170,728 research outputs found

    Association study of BDNF and DRD3 genes with alcohol use disorder in Schizophrenia

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    Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a leading risk factor of disease burden in the world. It is also commonly comorbid with over 20% of schizophrenia patients. The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and dopamine D3 receptor (DRD3) have been implicated in alcohol drinking behaviour. Previous genetic studies of the BDNF and DRD3 genes produced mixed findings; however, only one study investigated two BDNF genetic markers with alcohol dependence in schizophrenia patients. We investigated 15 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in DRD3 and four SNPs in BDNF for possible association with alcohol abuse or dependence in schizophrenia patients of European ancestry (N = 195). The patients were assessed for the occurrence of alcohol abuse or alcohol dependence using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders, Patient Edition (SCID-I/P). We found the BDNF Val66Met to be associated with alcohol dependence (p = 0.004). We also found haplotypes across BDNF to be nominally associated with alcohol dependence. Analyses of DRD3 markers and haplotypes yielded mostly negative findings. Our findings support a role of the BDNF gene in alcohol dependence in schizophrenia patients. Larger samples are required to confirm our findings, particularly those of BDNF haplotypes

    FIGURE 1A–1F. Genitalia. A–C in Istiochrysis gen. nov., a new chrysidid genus from Oriental China (Hymenoptera, Chrysididae)

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    FIGURE 1A–1F. Genitalia. A–C. Istiochrysis ziliolii sp. nov., A, dorsal view; B, dorso-lateral view; C, lateral view; D. Trichrysis cyanea (Linnaeus), dorsal view; E. Chrysidea pumila (Klug), dorsal view; F. Caenochrysis doriae (Gribodo), dorsal view.Published as part of Rosa, Paolo, Feng, Jun & Xu, Zai-Fu, 2016, Istiochrysis gen. nov., a new chrysidid genus from Oriental China (Hymenoptera, Chrysididae), pp. 591-597 in Zootaxa 4111 (5) on page 593, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4111.5.5, http://zenodo.org/record/26366

    Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis

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    The present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed

    Decomposition of organic amendment and nutrient release under the zai technique in the Sahel

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    In the West African Sahel, farmers use the zai technique to reclaim degraded cropland. Although the nutrients released by the decomposition of the amendments are central to the success of the technique, little is known regarding the impact of the zai pits on the decomposition process and whether the nutrient release is synchronized with plant requirements. The decomposition of millet stalks and cattle manure applied in zai pits or at the soil surface was studied in Niger using litterbags, under controlled irrigation on-station in 1999 and on-farm in 1999 and 2000 at two locations (Damari and Kakassi) with contrasting soils. In addition, a satellite trial was conducted in 2000 on-farm at the same locations to study the relative contribution of termites to manure decomposition. Only at Damari did termite presence enhance manure decomposition, by a factor three for surface placement compared to the zai pits. At Damari, zai pits enhanced the decomposition when termite activity was suppressed. Whereas manure decomposition proceeded two to three times faster than that of millet stalks at Damari, the type of amendment had no effect on decomposition rate at Kakassi. Nutrient release followed the trend of organic amendment decomposition except for K. When applied prior to the rainy season, nutrient release rate of organic amendments strongly exceeded plant nutrient uptake, which could lead to important leaching losses during the first 4-6 weeks after sowing, especially for N and to a lesser extent for K. However, at harvest, total nutrient absorption by plants was generally higher than the total amount released. The results indicate a highly site-specific response of amendment decomposition to zai and the need for a better timing of amendment application to reduce potential leaching losses, possibly through a split application

    Mitomycin C in highly myopic eyes - Author reply

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    Ophthalmology. 2005 Feb;112(2):208-18; discussion 219. Mitomycin C modulation of corneal wound healing after photorefractive keratectomy in highly myopic eyes. Gambato C, Ghirlando A, Moretto E, Busato F, Midena E. SourceRefractive Surgery Service and Antimetabolite Therapy Research Unit, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy. Abstract PURPOSE: To evaluate the role of topical mitomycin C in corneal wound healing (CWH) after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) in highly myopic eyes. DESIGN: Prospective, double-masked, randomized clinical trial. PARTICIPANTS: Seventy-two eyes of 36 patients affected by high (>7 diopters) myopia. METHODS: In each patient, one eye was randomly assigned to PRK with intraoperative topical 0.02% mitomycin C application, and the fellow eye was treated with a placebo. Postoperatively, mitomycin C-treated eyes received artificial tears (3 times daily, tapered in 3 months), whereas the fellow eye was treated with fluorometholone sodium 2% and artificial tears (3 times daily, tapered in 3 months). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), contrast sensitivity, manifest refraction, and biomicroscopy. Contrast sensitivity was determined using the Pelli-Robson chart. Corneal confocal microscopy documented CWH. RESULTS: Mean follow-up was 18 months (range, 12-36). No side effects or toxic effects were documented. At 12-month follow-up examination, UCVAs (logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution) were 0.4+/-0.48 and 0.5+/-0.53 (P = .03) in mitomycin C-treated eyes and corticosteroid-treated eyes, respectively. At 1 year, corneal haze developed in 20% of corticosteroid-treated eyes, versus 0% of mitomycin C-treated eyes. At 12, 24, and 36 months, corneal confocal microscopy showed activated keratocytes and extracellular matrix significantly more evident in untreated eyes (Ps = 0.004, 0.024, and 0.046, respectively). CONCLUSION: Topical intraoperative application of 0.02% mitomycin C can reduce haze formation in highly myopic eyes undergoing PRK. Comment in Ophthalmology. 2006 Feb;113(2):357; author reply 357-8
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