Seasonal metabolic analysis of marine sediments collected from Moreton Bay in South East Queensland, Australia, using a multi-omics-based approach.

Anthropogenic effects of urban density have altered natural ecosystems. Such changes include eutrophication of freshwater and adjoining coastal habitats, and increased levels of inorganic nutrients and pollutants into waterways. In Australia, these changes are intensified by large-scale ocean-atmospheric events, leading to considerable abiotic stress on the natural flora and fauna. Bacterial communities in marine sediments from Moreton Bay (South East Queensland, Australia) were examined in order to assess the impact of rainfall changes, chemical pollution, and subsequent abiotic stress on living organisms within a marine ecosystem. Sediments were collected during the wet and dry seasons and analyzed using bacterial metagenomics and community metabolomics techniques. Physicochemical data were also analyzed to account for biological variance that may be due to non-rainfall-based abiotic stresses. Wet-dry seasonality was the dominant control on bacterial community structure and metabolic function. Changes in the availability of nutrients, organic matter and light appeared to be the major seasonal stressors. In contrast, urban and industrial pollutants appeared to be minor stressors at the sites sampled. During the wet season, the bacterial community composition reflected organisms that utilize biogeochemical pathways with fast kinetics, such as aerobic metabolism, direct assimilation of inorganic compounds, and primary production. The transition to the dry season saw the bacterial community composition shift towards organisms that utilize more complex organic energy sources, such as carbohydrates and fatty acids, and anaerobic redox processes.

A multi-omics based ecological analysis of coastal marine sediments from Gladstone, in Australia's Central Queensland, and Heron Island, a nearby fringing platform reef.

The impact of anthropogenic factors arising from point and non-point pollution sources at a multi commodity marine port and its surrounding ecosystems were studied using sediment samples collected from a number of onshore (Gladstone Harbour and Facing Island) and offshore (Heron Island and Fitzroy Reefs) sites in Australia's Central Queensland. Sediment samples were analyzed for trace metals, organic carbon, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), emerging chemicals of concern (ECC) and sterols. Similarly, the biological and biochemical interaction between the reef and its environment was analyzed by the multi-omic tools of next-generation sequencing characterization of the bacterial community and microbial community metabolic profiling. Overall, the trace elements were observed at the lower end of the Australian environmental guideline values at the offshore sites, while higher values were observed for the onshore locations Nickel and copper were observed above the high trigger value threshold at the onshore sites. The levels of PAH were below limits of detection across all sites. However, some of the ECC and sterols were observed at higher concentrations at both onshore and offshore locations, notably, the cholesterol family sterols and 17α-ethynylestradiol. Multi-omic analyses also indicated possible thermal and photo irradiation stressors on the bacterial communities at all the tested sites. The observed populations of γ-proteobacteria were found in combination with an increased pool of fatty acids that indicate fatty acid synthesis and utilisation of the intermediates of the shikimate pathways. This study demonstrates the value of applying a multi-omics approach for ecological assessments, in which a more detailed assessment of physical and chemical contaminants and their impact on the community bacterial biome is obtained.

Differences in carbon source utilisation by orchid mycorrhizal fungi from common and endangered species of Caladenia (Orchidaceae).

Terrestrial orchids depend on orchid mycorrhizal fungi (OMF) as symbionts for their survival, growth and nutrition. The ability of OMF from endangered orchid species to compete for available resources with OMF from common species may affect the distribution, abundance and therefore conservation status of their orchid hosts. Eight symbiotically effective OMF from endangered and more common Caladenia species were tested for their ability to utilise complex insoluble and simple soluble carbon sources produced during litter degradation by growth with different carbon sources in liquid medium to measure the degree of OMF variation with host conservation status or taxonomy. On simple carbon sources, fungal growth was assessed by biomass. On insoluble substrates, ergosterol content was assessed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC). The OMF grew on all natural materials and complex carbon sources, but produced the greatest biomass on xylan and starch and the least on bark and chitin. On simple carbon sources, the greatest OMF biomass was measured on most hexoses and disaccharides and the least on galactose and arabinose. Only some OMF used sucrose, the most common sugar in green plants, with possible implications for symbiosis. OMF from common orchids produced more ergosterol and biomass than those from endangered orchids in the Dilatata and Reticulata groups but not in the Patersonii and Finger orchids. This suggests that differences in carbon source utilisation may contribute to differences in the distribution of some orchids, if these differences are retained on site.

The effect of sodium nitroprusside on psychotic symptoms and spatial working memory in patients with schizophrenia: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Sodium nitroprusside (SNP) has been reported to rapidly reduce psychotic symptoms in patients with schizophrenia. This has the potential to revolutionize treatment for schizophrenia. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that SNP leads to a reduction in psychotic symptoms and an improvement in spatial working memory (SWM) performance in patients with schizophrenia. METHOD: This was a single-centre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial performed from 27 August 2014 to 10 February 2016 (clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT02176044). Twenty patients with schizophrenia aged 18-60 years with a diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder were recruited from psychiatric outpatient clinics in the South London and Maudsley NHS Trust, London, UK. Baseline symptoms were measured using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and the 18-item Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS-18), and SWM was assessed using the CANTAB computerized test. Participants received either an infusion of SNP (0.5 µg/kg per min for 4 h) or placebo and were re-assessed for symptoms and SWM performance immediately after the infusion, and 4 weeks later. RESULTS: SNP did not lead to any reduction in psychotic symptoms or improvement in SWM performance compared to placebo. CONCLUSIONS: Although this study was negative, it is possible that the beneficial effects of SNP may occur in patients with a shorter history of illness, or with more acute exacerbation of symptoms.

Determination of Ancylostoma caninum ova viability using metabolic profiling.

Differentiation between viable and non-viable hookworm ova in environmental samples is necessary in order to implement strategies to mitigate re-infections in endemic regions. In this study, an untargeted metabolic profiling method was developed that utilised gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) in order to investigate hookworm ova viability. Ancylostoma caninum was used to investigate the metabolites within viable and non-viable ova. Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses of the data resulted in the identification of 53 significant metabolites across all hookworm ova samples. The major compounds observed in viable and non-viable hookworm ova were tetradecanoic acid, commonly known as myristic acid [fold change (FC) = 0.4], and dodecanoic acid, commonly known as lauric acid (FC = 0.388). Additionally, the viable ova had self-protecting metabolites such as prostaglandins, a typical feature absent in non-viable ova. The results of this study demonstrate that metabolic profiling using GC-MS methods can be used to determine the viability of canine hookworm ova. Further studies are needed to assess the applicability of metabolic profiling using GC-MS to detect viable hookworm ova in the mixed (viable and non-viable) populations from environmental samples and identify the metabolites specific to human hookworm species.

Metabolic profiling of biofilm bacteria known to cause microbial influenced corrosion.

This study builds upon previous research that demonstrated the simplicity of obtaining metabolite profiles of bacteria in urban water networks, by using the metabolic profile of bacteria extracted from a reticulation pipe biofilm, which is known to cause microbial influenced corrosion (MIC). The extracellular metabolites of the isolated bacteria, and those bacteria in consortium, were analysed in isolation, and after exposure to low levels of copper. Applying chemometric analytical methodologies to the metabolomic data, we were able to better understand the profile of the isolated biofilm bacteria, which were differentiated according to their activity and copper exposure. It was found that the metabolic activity of the isolated bacteria and the bacteria in consortium varied according to the bacterium's ability to metabolise copper. This demonstrates the power of metabolomic techniques for the discrimination of water reticulation biofilms comprising similar bacteria in consortium, but undergoing different physico-chemical activities, such as corrosion and corrosion inhibition.

Advancing the defensive explanation for anxiety disorders: lorazepam effects on human defense are systematically modulated by personality and threat-type.

