Traumatic stress reactivity promotes excessive alcohol drinking and alters the balance of prefrontal cortex-amygdala activity

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcoholism are highly comorbid in humans and have partially overlapping symptomatic profiles. The aim of these studies was to examine the effects of traumatic stress (and stress reactivity) on alcohol-related behaviors and neuronal activation patterns. Male Wistar rats were trained to respond for alcohol, were exposed to predator odor (bobcat urine) paired with context and were tested for short- and long-term avoidance of the predator odor-paired context, alcohol self-administration and compulsivity of alcohol responding. Rats were re-exposed to the odor-paired context for western blot analysis of ERK phosphorylation in subregions of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and the amygdala. Rats that avoided the predator-paired chamber (Avoiders) exhibited persistent avoidance up to 6 weeks post conditioning. Avoiders exhibited increases in operant alcohol responding over weeks, as well as more compulsive-like responding for alcohol adulterated with quinine. Following re-exposure to the predator odor-paired context, Avoiders and Non-Avoiders exhibited unique patterns of neuronal activation in subregions of the mPFC and the amygdala, which were correlated with changes in avoidance and alcohol drinking. Furthermore, activity of upstream regions was differentially predictive of downstream regional activity in the Avoiders versus Non-Avoiders. An animal model for assessing the effect of traumatic stress on alcohol drinking reveals individual differences in neuronal activation patterns associated with re-exposure to traumatic stress-related stimuli, and may provide insight into the neural mechanisms underlying excessive alcohol consumption in humans with PTSD.     

Cortical Bone Porosity in Rabbit Models of Osteoporosis

Cortical bone porosity is intimately linked with remodeling, is of growing clinical interest, and is increasingly accessible by imaging. Thus, the potential of animal models of osteoporosis (OP) to provide a platform for studying how porosity develops and responds to interventions is tremendous. To date, rabbit models of OP have largely focused on trabecular microarchitecture or bone density; some such as ovariectomy (OVX) have uncertain efficacy and cortical porosity has not been extensively reported. Our primary objective was to characterize tibial cortical porosity in rabbit-based models of OP, including OVX, glucocorticoids (GC), and OVX + GC relative to controls (SHAM). We sought to: (i) test the hypothesis that intracortical remodeling is elevated in these models; (ii) contrast cortical remodeling and porosity in these models with that induced by parathyroid hormone (1–34; PTH); and (iii) contrast trabecular morphology in the proximal tibia across all groups. Evidence that an increase in cortical porosity occurred in all groups was observed, although this was the least robust for GC. Histomorphometric measures supported the hypothesis that remodeling rate was elevated in all groups and also revealed evidence of uncoupling of bone resorption and formation in the GC and OVX + GC groups. For trabecular bone, a pattern of loss was observed for OVX, GC, and OVX + GC groups, whereas the opposite was observed for PTH. Change in trabecular number best explained these patterns. Taken together, the findings indicated rabbit models provide a viable and varied platform for the study of OP and associated changes in cortical remodeling and porosity. Intriguingly, the evidence revealed differing effects on the cortical and trabecular envelopes for the PTH model. © 2020 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR)..     

New discoveries and directions for medical, dental and dental hygiene research: low temperature atmospheric pressure plasma

Abstract:  The study of plasma integrates physics, chemistry, biology, and engineering, and has recently engaged medicine and dental hygiene in research efforts. The study of plasma holds promise for a myriad of applications ranging from lasers and electronics, hazardous waste management, decontamination, sterilization and disinfection of foods, soil, water, instruments, to medical uses in wound healing and treating certain types of tumours and cancers. Plasma represents a new state-of-the-art sterilization and disinfection treatment for certain oral and enviornmental pathogens, heat-sensitive materials, contaminated medical waste, hard and soft surfaces, and ventilation systems may assist health care facilities in the management of various health concerns. The role that Low Temperature Atmospheric Pressure Plasma (LTAPP) could play in the inactivation of pathogenic microorganisms might prove to be a new, faster, noncorrosive, more economical alternative, as well as support green healthcare.     

Effects of a nurse-led heart failure clinic on hospital readmission and mortality in Hong Kong

Background Heart failure (HF) is a physically and socially debilitating disease that carries the burden of hospital re-admission and mortality. As an aging society, Hong Kong urgently needs to find ways to reduce the hospital readmission of HF patients. This study evaluates the effects of a nurse-led HF clinic on the hospital readmission and mortality rates among older HF patients in Hong Kong. Methods This study is a retrospective data analysis that compares HF patient in a nurse-led HF clinic in Hong Kong compared with HF patients who did not attend the clinic. The nurses of this clinic provide education on lifestyle modification and symptom monitoring, as well as titrate the medications and measure biochemical markers by following established protocols. This analysis used the socio-demographic and clinical data of HF patients who were aged ≥ 65 years old and stayed in the clinic over a six-month period. Results The data of a total of 78 HF patients were included in this data analysis. The mean age of the patients was 77.38 ± 6.80 years. Approximately half of the HF patients were male (51.3%), almost half were smokers (46.2%), and the majority received ≤ six years of formal education. Most of the HF patients (87.2%) belonged to classes II and III of the New York Heart Association Functional Classification, with a mean ejection fraction of 47.15 ± 20.31 mL. The HF patients who attended the clinic (n = 38, 75.13 ± 5.89 yrs) were significantly younger than those who did not attend the clinic (n = 40, 79.53 ± 6.96 yrs) (P = 0.04), and had lower recorded blood pressure. No other statistically significant difference existed between the socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of the two groups. The HF patients who did not attend the nurse-led HF clinic demonstrated a significantly higher risk of hospital readmission [odd ratio (OR): 7.40; P < 0.01] than those who attended after adjusting for the effect of age and blood pressure. In addition, HF patients who attended the clinic had lower mortality (n = 4) than those who did not attend (n = 14). However, such a difference did not reach statistical significance when the effects of age and blood pressure were adjusted. A significant reduction in systolic blood pressure [F (2, 94) = 3.39, P = 0.04] and diastolic blood pressure [F (2, 94) = 8.48, P < 0.01] was observed among the HF patients who attended the clinic during the six-month period. Conclusions The finding of this study suggests the important role of nurse-led HF clinics in reducing healthcare burden and improving patient outcomes among HF patients in Hong Kong.     

ASRI2005-88 Comparable levels of CD4+CD25+ CTLA4+ Treg cells in peripheral blood of pre-eclampsia and normal pregnant patients

The acceptance of the semiallogeneic fetus within the maternal environment requires tolerance mechanisms not fully characterized yet. Normal pregnancy is known to be associated with a Th2 profile. Furthermore, T-regulatory cells were proposed to regulate the Th2/Th1 balance at early stages of pregnancy. Treg may avoid the shift to a Th1 profile preventing miscarriage. Accordingly, spontaneous abortion is characterized by a Th1 dominance and diminished levels of Tregulatory cells (Treg). The major aim of the present work was to investigate if pre-eclampsia, a late immunological complication of pregnancy, is characterized by similar hallmarks. Therefore, we measured the surface antigens CD4, CD25, CD8, CTLA4 (as well as the secretion of IL-10) in peripheral blood from patients suffering from pre-eclampsia (n = 8) and age-matched patients undergoing normal pregnancies (n = 9) by 4-colour flow-cytometry. We were not able to find any significant differences in the levels of CD4⁺, CD25⁺, CD8⁺, CTLA4, CD4⁺/CD25⁺, CD4⁺/CD25^bright, CD4⁺/CTLA4, CD25⁺/CTLA4, CD4⁺/CD25⁺/CTLA4, CD8⁺/CD25⁺, CD8⁺/CTLA4 or CD8⁺/CD25⁺/CTLA4 cell subsets. Our data suggest that Treg may not participate in the onset of pre-eclampsia and suggest other regulatory mechanisms during late pregnancy.     

A translational approach for limb vascular delivery of the micro-dystrophin gene without high volume or high pressure for treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Background  

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked recessive disorder with monogenic mutations setting the stage for successful gene therapy treatment. We have completed a study that directly deals with the following key issues that can be directly adapted to a gene therapy clinical trial using rAAV considering the following criteria: 1) A regional vascular delivery approach that will protect the patient from widespread dissemination of virus; 2) an approach to potentially facilitate safe passage of the virus for efficient skeletal muscle transduction; 3) the use of viral doses to accommodate current limitations imposed by vector production methods; 4) and at the same time, achieve a clinically meaningful outcome by transducing multiple muscles in the lower limb to prolong ambulation.     

Nodding syndrome in Mundri county,South Sudan: environmental,nutritional and infectious factors

Background

Nodding Syndrome is a seizure disorder of children in Mundri County, Western Equatoria, South Sudan. The disorder is reported to be spreading in South Sudan and northern Uganda.

Objective

To describe environmental, nutritional, infectious, and other factors that existed before and during the de novo 1991 appearance and subsequent increase in cases through 2001.

Methods

Household surveys, informant interviews, and case-control studies conducted in Lui town and Amadi village in 2001–2002 were supplemented in 2012 by informant interviews in Lui and Juba, South Sudan.

Results

Nodding Syndrome was associated with Onchocerca volvulus and Mansonella perstans infections, with food use of a variety of sorghum (serena) introduced as part of an emergency relief program, and was inversely associated with a history of measles infection. There was no evidence to suggest exposure to a manmade neurotoxic pollutant or chemical agent, other than chemically dressed seed intended for planting but used for food. Food use of cyanogenic plants was documented, and exposure to fungal contaminants could not be excluded.

Conclusion

Nodding Syndrome in South Sudan has an unknown etiology. Further research is recommended on the association of Nodding Syndrome with onchocerciasis/mansonelliasis and neurotoxins in plant materials used for food.