Predicting disability pension – depression as hazard: a 10 year population‐based cohort study in norway

Disability pension (DP) is an escalating challenge to individuals and the welfare state, with mental health problems as imminent hazard. The objective of the present paper was to determine if a diagnosis of depression increased the risk of subsequent DP, and whether the risk differed by gender. A population cohort of 1230 persons were diagnostically interviewed (Composite International Diagnostic Interview, CIDI) in a population study examining mental health, linked to the DP registry and followed for 10 years. The risk for DP following depression was estimated using Cox regression. Life‐time depression, as well as current depression, increased the risk of subsequent DP for both genders. The fully adjusted [baseline health, health behavior and socio‐economic status (SES)] hazard ratios (HRs) for life‐time depressed men and women were 2.9 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.5–5.8] and 1.6 (95% CI 1.0–2.5) respectively. Men were significantly older at time of DP. There are reasons to believe that depression went under‐recognized and under‐treated. To augment knowledge in the field, without underestimating depression as risk for DP, a deeper understanding of the nature and effects of other distress is needed. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Histamine receptors in the isolated human middle meningeal artery. A comparison with cerebral and temporal arteries

The subtypes of histamine receptors mediating dilatation of human meningeal arteries have been tested in vitro, using "selective" antagonists, and compared with cerebral and temporal arteries previously examined. Dilatory responses were tested after preconstriction with prostaglandin F2 alpha. Both mepyramine and cimetidine caused a parallel shift to the right of the histamine concentration-response curve, suggesting the presence of both H1- and H2-receptors. Combined treatment with mepyramine and cimetidine caused further displacement of the concentration-response curve to the right. Schild analysis indicated pA2 values of 6.3 for cimetidine and 9.8 for mepyramine in situations of near complete blockade of either of the receptors. Both H1- and H2-receptors seem of importance for the histamine-induced dilatation in meningeal arteries and neither appear to dominate. The data considered in conjunction with our previous findings support the finding that experimental histamine-induced headache due to vasodilatation is intracranial of origin.     

3-year prospective multicenter study on one-stage implant surgery and early loading in the edentulous mandible

Background: The long‐term success rates achieved in dental implantology suggest that flexibility might well exist within the various implant systems to a degree that an altered protocol (ie, one‐stage surgery and immediate or early loading) can be performed under controlled conditions. However, before variations of the protocol can be considered for general use, they must be subjected to critical analysis, particularly with respect to the predictability of osseointegration, alteration of soft tissue barrier, and relative change in bone height around the implants. Purpose: The aim of this prospective multicenter study was to evaluate implant survival and periimplant conditions around endosseous implants placed in a one‐stage surgical procedure and early loading. Materials and Methods: A total of 170 implants were placed in 40 patients with mandibular edentulism and were functionally loaded within 6 weeks with overdentures (n = 30) or fixed prostheses (n = 10). All patients and prosthetic constructions were evaluated according to a standardized protocol during 3 years of follow‐up. Cumulative implant survival rates were calculated, and implant loss in relation to implant size and bone quality and quantity were evaluated. Furthermore, the protocol included assessment of clinical (plaque and bleeding scores, prosthesis stability) and radiographic parameters. Results: Over a period of 3 years, the implant survival rate was 93% for both implants and prostheses (fixed or removable). No implants were lost after the first year of loading. The periimplant tissues were in a healthy condition. Mean marginal bone resorption from the time of loading to the 3‐year follow‐up was 0.41 mm (SD 0.52). Conclusions: From this study it may be concluded that early loading results in good implant survival and proper periimplant health in edentulous mandibles.     

Neuroticism-related personality traits are related to symptom severity in patients with premenstrual dysphoric disorder and to the serotonin transporter gene-linked polymorphism 5-HTTPLPR

Neuroticism has been linked to a functional polymorphism in the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR), with short-allele carriers being overrepresented among high-scorers on neuroticism. Studies evaluating neuroticism-related personality traits in relation to the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism among patients with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and are lacking. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between PMDD and neuroticism-related personality traits, and secondly, to relate the personality trait scores of PMDD patients to experienced symptom severity and to the 5-HTTLPR short allele. Thirty PMDD patients and 55 asymptomatic healthy controls were included in the study. The Swedish Universities Scale of Personality was used to evaluate personality traits. Genotype analyses were available in 27 PMDD patients and 18 healthy controls. Women with PMDD displayed higher levels of neuroticism-related personality traits (psychic trait anxiety, somatic trait anxiety, embitterment, stress susceptibility and mistrust) than healthy controls, and these effects were most prominent in women with more severe luteal phase symptoms. Furthermore, PMDD patients with at least one copy of the short allele of the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism scored higher on psychic trait anxiety and lack of assertiveness than PMDD patients who were homozygous for the long allele. PMDD patients who suffer from more severe luteal phase symptoms also display increased scores of neuroticism-related personality traits in comparison with healthy controls. Within the group of PMDD patients, differences in certain personality trait scores are associated with the short allele of the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism.     

