Differential effects of IL-1ra on sickness behavior and weight loss induced by IL-1 in rats

Peripheral and central injections of recombinant human interleukin-1β (IL-1β) have been shown to decrease social exploration and to induce body weight loss in rats. To characterize the receptor mechanisms of these effects, we used as a tool a specific antagonist of the receptors of IL-1, IL-1ra. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of IL-1ra (8 mg/kg) blocked the effect of i.p. injection of IL-1β (4 μg/rat) on social behaviour but not on body weight. Central administration of IL-1ra (60 μg/rat, i.c.v.) abrogated the effects of centrally administered IL-1β (30 ngn/rat, i.c.v.) on both social behaviour and body weight. Central injection of IL-1ra (4 μg/rat, i.c.v.) also attenuated the effects of i.p. administered IL-1β (4 μg/rat) on social behaviour but not on body weight. These results suggest that the effects of IL-1β on social behavior are mediated centrally and that its effect on the loss of body weight involves different receptor mechanisms.     

Evaluation of the percentage of sperm motility at 24 h and sperm survival ratio for prediction of in vitro fertilization

Summary. The present study was carried out to investigate the predictive value of the percentage of sperm motility after 24-h incubation and sperm survival ratio from semen and inseminated sperm suspension using grading of motility by WHO criteria with respect to the fertilization of oocytes in vitro. A total of 789 oocytes from 85 cases were inseminated and the mean fertilization rate obtained was 72.5%. There was no significant correlation between all of the sperm motility results with fertilization rate in vitro. All sperm motility results were not significantly different between the non-fertilizing group and the fertilizing group and also between the group of fertilization rate ≤ 25th percentile (fertilization rate ≤62.5%) and the group of fertilization rate >62.5%. However, the initial percentage of rapid progressive sperm motility and progressive motility in semen and inseminated sperm suspension at 24 h gave significant differences between the group of fertilization ≤ 50th percentile (fertilization rate ≤80%) and the group of fertilization rate >80%. Overall accuracy using these parameters for prediction of fertilization rate >80% was only about 60%. In conclusion, the percentage of sperm motility at 24 h and sperm survival ratio in both semen and inseminated sperm suspension have no practical value in predicting fertilization rate in vitro. Moreover, detailed motility grading cannot improve the predictivity of these sperm motility parameters.     

Psychosocial Adjustment of Children With Isolated Growth Hormone Deficiency

Fifty-six children with isolated growth hormone deficiency (IGHD) and their families completed self-report instruments about behavioral, social, and emotional adjustment of the children. Results show that children with IGHD may experience significant behavioral and social adjustment problems. Social and emotional adjustment was best predicted by the relative height discrepancy between an individual and their normal-sized peers. Adjustment varied depending on the type of adjustment under consideration, the relative height discrepancy of the individual, the age and gender of the child, and the amount of time in treatment. Discussion addresses the need for an interdisciplinary approach to effective patient management of children with IGHD.     

Peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor (PBR) gene amplification in MDA-MB-231 aggressive breast cancer cells

Recent studies using human breast cancer cell lines, animal models, and human tissue biopsies have suggested a close correlation between the expression of the peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor (PBR) and the progression of breast cancer. This study investigates the genetic status of the PBR gene in two human breast cancer cell lines: MDA-MB-231 cells, which are an aggressive breast cancer cell line that contains high levels of PBR, and MCF-7 cells, which are a nonaggressive cell line that contains low levels of PBR. Both DNA (Southern) blot and fluorescence in situ hybridization analyses indicate that the PBR gene is amplified in MDA-MB-231 relative to MCF-7 cells. These data suggest that PBR gene amplification may be an important indicator of breast cancer progression.     

Which treatment for whom for ADHD? Moderators of treatment response in the MTA

Using receiver operating characteristics, the authors examined outcome predictors (variables associated with outcome regardless of treatment) and moderators (variables identifying subgroups with differential treatment effectiveness) in the Multimodal Treatment Study of Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD; MTA). Treatment response was determined using parent- and teacher-reported ADHD and oppositional defiant symptoms, with levels near or within the normal range indicating excellent response. Among 9 baseline child and family characteristics, none predicted but 3 moderated treatment response. In medication management and combined treatments, parental depressive symptoms and severity of child ADHD were associated with decreased rates of excellent response; when these 2 characteristics were present, below-average child IQ was an additional moderator. No predictors or moderators emerged for behavioral and community comparison treatments. The authors discuss conceptual and clinical implications of research on treatment moderators.     

Analysis of orthologous gene expression between human pulmonary adenocarcinoma and a carcinogen-induced murine model

Human adenocarcinoma (AC) is the most frequently diagnosed human lung cancer, and its absolute incidence is increasing dramatically. Compared to human lung AC, the A/J mouse-urethane model exhibits similar histological appearance and molecular changes. We examined the gene expression profiles of human and murine lung tissues (normal or AC) and compared the two species' datasets after aligning approximately 7500 orthologous genes. A list of 409 gene classifiers (P value <0.0001), common to both species (joint classifiers), showed significant, positive correlation in expression levels between the two species. A number of previously reported expression changes were recapitulated in both species, such as changes in glycolytic enzymes and cell-cycle proteins. Unexpectedly, joint classifiers in angiogenesis were uniformly down-regulated in tumor tissues. The eicosanoid pathway enzymes prostacyclin synthase (PGIS) and inducible prostaglandin E(2) synthase (PGES) were joint classifiers that showed opposite effects in lung AC (PGIS down-regulated; PGES up-regulated). Finally, tissue microarrays identified the same protein expression pattern for PGIS and PGES in 108 different non-small cell lung cancer biopsies, and the detection of PGIS had statistically significant prognostic value in patient survival. Thus, the A/J mouse-urethane model reflects significant molecular details of human lung AC, and comparison of changes in orthologous gene expression may provide novel insights into lung carcinogenesis.     

Oxygen uptake-heart rate relationship in élite wheelchair racers

The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) recommends that, as a general rule for health purposes, individuals should exercise at 40%–85% of their maximal oxygen uptakes. Moreover, it has been suggested that 55%–90% of the maximal heart rate may be used as an alternative estimate of these percentage maximal oxygen uptake values. The present study examined the relationship between percentage peak heart rate (% HR_peak) and percentage peak oxygen uptake (% ) during steady-state incremental intensity wheelchair propulsion of 16 élite, male wheelchair racers (WR). Oxygen uptake was determined during each submaximal exercise stage and heart rate (HR) was continuously monitored. The was subsequently determined using a separate protocol. Linear regression equations of % HR_peak versus % for each participant included % HR_peak values corresponding to 40%, 60%, 80% and 85% . The linear regression equation, derived as the group mean of the slope and intercept terms determined for each individual, was: . The group mean of the individual correlation coefficients for the relationship was 0.99. The values of % HR_peak for each of the % values below 85% were significantly greater (P<0.01) than those suggested by the ACSM. This suggests that the ACSM guidelines below 85% , based on % HR_peak, may underestimate the relative exercise intensity (i.e. % ) in the WR population. However, in élite level WR, % HR_peak can be recommended as an alternative estimate of % at wheelchair propulsion intensities of 85% or more. Electronic Publication