Reduced hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in neonatal rats after prenatal exposure to propylthiouracil (PTU)

Thyroid hormone is critical for central nervous system development. Fetal hypothyroidism leads to reduced cognitive performance in offspring as well as other effects on neural development in both humans and experimental animals. The nature of these impairments suggests that thyroid hormone may exert its effects via dysregulation of the neurotrophin brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which is critical to normal development of the central nervous system and has been implicated in neurodevelopmental disorders. The only evidence of BDNF dysregulation in early development, however, comes from experimental models in which severe prenatal hypothyroidism occurred. By contrast, milder prenatal hypothyroidism has been shown to alter BDNF levels and BDNF-dependent functions only much later in life. We hypothesized that mild experimental prenatal hypothyroidism might lead to dysregulation of BDNF in the early postnatal period. BDNF levels were measured by ELISA at 3 or 7 d after birth in different regions of the brains of rats exposed to propylthiouracil (PTU) in the drinking water. The dose of PTU that was used induced mild maternal thyroid hormone insufficiency. Pups, but not the parents, exhibited alterations in tissue BDNF levels. Hippocampal BDNF levels were reduced at both d 3 and 7, but no significant reductions were observed in either the cerebellum or brain stem. Unexpectedly, more males than females were born to PTU-treated dams, suggesting an effect of PTU on sex determination. These results support the hypothesis that reduced hippocampal BDNF levels during early development may contribute to the adverse neurodevelopmental effects of mild thyroid hormone insufficiency during pregnancy.     

Toxoplasmosis in military personnel involved in jungle operations

Tropical diseases, mainly leishmaniasis and malaria, increased among Colombian military personnel due to intensive operations in the jungle in the last ten years; as a result the Colombian army developed important preventive strategies for malaria and leishmaniasis. However, no knowledge exists about toxoplasmosis, an emergent disease in military personnel. We compared the prevalence of IgG anti-Toxoplasma antibodies by ELISA and of parasitaemia by a real time PCR assay, in 500 professional soldiers that operated in the jungle with a group of 501 soldiers working in an urban zone (Bogotá). We found that the prevalence was significantly different between both groups of soldiers (80% in soldiers operating in jungle vs. 45% in urban soldiers, adjusted OR 11.4; CI 95%: 3.8-34; p<0.0001). All soldiers operating in the jungle drink unboiled and chlorine untreated lake or river water. In urban soldiers, these risk factors along with eating wild animal meat or eating tigrillo (little spotted cat) were significantly associated with a higher prevalence. Characteristic toxoplasmic choriorretinal lesions were found in 4 soldiers that operated in the jungle (0.8%) and in one urban soldier (0.19%). All soldiers before being deployed in jungle operations should be tested for Toxoplasma antibodies and to receive adequate health information about the routine use of personnel filters to purify their water for consumption.     

In situ mantle cell lymphoma: clinical implications of an incidental finding with indolent clinical behavior

Background

Cyclin D1-positive B cells are occasionally found in the mantle zones of reactive lymphoid follicles, a condition that has been called “in situ mantle cell lymphoma”. The clinical significance of this lesion remains uncertain.

Design and Methods

The clinical and pathological characteristics, including SOX11 expression, of 23 cases initially diagnosed as in situ mantle cell lymphoma were studied.

Results

Seventeen of the 23 cases fulfilled the criteria for in situ mantle cell lymphoma. In most cases, the lesions were incidental findings in reactive lymph nodes. The t(11;14) was detected in all eight cases examined. SOX11 was positive in seven of 16 cases (44%). Five cases were associated with other small B-cell lymphomas. In two cases, both SOX11-positive, the in situ mantle cell lymphoma lesions were discovered after the diagnosis of overt lymphoma; one 4 years earlier, and one 3 years later. Twelve of the remaining 15 patients had a follow-up of at least 1 year (median 2 years; range, 1–19.5), of whom 11 showed no evidence of progression, including seven who were not treated. Only one of 12 patients with an in situ mantle cell lymphoma lesion and no diagnosis of mantle cell lymphoma at the time developed an overt lymphoma, 4 years later; this case was also SOX11-positive. The six remaining cases were diagnosed as mantle cell lymphoma with a mantle zone pattern. Five were SOX11-positive and four of them were associated with lymphoma without a mantle zone pattern.

Conclusions

In situ mantle cell lymphoma lesions are usually an incidental finding with a very indolent behavior. These cases must be distinguished from mantle cell lymphoma with a mantle zone pattern and overt mantle cell lymphoma because they may not require therapeutic intervention.     

Tooth and periodontal clinical attachment loss are associated with hyperglycemia in patients with diabetes

Background: Periodontal disease has been associated with diabetes, but there is still controversy on the relationship between periodontal clinical parameters and glycemic control. The purpose of this study is to assess the relationship between blood glucose levels and clinical parameters of periodontal disease in individuals with diabetes. Methods: A total of 65 individuals with diabetes and 81 individuals without diabetes were included in the study. A full-mouth periodontal examination and preprandial fasting glycemia values were recorded for each individual. Glycosylated hemoglobin was only measured in patients with diabetes. A comparative analysis between groups (Mann-Whitney U test) and a correlation analysis between glycemia and periodontal parameters were performed (Spearman test). Results: Patients without diabetes presented more teeth than individuals with diabetes (P <0.05). Patients with diabetes with periodontitis displayed loss of periodontal clinical attachment compared to patients without diabetes, but the highest value was observed in patients with periodontitis that reported a smoking habit. Furthermore, patients with diabetes with periodontitis presented higher glycemia and glycated hemoglobin values in contrast to patients with gingivitis. Patients with diabetes with hyperglycemia had a higher risk to develop periodontitis (odds ratio = 2.24; 95% confidence interval = 1.02 to 4.93). A positive correlation was observed between glycemia and clinical attachment loss (AL), whereas a negative correlation between glycemia and the number of teeth present was found (P <0.05). Conclusions: Tooth and periodontal AL were increased by hyperglycemia in individuals with diabetes. This study contributes additional evidence that diabetes could aggravate periodontal disease and affect the systemic health of individuals.