Sustainable Enhanced Sodium-Ion Storage at Subzero Temperature with LiF Integration

Though layered sodium oxide materials are identified as promising cathodes in sodium-ion batteries, biphasic P3/O3 depicts improved electrochemical performance and structural stability. Herein, a coexistent P3/O3 biphasic cathode material was synthesized with "LiF" integration, verified with X-ray diffraction and Rietveld refinement analysis. Furthermore, the presence of Li and F was deduced by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The biphasic P3/O3 cathode displayed an excellent capacity retention of 85% after 100 cycles (0.2C/30 mA g^-1) at room temperature and 94% at -20 °C after 100 cycles (0.1C/15 mA g^-1) with superior rate capability as compared to the pristine cathode. Furthermore, a full cell comprising a hard carbon anode and a biphasic cathode with 1 M NaPF₆ electrolyte displayed excellent cyclic stabilities at a wider temperature range of -20 to 50 °C (with the energy density of 151.48 Wh kg^-1) due to the enhanced structural stability, alleviated Jahn-Teller distortions, and rapid Na⁺ kinetics facilitating Na⁺ motion at various temperatures in sodium-ion batteries. The detailed post-characterization studies revealed that the incorporation of LiF accounts for facile Na⁺ kinetics, boosting the overall Na storage.

A3 adenosine receptor agonists containing dopamine moieties for enhanced interspecies affinity

Following our study of 4'-truncated (N)-methanocarba-adenosine derivatives that displayed unusually high mouse (m) A₃AR affinity, we incorporated dopamine-related N⁶ substituents in the full agonist 5'-methylamide series. N⁶-(2-(4-Hydroxy-3-methoxy-phenyl)ethyl) derivative MRS7618 11 displayed K_i (nM) 0.563 at hA₃AR (∼20,000-fold selective) and 1.54 at mA₃AR. 2-Alkyl ethers maintained A₃ affinity, but with less selectivity than 2-alkynes. Parallel functional assays of G protein-dependent and β-arrestin 2 (βarr2)-dependent pathways indicate these are full agonists but not biased. Through use of computational modeling, we hypothesized that phenyl OH/OMe groups interact with polar residues, particularly Gln261, on the mA₃AR extracellular loops as the basis for the affinity enhancement. Although the pharmacokinetics indicated facile clearance of parent O-methyl catechol nucleosides 21 and 31, prolonged mA₃AR activation in vivo was observed in a hypothermia model, suggested potential formation of active metabolites through demethylation. Selected analogues induced mouse hypothermia following i.p. injection, indicative of peripheral A₃AR agonism in vivo.

Novel Cyclopentyl Methyl Ether Electrolyte Solvent with Unique Solvation Structure for Subzero (-40℃) Lithium-ion Battery

1M LiFSI in Cyclopentyl methyl ether is shown as novel electrolyte with unique solvation structure to form a thin robust multilayer solid electrolyte interface with inorganic LiF rich inner layer....

Novel alendronate-CGS21680 conjugate reduces bone resorption and induces new bone formation in post-menopausal osteoporosis and inflammatory osteolysis mouse models

Loss of bone is a common medical problem and, while it can be treated with available therapies, some of these therapies have critical side effects. We have previously demonstrated that CGS21680, a selective A_2A adenosine receptor agonist, prevents bone loss, but its on-target toxicities (hypotension, tachycardia) and frequent dosing requirements make it unusable in the clinic. We therefore generated a novel alendronate-CGS21680 conjugate (MRS7216), to target the agonist to bone where it remains for long periods thereby diminishing the frequency of administration and curtailing side effects. MRS7216 was synthesized from CGS21680 by sequential activation of the carboxylic acid moiety and reacting with an appropriate amino acid (PEG, alendronic acid) under basic conditions. MRS7216 was tested on C57BL/6J (WT) mice with established osteoporosis (OP) and WT or A2A KO mice with wear particle-induced inflammatory osteolysis (OL). Mice were treated weekly with MRS7216 (10mg/kg). Bone formation was studied after in vivo labeling with calcein/Alizarin Red, and μCT and histology analyses were performed. In addition, human primary osteoblasts and osteoclasts were cultured using bone marrow discarded after hip replacement. Receptor binding studies demonstrate that MRS7216 efficiently binds the A2A adenosine receptor. MRS7216-treated OP and OL mice had significant new bone formation and reduced bone loss compared to vehicle or alendronate-treated mice. Histological analysis showed that MRS7216 treatment significantly reduced osteoclast number and increased osteoblast number in murine models. Interestingly, cultured human osteoclast differentiation was inhibited, and osteoblast differentiation was stimulated by the compound indicating that MRS7216 conjugates represent a novel therapeutic approach to treat osteoporosis and osteolysis.

