Genetic overlap between measures of hyperactivity/inattention and mood in children and adolescents.

Objective: Evidence suggests that there is substantial comorbidity between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and major depressive disorder in childhood and adolescence. This study aims to investigate the degree to which etiological factors are shared between the symptoms of these significantly heritable disorders.

Method: A twin study design was used to determine to what extent the covariation between the traits of ADHD and depression is genetically or environmentally mediated, based on parental reports.

Epidemiology and symptomatology of depression in Sri Lanka: a cross-sectional population-based survey in Colombo District.

Background: It is important to understand the nature of depression in non-Western and lower-income countries, but little such research exists. This study aimed to examine the characteristic features of depression in Sri Lanka, and to identify environmental risk factors.

Methods: Depression diagnoses, symptoms and impairment were measured using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview, in a population-based sample of 6014 twins and non-twins in the Colombo region of Sri Lanka (the CoTASS sample).

Shwachman-Bodian Diamond syndrome is a multi-functional protein implicated in cellular stress responses.

Shwachman-Diamond syndrome (SDS; OMIM 260400) results from loss-of-function mutations in the Shwachman-Bodian Diamond syndrome (SBDS) gene. It is a multi-system disorder with clinical features of exocrine pancreatic dysfunction, skeletal abnormalities, bone marrow failure and predisposition to leukemic transformation. Although the cellular functions of SBDS are still unclear, its yeast ortholog has been implicated in ribosome biogenesis.

Airway covering during bed-sharing.

Background: Parent-infant bed-sharing is a common practice in Western post-industrial nations with up to 50% of infants sleeping with their parents at some point during early infancy. However, researchers have claimed that infants may be at risk of suffocation or sudden infant death syndrome related to airway covering or compression in the bed-sharing environment. To further understand the role of airway covering and compression in creating risks for bed-sharing infants, we report here on a sleep-lab trial of two infant sleep conditions.

Characterization and evolution of vertebrate indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenases IDOs from monotremes and marsupials.

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO1) and tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase (TDO) are tryptophan-degrading enzymes that catalyze the first step in tryptophan catabolism via the kynurenine pathway. TDO is widely distributed in both eukaryotes and bacteria. In contrast, IDO has been found only in mammals and yeast.

Characterization and evolution of vertebrate indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenases IDOs from monotremes and marsupials.

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO1) and tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase (TDO) are tryptophan-degrading enzymes that catalyze the first step in tryptophan catabolism via the kynurenine pathway. TDO is widely distributed in both eukaryotes and bacteria. In contrast, IDO has been found only in mammals and yeast.

Detection of Mycoplasma mycoides sub-species mycoides small colony by a specific capture/enrichment monoclonal antibody-based sandwich ELISA.

The present study describes the development of a specific Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides Small Colony (MmmSC) monoclonal antibody (MAb), 6E3, and its application in a sandwich ELISA (sELISA) format. Mab 6E3 reacted only to the 12 MmmSC within the 32 M.

The cell cycle as a therapeutic target against Trypanosoma brucei: Hesperadin inhibits Aurora kinase-1 and blocks mitotic progression in bloodstream forms.

Aurora kinase family members co-ordinate a range of events associated with mitosis and cytokinesis. Anti-cancer therapies are currently being developed against them. Here, we evaluate whether Aurora kinase-1 (TbAUK1) from pathogenic Trypanosoma brucei might be targeted in anti-parasitic therapies as well.

Depression, migraine with aura and migraine without aura: their familiality and interrelatedness.

Migraine is frequently comorbid with depression. There appear to be common aetiological factors for both disorders, but the aetiology of migraine within depressed patients, in particular the significance of aura, has been little studied. A large sample of concordantly depressed sibling pairs [the Depression-Network (DeNT) sample] was assessed as having migraine with aura (MA), migraine without aura (MoA), probable migraine or no migraine according to International Headache Society guidelines.

Manipulating cell migration and proliferation with a light-activated polypeptide.

Remote control of cells: A polypeptide has been made that stimulates proliferation and migration of cells upon photochemical activation. This light-activated polypeptide enables spatially defined control of cell populations at the scale of tissue organization; this is accomplished without physically contacting the cells or modifying their substrate. Polypeptide growth and differentiation factors modulate a wide variety of cell behaviors and can be used to manipulate cells in vitro for tissue engineering and basic studies of cell biology.

Association of the dystrobrevin binding protein 1 gene (DTNBP1) in a bipolar case-control study (BACCS).

Recent studies suggest a degree of overlap in genetic susceptibility across the traditional categories of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. There is some evidence for an association of the dystrobrevin binding protein 1 gene (DTNBP1) with schizophrenia, and, thus, this gene has also become a focus of further investigation in bipolar disorder (BD). The aim of our study is to explore the association of DTNBP1 with BD and with a sub phenotype, presence/absence of psychotic symptoms, in a sample of 515 patients with BD (ICD10/DSMIV) and 1,316 ethnically matched control subjects recruited from the UK.

AMPylation of Rho GTPases by Vibrio VopS disrupts effector binding and downstream signaling.

The Vibrio parahaemolyticus type III effector VopS is implicated in cell rounding and the collapse of the actin cytoskeleton by inhibiting Rho guanosine triphosphatases (GTPases). We found that VopS could act to covalently modify a conserved threonine residue on Rho, Rac, and Cdc42 with adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP). The resulting AMPylation prevented the interaction of Rho GTPases with downstream effectors, thereby inhibiting actin assembly in the infected cell.

