A recent survey of the entomofauna of the Davis Mountains in the state of Texas has revealed four new species in the genus Fallén (Miridae, Mirinae, Mirini): and found on Liebmann, and and found attracted to lights. Descriptions, habitus, and genitalic images for the new species are included herein. Further, habitus and genitalic photographs of known species from the county are included to aid in identification.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRats housed in a 22-h light-dark cycle (11:11, T22) exhibit 2 distinct circadian locomotor activity (LMA) bouts simultaneously: one is entrained to the LD cycle and a second dissociated bout maintains a period greater than 24 h. These 2 activity bouts are associated with independent clock gene oscillations in the ventrolateral (vl-) and dorsomedial (dm-) suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), respectively. Previous results in our laboratory have shown that the vl- and dm-SCN oscillators are weakly coupled under T22 and that the period of the dissociated bout depends on coupling between the 2 subdivisions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Atropine sulfate is an FDA-approved medical countermeasure (MCM) for the treatment of organophosphorus nerve agent and organophosphate pesticide toxicity. Sufficient MCM supplies must be available in an incident involving a mass human exposure either from an accidental chemical release or a terrorist attack.
Methods: We performed a randomized, 3-sequence, 3-period phase I crossover study to assess the bioavailability and pharmacokinetics (PK) of a single dose (0.
Aging, type 2 diabetes, and male gender are major risk factors leading to increased COVID-19 morbidity and mortality. Thymic production and the export of naïve T cells decrease with aging through the effects of androgens in males and in type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, with aging, recovery of naïve T-cell populations after bone marrow transplantation is delayed and associated with an increased risk of chronic graft vs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe genus Rubrocuneocoris Schuh is recognized from Vietnam for the first time, with a new species, R. vietnamensis n. sp.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA new species of the plant bug genus , tribe Orthotylini, is described from Mexico. This species, unlike any other in the genus, is characterized by a predominantly black coloration, the absence of black scale-like setae on the pronotal disk, and unique male genitalia.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDisaster Med Public Health Prep
June 2019
Having sufficient medical countermeasures (MCMs) available for the treatment of acetylcholinesterase-inhibiting nerve agent poisoned patients following a mass chemical exposure is a challenge for communities. After stockpiles containing auto-injectors are exhausted, communities need to be aware of alternative pharmaceutical options. The Department of Homeland Security Chemical Defense Program convened a federal interagency working group consisting of first responders, clinicians, and experts from the fields of medical toxicology, pharmacology, and emergency management.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFExpert Opin Ther Targets
June 2018
The trace amines, endogenous amines closely related to the biogenic amine neurotransmitters, have been known to exert physiological and neurological effects for decades. The recent identification of a trace amine-sensitive G protein-coupled receptor, trace amine-associated receptor 1 (TAAR1), and subsequent development of TAAR1-selective small-molecule ligands, has renewed research into the therapeutic possibilities of trace amine signaling. Areas covered: Recent efforts in elucidating the neuropharmacology of TAAR1, particularly in neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disease, addiction, and regulation of arousal state, will be discussed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFront Pharmacol
February 2018
Trace amines (TAs), endogenous amino acid metabolites that are structurally similar to the biogenic amines, are endogenous ligands for trace amine-associated receptor 1 (TAAR1), a GPCR that modulates dopaminergic, serotonergic, and glutamatergic activity. Selective TAAR1 full and partial agonists exhibit similar pro-cognitive, antidepressant- and antipsychotic-like properties in rodents and non-human primates, suggesting TAAR1 as a novel target for the treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders. We previously reported that TAAR1 partial agonists are wake-promoting in rats and mice, and that TAAR1 knockout (KO) and overexpressing mice exhibit altered sleep-wake and EEG spectral composition.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFStudy Objectives: Neuroligin-3 (NLGN3) is one of the many genes associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Sleep dysfunction is highly prevalent in ASD, but has not been rigorously examined in ASD models. Here, we evaluated sleep/wake physiology and behavioral phenotypes of rats with genetic ablation of Nlgn3.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAim: Nitromethane, found in fuels used for short distance racing, model cars, and model airplanes, produces a falsely elevated serum creatinine with standard creatinine analysis via the Jaffé method. Erroneous creatinine elevation often triggers extensive testing, leads to inaccurate diagnoses, and delayed or inappropriate medical interventions. Multiple reports in the literature identify "enzymatic assays" as an alternative method to detect the true value of creatinine, but this ambiguity does not help providers translate what type of enzymatic assay testing can be done in real time to determine if there is indeed false elevation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAreas of endemism are essential first hypotheses in investigating historical biogeography, but there is a surprising paucity of such hypotheses for the Nearctic region. Miridae, the plant bugs, are an excellent taxon to study in this context, because this group combines high species diversity, often small distribution ranges, a history of modern taxonomic revisions, and comprehensive electronic data capture and data cleaning that have resulted in an exceptionally error-free geospatial data set. Many Miridae are phytophagous and feed on only one or a small number of host plant species.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFStudy Objectives: Although recent innovations have enabled modification of the rat genome, it is unclear whether enhanced utility of rodents as human disease models will result. We compared electroencephalogram (EEG) and behavioral phenotypes of rats and mice with homozygous deletion of Cntnap2, a gene associated with cortical dysplasia-focal epilepsy (CDFE) and autism spectrum disorders (ASD).
