Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2010; 164(2): 131-138″
“Purpose T

Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2010; 164(2): 131-138″
“Purpose. The aims of this study were (i) to develop a new portable slit-lamp mounted digital meniscometer (PDM) and (ii) to test its see more accuracy and

repeatability compared to the existing Yokoi et al. videomeniscometer (VM). Methods. We developed a novel application for an iPod or iPhone, which created an illuminated target of parallel black and white bands. This was used as a portable device with which to perform reflective meniscometry. The medians of three consecutive measurements on five glass capillaries (internal radii, 0.100 to 0.505 mm) were compared between VM and PDM at two different sessions. Also, the central lower tear meniscus radius (TMR) in 20 normal subjects (10 males and 10 females; mean [SD] age, 32.3 [9.3] years) was measured using both techniques. Correlations between the instruments were analyzed using the Pearson coefficient.

Differences between sessions and instruments were analyzed using Bland-Altman plots, coefficient VX-770 datasheet of repeatability, and paired t-tests. Results. The PDM and VM were accurate in vitro (95% confidence interval [CI] of difference: PDM -0.0134 to +0.0074 mm, p = 0.468; VM -0.0282 to +0.0226 mm; p = 0.775) and reproducible between sessions (95% coefficient of repeatability, 0.019 and 0.018, respectively). The mean difference between the PDM and VM in vitro was 0.0002 mm(95% CI, -0.0252 to +0.0256; p = 0.984). In human subjects, mean

(SD) TMR measured with the PDM(0.34 [0.10] mm) and VM(0.36 [0.11] mm) was significantly correlated (r = 0.940; p smaller than 0.001), and there was no statistically significant difference between the measured TMR of the instruments (p = 0.124). Conclusions. This new slit-lamp mounted digital meniscometer produces accurate and reliable measurements and provides similar values for tear meniscus radius, in human studies, to the existing VM. The instrument is suitable for use in both research and clinical practice.”
“OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this article is to describe our experience draining deep muscular and musculoskeletal abscess collections with CT guidance, emphasizing clinicopathologic factors associated with drain failure, and to further analyze patient outcomes selleck screening library according to whether the process involves muscle alone or also involves adjacent bone or joint (skeletal involvement).\n\nMATERIALS AND METHODS. The details of percutaneous catheter drainage were retrospectively recorded for all drainages performed over a 9-year period. The technical and clinical successes of percutaneous catheter drainage were determined. Multifactor logistic regression analysis was used to identify predictors of drain failure (malignancy, age, chemotherapy, surgery, infection, complexity, size, days in situ, and skeletal involvement).

ornatum, C oligolepis, and C pauciradii, are members of a monop

ornatum, C. oligolepis, and C. pauciradii, are members of a monophyletic herbivorous clade, whereas the fifth species, Nocomis micropogon, is a carnivore

from an adjacent carnivorous clade. In the context of a PFR model, the activities of amylase, trypsin and lipase, and the concentrations of glucose, protein, and lipid were predicted to decrease moving from the proximal to the distal intestine. I found support for this as these enzyme activities and nutrient concentrations generally decreased moving distally along the intestine of the four Campostoma species. Furthermore, gut content mass and the low SCFA concentrations did not change (increase or decrease) along the gut of any species. Combined with a previous investigation suggesting compound screening assay that species of Campostoma have rapid gut GSK461364 price throughput rates, the data presented here generally support Campostoma as having guts that function as PFRs. The carnivorous N. micropogon showed some differences in the measured parameters, which were interpreted in the contexts of intake and retention time to suggest that PFR function breaks down in this carnivorous species.”
“Introduction.

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) is a neuropathy that affects sensory and motor nerves. The most common CMT subtype is CMT1A due to a PMP22 duplication of a 1.5 Mb fragment on the 17p11.2-p12. The development of a specific molecular technique that detects the PMP22 duplication is necessary for

the diagnosis of CMT1A. Aim. To establish a routinary test for detection of the PMP22 gene duplication in Mexican population and to estimate the CMT1A frequency in patients clinically Selleckchem JNK inhibitor diagnosed as CMT. Patients and methods. A cohort of 157 individuals clinically diagnosed as CMT were analyzed. The detection of the PMP22 gene duplication was performed using the comparative 2-(Delta Delta CT) qPCR method. Results. The comparative 2-(Delta Delta CT) method was sensitive and reliable for the detection of the PMP22 duplication. In order to validate the testing, data was compared with FISH results. Duplication of PMP22 was detected in 79 patients (50.3%). Although CMT1A frequency is different among populations, in Mexican patients it was similar with other populations such as United States, Australia, Finland, Sweden and Spain. Conclusions. The qPCR technique is an accurate and inexpensive method for the diagnosis of CMT1A. This method can be routinely used in Mexico where CMT1A represents approximate to 50% of CMT cases. Molecular diagnosis of CMT1A is essential for the genetic counseling and treatment of patients.”
“Drug resistance in gastrointestinal nematodes is a severe problem for sheep farmers. With the recent introduction of monepantel (ZolvixA (R)) and of derquantel plus abamectin (StartectA (R)) in New Zealand, two new anthelmintic classes will be available to control gastrointestinal nematodes.


“Objective: The aim of this


“Objective: The aim of this CBL0137 order study was to assess awareness and knowledge regarding glaucoma among people attending free eye clinic in eastern region of Nepal. Methods: All the consecutive patients aged 35 years or older, who presented to

the free eye clinic, were invited to participate in this cross-sectional survey conducted in June-July 2010. All the participants were residents of Morang district of eastern Nepal. Data on demographics and awareness of glaucoma were collected through face-to-face interview using a pretested structured questionnaire. Participants who have heard about glaucoma were considered as aware and those giving an agreeable definition were considered as having knowledge on glaucoma. Results: A total of 348 subjects participated in this study. The mean age of the participants was 48.3 +/- 12.0 years. The majority of them were females, residents of rural areas, and literates. Among the total participants, 211 (60.6%) were aware of the term glaucoma. Only 19 (5.5%) of the total participants had some knowledge of glaucoma. The awareness on glaucoma was significantly associated with higher level of education, family history of glaucoma, and previous history of eye check up.

Conclusions: Knowledge of glaucoma in this population is very low. No particular groups of people are aware of glaucoma in this part of the country. Health education should be broadly targeted at the population to educate www.selleckchem.com/products/cobimetinib-gdc-0973-rg7420.html people about the risk factors of glaucoma and thereby prevent needless blindness.”
“The proprioceptive sensitivity of healthy volunteers and convalescents after acute cerebrovascular episodes was studied by a new neurophysiological method for registration SNX-5422 nmr of kinesthetic evoked potentials emerging in response to passive 50(o) bending of the hand in the wrist joint with the angular acceleration of 350 rad/sec(2). Kinesthetic evoked potentials

were recorded above the somatosensory cortex projection areas in the hemispheres contra- and ipsilateral to the stimulated limb. The patients exhibited significantly longer latencies and lesser amplitudes of the early components of response in the involved hemisphere in comparison with normal subjects. The method for registration of the kinesthetic evoked potentials allows a more detailed study of the mechanisms of kinesthetic sensitivity in health and in organic involvement of the brain.”
“The selectivity of amikacin in macrophages in vitro and its biodistribution in peritoneal macrophages and other tissues were studied in rats using carrier erythrocytes. Amikacin-loaded erythrocytes were prepared using a hypotonic dialysis method. The in vitro uptake of amikacin by peritoneal macrophages was studied using cell monolayers. The in vivo uptake by macrophages and the tissue distribution of amikacin were studied in two groups of rats that received either amikacin in saline solution, or amikacin-loaded erythrocytes.

01), with these values for main lipids fractions, saturated fatty

01), with these values for main lipids fractions, saturated fatty acid (SEA), monounsaturated click here fatty acid

(MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), respectively: 42.86%, 43.27% and 13.87 for JA and 46.87%, 46.96% and 6.20% for CE. SEA and MUFA percentages were slightly higher in CE at the expense of PUFA, specifically in the n-6 series, where values of 11.06% in JA and 3.91% in CE were obtained. In both products, the most prevalent fatty acid was a monounsaturated fatty acid, oleic acid, with percentages of 37.28% in JA and 38.48% in CE. Other fatty acids with higher percentages, with respect to total fat, were two saturated fatty acids: palmitic acid, 20.63% in JA and 22.95% in CE, and stearic acid, 18.65% in JA and 17.14% in CE.”
“Aim: To investigate the potential antidepressant and anxiolytic effects of Neu-P11, a novel melatonin agonist, in two models of depression in rats and a model CX-6258 of anxiety in mice.\n\nMethods: In the learned helplessness test (LH), Neu-P11 or melatonin (25-100 mg/kg, ip) was administered to rats 2 h before the beginning of the dark

