ABSTRACT
AIM: To study neurocognitive symptoms in depressive disorders with the designation of their brain and psychological mechanisms. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-three patients diagnosed with depression and 33 healthy controls were studied using standardized neuropsychological tests and tests comprising emotiogenic stimuli. RESULTS: A neurocognitive deficit in patients with depression manifested as changes in speed of emotional processing and some cognitive functions. These patients demonstrate decreased attention to negative stimuli combined with decreased attention to positive stimuli. CONCLUSION: The abnormal processes of 'hot' cognition in patients with depressive disorders conceptualize such a core symptom of depression as anhedonia, which is a probable endophenotype of depression.
Subject(s)
Cognition Disorders , Depressive Disorder , Emotions , Cognition , Cognition Disorders/etiology , Depressive Disorder/psychology , Humans , Neuropsychological TestsABSTRACT
Serpins (SERine Protease INhibitors)--is large and diverse group of proteins with similar structures, which can inhibit both serine and cysteine proteases by an irreversible suicide mechanism. A novel serpin from hepatopancreas of Red King Crab (Paralithosed camtschaticus) was obtained and was studied its effect on the process of human blood plasma clotting. The investigated serpin shows a noticeable anticoagulative activity, which increases dramatically in the combined action with heparine. Though the inhibitor has almost no effect on thrombin, it inhibits C1s (C1-esterase). We studied the action of the serpin from P. camtschaticus on C1s via its competitive inhibition by C1 inhibitor and the novel enzyme. The calculated inhibition constant of the serpin from P. camtschaticus towards C1s is 2.02 +/- 0.71 M. Unlike C1 inhibitor, the novel serpin from P. camtschaticus doesn't suppress fibrinolysis and at the same time prevents blood clotting. These features may be of interest for medical purposes.
Subject(s)
Anomura/chemistry , Anticoagulants/pharmacology , Serine Proteinase Inhibitors/pharmacology , Serpins/pharmacology , Animals , Binding, Competitive , Blood Coagulation/drug effects , Complement C1/antagonists & inhibitors , Complement C1/metabolism , Fibrinolysin/antagonists & inhibitors , Heparin/pharmacology , Hepatopancreas/chemistry , Humans , Serpins/metabolism , Thrombin/antagonists & inhibitorsABSTRACT
This paper describes a large-scale method for solubilisation and purification of DNA-dependent RNA-Polymerase I from mature human placenta. The solubilisation method involves homogenization of the whole human placenta, isolation of cell nuclei, sonication of separated nuclei at high ionic strength and ammonium sulfate precipitation. The purification method consists of chromatography of RNA-Polymerase I activity on DEAE-Sephadex A-25 and Phosphocellulose P-11, and glycerol-density gradient centrifugation. In result, RNA-Polymerase I of human placenta nuclei has been shown to be completely resistant to alpha-amanitin. Besides dependence of RNA-Polymerase I on different Mg2+ and Mn2+ concentrations, glycerol concentration and ionic strength was studied. Using our results, an optimal RNA-Polymerase I assay mixture was developed. The subunit composition of RNA-Polymerase I was investigated by dodecylsulfate-gel electrophoresis. The RNA-Polymerase I molecule of human placenta consists of 13-14 polypeptides.
