Alterations of BDNF and NT-3 genes expression in the nucleus paragigantocellularis during morphine dependency and withdrawal

Locus coeruleus (LC) plays a key role in opioid dependence and withdrawal. Chronic morphine administration induces neurochemical adaptations in the noradrenergic system. The nature of signal responsible for opiate-induced adaptations of noradrenergic neurons in LC is not well defined. Neurotrophins-signaling pathways such as brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and Neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) play a key role for regulating the noradrenergic response of LC neurons to opiates. The nucleus paragigantocellularis (PGi) is one of the two major afferents to LC. The present study was designed to evaluate the expression of BDNF and NT-3 in the context of opiate dependence and withdrawal in PGi. Such data are important because they could reveal the role of PGi as an additional source of BDNF and NT-3 in the neurochemical plasticity of LC neurons. Opiate dependence was induced by a progressive intraperitoneal treatment of morphine. In morphine dependent group PGi nucleus was extracted for gene expression assay 6h after the last injection of morphine. In spontaneous withdrawal, rats received the same chronic treatment as morphine group. PGi was extracted for gene expression assay 24, 48 and 72 h after the last injection of morphine. PGi nucleus was assayed for the expression of BDNF and NT-3 using semi-quantitative RT-PCR normalized to beta-actin gene expression. Results showed that chronic administration of morphine significantly increased BDNF and NT-3 gene expression in PGi. In spontaneous withdrawal, BDNF/NT-3 genes expression were high in comparison to control group. It seems that BDNF/NT-3 -signaling pathway originating from PGi is essential for opiate-induced adaptations of the LC neurons.     

The effect of positions on spirometric values in obese asthmatic patients

Obesity as a common health risk is increasing all over the world. The aim of this study was evaluation of standing and sitting positions on spirometric values in obese asthmatic patients, in comparison with normal obese subjects. The study included 49 obese asthmatic patients with mean age of 42.63 years and body mass index of 36.06 kg/m2, and 51 control obese normal subjects with mean age of 39.86 years and body mass index of 36.69 kg/m2. Subjects with body mass index of (BMI) > or =30 kg/m2 were enrolled in the study. Spirometric values were measured according to American Thoracic Society (ATS) recommendation. In both groups forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) were measured in sitting and standing positions, and the results were compared. The mean+/-SD of FVC in sitting and standing positions in obese asthmatic patients were: 3.04+/-0.93 lit and 3.03+/-0.96 lit, p=0.37; and in control group: 3.68+/-1.12 lit and 3.72+/- 1.11 lit, p=0.39, respectively. The mean+/-SD of FEV1 in the sitting position and standing positions in obese asthmatic patients were: 2.38+/- 0.75 lit and 2.40+/- 0.81 lit, p=0.20; and in control subjects: 3.17+/- 0.92 lit and 3.21+/- 0.93 lit, p=0.07. This study showed that spirometric values in obese asthmatic patients with BMI> or =30 are not affected by the standing and sitting positions.     

Evolution of endoscopic management of ectopic ureterocele: a new approach

PURPOSE: We report the evolution of endoscopic treatment of ectopic ureteroceles from the unroofing technique to a novel approach using concomitant ureterocele double puncture and intraureterocele fulguration. We also compare the results of different endoscopic modalities at a single center. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the records of 46 children with ectopic ureteroceles who were treated endoscopically between 1995 and 2005. The patients were divided into 2 main groups. Group 1 included 17 patients who underwent common endoscopic treatments, including ureterocele incision (4 patients), single ureterocele puncture (4), and single puncture with insertion of a Double-J stent (9). Group 2 included 29 children who underwent ureterocele double puncture and fulguration of the anterior and posterior walls of the collapsed ureterocele after insertion of a Double-J stent into both punctured sites. We also managed concomitant vesicoureteral reflux by endoscopic injection of tricalcium phosphate ceramic into the subureteral region. RESULTS: Total success rates in group 1 were 0%, 25% and 33% in patients who underwent ureterocele incision, single ureterocele puncture and single puncture with insertion of a stent, respectively. Total success rate in group 2 was 90% (p<0.05). New onset vesicoureteral reflux developed in 8 patients (47%) in group 1, of which 6 were in ureterocele moieties, and in 8 patients (28%) in group 2, with none in a ureterocele moiety (p<0.01). A total of 13 patients (76%) in group 1 required open surgical intervention, compared to 3 (10%) in group 2 (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This new endoscopic approach is highly effective in the treatment of children with ectopic ureteroceles.     

Evaluation of the effect of Islamic fasting on lung volumes and capacities in the healthy persons

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the changes in pulmonary volumes during and after Islamic fasting. METHODS: It is a cohort study conducted on 117 healthy subjects selected on a random basis from employees, professors and students of Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, between December 1999 and January 2000. All of them underwent spirometry 10 days prior to Ramadan, 2 times during Ramadan, and one time 10 days post-Ramadan. In first visit, in addition to spirometry they underwent medical examination to make sure they are healthy. All of their spirometries and background information were collected. Repeated measurements analysis of variance method was used to compare the measurements. RESULTS: Approximately 69% of subjects were male and the mean age was 23.9 years. Mean fasting time was 27.8 days. The mean difference in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1%) was significant between the 4 visits (p=0.01). The mean FEV1% increased both during fasting and after Ramadan (p=0.017). The mean vital capacity and peak expiratory flow rate values increased during Ramadan significantly (p=0.043, p<0.001). Although the mean maximum mid-expiratory flow decreased in the beginning of Ramadan and significantly increased subsequently (p=0.02), MEF50% (p=0.004) and MEF75% (p=0.047) increased in the beginning of Ramadan and decreased subsequently. CONCLUSION: As a whole, fasting increases lung volumes and might improve pulmonary function. This finding seems to be relevant to the changes in weight during Ramadan.     