phase once a day for 5 days and the number of escape failures and intertrial crossings during the test phase were recorded. In the forced swimming test (FST), rats received a single or repeated administration of Neu-P11 (25-100 mg/kg, ip). The total period of immobility during the test phase was assessed. In the elevated plus-maze test (EPM), mice were treated with Neu-P11 (25-100 mg/kg, ip) or melatonin in the morning or in the evening and tested 2 h later. The percentage

of time spent see more in the open arms and the open arms entries were assessed.\n\nResults: In the LH test, Neu-P11 but not melatonin significantly decreased the escape deficit and had no effect on the intertrial crossings. In the FST, a single or repeated administration of Neu-P11, either in the morning or in the evening, significantly decreased the duration of immobility. In the EPM test, Neu-P11 significantly increased the percentage of time spent in the open arms and the open arms entries irrespective to the time of administration. Melatonin was effective only when administered in the afternoon.\n\nConclusion: The results demonstrate that Neu-P11 exerts antidepressant and anxiolytic activities in rodent models.”
“Association of HBV genotypes (especially A and D) with severity of liver disease is controversial. We studied the influence of HBV genotypes on liver disease severity among Indian patients.\n\nWe selected 247 HBV infected patients (42 acute hepatitis, 87 carriers, 44 chronic hepatitis B [CHB], 35 liver cirrhosis [LC] and 40 hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC]). Genotyping of stored sera was performed using genotype-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). The distribution of genotypes in disease states of differing clinical, histological and biochemical severity were compared.

For greater insight into its distribution pattern, we conducted a

For greater insight into its distribution pattern, we conducted a field survey in several mountain areas of its Icnown range,

using a novel mist-netting technique (described herein) that has proven very useful for targeting and capturing low-flying open-space bats in alpine environments. We also gathered all available distribution https://www.selleckchem.com/products/fosbretabulin-disodium-combretastatin-a-4-phosphate-disodium-ca4p-disodium.html data on this species from published resources and by contacting researchers, obtaining records at 351 total localities (including 113 from other authors’ unpublished reports and 45 from our own fieldwork). We concluded that P macrobullaris is present in the main Western Palearctic mountain ranges, extending from the Pyrenees to the Middle East, and has an elevational distribution from sea level up to 2,800 m. The high number of these bats captured foraging above the timberline, in addition to the exclusively mountainous distribution, indicate that the species is indeed alpine, showing a pattern similar to other highly mobile vertebrates restricted to mountain areas and absent from flatlands. Nevertheless, its apparent elevational HSP inhibitor distribution may still be biased toward lower areas, due to the scarcity of surveys in high mountain habitats.”
“Endoscopic laser cricopharyngeal myotomy

is an effective treatment for cricopharyngeal dysfunction, but concern remains over the risk of serious complications following the procedure. Some authors have therefore considered endoscopic laser cricopharyngeal myotomy with mucosal repair; however, outcome data for the procedure is

scanty. This study aims to identify functional outcomes in a series of patients following endoscopic laser cricopharyngeal myotomy with mucosal repair. Endoscopic laser cricopharyngeal myotomy with mucosal repair was performed on 38 subjects in click here two centres over a period of 33 months. Pre- and post-operative outcomes were evaluated in 32 subjects using the Sydney Swallow Questionnaire and Reflux Symptom Index. An improvement in swallowing scores was seen in 30 subjects (94 %, p smaller than 0.001). The Reflux Symptom Index improved 28 subjects (88 %, p smaller than 0.001). Mean procedure time was 58 min. One subject (2.6 %) developed mediastinitis following surgery, and four experienced (12.5 %) a recurrence of dysphagic symptoms. Endoscopic laser cricopharyngeal myotomy with mucosal repair is an effective treatment for cricopharyngeal dysfunction. The complication rate observed in this study was comparable or lower than previously reported studies into endoscopic laser cricopharyngeal myotomy without mucosal repair. Larger studies may be required to determine the additional benefit of mucosal repair over endoscopic laser cricopharyngeal myotomy alone.”
“Patients with cytogenetically normal acute myeloid leukemia (CN-AML) show heterogeneous treatment outcomes. We used gene-expression profiling to develop a gene signature that predicts overall survival (OS) in CN-AML.

