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A 2-year-old male mongrel dog was presented because of the onset of dry cough. About 16 hours before, the dog had been exposed to the pesticide that the owner was spraying in the vineyard. Approximately 3 hours later an acute respiratory failure, with a rapid evolution, began. Hemoptysis and regenerative normocytic normochromic anemia arose within hours, and a pulmonary hemorrhage was diagnosed. Pulmonary hemorrhage fast led to pneumonia, as evidenced by the serial CXR findings and the developing of leukocytosis. The hypothesis that we believe more likely is that the dog inhaled an amount of copper sulfate powder enough to determine respiratory tree damage, extending from the trachea to the pulmonary alveoli. Oxygen supplementation, antibiotics, antioxidant, and gastroprotective medications had been administered. After 4 days of hospitalization the dog was discharged. After a follow-up of more than 2 years later, the dog is still alive and in good health. To the authors knowledge no evidences of acute pulmonary involvement after copper sulfate inhalation exist in any species. This report is a contribution to the knowledge of copper poisoning, scarcely mentioned both in human and veterinary literature, and which has never been described in companion animals., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Ammonia gas injection is a promising technique for the remediation of uranium within the vadose zone. It can be used to manipulate the pH of a system and cause co-precipitation processes that are expected to remove uranium from the aqueous phase and decrease leaching from the solid phase. The work presented in this paper explores the effects of ammonium and sodium hydroxide on the partitioning of uranium and dissolution of the kaolinite mineral in simplified synthetic groundwaters using equilibrium batch sorption and sequential extraction experiments. It shows that there is a significant increase in uranium removal in systems with divalent cations present in the aqueous phase but not in sodium chloride synthetic groundwaters. Further, the initial conditions of the aqueous phase do not affect the dissolution of kaolinite. However, the type of base treatment does have an effect on mineral dissolution., (Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma is the sixth most common cancer diagnosed worldwide and the eighth most common cause of cancer death. Malignant tumors of the oral cavity, oropharynx, and larynx can be treated by surgical resection or radiotheraphy with or without chemotheraphy and have a profound impact on quality of life functions, including swallowing. When surgery is the chosen treatment modality, the patient may experience swallowing impairment in the oral and pharyngeal phases of deglutition. A videofluoroscopic study of swallow enables the morphodynamics of the pharyngeal-esophageal tract to be accurately examined in patients with prior surgery. These features allow an accurate tracking of the various phases of swallowing in real time, identifying the presence of functional disorders and of complications during the short- and long-term postoperative recovery. The role of imaging is fundamental for the therapist to plan rehabilitation. In this paper, the authors aim to describe the videofluoroscopic study of swallow protocol and related swallowing impairment findings in consideration of different types of surgery.

Introduction: Cocaine dependence is a substantial public health problem. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of high frequency deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (dTMS) on craving in patients with cocaine use disorder (CUD)., Methods: Seven men (mean age, 48.71 years; standard deviation [SD], 9.45; range 32-60 years) with CUD and no concurrent axis 1 or 2 disorder save nicotine abuse, underwent three sessions of alternate day 20Hz dTMS in 20 trains delivered to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) preferentially to the left hemisphere, for 12 sessions spread over one month, added to unchanged prior drug treatment. We used a visual analogue scale (VAS) to measure cocaine craving the week before, each week during, and one month after dTMS treatment., Results: DLPFC stimulation significantly reduced craving over time: within-subjects main effect of time of treatment (ANOVA, F[3,18]=46.154; p<0.001; η(2)=0.88). The reduction of craving from baseline was significant at two weeks (p<0.001), and four weeks (p<0.001) of treatment, and at the week eight, four weeks after treatment interruption (p=0.003), although the increase of craving was significant from week four and eight (p=0.014)., Conclusion: dTMS over left DLPFC reduced craving in CUD patients in a small sample that is to be considered preliminary. However, maintenance sessions would be needed to maintain the achieved results. Our findings highlight the potential of noninvasive neuromodulation as a therapeutic tool for cocaine addiction., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

OBJECTIVE To determine effects of the size and location of regions of interest (ROIs) in the renal cortex of unsedated dogs on renal perfusion variables determined by use of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS). ANIMALS 12 client-owned adult (1.5 to 2 years old) Labrador Retrievers (8 males and 4 females; mean ± SD body weight, 27 ± 1.6 kg). PROCEDURES Each dog received 2 bolus injections of sulfur hexafluoride during CEUS. Three small oval ROIs (area of each ROI, 0.11 cm(2)) located in a row with a distance of 1 mm between adjacent ROIs and 1 large oval ROI (area, 1 cm(2)) that encompassed the 3 smaller ROIs were manually drawn in the renal cortex. The ROIs were located at a depth of 1.5 to 2.0 cm in the near field of the renal cortex. Software analysis of time-intensity curves within each ROI was used to identify peak enhancement, time to peak enhancement, regional blood flow, and mean transit time. RESULTS The location and size of the ROIs of unsedated dogs did not cause significant differences in the mean values of the renal perfusion variables. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE The development of CEUS has provided a unique means for visually examining and quantifying tissue perfusion. Results of this study indicated that it was possible to use small or large ROIs during renal CEUS to evaluate renal perfusion in dogs.

Introduction: Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (dTMS) can be an alternative treatment to relieve pain in chronic migraine (CM). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of high-frequency dTMS in add-on to standard treatment for CM in patients not responding to effective abortive or preventive drug treatment., Methods: We randomized 14 patients with International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd Edition (ICHD-3) treatment-resistant CM to add-on dTMS (n=7) or standard abortive or preventive antimigraine treatment (n=7). Three sessions of alternate day 10Hz dTMS consisting of 600 pulses in 10 trains were delivered to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), bilaterally, but with left hemisphere prevalence, for 12 sessions spread over one month., Results: The add-on dTMS treatment was well tolerated. Patients treated with dTMS showed significant reduction of pain intensity, frequency of attacks, analgesic overuse, and depressive symptoms during treatment and one month later, compared to the month preceding treatment and at the same time-points compared to the control group., Conclusions: As compared to standard pharmacological treatment alone, add-on high-frequency dTMS of the bilateral DLPFC reduced the frequency and intensity of migraine attack, drug overuse, and depressive symptoms. This study supports the add-on dTMS treatment in treatment-resistant CM., (Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.)

The aim of this study was to investigate whether a combined global positioning system (GPS)/heart rate (HR) monitoring system is a valuable tool to assess, step by step, the physiological response of HR and its relationship with speed in healthy horses competing in an official show jumping class. Six mares performing a standardised warm-up and jumping course were monitored using a HR/GPS device. Venous blood lactate (BL), assessed before and after exercise, showed a significant increase (P = 0.0004) following the physical effort. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed significant changes in HR throughout the experimental period. The analysis of HR data recorded during the warm-up jumping stage showed significantly higher HR (P = 0.001) in the recovery period compared to the related jumping phase. Shifting the fence height from 100 cm to 125 cm during the warm-up jumps was also found to cause a significant increase (P = 0.016) in HR. According to these preliminary results, the simultaneous logging of heart rate and speed has the potential to be a reliable and powerful technique for field testing that can help in the monitoring of the horse's response to jumping effort during training and competition.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of a medetomidine-ketamine combination on tear production of clinically normal cats by use of the Schirmer tear test (STT) 1 before and during anesthesia and after reversal of medetomidine with atipamezole., Animals: 40 client-owned crossbred domestic shorthair cats (23 males and 17 females; age range, 6 to 24 months)., Procedures: A complete physical examination, CBC, and ophthalmic examination were performed on each cat. Cats with no abnormalities on physical and ophthalmic examinations were included in the study. Cats were allocated into 2 groups: a control group (n = 10 cats) anesthetized by administration of a combination of medetomidine hydrochloride (80 μg/kg) and ketamine hydrochloride (5 mg/kg), and an experimental group (30) anesthetized with the medetomidine-ketamine combination and reversal by administration of atipamezole. Tear production of both eyes of each cat was measured by use of the STT I before anesthesia, 15 minutes after the beginning of anesthesia, and 15 minutes after administration of atipamezole., Results: Anesthesia with a medetomidine-ketamine combination of cats with no ophthalmic disease caused a significant decrease in tear production. The STT I values returned nearly to preanesthetic values within 15 minutes after reversal with atipamezole, whereas the STT I values for the control group were still low at that point., Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Results indicated that a tear substitute should be administered to eyes of cats anesthetized with a medetomidine-ketamine combination from the time of anesthetic administration until at least 15 minutes after administration of atipamezole.

Here we report the straightforward synthesis of the ligands L(tz), L(tzC8), L(tzPEG), L(tzAnis) and L(≡Anis) presenting the same pyridine-bistetrazolate (pytz, L) chelating scaffold but different substituents on the para position of the pyridine ring. Its substitution allows the tuning of the solubility of the LnIII complexes [Ln(Li)3]3(-). These new ligands form homoleptic nona-coordinated LnIII complexes of analogous structure and comparable stability in water and methanol. The derivatization of the para position with triazole and substituted triazole groups does not lead to a significant shift of the absorption window, but a shift of 40 nm is observed in ligand L(≡Anis) due to the presence of the p-ethynyl anisole fragment. The L(tzX) series sensitize well, both the Eu and the Tb ions with quantum yields up to 98% for Tb and 43% for Eu, while the ligand L(≡Anis) sensitizes well Eu (QY of 48%) but cannot sensitize Tb due to the position of its triplet state.

Empirical and theoretical studies support the notion that anomalous self-experience (ASE) may constitute a phenotypic aspect of vulnerability to schizophrenia, but there are no studies examining the relationship of ASE with other clinical risk factors in a sample of ultra-high risk (UHR) subjects. The aim of the present study was to explore the relationship between ASE, prodromal symptoms, neurocognition, and global functioning in a sample of 45 UHR adolescents and young adults (age range 15-25years) at first contact with Public Mental Health Services. Prodromal symptoms and global functioning were assessed through the SIPS interview. ASE was evaluated through the Examination of Anomalous Self-Experience (EASE); for neurocognition, we utilized a battery of tests examining seven cognitive domains as recommended by the Measurement And Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia. In the UHR group, higher levels in two domains of the EASE (stream of consciousness and self-awareness) were found in comparison with help-seeking subjects. Correlational analysis corrected for possible confounding variables showed a strong association (p>0.001) between higher EASE scores and global functioning. A principal factor analysis with Varimax rotation yielded a two-factor solution, jointly accounting for 70.58% of the total variance in the UHR sample. The first factor was comprised of SOPS domains, while the second was comprised of EASE-total, EASE-10, and GAF variables. Our findings provide support for the notion that disorders of self-experience are present early in schizophrenia and are related to global functioning. As such, they may constitute a potential marker of risk supplementing the UHR approach., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and the safety of diode laser stapedotomy, through the functional results analysis., Materials and Methods: A total of 179 primary cases of otosclerosis that had been operated on with a diode laser technique from 2004 to 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. Preoperative, 1 month postoperative, and late annual follow-up audiograms (up to 8 years) were obtained in all the cases. Mean preoperative and 1 month postoperative pure-tone average (500-1000-2000-4000 Hz) bone conduction thresholds (PTA-BCs), air conduction (AC) hearing outcomes for 8 kHz and mean postoperative air-bone gap (PTA-ABG) closure were analyzed., Results: The mean preoperative (pre) PTA-BC was 24.22 dB (±8.7 SD) whereas the mean postoperative (post) PTA-BC was 21.11 dB (±9.1 SD). The mean preoperative 8 kHz AC was 56.41 dB (±22.86 SD) and the postoperative 8 kHz AC was 52.56 dB (±24.35 SD). A statistically significant improvement of the PTA-BC post and of the postoperative 8 kHz AC was observed. The 1 month ABG closure within 10 dB in 89.02% of the patients and within 20 dB in 97.69% of the patients was obtained with statistically significant stability over long-term follow-up. No major complications occurred in the series., Conclusions: The use of diode laser with high power and short time exposure as setup can be considered a safe, precise, and useful tool in stapes surgery.

