פרסומים

A variety of psychiatric illnesses, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, have been reported in patients with microdeletion on chromosome 22q11-a region which includes the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene. The variety of psychiatric manifestations in patients with the 22q11 microdeletion and the role of COMT in the degradation of catecholamine neurotransmitters may thus suggest a general involvement of the COMT gene in psychiatric diseases. We have previously reported on a significant association between a COMT haplotype and schizophrenia. In this study, we attempt to test for association between bipolar disorder and the polymorphisms implicated in schizophrenia. The association between COMT and bipolar disorder was tested by examining the allele and haplotype found to be associated with schizophrenia. A significant association between bipolar disorder and COMT polymorphisms was found. The estimated relative risk is greater in women, a result consistent with our previous findings in schizophrenia. We suggest that polymorphisms in the COMT gene may influence susceptibility to both diseases--and probably also a wider range of behavioral traits.

Crystal growth of calcium hydrogenphosphate dihydrate (DCPD), in the presence of polyaspartic acid or calcium phytate (system A), as well as nucleation and growth of octacalcium phosphate (OCP), in the presence of poly-l-lysine, poly-l-glutamic acid or polystyrene sulfonate (system B) have been investigated. In system A crystallization of DCPD was inhibited and the crystal growth morphology was specifically modified by preferential interaction of the respective additive with the dominant (010) crystal face. In system B crystals were formed via precursor phase(s) and polyelectrolytes exhibited dual action, at low concentrations inducing and at high concentrations inhibiting nucleation of the crystalline phase. Crystal/additive interactions controlling growth were nonspecific and resulted in smaller crystals with rounded edges, but with the same basic orientation as in the controls.

Crystal growth of calcium hydrogenphosphate dihydrate (DCPD), in the presence of polyaspartic acid or calcium phytate (system A), as well as nucleation and growth of octacalcium phosphate (OCP), in the presence of poly-L-lysine, poly-L-glutamic acid or polystyrene sulfonate (system B) were investigated. In system A crystn. of DCPD was inhibited and the crystal growth morphol. was specifically modified by preferential interaction of the resp. additive with the dominant (010) crystal face. In system B crystals were formed via precursor phase(s) and polyelectrolytes exhibited dual action, at low concns. inducing and at high concns. inhibiting nucleation of the cryst. phase. Crystal/additive interactions controlling growth were nonspecific and resulted in smaller crystals with rounded edges, but with the same basic orientation as in the controls. [on SciFinder(R)]

Off-centered top-seeded solution growth (TSSG) method is demonstrated as an effective and simple way to generate controlled composition modulation in potassium lithium tantalate niobate (KLTN) single crystals. The changes in concentration were measured by differential interference contrast (DIC) microscopy. Large length with periodic modulations ranging from 1 to 5 mum in period was grown along a KLTN sample with period dispersion lower than 2%. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

OBJECTIVE: Although there are several animal models of epilepsy, the extrapolation of antiepileptic drug (AEDs) performance to epileptic patients from anticonvulsant activity results in animals is not straightforward. Consequently, the aim of this work was to perform a correlation analysis between therapeutic daily doses (D) and average steady-state plasma concentrations (Css,av) of AEDs and their activity in common anticonvulsant animal models. METHODS: AED activity in anticonvulsant animal models was expressed as maximal electroshock seizure (MES) test ED50 values in mice and rats and ED50 values in audiogenic seizure-susceptible mice (AGS ED50). Data were examined, by use of linear and logarithmic approaches, for an association between Css,av (mg/L or micromol/L) and D (mg or mmol) for each AED in epileptic patients as the dependent variable (Y) and its MES ED50 in mice and rats and AGS ED50 in mice (mg/kg or micromol/kg) as the independent variable (X). RESULTS: Linear correlation analyses between Css,av (mg/L) and ED50 (mg/kg) for 11 AEDs gave the following correlation coefficients (R2): 0.68 (mice, MES); 0.73 (rat, MES); 0.64 (AGS). Switching the units from milligrams to micromoles improved the correlation significantly and gave the following R2 values: 0.88 (mice, MES); 0.90 (rat, MES); 0.76 (AGS). The linear correlation between Css,av and ED50 was better than that between D and ED50. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this analysis suggest that the relationship between Css,av and ED50 is useful in predicting target concentration ranges in humans. The Y intercepts of the Css,av-versus-ED50 and D-versus- ED50 plots were similar in all three animal models and ranged between 12 and 17 mg/L and between 570 and 890 mg, respectively, indicating that for all AEDs analyzed except valproic acid and ethosuximide, the therapeutic plasma concentration is in the range 10-20 mg/L.

We report an intriguing empirical observation. The relationship between corruption and output depends on the economy's degree of openness: in open economies, corruption and GNP per capita are strongly negatively correlated; but in closed economies, there is no relationship at all. This stylized fact is robust to a variety of different empirical specifications. In particular, the same basic pattern persists if we use alternative measures of openness, if we focus on different time periods, if we restrict the sample to include only highly corrupt countries, if we restrict attention to specific geographic areas or to poor countries, and if we allow for the possible endogeneity of both the corruption and openness measures. We find that the extent to which corruption affects output is determined primarily by the degree of financial openness. The difference between closed and open economies is mainly due to the different effect of corruption on capital accumulation. We present a model, consistent with these findings, in which the main channel through which corruption affects output is capital drain.

DNA can be delivered into the cell nucleus either using physical means or specific carriers that carry the genes into the cells for gene expression). Various carriers for delivering genes have been investigated which can be divided into two main groups: viral carriers where the DNA to be delivered is inserted into a virus, and cationic molecular carriers that form electrostatic interactions with DNA). Successful gene therapy depends on the efficient delivery of genetic materials into the cells nucleus and its effective expression within these cells). Although at present the in vivo expression levels of synthetic molecular gene vectors are lower than for viral vectors and gene expression is transient, these vehicles are likely to present several advantages including safety, low-immunogenicity, capacity to deliver large genes and large-scale production at low-cost). The two leading classes of synthetic gene delivery systems that have been mostly investigated are cationic lipids and cationic polymers). This review discusses recent developments in viral vectors, physical means and molecular gene carriers). The last part focuses on our recent studies in developing a new series of biodegradable polycations for in vitro and in vivo gene transfection).

This paper studies the role of business cycles in the phenomenon of increasing government-spending/GDP ratios in the OECD countries. An empirical framework that includes both long-run and cyclical considerations in the determination of government spending is applied to panel data covering 1975–1998. The main finding is that the prolonged rise in the spending/GDP ratio is partially explained by cyclical upward ratcheting due to asymmetric fiscal behavior: the ratio increases during recessions and is only partially reduced in expansions. The long-run ratcheting effect is estimated as approximately 2% of GDP. Also analyzed are the cyclical changes in the composition of government spending (government consumption, transfers and subsidies, and capital expenditure), as well as a possible link between cyclical ratcheting and government weakness.