At 6-month follow-up, complete occlusion was found in 29, a neck

At 6-month follow-up, complete occlusion was found in 29, a neck remnant in eight, and a residual aneurysm

in one. One patient treated with GDC 360A degrees needed retreatment for a major recanalisation. In 38 matched patients treated with GDC 3D, initial angiographic controls found complete aneurysmal occlusion in 30 aneurysms and a residual neck in 8. At 6-month follow-up, 24 aneurysms were completely occluded, ten showed a neck remnant, and residual aneurysms were seen in four. Four patients, treated with GDC 3D, were retreated for major aneurysm recanalisations.\n\nOur data suggests that endovascular coil embolisation with GDC 360A degrees might improve long-term stability of https://www.selleckchem.com/products/chir-99021-ct99021-hcl.html coiled aneurysms when compared to GDC 3D.”
“The objective was to determine the effects of adding L-carnitine (an enhancer of lipid metabolism) during IVM, on cryotolerance and developmental competence of bovine oocytes. Oocytes matured in the absence (control)

or presence (0.6 mg/mL) of L-carnitine were subjected to IVF and embryo culture after Cryotop vitrification or nonvitrification at the metaphase stage of the second meiotic cell P5091 supplier division. Cleavage and blastocyst formation rates, and inner cell mass and trophectoderm cell numbers were determined. Also, ATP content in IVM oocytes was measured and intracellular lipid droplets were observed (Nile red staining and confocal microscopy). L-carnitine had no significant effect on the rate of matured oocytes. Vitrification reduced (P < 0.05) mean (+/- SEM) rates of live oocytes both in control (80.6 +/- 1.9%) and L-carnitine groups (82.7 +/- 5.1%) compared with nonvitrified oocytes (100%). After IVF, cleavage rates of vitrified control and L-carnitine groups (56.5 +/- 3.9% and 62.8 +/- 5.1%, respectively) were significantly lower than those in nonvitrified control and L-carnitine groups (83.9 +/- 4.2%

and 84.3 +/- 1.3%). After vitrification, blastocyst formation rate in the L-carnitine group (54.4 +/- 5.2%) was significantly higher compared with the control (34.9 +/- 4.4%), and did not significantly differ from those in nonvitrified control and L-carnitine groups (52.1 +/- 4.2% and 52.8 +/- 3.0%). The numbers and ratio of inner cell mass and trophectoderm cells in blastocysts did not differ significantly among groups. SYN-117 mouse The ATP content in L-carnitine-treated oocytes tended to be higher compared with the control. Vitrification did not reduce ATP content in oocytes, irrespective of L-carnitine treatment. Treatment with L-carnitine dislocated lipid droplets from the peripheral area to the inner cytoplasm. In conclusion, L-carnitine supplementation during IVM redistributed lipid droplets in oocytes; if they survived vitrification, their developmental competence was similar to that of nonvitrified oocytes. (c) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.”
“Background Therapeutic decisions in cardiology are determined frequently by cardiac chamber size.

However, the relative contribution of each of these

However, the relative contribution of each of these https://www.selleckchem.com/products/gw2580.html factors in different species remains debatable. The availability of complete genomes for tens of multicellular organisms provides an opportunity to inspect the relationship between codon usage and the evolutionary age of genes.\n\nResults: We assign an evolutionary age to a gene based on the relative positions of its identified homologues in a standard phylogenetic tree. This yields a classification of all genes in a genome to several evolutionary age classes. The present study starts from the observation that each age class of genes has a unique codon

usage and proceeds to provide a quantitative analysis of the codon usage in these classes. This observation is made for the genomes of Homo sapiens, Mus musculus, and Drosophila melanogaster. It is even more HM781-36B remarkable that the differences between codon usages in different age groups exhibit similar and consistent behavior in various organisms. While we find that GC content and gene length are also associated with the evolutionary age of genes, they can provide only a partial explanation for the observed codon usage.\n\nConclusion: While factors such as GC content, mutational bias, and selection shape the codon usage in a genome, the evolutionary

history of an organism over hundreds of millions of years is an overlooked property that is strongly linked to GC content, protein length, and, even more significantly, to the codon usage of metazoan genomes.”
“Stem cells are one of the most fascinating areas in regenerative medicine today. They play a crucial role in the development and regeneration of human life and are defined as cells that continuously reproduce themselves while maintaining the ability to differentiate into various cell types. Stem cells are found at all developmental stages, from embryonic stem cells that differentiate into all cell types found in the human body