Suprapubic prostatectomy with a novel catheter

PURPOSE: We evaluated the postoperative morbidity and technical complications of a new handmade catheter used for suprapubic prostatectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 146 patients with lower urinary tract symptoms who had indications for open prostatectomy were enrolled in the study from January 2003 to August 2004. Of the patients 96 were treated with a novel technique without a urethral catheter but with a special handmade cystostomy catheter, while the other 50 underwent the traditional procedure using cystostomy and a urethral catheter. The same surgical team operated on the 2 groups. Clot retention episodes, hemoglobin decreases, irritative symptoms, voiding status after cystostomy removal and incontinence were evaluated postoperatively. Three months later we followed the patients with symptom score, maximum flow rate and cystoscopic examination. RESULTS: Preoperatively mean International Prostate Symptom Score was 31.6 in each group. Postoperatively none of the patients with the novel catheter complained of significant irritative urinary symptoms, clot retention and true or stress urinary incontinence. Of the cohorts 94% were satisfied with voiding but 86% of controls were satisfied. There was no report of urinary tract infection or epididymo-orchitis in the cohorts, while we found epididymo-orchitis in 4 controls (8%). Three months after the operation the mean International Prostate Symptom Score was 4.4 (range 1 to 7) and the mean maximum flow rate was 22.6 ml per second (range 14 to 25) in patients with the novel catheter, and 4.2 (range 1 to 7) and 22.5 ml per second (range 15 to 25), respectively, in those with the traditional catheter. At followup there was no bladder neck contracture but 4 patients (4.1%) showed some degree of membranous urethral stricture. We also noted 7 controls (14%) with urethral stricture. CONCLUSIONS: Transurethral prostate resection has been introduced as the surgical treatment of choice in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia. However, open adenomectomy still has a place. Urethral catheter-free suprapubic prostatectomy can be safely applied with a low postoperative risk of infection, incontinence and stricture formation.     

Different effects of GABAergic receptors located in the ventral tegmental area on the expression of morphine-induced conditioned place preference in rat

In the present study, an unbiased conditioned place preference paradigm was used to study the effects of intra-ventral tegmental area injections of Gama-amino-butyric acid (GABA)-A and B (GABA(A) and GABA(B)) receptor agonists and antagonists on the expression of morphine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) in rats. Subcutaneous (s.c.) injections of morphine sulfate (5 mg/kg) induced CPP. Intra-ventral tegmental area administration of the GABA(A) receptor agonist, muscimol (6 microg/rat) reduced the expression of morphine-induced CPP. Muscimol (25 microg/rat) increased the expression of CPP induced by morphine. A reduction of the expression of morphine-induced CPP was observed on intra-ventral tegmental area injection of GABA(A) receptor antagonist bicuculline (25 microg/rat). Bicuculline (10 microg/rat) increased the expression of CPP induced by morphine. Baclofen (12 microg/rat) increased where as (19 and 25 microg/rat) reduced the expression of morphine-induced CPP. Injection of CGP38345 (10, 19, 25 and 50 microg/rat) into the ventral tegmental area significantly reduced the expression of CPP induced by morphine. It is concluded that GABA(A) and GABA(B) receptor subtypes within the ventral tegmental area may have different effects on the expression of morphine-induced CPP.     

Air column in esophagus and symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease

Background

During imaging of the normal esophagus, air is often detected. The purpose of this study was to determine the correlation between the appearance of air bubbles on imaging and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) symptoms.

Methods

The cross-sectional imaging study was conducted at Rasole Akram Hospital, Tehran, Iran. A total of 44 patients underwent X-ray computed tomography (CT) scanning; the presence of air in the esophagus and visible on CT imaging was scrutinized.

Results

The average age of the subjects was 59 and the male to female ratio was 0.83. We found a significant relationship between the presence of GERD symptoms, the size of air bubbles and esophageal dilation (ED) on the CT scan.

Conclusions

Air bubbles in the esophagus may be seen frequently in CT scans, but their size and location can vary. The GERD symptoms can arise when a small diameter air column is present within the esophagus, especially in the middle and lower parts.     

Time-course study of high fat diet induced alterations in spatial memory,hippocampal JNK,P38, ERK and Akt activity

Metabolic Brain Disease - Consumption of high fat diet (HFD) is a health concern in modern societies, which participate in wide range of diseases. One underlying mechanism in the HFD mediated...     

Malignant melanoma of parotid glands from a neglected lesion: A case report

Observing a metastatic malignant melanoma and its primary lesion at the same time is rare. The histopathological detection of any unusual pigmented lesion is critical.