Over the past few decades, neuroimaging has become a ubiquitous tool in basic research and clinical studies of the human brain. However, no reference standards currently exist to quantify individual differences in neuroimaging metrics over time, in contrast to growth charts for anthropometric traits such as height and weight1. Here we assemble an interactive open resource to benchmark brain morphology derived from any current or future sample of MRI data (http://www.brainchart.io/). With the goal of basing these reference charts on the largest and most inclusive dataset available, acknowledging limitations due to known biases of MRI studies relative to the diversity of the global population, we aggregated 123,984 MRI scans, across more than 100 primary studies, from 101,457 human participants between 115 days post-conception to 100 years of age. MRI metrics were quantified by centile scores, relative to non-linear trajectories2 of brain structural changes, and rates of change, over the lifespan. Brain charts identified previously unreported neurodevelopmental milestones3, showed high stability of individuals across longitudinal assessments, and demonstrated robustness to technical and methodological differences between primary studies. Centile scores showed increased heritability compared with non-centiled MRI phenotypes, and provided a standardized measure of atypical brain structure that revealed patterns of neuroanatomical variation across neurological and psychiatric disorders. In summary, brain charts are an essential step towards robust quantification of individual variation benchmarked to normative trajectories in multiple, commonly used neuroimaging phenotypes.
The 16S rDNA sequences of 11 strains, nine type strains of validated Pseudonocardia species and Actinobispora yunnanensis, and two strains of unnamed Pseudonocardia species, were determined and compared with those of representatives of the family Pseudonocardiaceae. The phylogenetic analysis indicated that all of the validated species of the genera Pseudonocardia and Actinobispora consistently formed a monophyletic unit and separated well from the other genera of the family Pseudonocardiaceae. One unnamed Pseudonocardia strain was related to members of the genus Pseudonocardia, whereas the other unnamed Pseudonocardia strain formed a distinct clade within the radiation of the genus Amycolatopsis. ß
Background and purpose: Recently, we reported that 12(S)-HPETE (12(S)-hydroperoxyeicosa-5Z,8Z,10E,14Z-tetraenoic acid) induces scratching in ICR mice. We hypothesized that 12(S)-HPETE might act as an agonist of the low-affinity leukotriene B 4 receptor BLT 2 . To confirm the involvement of the BLT 2 receptor in 12(S)-HPETE-induced scratching, we studied the scratch response using the BLT 2 receptor agonists compound A (4 0 -{[pentanoyl (phenyl) amino]methyl}-1,1 0 -biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid) and 12(S)-HETE (12(S)-hydroxyeicosa-5Z,8Z,10E,14Z-tetraenoic acid). Experimental approach: A video recording was used to determine whether the BLT 2 receptor agonists caused itch-associated scratching in ICR mice. Selective antagonists and several chemicals were used. Key results: Both 12(S)-HETE and compound A dose dependently induced scratching in the ICR mice. The dose-response curve for compound A showed peaks at around 0.005-0.015 nmol per site. Compound A-and 12(S)-HETE-induced scratching was suppressed by capsaicin and naltrexon. We examined the suppressive effects of U75302 (6-[6-(3-hydroxy-1E,5Z-undecadienyl)-2-pyridinyl]-1,5-hexanediol, the BLT 1 receptor antagonist) and LY255283 (1-[5-ethyl-2-hydroxy-4-[[6-methyl-6-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)heptyl]oxy]phenyl]-ethanone, the BLT 2 receptor antagonist) on the BLT 2 agonist-induced scratching. LY255283 suppressed compound A-and 12(S)-HETE-induced scratching, but U75302 did not. LY255283 required a higher dose to suppress the compound A-induced scratching than it did to suppress the 12(S)-HETE-induced scratching. One of the BLT 2 receptor agonists, 12(R)-HETE (12(R)-hydroxyeicosa-5Z,8Z,10E,14Z-tetraenoic acid), also induced scratching in the ICR mice. Conclusions and implications: Our present results corroborate the hypothesis that the BLT 2 receptor is involved in 12(S)-lipoxygenase-product-induced scratching in ICR mice. We also confirmed that this animal model could be a valuable means of evaluating the effects of BLT 2 receptor antagonists.
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