Clinically effective drugs against human anxiety and fear systematically alter the innate defensive behavior of rodents, suggesting that in humans these emotions reflect defensive adaptations. Compelling experimental human evidence for this theory is yet to be obtained. We report the clearest test to date by investigating the effects of 1 and 2 mg of the anti-anxiety drug lorazepam on the intensity of threat-avoidance behavior in 40 healthy adult volunteers (20 females). We found lorazepam modulated the intensity of participants' threat-avoidance behavior in a dose-dependent manner. However, the pattern of effects depended upon two factors: type of threat-avoidance behavior and theoretically relevant measures of personality. In the case of flight behavior (one-way active avoidance), lorazepam increased intensity in low scorers on the Fear Survey Schedule tissue-damage fear but reduced it in high scorers. Conversely, in the case of risk-assessment behavior (two-way active avoidance), lorazepam reduced intensity in low scorers on the Spielberger trait anxiety but increased it in high scorers. Anti-anxiety drugs do not systematically affect rodent flight behavior; therefore, we interpret this new finding as suggesting that lorazepam has a broader effect on defense in humans than in rodents, perhaps by modulating general perceptions of threat intensity. The different patterning of lorazepam effects on the two behaviors implies that human perceptions of threat intensity are nevertheless distributed across two different neural streams, which influence effects observed on one-way or two-way active avoidance demanded by the situation.

Application of metabolomics to understanding biofilms in water distribution systems: a pilot study.

Biofilms formed in pipes are known to contribute to waterborne diseases, accelerate corrosion and cause aesthetic taste and odour issues within the potable water supply network. This paper describes a pilot study, undertaken to assess the potential of using metabolomics to monitor bacterial activity in biofilms of an urban water network. Using samples from a water mains flushing programme, it was found that a profile of intracellular and extracellular metabolites associated with microbial activity could be obtained by analysing samples using gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Chemometric analysis of the chromatograms in conjunction with data from the mass spectrometer showed that it is possible to differentiate between biofilms from different pipe materials and planktonic bacteria. This research demonstrates that metabolomics has the potential for investigating biofilms and other microbial activity within water networks, and could provide a means for enhancing monitoring programmes, understanding the source of water quality complaints, and optimising water network management strategies.

Synthetic delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol elicits schizophrenia-like negative symptoms which are distinct from sedation.

OBJECTIVE: It is unknown if cannabis recreates the negative symptoms of schizophrenia. METHODS: Healthy male volunteers (n = 22) completed two experimental sessions in which they received intravenous (IV) delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) 2.5 mg or placebo in a randomised counterbalanced order. Negative symptoms were rated using the self-reported community assessment of psychic experiences scale (CAPE). Sedation was rated using the mood-adjective check-list (UMACL). Plasma concentrations of THC were measured over the course of the study. Data were analysed by non-parametric tests. RESULTS: Participants reported an increase in negative symptoms from baseline under THC but not placebo conditions (p < 0.001). Negative symptoms showed no relationship with self-rated sedation or plasma concentrations of THC. CONCLUSIONS: At plasma concentrations resembling recreational use, THC elicited schizophrenia-like negative symptoms which were not merely attributable to sedation. In the community, negative symptoms may be an adverse effect of cannabis use.

The acute effects of synthetic intravenous Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol on psychosis, mood and cognitive functioning.

BACKGROUND: Recent work suggests that heavy use of cannabis is associated with an increased risk of schizophrenia-like psychosis. However, there is a dearth of experimental studies of the effects of the constituents of cannabis, such as Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). In a study of intravenous (i.v.) synthetic THC in healthy humans, we aimed to study the relationship of the psychotic symptoms induced by THC to the consequent anxiety and neuropsychological impairment. METHOD: Twenty-two healthy adult males aged 28+/-6 years (mean+/-s.d.) participated in experimental sessions in which i.v. THC (2.5 mg) was administered under double-blind, placebo-controlled conditions. Self-rated and investigator-rated measurements of mood and psychosis [the University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology Mood Adjective Checklist (UMACL), the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and the Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences (CAPE)] were made at baseline and at 30, 80 and 120 min post-injection. Participants also completed a series of neuropsychological tests [the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Task (RAVLT), Digit Span, Verbal Fluency and the Baddeley Reasoning Task] within 45 min of injection. RESULTS: THC-induced positive psychotic symptoms, and participant- and investigator-rated measurements of these were highly correlated. Participants showed an increase in anxiety ratings but there was no relationship between either self- or investigator-rated positive psychotic symptoms and anxiety. THC also impaired neuropsychological performance but once again there was no relationship between THC-induced positive psychotic symptoms and deficits in working memory/executive function. CONCLUSIONS: These findings confirm that THC can induce a transient, acute psychotic reaction in psychiatrically well individuals. The extent of the psychotic reaction was not related to the degree of anxiety or cognitive impairment.

Time-resolved cryogenic modulation for targeted multidimensional capillary gas chromatography analysis.

Multidimensional gas chromatography (MDGC) is performed in a new manner, described in this paper. The method incorporates two directly coupled columns and employs a longitudinally modulated cryogenic trap located between the columns. No heartcutting process is used, but rather a method better termed selected zone compression pulsing is used. Compared with normal MDGC, where primary column effluent has to be temporarily diverted either to a monitor detector or to the second dimension column, the new procedure in its simplest mode passes all of the first column effluent to the second column. It is simply the times at which the modulation of the trap is performed that determines which target solutes will be selected for enhanced separation. This approach allows almost instantaneous separation of selected zones on the second column, and has the potential to significantly simplify the MDGC method. Since data are presented in a time-response format, and do not require transformation as previously described for comprehensive GC when using the longitudinal modulator, quantitation and report generation are essentially the same as in any GC method and data system. Advantages also include significant sensitivity improvement. By using cryofocussing, and benefiting from the zone compression effects along with fast GC conditions on the second dimension, new possibilities for MDGC can be realised. The method is demonstrated by using a mixture of semi-volatile aromatic hydrocarbons.

Frequency dependent activation of a slow N-methyl-D-aspartate-dependent excitatory postsynaptic potential in turtle cerebellum by mossy fibre afferents.

The synaptic responses of turtle cerebellar Purkinje cells to stimulation of localized mossy fibre systems have been studied by use of intrasomatic and intradendritic recordings in a brainstem-cerebellum preparation in vitro. Activation of mossy fibre inputs from the spinocerebellar pathway evoked fast, disynaptic postsynaptic potentials which were graded in amplitude with stimulus intensity and elicited at latencies consistent with those reported for peripheral nerve stimulation. Repetitive activation (50-100 Hz, 2-10 stimuli) of both spinocerebellar and trigeminocerebellar pathways evoked a slow, long-lasting excitatory postsynaptic potential regardless of whether single stimuli resulted in excitatory, inhibitory, or no postsynaptic responses. This slow potential was capable of triggering dendritic pacemaker discharges in recorded Purkinje cells in addition to volleys of simple spikes when activated at or near resting membrane potential. The fast excitatory synaptic potentials evoked by spinocerebellar stimulation were blocked by the glutamate receptor antagonist 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione, consistent with the hypothesis that they are mediated by activation of ionotropic glutamate receptors of the alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisox-azole-4-proprionic acid subtype at the mossy fibre-granule cell synapse and the subsequent parallel fibre-Purkinje cell synapse. The slow excitatory synaptic potential evoked by repetitive stimulation of either the spinocerebellar tract or trigeminal nerve was blocked by DL-2-amino-5-phosphonvalerate, indicating that this potential is primarily dependent upon N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors at the mossy fibre-granule cell synapse for its expression. This slow potential was reversibly potentiated by L-2-amino-4-phosphonobutyrate and bicuculline; the metabotropic glutamate antagonist (+)-alpha-methyl-4-carboxyphenylglycine did not block this potentiation. The ability of mossy fibre inputs to drive long, slow excitatory events in Purkinje cells adds another dimension to the mechanisms by which various sensory modalities can be processed interactively in the cerebellar cortex. The ability of incoming systems to access a second, longer duration response of the cerebellar output neuron may be of significant consequence to our understanding of the manner in which this neural centre integrates sensory information from multiple sources.

Changes in adenosine sensitivity in the hippocampus of rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes.

