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Dans le processus ample et complexe de la lutte pour l’achèvement de l’État national roumain moderne, l’ancienne capitale de Moldavie (la ville de Yassy) a joué un rôle décisif, signalé pour la première fois par le grand historien A. D. Xenopol. Un aspect significatif et en même temps un argument dans ce sens sont offerts par ce texte consacré à l’organisation de la lutte pour l’unité nationale dans les Principautés Roumaines, immédiatement après la clôture du Congrès de Paris (1856), qui pacifiait pour une période l’éternelle « question orientale ». Mais, ce que le conclave diplomatique européen n’a pas réussi – l’unité nationale roumaine – allait être achevé par les Roumains même, tout en affirmant clairement les droits et les objectifs nationaux, ainsi que les moyens de leur accomplissement. Le fondement de tout effort patriotique a été représenté à ce momentlà par « la Société de l’Union » de Yassy, organisée le 25 mai 1856 et composée des leaders unionistes moldaves : M. Kogălniceanu, V. Alecsandri, C. Negri, C. Hurmuzachi, V. Mălinescu etc., qui ont formulé et distribué, dans l’espace roumain extra-carpatique entier, les lignes directrices du programme national. Les deux Assemblées consultatives (des Divans ad-hoc) de Bucarest et Yassy les ont reprises et appropriées en intégralité pour les transmettre ultérieurement aux Puissances européennes garantes, qui ont élaboré – sur leur base – l’éphémère Constitution pour les Principautés Unies, la Convention de Paris (1858).

The aftermath of severe COVID-19 frequently involves considerable cardiopulmonary damage, necessitating rehabilitation. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on cardiopulmonary health and assess the effectiveness of various rehabilitative interventions. Conducted between September 2021 and September 2022, this prospective study included patients who had been diagnosed with severe COVID-19 and admitted at the “Victor Babes” Infectious Diseases and Pulmonology Hospital, Timisoara, Romania. The patients were stratified into low- and high-intensity rehabilitation groups. The rehabilitation protocols were individually tailored, and the patient recovery was closely monitored over a 3-month period. Our cohort comprised 84 patients, with a mean age of 56.3 years for the low-intensity group (n = 42) and 53.1 years for the high-intensity group (n = 42). Both groups showed significant improvements in the lung injury area, need for oxygen supplementation, ejection fraction, systolic pulmonary artery pressure, and forced vital capacity. Additionally, considerable enhancements were observed in maximal voluntary ventilation, FEV1, FEV1/FVC ratio, peak expiratory flow, and forced expiratory flow at 25–75%. The work intensity also demonstrated substantial improvements from the initial testing to the 3-month mark in both groups. This study provides evidence that personalized, targeted rehabilitation strategies can improve long-term cardiopulmonary health in patients recovering from severe COVID-19, proving both low-intensity and high-intensity training as sufficient to improve heart and lung function if performed correctly and over a relatively short duration of 3 months. The study findings underscore the importance of implementing comprehensive cardiopulmonary rehabilitation protocols in the care of post-COVID-19 patients and highlight the value of stratified rehabilitation intensity based on individual patient dynamics and recovery features.

The aftermath of severe COVID-19 frequently involves considerable cardiopulmonary damage, necessitating rehabilitation. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on cardiopulmonary health and assess the effectiveness of various rehabilitative interventions. Conducted between September 2021 and September 2022, this prospective study included patients who had been diagnosed with severe COVID-19 and admitted at the "Victor Babes" Infectious Diseases and Pulmonology Hospital, Timisoara, Romania. The patients were stratified into low- and high-intensity rehabilitation groups. The rehabilitation protocols were individually tailored, and the patient recovery was closely monitored over a 3-month period. Our cohort comprised 84 patients, with a mean age of 56.3 years for the low-intensity group (n = 42) and 53.1 years for the high-intensity group (n = 42). Both groups showed significant improvements in the lung injury area, need for oxygen supplementation, ejection fraction, systolic pulmonary artery pressure, and forced vital capacity. Additionally, considerable enhancements were observed in maximal voluntary ventilation, FEV1, FEV1/FVC ratio, peak expiratory flow, and forced expiratory flow at 25–75%. The work intensity also demonstrated substantial improvements from the initial testing to the 3-month mark in both groups. This study provides evidence that personalized, targeted rehabilitation strategies can improve long-term cardiopulmonary health in patients recovering from severe COVID-19, proving both low-intensity and high-intensity training as sufficient to improve heart and lung function if performed correctly and over a relatively short duration of 3 months. The study findings underscore the importance of implementing comprehensive cardiopulmonary rehabilitation protocols in the care of post-COVID-19 patients and highlight the value of stratified rehabilitation intensity based on individual patient dynamics and recovery features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gabriela Mut-Vitcu,1 Bogdan Timar,2 Romulus Timar,1 Cristian Oancea,3 Ioan Cosmin Citu4 1Second Department of Internal Medicine, 2Department of Functional Sciences, 3Department of Infectious Diseases, 4Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania Purpose: To evaluate the prevalence of depression and its impact on the quality of diabetes-related self-care activities in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes. Patients and methods: In this cross-sectional study, 184 patients with type 2 diabetes were enrolled. Depression was evaluated using Patient Health Questionnaire-9 while the quality of diabetes-related self-care activities was assessed using the Summary of Diabetes-Related Self Care Activities Questionnaire. Results: In our study group, 53.3% of the patients had moderate depression, 17.9% had severe depression, and 28.8% had no depression symptoms. Patient’s age (P=0.024), presence of diabetic neuropathy (P

The first Romanian modern Constitution of 1866 generated – by its restrictive character towards the political and civil rights of the non-Christian citizens in the country – a problem more and more complicated for the governmental circles from Bucharest and for Romanian diplomacy, too. The development of the so called „Jewish question” from an internal economic and social problem into a external political one was produced at the initiative and with large support of the World Jewish Alliance (founded in Paris in 1860). Together with the American Independent Order „B’nai B’rith”, the two organizations succeded to initiate and develop, by various means, a strong diplomatic pressure against Romania, in order to require her to respect proper obligations assumed by the decisions of the Congress of Berlin in 1878. The beginning of that pressure was marked by the American diplomats, either from Constantinopol, Bucharest or Washington D.C., and increased constantly up to the first decade of the XX-th Century. Otherwise, all the diplomatic and economic relations between the United States of America and Romania, since 1866 up to the end of the First World War, were dependent by the attitude of the decisional political factors from Bucharest on the Jewish question. The situation did not improve with the coming of the new Century, and in fact worsened. To the reasons already existing for the low level of bilateral relations, another aggravating element of economic and social nature was added, but dressed in strident political terms.The Jewish question was again revitalized, fostered by immigration to America, with its maximum intensity situated around the turn of the century, when the American authorities reacted in a manner and used means rejected by the Romanian political class and which were not shared by the majority of European powers. The cause was a diplomatic Appeal launched in 1902 by the American Secretary of State, John Hay, seeking to revitalise a diplomatic pressure against Romania, a gesture proved later to be inopportune and insincere on the part of its initiator. Fortunately, the unfavorable effects of the Romanian-American diplomatic incident of 1902, the motivation for which (real or supposed) underlined the primordial place or role of the Jewish question in the ensemble of relations between the two countries, were overcome by a better understanding in Washington of the political realities in the region and certainly through the efforts of its diplomatic representatives accredited in Romania.

We have built a high-resolution and high-signal-to-noise ratio spectrometer for line shape studies of greenhouse gases in the mid infrared. The infrared radiation is generated in a AgGa[S.sub.2] nonlinear crystal by the well-known difference-frequency method. The choice of crystal is explained, and a brief literature review is presented. With two tunable dye lasers and a type I, 90[degrees] phase-matching geometry, the infrared is continuously tunable from 7 to 9 [micro]m when Rhodamine 6G and Sulforhodamine 640 dyes are used. The total infrared power exceeds 30 nW and is limited by both the damage threshold and thermal loading of the crystal. Phase-sensitive detection allows us to reach signal-to-noise ratios in excess of 3500:1 while maintaining an instrumental linewidth of 1.5 MHz. However, we show that the spectrometer may be used to measure the positions of spectral lines within [+ or -] 400 kHz. OCIS codes: 300.6190, 300.6340, 120.6200, 160.4330, 190.2620, 190.4400.

The temperature and pressure cycles inside a pressure modulator cell (PMC) of the type used for gas-correlation radiometry aboard the Measurements of Pollution in the Troposphere (MOPITT) satellite instrument have been determined from dynamic measurements of the spectral line shapes of the R(0) and R(18) transitions in the fundamental vibrational--rotational band of carbon monoxide. The line strengths and linewidths were used to calculate the temperature and pressure, respectively, with a temporal resolution of approximately 200 [micro]s, or 1/100 of a PMC cycle. The results are compared with a thermodynamic box model. OCIS codes: 120.0280, 300.6340, 020.3690, 120.5630, 300.6360, 280.1120.

The Eastern Question, with its climax in the second part of the nineteenth century, the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878, refocused attention of the public and political opinion from abroad on one of the most turbulent areas of the world, namely the Balkans, justly characterized either as the "powder keg of Europe", or as a "laboratory of history". The geographical position, political aims and the international legal status did not allow Romania to stay out of the conflict. The Romanian political goal of winning the national state independence, following a realistic evaluation of the general European conditions and the unsuccessful diplomatic initiatives to remain neutral in the Balkan crisis, was to be achieved by developing a close cooperation with Russia. The Romanian willingness to follow this road, in spite of old anti-Russian feelings, was a significant and a radical political option, underlined by the numerous war correspondents, in their illustrative and comprehensible writings (narratives, notes or correspondences) sent to many European or American newspapers. The pact with Russia at the outbreak of the War, in April 1877, enabled Danubian Romanians to dodge the full costs of armed conflict. A declaration of independence and battlefield exploits filled Romanians with glorious self-esteem, but the peace-making process involved difficult issues for them, having to confront with the loss of southern Bessarabia, amending their Constitution, naturalizing some of the indigenous Jews, and finally purchasing proper railroads from a German company. However, on the whole, the result of the War for Romania was a major success, given the circumstances which could not be controlled due to their unpredictable nature. Regarding Russia, whose contribution in the historic moment which symbolized the first step towards Greater Romania, namely the inclusion of Dobruja in the frontiers of the Romanian national state, it managed to impose itself as a decisional factor in the continental "balance of powers". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using both a difference frequency spectrometer and a Fourier transform spectrometer, we have measured transitions in the 1220←01 10 band of carbon dioxide at room temperature and pressures up to 19 atm. The low-pressure spectra were analyzed using a variety of standard spectral profiles, all with an asymmetric component to account for weak line mixing. For this band, we have been able to retrieve experimental line strengths and the broadening and weak mixing parameters. In this paper we also compare the suitability of the energy-corrected sudden model to predict mixing in the two previously measured Q branches 2000←01 10, the 11 10←00 00, and the present Q branch of pure CO2, all at room temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives-We have conducted a study aimed at uncovering if depressed diabetic patients have a higher incidence of cardiovascular complications and have also evaluated the relationship between the presence of depression and glycemic control in these patients. Methods-A cross-sectional study was conducted on 1346 patients suffering from DM admitted to the Diabetes Department of the Emergency County Hospital Timişoara, between January and December 2012. Results-Out of the 1346 patients included in our study 8.5% have been also diagnosed with depression. Depression was found in 7.9% of patients with type 1 DM, while the prevalence of depression was 8.6% in the type 2 DM category. There was a statistic signifi cance between diabetes mellitus and depression (p <0.05). The mean value of HbA1c was 9.2% in patients suffering from both DM and depression and 8.9% in diabetic patients only. Patients with DM and depression were able to achieve the <8% HbA1c target in 29.31% of the cases, while those without depression in 32.59% of the cases. Our conclusions highlight the need for active screening for depression in diabetic patients due to the potential of this complication being overlooked and also in order to ensure that preventive action is taken. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Recent studies have brought evidence on the connection between excess weight and suboptimal glycemic control for Diabetes Mellitus (DM) patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between increased Body Mass Index (BMI) and the likelihood of having suboptimal glycemic control in patients with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Materials and Methods: A case-control study was conducted on 662 patients suffering from Diabetes Mellitus and statistical analysis was performed in order obtain evidence associating BMI and poor glycaemic control. We defined as increased BMI, values >25 kg/m2 and a hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) value >7% reflected suboptimal glycemic control. Results: 559 (84%) patients had HbA1c >7%. 550 (83 %) patients had a BMI >25 kg/m2. In case of HbA1c >7%, a BMI >25 kg/m2 was found in a number of 457 patients (82 %), whereas a normal BMI was present in 102 (18%) patients. For the HbA1c<7% cases, the number of patients associating BMI >25 kg/m2 was 93 (90%) and a normal BMI was present in 10 (10%) patients. BMI >25 kg/m2 was not associated with a higher probability of having above-target HbA1c values compared to patients with target HbA1c (OR 0.48, 95% CI: 0.24 to 0.95), with a statistically significant p <0.05. Conclusions: The findings revealed that although in case of suboptimal glycemic control, the number of patients who had a BMI >25 kg/m2 was significantly higher than the number of patients with a BMI < 25 kg/m2, a BMI above target was not associated with greater odds of having HbA1c higher than the standard 7% level, compared to individuals with normal HbA1c levels. The results emphasize that a multitude of factors are involved in the process of achieving a targeted glycemic control and a stepped-care approach should be considered for optimum management of Diabetes Mellitus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We measured the whole-body distribution of IV-injected [¹¹C]GSK215083, a new 5-HT₆ antagonist PET tracer, as a function of time in adult subjects, in order to determine the radiation exposure.Procedures: After injection with a single bolus of [¹¹C]GSK215083 (range 330-367 MBq; mean 346 MBq), PET emission data were acquired for approximately 120 min in six subjects (three males and three females). Five organs were identified as exhibiting uptake above background. For these, regions of interest were delineated on emission images, and time-activity curves (TAC) generated. Residence times were calculated as the area under the curve of the TAC, normalized to injected activities and standard values of organ volumes. Dosimetry calculations were then performed using the computer program OLINDA/EXM 1.0.Results: The mean effective dose averaged over both males and females (deviation) was estimated to be 7.7 ± 1.0 μSv/MBq (male 7.0 ± 0.4; female 8.5 ± 0.6). For the effective dose equivalent, the corresponding values are 7.8 ± 1.2 μSv/MBq (male 6.8 ± 0.5; female 8.9 ± 0.1). The organ receiving the highest dose was the lung, with an average equivalent dose of 25.6 ± 6.9 μSv/MBq (male 20.8 ± 5.6; female 30.4 ± 4.4).Conclusion: The estimated radiation dose for [¹¹C]GSK215083 is consistent with those for other neuroreceptor ligands labeled with carbon-11. The somewhat higher dose estimate for females compared to males may reflect the difference in observed residence times and representative differences in the male and female phantoms used for dosimetry calculations. Based on conventionally accepted dose limits, [¹¹C]GSK215083 may be used for multiple PET scans in the same subject. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: [F]-FEPPA is a translocator protein (18 kDa, TSPO) positron emission tomography (PET) radiotracer. Radiation dosimetry was estimated from the whole body biodistribution, taking into consideration TSPO rs6971 (Ala147Thr) polymorphism. Procedures: [F]-FEPPA whole body PET scans were acquired for six healthy subjects. Time-activity curves were generated from regions of interest of nine organs, from which normalized accumulated activities were calculated and thus internal dose, using OLINDA/EXM 1.1. Genotyping of rs6971, associated with high- and low-affinity [F]-FEPPA binding (high-affinity binder (HAB) and low-affinity binder (LAB)), was performed. Results: Five subjects exhibited the C/C (HAB) allele, and the other carried the minor allele T/T (LAB). The LAB whole body biodistribution showed highest radioactivity accumulation in bladder, whereas in HABs, the spleen received the highest dose. The effective dose of the single LAB (16.3 μSv/MBq) was 23 % less than the mean of the HABs (21.0 ± 2.9 μSv/MBq). When including all subjects, the effective dose was 20.2 ± 3.0 μSv/MBq. Conclusions: [F]-FEPPA radiation dose is consistent with other F-labeled radioligands and the Ala147Thr genotype agreed with [F]-FEPPA distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We measured the whole-body distribution of IV-injected [C]GSK215083, a new 5-HT antagonist PET tracer, as a function of time in adult subjects, in order to determine the radiation exposure. Procedures: After injection with a single bolus of [C]GSK215083 (range 330-367 MBq; mean 346 MBq), PET emission data were acquired for approximately 120 min in six subjects (three males and three females). Five organs were identified as exhibiting uptake above background. For these, regions of interest were delineated on emission images, and time-activity curves (TAC) generated. Residence times were calculated as the area under the curve of the TAC, normalized to injected activities and standard values of organ volumes. Dosimetry calculations were then performed using the computer program OLINDA/EXM 1.0. Results: The mean effective dose averaged over both males and females (±standard deviation) was estimated to be 7.7 ± 1.0 μSv/MBq (male 7.0 ± 0.4; female 8.5 ± 0.6). For the effective dose equivalent, the corresponding values are 7.8 ± 1.2 μSv/MBq (male 6.8 ± 0.5; female 8.9 ± 0.1). The organ receiving the highest dose was the lung, with an average equivalent dose of 25.6 ± 6.9 μSv/MBq (male 20.8 ± 5.6; female 30.4 ± 4.4). Conclusion: The estimated radiation dose for [C]GSK215083 is consistent with those for other neuroreceptor ligands labeled with carbon-11. The somewhat higher dose estimate for females compared to males may reflect the difference in observed residence times and representative differences in the male and female phantoms used for dosimetry calculations. Based on conventionally accepted dose limits, [C]GSK215083 may be used for multiple PET scans in the same subject. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes the kinetic modeling of [18F]-FEPPA binding to translocator protein 18 kDa in the human brain using high-resolution research tomograph (HRRT) positron emission tomography. Positron emission tomography scans were performed in 12 healthy volunteers for 180 minutes. A two-tissue compartment model (2-CM) provided, with no exception, better fits to the data than a one-tissue model. Estimates of total distribution volume (VT), specific distribution volume (VS), and binding potential (BPND) demonstrated very good identifiability (based on coefficient of variation (COV)) for all the regions of interest (ROIs) in the gray matter (COV VT<7%, COV VS<8%, COV BPND<11%). Reduction of the length of the scan to 2 hours is feasible as VS and VT showed only a small bias (6% and 7.5%, respectively). Monte Carlo simulations showed that, even under conditions of a 500% increase in specific binding, the identifiability of VT and VS was still very good with COV<10%, across high-uptake ROIs. The excellent identifiability of VT values obtained from an unconstrained 2-CM with data from a 2-hour scan support the use of VT as an appropriate and feasible outcome measure for [18F]-FEPPA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a new Russian-Turkish war broke out in 1877, the Romanian political objective of winning the state independence, following a realistic evaluation of the general European conditions, was to be redirected towards a close cooperation with Russia. The Romanian disposition to follow this road, in spite of old anti- Russian feelings, was a significant and a radical political option. Embarking such a relation with Russia, the Romanian politicians experienced both the success of achieving independence and the bitter disappointment of losing a part of the Romania's national territory, but, on the whole, the result of the war was a major success, given circumstances which could not be mastered in their unpredictable change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The D2 receptors exist in either the high- or low-affinity state with respect to agonists, and while agonists bind preferentially to the high-affinity state, antagonists do not distinguish between the two states. [11C]-(+)-PHNO is a PET D2 agonist radioligand and therefore provides a preferential measure of the D2high receptors. In contrast, [11C]raclopride is an antagonist radioligand and thus binds with equal affinity to the D2 high- and low-affinity states. The aim was to compare the brain uptake, distribution and binding characteristics between [11C]-(+)-PHNO and [11C]raclopride in volunteers using a within-subject design. Both radioligands accumulated in brain areas rich in D2/D3-receptors. However, [11C]-(+)-PHNO showed preferential uptake in the ventral striatum and globus pallidus, while [11C]raclopride showed preferential uptake in the dorsal striatum. Mean binding potentials were higher in the putamen (4.3 vs. 2.8) and caudate (3.4 vs 2.1) for [11C]raclopride, equal in the ventral-striatum (3.4 vs. 3.3), and higher in the globus pallidus for [11C]-(+)-PHNO (1.8 vs. 3.3). Moreover [11C]-(+)-PHNO kinetics in the globus pallidus showed a slower washout than other regions. One explanation for the preferential binding of [11C]-(+)-PHNO in the globus pallidus and ventral-striatum could be the presence of a greater proportion of high- vs. low-affinity receptors in these areas. Alternatively, the observed distribution could also be explained by a preferential binding of D3-over-D2 with [11C]-(+)-PHNO. This differential binding of agonist vs. antagonist radioligand, especially in the critically important region of the limbic striatum/pallidum, offers new avenues to investigate the role of the dopamine system in health and disease. Hum Brain Mapp 2008. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Imaging the competition between D2/3 radioligands and endogenous dopamine is so far the only way to measure dopamine release in the living human brain. The dopamine D2 receptor exists in a high (D2high) and a low-affinity state for dopamine. Under physiological conditions, dopamine is expected to bind to D2high only. [11C]-(+)-4-propyl-9-hydroxynaphthoxazine ((+)-PHNO) is the first D2/3 agonist radioligand for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging in humans. Since [11C]-(+)-PHNO is expected to bind preferentially to D2high, it should be particularly vulnerable to competition with endogenous dopamine. Nine healthy subjects participated in two PET scans, one after administration of d-amphetamine and one after placebo. [11C]-(+)-PHNO PET test re-test variability was determined in 11 healthy subjects. Binding potentials (BPs) were calculated for caudate, putamen, ventral striatum, and globus pallidus. d-Amphetamine led to a significant decrease of [11C]-(+)-PHNO BPs in caudate (−13.2%), putamen (−20.8%), and ventral striatum (−24.9%), but not in globus pallidus (−6.5%). d-Amphetamine-induced displacement correlated with serum d-amphetamine levels in all regions but caudate. This is the first report on competition between endogenous dopamine and a D2/3 agonist radioligand in humans. [11C]-(+)-PHNO PET might be a superior measure for release of endogenous dopamine than PET employing conventional D2/3 antagonist radioligands.Neuropsychopharmacology (2008) 33, 279–289; doi:10.1038/sj.npp.1301400; published online 4 April 2007 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blockade of dopamine D2 receptors remains a common feature of all antipsychotics. It has been hypothesized that the extrastriatal (cortical, thalamic) dopamine D2 receptors may be more critical to antipsychotic response than the striatal dopamine D2 receptors. This is the first double-blind controlled study to examine the relationship between striatal and extrastriatal D2 occupancy and clinical effects. Fourteen patients with recent onset psychosis were assigned to low or high doses of risperidone (1 mg vs 4 mg/day) or olanzapine (2.5 mg vs 15 mg/day) in order to achieve a broad range of D2 occupancy levels across subjects. Clinical response, side effects, striatal ([11C]-raclopride-positron emission tomography (PET)), and extrastriatal ([11C]-FLB 457-PET) D2 receptors were evaluated after treatment. The measured D2 occupancies ranged from 50 to 92% in striatal and 4 to 95% in the different extrastriatal (frontal, temporal, thalamic) regions. Striatal and extrastriatal occupancies were correlated with dose, drug plasma levels, and with each other. Striatal D2 occupancy predicted response in positive psychotic symptoms (r=0.62, p=0.01), but not for negative symptoms (r=0.2, p=0.5). Extrastriatal D2 occupancy did not predict response in positive or negative symptoms. The two subjects who experienced motor side effects had the highest striatal occupancies in the cohort. Striatal D2 blockade predicted antipsychotic response better than frontal, temporal, and thalamic occupancy. These results, when combined with the preclinical data implicating the mesolimbic striatum in antipsychotic response, suggest that dopamine D2 blockade within specific regions of the striatum may be most critical for ameliorating psychosis in schizophrenia.Neuropsychopharmacology (2007) 32, 1209–1215. doi:10.1038/sj.npp.1301242; published online 1 November 2006 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study focuses on the application of a therapeutic strategy in patients with chronic severe lower limb ischaemia using a plasmid vector encoding the vascular endothelial growth factor (phVEGF165). It has been shown that VEGF promotes neo-vascularization and blood vessel network formation and thus might have the ability to improve blood-flow