Intrusive thoughts and memories in adolescents with major depressive disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder.

Objectives: Research in adults suggests that intrusive memories and intrusive thoughts (often referred to as intrusive cognitions) are common in members of the general population and are often seen in clinical disorders. However, little is known about the experience of intrusive cognitions in adolescents, particularly in adolescents with major depressive disorder (MDD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The present study sought to gather fundamental data on these phenomena (i.

Long-Term Viscoelastic Behavior of Polyisobutylene Sealants before and after Thermal Stabilization.

Polyisobutylene (PIB) is commonly used as a primary sealant in multi-layer insulating glazing elements, where temperatures often exceed 100 °C. At such conditions, PIB undergoes structural changes, causing different relaxation dynamics and leading to decreased lifetime of the material. Understanding thermal behavior is therefore imperative for achieving effective insulation of these materials for long-term use in insulating application.

Adsorption of rare earth metals from wastewater by nanomaterials: A review.

Rare earth elements are widely used in chemical engineering, the nuclear industry, metallurgy, medicine, electronics, and computer technology because of their unique properties. To fulfil ever increasing demands for these elements, recycling of rare-earth-element-containing products as well as their recovery from wastewater is quite important. In order to recover rare earth elements from wastewater, their adsorption from low-concentration aqueous solutions, by using nanomaterials, is investigated due to technological simplicity and high efficiency.

The prevalence of intrusive memories in adult depression: A meta-analysis.

Background: Intrusive memories have typically been associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) but some studies have suggested they can also occur in depression-alone.

Objective: This meta-analysis aimed to estimate the prevalence of intrusive memories in adult depression and to explore methodological and other factors that may moderate this prevalence.

Method: The databases PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, MedLine, PubMed, CINAHL and Embase were searched for relevant articles, published up to and including July 2016.

Filling accuracy and imprecision of commercial evacuated sodium citrate coagulation tubes.

Current recommendations advocate that blood tubes for coagulation testing should be filled not less than 90% of their nominal filling volume, since under- or over-filling >10% may generate unreliable results of some hemostasis assays. This study was hence aimed to explore filling accuracy and precision of commercial blood tubes. Between-lot variations of 3 different lots (20 tubes per lot) of 3.

The effect of five day dosing with THCV on THC-induced cognitive, psychological and physiological effects in healthy male human volunteers: A placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover pilot trial.

Rationale: Cannabis is mostly grown under illegal and unregulated circumstances, which seems to favour a product increasingly high in its main cannabinoid ∆-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). ∆-9-tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV) is a relatively untested cannabinoid which is said to be a cannabinoid receptor neutral antagonist, and may inhibit the effects of THC.

Objectives: To explore the safety and tolerability of repeated THCV administration and its effects on symptoms normally induced by THC in a sample of healthy volunteers.

Alanine-glyoxylate aminotransferase 2 (AGXT2) polymorphisms have considerable impact on methylarginine and β-aminoisobutyrate metabolism in healthy volunteers.

Elevated plasma concentrations of asymmetric (ADMA) and symmetric (SDMA) dimethylarginine have repeatedly been linked to adverse clinical outcomes. Both methylarginines are substrates of alanine-glyoxylate aminotransferase 2 (AGXT2). It was the aim of the present study to simultaneously investigate the functional relevance and relative contributions of common AGXT2 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to plasma and urinary concentrations of methylarginines as well as β-aminoisobutyrate (BAIB), a prototypic substrate of AGXT2.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of biphenyl amides that modulate the US28 receptor.

To prepare and biologically evaluate 38 new potential US28 allosteric modulators, we employed a straightforward synthetic route involving radical arylation. The study was based on a former lead structure but with the dihydroisoquinolinone moiety replaced by substituted biphenyls. The investigation of structure-activity relationships among the new biphenyl-derived ligands led to a preliminary pharmacophore model and the discovery of four promising candidates with full inverse agonist properties.

Development of flavonoid-based inverse agonists of the key signaling receptor US28 of human cytomegalovirus.

A series of 31 chalcone- and flavonoid-based derivatives were synthesized in good overall yields and screened for their inverse agonist activity on the US28 receptor of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). With one exception (e.g.

Identification of novel allosteric modulators for the G-protein coupled US28 receptor of human cytomegalovirus.

The highly constitutively active G-protein coupled receptor US28 of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is an interesting pharmacological target because of its implication on viral dissemination, cardiovascular diseases and tumorigenesis. We found that dihydroisoquinolinone and tetrahydroisoquinoline scaffolds may be promising lead structures for novel US28 allosteric inverse agonists. These scaffolds were rapidly synthesized by radical carboamination reactions followed by non-radical transformations.

Trichothecenes induce accumulation of glucosylceramide in neural cells by interfering with lactosylceramide synthase activity.

Trichothecenes are sesquiterpenoid metabolites produced by several fungal strains that impair human and animal health. Since sphingolipids were connected with fungal toxicity the aim of the present study was to test the influence of fungal metabolites on sphingolipid metabolism in neural cells. The crude extract of fungal strain Spicellum roseum induced accumulation of glucosylceramide (GlcCer), and simultaneous reduction of the formation of lactosylceramide (LacCer) and complex gangliosides in primary cultured neurons.

Two new depsipeptides from the marine fungus Spicellum roseum.

Investigation of the secondary metabolites of the marine-derived fungus Spicellum roseum yielded two new cyclohexadepsipeptides, spicellamide A (1) and spicellamide B (2). The structures of 1 and 2 were determined based on extensive evaluations of NMR and MS data. The absolute configuration was deduced after hydrolysis using Marfey's method, chiral chromatography, as well as NOESY and modeling data.

