The Pugwash scientists' conferences, Cyrus Eaton and the clash of internationalisms, 1954-1961.

This paper examines the contest between Canadian American industrialist Cyrus Eaton and the Pugwash scientists' leadership for influence over the early Pugwash scientists' conferences. Eaton's activism has generally been dismissed in the historical literature as ineffective, naive and too uncritical of the Soviet Union. This paper argues that he was genuinely committed to international peace and security, that Eaton shared with Pugwash scientists a belief in the importance of intellectuals to global unity, and that he worked to bring about greater international peace and understanding through both his personal activism and his own conferences held in the town of Pugwash.

Stroke Riskometer Application (SRA™) influence on lifestyle changes of home bound familial Malaysian stroke caregivers: a randomised controlled trial in a primary care based longer term stroke care facility.

Background: In countries where access to Specialist stroke care services are limited, primary care physicians often manage stroke patients and the caregiving family members. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of Stroke Riskometer Application (SRA™) on promoting healthier lifestyles among familial stroke caregivers for primary prevention.

Methods: A parallel, open-label, 2-arm prospective, pilot randomised controlled trial was conducted at a long-term stroke service at a university based primary care clinic.

Anxiety among hospitalized COVID-19 patients: a case-control study from a tertiary teaching hospital in Malaysia.

Introduction: Anxiety has been increasingly recognized as part of the psychosocial health issues in COVID-19 patients. However, the impact of this topic may be underestimated in low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of and risk factors of anxiety in COVID-19 patients compared to controls in a local tertiary teaching hospital in Malaysia.

Synthesis of dihydropyrimidine stabilized silver nanoparticles with significant anti urease and catalytic applications.

We synthesized and explored biological and environmental applications of novel silver nanoparticles (AgNps) stabilized by short chain heterocyclic thiol namely Ethyl 6-methyl-4-phenyl-2-thioxo1,2,3,4-dihydropyrim-idine-5-carboxylate (DHPM). Dihydropyrimidines (DHPM), a biological active class of compounds that contain a single thiol group at the focal point which strongly stabilized the nascent AgNps. The short alkyl chain of (DHPM) effectively controlled the growth kinetics and surface morphology of AgNps.

Key Modulators of the Stress Granule Response TIA1, TDP-43, and G3BP1 Are Altered by Polyglutamine-Expanded ATXN7.

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 7 (SCA7) and other polyglutamine (polyQ) diseases are caused by expansions of polyQ repeats in disease-specific proteins. Aggregation of the polyQ proteins resulting in various forms of cellular stress, that could induce the stress granule (SG) response, is believed to be a common pathological mechanism in these disorders. SGs can contribute to cell survival but have also been suggested to exacerbate disease pathology by seeding protein aggregation.

Movement Disorders Resulting From Bilateral Basal Ganglia Lesions in End-Stage Kidney Disease: A Systematic Review.

Objective: The basal ganglia (BG) are susceptible to fluctuations in blood urea levels, sometimes resulting in movement disorders. We described patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) presenting with movement disorders associated with bilateral BG lesions on imaging.

Methods: We report four patients and systematically reviewed all published cases of ESKD presenting with movement disorders and bilateral BG lesions (EBSCOhost and Ovid).

Regional and national differences in stroke thrombolysis use and disparities in pricing, treatment availability, and coverage.

Background: Major disparities have been reported in recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) availability among countries of different socioeconomic status.

Aims: To characterize variability of rtPA price, its availability, and its association with and impact on each country's health expenditure (HE) resources.

Methods: We conducted a global survey to obtain information on rtPA price (50 mg vial, 2020 US Dollars) and availability.

A comparison of 3 different methods for assessment of skeletal age when treating leg-length discrepancies: an inter- and intra-observer study.

Background and purpose - Skeletal maturity is a crucial parameter when calculating remaining growth in children. We compared 3 different methods, 2 manual and 1 automated, in the radiological assessment of bone age with respect to precision and systematic difference. Material and methods - 66 simultaneous examinations of the left hand and left elbow from children treated for leg-length discrepancies were randomly selected for skeletal age assessment.

