Food-grade titanium dioxide decreases hematocrit and hemoglobin and increases compulsive-like behavior in male mice

Food-grade titanium dioxide (E171) is widely used as a food additive, and it is known that after oral consumption, E171 is translocated into the bloodstream reaching the highest titanium level at 6 h. E171 is accumulated in some organs triggering toxicity, but the effects on the blood parameters after oral consumption have been less studied. Recently, evidence shows that oral exposure to E171 induces behavioral signs of anxiety and depression. The relation between blood alterations and psychiatric disorders has been previously demonstrated. However, the oral exposure to E171 effects on alterations in blood parameters and effects linked to alterations in animal behavior has not been explored. In this short communication, we aimed to investigate the effects of E171 on specific blood parameters (hematocrit, hemoglobin, number of erythrocytes, and leukocytes) and anxiety and compulsive-like behavior in males and females orally exposed to ~5 mg/kg for 4 weeks. The results showed that E171 decreased hematocrit and hemoglobin in male but not in female mice while leukocyte and erythrocyte count remained unaltered. Oral consumption of E171 decreased the levels of anxiety-like behavior in females but not in male mice, while compulsive-like behavior was increased in both male and female mice.     

Combined hepatic and portal vein embolization as preparation for major hepatectomy: a systematic review

BackgroundSome patients remain deemed unsuitable for resection after portal vein embolization (PVE) because of insufficient hypertrophy of the future remnant liver (FRL). Hepatic and portal vein embolization (HPVE) has been shown to induce hypertrophy of the FRL. The aim of this study was to provide a systematic review of the available literature on HPVE as preparation for major hepatectomy.MethodsThe literature search was performed on online databases. Studies including patients who underwent preoperative HPVE were retrieved for evaluation.ResultsSix articles including 68 patients were published between 2003 and 2017. HPVE was performed successfully in all patients with no mortality and morbidity-related procedures. The degree of hypertrophy of the FRL after HPVE ranged from 33% to 63.3%. Surgical resection after preoperative HPVE could be performed in 85.3% of patients, but 14.7% remained unsuitable for resection because of insufficient hypertrophy of the FRL or tumor progression. Posthepatectomy morbidity and mortality rates were 10.3% and 5.1%, respectively. The postoperative liver failure rate was nil.ConclusionHPVE as a preparation for major hepatectomy appears to be feasible and safe and could increase the resectability of patients initially deemed unsuitable for resection because of absent or insufficient hypertrophy of the FRL after PVE alone.     

Dose calculation of dynamic trajectory radiotherapy using Monte Carlo

Purpose

Using volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) delivery technique gantry position, multi-leaf collimator (MLC) as well as dose rate change dynamically during the application. However, additional components can be dynamically altered throughout the dose delivery such as the collimator or the couch. Thus, the degrees of freedom increase allowing almost arbitrary dynamic trajectories for the beam. While the dose delivery of such dynamic trajectories for linear accelerators is technically possible, there is currently no dose calculation and validation tool available. Thus, the aim of this work is to develop a dose calculation and verification tool for dynamic trajectories using Monte Carlo (MC) methods.

Impact of Venous Collaterals on Clinical Outcomes in Paget–Schroetter Syndrome

Purpose

To characterize the degree of venous collateralization before and after endovascular therapy and determine the effect of collateralization on success of thrombolysis and rate of repeat intervention in patients with Paget–Schroetter syndrome.

Late-onset stress symptomatology (LOSS) scale – short form: development and validation

Objectives: Late-onset stress symptomatology (LOSS) is a phenomenon observed in older combat veterans who experience increased combat-related thoughts, feelings, and reminiscences corresponding with the changes and challenges of aging. Previously, we developed the LOSS Scale to assess LOSS. This paper describes the development and validation of a LOSS Scale short form (LOSS-SF) to screen veterans in various settings who may be actively re-examining their past wartime experiences.

Method: Three studies examined the reliability and validity of the LOSS-SF in separate samples of male combat veterans age 55 and older (total N = 346). Veterans were administered measures via telephone and mail survey. Correlation and regression analyses examined the reliability and validity of the LOSS-SF.

Results: The LOSS-SF exhibited strong internal consistency (alpha = .93), test-retest reliability (2 week interval on average; r = .88), and good concurrent validity with the LOSS Scale (r = .81). Convergent and divergent validity were supported by the pattern of correlations between the LOSS-SF and other construct measures.

Conclusion: The LOSS-SF is a reliable and valid measure to quickly assess thoughts, feelings, and reminiscences about past combat experiences in older veterans and identify those veterans in distress who may benefit from psychological interventions..     

Growth hormone secretagogue receptor signalling affects high‐fat intake independently of plasma levels of ghrelin and LEAP2, in a 4‐day binge eating model

The growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR) is a G protein‐coupled receptor that is highly expressed in the central nervous system. GHSR acts as a receptor for ghrelin and for liver‐expressed antimicrobial peptide 2 (LEAP2), which blocks ghrelin‐evoked activity. GHSR also displays ligand‐independent activity, including a high constitutive activity that signals in the absence of ghrelin and is reduced by LEAP2. GHSR activity modulates a variety of food intake‐related behaviours, including binge eating. Previously, we reported that GHSR‐deficient mice daily and time‐limited exposed to a high‐fat (HF) diet display an attenuated binge‐like HF intake compared to wild‐type mice. In the present study, we aimed to determine whether ligand‐independent GHSR activity affects binge‐like HF intake in a 4‐day binge‐like eating protocol. We found that plasma levels of ghrelin and LEAP2 were not modified in mice exposed to this binge‐like eating protocol. Moreover, systemic administration of ghrelin or LEAP2 did not alter HF intake in our experimental conditions. Interestingly, we found that central administration of LEAP2 or K‐(D‐1‐Nal)‐FwLL‐NH₂, which are both blockers of constitutive GHSR activity, reduced binge‐like HF intake, whereas central administration of ghrelin or the ghrelin‐evoked GHSR activity blockers [D‐Lys3]‐GHRP‐6 and JMV2959 did not modify binge‐like HF intake. Taken together, current data indicate that GHSR activity in the brain affects binge‐like HF intake in mice independently of plasma levels of ghrelin and LEAP2.