Abortion in Indonesia.

Each year in Indonesia, millions of women become pregnant unintentionally, and many choose to end their pregnancies, despite the fact that abortion is generally illegal. Like their counterparts in many developing countries where abortion is stigmatized and highly restricted, Indonesian women often seek clandestine procedures performed by untrained providers, and resort to methods that include ingesting unsafe substances and undergoing harmful abortive massage. Though reliable evidence does not exist, researchers estimate that about two million induced abortions occur each year in the country and that deaths from unsafe abortion represent 14-16% of all maternal deaths in Southeast Asia.

Effect of indoleamine dioxygenase-1 deficiency and kynurenine pathway inhibition on murine cerebral malaria.

Cerebral malaria (CM) can be a fatal manifestation of Plasmodium falciparum infection. In this study, two different approaches were used to examine the role of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-1 (IDO-1) and its metabolites in the development of murine CM. Mice genetically deficient in IDO-1 were not protected against CM, but partial protection was observed in C57BL/6 mice treated with Ro 61-8048, an inhibitor of kynurenine-3-hydroxylase.

Application of combined morphological-molecular approaches to the identification of planktonic protists from environmental samples.

The value of molecular databases for unicellular eukaryotic identification and phylogenetic reconstruction is predicated on the availability of sequences and accuracy of taxonomic identifications that accompany those sequences. Biased representation of sequences is due in part to the differing ability to isolate and culture various groups of protists. Techniques that allow for parallel single-cell morphological and molecular identifications have been reported for a few groups of unicellular protists.

Both functional LTbeta receptor and TNF receptor 2 are required for the development of experimental cerebral malaria.

Background: TNF-related lymphotoxin alpha (LTalpha) is essential for the development of Plasmodium berghei ANKA (PbA)-induced experimental cerebral malaria (ECM). The pathway involved has been attributed to TNFR2. Here we show a second arm of LTalpha-signaling essential for ECM development through LTbeta-R, receptor of LTalpha1beta2 heterotrimer.

Colombo Twin and Singleton Study (CoTASS): a description of a population based twin study of mental disorders in Sri Lanka.

Background: The Sri Lankan twin registry is one of the first to be established in a developing country, and its design has ensured sampling from a wide range of environmental conditions. It thus has great potential to examine environmental and genetic influences on diverse phenotypes, including psychiatric disorders, in the context of a diversity of environmental exposures, which may not have been fully explored in previous twin studies in developed countries. This paper presents the rationale for the study, describes its context, and the methods for twin ascertainment and data collection.

Attributional style and depression.

Background: Few studies have examined whether attributional style (an individual's explanation of why events happen) is a genetically influenced vulnerability factor for depression.

Aims: To investigate whether attributional style is an enduring vulnerability trait for recurrent depression.

Method: As part of the Cardiff Depression Study, we interviewed 108 people with depression and their siblings, and a control group of 105 healthy individuals and their siblings, using the Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry and the Life Events and Difficulties Schedule.

Novel reversible biotinylated probe for the selective enrichment of phosphorylated peptides from complex mixtures.

To improve the detection of phosphorylated peptides/proteins, we developed a novel protocol that involves the chemical derivatization of phosphate groups with a chemically engineered biotinylated-tag (biotin-tag), possessing three functional domains; a biotin group for binding to avidin, a base-labile 4-carboxy fluorenyl methoxycarbonyl (4-carboxy Fmoc) group, and a nucleophilic sulfhydryl moiety on the side-chain of cysteine. Using this approach, the derivatized, enzymatically digested peptides were selectively separated from unrelated sequences and impurities on immobilized avidin. Unlike previously published phosphopeptide enrichment procedures, this approach upon treatment with mild base liberates a covalently bound Gly-Cys analog of the peptide(s) of interest, exhibiting improved RP-HPLC retention and MS ionization properties compared with the precursor phosphopeptide sequence.

Predominance of interferon-related responses in the brain during murine malaria, as identified by microarray analysis.

Cerebral malaria (CM) can be a fatal manifestation of Plasmodium falciparum infection. We examined global gene expression patterns during fatal murine CM (FMCM) and noncerebral malaria (NCM) by microarray analysis. There was differential expression of a number of genes, including some not yet characterized in the pathogenesis of FMCM.

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-2; a new enzyme in the kynurenine pathway.

The kynurenine pathway of tryptophan metabolism converts the amino acid tryptophan into a number of biologically active metabolites. The first and rate-limiting step in this pathway is the conversion of tryptophan to N-formylkynurenine and until recently this reaction was thought to be performed by either of two enzymes, tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase. A third enzyme, indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-2, indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-like protein or proto-indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO2, IDO-2, INDOL1 or proto-IDO), with this activity recently has been described.

Mouse and human indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase display some distinct biochemical and structural properties.

The hemoprotein indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) is the first and rate-limiting enzyme in the most significant pathway for mammalian tryptophan metabolism. It has received considerable attention in recent years, particularly due to its dual role in immunity and the pathogenesis of many diseases. Reported here are differences and similarities between biochemical behaviour and structural features of recombinant human IDO and recombinant mouse IDO.

Genetic and environmental influences on victims, bullies and bully-victims in childhood.

Background: Three groups of children are involved in bullying: victims, bullies and bully-victims who are both bullies and victims of bullying. Understanding the origins of these groups is important since they have elevated emotional and behavioural problems, especially the bully-victims. No research has examined the genetic and environmental influences on these social roles.