Correlation of symptom clusters of schizophrenia with absolute powers of main frequency bands in quantitative EEG

Background  

Research of QEEG activity power spectra has shown intriguing results in patients with schizophrenia. Different symptom clusters have been correlated to QEEG frequency bands. The findings have been to some extent inconsistent. Replication of the findings of previous research is thus an important task. In the current study we investigated the correlations between the absolute powers of delta, theta, alpha, and beta frequency bands over the fronto-central scalp area (FC) with the PANSS subscales and the Liddle's factors in 16 patients with schizophrenia.     

Protein synthesis following infection of the blue-green alga Plectonema boryanum with the temperate virus SPI and its ts mutants

The structural proteins of the purified phage and proteins synthesized in virus-infected cells were examined by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and subsequent autoradiography. A total of 24 viral-induced proteins were identified, 12 of which are present in the mature virus. The kinetics of synthesis of the various viral proteins demonstrates the presence of “early” and “late” genes. Specific suppression of host protein synthesis by the infecting phage takes place late in the infection cycle. Analysis of the proteins synthesized at the nonpermissive temperature by phage temperature-sensitive (ts) mutants demonstrates that some of the viral genes have complex pleiotropic effects on viral protein synthesis. The results suggest the presence of positive regulatory genes, and of specific genes involved in the shutoff of host protein synthesis.     

Partnering between monomers of cyclooxygenase-2 homodimers

Prostaglandin endoperoxide H synthases (PGHSs) 1 and 2 convert arachidonic acid to prostaglandin H2 in the committed step of prostanoid biosynthesis. These enzymes are pharmacological targets of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs and cyclooxygenase (COX) 2 inhibitors. Although PGHSs function as homodimers and each monomer has its own COX and peroxidase active sites, the question of whether there is cross-talk between monomers has remained unresolved. Here we describe two heterodimers in which a native subunit of human PGHS-2 has been coupled to a subunit having a defect within the COX active site at some distance from the dimer interface. Native/G533A PGHS-2, a heterodimer with a COX-inactive subunit, had the same specific COX activity as the native homodimer. Native/R120Q PGHS-2, a heterodimer in which both subunits can oxygenate arachidonic acid but in which the R120Q subunit cannot bind the COX inhibitor flurbiprofen, was inhibited by flurbiprofen to about the same extent as native PGHS-2. These results imply that native PGHS-2 exhibits half-of-sites reactivity. Isothermal titration calorimetry established that only one monomer of the native PGHS-2 homodimer binds flurbiprofen tightly. In short, binding of ligand to the COX site of one monomer alters its companion monomer so that it is unable to bind substrate or inhibitor. We conclude that PGHS monomers comprising a dimer, although identical in the resting enzyme, differ from one another during catalysis. The nonfunctioning subunit may provide structural support enabling its partner monomer to catalyze the COX reaction. This subunit complementarity may prove to be characteristic of other dimeric enzymes having tightly associated monomers.     

Primary Retrograde Dorsalis Pedis Artery Single Access for Revascularization of Chronic Total Occlusion in Patients with Critical Limb Ischemia

Purpose

To evaluate the dorsalis pedis artery (DPA) approach as a single access site for revascularization in patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI) when the femoral approach is hostile or unavailable.