The effects of cholecystokinin A and B receptor antagonists, devazepide and L 365260, on citalopram-induced decrease of exploratory behaviour in rat

The present study has been divided into two sets. In the first set, the aim of the experiments was to investigate the dose-response effect of selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor (SSRI) citalopram on rat exploratory behaviour in the elevated plus-maze. In the second set of experiments, the effect of cholecystokinin (CCK) CCKA and CCKB receptor antagonists, devazepide and L 365260, on citalopram-induced decrease of exploratory behaviour in the elevated plus-maze was studied. Citalopram (5 and 10 mg/kg) decreased the number of open and total arm entries, line crossings on open arms, and percentage of time spent exploring in open arm. Dose 15 mg/kg was without any effect on rat exploratory behaviour. Devazepide (0.01 and 1.0 mg/kg) failed to modify any of the citalopram-induced changes observed. L 365260 (1.0 mg/kg) reversed most of the effects of citalopram: the numbers of open and total arm entries, the number of line crossings, and the percentage of time spent exploring in open arms. L 365260 at dose level 0.01 mg/kg was ineffective. These results support the involvement of the CCKB receptor subtype in SSRI-induced anxiogenic-like effects in rodents.     

Acute and chronic citalopram treatment differently modulates rat exploratory behavior in the exploration box test: no evidence for increased anxiety or changes in the [3H]raclopride binding

The effect of acute and chronic desipramine (10 mg/kg) and citalopram (10 mg/kg) treatment on rat exploratory behavior in the recently developed exploration box test was studied on 5 consecutive days. Acute desipramine but not citalopram treatment decreased the time spent exploring, the number of line crossings, rears, investigative approaches, entries into the large arena, and sum of exploratory events. After 3 weeks of pretreatment, both desipramine and citalopram attenuated rat exploratory behavior, whereas the number of entries into the large arena was unchanged. In the open field test, acute desipramine or citalopram treatment (5, 10, 15 mg/kg) attenuated rat exploratory behavior in a dose-dependent manner. In the subsequent rota-rod test, neither desipramine nor citalopram treatment (0-20 mg/kg) impaired motor performance capacity. In an additional experiment, [3H]raclopride binding was unchanged after single as well as 3 weeks of desipramine or citalopram treatment in the rat brain neostriatum. Our experiments demonstrate that acute citalopram treatment in the open field test and chronic citalopram treatment in the exploration box test attenuate rat exploratory behavior, but these effects may not be implicated with enhanced anxiety or changed dopamine D2 receptor characteristics.     

Automatic segmentation of liver & lesion detection using H-minima transform and connecting component labeling

Automatic segmentation of the liver and the Lesion detection can be a very challenging task due to its variability in size, shape, position and the presence of other organs with similar intensities. Manual segmentation and detection of a tumor is a time-consuming task and greatly depends upon the expertise and experience of the physician. We proposed a method which consists of automatic segmentation and detection of liver and lesion using CT scan modality. H-minima transform filter, Otsu global thresholds, Morphological opening by reconstruction and modified Connected Component Labeling algorithms are applied for liver segmentation. To keep the technique simple and effective, an appropriate range of threshold values are defined to detect different types of lesions. Performance of the proposed system is evaluated and compared with the state-of-the art algorithms. The results of the comparison show that the proposed approach is robust and efficient due to its simplicity. The dice coefficient score for the hepatic segmentation is 94% while sensitivity and specificity for hepatic lesion are 93% and 87% respectively.

     

Nitrate-reducing microorganisms in milk products and human milk

The quantitative determination of nitrate-reducing microorganisms in food is important because of their role in the formation of N-nitroso compounds and methemoglobin. The total counts of microorganisms and the counts of nitrate-reducing microorganisms were assayed in various milk products and in human milk by the method of the most probable numbers using nitrate broth medium. The mean value and standard deviation of the nitrate-reducing microorganisms were the following: in pasteurized milk 3.4 +/- 1.1 log/ml (in spring and summer 4.2 +/- 1.1, and in winter 2.8 +/- 0.6 log/ml), in kefir "Tallinn' 2.9 +/- 1.1 log/ml, in fat kefir 2.9 +/- +/- 0.7 log/ml, in sour milk 3.9 +/- 0.5 log/ml, in fresh milk 4.6 +/- 0.6 log/ml and in human milk 2.7 +/- +/- 1.1 log/ml. The amount of nitrate-reducing microorganisms in pasteurized milk of the spring-summer period and in fresh milk was significantly higher than in human milk. The mean count of nitrate-reducing microorganisms in human milk is regarded as a maximum permitted count of these organisms in milk for bottle-fed sucklings. For them and for atrophic gastritis patients pasteurized or fresh milk should be boiled.     

Bilingual Hispanic children's performance on the English and Spanish versions of the Cognitive Assessment System.

