Cerebral complement C1q activation in chronic Toxoplasma infection

Exposure to the neurotropic parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, causes significant brain and behavioral anomalies in humans and other mammals. Understanding the cellular mechanisms of T. gondii-generated brain pathologies would aid the advancement of novel strategies to reduce disease. Complement factor C1q is part of a classic immune pathway that functions peripherally to tag and remove infectious agents and cellular debris from circulation. In the developing and adult brain, C1q modifies neuronal architecture through synapse marking and pruning. T. gondii exposure and complement activation have both been implicated in the development of complex brain disorders such as schizophrenia. Thus, it seems logical that mechanistically, the physiological pathways associated with these two factors are connected. We employed a rodent model of chronic infection to investigate the extent to which cyst presence in the brain triggers activation of cerebral C1q. Compared to uninfected mice, cortical C1q was highly expressed at both the RNA and protein levels in infected animals bearing a high cyst burden. In these mice, C1q protein localized to cytoplasm, adjacent to GFAP-labeled astrocytes, near degenerating cysts, and in punctate patterns along processes. In summary, our results demonstrated an upregulation of cerebral C1q in response to latent T. gondii infection. Our data preliminarily suggest that this complement activity may aid in the clearance of this parasite from the CNS and in so doing, have consequences for the connectivity of neighboring cells and synapses.     

Misrepresentation of UK homicide characteristics in popular culture

The homicide statistics of a popular UK television fictional crime series and the former Lothian & Borders police force region, Scotland were compared. This comparison was used to consider the implications for public attitudes which may influence the adoption of public health interventions to reduce homicide.217 homicides were identified by 105 perpetrators in the television series 'Midsomer Murders' between 1997 and 2011; these were compared to 55 homicides by 53 perpetrators in the regional sample between 2006 and 2011. The numbers of serial killings (p < 0.0001), planned homicides, female perpetrators (p < 0.0001), shootings (p = 0.0456) and poisonings (p = 0.0289) were higher in the fictional sample. Lothian & Borders cases were almost all single killings, mostly unplanned, with a far greater rate of homicide by kitchen knives (p < 0.0001) and hitting/kicking (p = 0.0005) by intoxicated perpetrators.Control of access to pointed kitchen knives by members of certain groups may reduce homicide rates. If the popular perception of UK homicides is influenced by popular culture, the importance of such a public health intervention may not be apparent.     

Prefrontal, parietal and basal activation associated with the reordering of a two-element list held in working memory

A functional specialization in the prefrontal cortex along a dorsal-ventral gradient according to the type of processing in working memory, i.e. manipulation vs. maintenance, has been proposed based on previous neuroimaging studies. This seems particularly important for the further understanding of the functional architecture underlying working memory problems in patient populations. The current study examines the prefrontal involvement in the maintenance and manipulation of serial order of elements in working memory, with a task designed to be as simple as possible, to the aim of possible uses in clinical studies. Subjects held two-element ordered lists in memory and were presented with pseudo-random sequences of “reorder” and “maintain” cues. Reorder cues were found to be associated with activation in the dorsal prefrontal cortex, parietal cortex and the basal ganglia. The results show that the simple task was indeed sufficient to evoke the prefrontal activation of interest, add to the information on functional dorsal-ventral specialization in prefrontal cortex and provide support for a prefrontal-parietal monitoring-manipulation network.     

Effect of beta blockade on plasma catecholamine levels during psychological and exercise stress

The effect of a single oral dose of 50 mg of metoprolol on plasma catecholamine levels was examined in 11 healthy young men. Subjects were studied during baseline at rest, postural challenge, psychological Stressors and graded maximal exercise testing. Metoprolol induced significant increases in plasma norepinephrine (NE) levels across most experimental conditions. Metoprolol did not have a consistent effect on plasma epinephrine levels. Because of wide interindividual variation in drug levels, the NE levels in subjects with high drug levels were compared with the NE levels in subjects who had negligible drug levels. NE levels were higher in subjects with higher drug levels.     

精神分裂症患者5年内复发再入院情况分析

目的调查分析精神分裂症患者5年内复发再入院情况。方法采用回顾性分析法了解患者在5年内复发再入院情况,比较复发入院者和未复发者基本情况的差异。结果5年内患者复发入院率达33．70％,患者性别（X2：4．84,P=0．028）、年龄（X2=13．89,P=0．ooo）、婚姻（X2=11．31,P=0．001）、受教育程度（r=4．83,P=0．028）对其复发住院情况有显著影响。结论精神分裂症患者有较高的复发入院率,应及早进行复发干预。     

大学生抑郁症症状水平与儿童期创伤经历关系初探

目的研究大学生抑郁症症状水平与儿童期创伤经历的关系。方法对抑郁症组39名大学生进行抑郁症症状的评定,同时发放儿童期创伤经历问卷(CTQ-SF);给正常组77名大学生发放儿童期创伤经历问卷(CTQ-SF)。结果与正常组相比,重度抑郁症组情感虐待、情感忽视的汉密尔顿抑郁量表(HAMD)得分显著偏高(t=2.506,3.117;P均0.05),轻中度抑郁症组情感忽视的HAMD得分显著偏高(t=2.831,P0.05);情感虐待因子、性虐待因子分别进入抑郁症症状水平与焦虑症症状水平的回归方程(标准偏回归系数分别为0.342和0.372)。结论情感虐待、情感忽视是影响大学生抑郁症症状水平的重要因素,性虐待则是影响大学生抑郁症患者焦虑症状的重要因素。     