Triple Therapy Prevention of Recurrent Intracerebral Disease Events Trial: Rationale, design and progress.

Background: Patients who suffer intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) are at very high risk of recurrent ICH and other serious cardiovascular events. A single-pill combination (SPC) of blood pressure (BP) lowering drugs offers a potentially powerful but simple strategy to optimize secondary prevention.

Objectives: The Triple Therapy Prevention of Recurrent Intracerebral Disease Events Trial (TRIDENT) aims to determine the effects of a novel SPC "Triple Pill," three generic antihypertensive drugs with demonstrated efficacy and complementary mechanisms of action at half standard dose (telmisartan 20 mg, amlodipine 2.

Amide-based deep eutectic solvents containing LiFSI and NaFSI salts as superionic electrolytes for supercapacitor applications.

This work proposes two deep eutectic solvents (DESs) based on lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide and sodium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide together with N-methylacetamide and formamide as electrolytes for activated carbon (AC) electrochemical double-layer capacitors (EDLCs) at 25 °C. The formulated DESs exhibit a large electrochemical window (ΔE > 2.5 V), good thermal stability (∼150 °C) and ionic conductivity (3-4 mS cm), and moderate viscosity (11.

Polyglutamine expanded Ataxin-7 induces DNA damage and alters FUS localization and function.

Polyglutamine (polyQ) diseases, such as Spinocerebellar ataxia type 7 (SCA7), are caused by expansions of polyQ repeats in disease specific proteins. The sequestration of vital proteins into aggregates formed by polyQ proteins is believed to be a common pathological mechanism in these disorders. The RNA-binding protein FUS has been observed in polyQ aggregates, though if disruption of this protein plays a role in the neuronal dysfunction in SCA7 or other polyQ diseases remains unclear.

Taurine Promotes Neurite Outgrowth and Synapse Development of Both Vertebrate and Invertebrate Central Neurons.

Taurine is a sulfur-containing amino acid that is widely expressed throughout the human brain, heart, retina, and muscle tissues. Taurine deficiency is associated with cardiomyopathy, renal dysfunction, abnormalities of the developing nervous system, and epilepsy which suggests a role specific to excitable tissues. Like vertebrates, invertebrates maintain high levels of taurine during embryonic and larval development, which decline during aging, indicating a potential developmental role.

Neurotrophic factors and target-specific retrograde signaling interactions define the specificity of classical and neuropeptide cotransmitter release at identified Lymnaea synapses.

Many neurons concurrently and/or differentially release multiple neurotransmitter substances to selectively modulate the activity of distinct postsynaptic targets within a network. However, the molecular mechanisms that produce synaptic heterogeneity by regulating the cotransmitter release characteristics of individual presynaptic terminals remain poorly defined. In particular, we know little about the regulation of neuropeptide corelease, despite the fact that they mediate synaptic transmission, plasticity and neuromodulation.

Toxicity of Nickel Oxide Nanoparticles on a Freshwater Green Algal Strain of .

A freshwater microalga strain of was used to investigate toxic effects induced by nickel oxide nanoparticles (NiO-NPs) in suspension. Algal cells were exposed during 96 h to 0-100 mg L of NiO-NPs and analyzed by flow cytometry. Physicochemical characterization of nanoparticles in tested media showed a soluble fraction (free Ni) of only 6.

A novel bio-mimicking, planar nano-edge microelectrode enables enhanced long-term neural recording.

Our inability to accurately monitor individual neurons and their synaptic activity precludes fundamental understanding of brain function under normal and various pathological conditions. However, recent breakthroughs in micro- and nano-scale fabrication processes have advanced the development of neuro-electronic hybrid technology. Among such devices are three-dimensional and planar electrodes, offering the advantages of either high fidelity or longer-term recordings respectively.

