Evidence for a neural basis of age-related visual field loss in normal observers

Many studies have reported a decrease in visual field sensitivity as a function of increasing age in normal individuals. This age-related sensitivity loss has mainly been attributed to reductions in pupil size and transmission losses of the ocular media (particularly the lens), although neural losses in the retina, optic nerve and visual cortex have also been suggested. We evaluated the role of preretinal factors on normal visual field changes associated with aging. The central visual field of both eyes of 62 normal subjects (ages 20 to 72) were evaluated with Program 30-2 of a modified Humphrey Field Analyzer. Three test procedures were employed: (1) a standard visual field evaluation; (2) a yellow target on a yellow background condition (530 nm cutoff filter) to minimize the influence of lens transmission losses with age; and (3) a large target/high background luminance "yellow on yellow" test condition (530 nm cutoff filter, 635 asb background, Size V target) to minimize both pupil size and lens effects on central visual field sensitivity. In addition, relative lens absorption estimates were obtained for each subject. All three test conditions revealed a loss in visual field sensitivity with increasing age (approximately 0.8 dB per decade) but no meaningful differences were found among the three test procedures. Relative lens density increased with age but was not related to visual field sensitivity for any of the three test conditions. These data suggest that normal age-related visual field sensitivity changes are primarily due to neural losses rather than preretinal factors.     

Acute intracerebroventricular injections of the mast cell degranulator compound 48/80 and behavior in rats

The intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of the mast cell degranulator Compound 48/80 (2.5-2.0 micrograms/kg) produced a marked behavioral syndrome in normotensive rats. The behaviors included head and body shakes, paw tremor, excessive grooming, unusual posture and gait, mild diarrhoea, piloerection, extreme agitation and irritability to touch, and a later phase of sedation. The highest doses (15 and 20 micrograms/kg) also produced catalepsy and episodes of "barrel rolling" (continuous rolling of 1-8 turns around the longitudinal axis). These behaviors were observed for approximately 15-30 min although the sedation and catalepsy were maintained for 90-120 min. A second ICV injection of the 10 micrograms/kg dose of Compound 48/80 given 2 hr after an initial injection of this dose, produced a much reduced response and the numbers of head and body shakes, and episodes of paw tremor and grooming were between 20-30% of those produced by the first injection. The reduced effect of the second injection indicates that the behavioral effects of Compound 48/80 may arise from the acute degranulation of mast cells rather than direct effects on neuronal populations or the cerebral vasculature.     

Synthesis of stereospecifically deuterated desoxypodophyllotoxins and 1H-nmr assignment of desoxypodophyllotoxin

[4 beta- 2H1]Desoxypodophyllotoxin [3], [4 alpha- 2H1]desoxypodophyllotoxin [4], and [4, 4- 2 H2]desoxypodophyllotoxin [9] were prepared from podophyllotoxin [1] via its chloride [5]. A complete assignment of the 1H-nmr spectrum of desoxypodophyllotoxin [2] was made on the basis of the spectra of the deuterated compounds [3] and [4].     

Neutrophil responses to platelet-activating factor

1-O-Alkyl-2-O-acetyl-sn-glyceryl-3-phosphorylcholine (i.e., platelet-activating factor) was prepared and confirmed to possess potent platelet aggregating activity. It was also potent in aggregating and degranulating rabbit and human neutrophils. When injected into rabbits, the lipid induced profound neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and anaphylactic symptoms. The lyso derivative of this lipid, 1-O-alkyl-sn-glyceryl-3-phosphorylcholine, was inactive or several orders of magnitude weaker in inducing these responses. The acetylated lipid appears to be a potent stimulator of both platelets and neutrophils. Its anaphylactic-like toxicity may be related, at least in part, to its ability to aggregate or otherwise stimulate these cells.This work was supported by NIH grants AI09169, AI10732, AI14929, HL16769, HL14164, and AMI1799.     

Effect of particle size of dried mycobacteria on adjuvant induced arthritis in the rat

Freund's complete adjuvant prepared by grinding dried, heat killedMycobacterium tuberculosis with liquid paraffin was investigated for particle size-weight distribution. Variations in the grinding times and preparative procedure had a marked effect on the arthritogenic action of the adjuvant in the rat. A satisfactory response in the injected foot was found only when the particle size was less than 19 m and a secondary response in the non-injected foot required particles less than 10 m in diameter.     

The prevalence and disability of bipolar spectrum disorders in the US population: re-analysis of the ECA database taking into account subthreshold cases

BACKGROUND: Despite emerging international consensus on the high prevalence of the bipolar spectrum in both clinical and community samples, many skeptics contend that narrowly defined bipolar disorder with a lifetime rate of about 1% represents a more accurate estimate of prevalence. This may in part be due to the fact that higher figures proposed for the bipolar spectrum (5-8%) have not been based on national data and have not included all levels of manic symptom severity. In the present secondary analyses of the US National Epidemiological Catchment Area (ECA) database, we provide further clarification on this fundamental public health issue. METHODS: All respondents in the first wave (first interview) of the ECA household five site sample (n=18252) were classified on the basis of DSM-III criteria into lifetime manic and hypomanic episodes, as well as those with at least two lifetime manic/hypomanic symptoms below the threshold for at least 1 week duration (subsyndromal manic symptoms [SSM] group). Odds ratios were calculated on lifetime service utilization for mental health problems, measures of adverse psychosocial outcome, and suicidal behavior compared to subjects with no mental disorders or manic symptoms. RESULTS: As originally reported nearly two decades ago by the primary investigators of the ECA, the lifetime prevalence for manic episode was 0.8%, and for hypomania, 0.5%. What is new here is the inclusion of subthreshold SSM subjects, which accounted for 5.1%, yielding a total of 6.4% lifetime prevalence for the bipolar spectrum. All three (manic, hypomanic and SSM) groups had greater marital disruption. There were significant increases in lifetime health service utilization, need for welfare and disability benefits and suicidal behavior when the SSM, hypomanic and manic subjects were compared to the no mental disorder group. Suicidal behavior was non-significantly highest in the hypomanic (bipolar II) group. Otherwise, hypomanic and manic groups had comparable level of service utilization and social disruption. LIMITATIONS: Comorbid disorders, which might influence functioning, were not included in the present analyses. CONCLUSION: These secondary analyses of the US National ECA database provide convincing evidence for the high prevalence of a spectrum of bipolarity in the community at 6.4%, and indicate that subthreshold cases are at least five times more prevalent than DSM-based core syndromal diagnoses at about 1%. These SSM subjects, who met the criteria of "caseness" from the point of view of harmful dysfunction, are of great theoretical and public health significance.