Problem behaviors associated with 15q- Angelman syndrome

Caregivers of persons with Angelman syndrome completed the Aberrant Behavior Checklist and Reiss Screen for Maladaptive Behavior. Seventy-three replies were received, and comparisons were made with other published data. Responses indicated that 15q- Angelman syndrome is associated with such problems as lack of speech, overactivity, restlessness, and eating and sleep problems. Episodes of inappropriate laughter were only reported for 57%, despite being considered a cardinal feature of the syndrome; eating problems (64%) and a fascination with water (68%) were reported more frequently. Overactivity was more of a problem for children; Aberrant Behavior Checklist Factor IV (Hyperactivity) was negatively correlated with age. Scores were mostly lower than for previously studied etiological groups. Therapeutic effort should be put into programs to address these problems.

Non-invasive molecular imaging for preclinical cancer therapeutic development

Molecular and non-invasive imaging are rapidly emerging fields in preclinical cancer drug discovery. This is driven by the need to develop more efficacious and safer treatments, the advent of molecular-targeted therapeutics, and the requirements to reduce and refine current preclinical in vivo models. Such bioimaging strategies include MRI, PET, single positron emission computed tomography, ultrasound, and optical approaches such as bioluminescence and fluorescence imaging. These molecular imaging modalities have several advantages over traditional screening methods, not least the ability to quantitatively monitor pharmacodynamic changes at the cellular and molecular level in living animals non-invasively in real time. This review aims to provide an overview of non-invasive molecular imaging techniques, highlighting the strengths, limitations and versatility of these approaches in preclinical cancer drug discovery and development.

The omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid eicosapentaenoic acid inhibits mouse MC-26 colorectal cancer cell liver metastasis via inhibition of PGE2-dependent cell motility

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) has antineoplastic activity at early stages of colorectal carcinogenesis, relevant to chemoprevention of colorectal cancer (CRC). We tested the hypothesis that EPA also has anti-CRC activity at later stages of colorectal carcinogenesis, relevant to treatment of metastatic CRC, via modulation of E-type PG synthesis.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

A BALB/c mouse model, in which intrasplenic injection of syngeneic MC-26 mouse CRC cells leads to development of liver metastases, was used. Dietary EPA was administered in the free fatty acid (FFA) form for 2 weeks before and after ultrasound-guided intrasplenic injection of 1 × 10(6) MC-26 cells (n= 16 each group).

KEY RESULTS

Treatment with 5% (w w(-1)) EPA-FFA was associated with a reduced MC-26 mouse CRC cell liver tumour burden compared with control animals (median liver weight 1.03 g vs. 1.62 g; P < 0.034). Administration of 5% EPA-FFA was also linked to a significant increase in tumour EPA incorporation and lower intratumoural PGE(2) levels (with concomitant increased production of PGE(3)). Liver tumours from 5% EPA-FFA- treated mice demonstrated decreased 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine-positive CRC cell proliferation and reduced phosphorylated ERK 1/2 expression at the invasive edge of tumours. A concentration-dependent reduction in MC-26 CRC cell Transwell® migration following EPA-FFA treatment (50-200 µM) in vitro was rescued by exogenous PGE(2) (10 µM) and PGE(1)-alcohol (1 µM).

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

EPA-FFA inhibits MC-26 CRC cell liver metastasis. EPA incorporation is associated with a 'PGE(2) to PGE(3) switch' in liver tumours. Inhibition of PGE(2)-EP(4) receptor-dependent CRC cell motility probably contributes to the antineoplastic activity of EPA.

Updated Global Warming Potentials and Radiative Efficiencies of Halocarbons and Other Weak Atmospheric Absorbers

Human activity has led to increased atmospheric concentrations of many gases, including halocarbons, and may lead to emissions of many more gases. Many of these gases are, on a per molecule basis, powerful greenhouse gases, although at present-day concentrations their climate effect is in the so-called weak limit (i.e., their effect scales linearly with concentration). We published a comprehensive review of the radiative efficiencies (RE) and global warming potentials (GWP) for around 200 such compounds in 2013 (Hodnebrog et al., 2013, https://doi.org/10.1002/rog.20013). Here we present updated RE and GWP values for compounds where experimental infrared absorption spectra are available. Updated numbers are based on a revised "Pinnock curve", which gives RE as a function of wave number, and now also accounts for stratospheric temperature adjustment (Shine & Myhre, 2020, https://doi.org/10.1029/2019MS001951). Further updates include the implementation of around 500 absorption spectra additional to those in the 2013 review and new atmospheric lifetimes from the literature (mainly from WMO (2019)). In total, values for 60 of the compounds previously assessed are based on additional absorption spectra, and 42 compounds have REs which differ by >10% from our previous assessment. New RE calculations are presented for more than 400 compounds in addition to the previously assessed compounds, and GWP calculations are presented for a total of around 250 compounds. Present-day radiative forcing due to halocarbons and other weak absorbers is 0.38 [0.33-0.43] W m-2, compared to 0.36 [0.32-0.40] W m-2 in IPCC AR5 (Myhre et al., 2013, https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781107415324.018), which is about 18% of the current CO2 forcing.

Development of orthotopic tumour models using ultrasound-guided intrahepatic injection

Mouse models of human diseases are an essential part of the translational pipeline. Orthotopic tumour mouse models are increasingly being used in cancer research due to their increased clinical relevance over subcutaneous xenograft models, particularly in relation to metastatic disease. In this study, we have developed orthotopic colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRCLM) and primary cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) models in BALB/c nude mice using minimally invasive ultrasound-guided intrahepatic injection. Due to its minimally invasive nature, the method reduced risk from surgical complications whilst being fast and easy to perform and resulted in measurable tumour volumes 1 to 3 weeks post-injection. Tumour volumes were monitored in vivo by weekly high-frequency ultrasound (HF-US) and/or twice weekly bioluminescence imaging (BLI) and confirmed with end-point histology. Take rates were high for human CRC cells (>73%) and for CCA cells (90%). We have demonstrated that this method reliably induces CRCLM and CCAs, in which tumour volume can be monitored throughout using HF-US and/or BLI. This provides a promising experimental tool for future testing of cancer therapeutics in an orthotopic model.

Reactions of alkenes with ozone in the gas phase: a matrix-isolation study of secondary ozonides and carbonyl-containing reaction products

Gas phase ozonolysis reactions of the alkenes ethene, cis- and trans-but-2-ene, isoprene and the monoterpenes alpha-pinene, beta-pinene, beta-carene, limonene and beta-myrcene have been carried out and the reaction products have been trapped in O2-doped-argon matrices onto a Csl window held at 12 K. Products have been identified by IR spectroscopy. Comparison with previous matrix spectra, where secondary ozonides have been generated either in situ by annealing or in solution reactions allows a positive identification of the secondary ozonides of ethene and of cis- and trans-but-2-ene to be made. These observations are backed up by experiments utilising the isotopes 13C and 2H (D). It appears that secondary ozonides have also been formed from isoprene and the range of monoterpenes studied; this hypothesis is based upon the similarity of spectral features seen in the products of these reactions within those of the simpler alkenes. A number of other primary and secondary products are also identified from these reactions. Ethene gives formaldehyde as a primary product and acetaldehyde as a secondary product; it is found that the yield of acetaldehyde compared to formaldehyde increases as the reaction times are increased. Formaldehyde, one of the expected primary products, is formed by ozonolysis of beta-pinene, although the other expected primary product, nopinone, is not seen. A range of secondary reaction products have been identified from the ozonolysis of the monoterpenes studied.

People with intellectual disability, sensory impairments and behaviour disorder: a case series

BACKGROUND

Sensory impairments (SIs) are more prevalent in people with intellectual disability (ID). Both conditions lead to higher rates of emotional and behavioural problems than in the general population. The identification of psychiatric disorders in this group can be difficult, particularly in those with severe ID and limited communication skills.

METHOD

The present paper presents a series of 18 case reports of individuals with ID, SI and behavioural problems.

RESULTS

The majority of cases were young male caucasians with congenital rubella syndrome and autistic spectrum disorder, referred because of self-injurious behaviour (SIB) or aggression. Nine cases were treated with autidepressants, five underwent environmental changes and two had medication reduced. All showed some improvement.

CONCLUSIONS

The benefits of comprehensive assessments, the use of standardized assessment tools and trials of treatments are discussed in the context of making psychiatric diagnoses.

