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Bioactivity-guided fractionation of the separate CH2Cl2extracts from the aerial parts of Peperomia alataand P. trineurayielded seven polyketides: alatanone A [3-hydroxy-2-(5′-phenylpent-4′E-enoyl)cyclohex-2-en-1-one, 1a] and alatanone B [3-hydroxy-2-(3′-phenyl-6′-methylenedioxypropanoyl)cyclohex-2-en-1-one, 2a] from P. alataand trineurone A [3-hydroxy-2-(11′-phenylundec-10′E-enoyl)cyclohex-2-en-1-one, 1b], trineurone B [3-hydroxy-2-(15′-phenyl-18′-methylenedioxypentadecanoyl)cyclohex-2-en-1-one, 2b], trineurone C [3-hydroxy-2-(17′-phenyl-20′-methylenedioxyheptadecanoyl)cyclohex-2-en-1-one, 2c], trineurone D [3-hydroxy-2-(hexadec-10′Z-enoyl)cyclohex-2-en-1-one, 3a], and trineurone E [(6R)-(+)-3,6-dihydroxy-2-(hexadec-10′Z-enoyl)cyclohex-2-en-1-one, 3b] from P. trineura. The isolated compounds were evaluated for antifungal activity against Cladosporium cladosporioidesand C. sphaeospermumand for cytotoxicity against the K562 and Nalm-6 leukemia cell lines.

Tonic immobility is a defensive reaction occurring under extreme life threats. Patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) reporting peritraumatic tonic immobility show the most severe symptoms and a poorer response to treatment. This study investigated the predictive value of tonic immobility for posttraumatic stress symptoms in a non-clinical sample.

ABSTRACTNanoenabled drug delivery systems against tuberculosis (TB) are thought to control pathogen replication by targeting antibiotics to infected tissues and phagocytes. However, whether nanoparticle (NP)-based carriers directly interact with Mycobacterium tuberculosisand how such drug delivery systems induce intracellular bacterial killing by macrophages is not defined. In the present study, we demonstrated that a highly hydrophobic citral-derived isoniazid analogue, termed JVA, significantly increases nanoencapsulation and inhibits M. tuberculosisgrowth by enhancing intracellular drug bioavailability. Importantly, confocal and atomic force microscopy analyses revealed that JVA-NPs associate with both intracellular M. tuberculosisand cell-free bacteria, indicating that NPs directly interact with the bacterium. Taken together, these data reveal a nanotechnology-based strategy that promotes antibiotic targeting into replicating extra- and intracellular mycobacteria, which could actively enhance chemotherapy during active TB.

A meta-analysis was conducted to estimate the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among peacekeepers. A systematic review was carried out using Medline, Institute for Scientific Information/Web of Science and Published International Literature on Traumatic Stress databases, leading to a total of 12 studies reporting PTSD estimates. Pooled current PTSD prevalence was 5.3%, ranging from 0.05% to 25.8%, and a metaregression was used to investigate the variables that could account for the lack of homogeneity. However, none of the extracted information was capable of explaining the heterogeneity of the estimates. Peacekeeping studies presented different methodologies such as several screening instruments and different times from the deployment to the moment of PTSD assessment. The wide difference found among those estimates highlights the importance of the creation of standards for PTSD evaluation among peacekeepers.

AbstractIntroductionThe aim of this study was to investigate white matter (WM) abnormalities in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and its relationship to severity of obsessive-compulsive symptoms.MethodsConventional and diffusion tensor imaging were acquired in nine patients with OCD and nine gender- and age-matched healthy volunteers. Changes in fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) were investigated using selected regions of interest (ROIs) analyses and whole brain tract-based spatial statistic analyses. A priori ROIs were placed bilaterally in internal capsule (IC), superior longitudinal fascicule (SLF), cingulate bundle (CB), and corpus calosum (CC).ResultsROIs analyses showed that, as compared to healthy volunteers, patients with OCD exhibited reduced FA values bilaterally in regions of the posterior limb of the IC and in the SLF and increased MD values bilaterally in the posterior limb of the IC, in the left CB, and in the splenium of CC. Voxelwise analysis showed that, as compared to controls, patients with OCD exhibited reduced FA and increased MD in regions of the cortical spinal tract (genu and posterior limb of internal capsule and corona radiata) and the SLF. Severity of OCD correlated with WM alterations in different brain regions, ie, the left (rho=0.70 [MD]) and right (rho=0.70 [MD]) anterior limb of the IC, the left (rho=0.97 [MD]) and right SLF (rho=0.81 [MD]), and the genu of CC (rho=0.66 [MD]; rho=-0.69 [FA]).ConclusionOur findings support the involvement of different WM tracts in OCD and suggest that greater impairment in WM integrity is associated with increased severity of OCD symptoms.