The salen-type ligand prepared with (R,R) diphenylethan-1,2-diamine and salicylaldehyde provides stable and inert complexes KLnL2 upon simple reaction with lanthanide halides or pseudohalides LnX3 (Ln = Tb(3+) -Lu(3+) ; X = Cl(-) or TfO(-) ) of its potassium salt. All the complexes were completely characterized through nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), electronic circular dichroism (ECD) in the UV and some (Er(3+) , Tm(3+) , Yb(3+) ) also with Near-IR ECD (NIR-ECD) and luminescence (Tb(3+) , Tm(3+) ). Careful analysis of the NMR shifts demonstrated that the complexes are isostructural in solution and afforded an accurate geometry. This was further confirmed by means of Density Functional Theory (DFT) optimization of the Lu(3+) complex, and by comparing the ligand-centered experimental and time-dependent TD-DFT computed UV-ECD spectra. As final validation, we used the NIR-ECD spectrum of the Yb(3+) derivative calculated by means of Richardson's equations. The excellent match between calculated and experimental ECD spectra confirm the quality of the NMR structure., (© 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Background: Current prognostication of gastrointestinal stromal tumours is validated on/applies to resected tumours, mainly because surgery is recommended whenever possible. However, pre-treatment prognostication is increasingly warranted, considering the follow-up strategy recently admitted for expectedly low-risk tumours and the possible distinctive molecular features/spontaneous regression of some small cases., Aims: To investigate whether endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle tissue acquisition-biopsies reflect prognosticators of resected gastrointestinal stromal tumours, for possibly developing reliable pre-treatment prognostic criteria., Methods: The applicability/reliability of mitotic index/5mm(2) and MIB1 proliferative index/1000 cells were tested in 35 endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle tissue acquisition-biopsies diagnosed as gastrointestinal stromal tumour, subsequently resected without intervening therapy, consecutively collected in thirty months. Size and mitotic/proliferative indexes were compared with resection specimens. The feasibility of bioptic genotyping was also tested., Results: 35 patients were studied (45.7% males; mean age 61.6 years, range 26-83 years). Mitotic/proliferative indexes were determinable in 68.6%/88.6% of biopsies, respectively; they were nevertheless underestimated, as happened with endoscopic ultrasound-determined tumour size. Bioptic genotyping revealed reliable., Conclusions: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle tissue acquisition does not reliably reflect gastrointestinal stromal tumours' proliferation and size. Alternative parameters should be validated for a pre-surgical prognostic classification. Considering the emerging potentially prognostic genetic markers in gastrointestinal stromal tumours, the reliability of bioptic genotyping is a promising result., (Copyright © 2014 Editrice Gastroenterologica Italiana S.r.l. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Co-occurrence of Major Depressive (MDD) and Alcohol Use Disorders (AUDs) is frequent, causing more burden than each disorder separately. Since the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) is critically involved in both mood and reward and dysfunctional in both conditions, we aimed to evaluate the effects of dTMS stimulation of bilateral DLPFC with left prevalence in patients with MDD with or without concomitant AUD., Methods: Twelve MDD patients and 11 with concomitant MDD and AUD (MDD+AUD) received 20 dTMS sessions. Clinical status was assessed through the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and the Clinical Global Impressions severity scale (CGIs), craving through the Obsessive Compulsive Drinking Scale (OCDS) in MDD+AUD, and functioning with the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF)., Results: There were no significant differences between the two groups in sociodemographic (age, sex, years of education and duration of illness) and baseline clinical characteristics, including scores on assessment scales. Per cent drops on HDRS and CGIs scores at the end of the sessions were respectively 62.6% and 78.2% for MDD+AUD, and 55.2% and 67.1% for MDD (p<0.001). HDRS, CGIs and GAF scores remained significantly improved after the 6-month follow-up. HDRS scores dropped significantly earlier in MDD+AUD than in MDD LIMITATIONS: The small sample size and factors inherent to site and background treatment may have affected results., Conclusions: High frequency bilateral DLPFC dTMS with left preference was well tolerated and effective in patients with MDD, with or without AUD. The antidepressant effect of dTMS is not affected by alcohol abuse in patients with depressive episodes. The potential use of dTMS for mood modulation as an adjunct to treatment in patients with a depressive episode, with or without alcohol abuse, deserves further investigation., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The purpose of this literature database search-based review was to critically consider and evaluate the findings of literature focusing on efficacy and safety of 5-HT3 antagonists in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), so as to test whether preclinical data match clinical therapeutic trials., Design: The PubMed database has been searched for papers on 5-HT3 antagonists and OCD in humans and for animal models of OCD and 5-HT3 receptors., Results: Of the clinically tested 5-HT3 receptor antagonists, ondansetron has been used to treat OCD in five therapeutic studies, whereas granisetron only in one recent trial. Both showed some efficacy in open studies and superiority to placebo in double-blind studies, along with fair safety. No animal OCD model directly implicated 5-HT3 receptors., Conclusions: Overall, results indicate some utility, but the available literature is too scanty to allow for valid conclusions to be drawn. The mismatch between animal models of obsessive-compulsive disorder and clinical data with 5-HT3 antagonists needs more clinical data to ensure that it is not an artefact., (Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

Introduction: Deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (dTMS) is a new form of TMS allowing safe stimulation of deep brain regions. The objective of this preliminary study was to assess the role of dTMS maintenance sessions in protecting patients with bipolar disorder (BD) or recurrent major depressive disorder (MDD) from developing depressive or manic relapses in a 12-month follow-up period., Methods: Twenty-four drug-resistant patients with a current depressive episode and a diagnosis of MDD or BD have been enrolled in the study. All the participants underwent daily dTMS sessions for 4 weeks. One group (maintenance - M group) received additional maintenance dTMS sessions weekly or twice a week., Results: After the first dTMS cycle, a significant reduction of Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) scores was observed in all participants. Subsequently, the HDRS mean scores did not significantly change over time in the M group, while it significantly increased in the non-M-group after 6 and 12 months., Discussion: This study confirms previous evidence of a positive therapeutic effect of dTMS on depressive symptoms and suggests that, after recovery from acute episodes, maintenance dTMS sessions may be helpful in maintaining euthymia in a 12-month follow-up period.