Arugosins G and H: prenylated polyketides from the marine-derived fungus Emericellanidulans var. acristata.

The fungus Emericella nidulans var. acristata was isolated as an endophyte from a Mediterranean green alga. Cultivation of this fungus yielded two new compounds, arugosins G (1) and H (2), together with the known metabolites 3-9.

Motor response of the leg muscles produced by position-selective stimulation of spinal nerve roots.

Objective: To define and measure motor responses of the leg muscles in the ankle associated with position-selective and tetanic stimulation of spinal nerve roots L3-S1.

Methods: Sixteen lumbosacral spinal nerve roots in 14 subjects were stimulated intraoperatively after surgical exposure and decompression for a herniated disc. Each contact of a spiral cuff multielectrode was wrapped around the root and used to excite a spatially defined population of axons beneath the electrode.

Biomechanical response in the ankle to stimulation of lumbosacral nerve roots with spiral cuff multielectrode--preliminary study.

Biomechanical response in the ankle to tetanic stimulation of the lumbosacral root was investigated to assess the potential for lower limb functional neurostimulation. Myotomal response in the leg was measured as the three-dimensional isometric torque in the ankle after extradural tetanic stimulation of the L3-S1 roots exposed surgically for herniated disc removal in five patients. The cuff multielectrode was employed to investigate functional topography of the roots by monopolar, bipolar, and tripolar electrode configurations.

Problems associated with FES-standing in paraplegia.

Prolonged immobilization, such as occurs after the spinal cord injury (SCI), results in several physiological problems. It has been demonstrated that the standing posture can ameliorate many of these problems. Standing exercise can be efficiently performed by the help of functional electrical stimulation (FES).

Stability and velocity in incomplete spinal cord injured subject gaits.

We have defined 2 indices describing gait kinematic and dynamic stability. We assessed their values in the gaits of 5 different paraparetic subjects. The indices are correlated to the gait velocity to prove the close relationship between overall gate velocity and stability.

Functional electrical stimulation and arm supported sit-to-stand transfer after paraplegia: a study of kinetic parameters.

The sit-to-stand transfer of paraplegic patients using functional electrical stimulation (FES) of the knee extensors and arm support was analyzed in the study. In a group of 8 completely paralyzed subjects who were trained FES users, kinematic and dynamic parameters were recorded during standing up trials. A contactless optical system was used to assess the human body motion.

Use of functional electrical stimulation in the lower extremities of incomplete spinal cord injured patients.

After a program of therapeutic electrical stimulation, 3 groups of incomplete spinal cord injured (SCI) patients were identified, those in whom an improvement of both voluntary and stimulated muscle force was observed, those with an increase in stimulation response only, and patients in whom no effect of electrical stimulation training could be recorded. As it is difficult to predict the outcome of the electrical stimulation rehabilitation process, a diagnostic procedure was developed to predict soon after accidents which incomplete SCI patients are candidates for permanent use of a functional electrical stimulation (FES) orthotic aid. The candidates for chronic use of FES are patients with weak ankle dorsiflexors and sufficiently strong knee extensors.

Effects of respiratory muscle training and electrical stimulation of abdominal muscles on respiratory capabilities in tetraplegic patients.

Thirteen tetraplegic patients were included in the study of the effects of respiratory muscle training and of electrical stimulation of the abdominal muscles on their respiratory capabilities. Each patient was subjected for three 1 month lasting periods of the study: for inspiratory muscle training, expiratory muscle training and for a period without training. The sequence of these three periods was random for each patient.

Wireless control of functional electrical stimulation systems.

With the assistance of crutches and functional electrical stimulation (FES), we are able to restore standing and simple gait in some spinal cord injured (SCI) patients. In present rehabilitative systems, the patient divides the gait cycle into stance and swing phases via pushbuttons mounted on the handles of the crutches, which are hardwired to the functional electrical stimulator. The surface-mount technology based telemetry system, which makes use of the radiofrequency medium at 40 MHz, was developed to provide wireless control of the FES system.

Stability and energy criteria in healthy and paraplegic subject gait.

The functional electrical stimulation (FES) assisted gait of paraplegic patients is inferior to that of healthy subjects. The difference can be observed in terms of speed, upright balance, biomechanical energy consumption, and generation of propulsion forces in the direction of walking. The biomechanical structure of paraplegic subjects is the same as that of normal ones; however, the mode of walking differs significantly because of the reduced number of activated muscles and primitive control.

Influence of electrically stimulated ankle plantar flexors on the swinging leg.

The influence of functional electrically stimulated ankle plantar flexors on the swinging lower extremity was studied in incomplete spinal cord injured persons. Stimulation sequences with different time and frequency parameters were delivered to ankle plantar flexors and knee extensors and to the peroneal nerve. The results of kinematic assessment showed that stimulated calf muscles provide noticeable forward and upward propulsion to the swinging leg.

Improvement in step clearance via calf muscle stimulation.

The aim is to study the influence of electrically stimulated calf muscles on the effectiveness of the swinging leg movement. The study is carried out with a group of patients with incomplete spinal cord injuries both under stationary conditions and during crutch-assisted walking. Before stimulation is applied to the ankle plantar flexors, the knee extensors are inactivated.

Modelling muscle activity in standing with considerations for bone safety.

The functional use of electrical stimulation (FES) for the restoration of movement to paraplegics has been improved in the last decade but questions about the mechanical effect of stimulation on the skeleton have arisen. In intact people, neuromuscular activity not only controls movement, but also minimizes bone and joint tissue loading. Current FES systems do not use feedback and do not even use average natural patterns of muscle activation.