mg/d and eicosapentaenoic acid, EPA 930 mg/d). In addition, subjects underwent a working memory task (n-back) and red blood cell membrane (RBC) fatty acid composition analysis pre- and post-supplementation. RBC analysis showed a significant increase in both DHA and EPA post-supplementation. In contrast, no significant change in [11C]DTBZ binding potential (BPND) in striatum and its subdivisions were observed after supplementation with n-3 PUFA. No correlation was evident between n-3 PUFA induced change in RBC DHA or EPA levels and change in [11C]DTBZ BPND in striatal subdivisions. However, pre-supplementation RBC DHA levels was predictive of baseline performance (i.e., adjusted hit rate, AHR on 3-back) on the n-back task (y = 0.19+0.07, r2 = 0.55, p = 0.009). In addition, subjects AHR performance improved on 3-back post-supplementation (pre 0.65±0.27, post 0.80±0.15, p = 0.04). The correlation between n-back performance, and DHA levels are consistent with reports in which higher DHA levels is related to improved cognitive performance. However, the lack of change in [11C]DBTZ BPND indicates that striatal VMAT2 regulation is not the mechanism of action by which n-3 PUFA improves cognitive performance. © 2012 Narendran et al

DEVELOPMENT AND CHARACTERIZATION OF BIOCOMPATIBLE POLYHYDROXY BUTYRATE IMPREGNATED WITH HERBAL PLANTS AGAINST WOUND HEALING ACTIVITY ON IN VIVO ANIMAL MODEL

Objective: The current study is to evaluate the antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and in vitro cytotoxicity activities of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) and to develop the herbal impregnated PHB cast film for wound healing activities using Albino Wistar rat model. Methods: PHB produced by Azotobacter chroococcum A3 strain was synthesized and characterized (previous study). The PHB was subjected to various biocompatibility studies such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory studies. The PHB was also subjected to cytotoxicity study by (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay. PHB films were made using different combinations of plant and algal blends (herbal blends). The herbal blends of PHB films were evaluated for in vivo wound healing activity using Albino Wistar rats. Results: The turmeric impregnated PHB showed the highest result for antimicrobial with 27.25±0.23 mm against skin pathogens and antioxidant activity with the highest percentage of inhibition of 76%. The result predicts that PHB will not let to any toxic substances rather it acts as a chemoprotective agent followed by the inhibitory concentration value was found to be 1.56 μg/ml for 100 μg. The in vivo study showed better wound healing activity for PHB blended with 2% turmeric leaf and rhizome cast film. Whereas the wound healing activity of control and crude PHB was 90.4±0.4 and 91.3±0.56 respectively. Conclusion: The results from the present study showed that PHB can act as a good candidate for drug carrier and it is biocompatible in living cells

CCR2, MCP-1, SDF-1α & DC-SIGN gene polymorphisms in HIV-1 infected patients with & without tuberculosis

Background & Objectives: Variability in the clinical outcome of persons exposed to and infected with HIV-1 and tuberculosis (TB) is determined by multiple factors including host genetic variations. The aim of the present study was to find out whether chemokine, chemokine receptor and DC-SIGN gene polymorphisms were associated with susceptibility or resistance to HIV and HIV-TB in south India. Methods: CCR2 V64I (G/A), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) -2518 A/G, stromal cell derived factor-1α; (SDF-1α) 3'UTR G/A and DC-SIGN gene polymorphisms were studied by polymerase chain reaction based methods in HIV-1 infected patients without TB (n=151), with pulmonary TB (PTB) (n=81) and extrapulmonary TB (n=31), 155 PTB patients without HIV and 206 healthy controls. Results: The genotype frequencies of CCR2 V64I, MCP-1 -2518 and DC-SIGN polymorphisms did not differ significantly between the study groups. A significantly increased frequency of GG genotype of SDF-1alpha polymorphism was observed among HIV+PTB+ patients compared to healthy controls (P=0.009, Pc=0.027). Interpretation & Conclusions: Our data suggest that GG genotype of SDF-1alpha 3'UTR polymorphism may be associated with susceptibility to PTB in HIV-1 infected patients. A better understanding of genetic factors that are associated with TB could help target preventive strategies to those HIV patients likely to develop tuberculosis