at the level of the affected limbs. However, little information is available regarding the necessary level of expression of VEGF and its possible related adverse effects. We have subcloned VEGF 165 isoform into pCMV-Script expression vector (Stratagene) under the control of the CMV promoter. Three patients with chronic ischaemia of the lower limb, considered as not suitable for surgical re-vascularization, received intramuscular injection with 0.5 ml saline solution containing 1011 copies of VEGF 165 plasmid. The clinical evolution has been monitored by angiography and estimated by walking time on the rolling carpet (Gardner protocol). Two months after therapy, all three patients showed complete relief of rest pain, improvement of ischaemic ulcer lesions and increased walking distance on the rolling carpet most probably due to appearance of newly formed collateral vessels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 0310 ← 0110 parallel Q branch of N2O has been studied at 297 K and over the pressure range 1–130 torr. Absorption spectra were recorded using a high resolution (1.5 MHz or 5 × 10-5 cm-1) and high signal-to-noise (>3500:1) mid-infrared spectrometer based on difference-frequency infrared generation in AgGaS2. In the low-pressure range (1–11 torr) we obtained accurate values for the line strengths, the broadening coefficients, the weak mixing coefficients, and the overall shifting of the branch. The medium pressure results, ranging from 23 to 130 torr, were analyzed by treating the band as a whole, using a relaxation matrix formalism, based on an energy gap scaling law. We find, effectively, that only 36% of the rotationally inelastic collisions are associated with Q branch mixing, the rest presumably being associated with Q–P and Q–R mixing in the same vibrational band. The pressure shifting coefficient of the 0310 ← 0110 Q branch as a whole was also determined and found to be 5.8 × 10-3 cm-1/atm towards lower frequencies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Article Title: Unusual Cause of Heart Failure in a 65-Year-Old Women [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article looks at the use of genetic technologies in the diagnosis of lymphoid malignancies. It acknowledges genetic technologies for offering valuable diagnosis and prognostic information and a better understanding of disease biology and underlying pathogenetic mechanisms. The application of algorithms and methodologies originating from mathematics and computer science in the use of genetic technologies is discussed.

We have identified a consanguineous Pakistani family where oligodontia is inherited along with short stature in an autosomal-recessive fashion. Increased bone density was present in the spine and at the base of the skull. Using high-density single-nucleotide polymor- phism microarrays for homozygosity mapping, we identified a 28 Mb homozygous stretch shared between affected individuals on chromosome 11q13. Screening selected candidate genes within this region, we identified a homozygous nonsense mutation, Y774X, within LTBP3, the gene for the latent TGF-β binding protein 3, an extracellular matrix protein believed to be required for osteoclast function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prediction error (PE) hypothesized by the temporal difference model has been shown to correlate with the phasic activity of dopamine neurons during reward learning and the blood-oxygen level dependent (BOLD) response during reward and aversive conditioning tasks. We hypothesized that dopamine would modulate the PE related signal in aversive conditioning and that haloperidol would reduce PE related activity, while an acute dose of amphetamine would increase PE related activity in the ventral striatum. Methods: Healthy participants took an acute dose of amphetamine, haloperidol, or placebo. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to measure the BOLD signal while they carried out an aversive conditioning task, using cutaneous electrical stimulation as the unconditioned stimulus (US) and yellow and blue circles as conditioned stimulus (CS+ and CS−, respectively). Results: Prediction error related BOLD activity was seen only in the ventral striatum in the placebo subjects. The subjects given amphetamine showed a wider network of PE related BOLD activity, including the ventral striatum, globus pallidus, putamen, insula, anterior cingulate, and substantia nigra/ventral tegmental area. Haloperidol subjects did not show PE related activity in any of these regions. Conclusions: Our results provide the first demonstration that the modulation of dopamine transmission affects both the physiological correlates and PE related BOLD activity during aversive learning. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]