The effect of stereoisomers of cycloserine on the formation and transformation of free γ-aminobutyric acid in brain tissue

Summary A study was made of the effect produced by the stereoisomers of cycloserine on decarboxylization of glutamic acid and transamination of -aminobutyric acid with -ketoglutaric acid in the homogenates of the rat brain at pH 7.5. As revealed. D.L-cycloserine in a concentration of 10^–3 M depressed the first process by 40% and the second one by 45%. In the same conditions D-cycloserine depressed glutamic acid decarboxylation by 9%; it somewhat activated -aminobutyric acid transamination. A discussion is presented on the possible effect of cycloserine isomers on the content of free -aminobutyric acid in the brain (in vivo) following the administration of isoniazid in large doses.(Presented by Active Member AMN SSSR V. V. Zakusov) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 54, No. 10, pp. 67–69, October, 1962     

What is setting the stage for abdominal obesity reduction? A comparison between personality and health-related social cognitions

The present longitudinal study examines whether changes in waist circumference are best predicted by relatively stable and broad personality traits (dispositional optimism and pessimism), by modifiable and domain-specific social cognitions (health-related self-efficacy), or a combination of these. Altogether 385 participants (74% women; 50–65 years) attended the GOAL Implementation Trial, a lifestyle counseling intervention to improve diet and physical activity. Measurements were conducted prior to the intervention (Time 1), and 3 months (Time 2) and 12 months (Time 3) after Time 1. Three different models of the potential interplay between dispositional optimism and pessimism and health-related self-efficacy were tested. The analyses showed that the change in health-related self-efficacy during the intervention (Time 1–Time 2) was negatively related with waist circumference change between Time 1 and Time 3, indicating that increases in self-efficacy during the intervention resulted in reduction in waist circumference over 12 months. However, optimism and pessimism were unrelated to waist circumference change either directly or indirectly through changes in self-efficacy. Interventions enhancing participants’ positive health-related expectancies such as self-efficacy are likely to be effective even when participants’ dispositional expectancies are pessimistic.     

Beneficial effect of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) on glomerulosclerosis rats via the down-regulation of the expression of α-smooth muscle actin: A comparative study between ATRA and benazepril

Although ATRA is a potent renoprotective agent, relatively little is known regarding the mechanisms of its action. The present study was designed to further elucidate the mechanisms of ATRA's action to GS rats and compare that with the beneficial effect of benazepril. Male SD rats weighting 160 to 200 g were used in this study. GS was induced by unilateral nephrectomy and intravenous injection of adriamycin (6 mg/kg). They were divided randomly 20 ones per group into GS group, GS treated with ATRA (20 mg/kg/day) group, and GS treated with benazepril (10 mg/kg/day) group. The other 20 ones were taken as sham-operation group, injected normal saline into caudal vein. 12 weeks later, all rats were subjected to sacrifice. As expected, the GS group exhibited significant lower serum TP and Alb, and higher BUN, Cr and proteinuria than those of the sham group. Administration of ATRA or benazepril did ameliorate these above disorders of biochemical parameters in GS rats. Extensive renal damage was observed in the GS group, such as mononuclear infiltration, mesangial proliferation, focal segment glomerular sclerosis, and tubulointerstitial fibrosis. The pathological changes in both ATRA and benazepril group were alleviated remarkably. Semiquantitative GSI was used to evaluate the degree of GS in all groups. GSI was significantly higher in the GS group than in sham group. GSI decreased from 21.9 ± 6.7 in the GS group to 6.9 ± 2.8 in the ATRA group and 7.0 ± 2.7 in benazepril group respectively. However, no significant difference in GSI between rats treated with ATRA and rats treated with benazepril was found. RT-PCR analysis revealed the renal expression of α-SMA mRNA was induced substantially in GS group as compared to sham group, which could be offset completely by ATRA or benazepril administration. However, expression level of α-SMA mRNA in GS rats treated with ATRA was identical to that in GS rats treated with benazepril. We also examined immunohistochemical staining for renal α-SMA, TGF-β1, Col IV, and FN in this model. Weak staining was observed in some glomerulus, mesangial cells, and tubular interstitium of sham rats. Staining was markedly enhanced in the majority of glomerulus, mesangial cells, and tubular interstitium of untreated GS rats. Compared with untreated GS animals, intensity and extent of staining for renal α-SMA, TGF-β1, Col IV, and FN were markedly reduced in glomerulus, mesangial cells, and tubular interstitium of GS rats treated with either ATRA or benazepril. However, no significant differences existed between ATRA and benazepril with respect to the glomerular and tubulointerstitial staining scores. Interestingly, our data documented some differences of therapeutic capacities between ATRA and benazepril. In comparison with benazepril, ATRA exerted no improvement in hypoproteinemia, but more significant decrease in serum Cr level in GS rats. The reasons leading to these variations are unclear. Whatever they are, the properties of down-regulate inflammatory/proliferative programs may make ATRA an attractive potential candidate for future therapeutic use in kidney disease.     

Clients’ perspectives on the quality of counseling for prenatal anomaly screening. A comparison between 2011 and 2019

ObjectiveThere have been substantial medical developments in prenatal anomaly and aneuploidy screening. However, the quality of counseling about these tests tends to lag behind. Additional quality requirements were therefore implemented in the Netherlands in 2017 to optimize this counseling. We compared clients’ counseling preferences and experiences before and after implementation of these requirements.MethodsWe used the validated 57-item QUOTE^prenatal questionnaire, to measure clients' counseling preferences and experiences before and after counseling in 20 obstetric organizations throughout the Netherlands. Clients’ preferences and experiences were compared between pregnant women and partners, nulliparous versus multiparous clients and between results of a Dutch survey in 2011 and the current one.ResultsSixty-five counselors and 649 clients (353 pregnant women and 296 partners) participated in this study. Compared to 2011, slightly more clients considered the three QUOTE^prenatal components of counseling (client-counselor relationship, health education, and decision-making support) to be either important or very important, especially decision-making support. More clients than in 2011 perceived their needs as being well addressed, with the lowest percentages for decision-making support.ConclusionQuality requirements seem to benefit the quality of counseling, as perceived by clients.Practical implicationsCounselors should consider tailoring their decision-making support more to clients’ needs.