Culturable microbiota of ranched southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii Castelnau)

AIMS

The Australian tuna industry is based on the ranching of wild southern bluefin tuna (SBT, Thunnus maccoyii). Within this industry, only opportunistic pathogens have been reported infecting external wounds of fish. This study aimed to identify different culturable bacteria present in three cohorts of SBT and to determine normal bacteria and potential pathogens in isolates from harvest fish and moribund/dead fish. Post-mortem changes in the microbiota were also studied.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Moribund/dead showed a greater proportion of members from the family Vibrionaceae than harvested fish; the latter presented mainly non-Vibrio species. In harvested fish spleens, Vibrio splendidus I complex was the most commonly identified group among Vibrio isolates, while most groups from the family Vibrionaceae were isolated from gills. For moribund/dead, Vibrio chagasii and Photobacterium damselae subsp. damselae were common in gill, spleen and kidney samples. Non-Vibrio isolates from gills were characterized using 16S rRNA sequencing as Flavobacteriaceae and classes Gammaproteobacteria and Alphaproteobacteria, mainly from the genera Winogradskyella and Tenacibaculum. Post-mortem changes showed dynamic shifts in bacterial dominance in gills, with Vibrionaceae and non-Vibrio spp. found in similar proportions initially and types related to Pseudoalteromonas ruthenica prevailing after 27 h. Spleen samples showed little bacterial growth until 5 h post-mortem, while various Vibrio-associated species were isolated 27 h post-mortem.

CONCLUSIONS

Bacterial isolates found include a range of potentially pathogenic bacteria that should be monitored though most of them have yet to be associated with disease in tuna.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

This study forms a foundation for future research into the bacterial population dynamics under different culture conditions of SBT. An understanding of the bacterial compositions in SBT is necessary to evaluate the effects of some bacterial species on their health.

Computational study on the geometry optimization and excited - state properties of riboflavin by ArgusLab 4.0.1

Riboflavin (vitamin B2) belongs to a group of respiratory enzymes that occur widely in animals and plants participating in vital oxidation- reduction processes in the body. A computational study was conducted on riboflavin by ArgusLab 4.0.1 to obtain the most active conformation of riboflavin and to analyze its excited-state properties. The best conformation of riboflavin was found to be -199.2173 kcal/mol which is the minimum potential energy calculated by geometry convergence function by ArgusLab software; performed according to Hartree-Fock calculation method. Electronic transition states (ground and excited), were also calculated and visualized by semi-empirical ZINDO method by ArgusLab from which molecular properties such as energies, wave function and dipole moments were established. All the results obtained from geometry optimization and excited-state properties lead us to delineate the active sites with charged groups of riboflavin to interact with the receptors. Such types of investigations are significant for drug-receptor interactions.

Oral administration of haloperidol at clinically recommended doses elicits smaller parkinsonian effects but more tardive dyskinesia in rats

The present study was designed to monitor extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) elicited by the oral administration of haloperidol at clinically recommended doses and to compare it with EPS produced when the drug is injected intraperitoneally at doses used in animal research. Rats injected with haloperidol at a dose of 1 mg/kg daily for 5 weeks exhibited akinesia in an open field and impaired motor coordination. Effects of the drug on motor coordination but not on open field akinesia were attenuated gradually from 2-5 weeks of treatment. Oral administration of haloperidol in drinking water at clinically recommended dose exhibited decreased exploratory activity without producing akinesia. Motor coordination was impaired maximally after 3 weeks and tolerance was developed in the drug induced motor impairment after 5 weeks of treatment. Intensity of vacuous chewing movements (VCMs) and tardive VCMs was greater by oral administration than intraperitoneal injections of haloperidol. The present results showed that oral administration of haloperidol expected to produce sustained effect may result in tolerance in acute parkinsonian like effects but more intensity of tardive dyskinesia. We suggest that drugs which may helpful in alleviating tardive dyskinesia may be more useful if person is on oral drug therapy.

Construction of an Indonesian herbal constituents database and its use in Random Forest modelling in a search for inhibitors of aldose reductase

Data on phytochemical constituents of plants commonly used in traditional Indonesian medicine have been compiled as a computer database. This database (the Indonesian Herbal constituents database, IHD) currently contains details on ∼1,000 compounds found in 33 different plants. For each entry, the IHD gives details of chemical structure, trivial and systematic name, CAS registry number, pharmacology (where known), toxicology (LD(50)), botanical species, the part(s) of the plant(s) where the compounds are found, typical dosage(s) and reference(s). A second database has been also been compiled for plant-derived compounds with known activity against the enzyme, aldose reductase (AR). This database (the aldose reductase inhibitors database, ARID) contains the same details as the IHD, and currently comprises information on 120 different AR inhibitors. Virtual screening of all compounds in the IHD has been performed using Random Forest (RF) modelling, in a search for novel leads active against AR-to provide for new forms of symptomatic relief in diabetic patients. For the RF modelling, a set of simple 2D chemical descriptors were employed to classify all compounds in the combined ARID and IHD databases as either active or inactive as AR inhibitors. The resulting RF models (which gave misclassification rates of 21%) were used to identify putative new AR inhibitors in the IHD, with such compounds being identified as those giving RF scores >0.5 (in each of the three different RF models developed). In vitro assays were subsequently performed for four of the compounds obtained as hits in this in silico screening, to determine their inhibitory activity against human recombinant AR. The two compounds having the highest RF scores (prunetin and ononin) were shown to have the highest activities experimentally (giving ∼58% and ∼52% inhibition at a concentration of 15μM, respectively), while the compounds with lowest RF scores (vanillic acid and cinnamic acid) showed the lowest activities experimentally (giving ∼29% and ∼44% inhibition at a concentration of 15μM, respectively). These simple virtual screening studies were thus helpful in identifying novel inhibitors of AR, but yielded compounds with only very modest (micromolar) potency.

The phylogenetic component of cooperative breeding in perching birds

The appreciation by earlier workers of the importance of studying avian cooperative breeding (CB) in an explicitly phylogenetic context has waned in most recent studies of the subject. Newer statistical and conceptual methods correct for correlations among species inherent in their phylogenetic relationships and are used to study the evolution and adaptive status of CB in the context of phylogenetic trees. Statistical, simulation, and phylogenetic analyses of the taxonomic distribution of CB among passerine genera confirm the suspicion that CB is nonrandomly distributed among genera and extend the conclusion of E. Russell that CB may be ancient in some lineages, many of which include well-studied species. Phylogenetic reconstruction of ancestral states of ecological factors hypothesized to have promoted CB revealed a variety of temporal relationships between the inferred invasion of selective environments and the origin of CB that were not immediately apparent from nonphylogenetic analyses and that clarified the mechanistic relationship between these events. In some lineages the persistence of CB after substantial change in the selective environments presumed responsible for its origin suggests that "phylogenetic inertia" may partly explain the observed taxonomic distribution of CB. Phylogenetic effects cannot explain the observed plasticity and context-specific variation in many aspects of CB and helping; the joint effects of phylogeny and ecology for explaining such variation are illustrated. The data suggest that many lineages experience evolutionary forces promoting long-term stasis in life histories conducive to CB in addition to the better-characterized environmental responses modifying its short-term expression.

Detection of DNA by scraping the formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue

BACKGROUND

Pakistan is a developing country and most of the research laboratories have limited required infrastructures for the diagnosis of cancer at molecular level. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues is becoming a popular procedure in the research centres. The study was conducted to introduce two new methods of DNA extraction for the PCR from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded sections of surgical pathology specimens.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Two methods of DNA detection were used. In method A the formalin-fixed tissues were grossed, proper sections were taken, processed in an automatic tissue processor, embedded in paraffin blocks, and microtomic sections were made. In method B, the procedure was the same until embedding in the paraffin blocks, after which the selected paraffin blocks were set on a black card paper (4 cm x 4 cm) and 1 mg of pure scraped tissue was obtained using a scalpel, manually without using microtone.