Reactions of hydroxyl radicals with alkenes in low-temperature matrices

The reactions of hydroxyl radicals with a number of stable alkenes have been studied in low-temperature matrices. The reactions were initiated by broad band UV-visible irradiation of matrices containing H2O2, and the alkene under investigation. The hydroxyalkyl radical products were identified principally by comparison of their spectra with the spectra of corresponding stable alcohols. Accordingly, IR spectra were recorded for the following series of alcohols isolated in argon matrices--methanol, ethanol, ethanol-d6, propan-1-ol, propan-2-ol, butan-2-ol, 2-methylpropan-1-ol (iso-butyl alcohol), 2-methylpropan-2-ol (tert-butyl alcohol), 2-methylbutan-2-ol (tert-amyl alcohol), 3-methylbutan-2-ol and 2,3-dimethylbutan-2-ol. The hydroxyalkyl radicals, which appear to be formed from the alkenes studied were as follows--from ethene, 2-hydroxyethyl radical: from cis- or trans-but-2-ene. 1-methyl-2-hydroxypropyl radical; from propene, 1-methyl-2-hydroxyethyl and 2-hydroxypropyl radicals; from but-1-ene. 1-hydroxymethylpropyl and 2-hydroxybutyl radicals; from 2-methylpropene (iso-butene), 1,1-dimethyl-2-hydroxyethyl and 2-methyl-2-hydroxypropyl radicals; the radical products from buta-1,3-diene and isoprene could not be identified. In the cases, where two radical products were possible, i.e. when propene, but-1-ene or 2-methylpropene were the substrates, it was found that the concentration of the secondary or tertiary radical always exceeded that of the primary radical. However, the relative concentration of these radicals appears to be determined by subsequent photolysis to give carbonyl compounds. There seems, therefore, to be little preference for the secondary and tertiary radicals over the primary radicals in the primary addition process. Comments on the mechanism of the transformation from radical to carbonyl compound based upon identification of intermediates within the matrix and isotopic substitution experiments are made. The characterisation of the 2-hydroxyethyl radical has been backed up by experiments utilising isotopic substitution with 13C and D (2H). The other radicals have been identified with varying degrees of certainty. Those radicals, which are observed at the highest concentration and which are, therefore, characterised more certainly are--2-hydroxyethyl (1), from ethene: 1-methyl-2-hydroxypropyl (2), from cis- and trans-but-2-ene; 1-methyl-2-hydroxyethyl (3), from propene; 1-hydroxymethylpropyl (5), from but-1-ene; and 1,1- dimethyl-2-hydroxyethyl (8), from 2-methylpropene.

Gonorrheal disease among children in a university hospital

In the current veneral disease epidemic the pediatrician may observe every clinical expression of gonococcal infection. Review of outpatient records at the University of Maryland Pediatric Clinic (Baltimore, Md.) showed frequent utilization of this health-care facility by girls with genitourinary complaints and a high rate of recovery of Neisseria gonorrhoeae from those patients from whom specimens were obtained for culture. The adolescent girl is the most likely pediatric patient to have genitourinary complaints that indicate a diagnosis of gonorrhea. Overall, 16.3% of girls and 37.2% of boys who had speciments cultured for N. gonorrhoeae had positive results. Although the older teenager (15--18 years of age) was most likely to have a positive culture, high rates comparable to those reported in venereal disease clinics were found for all age groups. Half of the cases of gonorrhea in girls aged 15 to 18 years took the clinical form of pelvic inflammatory disease. Most gonococcal infections in prepubertal children were in girls 2 to 5 years of age and resulted from presumed sexual abuse. Vulvovaginitis was the initial symptom in all cases. Prepubertal boys infected with N. gonorrhoeae all had urethritis; three of seven admitted to voluntary sexual activity.

Anti-angiogenic drug scheduling optimisation with application to colorectal cancer

Bevacizumab (bvz) is a first choice anti-angiogenic drug in oncology and is primarily administered in combination with chemotherapy. It has been hypothesized that anti-angiogenic drugs enhance efficacy of cytotoxic drugs by "normalizing" abnormal tumor vessels and improving drug penetration. Nevertheless, the clinical relevance of this phenomenon is still unclear with several studies over recent years suggesting an opposing relationship. Herein, we sought to develop a new computational tool to interrogate anti-angiogenic drug scheduling with particular application in the setting of colorectal cancer (CRC). Specifically, we have employed a mathematical model of vascular tumour growth which interrogates the impact of anti-angiogenic treatment and chemotherapeutic treatment on tumour volume. Model predictions were validated using CRC xenografts which underwent treatment with a clinically relevant combinatorial anti-angiogenic regimen. Bayesian model selection revealed the most appropriate term for capturing the effect of treatments on the tumour size, and provided insights into a switch-like dependence of FOLFOX delivery on the tumour vasculature. Our experimental data and mathematical model suggest that delivering chemotherapy prior to bvz may be optimal in the colorectal cancer setting.

Dissociative electron attachment to dinitrogen pentoxide, N2O5

Electron attachment was studied in gaseous dinitrogen pentoxide, N(2)O(5), for incident electron energies between a few meV and 10 eV. No stable parent anion N(2)O(5) (-) was observed but several anionic fragments (NO(3) (-), NO(2) (-), NO(-), O(-), and O(2) (-)) were detected using quadrupole mass spectrometry. Many of these dissociative pathways were found to be coupled and provide detailed information on the dynamics of N(2)O(5) fragmentation. Estimates of the cross sections for production of each of the anionic fragments were made and suggest that electron attachment to N(2)O(5) is amongst the most efficient attachment reactions recorded for nonhalogenated polyatomic systems.