This study compared the performance of referred bilingual Hispanic children on the Planning, Attention, Simultaneous, Successive (PASS) theory as measured by English and Spanish versions of the Cognitive Assessment System (CAS; Naglieri & Das, 1997a). The results suggest that students scored similarly on both English and Spanish versions of the CAS. Within each version of the CAS, the bilingual children earned their lowest scores in Successive processing regardless of the language used during test administration. Small mean differences were noted between the means of the English and Spanish versions for the Simultaneous and Successive processing scales; however, mean Full Scale scores were similar. Specific subtests within the Simultaneous and Successive scales were found to contribute to the differences between the English and Spanish versions of the CAS. Comparisons of the children's profiles of cognitive weakness on both versions of the CAS showed that these children performed consistently despite the language difference. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

3D QSAR pharmacophore modeling, in silico screening, and density functional theory (DFT) approaches for identification of human chymase inhibitors

Human chymase is a very important target for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Using a series of theoretical methods like pharmacophore modeling, database screening, molecular docking and Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations, an investigation for identification of novel chymase inhibitors, and to specify the key factors crucial for the binding and interaction between chymase and inhibitors is performed. A highly correlating (r = 0.942) pharmacophore model (Hypo1) with two hydrogen bond acceptors, and three hydrophobic aromatic features is generated. After successfully validating "Hypo1", it is further applied in database screening. Hit compounds are subjected to various drug-like filtrations and molecular docking studies. Finally, three structurally diverse compounds with high GOLD fitness scores and interactions with key active site amino acids are identified as potent chymase hits. Moreover, DFT study is performed which confirms very clear trends between electronic properties and inhibitory activity (IC(50)) data thus successfully validating "Hypo1" by DFT method. Therefore, this research exertion can be helpful in the development of new potent hits for chymase. In addition, the combinational use of docking, orbital energies and molecular electrostatic potential analysis is also demonstrated as a good endeavor to gain an insight into the interaction between chymase and inhibitors.     

Investigating the validity of the Draw-A-Person: Screening procedure for emotional disturbance: A measurement validation study with high-risk youth.

This validity study examined the extent to which the Draw-A-Person: Screening Procedure for Emotional Disturbance (DAP:SPED; J. A. Naglieri, T. J. McNeish, & A. N. Bardos, 1991) was a significant predictor of behavioral functioning within a clinical sample of 68 latency-age children (6-12 years old) receiving counseling services at outpatient and residential treatment facilities. Study results showed that the total DAP:SPED (man, woman, and self scores summed) was a significant predictor in explaining variation in internalizing behavioral disturbance. Specifically, the DAP:SPED remained a moderate strength predictor of internalizing behavioral disturbance after controlling for the Child and Adolescent Adjustment Profile parent-report behavioral measure. Findings lend preliminary support to the DAR:SPED's validity in providing assessment information about child behavioral functioning. Continued validation investigation along these lines is recommended. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comparative Study of the Micellar and Antimicrobial Activity of Gemini-Conventional Surfactants in Pure and Mixed Micelles

We have carried out mixed micellization of pentanediyl-α,ω-bis(dimethyl cetylammonium bromide) (G5) with conventional cationic cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) and nonionic polyoxyethylene (20) cetyl ether (C16E20) in aqueous media and explored their antimicrobial activity in single and binary systems against Escherichia coli (E.coli), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). The compounds tested showed excellent antibacterial activity: 0.76–3.38 g/l minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and were more active against gram +ve bacteria. For surfactant mixtures G5-C16E20 > G5-CPC, the ionic-nonionic binary surfactant showed greater antibacterial activity. The experimental results of this study may be profitably used to understand and predict the antibacterial activity of gemini-conventional surfactant systems and provide valuable information for selection of surfactant for microbiocidal action.     

Decolorization of textile effluent by bitter gourd peroxidase immobilized on concanavalin A layered calcium alginate-starch beads

Bitter gourd peroxidase immobilized on the surface of concanavalin A layered calcium alginate-starch beads was used for the successful and effective decolorization of textile industrial effluent. Effluent was recalcitrant to the action of bitter gourd peroxidase; however, in the presence of some redox mediators, it was successfully decolorized. Effluent decolorization was maximum (70%) in the presence of 1.0mM 1-hydroxybenzotriazole within 1h of incubation. However, immobilized bitter gourd peroxidase showed maximum decolorization at pH 5.0 and 40 degrees C. Immobilized bitter gourd peroxidase decolorized more than 90% effluent after 3h of incubation in a batch process. The two-reactor system, one reactor containing immobilized peroxidase and the other had activated silica, was quite effective in the decolorization of textile effluent. The system was capable of decolorizing 40% effluent even after 2 months of continuous operation. The absorption spectra of the untreated and treated effluent exhibited a marked difference in absorbance at various wavelengths. Immobilized peroxidase/1-hydroxybenzotriazole system could be employed for the treatment of a large volume of effluent in a continuous reactor.     

Entrapment of porous and stable concanavalin A–peroxidase complex into hybrid calcium alginate–pectin gel

Ammonium sulfate‐fractionated proteins of turnip (Brassica rapa) were used for the simultaneous purification and immobilization of peroxidase by using crude jack bean extract. The concanavalin A–turnip peroxidase complex retained nearly 70% of the original activity. Calcium alginate–pectin‐entrapped soluble turnip peroxidase and the concanavalin A complex of peroxidase retained 63% and 52% of the original activity, respectively. The concanavalin A–peroxidase complex, the alginate–pectin‐entrapped soluble peroxidase and the alginate–pectin‐entrapped concanavalin A–peroxidase complex showed very high stability against denaturation mediated by heat, pH, urea, organic solvents and detergents. The exposure of soluble and immobilized turnip peroxidase to trypsin resulted in an enhancement of the peroxidase activity. The concanavalin A–peroxidase complex entrapped preparation was markedly more stable as compared with the directly entrapped soluble enzyme preparation. The results suggested that such preparations have great potential in the construction of bioreactors to be used for the remediation of aromatic compounds present in polluted wastewater/industrial effluents. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry