Reliability and Factor Structure of the Autism Spectrum Disorders—Diagnosis Scale for Intellectually Disabled Adults (ASD—DA)

Most of the scale development work in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) to date has focused on instrumentation designed for one disorder, autism, and mainly focused on young children. Three hundred seventy-one staff were administered a newly developed assessment scale for adults with ID. The Autism Spectrum Disorders—Diagnosis Scale for Intellectually Disabled Adults (ASD—DA) was designed to quickly provide relevant information to establish a diagnosis for the most common ASD (autism, PDD-NOS, and Asperger’s syndrome). Staff completed the assessment for adults with ID (n = 192) some of which had a diagnosis of either autism or PDD-NOS (n = 107) or ID alone (n = 85). Inter-rater and test-retest reliability data were obtained. Item analysis reduced the scale to 31 items that were found to be both reliable and significantly differentiate between groups. A factor analysis with a three-factor solution was identified. The internal consistency of factor and total scale scores were found to be excellent.     

Endovascular repair of acute traumatic injury of thoracic aorta

Blunt thoracic aortic injury is associated with a high mortality rate. It is the second leading cause of death after head injury from vehicle accidents. Surgical repair with graft interposition was the traditional treatment of blunt aortic injury however; the introduction of endovascular stent graft has revolutionized the definitive treatment of these injuries.     

Neurohumoral Response to Carmoxirole, a Selective Dopamine (D2) Receptor Agonist, in Patients with Chronic Moderate Heart Failure

Neurohormonal activation and elevated ventricular filling pressures are prominent features in heart failure. Carmoxirole is a DA2 receptor agonist with limited central activity that modulates sympathetic activation and subsequently reduces pre-load and afterload in animals. The effect of carmoxirole on neurohormones and hemodynamics in humans was evaluated in 12 normotensive patients with NYHA class III–IV heart failure on stable ACE 1 and diuretic therapy. Carmoxirole (0.25–1.00 mg) was administered on 2 consecutive days, and hemodynamic and neurohormonal measurements were carried out. Values given are maximal percent changes from prestudy baseline (significance level P < 0.05). The lower dose on day 1 (0.25–0.50 mg) reduced circulating norepinephrine, vasopressin, and ANP by 40%, 19%, and 25%, respectively. In addition, on day 2, at a dose level of 0.75–1.00 mg, plasma renin activity decreased by 30%. Mean arterial pressure and systemic vascular resistance were reduced by 10% and 18%, and pulmonary wedge and right atrial pressure by 38% and 39%, respectively. Cardiac index improved by 20%. Despite a concomitant 12% reduction in heart rate, both stroke volume and stroke work index increased by 32% and 31%, respectively. Mean pulmonary artery pressure decreased by 21%, whereas pulmonary resistance was not affected. Thus, carmoxirole modulates sympathetic activation, accompanied by changes in vasopressin and ANP, and the renin-angiotensin system at higher dosages. These effects lead to a reduction in systemic resistance and heart rate, and an improvement in cardiac pump function and left and right ventricular filling pressures. It is concluded that carmoxirole induces beneficial effects on hemodynamic and neurohumoral parameters in heart failure.     

Dopamine infusion into the third ventricle increases gene expression of hypothalamic vasoactive intestinal peptide and pituitary prolactin and luteinizing hormone beta subunit in the turkey

Turkey prolactin (PRL) secretion is controlled by vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) neurons residing in the infundibular nuclear complex (INF) of the hypothalamus. The VIPergic activity is modulated by dopamine (DA) via stimulatory D(1) DA receptors. DA (10 nmol/min for 40 min) was infused into the third ventricle of laying turkey hens to study its effect on circulating PRL, hypothalamic VIP and pituitary PRL and LHbeta subunit mRNA levels. Plasma PRL was significantly elevated after 20 min of DA infusion and remained elevated 30 min after cessation of infusion. Hypothalamic VIP mRNA content was significantly greater in the INF of DA-infused birds than it was in the INF of vehicle-infused control birds. No increase in VIP mRNA due to DA infusion was noted in the preoptic area. Pituitary PRL and LHbeta subunit mRNAs were increased in DA-infused hens as compared to vehicle-infused controls but the rate of increase was more in PRL than LHbeta subunit. This study demonstrates that exogenous DA activates hypothalamic VIP gene expression and this increased expression is limited exclusively to the avian INF. The increased VIP mRNA in the INF is correlated with increased levels of circulating PRL and PRL and LHbeta mRNAs in the anterior pituitary.     