Neovascular glaucoma - A review

Neovascular glaucoma (NVG) is a sight-threatening secondary glaucoma characterized by appearance of new vessels over the iris and proliferation of fibrovascular tissue in the anterior chamber angle. Retinal ischemia is the common driving factor and common causes are central retinal vein occlusion, proliferative diabetic retinopathy, and ocular ischemic syndrome. The current rise in the prevalence of NVG is partly related to increase in people with diabetes. A high index of suspicion and a thorough anterior segment evaluation to identify the early new vessels on the iris surface or angle are essential for early diagnosis of NVG. With newer imaging modalities such as the optical coherence tomography angiography and newer treatment options such as the anti-vascular endothelial growth factor, it is possible to detect retinal ischemia early, tailor appropriate treatment, monitor disease progression, and treatment response. The management strategies are aimed at reducing the posterior segment ischemia, reduce the neovascular drive, and control the elevated intraocular pressure. This review summarizes the causes, pathogenesis, and differential diagnoses of NVG, and the management guidelines. We also propose a treatment algorithm of neovascular glaucoma.

Direct Comparison of (N)-Methanocarba and Ribose-Containing 2-Arylalkynyladenosine Derivatives as A3 Receptor Agonists

A side-by-side pharmacological comparison of ribose and (N)-methanocarba (bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane) nucleosides as A₃AR agonists indicated that the bicyclic pseudoribose ring constraint provided higher affinity/selectivity at human and mouse A₃AR. The mean affinity enhancement for 5 pairs of 5'-methylamides was 11-fold at hA₃AR and 42-fold at mA₃AR. Novel C2-(5-fluorothien-2-ylethynyl) substitution enhanced affinity in the methanocarba but not ribose series, with highly hA₃AR-selective 16 (MRS7334) displaying K_i 280 pM and favorable pharmacokinetics and off-target activity profile. Molecular dynamics comparison of 16 and its corresponding riboside 8 suggested a qualitative entropic advantage of 16 in hA₃AR binding. The 5-F substitution tended to increase hA₃AR affinity (cf. 5-Cl) for methanocarba but not ribose derivatives. A representative methanocarba agonist 4 was shown to interact potently exclusively with A₃AR, among 240 GPCRs and 466 kinases. Thus, despite added synthetic difficulty, the (N)-methanocarba modification has distinct advantages for A₃AR agonists, which have translational potential for chronic disease treatment.

The investigation of hepatitis A virus and hepatitis E virus co-infection in humans and animals in China

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of co-infection of hepatitis A and hepatitis E virus (HAV/HEV) in patients with acute hepatitis as well as in different animal species. A total of 46 serum samples from patients diagnosed as hepatitis A or hepatitis E and 675 fecal samples of 11 animal species were collected. The IgM class antibodies to HEV and HAV, respectively, were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. HEV and HAV RNAs were extracted from serum and fecal samples for the nested reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. At least 10.9% (5/46) of the patients were co-infected with both HAV and HEV. Fifteen percent (18/120) of rabbit fecal samples and 17.5% (7/40) of swine fecal samples were positive for HEV RNA, but only 1% (2/200) of ferret fecal samples were positive for HAV RNA. Our study showed that co-infection with both HAV and HEV in patients and animals is infrequent. At least in our study, we showed that ferrets may represent the potential HAV hosts. Keywords: hepatitis A virus; hepatitis E virus; co-infection; zoonosis; prevalence.

0075 Neural Correlates of Cognitive Fatigue in Parkinson Disease

Introduction

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disease affecting millions of people world-wide. Fatigue is a prevalent and debilitating non-motor symptom in PD. However, the neural correlates underlying cognitive fatigue are poorly understood. Our previous studies suggested that continuous performance of a simple but mentally demanding psychomotor vigilance task (PVT) induced cognitive fatigue, operationalized as subjective exhaustion and time-on-task performance decline. Here we used arterial spin labeling (ASL) perfusion fMRI to investigate regional cerebral blood flow (CBF) changes in PD patients during cognitive fatigue induced by continuous performance of 20-min PVT.

Methods

Twenty-one PD patients completed a 20-min PVT during the ASL scan and two additional 4-min resting-state ASL scans before and after PVT. Reaction times (RTs) and regional CBF changes throughout the PVT as well as during pre- and post-task resting baselines were measured. Cognitive fatigue was analyzed by dividing the entire PVT performance into five quintiles in addition to the immediate measurement of self-rated fatigue before and after PVT.