Background and Aim: Psychopathy is associated with cognitive and affective deficits causing disruptive, harmful and selfish behaviour. These have considerable societal costs due to recurrent crime and property damage. A better understanding of the neurobiological bases of psychopathy could improve therapeutic interventions, reducing the related social costs. To analyse the major functional neural correlates of psychopathy, we reviewed functional neuroimaging studies conducted on persons with this condition., Methods: We searched the PubMed database for papers dealing with functional neuroimaging and psychopathy, with a specific focus on how neural functional changes may correlate with task performances and human behaviour., Results: Psychopathy-related behavioural disorders consistently correlated with dysfunctions in brain areas of the orbitofrontal-limbic (emotional processing and somatic reaction to emotions; behavioural planning and responsibility taking), anterior cingulate-orbitofrontal (correct assignment of emotional valence to social stimuli; violent/aggressive behaviour and challenging attitude) and prefrontal-temporal-limbic (emotional stimuli processing/response) networks. Dysfunctional areas more consistently included the inferior frontal, orbitofrontal, dorsolateral prefrontal, ventromedial prefrontal, temporal (mainly the superior temporal sulcus) and cingulated cortices, the insula, amygdala, ventral striatum and other basal ganglia., Conclusions: Emotional processing and learning, and several social and affective decision-making functions are impaired in psychopathy, which correlates with specific changes in neural functions., (© 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Postpartum psychosis, which rarely presents with Capgras syndrome (delusional misidentification), requires rapid symptom resolution. First-line drugs have important drawbacks, such as delayed onset of clinical response and secretion in breast milk. In this report, we report successful treatment of a treatment-resistant woman presenting with treatment-resistant Capgras syndrome, with onset during postpartum. A 36-year-old woman had presented with Capgras syndrome during postpartum. For more than five years, she believed her son and other family members were substituted by impostors. All adequately administrated treatments were unsuccessful. We suggested electroconvulsive therapy to overcome treatment resistance. After six electroconvulsive therapy sessions, delusions of doubles subsided and other symptoms improved. She was discharged two weeks later with a mood stabilizer and low-dose atypical antipychotic combination and is well at the one-and-a-half-year follow-up. Electroconvulsive therapy followed by a mood stabilizer-antipsychotic drug combination showed rapid, permanent, and effective control of long-standing Capgras syndrome in a young woman., (© The Author(s) 2015 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav.)

Individuals with schizophrenia present a neuropsychological deficit throughout the course of the disorder. Few studies have addressed the progression of the deficit since the prodromal phase of the disorder. This investigation explored neurocognition in accordance with the Measurement and Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia (MATRICS) Consensus recommendations. The aim of the study was to explore the presence of neurocognitive impairment in ultra-high-risk individuals and the stage of this impairment in samples at different phases of illness. Thirty-six individuals with a prodromal syndrome, 53 first-episode and 44 multi-episode schizophrenia patients were assessed to examine neuropsychological performance. ANCOVA analysis adjusted for possible confounder factors and planned contrasts with healthy controls were undertaken. The results revealed deficits in speed-of-processing, visual-learning and social-cognition in prodromal individuals, and of all other neuropsychological domains in both first-episode and multi-episode patients. Furthermore impairment was found in the first-episode and in the multi-episode group, respectively on working-memory and attention. Within the framework of the neurodevelopmental model of schizophrenia, our results suggest the presence of neuropsychological impairment before the onset of full-blown psychosis. Moreover, the deficits are larger in the more chronic groups, according to the theory of an ongoing neurodevelopmental alteration., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Rickettsia felis, the agent of flea-borne spotted fever, has a cosmopolitan distribution. Its pathogenic role in humans has been demonstrated through molecular and serologic tests in several cases. The cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis) is considered the main reservoir and the biological vector. The aim of this study was to assess the presence and occurrence of R. felis in fleas collected from dogs and cats in various sites of Palermo (Sicily). Between August and October 2012, 134 fleas were collected from 42 animals: 37 fleas from 13 dogs and 97 fleas from 29 cats. Two species of fleas were identified: 132 Ctenocephalides felis (98.51%) collected on all animals and only two C. canis (1.49%) on one dog. Out of 132 C. felis, 34 (25.76%), 12 from dogs (32.43%) and 22 (22.68%) from cats, were positive for R. felis DNA by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR), confirmed by sequencing. The only two C. canis fleas were negative. About half of examined animals (47.62%, 20/42) were infested with at least one infected flea; in particular 46.15% of dogs (6/13) and 48.28% of cats (14/29). It seems that in the Palermo district there is a peri-domestic cycle, with a relatively high prevalence of R. felis infection in the cat flea, an insect widely diffused in home environments and which can frequently bite humans. The results also suggest that R. felis should be considered in the human differential diagnosis of any spotted-like fever or febrile illness without a clear source of infection in Sicily, especially if the patient is known to have been exposed to flea bites.

A series of 13 enantiopure aryl benzyl sulfoxides () with different substituents on the two aromatic rings has been previously analyzed by means of electronic circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. Most of these compounds are crystalline and their X-ray structure is established. For almost one-half of the series, CD spectra measured in the solid state were quite different from those in acetonitrile solution. We demonstrate that the difference is due to strong exciton couplings between molecules packed closely together in the crystal. The computational approach consists of time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) calculations run on "dimers" composed of nearest neighbors found in the lattice. Solid-state CD spectra are well reproduced by the average of all possible pairwise terms. The relation between the crystal space group and conformation, and the appearance of solid-state CD spectra, is also discussed., (© 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

The present investigation explores the relationship between facial emotion recognition (FER) and symptom domains in three groups of schizophrenia spectrum patients (43 ultra-high-risk, 50 first episode and 44 multi-episode patients) in which the existence of FER impairment has already been demonstrated. Regression analysis showed that symptoms and FER impairment are related in multi-episode patients, regardless of the illness duration. We suggest that the link between symptoms and FER impairment is involved in the progression of the disease.

Subcutaneous dirofilariosis is a zoonosis parasitizing the dog, transmitted by Culicidae mosquitoes. An increasing number of new cases have been reported both in dogs and in humans all over the world. The aim of this work was to describe an uncommon case of recurrent multiple subcutaneous nodules by Dirofilaria repens in a 2-year-old dog. Surgical excision of two nodules on both hind limbs revealed a single thread-like live nematode and multiple parasite fragments, respectively. The parasite was morphologically identified as an adult female of D. repens. Haematoxylin-eosin tissue sections of nodules revealed a diffuse pyogranulomatous angiocentric dermatitis with an intense eosinophilic infiltrate throughout the dermis. One month post-surgery, a new nodular lesion was detected on the right thigh and resolved spontaneously in a few weeks. During the following 3 months, two other nodules were briefly noted both on the right hip and on the left side of the chest. The dog was periodically treated with milbemycin oxime and praziquantel, starting a week before the appearance of the first nodule. Microfilariae were not detected neither in the bloodstream nor in fine-needle aspirates at any time, and the diagnosis was made only after surgery. Practitioners should consider dirofilariosis in the differential diagnosis of subcutaneous swellings, especially if they have a recurrent behaviour, previously described in humans but not in dogs.

