Single nucleotide polymorphism analysis of corticotropin-releasing factor-binding protein gene in recurrent major depressive disorder

Corticotropin-releasing factor-binding protein (CRF-BP) regulates the availability of free CRF and is a functional candidate gene for affective disorders. Previous research showed an association between polymorphisms in the CRF-BP gene and recurrent major depression (MDD) in a Swedish sample. The purpose of the current study was to re-evaluate the previous findings in an extended Swedish sample and in an independent Belgian sample of patients with recurrent MDD and in control samples. In total, 317 patients and 696 control individuals were included. Five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and a deletion polymorphism in the CRF-BP gene were genotyped and the haplotype block structure of the gene was assessed. In the extended Swedish population, there was a trend towards an association between two SNPs and MDD. The subsequent gender analysis showed significant associations of three SNPs (CRF-BPs2 T; CRF-BPs11 T and CRF-BPs12 C) and haplotype G_T_C_T_C with MDD in Swedish males. However, these findings did not withstand correction for multiple testing and there were no significant SNP or haplotype associations in the Belgian MDD sample. In conclusion, this study does not provide confirmatory evidence for a role of the CRF-BP gene in the vulnerability for MDD in general. The association between genetic CRF-BP variants and MDD may be sexually dimorphic, but this issue requires further investigation in a larger sample.     

OSU-6162, a Sigma1R Ligand in Low Doses,Can Further Increase the Effects of Cocaine Self-Administration on Accumbal D2R Heteroreceptor Complexes

Neurotoxicity Research - Cocaine was previously shown to act at the Sigma1R which is a target for counteracting cocaine actions. It therefore becomes of interest to test if the monoamine stabilizer...     

Late onset subgaleal hemorrhage infection with <Emphasis Type=Italic>Streptococcus pneumoniae</Emphasis>?

We report a case of an infected subgaleal hematoma caused by an unusual micro-organism in a previously healthy 11-month-old girl. Our patient presented at the emergency department with an increasing scalp swelling for 2 weeks, and culture of the evacuated fluid yielded Streptococcus pneumoniae. Although she was born after vacuum delivery and a scalp swelling was noticed from the third day of life, this swelling disappeared completely at the age of 3 months. Parents were thoroughly questioned but we could not find out a new traumatic head event. We postulate that in our patient, a subgaleal hemorrhage developed after vacuum delivery and possibly infected 11 months later, presumably from hematogenous seeding of an acute otitis media. The patient recovered well after surgical drainage and antimicrobial therapy.     

Role of dopamine D3 receptors in controlling the expression of cocaine sensitization in rats

It is established that dopamine (DA) is an important brain mediator of the behavioral (i.e. sensitizing) effects of cocaine in rodents. Among DA receptors, recent findings point to engagement of DA D3 receptors in cocaine addictive actions. In the present study, we attempted to determine the role of DA D3 receptors in the expression phase of sensitization to cocaine in rats, using the selective ligands 7-OH-PIPAT (an agonist) and nafadotride (an antagonist) of these receptors. Repeated administration (1-5 days) of cocaine (10 mg/kg, ip) to male Wistar rats significantly enhanced the locomotor activation induced by its challenge dose given after 5-day withdrawal (on day 10). 7-OH-PIPAT (1 mg/kg, but not 0.01-0.1 mg/kg, sc) administered together with a challenge dose of cocaine significantly decreased the response to cocaine in rats treated repeatedly with cocaine. On the other hand, the expression of cocaine sensitization was increased when that drug was combined with nafadotride (0.4 mg/kg, ip) on day 10. The results indicate a role of DA D3 receptors in controlling the expression of cocaine sensitization in rats, and may suggest an importance of DA D3 receptor agonists in the therapy of cocaine abuse.