Methamphetamine‐induced enhancement of hippocampal long‐term potentiation is modulated by NMDA and GABA receptors in the shell–accumbens

Addictive drugs modulate synaptic transmission in the meso‐corticolimbic system by hijacking normal adaptive forms of experience‐dependent synaptic plasticity. Psychostimulants such as METH have been shown to affect hippocampal synaptic plasticity, albeit with a less understood synaptic mechanism. METH is one of the most addictive drugs that elicit long‐term alterations in the synaptic plasticity in brain areas involved in reinforcement learning and reward processing. Dopamine transporter (DAT) is one of the main targets of METH. As a substrate for DAT, METH decreases dopamine uptake and increases dopamine efflux via the transporter in the target brain regions such as nucleus accumbens (NAc) and hippocampus. Due to cross talk between NAc and hippocampus, stimulation of NAc has been shown to alter hippocampal plasticity. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that manipulation of glutamatergic and GABA‐ergic systems in the shell‐NAc modulates METH‐induced enhancement of long term potentiation (LTP) in the hippocampus. Rats treated with METH (four injections of 5 mg/kg) exhibited enhanced LTP as compared to saline‐treated animals. Intra‐NAc infusion of muscimol (GABA receptor agonist) decreased METH‐induced enhancement of dentate gyrus (DG)‐LTP, while infusion of AP5 (NMDA receptor antagonist) prevented METH‐induced enhancement of LTP. These data support the interpretation that reducing NAc activity can ameliorate METH‐induced hippocampal LTP through a hippocampus‐NAc‐VTA circuit loop. Synapse 70:325–335, 2016 . © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Effect of fentanyl and vitamin B12 on abdominal pain in patients addicted to oral opium: A clinical trial

Background: Pain is a common complaint among patients referring to the emergency department. This study aimed at comparing the effect of fentanyl and vitamin B₁₂ to decrease the abdominal pain in patients who are addicted to oral opium.

Methods: This study conducted a double-blind randomized clinical trial on patients addicted to oral opium during a one-year period. The effects of fentanyl and vitamin B12 were compared for the relief of abdominal pain in such patients.

Results: The 136 patients studied had a mean age of 47.77 ± 13.6 years (mean ± SD). There was a significant difference in mean pain severity at 10, 15, 30, 45, 60, and 120 min (P < .05). The mean pain severity in the fentanyl group was significant at 30 min compared to the earlier times and showed a decreasing trend in pain severity (P < .05). This decreasing trend was observed up to 120 min for the fentanyl + vitamin B12 group, which showed a significant difference between each time and the time preceding it (P < .05).

Conclusions: The proper and permanent control of abdominal pain experienced by patients addicted to oral opium is essential. The combined use of fentanyl and vitamin B12 is effective in reaching this goal.     

Detection of VEB-1, OXA-10 and PER-1 genotypes in extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains isolated from burn patients

Resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains to the broad-spectrum cephalosporins may be mediated by the extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs). These enzymes are encoded by different genes located on either chromosomes or plasmids. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of ESBLs and antimicrobial susceptibilities of P. aeruginosa isolated from burn patients in Tehran, Iran. Antimicrobial susceptibility of 170 isolates to cefpodoxime, aztreonam, ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, ceftazidime, cefepime, imipenem, meropenem, cefotaxime, levofloxacin, piperacillin–tazobactam and ceftriaxone was determined by disc agar diffusion test. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the genes encoding OXA-10, PER-1 and VEB-1 was also performed. All isolates (100%) were resistant to ceftazidime, cefotaxime, cefepime and aztreonam. Imipenem and meropenem were the most effective anti-pseudomonal agents. The results revealed that 148 (87.05%) of the isolates were multidrug resistant and 67 (39.41%) of the isolates were ESBL positive. Fifty (74.62%), 33 (49.25%) and 21 (31.34%) strains among 67 ESBL-producing strains amplified bla_OXA-10, bla_PER-1 and bla_VEB-1 respectively.     

Use of the Persian language version of the Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire (ATQ) in depressed Iranian women

This study examined the clinical validity of a Persian language version of the Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire (ATQ-Persian). We hypothesized that patients with major depression can be clearly distinguished from non-patient members of general population regarding both frequency of negative thoughts (ATQ-F) and degree of belief in these thoughts (ATQ-B). To test this hypothesis, we used discriminant function analysis in a group of 30 female patients with major depression and 30 female non-patient volunteers. ATQ-F and ATQ-B discriminated the large majority of depressed patients from non-patient volunteers and were correlated with the severity of depression as measured by scores on the Beck Depression Inventory-second edition. The data provide preliminary evidence for clinical validity and utility of ATQ-Persian.     

Gum resin extract of Boswellia serrata attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation and oxidative damage in hepatic and renal tissues of rats

Objective:To explore the effect of ethyl acetate gum resin extract of Boswellia serrata on lipopolysaccharide(LPS)induced inflammation and oxidative damage in hepatic and renal tissues of rats.Methods:The rats were divided into four groups:control,LPS,LPS+Boswellia serrata extracts(100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg).LPS(1 mg/kg)and the extract(100 and 200 mg/kg,30 min before LPS)were administered intraperitoneally for 3 weeks.The levels of liver enzymes,albumin,total protein,creatinine,blood urea nitrogen(BUN),interleukin(IL)-6,malondialdehyde(MDA),and total thiol groups and superoxide dismutase(SOD)and catalase(CAT)activities were measured.Results:The levels of liver enzymes,creatinine,and BUN,IL-6,MDA in the LPS group were markedly increased(P<0.001)while albumin,total protein,and total thiol concentration,as well as SOD and CAT activities,were decreased compared with the control group(P<0.05 or 0.01).Boswellia serrata extracts diminished the levels of liver enzymes,creatinine,BUN,IL-6,and MDA(P<0.01 and P<0.001),and elevated the concentration of total protein and total thiol and SOD and CAT activities(P<0.05 or 0.01).Conclusions:The ethyl acetate gum resin extract of Boswellia serrata reduces LPS-induced inflammatory reactions and oxidative damage,thus ameliorating hepatic and renal function.     

Maternal contamination with PCBs and reproductive outcomes in an Australian population

Polychlorinated biphenyls used previously in industry are widespread environmental contaminants under scrutiny for their possible reproductive effects in humans. In this study, 200 breast milk samples from eligible Victorian mothers were used for measuring maternal contamination and their possible effect on the offspring was investigated. No significant association was found between maternal PCB contamination and low birth weight, small for gestational age and previous miscarriage or stillbirth. The elevated odd ratios of prematurity, increased with increase in contamination level but were nonsignificant. Higher PCB contamination was not in favor of any gender in the offspring. Our results suggest that chronic, low contamination with PCBs does not pose a reproduction threat in humans.     

Canal transportation caused by one single-file and two multiple-file rotary systems: A comparative study using cone-beam computed tomography

Aim

This ex-vivo study aimed to compare canal transportation in mesio-buccal canal of mandibular first molars prepared with Mtwo and Revo-S multi-file and Neoniti single-file nickel–titanium (Ni–Ti) rotary systems using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT).