Exendin-4 decreases amphetamine-induced locomotor activity

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is released in response to nutrient ingestion and is a regulator of energy metabolism and consummatory behaviors through both peripheral and central mechanisms. The GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) is widely distributed in the central nervous system, however little is known about how GLP-1Rs regulate ambulatory behavior. The abused psychostimulant amphetamine (AMPH) promotes behavioral locomotor activity primarily by inducing the release of the neurotransmitter dopamine. Here, we identify the GLP-1R agonist exendin-4 (Ex-4) as a modulator of behavioral activation by AMPH. We report that in rats a single acute administration of Ex-4 decreases both basal locomotor activity as well as AMPH-induced locomotor activity. Ex-4 did not induce behavioral responses reflecting anxiety or aversion. Our findings implicate GLP-1R signaling as a novel modulator of psychostimulant-induced behavior and therefore a potential therapeutic target for psychostimulant abuse.     

Adiposity and Quality of Life: A Case Study from an Urban Center in Nigeria

ObjectiveTo determine relationship between adiposity indices and quality of life (QOL) of residents of a housing estate in Lagos, Nigeria.DesignCross-sectional survey employing multistep random sampling method.SettingUrban residential estate.ParticipantsThis study involved 900 randomly selected residents of Abesan Housing Estate, Lagos, Nigeria.Main Outcome MeasuresBody mass index (BMI); waist circumference (WC); waist-to-hip ratio (WHR); triceps skin-fold thickness (TSFT); and abdominal skin-fold thickness (ASFT) were measured using International Standard of Anthropometric Assessment methods. QOL was assessed using Short Form-20.AnalysisData were analyzed using the Pearson product moment correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis.ResultThe mean age of participants was 37.7 ± 14.3 years, with a range of 20 to 80 years. The mean values of adiposity indices were 24.1 ± 4.3 kg/m² (BMI), 11.5 ± 5.3 mm (TSFT), 18.5 ± 6.2 mm (ASFT), 81.8 ± 11.2 cm (WC), and 0.89 ± 0.1 (WHR). Although the overall mean QOL score was 72.02 ± 11.9, women had significantly (P < .05) lower scores (70.1 ± 5.2) than men (73.5 ± 11.3). There was inverse correlation between QOL and each of the age and adiposity indices.Conclusion and ImplicationsQuality of life of the urban-dweller Nigerians decreased with increasing body adiposity and age. This finding suggests the need to further educate the Nigerian public on the association between high body fat and poor health.     

Co-existing ipsilateral subcapital and subtrochanteric fracture of the proximal femur

Background  Co-existing subcapital and subtrochanteric fracture on the same side of the hip is rare. We are not aware of a similar case reported in the literature. Case study  We present a rare case of co-existing ipsilateral subcapital and subtrochanteric fracture in a 67-year-old woman. The mechanism of injury was low energy. Therapeutic implication  The outcome of internal fixation using a Proximal Femoral Nail was satisfactory. This work was carried out in the Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Essex, UK.     

Ontogenetic development of intestinal digestive functions in White Pekin ducks

The ontogenetic development of intestinal digestive functions for avian species other than the domesticated chicken are not well documented. Therefore, this study was conducted to resolve the developmental patterns of some intestinal digestive functions in White Pekin ducks. The ducks were killed and their intestines harvested when they were 1, 3, 5 and 7 wk old. Several small intestinal tissue characteristics, sucrase and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities of homogenates from the small intestine mucosa were measured, and the small intestinal L-threonine uptake capacities were estimated with brush border membrane vesicles prepared from the corresponding age groups. Between 1 wk (0.37 +/- 0.04 kg) and 7 wk (3.79 +/- 0.06), posthatch ducks exhibited relative body growth rates of 352, 77 and 28% from 1 to 3, 3 to 5 and 5 to 7 wk, respectively. Allometric changes in small intestine weight indicated that the small intestine grew in direct proportion to the duck's metabolic body weight. Total homogenate sucrase activity per unit body weight did not differ (P > 0.05) among the age groups studied. Total homogenate ALP activity per body weight was lower at 3 wk than at 1 wk (P < 0.05) but did not differ (P > 0.05) among 3, 5 and 7 wk-old ducks. The development pattern of L-threonine uptake capacities normalized to body weights paralleled the course of relative body growth rates.     