The smoke of cigarettes represents an important accelerator of the aging process, and there is no doubt that smoke is an important risk factor for many diseases, in particular for cardiovascular, neoplastic and respiratory diseases. Smoking plays an important role also in the development of other pathological conditions being particularly frequent in geriatric ages, such as dementia, osteoporosis, diabetes, erectile dysfunction, senile macular degeneration, nuclear cataract and alterations of skin. This means that smoke compromises not only life expectancy, but also the quality of the life, favoring the occurrence of non-autonomy. Non-smokers have a much higher life expectancy than smokers, and the suspension of smoking is accompanied, even in the elderly, by an increase in the survival time due to the reduction of smoke-induced biological damage. The first requirement of stopping smoking certainly is the motivation of the smoker himself to do this, since without this motivation any attempt is futile. Today numerous quitting strategies exist, either of pharmacological or non-pharmacological type, which are also advantageous for the elderly person. Approved pharmacological treatments include nicotine replacement therapies, bupropion, drugs targeting cannabinoid receptors and newer pharmacological approaches including the selective nicotinic partial agonists. Varenicline, an alpha4 beta2 nicotinic acetylcoline receptor partial agonist, is the most recently agent approved for smoking cessation. This drug works by reducing the strength of the smokers urge to smoke and by relieving withdrawal symptoms. The most effective smoking cessation programs involve a combination of pharmacotherapy and behavioural and/or cognitive counselling to improve abstinence rates.

Our study evaluated the relationship between positive affect (PA) and negative affect (NA) traits on the development of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) among peacekeepers. A longitudinal study with 138 army personnel deployed to a peacekeeping mission in Haiti was conducted. An instrument for measuring PA and NA traits was used before deployment. PTSS, indexed by posttraumatic stress disorder Checklist—Military Version (PCL-M) and frequency of stressful situations were measured after return. Regression analysis showed that both NA and number of stressful situations contributed toward increasing PCL-M scores (Adjusted R20.25; p< 0.001). We also found that NA traits interact with intensively stressful situations enhancing the occurrence of PTSS (Adjusted R20.32; p< 0.001). These findings suggest that NA traits are an important predictor for PTSS among peacekeepers and also worsen the consequences of being exposed to stressful situations.

The purpose of this article is to introduce the reader to an updated evidence-based drug treatment algorithm to be employed in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Relevant studies were identified through a comprehensive review and classified according to the type of patients enrolled, the quality of the study design and the invasiveness, availability and complexity of the therapeutic approach. When ineffective, therapeutic trials with first-line strategies (such as the selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors [SSRIs] and venlafaxine) should be followed by treatment approaches such as clomipramine, augmentation with antipsychotics or pindolol, SSRI megadoses or cognitive behavioral therapy. These therapeutic strategies are expected to help most patients with OCD. Additional approaches include intravenous clomipramine, oral morphine, ‘heroic drug strategies, deep brain stimulation and functional neurosurgery. Independent studies are urgently needed to help identify the most promising drug treatment sequences for OCD.

We compared the history, the profile, and the severity of sexual symptoms of 31 patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) to those of 26 patients with social anxiety disorder (SAD) by means of the Sexual Inventory of the Institute of Psychiatry of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, the Clinical Interview for the Diagnosis of DSM-IV Sexual Disorders, the Female Sexual Function Index, the International Index of Erectile Function, the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale, and the Sexual Behavior Inventory. Patients with OCD reported more difficulties to reach orgasm (p0.009), less frequent effective erections (p0.05), and a positive history of sexual abuse (p0.006) significantly more often than patients with SAD. Male patients with SAD reported not using contraceptive methods significantly more frequently than male patients with OCD (p0.007). Patients with OCD and patients with SAD exhibit different profiles of sexual behavior.

