Adaptive behaviour of the spinal cord in the transition from quiet stance to walking

Background

Parkinson??s disease is characterized by a continuous loss of neurons within the substantia nigra (SN) leading to a depletion of dopamine. Within the adult SN as a non-neurogenic region, cells with mainly oligodendrocytic precursor characteristics, expressing the neuro-glial antigen-2 (NG2) are continuously generated. Proliferation of these cells is altered in animal models of Parkinson??s disease (PD). Exercise and environmental enrichment re-increase proliferation of NG2⁺ cells in PD models, however, a possible mechanistic role of dopamine for this increase is not completely understood. NG2⁺ cells can differentiate into oligodendrocytes but also into microglia and neurons as observed in vitro suggesting a possible hint for endogenous regenerative capacity of the SN. We investigated the role of dopamine in NG2-generation and differentiation in the adult SN stimulated by physical activity and environmental enrichment.

Results

We used the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-model for dopamine depletion and analysed newborn cells in the SN at different maturation stages and time points depending on voluntary physical activity, enriched environment and levodopa-treatment. We describe an activity- induced increase of new NG2-positive cells and also mature oligodendrocytes in the SN of healthy mice. Running and enriched environment refused to stimulate NG2-generation and oligodendrogenesis in MPTP-mice, an effect which could be reversed by pharmacological levodopa-induced rescue.

Conclusion

We suggest dopamine being a key regulator for activity-induced generation of NG2-cells and oliogodendrocytes in the SN as a potentially relevant mechanism in endogenous nigral cellular plasticity.     

Investigation of the possible origins of sulfur in 19th century salted paper photographs by x‐ray fluorescence spectroscopy

An X‐ray fluorescence method to determine whether sulfur is present in 19th century photographs due to intentional toning or to environmental deterioration is proposed. In the 19th century salted paper print photographic process, AgCl formed on the surface of a sheet of paper was exposed to sunlight in contact with a negative, leading to the printing out of a Ag image that was fixed by immersing it in a sodium thiosulfate solution or hypo. The improper execution of the fixing in these photographs may result in the presence of sulfur, mostly manifested in image fading, irregular staining, and discoloration. Also, 19th century artists produced salted paper prints with a variety of image tonalities, for example, by using an artificially aged thiosulfate bath. The presence of sulfur in photographs may also be due to sulfur‐containing environmental pollutants. Therefore, knowledge about the location and amounts of sulfur is important to understand the artistic technique and/or the deterioration processes. In this study, the amounts of sulfur and the silver to sulfur signal ratios were determined for a salted paper print made in the laboratory following a 19th century procedure and for two artistic salted paper photographs using X‐ray fluorescence and standards prepared with different amounts of retained hypo and quantified by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. The amounts of sulfur and the normalized silver to sulfur ratios for the artistic photographs were evaluated based on the results obtained in the samples prepared in the laboratory and in the context of the 19th century practices. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Vibrational Behaviour of the CrO3- 4 Anion in Different Crystalline Environments

The powder-infrared spectra of different crystalline compounds containing the tetrahedral Cro^3- ₄, anion have been recorded and analyzed with the aid of the site symmetry rules. In some cases Raman data are also reported. The effect of the different crystalline environments is discussed in detail and comparisons with isostructural phases are also made. A definitive assignment for the internal vibrations of the CrO^3- ₄, ion is proposed and a new set of force constants has been calculated fron a modified valence force field.     

Changes in cerebral activity after decreased upper-limb hypertonus: an EMG-fMRI study

Objective

Whereas several studies have used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate motor recovery, whether therapy to decrease post-stroke hypertonus alters central motor patterns remains unclear. In this study, we used continuous electromyography (EMG)-fMRI to investigate possible changes in movement-related brain activation in patients receiving Botulinum toxin (BoNT-A) for hand-muscle hypertonus after chronic stroke.

Methods

We studied eight stroke patients all of whom had hemiparesis and associated upper-limb hypertonus. All patients underwent an fMRI-EMG recording and clinical-neurological assessment before BoNT-A and 5 weeks thereafter. The handgrip motor task during imaging was fixed across both patients and controls. The movements were metronome paced, movement amplitude and force were controlled with a plastic orthosis, dynamometer and EMG recording. An age-matched control group was recruited from among healthy volunteers underwent the same fMRI-EMG recording.

Results

Before BoNT-A, while patients moved the paretic hand, fMRI detected wide bilateral activation in the sensorymotor areas (SM1), in the supplementary motor area (SMA) and cerebellum. After BoNT-A blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) activation decreased in ipsilateral and contralateral motor areas and became more lateralized. BOLD activation decreased also in ipsilateral cerebellar regions and in the SMA.

Conclusion

Changes in peripheral upper-limb hypertonus after BoNT-A were associated to an improvement in active movements and more lateralized and focalized activation of motor areas. The clinical and EMG-fMRI coregistration technique we used to study hand-muscle hypertonus in patients receiving BoNT-A after chronic stroke should be useful in future studies seeking improved strategies for post-stroke neurorehabilitation.     

Characterization of Al(III) complexes with hematein in artistic alum logwood inks

The complexes between Al(III) and hematein, the main coloring matter in alum logwood inks, were characterized by Raman and ²⁷Al NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) spectroscopies. Raman spectra of the crystallized complexes and of the compounds applied on a paper substrate are presented and assigned based on published data for the parent compounds. These Raman spectra show that the coordination of the hematein to the Al(III) ions takes place in both cases through the carbonyl and hydroxyl groups in the molecule, and that the aromatic rings are also involved in the interaction. The Raman spectra of the pure hematein–Al(III) complexes were found to be consistent with those recorded for a logwood ink prepared following a late 19th century recipe, using logwood chips instead of pure hematein, and applied on a paper substrate. These spectra can be used as references for the noninvasive identification of the compounds in works of art. ²⁷Al solid‐state NMR showed that the coordination of the Al(III) atoms in the crystallized powder is predominantly octahedral, while when applied on a paper substrate the colorant is present mainly as a tetrahedral complex, with an octahedral coordination also present in a smaller proportion. The fact that the predominant coordinations for the complexes in the crystallized material and for the ones present on the paper substrate are different is relevant for the study of the lightfastness and thermal stability of works of art bearing these media. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A general synthesis of diversely substituted indazoles and hetero-aromatic derivatives from o-halo-(het)arylaldehydes or -phenones

A set of variously substituted indazoles and hetero-aromatic derivatives were synthesized from o-halo-(het)arylaldehydes using a palladium catalyzed amination followed by cyclization. Starting from phenones, this process was extended to give 3-substituted indazoles. Moreover, N-1-substituted-indazoles can be reached by this strategy using an optional selective N-1-alkylation step during the process. This methodology offers a general and easy route for the synthesis of regioselectively substituted indazoles.     

Synthesis of bifunctional chelating agents based on mono and diphosphonic derivatives of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid

Bifunctional chelating agents (BFCAs) are small molecules containing a chelating unit, able to strongly coordinate a metal ion, and a reactive functional group, devised to form a stable covalent bond with another molecule. BFCAs are widely employed since their conjugation to a suitable biomolecule (e.g., a peptide or an antibody) allows the synthesis of diagnostic or therapeutic agents that specifically target diseased tissue with metals or radiometals. For this reason, BFCAs find application in diagnostic imaging, molecular imaging, and radiotherapy of cancer. The synthesis of new BFCAs based on a diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) structure in which one or two carboxylic groups are replaced with phosphonic units is described. The phosphonic group, aside from being a classical isostere of the carboxylic acid in coordination chemistry, allows to modulate the physico-chemical properties of the ligands and of the corresponding complexes.     

Long-range repulsive interaction between molecules on a metal surface induced by charge transfer

The adsorption of a molecular electron donor on Au(111) is characterized by the spontaneous formation of a superlattice of monomers spaced several nanometers apart. The coverage-dependent molecular pair distributions obtained from scanning tunneling microscopy data reveal an intermolecular long-range repulsive potential, which decreases as the inverse of the molecular separation. Density functional theory calculations show a charge accumulation in the molecules due to electron donation into the metal. Our results suggest that electrostatic repulsion between molecules persists on the surface of a metal.     

Photodynamic Activity on Biofilm in Endotracheal Tubes of Patients Admitted to an Intensive Care Unit

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is an infection that arises after endotracheal intubation affecting patients under intensive care. The presence of the endotracheal tube (ETT) is a risk factor since it is colonized by multispecies biofilm. Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) could be a strategy to decontaminate ETTs. We verify if methylene blue (MB) associated with external illumination of the ETT could be an alternative to destroy biofilm. We performed an in vitro and ex vivo study. In vitro study was performed with P. aeruginosa biofilm grew over ETT for 7 days. After treatment, the surviving cells were cultured for 3 days and the biofilm was analyzed by crystal violet absorbance. Ex vivo study employed ETT obtained from extubated patients. aPDT was performed with MB (100 µm ) and red LED (λ = 640±20 nm). We quantified the biofilm thickness and used scanning electron microscopy and fluorescence technique to verify morphological and functional changes after aPDT. Our results showed that bacteria remain susceptible to aPDT after sequential treatments. We also attested that aPDT can reduce biofilm thickness, disrupt biofilm attachment from ETT surface and kill microbial cells. These data suggest that aPDT should be investigated to decrease VAP incidence via ETT decontamination.     

Characterization of the Phytochemical Composition and Bioactivities of Anacyclus maroccanus Ball. and Anacyclus radiatus Loisel Aerial Parts: Preliminary Evidence for the Possible Development of Moroccan Plants

In the present study, the phytochemical composition and bioactivities of A. maroccanus (AM) and A. radiatus (AR), two ecotypes collected in the Demnate road and Essaouira regions, respectively, were studied to highlight a pharmacological interest and to enable possible pharmaceutical development. To this end, methanolic and ethyl acetate extracts were prepared for each ecotype by fractionation; next, their phytochemical composition was evaluated by spectrophotometric and chromatographic analysis. Moreover, in line with the available evidence for Anacyclus spp. and their traditional use, a screening of bioactivities, including antioxidant, hypoglycemic, antiglycative, chelating, and antibacterial activities, was performed. The extracts were characterized by high amounts of polyphenols, tannins, and flavonoids, especially in the methanolic extracts; these samples were also enriched in carotenoids despite a lower chlorophyll content. Chlorogenic acid and rutin were the major identified compounds. The extracts also showed interesting hypoglycemic, antiglycative, and antibacterial properties, although with differences in efficacy and potency. Present results provide more scientific basis to the ethnopharmacological uses of Anacyclus spp. and suggest a further interest in AM and AR ecotypes as natural sources of bioactive compounds and/or phytocomplexes for possible pharmaceutical and nutraceutical developments.