The delusional misidentification syndromes, occurring within the context of different nosological settings, such as schizophrenia, are psychopathological phenomena related to the experience of depersonalisation/derealisation. Extensive research indicates that individuals meeting specific "prodromal" criteria, such as attenuated psychotic symptoms, brief intermittent psychotic symptoms, or functional decline and family history of schizophrenia have increased risk for impending psychosis. Despite depersonalisation and/or derealisation often precede psychotic onset, they are not included among the prodromal criteria of the Australian-American approach. A 17-year-old boy with acute agitation, violent behaviour and aggression, and dissociative amnesia had a mild verbal memory impairment and temporo-limbic hypometabolism on the positron-emission tomography. The patient was assessed with both the ultra-high risk (UHR) and the basic symptom approaches and was not found to be prodromal with imminent risk of transition to psychosis. He was hospitalised briefly and 2 weeks after discharge he developed delusional misidentification. This case shows that even the integration of both UHR and basic symptoms criteria may give false negatives in the prediction of psychosis, especially in those cases in which a long prodromal phase is absent.

Background: The ability to facial emotion recognition (FER), a key component of socioemotional competence, is often impaired in schizophrenic disorders. The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between emotion recognition performance and symptoms in a group of patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders., Sampling and Methods: Seventy-nine patients meeting DSM-IV-TR criteria for schizophrenia, schizophreniform disorder and schizoaffective disorder were assessed by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale and a FER task. In schizophrenia patients and healthy control subjects, FER performance was compared. In order to avoid a possible confounding role of cognitive impairment, we carried out partial correlations corrected for an index of global cognition., Results: Patients performed worse than a healthy control group on all negative emotions. Partial correlations showed that cognitive/disorganized symptoms correlated with a worse performance in the FER task, whereas no correlations were found with positive, negative, excitement and depressive symptoms., Conclusions: Our findings support that in schizophrenia FER impairment is specific for negative emotions and that there is a relationship between this deficit and cognitive/disorganized symptoms, regardless of the general cognitive level., (Copyright © 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

A 24-year-old man experiencing comorbid body dysmorphic disorder since age 16 years, complicated in recent months by a major depressive episode with psychotic features, showed resistance to various drug and psychotherapy combinations. We suggested electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) to overcome treatment resistance. After 1 ECT cycle, mood and anxiety symptoms improved significantly, delusional interpretations and ideas of reference subsided, and dysmorphophobic symptoms improved as well. Six months later, the patient was doing well with a mood stabilizer/antipsychotic combination. Electroconvulsive therapy may improve symptoms of comorbid body dysmorphic disorder along with mood improvement in treatment-resistant depressive disorder.

A 41-year-old man with comorbid binge-eating disorder, severe obesity, and bipolar disorder since the age of 20 years, resistant to drug and psychotherapy combinations, worsened progressively. Relentless weight gain forced him to immobility and dependence on others. He was hospitalized for a mixed-mood episode with anxiety, mystical delusions, and auditory hallucinations. To overcome treatment resistance, we suggested electroconvulsive therapy. After 1 electroconvulsive therapy cycle, psychological symptoms promptly improved. He received clozapine and lithium. After 2 years, he reached normal weight and fair psychopathological compensation.

Insight may vary across psychosis risk syndrome (PRS), first-episode schizophrenia (FES), or multiepisode schizophrenia (MES). We aimed to compare insight domains (awareness, relabeling, and compliance) in PRS, FES, and MES groups and to correlate scores with psychopathological measures. Insight was assessed in 48 (14 PRS, 16 FES, and 18 MES) patients using the Schedule for the Assessment of Insight-Expanded Version. We conducted psychopathological assessment through the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS). In the whole group, the BPRS psychosis factor correlated with all insight domains. In the MES group, the more severe the anxiety/depression, the higher the insight score in the symptom relabeling domain. Insight did not differ significantly between the PRS, FES, and MES groups. Our results suggest that, across different phases of the illness, lack of insight behaves like a trait and is modulated by positive symptom severity. Anxiety and depression may be associated with increased insight in patients with chronic schizophrenia.

The heterobimetallic complex CsEu[(+)-hfbc](4) (hfbc = 3-heptafluorobutyryl camphorate), prepared by Kaizaki and co-workers, displays the highest ratio of polarization versus total luminescence (measured by the g(lum) factor), i.e., ~85% of the emitted photons at 595 nm are left-circularly polarized. We present a detailed structural analysis in solution, based on paramagnetic nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and discuss the possible dynamic processes, where its analogues are involved. We demonstrate that the first coordination sphere is very close to the achiral regular square antiprism (SAPR) with D(4d) symmetry, which rules out the intrinsic dissymmetry of the Eu environment for rationalizing the g(lum). In contrast, the dynamic coupling between the f-f transitions, responsible for the emission, to the ligand-centered π-π* transition at 310 nm displays almost ideal geometry to justify g(lum) and discloses a key to high circularly polarized emission.

Introduction: The elderly population is more frequently subjected to depressive mood compared to the general population and show peculiarities affecting responsiveness; furthermore, aged people need also special care. Duloxetine is a relatively new antidepressant that proved to be effective in adult depression, but has received little attention in elderly population heretofore., Aim: To review the evidence of duloxetine in late-life major depressive disorder (MDD)., Method: A systematic review of studies focusing on the use of duloxetine in MDD in the elderly has been carried out through the principal specialized databases, including PubMed, PsycLIT, and Embase., Results: Only a handful of papers were specifically dedicated to this issue. Duloxetine was found to be effective and safe in old-age MDD, to be better than placebo on many clinical measures in all studies, and to better differentiate from placebo with respect to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Compared to placebo, its side-effect profile is slightly unfavorable and its drop-out rate is slightly higher. Furthermore, when pain is present in old-age MDD, duloxetine is able to reduce it., Conclusions: The efficacy and safety of duloxetine in old-age depression are similar to those encountered in adult MDD. There is a relative lack of comparative studies other than with placebo. The special needs of elderly patients with MDD must be addressed with close patient contact to avoid the perils of inappropriate dosing.