Results

PD patients demonstrated significantly increased self-reported fatigue ratings after the task (p < 0.05) and progressively slower RTs across quintiles (p < 0.05). Perfusion data showed that the PVT activates the right middle frontal cortex, right inferior parietal lobe, right insula, bilateral occipital cortex, and right cerebellum (FDR corrected). Moreover, the bilateral middle frontal gyri were less active during the post-task rest compared to the pre-task rest.

Conclusion

These results demonstrated that cognitive fatigue has an ongoing effect on brain activity after a period of continuous mental effort and supported the critical role of prefrontal cortex in mediating cognitive fatigue in PD. The findings also suggest the utility of continuous PVT as an appropriate paradigm to induce and examine cognitive fatigue in PD.

Support

Supported in part by Parkinson’s Foundation Translational Research Grant and NIH grants R01-MH107571, R21-AG051981, and P30-NS045839.

1100 Self-Monitoring Of PVT Performance In Healthy Adults And Individuals With MDD

Introduction

Negativity bias in depression has been repeatedly demonstrated in the judgment and decision-making literature. Research investigating the impact of sleep deprivation on self-evaluation of performance in healthy or depressed populations is limited. We examined 1) whether individuals with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) exhibit a negativity bias in subjective ratings of performance on the Psychomotor Vigilance Task (PVT) as compared with healthy adults, and 2) the impact of total sleep deprivation (TSD) on these ratings.

Methods

N=33 individuals with MDD and n=9 healthy adults completed a 5-day study protocol including two baseline nights (B1-B2, 9h TIB), 36 hours of TSD, and one night of recovery sleep opportunity (Rec). The PVT was administered every 2-4 hours. A brief questionnaire was administered immediately prior to (PRE) and following (POST) the PVT, asking participants to estimate their average reaction time (RT) using a 9-point Likert-type scale. Mixed-effects models examined the impact of group (MDD, Control), protocol day (B1, B2, SD, Rec), and their interaction on objective PVT performance (mean RT) and subjective performance estimates (PRE and POST ratings).

Results

Mean RT was significantly slower during TSD (p<0.001) for all participants. Individuals with MDD and healthy adults did not differ in objective PVT performance (p=0.25) across days. There was no significant interaction between group and protocol day (p=0.96). Both groups predicted slower RTs during TSD as compared with baseline or recovery days (PRE-PVT, p=0.006). Individuals with MDD anticipated slower RTs as compared with healthy adults (p=0.001). On POST-PVT estimates, all participants reported subjective poorer performance during TSD (p<0.008). Individuals with MDD reported slower RTs as compared with healthy adults (p=0.002). Interaction effects between group and protocol day on PRE- and POST- performance ratings were not significant.

Conclusion

This project is the first to investigate subjective estimates of PVT performance in healthy and depressed individuals. Individuals with MDD subjectively reported slower response times as compared with control participants, despite similar objective performance. Depressive symptoms may be a potential confounder of subjective, but not objective, PVT performance.

Support

5R01MH107571

0294 Baseline Response Speed Predicts Locus Coeruleus Integrity Change After Sleep Deprivation

Introduction

Locus coeruleus (LC) is the major source of norepinephrine (NE) in the brain, which plays a key role in maintaining arousal and alertness. Sleep loss significantly impairs arousal and alertness. However, it is unknown whether sleep loss disrupts LC integrity, which can be measured non-invasively by diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). In the current study, we used DTI to examine the effects of one night of acute total sleep deprivation (TSD) on fractional anisotropy (FA), an index reflecting fiber density, axonal diameter and myelination.

Methods

We analyzed DTI and psychomotor vigilance test (PVT) data from N=54 health adults (23 females, age range 21–50 years) from a well controlled in-laboratory sleep deprivation study. Participants were randomized to either a TSD condition (n=40) without sleep on night 2, or a control condition (n=14) with no sleep loss. Standard DTI scans were conducted on the morning of day 2 and day 3 between 0700h-1000h. The PVT reciprocal response time (RRT) was used to measure individual’s response speed at baseline without sleep loss. LC regions-of-interest (ROI) were defined by standard templates from Keren et al. (2009). Imaging data were analyzed using FSL toolbox.

Results

For the whole TSD group, no differences were found in the LC FA values before and after sleep deprivation (p > .2). However, when dividing the TSD group to a slow group and a fast group based on their baseline PVT response speed, significantly increased LC FA were found in the slow group (p = .007) but not in the fast group (p > .4). The PVT RRT negatively correlated with LC FA value changes after TSD (r = -.44, p = .004). No correlations were found between the PVT RRT and LC FA changes in the control group.

Conclusion

Our results showed that baseline vigilance response speed correlated with LC integrity change after sleep deprivation, with slower response exhibiting greater changes in LC integrity. These findings support the key role of LC-NE system in the regulation of alertness and arousal.

