aureus responds by

aureus responds by www.selleckchem.com/products/BIBW2992.html rapidly inducing a set of genes known as the cell wall stress stimulon (Utaida et al., 2003). A subset of these genes is controlled by the two-component system VraSR (Kuroda et al., 2003). Induction of the VraSR regulon requires inhibitory concentrations of antibiotics, indicating that the cell wall damage causes a signal that stimulates the VraSR system (McCallum et al., 2006). To examine this further, we first tested the promoter upstream of the autoregulated vraSR operon by primer extension. We observed a large increase

in vraSR mRNA levels in response to oxacillin, which was reduced markedly by combinatorial treatment with high concentrations of thioridazine. Interestingly, thioridazine itself was able to induce the vraSR promoter primarily at 16 and 32 mg L−1 (Fig. 3a). We also tested

the VraSR-regulated genes murZ, pbpB (proximal P2 promoter), fmtA, and sgtB with similar results (Fig. 3b–e) and confirmed the induction by oxacillin observed by Utaida et al. (2003). Interestingly, in all these cases, the addition of thioridazine reduced the induction by oxacillin similar to the effect Protein Tyrosine Kinase inhibitor on mecA expression we have reported earlier (Klitgaard et al., 2008). Given the importance of the products of mecA, the VraSR regulon, and the femAB operon with respect to the high level β-lactam resistance, it seems plausible that the opposing effect of thioridazine in the presence of oxacillin is related to the reversal mechanism. A recent study underpins this by showing that inactivation of the VraSR system increases the susceptibility of S. aureus strain Newman to several nonantibiotic antimicrobials including thioridazine (Pietiainen et al., 2009).

Assumedly, the exclusion of the mentioned key factors will lead Oxaprozin to a considerably weakened cell wall, which will affect the ability of the bacteria to survive oxacillin treatment. The observed induction of vraSR and genes regulated by VraSR at certain concentrations of thioridazine may indicate that thioridazine alone can cause cell wall damage. This could explain the antimicrobial effect reported for thioridazine (Bourlioux et al., 1992). Alternatively, thioridazine might affect the dimerization and/or autophosphorylation of the VraS sensor by affecting the membrane properties. Studies are ongoing in our group to clarify these questions. To test whether other two-component signal transduction systems involved in the control of cell wall integrity were regulated in a similar manner, we analyzed the expression of arlRS (autolysis), lytSR (autolysis), graRS (modification of teichoic acids), and walRK (autolysis). They were all expressed in the exponential phase, but none of the genes were affected by thioridazine and/or oxacillin (data not shown). Thioridazine and other phenothiazines are known as efflux pump inhibitors based on their ability to prevent exclusion of common efflux pump substrates, such as ethidium bromide, from the cell (Kaatz et al.

The physiologies of this fungus are very different from G zeae (

The physiologies of this fungus are very different from G. zeae (Parniske, 2008). Although important for the sexual development of

G. zeae, triacylglycerides cannot move through the septal pore as lipids are stored in huge lipid bodies in the mycelia (Guenther et al., 2009). Recently, Oliver et al. (2009) proposed that fermentative intermediates (acetaldehyde, ethanol, and acetate) are generated under low oxygen stress and subsequently translocate to leaves for transpiration or recapturing of carbon sources in plants. In a similar fashion, toxic PAA pathway metabolites produced from embedded mycelia might move to aerial mycelia for recycling by ACS1 in G. zeae (Fig. S5). Expression patterns of PDC1 and ACS1 further suggest these enzymes are involved in the PAA pathway of G. zeae. Although PDC takes part in eukaryotic fermentation processes (Lehninger et al., 5FU 1993), PDC1 was highly expressed in both the selleck kinase inhibitor aerial mycelia and embedded mycelia. However, ACS1 was only observed in the aerial mycelia, suggesting that the upstream PAA pathway intermediates generated in the embedded mycelia are subsequently translocated to the aerial mycelia (Fig.