Introduction: Obesity is a risk factor for gastroesophageal reflux and oesophageal adenocarcinoma. However, only a few studies have examined obesity and lifestyle risk factors in relation to Barrett's oesophagus. In this prospective study we assessed the presence of oesophagitis and Barrett's oesophagus in obese patients selected for laparoscopic gastric banding., Methods: 1049 obese patients were referred for laparoscopic gastric banding (233 males; mean age 41.0±10.7 years). oesophagogastroduodenoscopy was performed before surgery to check for upper gastrointestinal tract disorders, especially hiatal hernia, signs of inflammation and/or erosions and/or ulcers of the oesophageal mucosa, and Barrett's epithelium., Results: Mean body mass index was 45.15±6.46 kg/m(2). Overall 86/1049 (8.2%) patients had endoscopic signs of oesophagitis: 84 grade A, 1 grade B and 1 grade C, according to the Los Angeles classification. Hiatal hernia was detected in 127 patients (12.1%), with a mean size of 2.1±0.7 cm (range 1-4 cm); of these, 38 (29.9%) had oesophagitis (37 grade A and 1 grade B). No patients had any visible length of columnar epithelium., Conclusions: We could not confirm a high prevalence of Barrett's oesophagus in this series of obese patients., (Copyright © 2011 Editrice Gastroenterologica Italiana S.r.l. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The synthesis and the molecular and photophysical characterization, together with solid state and solution structure analysis, of a series of europium complexes based on β-diketonate ligands are reported. The Eu(III) complex emission, specifically its photoluminescence quantum yield (PL-QY), can be tuned by changing ligands which finely modifies the environment of the metal ion. Steady-state and time-resolved emission spectroscopy and overall PL-QY measurements are reported and related to geometrical features observed in crystal structures of some selected compounds. Moreover, paramagnetic NMR, based on the analogous complexes with other lanthanides, are use to demonstrate that there is a significant structural reorganization upon dissolution, which justifies the observed differences in the emission properties between solid and solution states. The energy of the triplet levels of the ligands and the occurrence of nonradiative deactivation processes clearly account for the luminescence efficiencies of the complexes in the series., (© 2011 American Chemical Society)

The ligand 3,3'-bis(diethylaminomethyl)-1,1'-bi-2-naphthol (binolam) contains an arrayed Brønsted acid-Brønsted base (BABB) system, which is responsible for the original shape of its lanthanide compounds. The solution structure of Pr, Nd and Yb compounds is solved by means of paramagnetic NMR spectroscopy and it is demonstrated that they are substantially isostructural, but with a completely new fold compared to the apparently similar heterobimetallic systems based on 1,1'-bis(2-naphthol) (binol) and alkali cations. The aromatic nuclei lie in a region equatorial with respect to the C(3) symmetry axis, whereas the alkylamine chain stretches almost parallel to C(3), above (and below) Ln(3+). This is also found in the crystal structure of the binolamo-scandium complex. A detailed study of the proton-exchange processes within the network of BABBs present in the complex is reported, which provides insight into the mechanism of the enantioselective Henry reaction promoted by these systems.

Two new polyketide-derived pigments, named rufoolivacins B (), and D (), with a 4',10-coupled aryl linkage between polysubstituted 1-naphthol and 1,4- or 1,2-anthraquinone, together with nine known metabolites including rufoolivacins A () and C (), have been isolated from the fruiting bodies of the Chinese toadstool Cortinarius rufo-olivaceus (basidiomycetes). Their structures were characterized on the basis of spectroscopic methods, including 2D-NMR experiments (COSY, NOESY, HSQC, and HMBC). The axial chirality of and was assigned through analysis of their CD spectra and ZINDO and TDDFT calculations. Compounds and were found to be unusual natural products incorporating an ortho-anthraquinone chromophore. All the metabolites were shown to be toxic toward the brine shrimp.

Background: Three previous studies from the same institution have reported that transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF) with the EsophyX device is effective for creating a continent gastroesophageal valve and for good functional results as measured only by pH-metry in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of TIF on symptoms, use of proton pump inhibitors (PPI), esophageal motility, and pH-impedance in patients with symptomatic GERD., Methods: Twenty consecutive patients were enrolled to complete the GERD-HRQL and GERD-QUAL questionnaires while on and off PPI. They were also examined by upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy to determine Hill grade and Jobe length of the gastroesophageal valve, and to check for hiatal hernia and esophagitis, esophageal manometry, and pH-impedance before and 6 months after TIF., Results: Six months after TIF, the GERD-HRLQ and GERD-QUAL scores off-PPI therapy and the number of total and acid pH-impedance refluxes were significantly reduced (p < 0.05). The PPI had been completely stopped in 55% of the patient and was reduced in 22% of the patients., Conclusions: At 6-month follow-up, TIF performed using the EsophyX device reduces symptoms and pH-impedance refluxes, allowing interruption or reduction of PPI use in 78% of patients with GERD.

The CD spectra of 13 crystalline aryl benzyl sulfoxides 1a-m with various substituents on the two aromatic rings were recorded in solution and in the solid state. Solution CD spectra were very homogeneous along the series, consisting in most cases of a couplet-like feature in the 200-300 nm region. The red-shifted component of the couplet, corresponding to the sulfoxide-centered n-pi* transition, is always positive for (R) absolute configuration in accordance with Mislow's rule. The presence of a strong electron-withdrawing substituent on the phenyl ring (nitro or ester group) alters the shape of the CD spectrum. CD calculations using the TDDFT method were run for eight representative compounds using DFT-optimized geometries. In all cases, calculated spectra were in very good agreement with experimental ones and allowed for rationalization of the diverse spectral behaviors. It is demonstrated that TDDFT//DFT calculations represent a reliable option for assigning the absolute configuration of this class of compounds whenever crystals suitable for X-ray are not available. Solid-state CD spectra recorded with the KCl pellet technique were in some cases in agreement with those in solution. However, in other cases new and strong CD signals appeared which were interpreted as being due to intermolecular couplings in the crystals.

The structure of 2,6-bis(2-pyridyltsulfanylmethyl)pyridine (pytmp), (I), C(17)H(15)N(3)S(2), presents a twisted conformation, with the three planar moieties almost perpendicular to each other. The structures of two related derivatives, namely 2,6-bis(6-methyl-2-pyridylsulfanylmethyl)pyridine (mpytmp), (II), C(19)H(19)N(3)S(2), and 2,6-bis(4-methyl-2-pyrimidylsulfanylmethyl)pyridine (mprtmp) n-pentane hemisolvate, (III), C(17)H(17)N(5)S(2).0.5C(5)H(12), present extended planar fragments with just one quasi-perpendicular arylsulfanylmethyl side arm, such that the molecules are folded in an L-shaped conformation. All three conformations appear different from those adopted by similar compounds, demonstrating the great flexibility of such species, although such differences in conformational behaviour might drive specific coordination modes.