Boosting a Hybrid Model Recommendation System for Sparse Data using Collaborative Filtering and Deep Learning

499-502The exponential increase in the volume of online data has generated a confront of overburden of data for online users, which slow down the suitable access to products of pursuit on the Web. This contributed to the need for recommendation systems. Recommender system is a special form of intelligent technique that takes advantage of past user transactions on products to give recommendations of products. Collaborative filtering has turn out to be the commonly adopted method of providing users with customized services, except that it endures the problem of sparsely rated inputs. For collaborative filtering, we introduce a deep learning-based architecture which evaluates a discrete factorisation of vectors from sparse inputs. The characteristics of the products are retrieved using a deep learning model, denoising auto encoders. The traditional collaborative filtering algorithm that predicts and uses the past history of consumer interest and product characteristics are updated with the characteristics obtained by deep learning model for sparse rated inputs. The results of sparse data problem tested on MovieLens data set will greatly enhance the user and product transaction

Effective recommendation model using social network for linking user pursuit to product content

40-45The ongoing advancement of data innovation and the rapid development of the internet has encouraged a blast of data which has highlighted the issue of data overload. In reaction to this issue, recommender programs have evolved and helped users find their fascinating content. With the progressively entangled social setting, how to satisfy customized demands effectively has become another development in customized proposal administration contemplates. To mitigate the sparse issue of recommendation systems, we suggest a new recommendation approach based on fuzzy theory to improve their consistency and flexibility in diverse contexts. The proposed method also employs social network to reflect multifaceted factors of users. In this strategy, we group clients and consider about assortment of complex variables. The results on amazon dataset indicate that the proposed method achieves better efficiency over current methods

Relationship of Dental Caries and Fluorosis to Fluoride Supplement History in a Non-Fluoridated Sample of Schoolchildren

A random sample of 206 Michigan children, aged from 9 to 13, were examined for fluorosis from a larger group of 2038 children participating in a dental project. Clinical examinations included caries data (DMFS) and assessment of fluorosis by use of the Tooth Surface Index of Fluorosis (TSIF). Separate examiners were used for each index. The response rate of a questionnaire mailed to parents to gather information on residence histories, use of fluoride supplements, and antibiotics was 78%. The prevalence of fluorosis was about 20% among the respondents. Of the 4868 tooth surfaces examined, 9.2% were affected by fluorosis. In all cases, dental fluorosis was judged as mild, with most occurrences on the posterior teeth. No instances of moderate or severe fluorosis were found. The caries experience of respondents was 1.69 ± 2.73 DMFS. Caries experience does not appear to be significantly related to income, education, or fluoride supplement use. Approximately 52% of respondents were reported to have taken fluoride supplements with various degrees of consistency. Parents' education was positively related to both prevalence of fluorosis (odds ratio = 2.2) and use of fluoride supplements (odds ratio = 2.7). No significant relation was revealed with evidence of fluorosis and use of supplements. This study shows a relatively mild level of dental fluorosis in a sample of children from a non-fluoridated area. Dental fluorosis in this group does not appear to be related to use of fluoride supplements or differences in caries experience.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/66503/2/10.1177_08959374890030021501.pd

Safety of oral amphetamine administered during positron emission tomography scans in medically screened humans

Changes in endogenous dopamine levels can be detected in humans using positron emission tomography scans by measuring the amount by which a specific D2/3 radioligand is displaced. In some cases, a challenge drug such as amphetamine is introduced to increase the amount of dopamine released into the synaptic cleft. Although intravenous amphetamine is often utilized, oral amphetamine has been shown to be just as effective in increasing endogenous dopamine levels. Based on our own use of oral amphetamine as a challenge drug, we have retroactively reviewed our study charts to determine the cardiovascular safety of 0.5 mg kg-1 oral d-amphetamine. Of 172 amphetamine administrations in 144 individuals, only 2.8% of subjects experienced any transient adverse effects. In addition, we found no clinically relevant differences in increases of vital signs between healthy controls and patients. We therefore reaffirm the safety of 0.5 mg kg-1 oral amphetamine in subjects previously screened for cardiovascular risk factors