to adult stem cells that are responsible for tissue regeneration. MX69 mw The general opinion postulates that clinical therapies based on the properties of stem cells may have the potential to change the treatment of degenerative diseases or important traumatic injuries in the “near” future. We here briefly review the literature in particularly for the liver, heart, kidney, cartilage, and bone regeneration.”
“Objective: To verify the hypothesis that a connection exists between overactive bladder (OAB) syndrome and a bladder-specific dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). Method: An electrocardiogram recorded heartbeat cycles from the onset of urinary urgency to 5 minutes after voiding in 33 women with an overactive bladder and 176 controls. Power spectral density (PSD) analysis allowed to quantify heart rate variability (HRV), which is in relation to ANS function. Three-dimensional spectrograms and multiscale entropy graphs were used to display HRV values.

Adding Qa to Rap markedly reduced the number of LC3-II-positive a

Adding Qa to Rap markedly reduced the number of LC3-II-positive autolysosomes. Rap + Qa created a competition between Rap increasing and Qa decreasing LC3-II. Rapamycin + Qa decreased total PrPSc by 56% compared with that of Qa alone, which reduced PrPSc by 37% relative to Rap alone. We conclude that the decrease was dominated by the ability of Qa to decrease the formation of PrPSc. Therefore, BrnAggs provide an efficient in vitro tool for screening drug therapies and studying the complex biology of prions.”
“The objective of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus

(HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections and the possible risk factors among blood donors in Nyala, South Dar Fur State of western Sudan, which has never been studied before. A total of 400 male blood donors Duvelisib price were tested for the detection of HBsAg

and anti-HCV antibodies, (6.25%) were found reactive for HBsAg and (0.65%) were reactive for anti-HCV antibodies. The highest seroprevalence (30.8%) was found in those between 19-24 and 37-42 years for HBsAg, whereas it was (50%) in those between 31-36 years for anti-HCV antibodies. Unprotected sexual activities (20%) was the most apparent predisposing risk factor for both HBV and HCV seroreactors, followed by razor sharing (13.3%), parenteral drug injections (10%), history of migration to Egypt and alcoholism (6.6%) for each, tattooing and surgical procedures (3.3%) for each this website and (36.6%) were not aware for their condition. Serum alanine aminotansferase (ALT) was elevated

in (30.7%) of HBV seroreactors and in (50%) of HCV seroreactors. Serum albumin was reduced in (23.1%) HBV and in (50%) HCV seroreactors. The study concluded that the seroprevalence of HBV and HCV was in an intermediate and low rates respectively and unprotected sexual activities was the major risk factor for infection in the population studied.”
“Purulent inflammation caused by Staphylococcus xylosus was HM781-36B first described at the basis of antler in an 8 years old male fallow deer (Dama dama). The condition of the animal was normal but building of the antler was irregular. On the right side trophy with abnormal antler developed.”
“Objective. To assess the impact of anemia and iron deficiency on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in women treated for heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB). Design. Secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial. Setting. Five university hospitals in Finland. Sample. A total of 236 women referred for HMB. Methods. Women were randomized to treatment with hysterectomy or a levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system. We defined groups based on women’s pretreatment hemoglobin [hemoglobin smaller than 120 g/L (anemic) vs. hemoglobin bigger than = 120 g/L (nonanemic)] and serum ferritin (ferritin smaller than 15 mu g/L vs. bigger than = 15 mu g/L) concentrations.

Pearson correlation analysis and receiver operating characteristi

Pearson correlation analysis and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis were conducted to evaluate the correspondence between the ABO-OGS cast measurements and the orthodontists’ subjective assessments. Results: The average subjective grading scores were highly correlated www.selleckchem.com/products/S31-201.html with the ABO-OGS scores (r = 0.7042). Four of the 7 study cast components of the ABO-OGS score-occlusal relationship, overjet, interproximal contact, and alignment-were statistically significantly correlated with the judges’ subjective assessments. Together, these 4 accounted for 58% of the variability in the average subjective grading scores. The

