Positive reinforcement and c‐Fos expression following abuse‐like thinner inhalation in mice: Behavioural and immunohistochemical assessment

Thinners are organic solvents widely used in industrial applications, but they have also been subject to abuse by inhalation for their psychoactive and rewarding properties. In spite of the prevalence of inhalant abuse, the addictive potential and pathways mediating their reinforcing effects are not yet fully understood and thus still subject of further investigations. Here, we assessed in mice the locomotor activity and the ability of paint thinner to reinforce the conditioning in the place preference paradigm following acute (1 day), subchronic (6 weeks) and chronic (12 weeks) exposures to 300 and 600 ppm of thinner vapor. While locomotor activity was unaffected by the different thinner treatments, a positive conditioned place preference to inhaled thinner was found upon subchronic and chronic exposures. To investigate the activated brain structures underlying such behavioural changes, we analyzed the distribution of c‐Fos immunoreactivity, a marker for neuronal activation, following acute and repeated exposures to 600 ppm of thinner. Notably, thinner exposure increased the number of c‐Fos immunoreactive neurons with increasing duration of exposure in the majority of structures examined; including those typically involved in the processing of rewarding or emotionally stimuli (e.g., ventral tegmental area, core and shell of nucleus accumbens, amygdala, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, and cingulate cortex), and olfactory stimuli (e.g., piriform cortex and olfactory tubercle). Moreover, prolonged, but not acute thinner inhalation significantly increased c‐Fos immunoreactivity in all hippocampal subregions. Taken together, the expanded distribution of thinner‐induced c‐Fos expression may underlie the observed positive reinforcement upon long‐term thinner inhalation.     

Experimental study on prophylactic effects of vardenafil in ischemia–reperfusion model with intestinal volvulus injury in rats

AimAn experimental study was performed to evaluate the effects of Vardenafil on ischemia–reperfusion (I/R) injury in an experimental volvulus model by histochemical and biochemical methods.Materials and methodsThirty-five male Wistar rats were divided in five groups (n = 7). In Group 1, a 5 cm segment of small intestine 2 cm proximal to cecum was excised to have a control group. In the second group, 5 cm segment of small intestine 2 cm proximal to cecum was rotated 360° clockwise direction and sutured with 4/0 polyglactin to generate an experimental model of volvulus. At the end of 2 h of ischemia, the same intestinal segment was sampled. In group 3, after achieving ischemia similar to group 2, two hours of reperfusion injury was obtained by removing the sutures. Rats in Group 4 received vardenafil after 1.5 h of ischemia and then 2 h of reperfusion. And finally, in Group 5, vardenafil was administered 2 h before laparotomy and 5 cm of intestine was removed without I/R injury. Intestinal segments were evaluated for total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS) and oxidative stress index (OSI) with biochemical and histopathological analysis.ResultsSerum TOS levels and OSI were not significantly different between groups (p = 0.910, P = 0,43 respectively). The serum TAS level was decreased in group 3 as compared to vardenafil groups 4 and 5, without a statistical significance (p = 0.428). In histopathologic analysis, we found that vardenafil, partially reduced I/R injury. The villus structure was preserved but, congestion and inflammation were moderate.ConclusionVardenafil partially reduced I/R injury histopathologically on intestine. Our study shows that it does not have statistically antioxidant effect on intestinal I/R injury in experimental model of volvulus. However, effects of vardenafil in I/R injury of liver, kidney, heart, testis, over and brain which were cited in literature were not confirmed with I/R injury on intestine.     

Diagnosis and gestational follow-up in a patient with Herlyn-Werner-Wünderlich syndrome,a case report

ObjectiveHerlyn-Werner-Wünderlich syndrome (HWW) is a rare congenital malformation of the urogenital tract due to a fusion failure in the Müllerian ducts. This anomaly consists of a didelphus uterus with obstructed hemivagina and sometimes associated with ipsilateral renal agenesis. The treatment of choice is surgical, it consists of a simple procedure of resection of the vaginal septum and drainage of the obstructed hemivagina and retained collections.Case reportWe report the case of a pregnancy in a 37-year-old woman with SHWW without resection of the vaginal septum.ConclusionsThe early detection is important due to the possible associated complications. Women with uterine defects are subject to an increased risk of complications in pregnancy and childbirth. Therefore, each case must be treated individually.     

Sex Differences in the Management and 5-Year Outcome of Young Patients (<55 Years) with Acute Coronary Syndromes

Background

Young women are usually protected against coronary artery disease due to hormonal and risk-factor profile. Previous studies have suggested poorer outcome in women hospitalized with acute coronary syndrome as compared with men. However, when adjusted for age and other risk factors, this difference does not remain significant. We compared the risk profile and outcome between young (≤55 years) women and men admitted with acute coronary syndrome.