不同产地三叶青提取物解热作用及对大白鼠下丘脑5-羟色胺、去甲肾上腺素、多巴胺含量的影响

目的探讨不同产地三叶青提取物（ETR）对酵母致大白鼠发热和下丘脑5-羟色胺（5-HT）、去甲肾上腺素（NE）、多巴胺（DA）含量的影响,为三叶青进一步种质优化,发挥地理优势,开发优质资源提供强有力的科学依据。方法用荧光分光光度计在365、385、325 nm处为激发波长,以485、480、375 nm为发射波长,测定不同产地三叶青的5-HT、NE和DA含量。结果给药组大白鼠在给予不同产地的三叶青提取物后1 h体温都有明显下降,下丘脑组织中5-HT、NE和DA的含量明显低于空白对照组。结论不同产地的三叶青提取物对酵母致发热大白鼠均有明显的解热作用,其中浙江乐清、舟山地产三叶青解热作用和对影响体温调节中枢介质5-HT、NE、DA的作用尤为显著。     

The biology of Nociceptin/Orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) related to obesity,stress, anxiety,mood, and drug dependence

Nociceptin/Orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) is a 17 amino acid peptide that was deorphanized in 1995. The generation of specific agonists, antagonists and receptor deficient mice and rats has enabled progress in elucidating the biological functions of N/OFQ. Additionally, radio-imaging technologies have been advanced for investigation of this system in animals and humans. Together with traditional neurobehavioral techniques, these tools have been utilized to identify the biological significance of the N/OFQ system and its interacting partners. The present review focuses on the role of N/OFQ in the regulation of feeding, body weight homeostasis, stress, the stress-related psychiatric disorders of depression and anxiety, and in drug and alcohol dependence. Critical evaluation of the current scientific preclinical literature suggests that small molecule modulators of nociceptin opioid peptide receptors (NOP) might be useful in the treatment of diseases related to these biological functions. In particular, the literature data suggest that antagonism of NOP receptors will produce anti-obesity and antidepressant activities in humans. However, there are also contradictory data discussed. The current literature on the role of N/OFQ in anxiety and addiction, on the other hand points primarily to a role of agonist modulation being potentially therapeutic. Some drug-like molecules that function either as agonists or antagonists of NOP receptors have been optimized for human clinical study to test some of these hypotheses. The discovery of PET ligands for NOP receptors, combined with the pharmacological tools and burgeoning preclinical data set discussed here bodes well for a rapid advancement of clinical understanding and potential therapeutic benefit.     

组织、血液、尿中DA、NE和E的高效液相与荧光分光光度计联机检测法探讨

本文是利用高效液相与荧光分光光度计联机测定组织、血液、尿中的DA、NE和E的一种方法,取样量少,结果精确。     

Evidence for Modulation of DoDamine-neuronal Function by Tachykinin NK3 Receptor Stimulation in Gerbil Mesencephalic Cell Cultures

Primary cultures of gerbil mesencephalon were used for studying the modulation exerted by tachykinin NK₃ receptor activation on the activity of dopamine (DA) neurons. Dopamine neurons were identified by their ability to take up [³H]DA in a nomifensine-dependent manner. Moreover, tyrosine hydroxylase immunohistochemistry revealed that these neurons accounted for 5–7% of the total cell population. The NK₃ receptor agonists, senktide (EC₅₀= 0.58 nM) and [MePhe⁷]neurokinin B (EC₅₀= 3 nM), increased spontaneous [³H]DA release in a concentration-dependent manner. In contrast, tested at a supramaximal concentration (10-⁷ M), neither septide nor substance P were found to affect [³H]DA release. The senktide-evoked [³H]DA release was not observed when extracellular Ca²⁺ was chelated, but was unaffected by nomifensine. This indicates that this increase in [³H]DA outflow resulted more from an exocytotic process than from reversal of carrier-mediated DA uptake. Moreover, the senktide effect was unaffected by the Na⁺ channel blocker tetrodotoxin, a result suggesting a direct action of senktide on DA neurons. The non-peptide NK₃ receptor antagonist, SR 142801, shifted or blocked (ICs0 = 0.89 nM) the senktide-evoked [³H]DA release, while its (-)-antipode, SR 142806, was 80-fold less potent, in agreement with binding data. Selective antagonists for NK, (SR 140333) or NK₂ (SR 48968) receptors failed to reduce the senktide effect. Light scanning microscopic analysis of mesencephalic cells loaded with the Ca²⁺ sensitive dye, fluo-3, showed that senktide induced a rise in cytosolic Ca²⁺ in 8-10% of the cell population. The senktide-induced elevation in intracellular Ca²⁺ was rapid in onset and transient (at lo⁴ M) or more sustained with no further increase in fluorescence intensity (at 10^-7 M). The proportion of senktide-responsive cells was not significantly modified when extracellular Ca²⁺ was chelated, but was reduced by 87% in the presence of SR 142801 and by 75% in cultures that were pre-treated with the DA neurotoxin l-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium. The present study shows that enhancement of spontaneous [³H]DA release and intracellular Ca²⁺ mobilization may be observed after NK₃ receptor stimulation and that both biochemical events are likely to occur in DA neurons.     