Support

Supported in part by NIH grants R01-HL102119, R01-MH107571, R21-AG051981. CTRC UL1RR024134, and P30-NS045839.

0060 Morning Locus Coeruleus Activation During the PVT Predicts Later-Day Sleepiness

Introduction

The locus coeruleus (LC) plays a key role in the regulation of arousal and autonomic function. Homeostatic sleep pressure refers to the drive for sleep that increases as a saturating exponential when we stay awake and decreases exponentially when we sleep. The current study used arterial spin labeling (ASL) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate the relationship between homeostatic sleep pressure (sleepiness) and LC activity during the psychomotor vigilance test (PVT).

Methods

We analyzed sleepiness and ASL imaging data from N=70 health adults (40 males, age range 21–50 years) who participated in a controlled in-laboratory sleep study. All participants were scanned at rest and during the PVT on the morning between 0700h-1000h after 9 hour time-in-bed (TIB) baseline sleep. LC regions-of-interest (ROI) were defined by standard templates from Keren et al. (2009). Sleepiness was assessed by the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS) every two hours from 10:30 am to 10:30 pm.

Results

Sleepiness scores gradually increased over wakefulness time and reached its peak in the evening at about 10:20pm. PVT-induced CBF changes did not correlate with sleepiness scores on the morning (p > 0.05), but showed significant negative correlations with sleepiness scores on later day when sleep pressure became higher, especially during the night-time (r = -0.41, p < 0.001). Specifically, LC CBF showed significant increases during the PVT scan as compared to the resting scan (p = 0.04) in individuals with less nigh-time sleepiness (KSS < 4), but no differences (p > 0.1) in individuals with greater nigh-time sleepiness (KSS ≥ 5). After controlling for age, gender, and total sleep time, PVT-induced regional CBF difference in the LC still negatively predicted sleepiness (β = -0.325, p = 0.005).

Conclusion

Our findings showed that individuals with greater LC CBF increases during the PVT were less sleepy during the night, supporting the key role of LC activity in promoting wakefulness and maintaining sleep homeostasis. PVT-induced LC activation may provide a non-invasive bio-marker of homeostatic sleep pressure in healthy adults.

Support

Supported in part by NIH grants R01-HL102119, R01-MH107571, R21-AG051981. CTRC UL1RR024134, and P30-NS045839.

Truncated (N)-Methanocarba Nucleosides as Partial Agonists at Mouse and Human A3 Adenosine Receptors: Affinity Enhancement by N6-(2-Phenylethyl) Substitution

Dopamine-derived N⁶-substituents, compared to N⁶-(2-phenylethyl), in truncated (N)-methanocarba (bicyclo[3.1.0]hexyl) adenosines favored high A₃ adenosine receptor (AR) affinity/selectivity, e.g., C2-phenylethynyl analogue 15 (MRS7591, K_i = 10.9/17.8 nM, at human/mouse A₃AR). 15 was a partial agonist in vitro (hA₃AR, cAMP inhibition, 31% E_max; mA₃AR, [³⁵S]GTP-γ-S binding, 16% E_max) and in vivo and also antagonized hA₃AR in vitro. Distal H-bonding substitutions of the N⁶-(2-phenylethyl) moiety particularly enhanced mA₃AR affinity by polar interactions with the extracellular loops, predicted using docking and molecular dynamics simulation with newly constructed mA₃AR and hA₃AR homology models. These hybrid models were based on an inactive antagonist-bound hA₁AR structure for the upper part of TM2 and an agonist-bound hA_2AAR structure for the remaining TM portions. These species-independent A₃AR-selective nucleosides are low efficacy partial agonists and novel, nuanced modulators of the A₃AR, a drug target of growing interest.

Field enhancement in a doubly resonant optical parametric oscillator

Single-resonant and (signal/idler) double-resonant optical parametric oscillators differ fundamentally on the conversion efficiency back to the pump wave. The nonpresent idler in the single-resonant case allows for signal intracavity enhancement well beyond the pump power level. This paper answers the question, how the phase-matched back conversion in a doubly-resonant system can be overcome to reveal substantial power enhancement, and what parameters it depends on. In a degenerate double-resonant OPO (DROPO) pumped by a thin-disk oscillator, an enhancement up to a factor of four is shown experimentally. Support of a semianalytical theory is presented with exceptionally simple relations between enhancement and intracavity losses. Interestingly, our theory predicts no fundamental limit to the maximal field enhancement or conversion efficiency.

