Latent inhibition effects reflected in event-related brain potentials in healthy controls and schizophrenics

The present study examined the effects of pre-exposure of an irrelevant stimulus on reaction time and the contingent negative variation (CNV) in healthy controls and schizophrenic patients. In Phase I, subjects were either pre-exposed (PE) or not pre-exposed (NPE) to repeated presentations of an auditory probe stimulus (white noise), while engaged in counting auditory nonsense syllables. In Phase II, all subjects were required to produce a rapid motor response to a visual imperative stimulus that was preceded by the previously irrelevant auditory stimulus. During Phase II in controls, for PE as compared to NPE subjects, the build-up of CNV across trials was delayed. In schizophrenics, for both PE and NPE subjects, there was no pre-exposure effect on the CNV component. These findings indicate that ERPs may be useful in explicating the normal latent inhibition effect (poor associative learning to a stimulus after it has been passively pre-exposed) and its disruption in schizophrenia.     

Neurotrophic activity of monomeric glucophosphoisomerase was blocked by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) and peptides from HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein

Glucophosphoisomerase (GPI), a glycolytic enzyme, was recently described to share 90% sequence homology with neuroleukin, a recently discovered growth factor which promotes motor neuron regeneration in vivo, survival of peripheral and central neurons in vitro, and affects B cell immunoglobulin synthesis. Interestingly, neuroleukin activity was described to be antagonized by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) envelope glycoprotein (gp120), with which neuroleukin was found to share partial sequence homology. In this study, reduced GPI demonstrated similar activity to neuroleukin in a novel bioassay using human and rat neuroblastoma cell lines. In the presence of reduced GPI, these cells were found to differentiate, in terms of enhanced neurite extension at a reduced proliferation rate. These results demonstrate the existence of a novel growth factor activity of an evolutionary ancient enzyme. The nonreduced commercial form of GPI, probably the dimer, was found to be inactive in this bioassay. Using the neuroblastoma cells model system, we further investigated the significance of the region of homology to HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein (gp120) as the putative binding site of GPI to its receptor on neuronal cells.     

Impact of circulating testosterone on iodomelatonin binding sites in the male rat brain

The effects of castration and subsequent testosterone and estradiol treatment and of a single injection of ethylene-1,2-dimethanesulphonate (EDS) on the distribution of [2-¹²⁵I]iodomelatonin ([¹²⁵I]melatonin) binding sites in the male rat brain were investigated. Castration produced a marked testosterone-reversible decrease in [¹²⁵I]melatonin binding in the male rat brain, particularly in the hypothalamus and hippocampus. In contrast, [¹²⁵I]melatonin binding in the parietal cortex, medulla-pons and cerebellum was generally unaffected by castration. Estradiol did not reverse the effect of castration on [¹²⁵I]melatonin binding.

A single injection of EDS which causes the destruction of Leydig cells led to a marked decrease in [¹²⁵I]melatonin binding in the brain of the rats between 3 and 7 days after treatment. This decrease correlated with the decline in serum concentrations of testosterone. Specific [¹²⁵I]melatonin binding and serum concentrations of testosterone subsequently increased to control levels within 37 days after treatment in accord with the repopulation of the Leydig cells. The results clearly show that testosterone regulates the density of melatonin receptors in the hypothalamus and hippocampus of the male rat.     

Translocation t(11;14) in newly diagnosed patients with multiple myeloma: Is it always favorable?

The most common translocation in multiple myeloma (MM) is t(11;14)(q13;q32). According to several studies, this translocation represents a unique subset of patients with relatively favorable outcomes. Using combined analyses of morphology and fluorescence in situ hybridization (I‐FISH), we examined the co‐occurrence rates of t(11;14) with seven chromosomal aberrations (CAs), del(13q), del(17p), del(1p), gain(1q), multiple gains(1q), del(16q), and del(IGH), and assessed the effect of the different combinations on patient outcomes, with overall survival (OS) as the main outcome measure. Bone marrow samples and clinical data from 212 patients with MM with t(11;14) were analyzed. At least two additional CAs were found in 35% (75/205) of patients and a strong correlation between specific CAs. The occurrence of three CAs [multiple gains of (1q) (HR = 6.94, P = 0.001), del(1p) (HR = 4.47, P = 0.008), and del(IGH) (HR = 2.38, P = 0.002)] exerted a profoundly deleterious effect on median OS when compared with patients with t(11;14) only. Del(17p) and del(13q) have also exerted a deleterious effect albeit to a lesser extent (HR = 2.05, P = 0.07 and HR = 1.81, P = 0.03, respectively). When compared with t(11;14) alone, the addition of certain CAs lead to worse outcomes. These findings may have important clinical and biological implications. Patients with coexisting adverse lesions and t(11;14) may be considered at high risk and managed accordingly. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Re-examining extreme sleep duration in bats: implications for sleep phylogeny,ecology, and function

Bats, quoted as sleeping for up to 20 h a day, are an often used example of extreme sleep duration amongst mammals. Given that duration has historically been one of the primary metrics featured in comparative studies of sleep, it is important that species specific sleep durations are well founded. Here, we re-examined the evidence for the characterization of bats as extreme sleepers and discuss whether it provides a useful representation of the sleep behavior of Chiroptera. Although there are a wealth of activity data to suggest that the diurnal cycle of bats is dominated by rest, estimates of sleep time generated from electrophysiological analyses suggest considerable interspecific variation, ranging from 83% to a more moderate 61% of the 24 h day spent asleep. Temperature-dependent changes in the duration and electroencephalographic profile of sleep suggest that bats represent a unique model for investigating the relationship between sleep and torpor. Further sources of intra-specific variation in sleep duration, including the impact of artificial laboratory environments and sleep intensity, remain unexplored. Future studies conducted in naturalistic environments, using larger sample sizes and relying on a pre-determined set of defining criteria will undoubtedly provide novel insights into sleep in bats and other species.     

Five-year experience with the 'Sheba' model of comprehensive orthogeriatric care for elderly hip fracture patients

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The Sheba model of orthogerioatric medicine is a unique model of in-hospital care for elderly hip fractured patients, based upon the concept that a hip fracture represents a geriatric, rather than an orthopedic disease. The nature and feasibility of such a comprehensive orthogeriatric unit, taking care of all surgical, medical and rehabilitation needs, in a single geriatric-based setting (rather than orthopedic-based), were questioned. The aim of the study is to describe the results of its operation during a five-year period. METHOD: A retrospective charts analysis of consecutive older patients with hip fractures, admitted from the emergency unit directly to the orthogeriatric unit of a department of geriatric medicine. RESULTS: A total number of 592 patients were admitted. Mean age of patients was 83.2 years, mostly women. A total of 538 (91%) were treated surgically. Delay to surgery was 3.6 +/- 2.9 days. A total of 65.6% were suitable for rehabilitation, and had a mean Functional Independence Measure (FIM) gain of 22.3 +/- 7.9. Mean total hospital length of stay was 29.9 days and 68.7% of patients returned to their previous living residence. Rates of major complications (4.1%) and in-hospital mortality (3.2%, equivalent to 30 days mortality) were low. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment within this unit was associated with low rates of major morbidity and mortality, short stay and acceptable functional outcomes. The data provide clinical evidence supporting the implementation of this model of comprehensive orthogeriatric care, being a practical, applicable and feasible service for elderly hip fractured patients, and covering the various needs of these patients. The present model of organization could also help in skillful use of economic resources, facilitating effective treatment strategies.     

Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography Versus Stress Echocardiography in Acute Chest Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objectives

This study sought to compare early emergency department (ED) use of coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) and stress echocardiography (SE) head-to-head.