RESULTS

DNA was successfully extracted but point mutation of p53 gene was not seen in SCP while it was determined in 96 and 93.75 per cent cases of SCC by method A and method B respectively. There was no statistical difference in the results by both methods (P = 0.359).

CONCLUSION

Scraping of the tissue for DNA detection was a simple method and may be performed in any laboratory. The reliability, reproducibility, and quality assurance of the present results are consistent with the already established techniques of DNA extraction for PCR.

THE INVASION PARADOX: RECONCILING PATTERN AND PROCESS IN SPECIES INVASIONS

The invasion paradox describes the co-occurrence of independent lines of support for both a negative and a positive relationship between native biodiversity and the invasions of exotic species. The paradox leaves the implications of native-exotic species richness relationships open to debate: Are rich native communities more or less susceptible to invasion by exotic species? We reviewed the considerable observational, experimental, and theoretical evidence describing the paradox and sought generalizations concerning where and why the paradox occurs, its implications for community ecology and assembly processes, and its relevance for restoration, management, and policy associated with species invasions. The crux of the paradox concerns positive associations between native and exotic species richness at broad spatial scales, and negative associations at fine scales, especially in experiments in which diversity was directly manipulated. We identified eight processes that can generate either negative or positive native-exotic richness relationships, but none can generate both. As all eight processes have been shown to be important in some systems, a simple general theory of the paradox, and thus of the relationship between diversity and invasibility, is probably unrealistic. Nonetheless, we outline several key issues that help resolve the paradox, discuss the difficult juxtaposition of experimental and observational data (which often ask subtly different questions), and identify important themes for additional study. We conclude that natively rich ecosystems are likely to be hotspots for exotic species, but that reduction of local species richness can further accelerate the invasion of these and other vulnerable habitats.

Computer aided conformational analysis of sulfonated azo dyes diammonium orange G (C16H10N2O7S2 (NH4) x 4H2O

The present work describes the conformational analysis of diammonium orange G (C16H10N2O7S2 (NH4) x 4H2O) by using Kitaigorodsky function. The minimum potential energy was found to be -0.0099839 at omega1 = 16 degrees and omega2 = 360 degrees.

Spontaneous recovery from depression in women: a qualitative study of vulnerabilities, strengths and resources

OBJECTIVE

To gain insight into the perceived vulnerability and restitution factors for anxiety/or depression.

METHODS

Focus group discussion of seven married women recovered spontaneously from anxiety and/or depression, belonging to a lower middle class semi-urban community of Karachi.

RESULTS

Poverty, unemployment, abuse and on going difficulties were perceived as risk factors for depression. A reliable social support system, positive thinking approach, faith, prayers, and experiencing a "turning point" event were reported as factors that promoted recovery from anxiety and/or depression.

CONCLUSION

Individual vulnerabilities, strengths and resources can have an important role in recovery from anxiety and/or depression in women.

The transformative effect of training in counselling and its application, on the community counsellors themselves

OBJECTIVE

To identify the changes in community counsellors' own level of anxiety and depression as a result of learning counselling skills and to explore their subjective experiences after learning and providing counselling.

DESIGN

Quantitative: Repeated Measures. / Qualitative: Focus Group Discussions.

SETTING

A lower middle class semi urban community of Karachi, Pakistan.

PARTICIPANTS

Twenty-one self selected women from the community.

RESULTS

Reduction was seen in the post training scores of anxiety and/or depression in the trainees. As a result of learning and then providing counselling the community counsellors' self esteem, self confidence and sense of competence were enhanced and they developed a more positive attitude towards life.

CONCLUSION

A minimal level of training in counselling skills and their application led to significant positive changes in the community counsellors themselves, though self-selection and information bias cannot be ruled out.

Prevalence of and factors associated with anxiety and depression among women in a lower middle class semi-urban community of Karachi, Pakistan

OBJECTIVE

To study the prevalence of, and factors associated with anxiety and depression among women.