Exercise to preserve beta cell function in recent-onset type 1 diabetes mellitus (EXTOD) - a study protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND: Exercise has a beta cell preserving effect in patients with type 2 diabetes. This benefit of exercise has not been examined in type 1 diabetes. Significant beta cell function is present at the time of diagnosis of type 1 diabetes and therefore studies of beta cell preservation are ideally conducted immediately after diagnosis.Many of the variables required to design and power such a study are currently unknown. The aim of EXTOD is to obtain the information required to design a formal study of exercise and beta cell preservation in newly diagnosed patients with type 1 diabetes. METHODS: Barriers to exercise will initially be assessed in a qualitative study of newly diagnosed patients. Then, sixty newly diagnosed adult type 1 diabetes patients will be randomized to either conventional treatment or exercise, stratified on beta cell function and fitness. The exercise group will be encouraged to increase their level of activity to a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity exercise per week, aiming for 240 minutes per week of exercise for 12 months. Beta cell function will be measured by meal-stimulated C peptide. Primary outcomes are recruitment, adherence to exercise, loss to follow-up, and exercise levels in the non-intervention arm (contamination). The secondary outcome of the study is rate of loss of beta cell function. DISCUSSION: The outcomes of the EXTOD study will help define the barriers, uptake and benefits of exercise in adults newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. This information will enable design of a formal study to assess the effect of exercise on beta cell preservation in newly diagnosed patients with type 1 diabetes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Current controlled trials ISRCTN91388505.Funding is provided by the Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) stream of the National Institute for Health Research UK

Sensitivity & specificity of combination testing algorithms for HIV in a tuberculosis clinic

Introduction: Co-management of tuberculosis (TB) and HIV is complicated by pharmacologic drug interactions between rifampicin (RMP) and certain classes of antiretroviral agents. The NNRTIs Nevirapine (NVP) or Efavirenz (EFV), used to HIV infection, are known to induce the CYP 450 enzyme system. Thus when RMP is co-administered along with NVP or EFV, the bioavailability of RMP could be lowered leading to drug resistance and treatment failure. Objectives: To study the steady state pharmacokinetics of RMP in HIV and HIV-TB patients receiving antiretroviral regimens containing NVP or EFV respectively. Methods: The study population comprised of HIV and HIV-TB patients undergoing antiretroviral treatment with NVP and EFV containing regimens respectively. These patients were also receiving concomitant RMP. Rifampicin was estimated by HPLC in blood collected at different time points after drug administration. The pharmacokinetic variables of RMP were calculated using WinNonlin software. Results & Conclusions: Co-administration of NVP or EFV did not alter the pharmacokinetics of RMP in HIV and HIV-TB patients, suggesting that the dose of RMP need not be altered during antiretroviral treatment with NVP or EFV

Optimization of Job Shop Scheduling Problem using Tabu Search Optimization Technique

ABSTRACT-The Job shop scheduling (JSS) problem consists of "n" jobs and "m" operations on each of the jobs and it is hardest combinatorial optimization problems for which it is extremely difficult to find optimal solutions. Past two decades, much attention has been made to general heuristics such as Genetic algorithm, Ant Colony Optimization, Tabu Search and Simulated Annealing to solve this type of combinatorial optimization problems. In this paper we present how the adaptive search algorithms namely Tabu search is applied to solve Job shop scheduling (JSS) problem. The method uses dispatching rules to obtain an initial solution and searches for new solutions in a neighborhood based on the critical paths of the jobs. Several benchmark problems are tested using this algorithm for the best makespan and the obtained results are encouraging when compared with benchmark values