Epothilones are natural products present in the myxobacterium Sorangium cellulossum strain 90. Due to their antitumoral activity, they are good candidates for the treatment of various forms of cancer, and epothilones B and D and some synthetic analogs are actually under advanced clinical trials. This review describes the synthesis of epothilones A and B and some of their analogs.

We report the clinical and therapeutic features of three patients with an obsessive–compulsive syndrome that emerged during the course of panic disorder. The DSM-IV criteria for panic disorder places central attention on the patient's phobic responses to the panic attacks and their perceived consequences. These phobic responses may develop into a syndrome that closely resembles obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) but typically responds to conventional anti-panic approaches. Our cases suggest that patients with OCD should be probed for an underlying panic disorder. This ‘panic disorder-related subtype of OCD’ may be associated with an excellent treatment response and increased rates of remission.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of a 6 month administration of raloxifene hydrochloride, a selective estrogen receptor modulator which was recently approved for the prevention of osteoporosis, on serum gonadotropin and prolactin (PRL) levels and on TRH-stimulated PRL responsiveness in postmenopausal women who have not undergone estrogen replacement therapy. DESIGN AND METHODS: Sixteen healthy postmenopausal women were divided into two groups on the basis of their bone status, evaluated by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry at the lumbar level. Eight women (chronological age 52.4+/-4.1 (s.d.) years, menopausal age 42.4+/-3.9 years), in whom T-score L2-L4 was less than -2.5 s.d., were treated with raloxifene (60 mg p.o.) administered daily for 6 months (group 1), while the other eight women (chronological age 52.6+/-2.5 years, menopausal age 42.1+/-3.6 years), in whom the T-score L2-L4 ranged between -1 and -2.5 s.d., were used as a control group (group 2). Serum PRL, FSH, LH and 17beta-estradiol (E2) levels were evaluated at baseline and after 3 and 6 months of treatment. In all subjects, PRL responsiveness to TRH (200 microg i.v.) administration was evaluated at baseline and at the end of the study. RESULTS: At baseline, mean PRL, LH and FSH levels were not significantly different in the two groups (PRL 133.6+/-21.7 vs 136.7+/-28.1 mIU/l (NS), LH 25.1+/-6.8 vs 24.4+/-6.7 mIU/ml (NS), FSH 74.4+/-25.0 vs 71.1+/-24.1 mIU/ml (NS), in group 1 and group 2 respectively). No significant variations in serum FSH and LH values, in either group, or in serum PRL levels in group 2, were observed at the 3 and 6 month examinations. On the contrary, serum PRL values decreased significantly in group 1 after 3 months (100.1+/-47.7 mIU/l, P<0.05) and 6 months (81.5+/-30.2 mIU/l, P<0.001). At baseline, no significant differences were observed in the TRH-stimulated serum PRL peak between the groups (1015.4+/-30.5 vs 1030.2+/-25.7 mIU/l in group 1 and in group 2 respectively), while it decreased significantly at the 6 month examination in group 1 (770.5+/-47.4 mIU/l, P<0.001) and it was significantly lower than in group 2 (1068.1+/-301.8 mIU/l, P=0.02). Serum E2 was not detected at baseline and at each examination, in all patients. CONCLUSIONS: The decrease of PRL values induced by long-term raloxifene administration in postmenopausal women could be explained by a direct antiestrogenic effect of raloxifene on lactotrope cells or by the recently suggested increase of opiatergic tone on the hypothalamic-pituitary region.

d-glucono 1,5-lactone was converted to O-protected d-gluconic acids. The latter were transformed to gluco-KDO derivatives using Barton ester-based radical chemistry with high diastereoselectivity.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether long-term treatment with dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in postmenopausal women can modify insulin sensitivity and plasma lipid profile. DESIGN AND METHODS: Twenty healthy postmenopausal women with serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) concentrations <2.5 micromol/l were enrolled and randomly assigned to two different treatment groups: group 1 were treated with micronized DHEA, 25 mg/day at 0800 h for 12 months; group 2 were treated with an identical placebo tablet. At the beginning and at the end of the study, plasma lipid profile, glucose tolerance (oral glucose tolerance test) and insulin sensitivity (euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp: M index) were assessed. RESULTS: After 12 months, the group treated with DHEA showed a considerable improvement of insulin sensitivity (M index +29.55%, P=0.01) and lipid pattern (high-density lipoprotein cholesterol +11.61%, P=0.03; low-density lipoprotein cholesterol -11.07%, P=0.04; triglycerides -19.60%, P=0.03), but glucose tolerance did not change. No modifications were observed in the placebo group. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term treatment with DHEA ameliorates some metabolic parameters that are linked to increased cardiovascular risk and, consequently, this seems to be an interesting therapeutic tool in the management of the postmenopausal syndrome.