DESIGN

A cross sectional survey.

SETTING

A lower middle class semi-urban community of Karachi, Pakistan.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 1218 women between the ages of 18-50 years.

METHODOLOGY

Systematically every third household was identified from which a woman was randomly selected. The Aga Khan University Anxiety and Depression Scale and a socio-demographic questionnaire were administered verbally by trained interviewers for assessing the prevalence of, and associated factors for anxiety and depression.

RESULTS

A prevalence of 30% was found. Increasing age, lack of education and verbal abuse were the associated factors found to have an independent relationship.

CONCLUSION

Providing education and reducing domestic abuse could lead to decrease in the prevalence of anxiety and depression in women.

Interaction of group I mGlu and NMDA receptor agonists within the dorsal horn of the spinal cord of the juvenile rat

1. The modulatory effects of mGlu receptors on NMDA-induced potential changes in spinal motoneurones were studied in vitro. 2. Selective activation of mGlu5 receptors by 10 microM (RS)-2-Chloro-5-hydroxyphenylglycine (CHPG; EC(50)=280 +/- 24 microM) did not produce any change in the ventral root potential. However, the same concentration of CHPG (10 min perfusion) significantly attenuated the NMDA-induced ventral root depolarization (VRD). The effect persisted for 10 min after washout. NMDA-induced responses returned to control in 30 min. Brief co-application of CHPG and NMDA did not alter the NMDA-induced response indicating lack of direct receptor interaction. 3. The attenuating effect of CHPG on the NMDA-induced VRD was inhibited by the mGluR5 receptor antagonist, 2-methyl-6-phenyl-ethynylpyridine (MPEP). 4. In the presence of CGP56433A, a GABA(B) receptor antagonist, the NMDA-induced VRD was unchanged. However, NMDA-induced responses were potentiated after 10 min co-application of CHPG and CGP56433A. 5. (2R,4R)-4-aminopyrrolidine-2,4-dicarboxylate ((2R,4R)-APDC), a group II mGlu receptor agonist did not attenuate the NMDA-induced response. 6. Under normal physiological conditions group I mGlu receptor agonists activate at least two populations of neurones: (1) GABA-ergic cells, which could release GABA and inhibit dorsal horn neurones, and (2) deep dorsal horn neurones/motoneurones which express NMDA receptors. Therefore, activation of mGlu5 receptors located on GABA-ergic interneurones could influence any direct potentiating interaction between mGlu5 and NMDA receptors in spinal cord and result in depression of the VRD. In the presence of a GABA(B) receptor antagonist, the direct synergistic interaction is unmasked. These data suggest that group I mGlu receptors provide a complex modulation of spinal synaptic processes.

Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning: current knowledge and future challenges

The ecological consequences of biodiversity loss have aroused considerable interest and controversy during the past decade. Major advances have been made in describing the relationship between species diversity and ecosystem processes, in identifying functionally important species, and in revealing underlying mechanisms. There is, however, uncertainty as to how results obtained in recent experiments scale up to landscape and regional levels and generalize across ecosystem types and processes. Larger numbers of species are probably needed to reduce temporal variability in ecosystem processes in changing environments. A major future challenge is to determine how biodiversity dynamics, ecosystem processes, and abiotic factors interact.

A case notes analysis of hysterectomy performed for non-neoplastic indications at Liaquat National Hospital, Karachi

OBJECTIVE

To determine the indications, associated morbidity, mortality and histopathological findings in women who underwent hysterectomy for non-neoplastic indications at Liaquat National Hospital Karachi.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This is a five year retrospective case note study of 143 women who underwent hysterectomy, excluding all those performed for benign or malignant pelvic neoplasms (excluding fibroids) and hysterectomy following childbirth for postpartum haemorrhage.

RESULTS

Menorrhagia was the commonest indication for performing hysterectomy. The majority of the patients were in their forties; the commonest post operative complications were pyrexia, urinary tract and wound infections in 16% of the patients. There was no mortality associated with the procedure. The histopathology of the specimens revealed adenomyosis followed by leiomyoma to be the commonest pathology.

