A novel approach to molecular negentropy from the point of view of Markov models is introduced. Stochastic negentropies (MEDNEs) are used to develop a linear discriminant analysis. The discriminant analysis produced a set of two discriminant functions, which gave rise to a very good separation of 93.38% of 151 chemicals (training series) into two groups. The total predictability (86.67%, i.e., 52 compounds out of 60) was tested by means of an external validation set. Randić's orthogonalization procedures allowed interpretation of the model while avoiding collinearity descriptors. On the other hand, factor analysis was used to suggest the relation of MEDNEs with other molecular descriptors and properties into a property space. Three principal factors (related to three orthogonal MEDNEs) can be used to explain approximately 90% of the variance of different molecular parameters of halobenzenes including bulk, energetic, dipolar, molecular surface-related, and hydrophobic parameters. Finally, preliminary experimental results coincide with a theoretical prediction when agranulocytosis induction by G-1, a novel microcidal that presents Z/E isomerism, is not detected.
Peripheral nerve injuries yield devastating consequences, and surgical repair outcomes remain suboptimal. Novel therapeutic strategies such as gene therapy could improve peripheral nerve regeneration. Though adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors have delivered transgenes to intact peripheral neurons, transduction of transected neurons relevant to management of peripheral nerve injuries has not been reported. Herein, in vivo transduction efficiency of axotomized murine facial neurons using four AAV capsids packaging a fluorescent reporter transgene, tdTomato, is characterized. Proximal stumps of transected facial nerve branches in C57Bl/6J mice were immersed in AAV solutions. Four weeks later, facial motor nuclei were volume-imaged via whole-mount two-photon excitation microscopy, and machine learning-based image segmentation quantified the proportion of transgene expressing neurons. We observed remarkable retrograde transduction efficiency with AAV-PHP.S and AAV-F, with expression levels sufficient to detect intrinsic tdTomato fluorescence. This study confirms successful in vivo retrograde transgene delivery to transected peripheral neurons, an approach that carries potential as a research tool and future therapeutic strategy.
Introduction: Viral encephalitis is a well-known inflammatory process associated with neurological dysfunction that might derive into severe brain damage or a fatal outcome. In México there is no epidemiological data that describes the prevalence of viral agents responsible for acute encephalitis. Objective: To identify the main viral agents by real time PCR involved in acute encephalitis in Mexico. Materials and methods: We obtained cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) samples from all patients with suspected viral encephalitis admitted to the emergency service of the Hospital Civil de Guadalajara “Fray Antonio Alcalde”. To identify pathogens, we performed nucleic acid extraction using real-time PCR and RT-PCR. Results: Sixty-six patients were diagnosed with acute encephalitis from 2011 to 2014. A definitive viral etiological diagnosis was established in 16 patients (24%); the main causative agents were enteroviruses in 50% of the 16 positive samples, followed by herpes simplex virus (37%) and cytomegaloviruses (12.5%). Patients with encephalitis were predominantly male (63.3%) and a seasonal predominance was observed during autumn (37.5%). The main clinical characteristics in the acute encephalitis phase were fever (48.45) and cephalea (36.3), followed by seizures, disorientation, and muscular weakness (30.3%). Kerning sign was present in two cases (3%) and other two cases presented Brudzinski’s sign (3%). Conclusions: CSF PCR is a suitable diagnostic technique for the identification of viral encephalitis caused by viral infections that allows an appropriate antiviral therapeutic treatment.
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