Two proteolytic fragments of menin coordinate the nuclear transcription and postsynaptic clustering of neurotransmitter receptors during synaptogenesis between Lymnaea neurons.

Synapse formation and plasticity depend on nuclear transcription and site-specific protein targeting, but the molecular mechanisms that coordinate these steps have not been well defined. The MEN1 tumor suppressor gene, which encodes the protein menin, is known to induce synapse formation and plasticity in the CNS. This synaptogenic function has been conserved across evolution, however the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unidentified.

Trophic factor-induced activity 'signature' regulates the functional expression of postsynaptic excitatory acetylcholine receptors required for synaptogenesis.

Highly coordinated and coincidental patterns of activity-dependent mechanisms ("fire together wire together") are thought to serve as inductive signals during synaptogenesis, enabling neuronal pairing between specific sub-sets of excitatory partners. However, neither the nature of activity triggers, nor the "activity signature" of long-term neuronal firing in developing/regenerating neurons have yet been fully defined. Using a highly tractable model system comprising of identified cholinergic neurons from Lymnaea, we have discovered that intrinsic trophic factors present in the Lymnaea brain-conditioned medium (CM) act as a natural trigger for activity patterns in post- but not the presynaptic neuron.

Evaluation of the awareness and perception of professional students in medicine, business and law schools of Karachi, regarding the use of (recreational) cannabis.

Objective: To assess the awareness and perception of students attending professional medicine, law and business schools regarding recreational use of cannabis.

Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted between June 2010 and November 2010. Using convenience sampling, 150 students from medical, business and law schools from both private and public sectors were enrolled.

Neuronal somata and extrasomal compartments play distinct roles during synapse formation between Lymnaea neurons.

Proper synapse formation is pivotal for all nervous system functions. However, the precise mechanisms remain elusive. Moreover, compared with the neuromuscular junction, steps regulating the synaptogenic program at central cholinergic synapses remain poorly defined.

A planar microelectrode array for simultaneous detection of electrically evoked dopamine release from distinct locations of a single isolated neuron.

Neurotransmission is a key process of communication between neurons. Although much is known about this process and the influence it has on the function of the body, little is understood about the dynamics of signalling from structural regions of a single neuron. In this study we have fabricated and characterised a microelectrode array (MEA) which was utilised for simultaneous multi-site recordings of dopamine release from an isolated single neuron.

The antidepressant fluoxetine but not citalopram suppresses synapse formation and synaptic transmission between Lymnaea neurons by perturbing presynaptic and postsynaptic machinery.

Depression is a debilitating mental disorder, and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) constitute the first-line antidepressant treatment choice for the clinical management of this illness; however, the mechanisms underlying their therapeutic actions and side effects remain poorly understood. Here, we compared the effects of two SSRIs, fluoxetine and citalopram, on synaptic connectivity and the efficacy of cholinergic synaptic transmission between identified presynaptic and postsynaptic neurons from the mollusc Lymnaea. The in vitro paired cells were exposed to clinically relevant concentrations of the two SSRIs under chronic and acute experimental conditions, and the incidence of synapse formation and the efficacy of synaptic transmission were tested electrophysiologically and with fluorescent Ca(2+) imaging.

Antidepressant fluoxetine suppresses neuronal growth from both vertebrate and invertebrate neurons and perturbs synapse formation between Lymnaea neurons.

Current treatment regimes for a variety of mental disorders involve various selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as Fluoxetine (Prozac). Although these drugs may 'manage' the patient better, there has not been a significant change in the treatment paradigm over the years and neither have the outcomes improved. There is also considerable debate as to the effectiveness of various selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and their potential side-effects on neuronal architecture and function.

Urea inhibits the Na-K pump in human erythrocytes.

Recent studies have established that urea alters the activity of several volume-sensitive cation transport pathways. However, it has remained unclear whether urea has any effect on transport pathways that are not volume-sensitive. We examined the effect of urea on Na-K pump in the human erythrocytes.