CONCLUSION

It appears that adenomyosis is a common pathology in women from various ethnic and social backgrounds in Karachi, who are suffering from menorrhagia. Early diagnosis with high-resolution ultrasound is possible and hysterectomy may be offered earlier to these women, as they do not usually respond to medical treatment.

Plant diversity enhances ecosystem responses to elevated CO2 and nitrogen deposition

Human actions are causing declines in plant biodiversity, increases in atmospheric CO2 concentrations and increases in nitrogen deposition; however, the interactive effects of these factors on ecosystem processes are unknown. Reduced biodiversity has raised numerous concerns, including the possibility that ecosystem functioning may be affected negatively, which might be particularly important in the face of other global changes. Here we present results of a grassland field experiment in Minnesota, USA, that tests the hypothesis that plant diversity and composition influence the enhancement of biomass and carbon acquisition in ecosystems subjected to elevated atmospheric CO2 concentrations and nitrogen deposition. The study experimentally controlled plant diversity (1, 4, 9 or 16 species), soil nitrogen (unamended versus deposition of 4 g of nitrogen per m2 per yr) and atmospheric CO2 concentrations using free-air CO2 enrichment (ambient, 368 micromol mol-1, versus elevated, 560 micromol mol-1). We found that the enhanced biomass accumulation in response to elevated levels of CO2 or nitrogen, or their combination, is less in species-poor than in species-rich assemblages.

Producer-decomposer co-dependency influences biodiversity effects

Producers, such as plants and algae, acquire nutrients from inorganic sources that are supplied primarily by decomposers whereas decomposers, mostly fungi and bacteria, acquire carbon from organic sources that are supplied primarily by producers. This producer-decomposer co-dependency is important in governing ecosystem processes, which implies that the impacts of declining biodiversity on ecosystem functioning should be strongly influenced by this process. Here we show, by simultaneously manipulating producer (green algal) and decomposer (heterotrophic bacterial) diversity in freshwater microcosms, that algal biomass production varies considerably among microcosms (0.0-0.67 mg ml(-1)), but that neither algal nor bacterial diversity by itself can explain this variation. Instead, production is a joint function of both algal and bacterial diversity. Furthermore, the range in algal production in microscosms in which bacterial diversity was manipulated was nearly double (1.82 times) that of microcosms in which bacterial diversity was not manipulated. Measures of organic carbon use by bacteria in these microcosms indicate that carbon usage is the mechanism responsible for these results. Because both producer and microbial diversity respond to disturbance and habitat modification, the main causes of biodiversity loss, these results suggest that ecosystem response to changing biodiversity is likely to be more complex than other studies have shown.

B1 bradykinin receptors and sensory neurones

1. The location of the B1 bradykinin receptors involved in inflammatory hyperalgesia was investigated. 2. No specific binding of the B1 bradykinin receptor ligand [3H]-des-Arg10-kallidin was detected in primary cultures of rat dorsal root ganglion neurones, even after treatment with interleukin-1 beta (100 iu ml-1). 3. In dorsal root ganglion neurones, activation of B2 bradykinin receptors stimulated polyphosphoinositidase C. In contrast, B1 bradykinin receptor agonists (des-Arg9-bradykinin up to 10 microM and des-Arg10-kallidin up to 1 microM) failed to activate polyphosphoinositidase C, even in neurones that had been treated with interleukin-1 beta (100 iu ml-1), prostaglandin E2 (1 microM) or prostaglandin I2 (1 microM). 4. Dorsal root ganglion neurones removed from rats (both neonatal and 14 days old) that had been pretreated with inflammatory mediators (Freund's complete adjuvant, or carrageenan) failed to respond to B1 bradykinin receptor selective agonists (des-Arg9-bradykinin up to 10 microM and des-Arg10-kallidin up to 1 microM). 5. Bradykinin (25 nM to 300 nM) evoked ventral root responses when applied to peripheral receptive fields or central terminals of primary afferents in the neonatal rat spinal cord and tail preparation. In contrast, des-Arg9-bradykinin (50 nM to 500 nM) failed to evoke ventral root depolarizations in either control rats or in animals that developed inflammation following ultraviolet irradiation of the tail skin. 6. The results of the present study imply that the B1 bradykinin receptors that contribute to hypersensitivity in models of persistent inflammatory hyperalgesia are located on cells other than sensory neurones where they may be responsible for releasing mediators that sensitize or activate the nociceptors.