四川省精神科专科医师培训基地带教师资培训方式初探

目的评估四川省精神科专科医师培训基地带教师资培训效果、培训方式及提出建议。方法对2009年10月和2010年11月的两次培训均参加的59名带教师资采用自制评估表进行评估,其中男37名,女22名;年龄（39±9）岁。采用SPSS13．0统计软件进行统计分析。结果参与培训带教师资对培训的效果总体评价,好22名,占37．29％,很好18名,占30．51％;对培训方式的总体评价,好25名,占42．37％,很好20名,占33．91％;参训教师各个方面较培训前均有显著提高。结论开展短期方式多样的集中培训可能是提高带教师资水平的一种快速途径。应该建立师资准入制度考核标准和标准培训内容,从而建立起一支高素质的精神专科医师培训的带教师资,保障精神专科医师培训的质量和顺利进行。     

Effects of oleic acid infusion on plasma free fatty acids and blood ketone bodies in the fasting rat.

Oleic acid emulsions stabilized with albumin were infused into fasted rats. Blood samples taken before and during infusion were analyzed for free fatty acids (FFA), ketone bodies, glucose, and insulin. Turnover rates of FFA and ketone bodies were also determined using constant infusion of radioactive tracers. During oleic acid infusions at a rate of 2 mumoles/min/100 g body weight, FFA concentrations increased for a short time and then decreased to preinfusion levels. The decreases in concentrations were due to decreases in the endogenous rates of appearance of FFA into the blood. When oleic acid was infused at a rate of 3.5 mumoles/min/100 g body weight, FFA concentrations increased and remained elevated throughout the infusion. Ketone body concentrations more than doubled during infusions at 2 and 3.5 mumoles/min/100 g body weight and showed no signs of decreasing even when FFA concentrations decreased. Insulin concentrations doubled during infusion and glucose concentrations decreased. Insulin injected during infusion had little effect on concentrations of FFA or ketone bodies. It was concluded that infusions of oleic acid inhibit adipose tissue lipolysis and increase blood ketone concentrations in intact fasted rats. The injection of insulin does not inhibit ketogenesis when blood FFA levels are maintained by infusion.     

江苏省精神科住院医师规范化培训效果同质化状况

目的调查江苏省精神科住院医师规范化培训（住培）效果同质化状况。 方法选取江苏省区域内已经取得住培资质的7个三级以上精神科住培基地的106位住培生作为调查对象。采用问卷法现场调查住培生的临床能力（包括精神科知识、一般临床知识和临床基本技能）、科研能力、人文素质、健康和心理,并统计分析各医院各方面的差异。 结果7所医院住培生在性别、年龄、来源、工作时间、有无医师执业证书这5个方面比较,差异均无统计学意义（P均>0.05）;在学历和住培时间方面差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。在临床能力方面,各医院住培生在精神科知识、一般临床知识、临床基本技能3方面比较,差异均具有统计学意义（P均<0.05）。各医院之间互相比较,与得分最高的医院相比：有3所精神病专科医院和1所综合性医院在精神科知识方面得分较低,差异均具有统计学意义（P均<0.05）;分别有3所精神病专科医院在一般临床知识和基本技能方面得分较低,差异具有统计学意义（P均<0.05）。分别比较每所医院住培生在精神科知识、一般临床知识和基本技能三方面的得分情况,有2所综合性医院和3所精神病专科医院差异具有统计学意义（P均<0.05）。每所医院住培生在精神科知识、一般临床知识和基本技能三方面相互比较,与得分最高的方面比较：有1所综合性医院在精神科知识方面得分较低,差异具有统计学意义（P<0.05）;所有医院在一般临床知识方面得分较低,差异具有统计学意义（P<0.05）;所有医院在基本技能方面得分与其他方面比较,差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。在综合能力方面,各医院住培生在临床能力、科研能力、人文素质方面差异均具有统计学意义（P均<0.05）;在健康和心理方面比较,差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。各医院之间相互比较,与得分最高的医院相比：全部4所精神病专科医院和1所综合性医院在临床能力方面得分较低,差异均具有统计学意义（P均<0.05）;有2所精神病专科医院和1所综合性医院在科研能力方面得分较低,差异均具有统计学意义（P均<0.05）;有2所综合性医院在人文素质方面得分较低,差异均具有统计学意义（P均<0.05）。 结论江苏省精神科住培效果同质化水平还有待进一步提高。     

住院精神病患者病耻感水平及相关因素调查

目的探讨住院精神病患者病耻感水平及相关因素。方法采用一般情况调查表及贬低-歧视感知量表对212例住院精神病患者进行问卷调查。结果 60.85%的被调查患者有病耻感;精神分裂症患者病耻感高于情感病患者(χ2=8.843,P<0.01);病程5年及以内的患者病耻感高于5年以上的患者(χ2=5.448,P<0.05)。结论精神病患者病耻感水平高,患者的病耻感与精神疾病诊断及病程有关。