Polymorphisms in MIR137HG and microRNA-137-regulated genes influence gray matter structure in schizophrenia.

Evidence suggests that microRNA-137 (miR-137) is involved in the genetic basis of schizophrenia. Risk variants within the miR-137 host gene (MIR137HG) influence structural and functional brain-imaging measures, and miR-137 itself is predicted to regulate hundreds of genes. We evaluated the influence of a MIR137HG risk variant (rs1625579) in combination with variants in miR-137-regulated genes TCF4, PTGS2, MAPK1 and MAPK3 on gray matter concentration (GMC). These genes were selected based on our previous work assessing schizophrenia risk within possible miR-137-regulated gene sets using the same cohort of subjects. A genetic risk score (GRS) was determined based on genotypes of these four schizophrenia risk-associated genes in 221 Caucasian subjects (89 schizophrenia patients and 132 controls). The effects of the rs1625579 genotype with the GRS of miR-137-regulated genes in a three-way interaction with diagnosis on GMC patterns were assessed using a multivariate analysis. We found that schizophrenia subjects homozygous for the MIR137HG risk allele show significant decreases in occipital, parietal and temporal lobe GMC with increasing miR-137-regulated GRS, whereas those carrying the protective minor allele show significant increases in GMC with GRS. No correlations of GMC and GRS were found in control subjects. Variants within or upstream of genes regulated by miR-137 in combination with the MIR137HG risk variant may influence GMC in schizophrenia-related regions in patients. Given that the genes evaluated here are involved in protein kinase A signaling, dysregulation of this pathway through alterations in miR-137 biogenesis may underlie the gray matter loss seen in the disease.

Measurement of spatial and temporal behavior of H(α) emission from Aditya tokamak using a diagnostic based on a photomultiplier tube array.

A photo multiplier tube (PMT) array based spectroscopic diagnostic with fast time response of 10 µs and spatial resolution ∼3 cm has been developed and installed on Aditya tokamak to study the spatial and temporal behavior of Hα emissions from typical discharges. Collimated light has been collected from the plasma along 16 lines of sight passing through entire plasma poloidal cross section of Aditya and detected by two 8 channels PMT arrays after selecting Hα emission using interference filter. The studies are carried out during plasma formation phase of Aditya by changing vertical field and its delay with respect to loop voltage. It is observed that plasma initiated in the high field side in typical discharges of Aditya. The plasma formation position is matched with null field location estimated through simulation.

Branches of the splenic artery and splenic arterial segments.

In 200 adult autopsy specimens, the arterial supply to the pancreas and spleen was studied radiologically and by manual dissection. The splenic artery divided into two or three lobar arteries, which supplied its corresponding lobe; each lobar artery subsequently divided into two to four lobular branches. Six to twelve lobular branches were observed entering the splenic substance at the hilum. Lobar arteries did not anastomose with each other, hence, the lobes of the spleen are also termed segments. The lobules, however, were not found to be independent segments and the arteries of one lobule anastomosed with those of other lobules. The branching pattern of the splenic artery varied from one specimen to another, so much so that a prevailing pattern could not be identified. Polar arteries, particularly to the superior pole, arose quite proximal to the hilum in 51% of cases and were occasionally missed. In 45% of males and 40% of females, the posterior gastric artery arose from about the middle of the splenic artery. The splenic artery was not found to be tortuous in fetuses, newborns, and young children. Tortuosity was seen in only 10% of adults; thus, the characteristic tortuosity of the splenic artery appears to develop with age.

5-HT3 receptors in selective animal models of cognition.

Role of 5-HT3 receptors in cholinergic hypofunctional models of cognitive impairment in the elevated plus maze model and a passive avoidance model is studied. Cognitive impairment was caused by scopolamine (1 mg/kg, ip) in mice and 5-HT3 ligands mCPBG (1 and 5 mg/kg, ip) and ondansetron (0.5 and 5 mg/kg, ip) were administered before the pre-learning phase to study the effects on acquisition, while post-learning administration was used to determine the effects on consolidation. Ondansetron improved acquisition and retention in cholinergic hypofunctional models while mCPBG potentiated selected impaired cognitive indices. The results indicate the role of 5-HT3 receptors in cognition and that an ideal evaluation of 5-HT3 ligands in cognition should distinguish true cognitive effects from locomotor, motivational and emotional effects.

Synthesis of new arylaminoquinoxalines and their antimalarial activity in mice.

2-Arylaminoquinoxalines were prepared by the condensation of 2-chloroquinoxaline with the appropriate Mannich bases in the presence of HCl. To synthesize the Mannich bases, 4-acetamidophenol was reacted with formaldehyde and dialkylamine to yield 3-[(dialkylamino) methyl]-4-hydroxyacetanilide, followed by hydrolysis. Antimalarial activities of the new arylaminoquinoxalines were evaluated against the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium yoelii at a dose of 75 mg kg(-1). Three compounds synthesized (2-[3-[(diethylamino) methyl]-4-hydroxyanilino]-quinoxaline dihydrochloride (2b), 2-[3-[(pyrrolidinyl) methyl]-4-hydroxyanilino]-quinoxaline dihydrochloride (2f), and 2-[3-[(piperidinyl) methyl]-4-hydroxyanilino]-quinoxaline dihydrochloride (2g)) showed moderate antimalarial activity.

Synthesis and preliminary pharmacological investigations of 1-(1,2-dihydro-2-acenaphthylenyl)piperazine derivatives as potential atypical antipsychotic agents in mice.

In research towards the development of new atypical antipsychotic agents, one strategy is that the dopaminergic system can be modulated through manipulation of the serotonergic system. The synthesis and preliminary pharmacological evaluation of a series of potential atypical antipsychotic agents based on the structure of 1-(1,2-dihydro-2-acenaphthylenyl)piperazine (7) is described. Compound 7e, 5-{2-[4-(1,2-dihydro-2-acenaphthylenyl)piperazinyl]ethyl}-2,3-dihy dro-1H- indol-2-one, from this series showed significant affinities at the 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptors and moderate affinity at the D2 receptor. 7e exhibits a high reversal of catalepsy induced by haloperidol indicating its atypical antipsychotic nature.