S5). Based on the high expression of PDC1 in aerial mycelia, we hypothesize that pyruvate and/or other glycolysis intermediates are the means of carbon translocation for lipids synthesis. In this model, glucose would not be translocated to the aerial mycelia as ACS1, which is known to be repressed by glucose, was highly expressed in the aerial mycelia (Lee et al., 2011). Growth of embedded mycelia seems to be linked to the utilization of PPA pathway intermediates in G. zeae. As mentioned previously, intermediates of the PAA pathway may move to the aerial mycelia to facilitate carbon translocation. Alternatively, they could be utilized for producing energy in the embedded mycelia (Fig. S5). Transcript levels of the PDC gene are a major determinant of ethanol production in A. nidulans, underscoring the significance of ethanol fermentation in this obligate aerobic fungus (Lockington et al., 1997). PDC mediates MTMR9 conversion of pyruvate to acetaldehyde, which is reduced to ethanol

by alcohol dehydrogenase (Lehninger et al., 1993). Thus, PDC1 is likely important for energy production in the embedded mycelia, and deletion of this gene could result in reduced growth of embedded mycelia in G. zeae. In this study, we demonstrate that the PAA pathway is crucial for lipid production in the aerial mycelia (Fig. S5). Embedded mycelia appear to utilize PAA pathway intermediates via ethanol fermentation for proper growth. This is the first report that describes different physiological roles in the aerial and embedded mycelia for the same primary metabolic process in filamentous fungi. This work was supported by a National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korean government (MEST) (2011-0000963).

Most study participants reported treating with recommended foods

Most study participants reported treating with recommended foods in quantities exceeding minimum recommendations, possibly attempting to resolve unpleasant symptoms of hypoglycaemia quickly. Failure of many to ingest follow-up food is concerning and warrants investigation. Increased patient education and standardisation of guidelines for treatment of hypoglycaemia are indicated. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley &

Sons. “
“Alström syndrome, MDV3100 a rare autosomal recessive ciliopathy (OMIM 203800), is classically diagnosed on the basis of childhood onset cone rod retinal dystrophy, sensorineural hearing loss and obesity with severe insulin resistance. In addition, in infancy acute reversible cardiomyopathy occurs in 30% of cases, and type 2 diabetes develops in most cases in young adulthood. We describe the audit of 11 cases of Alström syndrome diagnosed as adults, eight in the context of diabetes clinics who were referred to the National Specialised Commissioning Team (NSCT) adult Alström clinic at Torbay Hospital. All have severe insulin resistance, dyslipidaemia and a variable degree of cardiac, renal and musculoskeletal involvement – features not associated with Vincristine ic50 a unifying diagnosis until referred to their local diabetic clinics in eight of them. Obesity and young onset type 2 diabetes are increasing and it is important to be aware that some

cases will have associated rare recessive conditions such as Alström syndrome, Wolfram syndrome, lipodystrophies, Bardet Biedl syndrome (LMBBS), Prader Willi syndrome or occult cystic fibrosis. Early recognition of Alström families will facilitate prompt recognition 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase and treatment of comorbidities and genetic counselling. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons. “
“Diabetes remains one of the most prevalent long-term conditions that we all face. The latest estimates from the International Diabetes Federation suggest that 382 million people had diabetes in 2013 and by 2035 this will rise to 592 million.1 In the UK it is estimated that almost 3 million people already have the condition. In addition to the numerous challenges that outpatients with the condition face, diabetes is associated with an almost doubling of the risk of hospitalisation

when compared to someone without diabetes.2 Data from the 2012 National Diabetes Inpatient Audit (NaDIA) showed that the mean prevalence of diabetes in hospitalised patients was 15.2% (range 5.5–31.1%).3 NaDIA also confirmed previous work that showed that people with diabetes spend longer in hospital than those without diabetes,4 but also showed that unlike those without diabetes, emergency admissions were far more common. Data from 2009/10 suggested that together these, and other, factors cost the NHS an estimated £2.51 billion per year.5 The saying goes that ‘prevention is better than cure’, and with these data in mind it would seem to make sense to try and prevent hospital admission if at all possible to reduce the burden on the health economy.

(1999) A 50% lethal concentration (LC50) was calculated from poo

(1999). A 50% lethal concentration (LC50) was calculated from pooled raw data by probit analysis using programs written in the r language (Venables & Smith, 2004). The automated protein structure homology-modeling server swiss-model (Schwede et al., 2003;

http://www.expasy.org/swissmod/) was used to generate the three-dimensional model. The deep view swiss-pdb viewer software from the expasy server (available at http://spdbv.vital-it.ch/) was used to visualize and analyze the atomic structure of the model. Molecular modeling of Cry1Ac was performed based on the X-ray crystallographic structure of Cry1Aa toxin from B. thuringiensis kurstaki strain HD1 (PDB accession APO866 research buy code 1CIY). Finally, PyMOL (De Lano, 2002) from the