Exogenous dietary xylanase ameliorates viscosity-induced anti-nutritional effects in wheat-based diets for White Pekin ducks (Anas platyrinchos domesticus)

Nutrient utilisation and growth performance responses of White Pekin ducks (Anas platyrinchos domesticus) offered diets containing low- or high-viscosity wheat supplemented with xylanase were investigated in two studies. In Expt 1, six diets consisting of low-viscosity wheat or high-viscosity wheat supplemented with 0.0, 1.5 or 3.0 g xylanase (2590 units/g)/kg diet were used in a true metabolisable energy (TME) bioassay with eight 8-week-old ducks per diet group. In Expt 2, eight pens of ten 3-d-old ducks per pen for each of six wheat-based diets arranged in a 2 x 3 factorial of low-viscosity or high-viscosity wheat and 0.0, 1.5 or 3.0 g xylanase/kg were used in a 42 d growth study. High-viscosity wheat depressed (P<0.001) TME and xylanase supplementation improved (P<0.001) TME, more so for high-viscosity than low-viscosity wheat. Xylanase supplementation of the high-viscosity wheat-based diet improved (P<0.05) weight gain and gain:feed ratio by 13 and 12 % respectively. There was no weight gain or gain:feed ratio response to xylanase supplementation of the low-viscosity wheat-based diet. Xylanase supplementation reduced (P<0.001) the viscosity of duodenal and ileal digesta for high-viscosity but not low-viscosity wheat-based diets. Ileal digestibilities of nutrients and energy were higher (P<0.001) for low-viscosity than high-viscosity wheat-based diets; xylanase supplementation improved (P<0.05) energy, fat, N and starch digestibilities. Given that xylanase supplementation of high-viscosity wheat assuaged its anti-nutritional effect, it is surmised that digesta viscosity plays a role in anti-nutritional effects in wheat-based diets for ducks.     

Contribution of nitric oxide to exercise-induced hypotension in human sympathetic denervation

The cardiovascular, catecholamine, and nitrate/nitrite (NO_x) responses to bicycle exercise were measured in 14 normal subjects (controls) and two groups with sympathetic denervation; 14 with peripheral autonomic failure (pure autonomic failure [PAF]); and 13 with central autonomic failure (multiple system atrophy [MSA]). With exercise, blood pressure increased in control subjects by 40±7/24±5 mm Hg (p<0.001) and fell in PAF by 24±8/24±5 mm Hg (p<0.02 and p<0.007) and MSA by 31±7/11±3 mm Hg (p<0.005 and p<0.04). With exercise, the increase in heart rate was greater in control subjects (60±3 to 111±4/min; p<0.0001) than in PAF (69±3 to 86±4/min; p<0.0001) and MSA (70±4 to 90±4; p<0.001). Resting plasma noradrenaline levels were similar in controls (291±51 pg ml⁻¹) and MSA (257±49 pg ml⁻¹), but lower in PAF (82±14 pg ml⁻¹). With exercise, plasma noradrenaline increased in controls but was unchanged in PAF and MSA. Resting NO_x was similar in controls (50±5 nmol/L; range, 23.3–87.6 nmol/L) and PAF patients (59±8 nmol/l; range, 19.3–116.4 nmol/L), but was higher in MSA patients (87±14 nmol/L; p<0.025, range 15.4–157.2 nmol/L). With exercise, NO_x was unchanged in control subjects and increased by 10% and 17% in PAF and MSA, respectively; these changes were not statistically significant. This study suggests that circulating changes in NO_x levels do not exert a major role in exercise-induced hypotension in subjects with sympathetic denervation.     

Chorioamnionitis and neonatal sepsis due to extended‐spectrum beta‐lactamase‐producing Escherichia coli infection: a case report

Chorioamnionitis is an acute inflammation of the membranes and chorion of the placenta typically due to ascending polymicrobial infection in the setting of membrane rupture. It is a common complication of pregnancy associated with significant maternal, perinatal, and long‐term adverse outcomes. We present a case of placental infection leading to preterm delivery, severe neonatal sepsis, maternal wound infection, postnatal readmission, and prolonged hospital stay. This virulent infection was caused by multidrug–resistant extended‐spectrum beta‐lactamase (ESBL)‐producing Escherichia Coli (E. Coli), which represent a major worldwide threat according to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It was managed with appropriate antibiotic therapy, patient‐centered approach, and multidisciplinary team involvement that led to favourable maternal and neonatal outcome.