Systemic Up-Regulation of TLR4 Causes Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Augmentation of Nasal Cytokine Release in Allergic Rhinitis

Background: Allergic rhinitis is a systemic disorder, and it is clinically well recognized that it can be aggravated by infection. Activation of the innate immune system constitutes a critical element in the process. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) comprise a part of the innate immune system, and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced activation of TLR4 represents bacterial-induced interactions in various model systems. The present study examines how TLR2 and TLR4 expression is affected by symptomatic allergic rhinitis, and if LPS added upon allergen affects nasal cytokine release. Methods: In patients with pollen-induced allergic rhinitis and healthy non-allergic volunteers, nasal lavage (NAL), peripheral blood and bone marrow were sampled before and during the pollen season. TLR2 and TLR4 expression was determined flow cytometrically. Changes in the TLR receptor expression pattern were evaluated by a nasal challenge with allergen followed by LPS, or vice versa. Symptoms along with cells and cytokines in NAL were analyzed. Results: TLR4 expression increased in leukocytes in NAL, peripheral blood and bone marrow during symptomatic allergic rhinitis. A similar increase was seen for TLR2 in neutrophils in blood. Nasal challenge with allergen followed by LPS augmented the release of IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-13, IFN-γ and TNF-α. Conclusion: A systemic up-regulation of TLR4 in symptomatic allergic rhinitis may explain why LPS preceded by allergen increases nasal cytokine release.     

Comparative genetic analysis of genomic DNA sequences of two human isolates of Tanapox virus

Members of the genus Yatapoxvirus, which include Tanapox virus (TPV) and Yaba monkey tumor virus, infect primates including humans. Two strains of TPV isolated 50 years apart from patients infected from the equatorial region of Africa have been sequenced. The original isolate from a human case in the Tana River Valley, Kenya, in 1957 (TPV-Kenya) and an isolate from an infected traveler in the Republic of Congo in 2004 (TPV-RoC). Although isolated 50 years apart the genomes were highly conserved. The genomes differed at only 35 of 144,565 nucleotide positions (99.98% identical). We predict that TPV-RoC encodes 155 ORFs, however a single transversion (at nucleotide 10241) in TPV-Kenya resulted in the coding capacity for two predicted ORFs (11.1L and 11.2L) in comparison to a single ORF (11L) in TPV-RoC. The genomes of TPV are A+T rich (73%) and 96% of the sequence encodes predicted ORFs. Comparative genomic analysis identified several features shared with other chordopoxviruses. A conserved sequence within the terminal inverted repeat region that is also present in the other members of the Yatapoxviruses as well as members of the Capripoxviruses, Swinepox virus and an unclassified Deerpox virus suggests the existence of a conserved near-terminal sequence secondary structure. Two previously unidentified gene families were annotated that are represented by ORF TPV28L, which matched homologues in certain other chordopoxviruses, and TPV42.5L, which is highly conserved among currently reported chordopoxvirus sequences.     

Stable serum levels of relaxin throughout the menstrual cycle: a preliminary comparison of women with premenstrual dysphoria and controls

Summary Serum levels of relaxin in 25 women with premenstrual dysphoria and 25 age-matched controls were determined at three time points during the menstrual cycle. At the same time, levels of estradiol, progesterone, 17-β-OH-progesterone, free testosterone, total testosterone, sex hormone binding hormone, androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate, and 3-α-androstanediol glucuronide were determined. Detectable levels of relaxin were found in all women in both the follicular and luteal phase as well as around ovulation, the inter-individual variations being larger than intra-individual differences. The levels of relaxin were not influenced by the fluctuation of the other reproductive hormones. A significant difference between the two groups of women was observed, subjects with premenstrual dysphoria displaying reduced levels of relaxin (p < 0.05) compared to controls. Also, when analysed with respect to a variable number of tandem repeats polymorphism (CT repeats followed by GT repeats) in the promotor region of the relaxin H2 gene, women with premenstrual dysphoria (n = 29) were found to display significantly longer GT repeats than controls (n = 35).     

Ability of monocyte-derived dendritic cells to secrete oxygen radicals in response to formyl peptide receptor family agonists compared to that of myeloid and plasmacytoid dendritic cells

We show that human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DC) differ considerably from freshly isolated blood-derived myeloid and plasmacytoid DC in their abilities to produce reactive oxygen species in response to different agonists to the formyl peptide receptor family and are thus poor representatives of blood DC in this field of research.