Receptors mediating tachykinin-evoked depolarisations of neurons in the neonatal rat spinal cord

We have examined the contribution of NK1, NK2 and NK3 receptors to the depolarisation of the neonatal rat spinal cord in vitro evoked by exogenously applied tachykinine. Potential changes were recorded extracellularly from a lumbar ventral root. The NK1 receptor selective agonists substance P methly ester (SPOMs), septide and/Sar9/-substance P-sulphone (/Sar9/-P-sulphone), perfused onto the cord for 20 s, evoked ventral root potentials (VRPs) with similar EC50 values of 7.2 nM (95% confidence limits, 4.4-10.9 nM), 4.6 nM (1.8-9.3 nM) and 3.1 nM (1.6-5.1 nM), respectively. The NK3 receptor selective agonist senktide also evoked VRPs with an EC50 of 12.0 nM (5.1-23.4 nM), whilst the NK2 receptor selective agonist/beta-AlaB/-neurokinin A(4-10) (/beta-AlaB/-NKA(4-10)) was much less potent (EC50 = 228.3 nM, 95% confidence limits 138.0-350.0 nM). The non-peptide NK1 receptor selective antagonist RP67580 inhibited responses to SPOMe, septide and/Sar9/-SP-sulphone to varying degrees with IC50 values against each of 16.0 nM (10.7-23.4 nM), 19.8 nM (8.9-37 nM) and 58.0 nM (41-89 nM), respectively. The NK1 receptor antagonist CP-96,345 similarly inhibited responses to these agonists, although with higher IC50 estimates of 0.84 microM (0.51-1.40 microM) against SPOMe, 0.79 microM (0.50-1.17 microM) against/Sar9/-SP-sulphone and 0.37 microM (0.27-0.51 microM) against septide. Further analysis of the activity of RP67580 yielded a significantly higher pKB estimate for antagonism of responses to septide (7.67 +/- 0.04) than of responses to/Sar9/-SP-sulphone (7.18 +/- 0.05). In both cases Schild analysis indicated competitive antagonism. RP67580 also reversibly inhibited responses to /beta-AlaB/-NKA(4-10). However, in this case the Schild alope was significantly different from unity (0.44 +/- 0.55; P < 0.001), although the potency of the antagonist appeared similar to that seen with the NK1 receptor agonists (pA2 = 7.52). There was no effect of RP67580 against responses to senktide or of the inactive isomer RP67581 against septide-evoked VRPs. The NK2 receptor antagonist MEN 10,376 at concentrations up to 1 microM produced a partial but reversible inhibition of responses to a submaximal concentration of /beta-AlaB/-NKA(4-10) (0.3 microM) with a maximum reduction in VRP amplitude of 25.6 +/- 7.3%. A similar inhibitory effect was seen against septide-evoked VRPs (30.2 +/- 5.6% inhibition), although there was no effect against responses to submaximal concentrations of /Sar9/-SP-sulphone or senktide. In contrast, the non-peptide NK2 receptor antagonist SR 48,968 (1 microM) produced a maximal 48.0 +/- 7.7% inhibition of/beta-AlaB/-NKA(4-10)-evoked VRP's with no effect against responses to a submaximal concentration of septide. These data show that NK1 and NK3 receptor activation mediates depolarisation of the neonatal rat spinal cord, and suggest the presence of two NK1 receptor populations showing preference for septide and/Sar9/-SP-sulphone. Depolarisations mediated by /beta-AlaB/-NKA(4-10), previously described as a selective NK2 receptor ligand, are mediated predominantly via an action at NK1 receptors with a lesser involvement of NK2 receptors.