Molecular Graphics System was used to produce the figures. The two mutated δ-endotoxins, Cry1Ac′1 and Cry1Ac′3, were expressed in an acrystalliferous strain, BNS3Cry−. Microscopic observation of BNS3Cry− (pHTcry1Ac′1) sporulated transformants showed an absence of bipyramidal crystals and the existence of small inclusion bodies in the majority of the sporulated cells. Nevertheless, no detectable inclusion bodies were observed in BNS3Cry− (pHTcry1Ac′3) sporulated cells. The effect of Y229P and F603S mutations on expression was analyzed by SDS-PAGE. this website In both the BNS3Cry− (pHTcry1Ac′1) cell samples before autolysis and the spore-inclusion mixture after cell lysis, Cry1Ac′1 protein was identified as a weak band of 130 kDa compared with the expression of the native Cry1Ac protein in the same host cell (Fig. 2). However, in the BNS3Cry− (pHTcry1Ac′3) cell samples before autolysis and the solubilized protein

mixture after autolysis, a weak band of approximately 90 kDa was observed, whereas this band was absent in BNS3Cry− (pHTBlue) panel (used as negative control). These results were verified by immunoblot analyses using Cry1A antibody. In fact, like Cry1Ac, Cry1Ac′1 was identified as a band of 130 kDa. Nevertheless, its expression level was much lower than that of the native one and the degradation products accompanying its production were more abundant (Fig. 3). These results suggest that the mutation Pyruvate dehydrogenase Y229P affected the stability of the protein, leading to a weak expression of Cry1Ac′1. This suggestion could explain the production of small inclusion bodies by the recombinant strain BNS3Cry− (pHTcry1Ac′1) instead of bipyramidal crystals like the large ones produced by BNS3Cry− (pHTcry1Ac). Concerning the mutation F603S, in both SDS-PAGE and immunoblot analyses Cry1Ac′3 was detected as a truncated protein of approximately 90 kDa (Figs 2 and 3). The intensity of the signal corresponding to the expression of this protein was also weaker than that corresponding to Cry1Ac. It therefore appears that the mutation F603S altered the stability of the protein.

(1999) A 50% lethal concentration (LC50) was calculated from poo

(1999). A 50% lethal concentration (LC50) was calculated from pooled raw data by probit analysis using programs written in the r language (Venables & Smith, 2004). The automated protein structure homology-modeling server swiss-model (Schwede et al., 2003;

http://www.expasy.org/swissmod/) was used to generate the three-dimensional model. The deep view swiss-pdb viewer software from the expasy server (available at http://spdbv.vital-it.ch/) was used to visualize and analyze the atomic structure of the model. Molecular modeling of Cry1Ac was performed based on the X-ray crystallographic structure of Cry1Aa toxin from B. thuringiensis kurstaki strain HD1 (PDB accession TSA HDAC in vivo code 1CIY). Finally, PyMOL (De Lano, 2002) from the

Molecular Graphics System was used to produce the figures. The two mutated δ-endotoxins, Cry1Ac′1 and Cry1Ac′3, were expressed in an acrystalliferous strain, BNS3Cry−. Microscopic observation of BNS3Cry− (pHTcry1Ac′1) sporulated transformants showed an absence of bipyramidal crystals and the existence of small inclusion bodies in the majority of the sporulated cells. Nevertheless, no detectable inclusion bodies were observed in BNS3Cry− (pHTcry1Ac′3) sporulated cells. The effect of Y229P and F603S mutations on expression was analyzed by SDS-PAGE. check details In both the BNS3Cry− (pHTcry1Ac′1) cell samples before autolysis and the spore-inclusion mixture after cell lysis, Cry1Ac′1 protein was identified as a weak band of 130 kDa compared with the expression of the native Cry1Ac protein in the same host cell (Fig. 2). However, in the BNS3Cry− (pHTcry1Ac′3) cell samples before autolysis and the solubilized protein

mixture after autolysis, a weak band of approximately 90 kDa was observed, whereas this band was absent in BNS3Cry− (pHTBlue) panel (used as negative control). These results were verified by immunoblot analyses using Cry1A antibody. In fact, like Cry1Ac, Cry1Ac′1 was identified as a band of 130 kDa. Nevertheless, its expression level was much lower than that of the native one and the degradation products accompanying its production were more abundant (Fig. 3). These results suggest that the mutation Teicoplanin Y229P affected the stability of the protein, leading to a weak expression of Cry1Ac′1. This suggestion could explain the production of small inclusion bodies by the recombinant strain BNS3Cry− (pHTcry1Ac′1) instead of bipyramidal crystals like the large ones produced by BNS3Cry− (pHTcry1Ac). Concerning the mutation F603S, in both SDS-PAGE and immunoblot analyses Cry1Ac′3 was detected as a truncated protein of approximately 90 kDa (Figs 2 and 3). The intensity of the signal corresponding to the expression of this protein was also weaker than that corresponding to Cry1Ac. It therefore appears that the mutation F603S altered the stability of the protein.

