Automatic labelling of the human cortical surface using sulcal basins

Human brain mapping aims at establishing correspondences between brain function and brain anatomy. One of the most intriguing problems in this field is the high interpersonal variability of human neuroanatomy which makes studies across many subjects very difficult. The cortical folds ('sulci') often serve as landmarks that help to establish correspondences between subjects. In this paper, we will present a method that automatically detects and attributes neuroanatomical names to the cortical folds using image analysis methods applied to magnetic resonance data of human brains. We claim that the cortical folds can be subdivided into a number of substructures which we call sulcal basins. The concept of sulcal basins allows us to establish a complete parcellation of the cortical surface into separate regions. These regions are neuroanatomically meaningful and can be identified from MR data sets across many subjects. Sulcal basins are segmented using a region growing approach. The automatic labelling is achieved by a model matching technique.     

Visual-vestibular interaction in vertical vestibular only neurons

The central nervous system combines information from different stimulus modalities to generate appropriate behaviors. For instance, vestibular and visual information are combined during oculomotor behavior. We used squirrel monkeys to study this signal combination on vestibular neurons that carry the vertical component of vestibular and visual (slow visual pathway, or optokinetic) signals. We found that these neurons contain a neuronal correlate of asymmetries observed in oculomotor behaviors, and that there is a relationship between their response to vestibular and visual (optokinetic) stimulation. We argue that if this relationship is maintained after learning, changes in one information pathway (e.g. vestibular) will result in changes in the other (e.g. visual), explaining the cross-modality plasticity observed in these systems after vestibulo-ocular reflex motor learning.     

Glutathione and malondialdehyde levels in common carp after exposure to simazine

Several water contamination incidents with simazine have occurred in the province of Badajoz (Spain). Simazine residues were also detected in drinking water, increasing public health concern. Since little information was found concerning the effects of sublethal concentrations of simazine on aquatic organisms, we investigated some oxidative stress biomarkers in tissues of carps from contaminated waters. Results confirmed an increase in tissue reduced glutathione and malondialdehyde levels in carps inhabiting one of the contaminated ponds. To assess the biological significance of this finding, a laboratory study in which carps were exposed to simazine at 45μgL(-1) (10-fold that of the natural water levels) for 90 days was developed. The results obtained in the field study were not confirmed in the laboratory exposure, where no differences were seen between the control and the exposure groups. Therefore, carps did not suffer oxidative stress phenomena by the presence of the simazine, at concentrations found in both studies.     

Pidotimod promotes functional maturation of dendritic cells and displays adjuvant properties at the nasal mucosa level

Mucosal dendritic cells (DCs) are very important in the process of antigen presentation to T cells, playing a key role in the induction of primary and secondary immune responses. Pidotimod is a synthetic substance capable of modulating immune cell functions, but the effect of pidotimod on human DCs has not been investigated yet. Here we demonstrate the ability of pidotimod to induce DC maturation and up-regulate the expression of HLA-DR and co-stimulatory molecules CD83 and CD86, which are fundamental for communication with adaptative immunity cells. Pidotimod also stimulated DCs to release high amounts of pro-inflammatory molecules such as MCP-1 and TNF-α cytokines and to drive T cell proliferation and differentiation towards a Th1 phenotype. Moreover, we demonstrate that pidotimod in vivo promotes strong and specific humoral and cellular immune response when co-administered intranasally with a model antigen.Taken together our data suggest the possibility to use pidotimod as adjuvant molecule to facilitate the activation of the innate immune system as well as to promote an effective mucosal and systemic immune response.     

Cannabinoid-induced conditioned place preference in the spontaneously hypertensive rat–an animal model of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Rationale  Cannabis preparations are the most widely consumed illicit drugs, and their use typically begins in adolescence. The prevalence of cannabis abuse is higher in patients with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) than in the general population, yet, knowledge about the motivational properties of cannabinoids in animal models of ADHD are lacking. Objective  To compare the motivational effects of the synthetic cannabinoid agonist WIN55,212-2 (WIN) in adolescent and adult spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), a validated animal model of ADHD, and Wistar rats, representing a “normal” genetically heterogeneous population. We also asked whether the effects of WIN depended (1) on the activation of the cerebral subtype of cannabinoid receptors, namely, the CB₁ cannabinoid receptor and (2) on putative changes by WIN in blood pressure. Methods  WIN was tested under an unbiased conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm. Blood pressure after WIN administration was also monitored in additional groups of rats. Results  In the Wistar rats, WIN produced place aversion only in the adult but not adolescent rats. In contrast, WIN produced CPP in both adolescent and adult SHR rats. The behavioral effects of WIN were CB₁-mediated and not related to blood pressure. Conclusion  The contrasting effects of WIN in Wistar and SHR, and the higher resistance of adolescent rats to the aversive and rewarding effects of WIN in these two strains suggests that both adolescence and the ADHD-like profile exhibited by the SHR strain constitute factors that influence the motivational properties of cannabinoids.     

3' Mutation of the APC gene and family history of FAP in a patient with apparently sporadic desmoid tumors

Desmoid tumors may occur sporadically or as part of the extraintestinal manifestations of familial adenomatous polyposis. Different phenotypes have been described and some genotype-phenotype correlations have been raised, associated with different sites of germline mutations in the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene. We report on a 42-year-old woman ascertained for a large desmoid tumor of the anterior chest wall with pleural involvement, which persistently recurred despite a decade of treatment including hormone therapy, chemotherapy, and surgery. Spontaneous disappearance of the tumor was later noted after 1 year without any treatment and confirmed after 4 years of regular follow-up. Repeated colonoscopies were normal in the proband and DNA sequencing showed a frameshift mutation due to a single adenosine deletion at position 5772 (codon 1924). This mutation, located in the exon 15 at the 3' end of the APC gene, leads to an unusual and late onset phenotype. The pedigree revealed other isolated or familial adenomatous polyposis-associated cases of desmoid tumors. This family report shows that a molecular analysis of the APC gene should be performed in familial desmoid tumors for accurate genetic counseling and follow-up.     

Adenylyl cyclase isoform v mediates renin release from juxtaglomerular cells

We have shown previously that decreasing intracellular calcium in the juxtaglomerular cells increases both cAMP formation and renin release. We hypothesized that this is because of an interaction between intracellular calcium and the calcium-inhibitable isoform of adenylyl cyclase, type-V. We used primary cultures of juxtaglomerular cells isolated from C-57/B6 mice at 70% to 80% confluence. Western blots were performed on isolated juxtaglomerular cells using antibodies against either of the 2 calcium inhibitable isoforms of adenylyl cyclase, types-V and -VI. Only the antibody against adenylyl cyclase-V gave us a strong band at 120 kDa as expected. Immunolabeling in juxtaglomerular cells with confocal microscopy found immunofluorescence for the adenylyl cyclase-V-specific antibody compared with either negative controls or cells stained with the adenylyl cyclase-VI antibody. Reducing isolated juxtaglomerular intracellular calcium with 100 micromol/L of the cytosolic calcium chelator BAPTA-AM stimulated both cAMP (3.49+/-0.70 to 10.09+/-0.81 pmol/mL per milligram of protein; P<0.002) and renin release (1001.8+/-81.5 to 1648.0+/-139.1 ng of angiotensin I per milliliter per hour per milligram of protein; P<0.01). The selective adenylyl cyclase-V inhibitor NKY80 completely blocked both BAPTA-AM-stimulated cAMP formation and renin release. We conclude that lowering intracellular calcium is permissive, allowing an increased activity of the calcium-inhibitable isoform adenylyl cyclase-V (but not adenylyl cyclase-VI) in the juxtaglomerular cell, producing cAMP, which stimulates renin secretion.     

Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates in healthy children attending day-care centers in 12 states in Mexico

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic nasopharyngeal carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae, which is a major factor in the transmission of this bacterium. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Nasopharyngeal cultures were performed on children attending 32 day-care centers in 12 states in Mexico. RESULTS: Streptococcus pneumoniae was isolated from the nasopharynx of 829 out of 2,777(29.9%) subjects aged two months to six years. All children lived in urban areas and 80% spent more than six hours daily in a day-care center. Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes most frequently identified were: 19F (23%), 6B (15.6%), 23F (11.2%) and 6A (14.9%). Thirty-six percent of the isolates were susceptible to penicillin. CONCLUSIONS: Serotype distribution suggests the possible benefits that could be obtained from the heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine.     

Benchmarking of performance of Mexican states with effective coverage

Benchmarking of the performance of states, provinces, or districts in a decentralised health system is important for fostering of accountability, monitoring of progress, identification of determinants of success and failure, and creation of a culture of evidence. The Mexican Ministry of Health has, since 2001, used a benchmarking approach based on the World Health Organization (WHO) concept of effective coverage of an intervention, which is defined as the proportion of potential health gain that could be delivered by the health system to that which is actually delivered. Using data collection systems, including state representative examination surveys, vital registration, and hospital discharge registries, we have monitored the delivery of 14 interventions for 2005-06. Overall effective coverage ranges from 54.0% in Chiapas, a poor state, to 65.1% in the Federal District. Effective coverage for maternal and child health interventions is substantially higher than that for interventions that target other health problems. Effective coverage for the lowest wealth quintile is 52% compared with 61% for the highest quintile. Effective coverage is closely related to public-health spending per head across states; this relation is stronger for interventions that are not related to maternal and child health than those for maternal and child health. Considerable variation also exists in effective coverage at similar amounts of spending. We discuss the implications of these issues for the further development of the Mexican health-information system. Benchmarking of performance by measuring effective coverage encourages decision-makers to focus on quality service provision, not only service availability. The effective coverage calculation is an important device for health-system stewardship. In adopting this approach, other countries should select interventions to be measured on the basis of the criteria of affordability, effect on population health, effect on health inequalities, and capacity to measure the effects of the intervention. The national institutions undertaking this benchmarking must have the mandate, skills, resources, and independence to succeed.