Regulation of CHD2 expression by the Chaserr long noncoding RNA gene is essential for viability

Chromodomain helicase DNA binding protein 2 (Chd2) is a chromatin remodeller implicated in neurological disease. Here we show that Chaserr, a highly conserved long noncoding RNA transcribed from a region near the transcription start site of Chd2 and on the same strand, acts in concert with the CHD2 protein to maintain proper Chd2 expression levels. Loss of Chaserr in mice leads to early postnatal lethality in homozygous mice, and severe growth retardation in heterozygotes. Mechanistically, loss of Chaserr leads to substantially increased Chd2 mRNA and protein levels, which in turn lead to transcriptional interference by inhibiting promoters found downstream of highly expressed genes. We further show that Chaserr production represses Chd2 expression solely in cis, and that the phenotypic consequences of Chaserr loss are rescued when Chd2 is perturbed as well. Targeting Chaserr is thus a potential strategy for increasing CHD2 levels in haploinsufficient individuals.

Neuropsychological assessment of attention problems in pathological gamblers

Deficits in executive, frontally mediated attention processes have been observed in substance abusers. A significant rate of childhood histories of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder has also been reported in this population, creating the question of whether attention problems predated addiction or were secondary to neurological drug or alcohol effects in pathological gamblers. To address this issue, the current study compared 33 non-substance-abusing pathological gamblers with 33 nonaddicted controls on nine attention measures and childhood behavior questionnaires. Gamblers performed significantly worse than controls on higher order attention measures and reported more childhood behaviors consistent with attention deficits. Results suggest attention deficits may be a risk factor for development of addictive disorders.

Spinal cord injury: a sensory restriction perspective

Spinal cord injury results in restricted somatosensory input to the central nervous system. Evidence from experimental and human sensory deprivation literature suggests that loss of such input could influence both cortical arousal and subsequent cognitive efficiency. To test that hypothesis, spinal cord injured individuals and able-bodied controls were asked to perform an auditory vigilance task which, by its nature, should enhance spinal cord injured/able-bodied differences. There were no differences between the inpatient paraplegic, quadriplegic, or the able-bodied persons on measures of arousal or task efficiency. However, recently injured spinal cord patients showed lower arousal and decreased task efficiency compared to spinal cord injured subjects with older injuries or the able-bodied. There was also an effect noted for hospitalization. Outpatient quadriplegic individuals who had been injured for a long time performed better on the vigilance task than spinal cord injured inpatients and able-bodied control groups. Results are discussed in terms of sensory deprivation theory and relevance.

Therapeutic abortion in a midwestern city

A questionnaire was administered to 188 women undergoing therapeutic abortions in the first trimester of their pregnancy. Results showed the women to be younger than average, mainly unmarried, and representing all cross sections of the population. The women showed little knowledge of their own fertility and sparse use of birth control devices. The implications of these and other results are discussed.

Selected optical properties of mixtures of cholesteric liquid crystals

The reflection, transmission, optical activity, and extinction ratio of a series of mixtures of cholesteryl oleyl carbonate, cholesteryl nonanoate, and cholesteryl chloride of different proportions were measured. The wavelength of minimum transmission (lambda(o)), maximum rate of change of optical activity, and minimum extinction ratio were found nearly to coincide. The bandwidth of these phenomena is of the order of 500 A. The optical rotation asymptotically approaches plus and minus infinity at lambda(o). The variation of lambda(o) with temperature is linear between 20 degrees C and 35 degrees C with a slope of 50 A degrees C(-1). By varying the composition, lambda(o) could be varied from 5000 A to 11000 A.