[20, 34-36] A Danish study of >11,000 travelers identified that 5

[20, 34-36] A Danish study of >11,000 travelers identified that 5% of nonimmune and 5% of short-term travelers were placed at high risk of HBV acquisition through activities such as injections, operations, or tattoos. The percentage of high-risk activities increased to 41% for those traveling for >6 months. Most of the risk behaviors were involuntary or unanticipated.[24] In a retrospective study of 503 Australian travelers, 281 (56%) had visited a country with medium to high prevalence of hepatitis B, of whom only 43% had been vaccinated Sirolimus mouse and 162 (33%) undertook activities associated with potential

HBV exposure.[20] Another survey of 309 Australian travelers to Southeast Asia and East Asia identified that 54% sought pre-travel advice, 28% received HBV vaccine, and 49% undertook a high-risk activity.[34] Medical Tourism is a burgeoning industry estimated to be worth $60 billion in 2006.[37] Organ transplantation and medical tourism have repeatedly been identified as risk factors for both HBV and HCV infection,[38, 39] highlighting that screening for transmissible infections cannot universally be assured.[40] Kennedy and colleagues reported that 2 of

16 Australian patients who traveled overseas for commercial kidney transplantation developed fulminant hepatitis related to HBV infection and died.[41] Among a cohort of Saudi patients receiving renal

transplants in India, there was a significantly higher incidence of HBV infection compared with a similar cohort transplanted in Saudi Arabia (8.1% vs 1.4%).[42] Travelers learn more should be given information regarding the modes of HBV transmission and the likelihood of infection with ADP ribosylation factor high-risk activities. Many national health authorities as well as the WHO recommend that HBV vaccination should be considered in nonimmune travelers to countries with a moderate to high HBV prevalence (HBsAg ≥ 2%).[14, 43, 44] Vaccination with a three-dose regimen is safe and effective with protective levels of neutralizing antibodies (anti-HBs antibody ≥ 10 mIU/mL) achieved in >90% of healthy adults and children.[4, 14] Vaccination should be discussed with all nonimmune travelers as activities associated with HBV acquisition are often unexpected.[24] Although the risks of exposure are likely to increase with longer travel duration, offering HBV vaccine cannot depend solely on a minimum trip duration, especially as HBV vaccine provides prolonged protection so cumulative risk from repeated trips also needs to be considered.[12] Allowing sufficient time for pre-travel vaccination is crucial. The standard three-dose regimen is administered at 0, 1, and 6 months. An accelerated schedule administered on days 0, 7, and 21 (booster at 12 months) is recommended for rapid protection.

Conclusions  The experience of pain and discomfort during and af

Conclusions.  The experience of pain and discomfort during and after extraction of the primary canines is low, despite that 42% of the children used analgesics. Therefore, appropriate analgesics and recommendation doses pre- and post-extraction should be prescribed. “
“International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry 2010; 20: 341–346 Background.  Caries risk assessment is an important tool in clinical decision making. Aim.  To evaluate longitudinal changes in caries risk profiles in a group of schoolchildren in relation to caries development. Design.  The Cariogram model was used to create caries

risk profiles and to identify risk factors in 438 children being 10–11 years at baseline. The assessment was repeated after 2 years and the caries increment was recorded. The frequency Ku-0059436 purchase of unfavourable risk factors were compared between those considered at the lowest and the highest risk. Results.  Fifty percent of the children remained in the same risk category after 2 years. One third of the children were assessed in a higher-risk

category while Selleck BIBF-1120 18.4% showed a lower risk. Those with increased risk compared with baseline developed significantly more caries than those with an unchanged risk category. The most frequent unfavourable risk factors among those with high risk at baseline were high-salivary mutans streptococci and lactobacilli counts as well as frequent meals. Conclusion.  Half of the children showed a changed risk category after 2 years, for better or for worse, which suggests that regular risk assessments are needed in order to make appropriate decisions on targeted preventive care and recall intervals. “
“Hereditary angiodema (HAE), also known as C1 esterase inhibitor either deficiency, causes sufferers to experience episodic

