RNA as a source of biomarkers for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Metabolic Brain Disease - Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a fatal neurodegenerative disease, leads to the loss of motor neurons. There are currently no effective therapies to treat this...     

Vascular endothelial growth factor expression and bone formation in posterior glenoid fossa during stepwise mandibular advancement.

This study assessed the amount of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression and related the findings to new bone formation in the posterior glenoid fossa during stepwise mandibular advancement. A total of 250 female Sprague-Dawley rats, 35 days old, were randomly divided into 10 groups, each including 5 control and 20 experimental rats. Within each group, 10 experimental rats were fitted with functional appliances with a 1-step advancement of 3.5 mm. Another 10 were fitted with stepwise appliances with an initial advancement of 2 mm and a subsequent increase to 3.5 mm on day 30. The rats in the experimental groups were killed on days 3, 7, 14, 21, 30, 33, 37, 44, 51, and 60, respectively. The matched controls were killed on the same time points. Sections (7 microm) were cut through the glenoid fossa sagittally and stained with anti-VEGF antibody. VEGF expression in the posterior glenoid fossa was evaluated with a computer-assisted image-analyzing system. Both VEGF expression and new bone formation were greater in the experimental rats than in the controls. During stepwise advancement, initial VEGF expression was less than that of 1-step advancement, but the second advancement elicited another peak on day 44. New bone formation was also less than that of 1-step advancement during early stages of stepwise advancement but then began to increase from day 37 onward. The maximum increase was observed on day 60. Stepwise advancement of the mandible delivers mechanical stimuli that produce a series of tissue responses that lead to increased vascularization and bone formation.     

The efficacy of 2 different dosages of methylphenidate in treating adults with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of methylphenidate in treating adults with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), using subjective (self-report) and objective (computerized test) measures. METHOD: This double-blind crossover trial of placebo vs methylphenidate included subjects with childhood and current ADHD symptoms, IQs above 80, no other psychiatric condition explaining their difficulties or requiring other treatment, and no substance abuse in the previous 6 months. We administered 10 mg 3 times daily of medication (that is, placebo or methylphenidate) for 2 weeks. On the final day, subjects completed self-report measures and were tested on computerized tests. We then increased dosage to 15 mg 3 times daily for 2 weeks and administered a complete reassessment on the final day. Following a 1-week washout, we repeated this process on the second medication (that is, placebo or methylphenidate). RESULTS: Thirty adults with ADHD participated. Self-report measures and computerized tests showed significant improvements in ADHD symptoms on methylphenidate, compared with placebo. Other psychiatric symptoms (notably, anxiety and depression) were alleviated with methylphenidate. There was no significant difference between the 2 dosages of methylphenidate. CONCLUSION: Methylphenidate is effective in improving ADHD symptoms in adults with ADHD, is well tolerated, and has minimal side effects.     

Effect of intravenous sedation on the outcome of transvaginal oocyte retrieval: a comparative study of propofol- and methohexital-based techniques

This study retrospectively compares patients who underwent outpatient transvaginal follicle aspiration with either a propofol- or methohexital-based intravenous sedation technique. Data collected from patient charts (n = 212) over a 46-month period were analyzed to determine the effects of each sedation technique on procedure and recovery times, number of retrieved ova, as well as rates of nausea, fertilization, cleavage, pregnancy, and delivery. All patients were included in the study, regardless of age or diagnosis. procedure time was lower in the propofol group (51 t 18 min) than in the methohexital group (61 I 20 min) (p > 0.01). Patients in the methohexital group (139 2 51 min) spent more time in the recovery room than did those in the propofol group (71 ? 34 min) (p > 0.01). The nausea rates were significantly lower in the propofol group compared with the methohexital group (1.9% vs. 14.4%, respectively) (p > 0.02). Fertilization rate in the propofol group was 77.7% and was 62.9% in the methohexital group (p > 0.01). The numbers of retrieved ova and the cleavage rates were similar in both groups. The rate of pregnancy in patients sedated with propofol (46.1%) was higher than the methohexital group (26.9%) (p > 0.02). Delivery rate was 38.5% in the propofol group and 20.6% in the methohexital group (p > 0.02). In summary, propofol intravenous sedation for transvaginal follicle aspiration was associ- ated with an improved outcome. Pregnancy and delivery rates were higher while nausea, an unpleasant side effect, was sharply reduced.     

Which treatment for whom for ADHD? Moderators of treatment response in the MTA

Using receiver operating characteristics, the authors examined outcome predictors (variables associated with outcome regardless of treatment) and moderators (variables identifying subgroups with differential treatment effectiveness) in the Multimodal Treatment Study of Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD; MTA). Treatment response was determined using parent- and teacher-reported ADHD and oppositional defiant symptoms, with levels near or within the normal range indicating excellent response. Among 9 baseline child and family characteristics, none predicted but 3 moderated treatment response. In medication management and combined treatments, parental depressive symptoms and severity of child ADHD were associated with decreased rates of excellent response; when these 2 characteristics were present, below-average child IQ was an additional moderator. No predictors or moderators emerged for behavioral and community comparison treatments. The authors discuss conceptual and clinical implications of research on treatment moderators.     

Effects of somatostatin on somatotroph adenomas of the human pituitary: An in vitro functional and morphological study

The effects of somatostatin or the somatostatin analog SMS 201–995 were studied on 4 densely granulated somatotroph adenomas and 4 sparsely granulated somatotroph adenomas in vitro. Release of growth hormone (GH) into culture media during incubation with somatostatin or SMS 201 -995 were measured by radioimmunoassay, and light-microscopical and ultrastructural morphometric parameters were compared with those of cultured control somatotroph adenoma cells of the same tumor. In all tumors except for 1 densely granulated somatotroph adenoma, somatostatin or SMS 201–995 decreased GH release into culture media in 24- and 2-hour incubations. After 48-hour incubation with somatostatin or SMS 201–995, there was no change in cell size or secretory granule diameter. One densely granulated adenoma showed decreased cytoplasmic volume density (CVD) of Golgi apparatus and secretory granules, and a sparsely granulated adenoma had reduced CVD of endoplasmic reticulum. All the tumors that responded with decreased GH release exhibited increased CVD of lysosomes after incubation with somatostatin or SMS 201–995. These results indicate that both densely and sparsely granulated somatotroph adenomas respond to somatostatin inhibition and, furthermore, that inhibition of hormone release is associated with accumulation of lysosomes, suggesting lysosomal degradation of stored hormone. Hospital 20 Nov. (ISSSTE) Coyoacan y Felix Cuevas, Colonia del Valle and (Dept Patologia) y Hospital de Especialidades (C.M.N., IMSS) Cuauhtemoc y Dr. Marquez, Mexico City (IF).