Design and in Vivo Characterization of A1 Adenosine Receptor Agonists in the Native Ribose and Conformationally Constrained (N)-Methanocarba Series

(N)-Methanocarba ([3.1.0]bicyclohexyl) adenosines and corresponding ribosides were synthesized to identify novel A₁ adenosine receptor (A₁AR) agonists for CNS or peripheral applications. Human and mouse AR binding was determined to assess the constrained ring system's A₁AR compatibility. N⁶-Dicyclobutylmethyl ribose agonist (9, MRS7469, >2000-fold selective for A₁AR) and known truncated N⁶-dicyclopropylmethyl methanocarba 7 (MRS5474) were drug-like. The pure diastereoisomer of known riboside 4 displayed high hA₁AR selectivity. Methanocarba modification reduced A₁AR selectivity of N⁶-dicyclopropylmethyl and endo-norbornyladenosines but increased ribavirin selectivity. Most analogues tested (ip) were inactive or weak in inducing mouse hypothermia, despite mA₁AR full agonism and variable mA₃AR efficacy, but strong hypothermia by 9 depended on A₁AR, which reflects CNS activity (determined using A₁AR or A₃AR null mice). Conserved hA₁AR interactions were preserved in modeling of 9 and methanocarba equivalent 24 (∼400-fold A₁AR-selective). Thus, we identified, and characterized in vivo, ribose and methanocarba nucleosides, including with A₁AR-enhancing N⁶-dicyclobutylmethyl-adenine and 1,2,4-triazole-3-carboxamide (40, MRS7451) nucleobases.

Vinylogous Blaise Reaction: Conceptually New Synthesis of Pyridin-2-ones

A conceptually new synthesis of pyridine rings by a [C4 + CN] assembly has been developed by applying a vinylogous version of the classic Blaise reaction. The zinc-mediated reaction of (het)aryl or alkyl nitriles with ethyl-4-bromocrotonate provided a variety of C(6)-substituted pyridin-2-ones in a single-step.

The higher prevalence of truncal obesity and diabetes in American than Chinese patients with chronic hepatitis C might contribute to more rapid progression to advanced liver disease

BACKGROUND

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the leading cause of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the United States (US) and an emerging cause in China.

AIM

To compare the clinical characteristics of hepatitis C patients in the US and China, and factors influencing disease stage.

METHODS

Prospective study of 2 cohorts of HCV patients recruited at 1 site in the US and 3 sites in China. Standardised questionnaire on risk factors and medical history were used and diagnosis of cirrhosis and HCC was based on pre-defined criteria.

RESULTS

One thousand nine hundred and fifty seven patients (1000 US and 957 China) were enrolled. US patients were more likely to be men (61.4% vs 48.5%), older (median age 57 vs 53 years), obese (38.4% vs 16.8%) and diabetic (21.8% vs 10.8%). A significantly higher per cent of US patients had cirrhosis (38.2% vs 16.0%) and HCC (14.1% vs 2.7%). Investigator estimated time at infection in US was 10 years earlier than in Chinese patients but US patients were more likely to have advanced disease even after stratifying for duration of infection. Study site in the US, older age, truncal obesity, diabetes and prior HCV treatment were significant predictors of advanced disease on multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

HCV patients in the US had more advanced liver disease than those in China. We speculate that underlying fatty liver disease may be a major contributor to this difference, and management of glycometabolic abnormalities should occur in parallel with anti-viral therapy to achieve optimal outcomes.

Keratoconus Screening Indices and Their Diagnostic Ability to Distinguish Normal From Ectatic Corneas

PURPOSE

To compare the diagnostic ability of 3 Scheimpflug devices in differentiating normal from ectatic corneas.

DESIGN

Comparison of diagnostic instrument accuracy.

METHODS

This study included 42 normal, 37 subclinical keratoconic, and 51 keratoconic eyes seen in a tertiary eye care institute. Keratoconus screening indices were evaluated using the Pentacam (Oculus, Wetzlar, Germany), Galilei (Ziemer, Biel, Switzerland), and Sirius (Costruzione Strumenti Oftalmici, Florence, Italy). Sensitivity, specificity, and area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) were calculated.

RESULTS

Highest sensitivity (100%) to diagnose keratoconus was seen for 6 parameters on Pentacam and 1 on Galilei. None of the indices in Sirius reached 100% sensitivity. For subclinical keratoconus, the highest sensitivity (100%) was seen for 2 parameters on Pentacam but for none of them on Galilei and Sirius. All parameters were strong enough to differentiate keratoconus (AUC > 0.9). On comparing the best parameters of all 3 machines, the AUC of the Belin/Ambrosio enhanced ectasia total derivation (BAD-D) and the inferior-superior value (ISV) of Pentacam were statistically similar to that of the keratoconus prediction index (KPI) and keratoconus probability (Kprob) of Galilei (P = .27) and 4.5 mm root mean square per unit area (RMS/A) back of Sirius (P = .55). When differentiating subclinical from normal corneas, BAD-D was similar to the surface regularity index (SRI) of Galilei (P = .78) but was significantly greater than the 8 mm RMS/A back of Sirius (P = .002).