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of two widely used protocols for second-trimester screening for fetal trisomy 18.

The purpose of this paper is to present analytical techniques for evaluating the dynamic riding behaviour of a vehicle. These techniques have been applied to a fairly sophisticated model of a bus, where a three-dimensional structure, elastic frame and non-linear shock-absorbers have been considered.A computer simulation program (DYNASIM 3) has been set up, which is actually used at FIAT corporation for evaluating vehicle riding qualities and improving the design process.

A modern approach to the desiqn of traffic light control is prerequisite for solving some major problems of urban transport systems.

A double-blind, placebo-controlled study in eight healthy male volunteers was conducted to study possible disulfiram-type reactions and hypoprothrombinemia associated with cefotetan administration. Three doses of cefotetan (2 g) or of placebo were administered at 12-h intervals. Ethanol (0.5 g/kg of total body weight) was ingested 1 h after the third dose. Blood ethanol, serum acetaldehyde, and prothrombin times were measured throughout the study. Heart rate, blood pressure, and clinical signs as well as symptoms suggestive of a disulfiram-type reaction were also noted. Five of eight volunteers that received cefotetan showed significant flushing. A significant increase in heart rate also was noted. No change in mean arterial pressure was observed during the cefotetan phase, and no one experienced nausea or vomiting. No statistical differences were observed between phases with respect to ethanol area under the time-concentration curve, elimination rate, or serum acetaldehyde concentrations. A slight but statistically significant increase in prothrombin time also was observed with cefotetan. This study suggests that patients receiving cefotetan might be at risk to develop disulfiram-type reactions and hypoprothrombinemia.

In this paper a model of residential location distribution is discussed. The forecasting of residential distribution in every district if a given area is of the greatest interest for the regional planner whose scope is to locate new social, residential and transportation structures in those districts where the rate of increase in settlements is higher. The proposed model considers factors as limited opportunities in residences and saturation or “unattractiveness” of services, which give origin to short term responses scarcely considered in the presently used models. The presence of human factors is described by means of a fuzzy sets approach, and a consumer distribution, which is optimal in a specific sense, is sought using an iterative optimization algorithm.

An innovative hierarchical decentralized traffic light control system has been implemented and experienced with very good results in a large area within the town of Torino. Absolute priority assignment to selected public vehicles and private traffic optimization in all traffic conditions are the main features of the system. An outline of the applied control strategies (UTOPIA) is given together with details concerning performed experimental trials and field tests, applied methodologies and results.

Interspecific chimaeras between Mus musculus and Mus caroli were made by injection of M. musculus inner cell masses (ICMs) into M. caroli blastocysts, and by aggregation of 8-cell embryos. Both types of chimaera were transferred to M. musculus recipients: the former did not survive to term, but viable chimaeras were produced following embryo aggregation. Previousexperiments have shown that chimaeras produced by injection of M. caroli ICMs into M. musculus blastocysts are viable, whereas M. caroli blastocysts cannot survive in the M. musculus uterus. These results indicate that the presence of trophoblast cells of maternal uterine genotype allows M. caroli ↔ M. musculus chimaeras to survive in the M. musculus uterus. It is suggested that M. musculus trophoblast components may protect the M. caroli embryonic cells from maternal immune rejection.

Recent studies of patients with affective disorders have Found that there are biological differences between inpatients and outpatients. Concerned by these findings, we compared individuals admitted to our inpatient and outpatient affective disorders clinical research center who met criteria for major depression. We hypothesized that inpatients would be more severely ill, more suicidal, more functionally impaired, and have more co-morbid disorders and higher ratings of depression and mood state dysfunction. The demographic profiles, lifetime co-morbid Axis I diagnoses, consumption histories, symptom profiles, global assessment of functioning, and severity of current stressors (Axis IV) were compared and contrasted for the two groups. Inpatients had more severe current psychosocial stressors, lower current levels of functioning, increased lifetime co-morbid Axis I diagnoses, and increased rates of psychiatric hospitalizations, however, they did not have higher depression symptom ratings. In conclusion, inpatients and outpatients differed significantly in the severity of their stressors, coping abilities and history of previous hospitalizations, but not in most demographic variables or their Current symptoms of depression.

