Although the body’s response to stress is implicated in the worsening or relapse of psychotic symptoms in schizophrenia, the role of K-ATP channels remains unclear. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to investigated the effect of K-ATP channels on schizophrenia-like symptoms induced by MK-801 using Kir6.2 (one poreforming subunit of K-ATP) knockout mice. We demonstrated that Kir6.2 knockout enhanced locomotor activity significantly compared to the wild-type
mice after MK-801 administration. Moreover, we found that depletion of Kir6.2 significantly increased the numbers of Arc-positive cells in cortex, hippocampus and striatum in basal state. MK-801 augmented the Arc expression in wild-type mice. Collectively, our findings in this study indicate PRN1371 cell line that K-ATP channels are involved in the regulation of MK-801-induced acute symptoms of schizophrenia, BAY 73-4506 in vitro which is associated with the neural excitability. In addition, our results may provide valuable information for the development of
new treatments for schizophrenia. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd and the Japan Neuroscience Society. All rights reserved.”
“Children with autism exhibit impairment in the processing of socioemotional information. The amygdala, a core structure centrally involved in socioemotional functioning, has been implicated in the neuropathology of autism. We collected structural and functional magnetic resonance images (MRI) in children 8 to 12 years of age with high-functioning autism (n = 12) and typical development (n = 15). The functional MRI experiment involved matching
facial expressions and people. Volumetric analysis of the amygdala was also performed. Amrubicin The results showed that children with autism exhibited intact emotion matching, while showing diminished activation of the fusiform gyrus (FG) and the amygdala. Conversely, the autism group showed deficits in person matching amidst some FG and variable amygdala activation. No significant between-group differences in the volume of the left or right amygdala were found. There were associations between age, social anxiety and amygdala volume in the children with autism such that smaller volumes were generally associated with more anxiety and younger age. In summary, the data are consistent with abnormalities in circuits involved in emotion and face processing reported in studies of older subjects with autism showing reductions in amygdala activation related to emotion processing and reduced fusiform activation involved in face processing. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Purpose: We evaluated the feasibility and safety of laparoscopic and robotic assisted partial nephrectomy with controlled hypotensive anesthesia to avoid hilar clamping and eliminate renal ischemia.