Introduction: In a previous uncontrolled study, a reduction of rectal distensibility and volume thresholds for sensations have been related to the occurrence of fecal urgency and/or increased stool frequency after stapled hemorrhoidopexy., Aim of the Study: The aim of this study was to compare rectal symptoms and sensory-motor function after stapled hemorrhoidopexy and Milligan-Morgan hemorrhoidectomy., Methods: The clinical records of 12 (four women) and ten patients (four women) with third- and fourth-degree hemorrhoids, respectively, who underwent stapled hemorrhoidopexy or Milligan-Morgan's hemorrhoidectomy, were evaluated. One week before and 6 months after surgery, rectal motor and sensory response to distension was assessed by an electronic barostat, and bowel and rectal symptoms were recorded by means of a 7-day diary and Bristol Index scale and psychological symptoms with SCL-90 questionnaire., Results: Rectal distensibility and volume thresholds for sensations were significantly lower after surgery (P < 0.02) in the stapled group. Increased stool frequency and/or fecal urgency arose in 41% of patients in the stapled group and associated with altered rectal distensibility. No difference within and between groups could be demonstrated in SCL-90 score., Conclusions: Rectal distensibility and volume thresholds for sensations decrease after stapled hemorrhoidopexy. Altered rectal distensibility was associated with rectal urgency and/or increased stool frequency.

Cystic echinococcosis (CE), caused by the larval stages of the tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus, is known to be one of the most important parasitic infection in livestock worldwide and one of the most widespread zoonoses known. In the present study, we used a geographical information system (GIS) to study the spatial structure of livestock (cattle, water buffaloes and sheep) populations to gain a better understanding of the role of sheep as reservoir for the transmission of CE to cattle and water buffaloes. To this end, a survey on CE in cattle and water buffaloes from the Campania region of southern Italy was conducted and the geo-referenced results linked to the regional farm geo-referenced data within a GIS. The results showed a noteworthy prevalence of CE in cattle and water buffalo farms (overall prevalence = 18.6%). The elaboration of the data with a GIS approach showed a close proximity of the bovine and/or water buffalo CE positive farms with the ovine farms present in the study area, thus giving important information on the significance of sheep and free-ranging canids in the transmission cycles of CE in relation to cattle and water buffaloes. The significantly higher prevalence found in cattle as compared to water buffalo farms (20.0% versus 12.4%) supports the key role of sheep in the CE transmission; indeed, within the 5 km radius buffer zones constructed around the cattle farms positive for CE, a higher number of (potentially infected) sheep farms were found compared to those found within the buffer zones around the water buffalo farms. Furthermore, the average distances between the sheep and cattle farms falling in the same buffer zones were significantly lower than those between the sheep and water buffalo farms. We emphasize that the use of GIS is a novel approach to further our understanding of the epidemiology and control of CE and we encourage other groups to make use of it.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to define heterogeneity of adult-onset autoimmune diabetes based on characterization of GAD antibodies (GADAs)., Research Design and Methods: Patients enrolled in a nationwide survey, the Non Insulin Requiring Autoimmune Diabetes (NIRAD) Study, have been screened for GADAs and IA-2 antibodies (IA-2As) and further characterized for GADA titer, antibodies to thyroid peroxidase (TPO), and HLA DRB1-DQB1 polymorphisms., Results: Of 4,250 consecutive type 2 diabetic patients, 4.5% had either GADAs and/or IA-2As. Patients with autoimmune diabetes showed a clinical phenotype significantly different from that of type 2 diabetes, including higher fasting glucose and A1C, lower BMI and uric acid, lower prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its components, and higher frequency of TPO antibodies. More interestingly, analysis of GADA titers showed a bimodal distribution that identified two subgroups of patients with high (>32 GADA arbitrary units) and low (< or =32 GADA arbitrary units) GADA titers. Compared with those with low GADA titers, patients with high GADA titers had more prominent traits of insulin deficiency and a profile of more severe autoimmunity resulting in higher A1C, lower BMI, a lower prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its components (P < 0.02 for all), a higher prevalence of IA-2As, TPO antibodies (P < 0.003 for both), and DRB1*03-DQB1*0201 (50 vs. 26.8%, P = 0.001), and a decreasing frequency of DQB1*0602 and DRB1*0403 (from type 2 to low and to high GADA titer autoimmune diabetes; P < 0.001 for trend for both comparisons)., Conclusions: GADA titers identify two subgroups of patients with adult-onset autoimmune diabetes having distinct clinical, autoimmune, and genetic features.

Background and Study Aims: Optical coherence tomography (OCT) permits high-resolution imaging of tissue microstructures using a probe that can be inserted into the main pancreatic duct (MPD) through a standard endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) catheter. This prospective study was designed to assess the diagnostic capacity of OCT to differentiate between nonneoplastic and neoplastic lesions in patients with MPD segmental strictures., Patients and Methods: Twelve consecutive patients with documented MPD segmental stricture were investigated by endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS), with fine-needle aspiration cytology if necessary, and ERCP, followed by brush cytology and OCT scanning., Results: OCT recognized a differentiated three-layer architecture in all cases with normal MPD or chronic pancreatitis, while in all the neoplastic lesions the layer architecture appeared totally subverted, with heterogeneous backscattering of the signal. The accuracy of OCT for detection of neoplastic tissue was 100% compared with 66.7% for brush cytology. In one case, neither OCT scanning nor brush cytology was possible because of the severity of the stricture., Conclusions: This pilot study showed that OCT is feasible during ERCP, in cases of MPD segmental stricture, and was superior to brush cytology in distinguishing nonneoplastic from neoplastic lesions.

This study assessed the bio-toxicological assays efficacy in the control of effluent waters deriving from purification plants, such as industrial or wastewater discharge and marine sediment collected from the Adriatic sea on the Italian Coast. The analysis was performed using either Acute Toxicity Test containing bioluminescent bacteria or Algal Growth Inhibitory Test (used on sediments only). Furthermore, samples were also characterized by microbiological parameters to search for indicators of faecal contamination. From the 29 samples collected from effluent waters, 6 showed an inhibition of bacterial luminescence higher than 20% and the analysis of EC50 expressed a strong toxicity for 4 of them, whereas 9 of the remaining 23 samples exhibited a bioluminescence stimulation defined as "hormesi." No samples of marine sediments displayed a reduction of luminescence exceeding 20% with respect to the control. Toxicity tests can represent efficacious tools to detect the presence of pollutants for the preservation of the aquatic system and human health.