Protected 2-deoxy-streptamine 13and a variety of analogues 9, 10, 12, and 14were synthesized, starting with the intermediate 2L-2,3,5/3-2,3,4-tri- O-benzyl- syn- O-oximino-2,3,4,5-cyclohexanetetrol 2, derived from D-glucose.

CONFERENCE REPORT Preparing for new technologiesin transport: the European DRIVE initiative Reporter Proc. Instn Civ. Engrs Mun. Engr., 1992, 93,Sept., 179-182 T.McLean, BSc W This Paper summarizes a one day con- agencies. DRIVE I has promoted good work on a broad front, including functional specifiference, held on5 February 1992 and organized by the Manchester branch of cations in some cases and working prototypes in others, e.g., INVAID video-based incident the Institution of Civil Engineers. The detection and Protocol ALERT c pre-standard for conference was intended a forum for as discussion and exchange of information RDS traffic messages...

The neuron-glia cell adhesion molecule (Ng-CAM) mediates both neuron-neuron and neuron-glia adhesion; it is detected on SDS-PAGE as a predominant 135-kD glycoprotein, with minor components of 80, 190, and 210 kD. We have isolated cDNA clones encoding the entire sequence of chicken Ng-CAM. The predicted extracellular region includes six immunoglobulin-like domains followed by five fibronectin-type III repeats, structural features that are characteristic of several neural CAMs of the N-CAM superfamily. The amino acid sequence of chicken Ng-CAM is most similar to that of mouse L1 but the overall identity is only 40% and Ng-CAM contains a short fibronectin-like segment with an RGD sequence that has no counterpart in L1. These findings suggest that Ng-CAM and L1 may not be equivalent molecules in chicken and mouse. The amino-terminal sequences of the 210-, 190-, and 135-kD components of Ng-CAM are all the same as the predicted amino terminus of the molecule, whereas the 80-kD component begins within the third fibronectin repeat. The cDNA sequence is continuous across the junction between the 135- and 80-kD components, and a single 170-kD Ng-CAM polypeptide was isolated from tunicamycin-treated cells. In addition, all cDNA probes hybridized on Northern blots to a 6-kb RNA, and most hybridized to single bands on Southern blots. These results indicate that the Ng-CAM components are derived from a single polypeptide encoded by a single gene, and that the 135- and 80-kD components are generated from the 210/190-kD species by proteolytic cleavage. The 135-kD component contains most of the extracellular region including all of the immunoglobulin-like domains. It has no transmembrane segment, but it is tightly associated with the membrane. The 80-kD component contains two and a half type III repeats plus the RGD-containing segment, as well as the single transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains. These structural features of Ng-CAM provide a framework for understanding its multiple functions in neuron-neuron interactions, neurite fasciculation, and neuron-glia interactions.

We have identified and characterized a new glycoprotein in the chicken nervous system using immunological and molecular biological methods and we have examined its tissue distribution. Analysis revealed that this protein is very similar in structure to the chicken neuron-glia cell adhesion molecule, Ng-CAM, and to mouse L1. cDNA clones encompassing the entire coding sequence of this Ng-CAM related molecule, called Nr-CAM, have been isolated and sequenced. A glycoprotein containing one major component of Mr 145,000 on SDS-PAGE was purified from brain by lentil lectin affinity chromatography and FPLC, and its amino-terminal sequence was identical to that predicted from the Nr-CAM cDNA. The complete cDNA sequence encodes six Ig-like domains, five fibronectin type III repeats, a predicted transmembrane domain, and a short cytoplasmic domain. On Northern blots, nucleic acid probes for Nr-CAM recognized one major RNA species of approximately 7 kb and much lesser amounts of larger RNAs. Most of the same probes hybridized to single bands on genomic Southern blots, suggesting that Nr-CAM is encoded by a single gene that may be alternatively processed to yield several mRNAs. In support of this notion, two Nr-CAM cDNA clones had a 57-bp sequence located between the second and third Ig-like domains that was not found in two other Nr-CAM cDNA clones, and two other clones were isolated that lacked the 279-bp segment encoding the fifth fibronectin-like type III repeat. Antibodies against the purified protein and synthetic peptides in Nr-CAM both recognized a predominant Mr 145,000 species and a much less prevalent species of Mr 170,000 in neural tissues. Levels of Nr-CAM expression increased in the brain until approximately embryonic day (E) 12, followed by slightly lower levels of expression at E18 and after hatching. Immunofluorescent staining with anti-Nr-CAM antibodies showed that most neurons in the retina were positive at E7 and the pattern of expression became restricted to several layers on neuronal cell bodies and fibers during development. Anti-Nr-CAM antibodies labeled specifically cell surfaces on neurons in culture. Although the structure of Nr-CAM resembles that of chicken Ng-CAM and mouse L1, the identity with each of these neural CAMs does not exceed 40%. The differences indicate that Nr-CAM is distinct from Ng-CAM and L1, but there are sufficient similarities to suggest that all of these molecules are members of a subgroup of neural CAMs in the N-CAM superfamily.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Some azido and amino inositol derivatives were synthesised from l-quebrachitol. The reaction between the mesylated compound and sodium azide was studied experimentally. Ab initio quantum mechanical calculations were carried out for this process to better understand the reaction mechanism.

