Search

Research shows that racial discrimination results in adverse behavioral health outcomes for African-American young adults, including risk for depression, anxiety, and substance use. Although high levels of mindfulness have been shown to reduce risk for such health outcomes, it is unknown whether mindfulness can reduce risk as a consequence of racial discrimination, particularly among African Americans. Three-hundred and eighty-eight African-American young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 (M = 20.6, 62% female) completed measures assessing past-year experiences of racial discrimination, depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, alcohol use, and trait mindfulness. A positive correlation was found between racial discrimination and the behavioral health outcomes, as well as a negative correlation between mindfulness and the behavioral health outcomes. Moreover, mindfulness was found to significantly moderate the effect of racial discrimination on mood symptoms. Although mindfulness was found to lessen the effect of racial discrimination on alcohol use, this difference was not statistically significant. In line with previous literature, racial discrimination was shown to have a negative impact on behavioral health outcomes among African Americans. Moreover, our findings provide support for the buffering effect of mindfulness on mood symptoms as a consequence discrimination. This suggests that increasing mindfulness may be an effective strategy to include in interventions targeting improvement in mood symptoms for African-American young adults. However, alternative strategies may be more appropriate to address outcomes, such as alcohol use, as a consequence of racial discrimination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We previously reported that a (CTG)n expansion causes spinocerebellar ataxia type 8 (SCA8), a slowly progressive ataxia with reduced penetrance. We now report a transgenic mouse model in which the full-length human SCA8 mutation is transcribed using its endogenous promoter. (CTG)116 expansion, but not (CTG)11 control lines, develop a progressive neurological phenotype with in vivo imaging showing reduced cerebellar-cortical inhibition. 1C2-positive intranuclear inclusions in cerebellar Purkinje and brainstem neurons in SCA8 expansion mice and human SCA8 autopsy tissue result from translation of a polyglutamine protein, encoded on a previously unidentified antiparallel transcript (ataxin 8, ATXN8 ) spanning the repeat in the CAG direction. The neurological phenotype in SCA8 BAC expansion but not BAC control lines demonstrates the pathogenicity of the (CTG-CAG)n expansion. Moreover, the expression of noncoding (CUG)n expansion transcripts (ataxin 8 opposite strand, ATXN8OS ) and the discovery of intranuclear polyglutamine inclusions suggests SCA8 pathogenesis involves toxic gain-of-function mechanisms at both the protein and RNA levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have discovered that β-III spectrin (SPTBN2) mutations cause spinocerebellar ataxia type 5 (SCA5) in an 11-generation American kindred descended from President Lincoln's grandparents and two additional families. Two families have separate in-frame deletions of 39 and 15 bp, and a third family has a mutation in the actin/ARP1 binding region. β-III spectrin is highly expressed in Purkinje cells and has been shown to stabilize the glutamate transporter EAAT4 at the surface of the plasma membrane. We found marked differences in EAAT4 and GluRδ2 by protein blot and cell fractionation in SCA5 autopsy tissue. Cell culture studies demonstrate that wild-type but not mutant β-III spectrin stabilizes EAAT4 at the plasma membrane. Spectrin mutations are a previously unknown cause of ataxia and neurodegenerative disease that affect membrane proteins involved in glutamate signaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method (habituation test) for studying habituation of the palmar skin conductance response (SCR) during iterative photostimulation in mice is described. Twenty drugs known for their CNS stimulant activity and/or beneficial action on learning were tested for their antagonism toward habituation. With most of the drugs tested, the delay in SCR extinction was dose-dependent. From the corresponding regression equations, the standard delaying doses were computed and used for classification. Fenozolone was the most active product. In descending order follow dexamphetamine and piracetam, then other amphetamines. Locomotor activity tests were run in parallel with habituation tests and the two sets of results compared. Reliability of habituation test was checked. The responsiveness of the test and the significance of the results are discussed. The applicability of the habituation test in psychopharmacological research is argued by its sensitivity to piracetam, whose nootropic activity is not detectable by classic behavioral methods. The habituation test makes it possible to test drugs for their effects on the maintenance of attention during monotonous stimulation and, more generally, for their psychic enhancement activity whatever the mechanism involved. It is thus likely to be a suitable test for nooanaleptics (in the broad meaning of the term). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An apparatus and a quantitative method for studying the spontaneous palmar conductivity (SPC) and the psychogalvanic reaction (PGR) in mice are described. Several psycholeptics (neuroleptics, tranquillizers, hypnotics) were tested. In order to assess the specificity of the method, several other pharmacological agents (muscle relaxants, neuromusclar blocking agents, anticholinergics, α-adrenolytics) were tested. A comparison of the active doses of these various products on SPC, PGR, prehension and traction reflexes shows that psycholeptics and more particularly neuroleptics and tranquillizers inhibit PGR at low dosages. These are smaller than the motor test inhibitory dosages and far lower than LD50. Providing one discounts drugs inhibiting the PGR by peripheral anticholinergic or adrenolytic activity and those which inhibit the PGR at dosages which are similar to the motor depressant dosages, the method is valid for screening and studying psycholeptic drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When the thermophilic mold Thermoascus aurantiacus var. levisporus was grown in a modified Czapek Dox medium containing casein the filtrate was found to contain proteolytic activity. The maximum production of activity occurred at 50 ° C in a medium containing 8% casein. The filtrate was subjected to ammonium sulfate fractionation and chromatography on DEAE-cellulose. Two proteases were separated. No further work was done on protease II. Protease I was further purified by gel filtration on Sephadex G 100-200. It showed a 40-fold purification with a final recovery of approximately 25%. It is a neutral protease with a pH optimum at 7.0. The optimal activity of the enzyme occurred in 0.02 M phosphate buffer but was completely inhibited at a concentration of 0.1 M. The optimum temperature for casein hydrolysis was found to be 55 ° C. The enzyme was inhibited by Hg but was greatly stimulated by Cu and mercaptoethanol. Metallo and sulfhydryl agents had no significant effect on enzyme activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Experientia is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In mice, iterative photostimulation results in habituation, detected in the palmar skin conductance response. Psychoanaleptics delay this habituation in proportion to the dose administered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Experientia is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)