Dietary patterns associated with inflammatory biomarkers in a Northern German population

The aim of the present study was to derive overall and sex-specific dietary patterns associated with inflammatory biomarkers in a general population sample     

Prior laparotomy or corticosterone potentiates lipopolysaccharide-induced fever and sickness behaviors

Stimulating sensitized immune cells with a subsequent immune challenge results in potentiated pro-inflammatory responses translating into exacerbated sickness responses (i.e. fever, pain and lethargy). Both corticosterone (CORT) and laparotomy cause sensitization, leading to enhanced sickness-induced neuroinflammation or pain (respectively). However, it is unknown whether this sensitization affects all sickness behaviors and immune cell responses equally. We show that prior CORT and prior laparotomy potentiated LPS-induced fever but not lethargy. Prior CORT, like prior laparotomy, was able to potentiate sickness-induced pain. Release of nitric oxide (NO) from peritoneal macrophages stimulated ex vivo demonstrates that laparotomy, but not CORT sensitizes these cells.     

Increased Hepatotoxicity and Cardiac Fibrosis in Cocaine‐Treated Butyrylcholinesterase Knockout Mice

Abstract: In mice, cocaine is detoxified to inactive products by butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) and carboxylesterase. In human beings, cocaine detoxification is primarily by BChE. The focus of this investigation was to elucidate the importance of BChE in reducing pathophysiological effects following cocaine exposure. Previous studies examining the effects of cocaine on BChE deficient animals relied on chemical inhibition of BChE with tetraisopropyl pyrophosphoramide (iso‐OMPA). The creation of the BChE knockout mouse has provided a model for studying pathological effects of cocaine in mice free of chemical confounders. We hypothesized that mice with low or no BChE activity would have reduced cocaine metabolism, leading to hepatotoxicity and cardiomyopathy. A high‐resolution in vivo imaging system recorded cardiac and respiratory function following treatment with a carboxylesterase inhibitor and a high dose of cocaine (100 mg/kg, intraperitoneally). The BChE?/? mice demonstrated depressed respiration through 12 hr after dosing and abnormal respiratory patterns consisting of a pause at full inspiration (apneusis), whereas BChE+/+ mice had recovered normal respiration rates by 30 min. after dosing and exhibited no apneusis. Liver and cardiac histology sections were analysed following a 20 mg/kg intraperitoneally dose of cocaine administered daily for 7 days. BChE–/– mice treated for 7 days with the chronic low dose showed significant hepatotoxicity and cardiac perivascular fibrosis compared to BChE+/+ mice. The observed functional changes following acute high‐dose and chronic low‐dose cocaine in BChE?/? and +/? mice warrants further investigation into the possibility of increased cocaine toxicity in human beings with BChE deficiency.     

Functional outcome after different oncological interventions in head and neck cancer patients

Purpose  

Patient-reported outcomes following head and neck cancer are of great importance given the functional, psychological, and social impacts of the disease and its treatment. With an increasing number of publications on HRQOL following head and neck cancer and a growing awareness of the potential role of HRQOL in practice, it was our aim to investigate head and neck functional mobility that is often not taking into account in HRQOL scores.     

Counseling army reservists and their families during operation desert shield/storm

The hardships of war affect all members of society. Those most acutely affected are service members and their families. Civilian service personnel mobilized within an active reserve component experience a disruption of life style which can cause stress. Service members are trained to be effective soldiers, but very little training is provided to service members or their families on the wartime stresses they face. The psychiatric army reserve unit based in Minneapolis developed a family support program for three phases of wartime stress: (1) pre-deployment, (2) deployment, and (3) reunification and sustainment. Recommendations are provided for family support in future wartime situations.