CONCLUSION

Keratoconus indices measured by all 3 machines can effectively differentiate keratoconus from normal corneas. However, new cutoff values might be needed to differentiate subclinical from normal corneas.

Nonpharmacological interventions aimed at modifying health and behavioural outcomes for adults with asthma: a critical review

Evidence suggests that living with asthma is linked with psychological and behavioural factors including self-management and treatment adherence, and therefore, there is a reasonable hypothesis that nonpharmacological treatments may improve health outcomes in people living with this condition. A systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of nonpharmacological interventions for adults with asthma was designed. Databases searched included The Cochrane Airways Group Register of trials, CENTRAL and Psychinfo. The literature search was conducted until May 2014. Twenty-three studies met the inclusion criteria and were organized into four groups: relaxation-based therapies (n = 9); mindfulness (n = 1), biofeedback techniques (n = 3); cognitive behavioural therapies (CBT) (n = 5); and multicomponent interventions (n = 5). A variety of outcome measures were used, even when trials belonged to the same grouping, which limited the ability to conduct meaningful meta-analyses. Deficiencies in the current evidence base, notably trial heterogeneity, means that application to clinical practice is limited and clear guidelines regarding the use of nonpharmacological therapies in asthma is limited. Relaxation and CBT, however, appear to have a consistent positive effect on asthma-related quality of life and some psychological outcomes, and lung function (relaxation only). Future trials should be informed by previous work to harmonize the interventions under study and outcome measures used to determine their effectiveness; only then will meaningful meta-analyses inform clinical practice.

Oxidative stress-induced C/EBPβ inhibits β-catenin signaling molecule involving in the pathology of preeclampsia

INTRODUCTION

Oxidative stress-induced trophoblast cell dysfunction is a major pathology in preeclampsia (PE). Recently, CCAAT/enhancer binding protein beta (C/EBPβ) has been investigated as a tumor suppressor that participates in tumor invasion. However, the function of C/EBPβ in trophoblast cells remains unknown. Our study was designed to detect the expression of C/EBPβ in the preeclamptic placenta and to identify the underlying mechanisms of oxidative stress.

METHODS

Human placental tissues with PE were collected. The expression of C/EBPβ and β-catenin were detected. Human first trimester extravillous trophoblast cell (HTR8/SVneo) line exposed to hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) was employed as an oxidative stress model in vitro to investigate the effects of C/EBPβ on invasion and the expression of β-catenin. Moreover, first trimester-derived placental villous explants were used to verify the effects of C/EBPβ and β-catenin in placentation.

RESULTS

In preeclamptic placentas, C/EBPβ was overexpressed and β-catenin was decreased. In addition, C/EBPβ was found to have increased expression in H/R-treated HTR8/SVneo cells and villous explants. C/EBPβ knockdown and β-catenin activation could significantly promote the invasion of HTR8/SVneo cells, enhance the outgrowth and migration in villous explants and inhibit the excessive generation of intracellular ROS. These findings might be related to the increased activities of MMP-2/9 and the decreased expression of TIMP-1/2. Meanwhile, C/EBPβ knockdown remarkably increased the expression of β-catenin.

DISCUSSION

We hypothesize that the oxidative stress-induced overexpression of C/EBPβ might influence the activity of MMPs by regulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway to affect the invasion of trophoblast cells, which then participate in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia.

Zinc and Trimethylsilyl Chloride Mediated Synthesis of 2,3,5-Trisubstituted Pyrrole Diesters from Nitriles and Ethyl Bromoacetate

An efficient, zinc-mediated, single-pot and CN+3C type pseudo-four-component synthesis of 2,3,5-trisubstituted pyrrole diesters was achieved from readily available aromatic/benzylic/aliphatic nitriles and ethyl bromoacetate under trimethylsilyl chloride catalysis.

Genetic association study of GABRA2 single nucleotide polymorphisms and electroencephalography in alcohol dependence

The gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) system has been implicated in the susceptibility to develop alcohol dependence and in determining electroencephalogram (EEG) beta activity. The role of the GABA receptor alpha-2 gene (GABRA2) in human alcohol dependence was determined in a genetic and electrophysiological study. The study population comprised 586 white UK individuals with alcohol dependence but a very low prevalence of co-morbid drug dependence, and 603 ancestrally matched healthy controls. Genotyping for seven GABRA2 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), identified from the literature as positively associated with alcohol dependence, was performed with success rates of 90% or greater. EEGs were available in 32 selected patients who had been abstinent from alcohol for a minimum of 24 months and in 138 ancestrally matched healthy controls. None of the SNPs showed allelic or haplotypic association with alcohol dependence. All markers were in Hardy Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) in the controls. HWE for marker rs279841 in the alcohol dependent sample was p=0.0199 and combined p=0.0166. Linkage disequilibrium patterns appear to be very similar to that observed in the HapMap CEU data. A significantly higher prevalence of excess EEG fast activity was found in the patients (31 vs. 14%, p=0.018). A significant relationship was found between the presence of excess EEG fast activity and GABRA2 SNPs rs548583, rs279871 and rs279841. This allelic association study provides no evidence for an association between GABRA2 polymorphisms and alcohol dependence. However, a significant relationship was identified between GABRA2 and excess EEG fast activity. This dissociation of effect may reflect the fact that the EEG is a more direct marker of phenotypic GABRA2 expression than the more heterogeneous alcohol dependence phenotype.

RNAi-mediated knockdown of AURKB and EGFR shows enhanced therapeutic efficacy in prostate tumor regression

Aurora B kinase (AURKB) and epidermal growth factor receptor 1 (EGFR) belong to serine/threonine and tyrosine kinase family of proteins. Both these kinases are found to overexpress in a large number of epithelial cancers, including hormonal refractory prostate cancer. In this communication, we present evidence for down-regulated expression of AURKB and EGFR, either alone or in combination, in prostate cancer cells. The results show that AURKB and EGFR were efficiently down-regulated in a dose-dependent manner. AURKB and EGFR siRNA in combination have shown enhanced therapeutic effect by inhibiting PC3 cell proliferation and inducing apoptosis in vitro, whereas androgen-dependent cancer cells LNCaP remain unaffected correlating the endogenous expression levels. Knockdown of AURKB and EGFR individually resulted in inhibition of prostate tumor growth in athymic nude mice and their combined knockdown resulted in tumor regression in which 40% of the treated mice were found to be tumor free, implicating the potential therapeutic benefits of AURKB-EGFR combination therapy.

A study of stigmatized attitudes towards people with mental health problems among health professionals

The project aimed to assess stigmatized attitudes among health professionals directed towards patients with mental health problems. The Attitude to Mental Illness Questionnaire was used to assess participants' attitudes towards fictitious patients from a secure forensic hospital and patients with schizophrenia and substance use disorders. Participants were health professionals from acute and mental health settings. In total, 108 completed questionnaires were received. Participants had highly stigmatized attitudes towards patients from a forensic hospital and those with active substance use disorders. Attitudes were less stigmatized to people with substance use disorders who were recovering in remission. This suggested that health professionals have stigmatized attitudes towards an illness such as schizophrenia and this is worse towards patients from a secure hospital. The manner in which patients with substance use disorder are presented can have a significant effect on stigmatized attitudes by health professionals.

Sleeping position, oxygenation and lung function in prematurely born infants studied post term

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effect of sleeping position on the lung function of prematurely born infants when post term, whether any effect was similar to that before discharge from the neonatal unit, and if it differed according to bronchopulmonary (BPD) status.

DESIGN

Prospective study.

SETTING

Tertiary neonatal unit.

PATIENTS

Twenty infants, median gestational age 30 weeks (range 25-32); 10 had BPD.

INTERVENTIONS

Before neonatal unit discharge (median age 36 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA)) and when post term, infants were studied prone and supine, each position maintained for 3 h.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Oxygen saturation was monitored continuously and, at the end of each 3 h period, functional residual capacity (FRC) and compliance (CRS) and resistance (RRS) of the respiratory system were measured.

RESULTS

At a median of 36 weeks PMA and 6 weeks later (post term), respectively, oxygen saturation (98% vs 96%, p = 0.001; 98% vs 97%, p = 0.011), FRC (26 vs 24 ml/kg, p<0.0001; 35 vs 31 ml/kg, p = 0.001) and CRS (3.0 vs 2.4 ml/cm H(2)O, p = 0.034; 3.7 vs 2.5 ml/cm H(2)O, p = 0.015) were higher in the prone than the supine position. In the prone position, both BPD and non-BPD infants had significantly greater FRCs on both occasions and oxygen saturation at 36 weeks PMA, but oxygen saturation was significantly better post term only in non-BPD infants. Twelve infants had superior oxygen saturation and 17 superior FRCs in the prone compared with the supine position at both 36 weeks PMA and post term.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that lung function impairment does not explain why prematurely born infants are at increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome in the prone compared with the supine position.

