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We present a case of a 32-year-old natal male seeking medical follow-up care, due to gender dysphoria (GD) along with other complaints (depressive symptoms, anxiety, and suicidal ideation). The attending team chose interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT), with a focus on role transition in order to help her. The patient presented a favorable trajectory throughout treatment and demonstrated personal growth one year after treatment. To our knowledge, little was found in the literature on the use of IPT in the treatment of those with GD; we also did not find any other publication or case report using IPT exclusively to treat the problems accompanying role transition. Psychotherapy was not intended to change the gender identity of this individual. However, further studies will be required to explore possible benefits of IPT for GD treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: Phenylethanolamine- N-methyltransferase knockout (Pnmt-KO) mice are unable to synthesize epinephrine and display reduced contextual fear. However, the precise mechanism responsible for impaired contextual fear learning in these mice is unknown. Objectives: Our aim was to study the mechanism of epinephrine-dependent contextual learning. Methods: Wild-type (WT) or Pnmt-KO (129x1/SvJ) mice were submitted to a fear conditioning test either in the absence or in the presence of epinephrine, isoprenaline (non-selective β-adrenoceptor agonist), fenoterol (selective β-adrenoceptor agonist), epinephrine plus sotalol (non-selective β-adrenoceptor antagonist), and dobutamine (selective β-adrenoceptor agonist). Catecholamines were separated by reverse-phase HPLC and quantified by electrochemical detection. Blood glucose was measured by coulometry. Results: Re-exposure to shock context induced higher freezing in WT and Pnmt-KO mice treated with epinephrine and fenoterol than in mice treated with vehicle. In addition, freezing response in Pnmt-KO mice was much lower than in WT mice. Freezing induced by epinephrine was blocked by sotalol in Pnmt-KO mice. Epinephrine and fenoterol treatment restored glycemic response in Pnmt-KO mice. Re-exposure to shock context did not induce a significant difference in freezing in Pnmt-KO mice treated with dobutamine and vehicle. Conclusions: Aversive memories are best retained if moderately high plasma epinephrine concentrations occur at the same moment as the aversive stimulus. In addition, epinephrine increases context fear learning by acting on peripheral β-adrenoceptors, which may induce high levels of blood glucose. Since glucose crosses the blood-brain barrier, it may enhance hippocampal-dependent contextual learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The assessment of the bone age, or skeletal maturity, is an important task in pediatrics that measures the degree of maturation of children's bones. Nowadays, there is no standard clinical procedure for assessing bone age and the most widely used approaches are the Greulich and Pyle and the Tanner and Whitehouse methods. Computer methods have been proposed to automatize the process; however, there is a lack of exploration about how to combine the features of the different parts of the hand, and how to take advantage of ensemble techniques for this purpose. This paper presents a study where the use of ensemble techniques for improving bone age assessment is evaluated. A new computer method was developed that extracts descriptors for each joint of each finger, which are then combined using different ensemble schemes for obtaining a final bone age value. Three popular ensemble schemes are explored in this study: bagging, stacking and voting. Best results were achieved by bagging with a rule-based regression (M5P), scoring a mean absolute error of 10.16 months. Results show that ensemble techniques improve the prediction performance of most of the evaluated regression algorithms, always achieving best or comparable to best results. Therefore, the success of the ensemble methods allow us to conclude that their use may improve computer-based bone age assessment, offering a scalable option for utilizing multiple regions of interest and combining their output. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose : Breast cancer computer-aided diagnosis (CADx) may utilize image descriptors, demographics, clinical observations, or a combination. CADx performance was compared for several image features, clinical descriptors (e.g. age and radiologist's observations), and combinations of both kinds of data. A novel descriptor invariant to rotation, histograms of gradient divergence (HGD), was developed to deal with round-shaped objects, such as masses. HGD was compared with conventional CADx features. Method : HGD and 11 conventional image descriptors were evaluated using cases from two publicly available mammography data sets, the digital database for screening mammography (DDSM) and the breast cancer digital repository (BCDR), with 1,762 and 362 instances, respectively. Three experiments were done for each data set according to the type of lesion (i.e., all lesions, masses, and calcifications), resulting in six scenarios. For each scenario, 100 training and test sets were generated via resampling without replacement and five machine learning classifiers were used to assess the diagnostic performance of the descriptors. Results : Clinical descriptors outperformed image descriptors in the DDSM sample (three out of six scenarios), and combining the two kind of descriptors was advantageous in five out of six scenarios. HGD was the best descriptor (or comparable to best) in 8 out of 12 scenarios, demonstrating promising capabilities to describe masses. Conclusions : The combination of clinical data and image descriptors was advantageous in most mammography CADx scenarios. A new descriptor based on the divergence of the gradient (HGD) was demonstrated to be a feasible predictor of breast masses' diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultraviolet radiation is the major environmental insult to the skin and stimulates the synthesis of melanin in melanocytes, which then distribute it to the neighboring keratinocytes where it confers photo-protection. Skin color results from the paracrine interaction between these two cell types. Recent studies suggest that endocannabinoids are potential mediators in the skin. Here, we investigated whether cannabinoid drugs play a role in melanogenesis and if ultraviolet radiation modifies the cutaneous endocannabinoid system. We used human melanotic melanoma cell line (SK-mel-1) in monoculture or co-culture with human keratinocytes (HaCat). Endocannabinoid levels, cannabinoid receptors expression, and melanin content were evaluated under basal conditions and after ultraviolet-B irradiation (311 nm). We provide evidence that human melanoma cells (SK-mel-1) express CB receptors, and when in co-culture with keratinocytes (HaCat), the selective CB receptor agonist arachidonyl-2-chloroethylamide (ACEA 1 and 10 μM) inhibited (by 33.4 and 37.3%, respectively) basal melanogenesis. In addition, ultraviolet-B-induced melanogenesis in co-cultures was abolished by ACEA 10 μM. Both ACEA inhibitory effects were reversed by AM251 (1 μM), a selective CB antagonist. Furthermore, ultraviolet-B radiation increased endocannabinoids levels only in keratinocytes, whereas CB cannabinoid receptor expression was up-regulated only in melanoma cells. Our results collectively suggest that ultraviolet radiation activates paracrine CB-mediated endocannabinoid signaling to negatively regulate melanin synthesis. The endocannabinoid system in the skin may be a possible target for future therapies in pigmentary disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid alkalinization factor (RALF) is part of a growing family of small peptides with hormone characteristics in plants. Initially isolated from leaves of tobacco plants, RALF peptides can be found throughout the plant kingdom and they are expressed ubiquitously in plants. We took advantage of the small gene family size of RALF genes in sugarcane and the ordered cellular growth of the grass sugarcane leaves to gain information about the function of RALF peptides in plants. Here we report the isolation of two RALF peptides from leaves of sugarcane plants using the alkalinization assay. SacRALF1 was the most abundant and, when added to culture media, inhibited growth of microcalli derived from cell suspension cultures at concentrations as low as 0.1 μM. Microcalli exposed to exogenous SacRALF1 for 5 days showed a reduced number of elongated cells. Only four copies of SacRALF genes were found in sugarcane plants. All four SacRALF genes are highly expressed in young and expanding leaves and show a low or undetectable level of expression in expanded leaves. In half-emerged leaf blades, SacRALF transcripts were found at high levels at the basal portion of the leaf and at low levels at the apical portion. Gene expression analyzes localize SacRALF genes in elongation zones of roots and leaves. Mature leaves, which are devoid of expanding cells, do not show considerable expression of SacRALF genes. Our findings are consistent with SacRALF genes playing a role in plant development potentially regulating tissue expansion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gene duplication followed by acquisition of specific targeting information and dual targeting were evolutionary strategies enabling organelles to cope with overlapping functions. We examined the evolutionary trend of dual-targeted single-gene products in Arabidopsis and rice genomes. The number of paralogous proteins encoded by gene families and the dual-targeted orthologous proteins were analysed. The number of dual-targeted proteins and the corresponding gene-family sizes were similar in Arabidopsis and rice irrespective of genome sizes. We show that dual targeting of methionine aminopeptidase, monodehydroascorbate reductase, glutamyl-tRNA synthetase, and tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase was maintained despite occurrence of whole-genome duplications in Arabidopsis and rice as well as a polyploidization followed by a diploidization event (gene loss) in the latter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of angiotensin II and angiotensin III were compared at prejunctional and postjunctional AT1 receptors of the rabbit thoracic aorta. Furthermore, the influence of PD 123319, losartan and eprosartan on these effects was also compared. To study prejunctional effects, the tissues were preincubated with (³H)-noradrenaline, superfused and electrically stimulated (1 Hz, 2 ms, 50 mA, 5 min). To study postjunctional effects, non-cumulative concentration-response curves were determined. Both angiotensin II and angiotensin III were more potent prejunctionally than postjunctionally. In the case of angiotensin II, the EC50 was 12 times lower at the prejunctional than at the postjunctional level, while that of angiotensin III was 30 times lower prejunctionally. Furthermore, whereas angiotensin II was about 33 times more potent than angiotensin III postjunctionally, it was only 12 times more potent than angiotensin III prejunctionally. Eprosartan did not differentiate between prejunctional and postjunctional effects of both angiotensins. In contrast, PD123319 and losartan did differentiate; however, whereas PD123319 concentration-dependently antagonised the facilitation of tritium release caused by angiotensin II and angiotensin III and had no influence on the contraction of the aortic rings elicited by the peptides, losartan did the opposite: it concentration-dependently antagonised the contractions caused by the peptides on the aortic rings and exerted no influence on the facilitatory effect of angiotensin II and angiotensin III. These results show that prejunctional and postjunctional receptors for angiotensin II and angiotensin III are different and underline the hypothesis that postjunctional AT1 receptors belong to the AT1A subtype, while prejunctional AT1 receptors belong to the AT1B subtype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study which observed the production of multiple plant hormones from a single polyprotein precursor. Polyprotein hormone precursor present in tobacco plants; Assay developed to identify and isolate the systemin-like polypeptide of tobacco with suspension-cultured tobacco cells; Overview of the methodology used in the study; Analysis of the data gathered from the study.

A comparison was made of the influence of losartan and eprosartan on angiotensin II effects at pre- and postjunctional receptors of the canine pulmonary artery and at prejunctional receptors of the rat left ventricle. To study postjunctional contractile responses to angiotensin II, non-cumulative concentration-response curves were determined; to study prejunctional effects of angiotensin II, the tissues were preincubated with [3H]noradrenaline and then superfused and electrically stimulated (1 Hz, 2 ms, 50 mA, 5 min). Postjunctionally, both losartan and eprosartan caused a parallel shift of the concentration-response curve of angiotensin II to the right (pKd of 8.15 and 8.28, respectively). At the prejunctional level, while eprosartan, in concentrations similar to those which were effective postjunctionally (30–100 nM), antagonized the facilitatory effect on noradrenaline release in both the dog pulmonary artery and the rat ventricle, losartan was ineffective in concentrations up to 1 µM. It is concluded that prejunctional receptors for angiotensin II in the canine pulmonary artery and in the rat left ventricle are different from postjunctional receptors of the canine pulmonary artery. It is proposed that the prejunctional receptors of these tissues are atypical AT1 or "AT1B-like" receptors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the course of characterization of the wound-response related proteins from tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) leaves, a serine carboxypeptidase (EC 3.4.16.1) was identified. An increase in peptidase activity in response to wounding, and the isolation of a protein with carboxypeptidase (CP) activity from tomato leaves had been reported previously, but the mRNA coding for the enzyme was not identified. We now report the isolation of a tomato leaf type I serine-CP cDNA whose corresponding mRNA is induced by wounding, systemin and methyl jasmonate. The protein sequence deduced from the cDNA exhibits homology to tomato CP, and barley and rice type I CPs. Southern blot results indicated that the CP gene is probably a member of a small gene family. Tomato CP mRNA was detected within 3 h after wounding, or treatment with systemin or methyl jasmonate. Employing Western blot analysis, CP protein was shown to increase 12 h after the treatments. Using the tomato def1 mutant, we have demonstrated that a functional octadecanoid pathway is necessary for CP transcription in response to wounding. Carboxypeptidase protein was immunolocalized as protein aggregates within the central vacuoles of palisade mesophyll cells as well as in vascular parenchyma where it had previously been found. Double labeling using antibodies specific for CP and inhibitor II indicated that the two proteins are co-localized in the vacuolar aggregates. Tomato CP is a member of the “late wound-inducible genes” whose mRNAs increase 4–12 h following wounding, in contrast to several “early wound-inducible genes”, whose mRNAs appear within 30 min. The data support a role for the enzyme in protein turnover that occurs systemically in leaf cells in response to wounding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A plant regeneration system from rice protoplasts using calli derived from mature embryos was established for the two Brazilian modern rice cultivars IAC-201 and IAC-165. After 30 to 40 days of in vitro culture it was possible to obtain on average 6 million protoplasts per gram of callus. Microscopic selection of embryogenic calli was a key step for protoplast isolation. The production of embryogenic calli increased when L-proline and casein hydrolysate were used in the callus induction medium. The Oc or IR52 nurse cell lines were essential for protoplast division. Different regeneration media were studied and 139 plants were regenerated which set seed. Some of the regenerated plants showed morphological variation such as the presence of awns in spite of the short time of the in vitro culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Imidazolines bind with high affinity not only to α-adrenoceptors but also to specific imidazoline binding sites (IBS) labelled by either [H]clonidine or [H]idazoxan and termed I- and I-IBS, respectively. Since bovine adrenal chromaffin cells lack α-adrenoceptors, we investigated the pharmacological characteristics of [H]clonidine binding sites in the bovine adrenal medulla. The binding of [H]clonidine was rapid, reversible, partly specific (as defined by naphazoline 0.1 mmol/l; 55% specific binding at [H]clonidine 10 nmol/l), saturable and of high affinity. The specific binding of [H]clonidine to bovine adrenal medullary membranes was concentration-dependently inhibited by various imidazolines, guanidines and an oxazoline derivative but not, or with negligible affinity, by rauwolscine and (−)-adrenaline. In most cases, the competition curves were best fitted to a two-site model. The rank order of affinity for the high affinity site (in a few cases the single detectable site) was as follows: naphazoline >- BDF 7579 (4-chloro-2-isoindolinyl guanidine) >-clonidine>- cirazoline >_ BDF 6143 (4-chloro-2-(2-imidazolin-2-ylamino)isoindoline hydrochloride) > BDF 7572 (4,7-chloro-2-(2-imidazolin-2-ylamino)-isoindoline) > moxonidine = rilmenidine > BDF 6100 (2-(2-imidazolin-2-ylamino)-isoindoline) = idazoxan > phentolamine > aganodine = guanabenz > amiloride > histamine. This rank order is compatible with the pharmacological properties of the I-IBS. The non-hydrolysable GTP-analogue Gpp(NH)p (5′guanylylimidodiphosphate; 100 μmol/l) inhibited specific [H]clonidine binding by about 50%. Equilibrium [H]clonidine binding was also significantly reduced by K and Mg In conclusion, [H]clonidine labels non-adrenergic high-affinity sites in plasma membranes of the bovine adrenal medulla; these sites exhibit the pharmacological properties of I-IBS, but not of I-IBS. Furthermore, the IBS in the adrenal medulla appear to be coupled to a G-protein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Galactomannan (GM) was recently included in consensus guidelines as an indirect mycological criterion for the diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis. Currently, there is an enzyme immunoassay available to detect GM in biological samples, the Platelia™ Aspergillus EIA. In this study, the reproducibility of positive results obtained using this assay was evaluated using serum samples from neutropenic patients. A trend toward lower values was observed, and 55 %(27/49) of positive results were negative after retesting. A low reproducibility of positive results for the detection of GM in serum was observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]