Effects of irreversible dopamine receptor inactivation on locomotor activity and grooming in the 17- and 90-day-old rat

Ontogenetic differences in the behavioral recovery of R(-)-propylnorapomorphine (NPA) treated rats were assessed following irreversible DA receptor antagonism by N-ethoxycarbonyl-2-ethoxy-1,2-dihydroquinoline (EEDQ). In the first two experiments, 17-and 90-day-old rats were given EEDQ (7.5 or 15.0 mg/kg, IP) or vehicle after half the rats were initially treated with the selective DA D-1 and D-2 antagonists SCH 23390 and sulpiride. (The sulpiride/SCH 23390 treatment protects DA receptors from EEDQ-induced inactivation.) NPA's (0.1 or 1.0 mg/kg) effects on locomotor activity and grooming were assessed 1, 2, 4 and 8 days after the EEDQ pretreatment. In a third experiment, the effects of habituating the 17- and 90-day-old rats to the testing chamber were assessed 1, 2 and 4 days after EEDQ pretreatment. In this experiment, some groups received successive treatments of saline or NPA prior to behavioral testing. To assess the possible effects of drug-sensitization other groups received saline on days 1 and 2 and NPA on day 4. In 90-day-old rats, EEDQ eliminated, for up to 4 days, the ability of NPA to enhance locomotor activity and depress grooming. Prior treatment with DA antagonist drugs was sufficient to protect DA receptors from EEDQ-induced inactivation, since these groups exhibited normal behavioral responses after challenge with NPA. In contrast, EEDQ did not eliminate, and may have enhanced, NPA's effects on the locomotor activity and grooming of 17-day-old rat pups. Habituating the rats to the testing chamber decreased the locomotor activity of the mature rats, but not the 17-day-old rat pups. Drug sensitization did affect locomotor activity, but could not account for the behavioral recovery exhibited by the mature rats and pups. These results indicate that the behavioral effects of EEDQ differ dramatically in young rats compared to adults. The neurochemical bases for these ontogenetic differences remain unknown.     

CO2气腹下慢性肾功能衰竭大鼠肾功能、肾组织自由基及其变化

目的 :了解不同压力CO2 气腹对慢性肾功能衰竭模型大鼠肾功能衰竭的影响 ,并探讨CO2 气腹造成肾功能损害的可能机制。方法 :建立 5/ 6肾切除大鼠慢性肾功能衰竭模型 ,分别施加 0 67kPa(5mmHg)、1 3 3kPa(10mmHg)CO2 气腹压 ,检测解除气腹即时、1d、4d血肌苷 (Scr)、尿素氮 (BUN)水平及肾组织匀浆超氧化物歧化酶 (SOD)活力、丙二醛 (MDA)含量变化。结果 :解除气腹即时Scr开始升高 ,1d时升高显著 ,第 4d时下降接近对照组水平 ;BUN变化不明显。肾组织SOD和MDA水平也分别在解除气腹即时开始下降和上升 ,气腹后第 1d变化较明显 ,至第 4d时渐趋回复 ;与对照组相比 ,1 3 3kPa气腹压各组造成的变化具有显著意义。结论 :CO2 气腹可引起慢性肾功能衰竭致肾脏功能改变 ,可能与气腹压力的直接压迫使肾皮质缺血及解除气腹后血流再灌注产生的自由基损害有关。高气腹压对肾脏的影响更明显