Expression of hNP22 is altered in the frontal cortex and hippocampus of the alcoholic human brain

BACKGROUND: Human neuronal protein (hNP22) is a gene with elevated messenger RNA expression in the prefrontal cortex of the human alcoholic brain. hNP22 has high homology with a rat protein (rNP22). These proteins also share homology with a number of cytoskeleton-interacting proteins. METHODS: A rabbit polyclonal antibody to an 18-amino acid epitope was produced for use in Western and immunohistochemical analysis. Samples from the human frontal and motor cortices were used for Western blots (n = 10), whereas a different group of frontal cortex and hippocampal samples were obtained for immunohistochemistry (n = 12). RESULTS: The hNP22 antibody detected a single protein in both rat and human brain. Western blots revealed a significant increase in hNP22 protein levels in the frontal cortex but not the motor cortex of alcoholic cases. Immunohistochemical studies confirmed the increased hNP22 protein expression in all cortical layers. This is consistent with results previously obtained using Northern analysis. Immunohistochemical analysis also revealed a significant increase of hNP22 immunoreactivity in the CA3 and CA4 but not other regions of the hippocampus. CONCLUSIONS: It is possible that this protein may play a role in the morphological or plastic changes observed after chronic alcohol exposure and withdrawal, either as a cytoskeleton-interacting protein or as a signaling molecule.     

Effect of the spectral range of a UV lamp on the production of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers in human skin in situ

BACKGROUND: Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation has a broad spectrum of biological effects and a capacity to initiate skin carcinogenesis through DNA damage. The effect of different wave bands of UV light on the production of DNA damage in human skin in situ was studied with a broadband UV-B lamp TL-12 and a narrowband UV-B lamp TL-01. METHODS: Eight psoriasis patients participated in the study. Their minimal erythema dose was assessed separately for the two UV-B wave band ranges. Test areas of buttock skin were irradiated with the two spectrally differing lamps using erythemally equivalent UV doses of 40 and 80 mJ/cm2 CIE (Commission International de I'Eclairage). Punch biopsies were taken from the irradiated areas, and UV-induced DNA lesions (cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers, CPDs) in the skin were analyzed with a 32P high-performance liquid chromatography postlabelling method. RESULTS: No UV source-dependent differences in the induced levels of CPDs were detected in this study. CONCLUSION: CPD production with broadband TL-12 and narrowband TL-01 UV-B lamps in situ did not differ when erythemally equivalent UV doses were used. The preliminary result needs to be confirmed in a larger study.     

Neurologic dysfunction in patients with rheumatoid arthritis of the cervical spine. Predictive value of clinical, radiographic and MR imaging parameters

The aim of this study was to evaluate if subjective symptoms, radiographic and especially MR parameters of cervical spine involvement, can predict neurologic dysfunction in patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Sequential radiographs, MR imaging, and neurologic examination were performed yearly in 46 consecutive RA patients with symptoms indicative of cervical spine involvement. Radiographic parameters were erosions of the dens or intervertebral joints, disc-space narrowing, horizontal and vertical atlantoaxial subluxation, subluxations below C2, and the diameter of the spinal canal. The MR features evaluated were presence of dens and atlas erosion, brainstem compression, subarachnoid space encroachment, pannus around the dens, abnormal fat body caudal to the clivus, cervicomedullary angle, and distance of the dens to the line of McRae. Muscle weakness was associated with a tenfold increased risk of neurologic dysfunction. Radiographic parameters were not associated. On MR images atlas erosion and a decreased distance of the dens to the line of McRae showed a fivefold increased risk of neurologic dysfunction. Subarachnoid space encroachment was associated with a 12-fold increased risk. Rheumatoid arthritis patients with muscle weakness and subarachnoid space encroachment of the entire cervical spine have a highly increased risk of developing neurologic dysfunction. Received: 31 December 1999 Revised: 30 May 2000 Accepted: 5 June 2000     

Ketamine anesthesia with or without diazepam premedication for bone marrow punctures in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Ketamine is a drug widely used for analgesia and sedation of children for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. The authors investigated in a randomized controlled clinical trial if diazepam premedication would have a beneficial effect on side effects related to ketamine anesthesia for bone marrow punctures (BMPs) in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Sixteen children 4 years or older at the time of BMP were eligible. The first 2 BMPs after complete remission was obtained were studied. BMPs were performed under ketamine anesthesia (1.0-1.5 mg/kg iv), as usual. Patients were randomized to receive 1 h before the first BMP blinded, either diazepam or placebo orally and before the second BMP the other way round. Blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen saturation were monitored, and patients were observed for signs of anxiety, pain, and other side effects. The patients were interviewed after each BMP and asked for their preference 1 week after the second BMP. Ketamine anesthesia appeared as safe and effective after diazepam premedication as after placebo premedication. From the interviews and questionnaires, it was clear that half of the children preferred diazepam premedication because of less awful dreaming and more gradual falling asleep and waking up. Diazepam premedication may be useful for selected children with ALL receiving ketamine anesthesia for BMPs.     