subcutaneous and submucosal oedema. These episodes can be triggered by dental treatment and manifest as life-threatening oedematous swelling in the head and neck region. This case report reviews an adolescent with hereditary angiodema whose malocclusion required orthodontic intervention. Due to her complex and unpredictable reaction to dental treatment, various options were explored before determining the appropriate care pathway for this patient. Trial placement of a sectional fixed appliance tested the tissue reaction prior to comprehensive treatment including extractions and fixed orthodontic appliances. This report demonstrates successful interdisciplinary management facilitating orthodontic care in a patient with HAE. “
“International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry 2013; 23: 197–206 Background.  Despite the worldwide increasing interest in the prevalence studies of molar–incisor hypomineralization (MIH), there is still insufficient evidence to verify the aetiological factors of this condition. Aims.  To investigate risk factors involved in the development of MIH in a group of school-aged Iraqi children. Design.

, 2004b; Noghabi et al, 2007; Zamil et al, 2008) In this study

, 2004b; Noghabi et al., 2007; Zamil et al., 2008). In this study, our goal was to find the factors affecting exobiopolymer biosynthesis and polyhydroxyalkanoates accumulation in P. fluorescens BM07. UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (GalU) appears to have an impact on exobiopolymer, lipopolysaccharide and polyhydroxyalkanoates production in P. fluorescens BM07 as seen from the phenotypic characterization of BM07-59. Considering the increased polyhydroxyalkanoates accumulation and deficit of O-antigen lipopolysaccharide and exobiopolymer synthesis in BM07-59 grown on fructose or galactose, we suggest a simple model for the role of GalU in the synthesis of exobiopolymer and polyhydroxyalkanoates

in P. fluorescens BM07 (Fig. 4). GalU is responsible for producing UDP-glucose from glucose 1-phosphate, which competes with fructose 6-phosphate Alisertib clinical trial for glucose 6-phosphate. Deletion of galU in BM07 blocks the formation of UDP-glucose, which

is the main glucosyl donor for lipopolysaccharide find more and exobiopolymer synthesis, leading to a greater number of carbon resources available for polyhydroxyalkanoates synthesis on fructose or galactose. A mirror result was observed in P. putida CA-3, of which the lipopolysaccharide overproducing mutant decreased the polyhydroxyalkanoates accumulation (Goff et al., 2009). Our results also indicated that GalU is essential for normal cell growth when cultured in media with fructose alone; this can probably be explained by a crucial role for UDP-glucose in cell wall biosynthesis (Sandlin et al., 1995). Polyhydroxyalkanoates accumulation in the mutant from octanoate was similar to the level in the wild type despite lacking the O-antigen lipopolysaccharide of the mutant (data not shown), suggesting the metabolic pathway for lipopolysaccharide might not be related to the polyhydroxyalkanoates synthesis when the cells are grown on octanoate. In conclusion, when the genes involved in lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis and excretion in P. fluorescens BM07 were disrupted, the cold-induced exobiopolymer formation

was also blocked and, instead, carbon flux was shifted toward the polyhydroxyalkanoates synthesis when the cells were grown on fructose. Although the regulation process of exobiopolymer formation in BM07 is not Tacrolimus (FK506) clearly known, it is evident that lipopolysaccharide plays a critical role for the production of exobiopolymer. In vivo exobiopolymer synthesis and excretion by P. fluorescens BM07 may be under complex regulatory control. As exobiopolymer and polyhydroxyalkanoates are considered to be potentially useful biopolymers for biotechnological and industrial applications (Lee et al, 2004a; Zamil et al., 2008; Choi et al., 2009), further molecular level study is required to understand the physiology and genetics of exobiopolymer biosynthesis and secretion and to design BM07 recombinants for much more enhanced polyhydroxyalkanoates production at higher temperature (e.g.

, 2010a; Figueras et al,

2011b, c) Some characteristics

, 2010a; Figueras et al.,

2011b, c). Some characteristics, such as lysine decarboxylase for A. sanarellii and acid production from raffinose for A. taiwanensis, were originally described as negative and positive, respectively, on the basis of the type strains (Alperi et al., 2010a). However, this has proven to vary after testing more strains of each species. Other variable phenotypic responses were observed among strains of the same species (Table S2). According to the API database, the isolates might belong to A. hydrophila/A. caviae/A. sobria, Akt inhibitors in clinical trials with a 67–98.4% certainty (Table S2). All A. sanarellii and A. taiwanensis strains carried the genes that encode aerolysin/haemolysin (aerA), elastase (ahpB) and flagella (fla), but lipase genes (pla/lip/lipH3/apl-1/lip) were only detected in 75% and

