Characterization of the potent and highly selective A2A receptor antagonists preladenant and SCH 412348 [7-[2-[4-2,4-difluorophenyl]-1-piperazinyl]ethyl]-2-(2-furanyl)-7H-pyrazolo[4,3-e][1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidin-5-amine] in rodent models of movement disorders and depression.

The adenosine A(2A) receptor has been implicated in the underlying biology of various neurological and psychiatric disorders, including Parkinson's disease (PD) and depression. Preladenant and SCH 412348 [7-[2-[4-2,4-difluorophenyl]-1-piperazinyl]ethyl]-2-(2-furanyl)-7H-pyrazolo[4,3-e][1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidin-5-amine] are potent competitive antagonists of the human A(2A) receptor (K(i) = 1.1 and 0.

What was useful about that session? Clients' and therapists' comments after sessions in the UK Alcohol Treatment Trial (UKATT).

Aim: The aim of this study was to report and contrast the aspects of two therapies considered by clients and therapists to be most and least useful.

Method: In the UK Alcohol Treatment Trial (UKATT), 742 clients were treated by 49 therapists with up to three sessions of motivational enhancement therapy (MET) or up to eight sessions of social behaviour and network therapy (SBNT). After each treatment session, clients and therapists were asked to independently complete two sentences, one inviting a statement about the 'most useful' and the other about the 'least useful' thing that had happened during the session.

A case of unilateral thalamic hemorrhagic infarction as a result of the vein of Galen and straight sinus thrombosis.

Straight sinus vein thrombosis represents 15% of all diagnosed sinus vein thrombosis. Thrombotic occlusion of the deep cerebral venous system, the straight sinus, and the vein of Galen causes centrally located and usually bilateral thalamic infarcts. Unilateral thalamic venous infarction is extremely rare.

Specific identification of coconut tinangaja viroid for differential field diagnosis of viroids in coconut palm.

ABSTRACT Tinangaja is a widespread lethal disease of putative viroid etiology affecting coconut palm on the island of Guam. Determination of its distribution and mode of spread requires a simple and reliable diagnostic procedure that is specific for the associated coconut tinangaja viroid (CTiVd). A method of extracting tissue followed by analytical agarose gel electrophoresis for CTiVd detection has been developed and used to identify the viroid in leaf samples of suspect symptomatic palms growing in the field.

Characterization of the V1a antagonist, JNJ-17308616, in rodent models of anxiety-like behavior.

Rationale: Vasopressin (AVP) plays a role in regulating anxiety, which is thought to be partially mediated through the V1a receptor. Recently, JNJ-17308616 was identified as a V1a antagonist.

Objectives: The purpose of this work was to assess V1a receptor affinity and selectivity of JNJ-17308616 and in vivo efficacy in animal models of anxiety-like behavior.

Genetic diversity in the yellow head nidovirus complex.

Penaeus monodon shrimp collected from across the Indo-Pacific region during 1997-2004 were screened for the presence of yellow head-related viruses. Phylogenetic analyses of amplified ORF1b gene segments identified at least six distinct genetic lineages (genotypes). Genotype 1 (YHV) was detected only in shrimp with yellow head disease.

Cobalt nanoparticles as a novel magnetic resonance contrast agent--relaxivities at 1.5 and 3 Tesla.

Two samples of polymer-coated cobalt nanoparticles were synthesized and dispersed in agarose gel and water. The relaxivities r1 and r2 of the two samples were obtained at different temperatures (25, 37 and 40 degrees C) and magnetic field strengths (1.5 and 3 T).

The effects of adenosine A2A receptor antagonists on haloperidol-induced movement disorders in primates.

Rationale: Adenosine and dopamine interact within the striatum to control striatopallidal output and globus pallidus GABA release. Manipulating striatal adenosine transmission via blockade of the A2A receptor subtype can compensate for the reduced dopamine activity within the striatum that underlies movement disorders such as antipsychotic-induced extrapyramidal syndrome (EPS) and Parkinson's disease (PD). Preclinical studies in the rat have demonstrated that adenosine A2A receptor antagonists can attenuate behaviors reflecting reduced dopamine activity, such as haloperidol-induced catalepsy and hypoactivity.

To what factors do clients attribute change? Content analysis of follow-up interviews with clients of the UK Alcohol Treatment Trial.

The UK Alcohol Treatment Trial compared outcomes after a social treatment (Social Behavior and Network Therapy) and a motivational treatment (Motivational Enhancement Therapy). As part of the process element of the trial, a subsample of clients were interviewed 3 months after treatment allocation and another subsample 12 months after allocation (N = 397) to explore the factors to which clients attributed positive changes that might have occurred in their drinking. Postinterview reports were content analyzed using three types of code: social, motivational, and general.

The anxiolytic-like effects of the novel, orally active nociceptin opioid receptor agonist 8-[bis(2-methylphenyl)methyl]-3-phenyl-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-3-ol (SCH 221510).

Orphanin FQ/nociceptin (OFQ/N) is the endogenously occurring peptide ligand for the nociceptin opioid receptor (NOP) that produces anxiolytic-like effects in mice and rats. The present study assessed the anxiolytic-like activity of 8-[bis(2-methylphenyl)-methyl]-3-phenyl-8-azabicyclo[3.2.

Luus-Jaakola optimization procedure for phase-only sampled-fiber Bragg gratings.

We describe a Luus-Jaakola (LJ) optimization algorithm approach for the design of wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) optical communication systems by using phase-only sampled-fiber Bragg gratings. The LJ method is used to optimize the phase grating as well as the number of segments which form the grating. The numerical example of WDM is studied.

Optimization of multilayer mirrors at 13.4 nm with more than two materials.

