The fibroblast growth factor system is downregulated following social defeat

The fibroblast growth factor (FGF) system has previously been found to be altered in post-mortem brains of individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD). The present study tested whether the FGF system is altered following acute social defeat. Rats were exposed to four consecutive days of either a social defeat paradigm or novel cages. Animals were sacrificed after the last social defeat session and gene expression was assessed in the hippocampus by mRNA in situ hybridization. Molecular components of the FGF system were significantly downregulated following social defeat. Specifically, FGF2 and FGFR1 mRNA expression was decreased in various subfields of the hippocampus. Decreased tone of the FGF system following an acute social stressor is congruent with human post-mortem results of FGF system downregulation in depression. These findings suggest that modulating the FGF system may have therapeutic value in the treatment of MDD.     

Association of coronary microvascular dysfunction and cardiac bridge integrator 1, a cardiomyocyte dysfunction biomarker

BackgroundCoronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) is associated with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF); however, pathophysiology is not well described.HypothesisWe hypothesized that CMD in women with suspected ischemia with no obstructive coronary artery disease (INOCA) is associated with cardiomyocyte dysfunction reflected by plasma levels of a cardiomyocyte calcium handling protein, cardiac bridge integrator 1 (cBIN1).MethodsWomen with suspected INOCA undergoing coronary function testing were included. Coronary flow reserve, vasodilation to nitroglycerin, change in coronary blood flow (ΔCBF), and vasodilation to acetylcholine (ΔAch) were evaluated. cBIN1 score (CS) levels in these women (n = 39) were compared to women with HFpEF (n = 20), heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) (n = 36), and reference controls (RC) (n = 50). Higher CS indicates cardiomyocyte tubule dysfunction.ResultsINOCA, HFpEF, and HFrEF women were older than RC (p < .05). Higher CS was associated with vasoconstriction to acetylcholine (r = −0.43, p = .011) with a trend towards lower ΔCBF (r = 0.30, p = .086). Higher CS was specific for ΔAch and ΔCBF but had limited sensitivity. INOCA women had higher CS than RC, but lower CS than HFpEF/HFrEF groups (p < .001).ConclusionsCS, a plasma biomarker indicating poor cardiomyocyte health, was higher in women with suspected INOCA as compared to RC, but lower than in women with HFpEF. Elevated CS in suspected INOCA patients represents an intermediate group between health and disease, supporting the hypothesis that CMD may progress to HFpEF. Larger prospective cohort studies are needed to confirm the pathophysiological relationship between cBIN1, CMD, and HFpEF.     

Detailed analysis of binges in obese women with binge eating disorder: Comparisons using multiple methods of data collection

OBJECTIVE: This study compares multiple methods of assessing food intake in obese women with binge eating disorder (BED). METHOD: Twelve women meeting BED criteria completed six random 24-hour dietary recalls, engaged in a laboratory binge eating episode, and completed the EDE interview. RESULTS: There was not a significant difference in total or macronutrient intake when binge eating episodes were assessed via the recall and laboratory methods. However, within-individual correlations were low for the size of different binge eating episodes collected by the two methods. Significantly more calories were consumed during objective than during subjective binges, and significant differences in macronutrient composition were observed. Meal patterning data collected by the EDE and the recalls were comparable. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest only moderate agreement between the methods that were examined. Future investigations with larger sample sizes are needed to examine the relationship among these different methods of assessing food intake.     

Inspiring or dispiriting? The effect of diet commercials on snack food consumption in high school and college‐aged women

OBJECTIVE: Recent research offers conflicting views of whether women high in dietary restraint are inspired or demoralized after viewing thin-ideal images. We conducted two studies to explore the impact of diet commercials featuring the thin-ideal image on snack food consumption. METHOD: In Study 1, 91 high school women watched a sad movie interrupted with diet or neutral commercials. In Study 2, 102 college women saw diet commercials early or midway through a sad movie. RESULTS: In Study 1, high restraint participants consumed more snacks after exposure to diet commercials than to neutral commercials. In Study 2, early commercials reduced snacking in low restraint women but not in high restraint women. DISCUSSION: Thin-ideal images embedded in diet commercials do not inspire high restraint women but can modify the eating of low restraint women.     

Environmental enrichment: effects on stereotyped behavior and dendritic morphology

We evaluated whether environmental enrichment-related effects on the development of stereotyped behavior in deer mice were associated with alterations in dendritic morphology. Deer mice were reared under enriched or standard housing conditions and then tested in automated photocell detectors and classified as stereotypic or nonstereotypic. Dendritic morphology was assessed in layer V pyramidal neurons of the motor cortex, medium spiny neurons of the dorsolateral striatum, and granule cells of the dentate gyrus using Golgi-Cox histochemistry. Enriched nonstereotypic mice exhibited significantly higher dendritic spine densities in the motor cortex and the striatum than enriched stereotypic or standard-cage mice. Significant increases in dendritic arborization following environmental enrichment also were observed. These results suggest that the enrichment-related prevention of stereotyped behavior is associated with increased dendritic spine density.     

Impact of a Simulated Legislative Visit on Student Pharmacists’ Political Skill Inventory Scores

Objective. To assess the impact of a simulated legislative visit on the Political Skill Inventory (PSI) scores of Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) students and assess their perceptions of their role as an advocate.Methods. Anonymous pre- and post-intervention surveys were administered online to third year student pharmacists at one school of pharmacy in North Carolina. Measures included gender, age, previous pharmacy experience, engagement in pharmacy organizations, legislative awareness and engagement, political skill inventory, and perceptions of the simulated legislative visit. Data are presented as medians or proportions, where appropriate. Paired t tests and Cohen d were used to analyze the data.Results. Thirty student pharmacists provided complete and matchable results for the pre- and post-intervention surveys (analysis response rate=36%). The mean PSI score was 5.4 before the intervention and increased to 5.7 after the intervention. The networking ability and interpersonal influence subscales showed significant and medium-to-large increases in effect size whereas the social astuteness and apparent sincerity subscales showed low-to-medium increases in effect size. Student pharmacists’ agreement with advocacy skills or responsibilities increased overall from pre-to post-intervention.Conclusion. The political skill inventory scores of student pharmacists significantly improved following participation in a simulated legislative visit and listening to a corresponding advocacy lecture. Determining the effectiveness of educational interventions to develop advocacy skills in student pharmacists is essential to ensure efficacy and potential for PharmD students and graduates to make real-world impacts.     

A Transient Decrease in Spleen Size Following Stroke Corresponds to Splenocyte Release into Systemic Circulation

Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology - The splenic response to stroke is a proinflammatory reaction to ischemic injury resulting in expanded neurodegeneration. Splenectomy reduces neural injury in...