66.6% of A. taiwanensis selleck chemical and A. sanarellii strains, respectively (Table 1). The lateral flagella (lafA) and serine genes were detected in 75% and 25% of the A. taiwanensis strains but did not amplify in any of the A. sanarellii strains (Table 1). The TTSS genes (ascF-G and ascV), which are considered to encode an important virulence factor, were detected in 75% of A. taiwanensis strains, as did the aexT gene encoding the AexT toxin delivered by this system. Only 33.3% of the A. sanarellii strains possessed the TTSS genes but none of the strains were positive for the aexT gene (Table 1). The PCR results showed that the virulence genotype depended upon the strain despite A. taiwanensis strains bearing more virulent genes than A. sanarellii. None of the strains of either species were positive for the cytotoxic (act) and cytotonic enterotoxin genes Metalloexopeptidase (ast, alt) or for the gene of the AopP toxin secreted by the TTSS (Table 1). The same results were obtained for the act,

alt, ast and fla genes with the A. taiwanensis stool strain H53AQ1 previously isolated in Israel (Senderovich et al., 2012). In a previous study, we discovered strains of an important and emergent clinical species, A. aquariorum, in chironomid egg masses, and they were found to have a higher prevalence of the alt (90.9%), act (27.3%) and TTSS genes (81.3%) but a lower prevalence of ahpB (81.8%), lipase (54.4%) and fla (27.4%) genes (Figueras et al., 2011c) than the currently investigated strains of A. sanarellii and A. taiwanensis. These strains do not have the alt and ast genes, but all harbour the ahpB and fla genes and have a prevalence of 33.3% and 75% for the TTSS genes and 66.6% and 75% for the lipase gene, respectively (Table 1). Detection of virulence genes by PCR only provides an indication of the presence or absence of genes; further studies are required to prove whether such genes are indeed functional and contribute to their virulence.

95, P = 87 × 10−40 and r = 076, P = 13 × 10−15 for SCN-intact

95, P = 8.7 × 10−40 and r = 0.76, P = 1.3 × 10−15 for SCN-intact and SCN-lesioned rats, respectively). The damping rate of circadian Per2-dLuc rhythm was calculated as follows: a difference between the onsets of first and fourth peak was divided by the amplitude of first peak. Repeated-measure anova with a post hoc Fisher’s Protected Least Significant Difference (PLSD) test (Excel Statistics) was used to statistically evaluate differences in the 24-h behavior profile

between pre-R and R-MAP or R-Water, and changes in the amounts of water and food intake and body weight. Unpaired t-tests were used to evaluate differences in the phases of behavioral rhythm between two groups. Two-factor factorial anova with a post SB431542 molecular weight hoc Fisher’s PLSD test was used to evaluate RG7204 nmr differences

in the circadian peak phase, amplitude and damping rate of Per2-dLuc rhythms between the SCN-intact and SCN-lesioned rats, and between R-MAP and R-Water groups. Twenty-four-hour profiles of spontaneous movement and wheel-running activity were substantially modified by R-MAP in SCN-intact rats (Figs 1 and 3). The behavioral activities during the restricted time of MAP supply were enhanced and the nocturnal activities were suppressed in some rats but this was not statistically significant in the group (Fig. 3). Under subsequent ad-MAP, the activity

components at the restricted time of MAP supply showed rapid phase-delay shifts for the following 5 days, but the phase shifts slowed down when the activity onsets passed the middle of the dark phase. On the other hand, behavioral activity was enhanced by R-Water immediately prior to daily water supply (Fig. 3). Under subsequent ad-MAP, the nocturnal activities were enhanced and slightly phase-delayed. Circadian behavioral rhythms were abolished by bilateral SCN-lesion (Fig. 2). In the Rolziracetam R-MAP group, the behavioral activities were significantly enhanced during the restricted time of MAP supply, but such enhancement was not observed in the R-Water group (Fig. 3). Small but significant pre-drinking activity bouts were detected on the last few days of R-MAP and R-Water (Figs 2 and 3). Under subsequent ad-MAP, the enhanced activities during the restricted time of MAP supply showed steady phase-delay shifts without interruption by LD, indicating free-running of MAO. On the other hand, ad-MAP enhanced and consolidated behavioral activities in the R-Water group immediately after the previous restricted time of water supply, to form behavioral rhythms with a period close to 24 h. The phases of behavioral rhythms on the first day of ad-MAP were analysed in terms of activity band (Fig. 4A).