The design of multilayer mirrors with more than two materials is one of the key technologies for investigating lithography. We study a new procedure for optimizing multilayer mirrors of different combinations of materials at a wavelength of 13.4 nm.

Fast CE for combinatorial catalysis.

Two solvent-modified MEKC methods were developed for the quantitative analysis of heterocyclic amines synthesised using intramolecular ring closure via catalysed hydroamination. The first method was capable of resolving six of the amines (precursors and products) with a sample-to-sample injection time of 2 min employing a 20 mM borate buffer, pH 9.2 with 20 mM SDS and 5% v/v n-butanol (n-BuOH).

Changes underlying the dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI response to treatment in rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI of patients with rheumatoid arthritis has shown a decrease in the early enhancement rate (EER) of synovitis after treatment. The purpose of this work was to investigate the underlying changes.

Methods: 3D dynamic contrast-enhanced images were acquired from 13 patients before and 1-2 weeks after anti-TNF alpha treatment.

MRI of rheumatoid arthritis image quantitation for the assessment of disease activity, progression and response to therapy.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allows the direct visualization of many bone and soft tissue changes in rheumatoid arthritis. Synovitis volume, bone marrow oedema and bone erosions are suitable for serial measurement. The outcome measures in rheumatoid arthritis clinical trials (OMERACT) rheumatoid arthritis magnetic resonance imaging (RAMRIS) system is designed to allow straightforward, reproducible scoring of all these features.

Measurement of long-term outcomes in observational and randomised controlled trials.

Background: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) are the gold standard for evaluating treatment efficacy. However, the outcomes of RCTs often lack clinical utility and usually do not address real-world effectiveness.

Aims: To review how traditional RCTs may be triangulated with other methodologies such as observational studies and pragmatic trials by highlighting recently reported studies, outcomes used and their respective merits.

Dynamic contrast enhanced MRI of bone marrow oedema in rheumatoid arthritis.

Aims: The aim of this work was to assess the feasibility of using dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) MRI of bone marrow oedema, to compare it with conventional marrow oedema scoring systems, and to determine the effects of anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF)alpha therapy.

Methods: The wrist and metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints of 25 patients with rheumatoid arthritis were studied. A total of 14 were imaged before and 1-2 weeks after anti-TNFalpha therapy.

Duration of ultrasonic vocalizations in the isolated rat pup as a behavioral measure: sensitivity to anxiolytic and antidepressant drugs.

Neo-natal rats emit ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) when isolated from their mothers and littermates. Clinically effective anxiolytics reliably reduce USVs, making this behavior a useful animal model of the anxiolytic potential of novel pharmacological approaches to the treatment of anxiety. Here, we assess the hypothesis that USV duration (total time spent vocalizing) is a more sensitive measure of anxiolytic and antidepressant efficacy than USV number by testing established and putative anxiolytics in this model.

The antipsychotic drug, fluphenazine, effectively reverses mechanical allodynia in rat models of neuropathic pain.

Rationale: Fluphenazine is a potent antipsychotic drug used to treat schizophrenia and other psychotic symptoms. Its clinical benefit is mainly mediated by the antagonism of dopamine D2 receptors. We have recently discovered, however, that fluphenazine is also a potent sodium channel blocker, a property that may offer additional therapeutical indications, including analgesia.

The role of abdominal resectional surgery in metastatic melanoma.

Background: We reviewed our experience to determine the role of resectional surgery in metastatic melanoma to the abdomen.

Method: An observational study of 25 patients at the Austin Hospital, Melbourne from 1997 to 2005.

Results: The median survival after abdominal resectional surgery was 8.

Pharmacokinetic modeling of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI of the hand and wrist in rheumatoid arthritis and the response to anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha therapy.

Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) of the hand and wrist was performed in 11 patients with rheumatoid arthritis twice before and once 2 weeks after treatment with anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha therapy. A rapid, T1-weighted 3D spoiled gradient echo (SPGR) sequence was used for the dynamic imaging. T1 estimation was performed using similar images obtained at different flip angles.

Immobilized enzyme reactor chromatography: optimization of protein retention and enzyme activity in monolithic silica stationary phases.

Our group recently reported on the application of protein-doped monolithic silica columns for immobilized enzyme reactor chromatography, which allowed screening of enzyme inhibitors present in mixtures using mass spectrometry for detection. The enzyme was immobilized by entrapment within a bimodal meso/macroporous silica material prepared by a biocompatible sol-gel processing route. While such columns proved to be useful for applications such as screening of protein-ligand interactions, significant amounts of entrapped proteins leached from the columns owing to the high proportion of macropores within the materials.

The effect of caffeine to increase reaction time in the rat during a test of attention is mediated through antagonism of adenosine A2A receptors.

Caffeine produces effects on cognitive function particularly relating to aspects of attention such as reaction time. Considering the plasma exposure levels following regular caffeine intake, and the affinity of caffeine for known protein targets, these effects are likely mediated by either the adenosine A(1) or A(2A) receptor. In the present studies, two rat strains [Long-Evans (LE) and CD] were trained to asymptote performance in a test of selective attention, the 5-choice serial reaction time task (5-CSRTT).

Comparison of the V1b antagonist, SSR149415, and the CRF1 antagonist, CP-154,526, in rodent models of anxiety and depression.

Vasopressin and corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) are both critical regulators of an animal's stress response and have been linked to anxiety and depression. As such, antagonists of the CRF1 and V1b receptor subtypes are being developed as potential treatments for affective disorders. The two most characterized V1b and CRF1 antagonists are SSR149415 and CP-154,526, respectively, and the present studies were designed to compare these two compounds in acute animal models of affective disorders.