Methods: Male contactin-associated protein-like 2 (Cntnap2) knockout (KO) and wild-type (WT) rats and male Cntnap2 KO and WT mice were implanted with telemeters to record EEG, electromyogram, body temperature, and locomotor activity.
Biol Psychiatry
November 2017
Background: Narcolepsy, a disorder of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, is characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy, a loss of muscle tone triggered by emotional stimulation. Current narcolepsy pharmacotherapeutics include controlled substances with abuse potential or drugs with undesirable side effects. As partial agonists at trace amine-associated receptor 1 (TAAR1) promote wakefulness in mice and rats, we evaluated whether TAAR1 agonism had beneficial effects in two mouse models of narcolepsy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNeuropsychopharmacology
May 2017
Trace amine-associated receptor 1 (TAAR1) agonists have been shown to have procognitive, antipsychotic-like, anxiolytic, weight-reducing, glucose-lowering, and wake-promoting activities. We used Taar1 knockout (KO) and overexpressing (OE) mice and TAAR1 agonists to elucidate the role of TAAR1 in sleep/wake. EEG, EMG, body temperature (T), and locomotor activity (LMA) were recorded in Taar1 KO, OE, and WT mice.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAn unusual presentation highlighted the unique health maintenance challenges of reservist patients and the importance of a thorough history for proper diagnosis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHypocretin 1 and 2 (Hcrts; also known as orexin A and B), excitatory neuropeptides synthesized in cells located in the tuberal hypothalamus, play a central role in the control of arousal. Hcrt inputs to the locus coeruleus norepinephrine (LC NE) system and the posterior hypothalamic histaminergic tuberomammillary nuclei (TMN HA) are important efferent pathways for Hcrt-induced wakefulness. The LC expresses Hcrt receptor 1 (HcrtR1), whereas HcrtR2 is found in the TMN.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCortical electroencephalographic activity arises from corticothalamocortical interactions, modulated by wake-promoting monoaminergic and cholinergic input. These wake-promoting systems are regulated by hypothalamic hypocretin/orexins, while GABAergic sleep-promoting nuclei are found in the preoptic area, brainstem and lateral hypothalamus. Although pontine acetylcholine is critical for REM sleep, hypothalamic melanin-concentrating hormone/GABAergic cells may "gate" REM sleep.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFStudy Objectives: Patients with Huntington's disease (HD) show a high prevalence of sleep disorders that typically occur prior to the onset of motoric symptoms and neurodegeneration. Our understanding of the pathophysiological alterations in premanifest HD is limited, hindering the ability to measure disease modification in response to treatment. We used a full-length knock-in HD model to determine early changes in the electroencephalogram (EEG) and sleep that may predict the onset and progression of the disease.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNeuropsychopharmacology
March 2016
The dual hypocretin receptor (HcrtR) antagonist almorexant (ALM) may promote sleep through selective disfacilitation of wake-promoting systems, whereas benzodiazepine receptor agonists (BzRAs) such as zolpidem (ZOL) induce sleep through general inhibition of neural activity. Previous studies have indicated that HcrtR antagonists cause less-functional impairment than BzRAs. To gain insight into the mechanisms underlying these differential profiles, we compared the effects of ALM and ZOL on functional activation of wake-promoting systems at doses equipotent for sleep induction.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Since 2009, synthetic cannabinoid (SC) use has emerged as a growing public health threat in the United States (US). Several outbreaks of unexpected, severe toxicity linked to SC use have been reported since 2012. Reports of varied and significant morbidity after SC use are expected to increase because newer compounds enter the marketplace more frequently as manufacturers attempt to circumvent regulatory efforts.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHypocretin/orexin (HCRT) neurons provide excitatory input to wake-promoting brain regions including the basal forebrain (BF). The dual HCRT receptor antagonist almorexant (ALM) decreases waking and increases sleep. We hypothesized that HCRT antagonists induce sleep, in part, through disfacilitation of BF neurons; consequently, ALM should have reduced efficacy in BF-lesioned (BFx) animals.
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