Facial expressions of emotions and schizophrenia: a review

It is generally agreed that schizophrenia patients show a markedly reduced ability to perceive and express facial emotions. Previous studies have shown, however, that such deficits are emotion-specific in schizophrenia and not generalized. Three kinds of studies were examined: decoding studies dealing with schizophrenia patients' ability to perceive universally recognized facial expressions of emotions, encoding studies dealing with schizophrenia patients' ability to express certain facial emotions, and studies of subjective reactions of patients' sensitivity toward universally recognized facial expressions of emotions. A review of these studies shows that schizophrenia patients, despite a general impairment of perception or expression of facial emotions, are highly sensitive to certain negative emotions of fear and anger. These observations are discussed in the light of hemispheric theory, which accounts for a generalized performance deficit, and social-cognitive theory, which accounts for an emotion-specific deficit in schizophrenia.     

磷酸盐缓冲液对人外周血单个核细胞趋化因子分泌的影响

磷酸盐缓冲液（PBS）通常在实验室中被作为稀释液、冲洗细胞悬浮液以及用于清洗培养瓶和培养皿,也常作为细胞培养基的添加物。这项研究评估了含有不同浓度的钙离子和镁离子的PBS溶液基质对人外周血液单个核细胞（PB-MCs）趋化因子释放的影响。当PBMCs暴露于含量增加的＋/＋PBS中时,发现白介素-8也会相应增加。因为细胞外钙离子浓度对细胞迁移有一定影响,趋化因子的分泌表明细胞培养过程中增加钙离子浓度是另一种很重要的调节机理。     

爱沙尼亚索莫茹社区中心

爱沙尼亚索莫茹社区中心包括一个教区管理部,一个图书室,一个带大厅的俱乐部。这个项目的室内室外相互融合,制造出一种类似公园一样的结构,可爱繁茂的花园弥补了周围稀疏的地貌。整个社区中心都在一个平面上,不同高度的房间造就了起伏状的屋顶。     

Rapid and improved recovery rate of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Mycobacteria Growth Indicator Tube combined with solid L?wenstein Jensen medium

Toxic doses of paracetamol (acetaminophen) destroy the cellular defense system in hepatic tissue. The degree of the destruction can be assessed be measuring the metabolism of sulfhydryl compounds, oxygen radicals and the release of certain enzymes. Administration of 2-methyl-thiazolidine-2,4-dicarboxylic acid (CP; 1.2 mmol/kg) to mice 12 h prior to a toxic dose of paracetamol (600 mg/kg) suppressed the increase of aminotransferase activities in blood serum and the levels of reactive oxygen species in liver tissue. A protective effect of CP was also observed with respect to depletion of non-protein sulfhydryl compounds, cysteine and glycogen. The findings demonstrate that the cysteine prodrug CP is effective in preventing liver damage of a hepatotoxic dose of paracetamol in vivo. A further advantage of the new compound is the long duration of the effect of more than 12 h.     

Gp60 activation mediates albumin transcytosis in endothelial cells by tyrosine kinase-dependent pathway

We investigated the function of gp60, an endothelial cell membrane 60-kDa albumin-binding protein localized in caveolae, and the mechanism of its activation in regulating endothelial permeability of albumin. Gp60 organization on the bovine pulmonary microvessel endothelial cell (BPMVEC) surface was punctate as shown by immunofluorescence using an anti-gp60 antibody (Ab) conjugated with bisfunctional, N-hydroxysuccinimidyl fluorophore (Cy3). Addition of a secondary Ab to anti-gp60 Ab-treated BPMVEC induced cross-linking of gp60 as evident by increased size of fluorescent particles and cell surface gp60 clustering. Gp60 cross-linking also produced 2-3-fold increases in the endothelial cell uptake and the luminal to abluminal permeability of 125I-albumin as well as the fluid-phase tracer, horseradish peroxidase. The increased transendothelial permeability of macromolecules was the result of transcytosis as it was not associated with an increase in the paracellular pathway. Incubation of anti-gp60 Ab with BPMVEC at 37 degrees C caused internalization of gp60, and thereby reduced the uptake of the macromolecules. Activation of gp60 by either albumin (the gp60 ligand) or gp60 cross-linking induced the phosphorylation of both gp60 and caveolin-1 (the major structural caveolar protein) on tyrosine residues. Gp60 activation also phosphorylated the Src family tyrosine kinases pp60(c-Src) and Fyn. The activated pp60(c-Src) and Fyn co-immunoprecipitated with caveolin-1 in BPMVEC membrane. Protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) inhibitors, herbimycin A and genistein, prevented gp60-activated macromolecule uptake and transcytosis in a concentration-dependent manner, indicating the functional significance of the PTK pathway in activating albumin transcytosis. These findings indicate that activation of gp60 stimulates the Src PTK signaling pathway, and thus regulates the transcytosis of albumin across the endothelial cell monolayer.     

A methodological approach for exposure assessment studies in residences using volatile organic compound-contaminated water

This paper presents a methodological approach for assessing total exposures to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in residences using contaminated water supplies. This approach is founded on assessment of ingestion, inhalation, and dermal exposures; both long-term (i.e., 12 to 24 hr) low-level exposures and short-term (i.e., approximately 10 min) high-level exposures are considered. The methodology is based on the collection of water samples to establish the identity of the contaminants, maximum source terms, and possible dermal and ingestion exposures; integrated whole-air samples are collected to assess long- and short-term inhalation exposures; whole-air grab samples are used to confirm peak and typical inhalation exposures; and alveolar breath samples are used to confirm exposures and to estimate contaminant concentrations in the blood of the test subjects. While we do not suggest that this methodology should supersede any current investigative approach, this material is primarily offered as a consolidated reference to the many people or organizations who might contemplate a study of this type. Application of this investigative protocol should provide detailed exposure assessment information, while it supplies critical real world data for risk assessment specialists, toxicologists, and modeling experts. Data from a recent field study assessing exposures to trichloroethylene are presented to illustrate the utility and some of the limitations of this strategy.