Tachykinin induced regulation of excitatory amino acid responses in the rat spinal cord in vitro

The interaction between neurokinin and excitatory amino acid receptors in the spinal cord have been characterised using the neonatal rat spinal cord in vitro preparation. Ventral root (VR) depolarization evoked by N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and quisqualate was reversibly enhanced in the presence of subthreshold concentrations of neurokinin A (NKA; 1.0-10 nM), but not by substance P (1.0-5.0 nM). When substance P (SP) was replaced by the metabolically stable substance P methyl ester (SPOMe), both NMDA and quisqualate responses were significantly enhanced. VR depolarization evoked by kainate was not altered by any of the neurokinin (NK) receptor agonists. In the presence of the endopeptidase inhibitors, bestatin, captopril and thiorphan (each 1.0 microM), SP significantly enhanced NMDA-evoked responses. The selective NK1 receptor antagonist (+/-) CP96 345 (100 nM) reversibly blocked the enhancement of NMDA-evoked depolarization by SPOMe. Furthermore, MEN10 376 (50 nM), a selective NK2 receptor antagonist blocked the enhancement of NMDA- and quisqualate-evoked depolarization by NKA. The protein kinase C and protein kinase A inhibitor staurosporine (1.0 microM) blocked the enhancement of excitatory amino acid-induced responses by NK-receptor activation. However, whilst NKA-evoked ventral root depolarization was completely abolished in the presence of staurosporine, SPOMe- and SP-induced depolarizations were unaffected. These data show that activation of NK1 or NK2 receptors enhances NMDA- and quisqualate-evoked ventral root depolarization in the neonatal rat spinal cord. The interaction between neurokinin and excitatory amino acid receptors involves protein kinase C activation.

BseRI a novel restriction endonuclease from a Bacillus species which recognizes the sequence 5'...GAGGAG...3'

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Vulnerability factors for depression in Pakistani women

The vulnerability factors were tested in a retrospective study on 50 cases and 50 controls. Only one of the four factors, i.e., lack of an intimate, confiding relationship, was found to be statistically significant, thus highlighting the need for indigenous research particularly in areas where the variables are socio-culturally determined.

Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia--a study of immunophenotypes

Immunological characteristics of leukaemic blast cells from 55 patients of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia were analysed using a panel of monoclonal antibodies and immunoperoxidase technique. Among 36 children the percentage of Common-ALL was found to be low (39%) as compared to western reports, whereas that of T-ALL was high (36%). Out of 19 adults, 52.6% were Common-ALL, 21.1% Early-B-ALL and 16% T-ALL; the findings being consistent with western studies. The T-ALL cases (13) were subclassified according to the stage of thymic maturation depending upon the expression of CD8 and CD4 antigens. Six were identified as early, 3 as common and 4 as late thymocyte stage.

Alexithymia in Karachi

Alexithymia is a new term which usually means "no words for mood" and used to describe a disorder where patients have difficulty in expressing feelings in words. Such patients therefore express emotions in somatic terms. We have selected headache as a symptom to test the term Alexithymia. A group of thirty patients with the complaint of persistent headache of more than 6 months duration, without any organic pathology or neurological disease entity was taken. This study concludes that Alexithymic traits are not necessarily more prominent in those having psychophysiological symptoms specially tension headache. It also shows that we should not accept any new concept evolved in West without testing it in our own conditions.

First rank symptoms and diagnosis of schizophrenia in developing countries

Schneider's first rank symptoms (FRS) among schizophrenics in Karachi are compared with samples from Saudi Arabia and the UK. Although the incidence of one or more FRS were very close to Saudi Arabia, the individual FRS were different, and somatic passivity was similar to the UK. It is concluded that cultural factors are more important than religious affinity in determining symptomatology. The results could be due to selection of schizophrenic patients on Western parameters. The place of FRS in developing countries and the changing concept of schizophrenia is discussed.