In this paper, we examined and compared the transcriptomes from the LF and dactyls of P. argus and three other decapod crustaceans-the clawed lobster Homarus americanus, red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii, and the blue crab Callinectes sapidus. Each species has at least ca. 100 to 250 IRs, 1 to 4 GRLs, and ca. 15 TRP channels including those shown to be involved in chemoreception in other species. The IRs show different degrees of phylogenetic conservation some are arthropod-conserved, others are pancrustacean-conserved, others appear to be crustacean-conserved, and some appear to be species-specific. Many IRs appear to be more highly expressed in the LF than dactyl. Our results show that decapod crustaceans express an abundance of genes for chemoreceptor proteins of different types, phylogenetic conservation, and expression patterns. An understanding of their functional roles awaits determining their expression patterns in individual chemosensory neurons and the central projections of those neurons.Social withdrawal in the sub-chronic phencyclidine (PCP) rat model, a behavioral correlate of the negative symptoms of schizophrenia, results from deficits in brain endocannabinoid transmission. As cannabis intake has been shown to affect negatively the course and expression of psychosis, we tested whether the beneficial effects of endocannabinoid-mediated CB1 activation on social withdrawal in PCP-treated rats (5 mg/kg, twice daily for 7 days)also occurred after administration of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC; 0.1, 0.3, 1.0 mg/kg, i.p.). In addition, we assessed whether THC affected two correlates of positive symptoms 1) motor activity induced by d-amphetamine (0.5 mg/kg, i.p.), and 2) dopamine neuron population activity in the ventral tegmental area (VTA). After the motor activity test, the brains from d-amphetamine-treated animals were collected and processed for measurements of endocannabinoids and activation of Akt/GSK3β, two molecular markers involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. In control rats, THC dose-dependently produced social interaction deficits and aberrant VTA dopamine neuron population activity similar to those observed in PCP-treated animals. In PCP-treated rats, only the lowest dose of THC reversed PCP-induced deficits, as well as PCP-induced elevation of the endocannabinoid anandamide (AEA) in the nucleus accumbens. Last, THC activated the Akt/GSK3β pathway dose-dependently in both control and PCP-treated animals. Taken together, these data suggest that only low doses of THC have beneficial effects on behavioral, neurochemical and electrophysiological correlates of schizophrenia symptoms. This observation may shed some light on the controversial hypothesis of marijuana use as self-medication in schizophrenic patients.Helicobacter pylori is a Gram-negative bacterium that causes chronic atrophic gastritis and peptic ulcers and it has been associated with the development of gastric adenocarcinoma and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT). One of the more remarkable characteristics of H. pylori is its ability to survive in the hostile environment of the stomach. H. pylori regulates the expression of specific sets of genes allowing it to survive high acidity levels and nutrient scarcity. In the present study, we determined the expression of virulence associated protein D (VapD) of H. pylori inside adenocarcinoma gastric (AGS) cells and in gastric biopsies. Using qRT-PCR, VapD expression was quantified in intracellular H. pylori-AGS cell cultures at different time points and in gastric mucosa biopsies from patients suffering from chronic atrophic gastritis, follicular gastritis, peptic ulcers, gastritis precancerous intestinal metaplasia and adenocarcinoma. Our results show that vapD of H. pylori presented high transcription levels inside AGS cells, which increased up to two-fold above basal values across all assays over time. Inside AGS cells, H. pylori acquired a coccoid form that is metabolically active in expressing VapD as a protection mechanism, thereby maintaining its permanence in a viable non-cultivable state. VapD of H. pylori was expressed in all gastric biopsies, however, higher expression levels (p = 0.029) were observed in gastric antrum biopsies from patients with follicular gastritis. The highest VapD expression levels were found in both antrum and corpus gastric biopsies from older patients (>57 years old). We observed that VapD in H. pylori is a protein that is only produced in response to interactions with eukaryotic cells. Our results suggest that VapD contributes to the persistence of H. pylori inside the gastric epithelial cells, protecting the microorganism from the intracellular environment, reducing its growth rate, enabling long-term infection and treatment resistance.BACKGROUND Epilepsy is the most common chronic neurologic disorder which affects an estimated 10.5 million children worldwide. Despite the burden, the scarcity of study held in Ethiopia. Hence, the aim of this study was to assess the treatment outcomes of epilepsy and its root causes in children with epilepsy. METHODS A hospital-based retrospective cohort study was conducted from October 10/2017 up to October 10/2018. A total of 210 study participants who fulfilled the eligibility criteria were included in the study. A structured interviewer-administered questionnaire with a document review was used to collect data. The data were entered into Epi Info version 7.2.1 and analyzed using SPSS version 21. Descriptive statistics were computed. Simple logistic analysis was run (at 95% CI and p-value less then 0.05) to identify factors associated with treatment outcome. RESULT 210 eligible patients with epilepsy were recruited for the study. About half of the respondents were females and the majority was within the age group of 5-10 years.  https://www.selleckchem.com/products/CP-673451.html  Phenobarbital has been the most frequently prescribed drugs and thirteen percent of patients were in the escalation phase of treatment. Eight percent of the study participants had poor adherence to the treatment regimen. About six percent of the study subjects were suffering from an uncontrolled seizure. Being a female child (AOR = 2. 21; 95%CI 1.11, 4.41) and excellent adherence to anti-epilepsy treatment (AOR = 4. 51; 95%CI 1.53, 13.42) were significantly associated with treatment outcome. CONCLUSION This study revealed that many children were suffering from uncontrolled seizure and escalation therapy is being exercised. Being a female child and adherence to anti-epilepsy treatment were significantly associated with treatment outcome. Therefore, attention should be given to adherence counseling to convey a better treatment outcome.