1. Hippocampal slices have been used to assess the sensitivity of the CNS to adenosine and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in diabetes. The effects of adenosine, 2-chloroadenosine, GABA, muscimol and baclofen were studied on orthodromic synaptic potentials recorded in the CA1 region of slices taken from normal rats or animals made diabetic by the injection of streptozotocin. 2. In diabetic animals the sensitivity to adenosine was increased 4 fold compared with normal rats. The potency of 2-chloroadenosine was unchanged. 3. The nucleoside transport inhibitor, hydroxynitrobenzylthioinosine (HNBTI), increased the potency of adenosine in slices from normal rats but not in slices from diabetic rats. 4. No change was observed in the potency of GABA or muscimol, although a small but significant decrease was detected in the EC50 value for baclofen. 5. Treatment of diabetic animals with insulin restored the potency of adenosine to control levels. 6. It is concluded that the diabetic state is accompanied by substantial changes of adenosine sensitivity due to the loss of nucleoside uptake processes. Secondary neurochemical changes following from this in human diabetic patients may contribute to the reported behavioural changes.

Influence of a jejunal fistula on gastric emptying.

The aim was to determine whether a proximal jejunal fistula would speed gastric emptying after truncal vagotomy and Roux distal gastrectomy. Eight vagotomy-gastrectomy dogs were studied; 4 had a jejunal fistula, and 4 other dogs without a fistula served as controls. The rate of gastric emptying of 100 ml 25% dextrose in the fistula dogs with the fistula open (95 +/- 3 ml/20 min) was faster than in the same dogs with the fistula closed (62 +/- 10 ml/20 min; p less than 0.05) and faster than in dogs without a fistula (77 +/- 5 ml/20 min; p less than 0.05). The rate of emptying in dogs with the fistula closed, however, was similar to the rate in dogs without a fistula (p greater than 0.05). We concluded that diversion of the enteric content to the exterior through a proximal jejunal fistula increases the rate of gastric emptying of 25% dextrose solutions in dogs with truncal vagotomy and Roux gastrectomy.

Increasing antidumping effect of intestinal pacing with motor-active agents.

The aim was to determine whether cholecystokinin-octapeptide (CCK-OP), bethanechol Cl, or metoclopramide HCl would increase the antidumping effect of intestinal pacing in five dogs with truncal vagotomy and Roux gastrectomy. While recording electrical activity from the conscious animals, the amount of a 100-ml, 25% dextrose gastric instillate emptied in 20 min was determined during control tests, during tests with CCK-OP (500 ng/kg/hr), bethanechol (80 micrograms/kg/hr), or metoclopramide alone (600 micrograms/kg/hr) given intravenously or during tests using combinations of pacing and drugs. In other tests, intraluminal gastrointestinal pressure was measured during control and drug infusions. CCK-OP, which relaxed the proximal stomach, slowed emptying of the dextrose instillates (mean +/- SEM emptied, no pacing, no drug = 74 +/- 5 ml; CCK-OP alone = 34 +/- 5 ml; P less than 0.05). CCK-OP also enhanced the slowing effect produced by pacing (pacing alone = 41 +/- 7 ml; pacing plus CCK-OP = 19 +/- 8 ml; P less than 0.05). In contrast, bethanechol and metoclopramide, which did not alter proximal gastric motility, did not alter emptying or augment or diminish the effect of pacing. The conclusion was that the combination of pacing and CCK-OP slowed gastric emptying of the dextrose more than pacing alone and thus had a greater antidumping effect. In contrast, neither bethanechol nor metoclopramide enhanced the pacing effect.

A case of metastasizing benign pleomorphic adenoma of the parotid.

A 69-year-old man who had a 50-year history of recurrent benign pleomorphic adenomas of the parotid presented with a further recurrence and a skull nodule. Biopsy of the skull nodule was consistent with a metastasis of a benign pleomorphic adenoma.

A study of colovesical fistulae in a district hospital.

A retrospective study of 32 patients with colovesical fistula was carried out. The most frequent presenting symptoms were urinary; an abdominal mass was found in 40% of patients. Urine culture grew bowel organisms in 93% of patients and the diagnosis was most accurately confirmed by barium enema which showed evidence of a fistula in 55% of patients examined. Surgical treatment varied from staged resection to primary resection and anastomosis, disconnection of the fistulous tract or colostomy alone. The results are compared and suggest a higher success rate with a multi-staged procedure. Different methods of diagnosis are discussed as well as possible causes for varying success rates among the surgical procedures.