Chorioamnionitis substantially increases fetal and neonatal morbidity. Infants born to women with Chorioamnionitis have a fourfold increase in neonatal morbidity. If this condition could be predicted before the clinical manifestation and thereby treated earlier, an improved perinatal outcome might reasonably be expected. Based on the in vitro model of bacteria-induced vasoconstriction and pulmonary hypertension noted in sheep and lambs after exposure to the spent medium of a bacterial culture, we theorized that infected amniotic fluid may produce vasospasm of umbilical and placental vessels, reduce fetal perfusion, and increase perinatal asphyxia, morbidity, and mortality. Umbilical vessel vasospasm may be detected by measuring the systolic-diastolic ratio (SID) of the umbilical artery. Continuous Doppler flow studies of the umbilical artery S/D were performed prospectively on 51 patients with premature rupture of membranes who were not in labor. The most recent test, done within 1 day of delivery, was compared with pregnancy outcome. Ten subjects developed clinical Chorioamnionitis, of whom none had an abnormal S/D. Six of 41 women without clinical Chorioamnionitis had abnormal S/Ds. These data do not support the use of Doppler measurement of the S/D as a predictor of clinical Chorioamnionitis.

Previous reports of ultrasonographically diagnosed seizure activity in utero have described fetuses with obvious, gross, tonic-clonic movements of trunk and extremities.

The authors draw attention to the availability of numerical tables and graphs for design by the conventional deduction of the z transform from a given squared magnitude function.

This is a report of second-trimester prenatal diagnosis of Crouzon syndrome suggested by binocular and interorbital diameter measurement and family history. Early prenatal diagnosis provides the option of termination or optimal postnatal management for families who choose to continue the pregnancy.

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 200 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.

A chemotaxonomic analysis is described of a database containing various types of compounds from the Heliantheae tribe (Asteraceae) using Self-Organizing Maps (SOM). The numbers of occurrences of 9 chemical classes in different taxa of the tribe were used as variables. The study shows that SOM applied to chemical data can contribute to differentiate genera, subtribes, and groups of subtribes (subtribe branches), as well as to tribal and subtribal classifications of Heliantheae, exhibiting a high hit percentage comparable to that of an expert performance, and in agreement with the previous tribe classification proposed by Stuessy.

We investigated whether findings from pretreatment low-resolution electromagnetic tomography (LORETA) predicted response to drug treatment in patients with obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). The 3D intra-cerebral distribution of neuronal electrical activity from the scalp-recorded potential distribution of 17 drug-free patients with OCD was assessed with LORETA. They were treated with antidepressants in the maximum tolerated doses for at least 12 wk. Individuals were considered to be treatment responders if they displayed a reduction of at least 35% on the initial YBOCS scores and had a final CGI score of 1 or 2. The SPM-99 t test for independent samples was employed to compare, voxel-by-voxel, the brain electrical activities of responders (n = 10) and non-responders (n = 7). Responders exhibited significantly lower activities in beta band in the rostral anterior cingulate [Brodmann's area (BA) 24 and 32] (p = 0.002) and the medial frontal gyrus (BA 10) (p = 0.002), suggesting that a distinctive pattern of activity within the medial surface of the frontal lobe predicts therapeutic response in OCD.