ABO-OGS cutoff score for cases that the judges deemed satisfactory was 16 points; the corresponding GANT61 in vitro cutoff score for cases that the judges considered acceptable was 21 points. Conclusions: The ABO-OGS is

a valid index for the assessment of treatment outcomes in Chinese patients. By comparing the objective scores on this modification of the ABO-OGS with the mean subjective assessment of a panel of highly qualified Chinese orthodontists, a cutoff point for satisfactory treatment outcome was defined as 16 points or fewer, with scores of 16 to 21 points denoting less than satisfactory but still acceptable treatment. Cases that scored greater than 21 points were considered unacceptable.”
“The global warming trend has altered the ocean environment, but space-time changes in the oceanic distribution of small pelagic fishes have been difficult to identify due to their extensive ranges. Using detailed Japanese fishery logbooks, we reconstructed the main location of chub mackerel Scomber japonicus fishing grounds (hotspots) in the East China Sea over 328 consecutive

months (27 yr). Our analyses revealed that the chub mackerel hotspots migrated seasonally over the continental shelf of the East China Sea, and demonstrated multi-year and decadal shifts in location, changing according to the spatial variation in the https://www.selleckchem.com/products/Nutlin-3.html surface temperatures of the East China Sea. Spatial variation in sea surface temperatures was correlated with the volume transport of ocean currents, indicating that temperature and flow fields affected chub mackerel distribution both directly and indirectly. We also found that long-term fluctuations in climate were associated with chub mackerel hotspots, suggesting that atmosphere-ocean interactions may drive chub mackerel distribution variability. This empirical evidence regarding wide-ranging and long-term changes in chub mackerel distribution implies that future management measures need to enhance information sharing among relevant countries around the East China Sea.”
“At the 6th International Workshop on Genotoxicity Testing, the liver micronucleus test (MNT) working group briefly discussed the MNT using tissues other than liver/erythrocytes. Many tissues other than liver/erythrocytes have been studied, primarily for research purposes.


“Vascular risk factors play a significant role in the path


“Vascular risk factors play a significant role in the pathogenesis and progression of AD. MPV is an index of platelet activation and may be a potential marker

of inflammation to demonstrate the vascular damage in AD. The aim of the present study is to assess whether platelet volume would be useful in predicting vascular damage in AD. A total of 126 patients with AD (male/female: 44/82, mean age 76.2 +/- 6.8 years) and 286 patients as controls with normal cognitive function (male/female: 123/163, mean age 75.2 +/- 6.3 years) were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. MPV values were determined for all study participants. Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and clock drawing tests (CDT) were performed for cognitive assessment, DSM-IV and NINCDS-ADRDA criteria were used for diagnosis of AD. The mean MPV values were significantly higher in AD group (8.46 +/- 1.15 vs. www.selleckchem.com/products/a-1210477.html 8.17 +/- 0.90; p = 0.011). In this study, significantly higher MPV values in patients with AD have been detected. Since increased MPV levels are usually https://www.selleckchem.com/products/anlotinib-al3818.html considered as a vascular risk factor, the results of this study suggested the role of platelet activation in the vascular pathogenetic basis of AD. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Chemotherapy often causes damage to hematopoietic tissues, leading to

acute bone marrow suppression and the long term development of leukemias. Niacin deficiency, which is common in cancer patients, causes dramatic genomic instability in bone marrow cells in an in vivo rat model. From a mechanistic perspective, niacin deficiency delays excision repair and causes double strand break accumulation, which in turn favors chromosome breaks and translocations. Niacin deficiency mTOR inhibitor also impairs cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in response to DNA damage, which combine to encourage the survival

of cells with leukemogenic potential. Conversely, pharmacological supplementation of rats with niacin increases bone marrow poly (ADP-ribose) formation and apoptosis. Improvement of niacin status in rats significantly decreased nitrosourea-induced leukemia incidence. The data from our rat model suggest that niacin supplementation of cancer patients may decrease the severity of short- and long-term side effects of chemotherapy, and could improve tumor cell killing through activation of poly(ADP-ribose)-dependent apoptosis pathways. [Mol Cancer Ther 2009;8(4):725-32]“
“Objective: Succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase (SSADH) deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive disorder of GABA degradation leading to elevations in brain GABA and gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB). The effect of chronically elevated GABA and GHB on cortical excitability is unknown. We hypothesized that use-dependent downregulation of GABA receptor expression would promote cortical disinhibition rather than inhibition, predominantly via presynaptic GABAergic mechanisms.