The role of steroid hormones in protogynous sex change in the Blackeye goby, Coryphopterus nicholsii (Teleostei: Gobiidae)

To detect and describe correlations between steroid concentrations and sexual function in the protogynous Coryphopterus nicholsii, we examined whole-body concentrations of the gonadal steroids testosterone (T), 11-ketotestosterone (11-KT), and 17beta-estradiol (17beta-E2). Our results show that T, 11-KT, and 17beta-E2 are naturally occurring steroids in both female and male C. nicholsii. Further, mean whole-body concentrations of T and 11-KT in males were approximately twice those in females, whereas mean whole-body concentration of 17beta-E2 in females was almost twice that in males. Second, we tested hypotheses on the causation of sex change arising from these correlations between steroid concentrations and sexual function. We examined the effects of administration of 11-KT, 11-KA, 17alpha-methyltestosterone, and an aromatase inhibitor (Fadrozole) on gonadal structures of mature females. Complete sex change was induced by 11-KT, 11-KA, and Fadrozole. Our results strongly suggest that an increase in 11-KT concentration and perhaps also a decrease in 17beta-E2 concentration are involved in mediating natural sex change in C. nicholsii.     

Selective cognitive processing of drug cues in heroin dependence

Previous studies provide evidence for the selective processing of disorder related stimuli on anxiety, depression, and eating disorders. There exist some preliminary indications that selective processing of drug cues may be involved in drug craving and relapse that deserve further investigation. In order to investigate the role of processing bias in an abnormal motivational system, the attentional bias for drug related stimuli was studied in a heroin dependent population. Heroin dependent participants (n = 21) and control participants (n = 30) performed a supra- and subliminal heroin Stroop task and heroin craving was assessed. Heroin dependent participants showed a considerable attentional bias for supraliminally presented heroin cues. However, there was no evidence for a preattentive bias on the subliminal presented cues. Reaction time on heroin cues was significantly predicted by heroin craving-levels. Results indicate that selective processing may be related to motivational induced states in general. The finding are discussed in the context of selective information processing in general psychopathology and in motivational processes as addiction specifically.     

Influence of individual differences in craving and obsessive cocaine thoughts on attentional processes in cocaine abuse patients

In the present pilot-study, the relation between craving, obsessive thoughts about cocaine, experienced control, and attentional bias for cocaine related words is investigated. Sixteen cocaine abuse patients participated in a reaction time (RT) experiment which was employed to measure the ability of subjects to shift their attention away from cocaine related words. Postexperiment craving was found to be positively correlated with reaction times on drug related cues, in contrast to RT on neutral cues. Furthermore, obsessive thoughts about cocaine use and the experienced cocaine use control, in the week before the experiment, were correlated in a higher degree with RTs on drug cues than postexperiment craving. Attentional bias for drug cues was evidenced in patients with higher scores on obsessive cocaine thoughts and higher craving scores. This study shows that individual differences on information processing, within a cocaine abuse patient population, are present.     

Immunoselection of human lymphocytes producing xenoreactive natural antibodies against Galocl,3Gal terminal residues

Abstract: In the pig-to-human xenograft combination, human xenoreactive natural antibodies (XNA) bind to carbohydrate moieties, especially those with Galα1,3Gal terminal residues, expressed on the surface of most cells. The aim of this study was to select the cells that produce XNA by functionally characterizing a subset of cells for future studies on immunosuppression of XNA formation. We especially addressed the question whether XNA could be produced by CD5+ B lymphocytes, a subset of cells producing antibodies of high connectivity and polyreactivity, possibly involved in autoimmune processes. For that purpose we used porcine thyroglobulin (PTg), which expresses several Galα,3Gal terminal residues, for the immunoselection of XNA-producing cells. On FACS analysis, biotinylated PTg appeared to react with 5% of the B lymphocytes but the proportion of CD5+ B lymphocytes was not enriched in the PTg-reactive population. Similarly, magnetic beads coated with PTg were used to sort lymphocytes with Ig receptors recognizing PTg. Two and one-half percent of cells reacted, mainly B lymphocytes (89%), but they were not enriched for CD5+ B lymphocytes. When PTg-reactive lymphocytes were cultivated in presence of irradiated T cells and stimulated with PWM, the synthesis of Galα1,3Gal reactive antibodies, mainly of the IgG class, was demonstrated. The results of this study suggest that a high percentage of B lymphocytes react with Galα1,3Gal terminal residues. Such XNA-producing cells are not particularly common in the CD5+ subset.