Characteristics of patients who are violent to staff and towards other people from a community mental health service in South East England

Professionals working in the public sector in the UK report widespread violence towards staff working in areas such as health care, social services and education. This study compares the characteristics of patients with and without a history of violence in a large sample of patients attending a community mental health service in South East England. The data were taken from a study of comorbidity and cannabis use in a mental health trust covering a semi-rural population of 250,000 people in Harlow and the surrounding area of South East England. Key workers were interviewed using semi-structured questionnaires from the Comorbidity of Substance Misuse and Mental illness in Community Mental Health and Substance Misuse Services study. Rates of violence against health workers were more than 20 times higher among those patients with a history of violence (23.6% vs. 1%, P<0.001). Alcohol and drug use was more frequent in those who were violent. Prevalence of comorbidity, schizophrenia and personality disorders was high. Key workers' estimates suggested that there was no difference in aggression, engagement or adherence to care plan among those with a history of violence.

Predictive significance of bone sialoprotein and osteopontin for bone metastases in respectable non-small cell lung cancer: A retrospective study

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Background: Bone sialoprotein (BSP) and osteopontin (OPN) have been demonstrated predictive of bone metastases in breast and prostate carcinoma, consistent with the proposed role of BSP as a stimulator of bone mineralization and OPN in differentiation and activation of osteoclasts. Bone metastasis (BM) is often developed in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but no predictive biomarker was identified for high risk of metastatic bone dissemination. Methods: 180 completely resected NSCLC patients were included in this study. 38 patients subsequently developed BM. Paraffin embedded primary tumor tissue of patients were supplied to produce a tissue microarray, and immunohistochemistry method was used for evaluation the expression of BSP and OPN. Different expressions of these two biomarkers among BM group and non-BM group were estimated by χ2 test. Bone metastasis-free survival was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier method. The prognostic impact of clinicopathologic parameters and biomarker expression was evaluated by Cox propotional hazards model. Results: BSP expression was associated with BM (P=0.027), while OPN expression could not reach statistical significance (P=0.495). Univariate analysis demonstrated that expression of BSP (P=0.036), N stage (P=0.000) and clinical stage (P=0.001) were associated with time interval to BM. Multivariate analyses showed BSP expression (RR=1.779, P=0.012) and clinical stage (RR=1.620, P=0.005) were independent prognostic factors for BM. Conclusions: BSP protein expression in the primary resected NSCLC is strongly associated with BM and could be used to identify high-risk patients. Correlation of OPN protein expression and bone metastasis need further investigation.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

APOE epsilon4 and cognitive decline in older stroke patients with early cognitive impairment

BACKGROUND

Dementia is common post stroke, but the potential role of early cognitive impairment and APOE epsilon4 as risk factors is unclear.

METHOD

Stroke survivors older than 75 years without dementia at 3 months post stroke received a detailed neuropsychological evaluation at 3 and 15 months post stroke, which included the Cambridge Assessment of Mental Disorders in the Elderly (CAMCOG). Early cognitive impairment was diagnosed using the criteria for cognitive impairment/no dementia (vascular CIND). APOE genotype was determined using a standardized method.

RESULTS

One hundred thirty-seven older stroke patients without dementia (mean age 80.6 +/- 4.3, mean CAMCOG score 83.5 +/- 10.4, 68 women) participated in the study, of whom 40 met the criteria for CIND. Stroke patients with one or more APOE epsilon4 alleles were significantly more likely to have CIND (14/40 vs 17/97, odds ratio = 2.5, 95% CI 1.1 to 5.8). Over the 1 year of follow-up, CIND patients with one or more APOE epsilon4 alleles had a mean decline on the total CAMCOG of 2.7 points compared with an improvement of >4 points among patients without APOE epsilon4 (T = 2.9 p = 0.006). CIND patients with an APOE epsilon4 allele also experienced greater decline in memory (T = 2.5, p = 0.015).

CONCLUSION

In older stroke patients with early cognitive impairment, the presence of an APOE epsilon4 allele is associated with greater progression of cognitive decline. This has implications for interventions aimed at the secondary prevention of dementia in stroke patients.

Impact of hypertension and apolipoprotein E4 on poststroke cognition in subjects >75 years of age

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The apolipoprotein E4 allele (APOE4) associates with increased dementia risk, and hypertension may associate with mild cognitive deficits. We examined whether nondemented stroke patients with (1) a prestroke history of hypertension and (2) APOE4 were more cognitively impaired at 3 months after stroke.

METHODS

A total of 257 participants were genotyped and outcomes from neuropsychological evaluations analyzed using regression.

RESULTS

Total Cambridge Assessment for Mental Disorders in the Elderly (CAMCOG) and speed of working memory significantly associated with hypertension. No outcomes significantly associated with APOE4.

CONCLUSIONS

Subjects with prestroke hypertension had more impaired global cognition and slower access to information held in working memory.