Adrenergic receptors regulate lipid mobilization, energy expenditure and glycogen breakdown. The beta(2) adrenergic receptor (beta(2)-AR) gene may constitute a potential candidate gene to explain part of the genetic predisposition to human obesity and correlated traits. With regard to the association between beta(2)-AR gene polymorphisms and obesity-related metabolic disorders, published reports give conflicting results. We investigated the role of three polymorphisms, and related haplotypes of the beta(2)-AR in the obesity and related traits in a cohort of overweight/obese subjects. We characterized one single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the promoter region (5'LC-Cys19Arg) and two in the coding region (Gly16Arg and Gln27Glu) of the beta(2)-AR in 642 consecutively recruited overweight/obese subjects in whom extensive clinical and biochemical analysis was performed. The effect of the polymorphisms on quantitative variables was investigated using multiple linear regression analysis. 5'LC-Cys19 homozygous showed higher triglyceride and LDL-cholesterol levels compared to 5'LC-Arg19 homozygous (P=0.03 and P=0.01, respectively). Similar increase in triglyceride and LDL-cholesterol levels was observed for Arg/Arg genotype compared to Gly/Gly genotype of Gly16Arg polymorphism (P=0.02 and P=0.01, respectively) and for Gln/Gln genotype compared to Glu/Glu genotype of the Gln27Glu polymorphism (P=0.01 and P=0.03, respectively). The 5'LC-Cys(19)Arg(16)Gln(27) haplotype determined a significant increase in triglyceride and LDL-cholesterol levels compared to 5'LC-Arg(19)Gly(16)Glu(27) haplotype (P=0.05 and P=0.02, respectively). Our findings provide additional weight to previous observations on the influence of these three genetic variants on lipid phenotypes; particularly on the increase of triglycerides and LDL-cholesterol levels in overweight/obese subjects carrying the 5'LC-Cys(19)Arg(16)Gln(27) haplotype.

A total of 39 outbreaks of foodborne diseases affecting 958 people in the province of Rio Negro, Argentina between 1993 and 2001 are described and evaluated. The main causal agents were identified involving food, sites of occurrence, risk factors and notification system used. Salmonella spp (38%), Trichinella spiralis (15%), Escherichia coli (13%) and Staphylococcus aureus (15%) were the most frequent agents present in outbreaks. Salmonella spp produced the largest number of cases (52%). Food involved were cooked meat (36%), cheese (10%), sandwiches (10%), deserts (10%) and ice cream (8%). Indeed, ice creams were involved in the largest number of cases and of people affected. In relation to the source of food, 41% of outbreaks were caused by homemade meals, 23% by catering or ice cream parlor, 13% in family parties, 8% in county fairs and 8% in hotel restaurants. In 28% of the outbreaks the etiological agent was identified exclusively by epidemiological analysis, in 64% isolation of the agent was carried out, and in 8% of the cases, a final diagnosis could not be obtained. Validity of epidemiological studies in foodborne disease, the necessity of strengthening the notification system of outbreaks, and the importance of good practices in food handling are analyzed.

The fatty acid-binding proteins (FABPs) are a very well known protein family which includes the liver basic FABPs (Lb-FABPs), a subgroup so far characterized in several vertebrates but not in mammals. The most important difference recognized between the proteins in this subgroup and the better known mammalian liver FABPs (L-FABPs) is the stoichiometry of ligand binding: two fatty acid molecules in L-FABPs compared with one in Lb-FABPs. The only Lb-FABP with a known three-dimensional structure is that of chicken Lb-FABP, but the details of ligand binding are still unresolved as the crystals of the protein are grown at an acidic pH and the protein has been shown to lose its ligand under these conditions. The two proteins whose crystallizations are reported here are the second and third members of this subfamily to be crystallized. The crystals of axolotl Lb-FABP belong to either space group P4(1)2(1)2 or P4(3)2(1)2, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 65.38, c = 60.90 A, and diffract to a resolution of 2.0 A on a conventional source at room temperature. The crystals of toad Lb-FABP belong to either space group P4(1)22 or P4(3)22, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 48.14, c = 135.23 A, and diffract to 2.5 A resolution under the same conditions. It is expected that the solution of these two structures will help to clarify the structural differences between Lb-FABPs and L-FABPs and will possibly explain the different binding stoichiometries observed in these otherwise so similar protein subfamilies.

EgFABP1 is a developmentally regulated intracellular fatty acid binding protein characterized in the larval stage of parasitic platyhelminth Echinococcus granulosus. It is structurally related to the heart group of fatty acid binding proteins (H-FABPs). Binding properties and ligand affinity of recombinant EgFABP1 were determined by fluorescence spectroscopy using cis- and trans-parinaric acid. Two binding sites for cis- and trans-parinaric acid were found (K(d(1)) 24+/-4 nM, K(d(2)) 510+/-60 nM for cis-parinaric acid and K(d(1)) 32+/-4 nM, K(d(2)) 364+/-75 nM for trans-parinaric). A putative third site for both fatty acids is discussed. Binding preferences were determined using displacement assays. Arachidonic and oleic acids presented the highest displacement percentages for EgFABP1. The Echinococcus FABP is the unique member of the H-FABP group able to bind two long chain fatty acid molecules with high affinity. Structure-function relationships and putative roles for EgFABP1 in E. granulosus metabolism are discussed.

Only one fatty acid-binding protein (FABP) from the liver of the lungfish (Lepidosiren paradoxa) was isolated and characterized. The sequence comparison of lungfish FABP with that of the known members of the liver FABP (L-FABP) and liver basic FABP (Lb-FABP) subfamilies indicates that it is more closely related to chicken, iguana, frog, axolotl, catfish, and shark Lb-FABPs than to mammalian and axolotl L-FABPs. Lungfish liver expression of this single Lb-FABP contrasts with the other fish studied so far which coexpress an Lb-FABP with heart-adipocyte and/or intestinal FABP types. The lungfish liver FABP expression pattern resembles that of tetrapods, which only expresses liver type FABPs. Lungfish Lb-FABP is one of the two FABPs reported to have a disulfide bridge. The molecular modeling of lungfish Lb-FABP predicts that nine of the conserved residues of Lb-FABPs are oriented toward the binding cavity, thus suggesting they are related to the protein binding characteristics.