Alpers'' disease

Observations on skin reflectance were made on 309 endogamous Indian families, for constitutive (medial upper arm) and facultative skin colour (forehead) to investigate which of the two colours is under a rigid control of genetic action. An assessment of data by coefficient of correlation "r" show that facultative colour is inherited more strictly than the constitutive colour.
Received 4 July, accepted 3 October 1983     

Novel TAP1 polymorphisms in indigenous Zimbabweans: their potential implications on TAP function and in human diseases

Because of the essential role of transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP1 or TAP2) molecule in antigen processing, the implication of its polymorphism as a factor involved in human diseases and the possible genetic variation at this locus among ethnically diverse populations, we underwent a study to analyze the full extent of TAP1 polymorphism in an indigenous Zimbabwean population (Shona ethnic group). Using single-stranded conformation polymorphism and DNA direct sequencing procedures, we detected the presence of 11 nucleotide sequence variations in the entire coding region of TAP1. Of these variants, eight are nonconservative substitutions with respect to amino acid composition and are located in a critical part of the protein that could modulate its function. Five new polymorphic sites were identified in exon 1 (codons 7 Pro --> Ser, 17 Gly --> Arg, 141 Val --> Val), exon 6 (codon 419 Gly --> Cys), and exon 7 (codon 487 Arg --> Arg). Significant differences were seen in the distribution of TAP1*0201 and TAP1*0401 alleles, and codon 333 (Ile --> Val) polymorphism among African and non-African populations. Thus, TAP1 polymorphism has evolved differently among populations presumably because of the evolutionary pressures generated by prevalent pathogens in these geographically distinct regions.     

Amino acid uptake required for long-term memory formation

α-Amino-iso-butyrate (AIB) inhibits long-term, protein synthesis-dependent memory formation by reducing labelled leucine uptake in vivo without affecting leucine incorporation into protein. Unlike the antibiotic cycloheximide, AIB does not block long-term memory formation through inhibition of protein synthesis per se. The behavioural effect of AIB is restricted to times of administration between 5 min before and 5 min after learning a single trial passive avoidance task by day-old chickens. It is concluded that (1) AIB competes with normal amino acids for uptake into cells, and (2) the uptake of amino acids for protein synthesis specific to long-term memory formation takes place in the first few minutes following learning.     

Sociotropic cognition moderates stress-induced cardiovascular responsiveness in women through effects on total peripheral resistance, but not cardiac output.

Although cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of mortality in women, few studies have examined the role of psychosocial factors in its development. This study examined the moderating effects of sociotropic cognition (SC), a need for social acceptance and approval, on psychosocial stress-induced cardiovascular responsiveness (CVR) and affect reactivity in women. Sixty-eight normotensive, college-aged females were randomly assigned to a low or high social threat condition. Measures of systolic, diastolic and mean arterial blood pressures (SBP, DBP and MAP, respectively), heart rate (HR), cardiac output (CO), total peripheral resistance (TPR) and negative affect were collected during rest, and under conditions of high vs. low interpersonal threat. A two-step hierarchical regression analysis was performed to predict all response variables (BPs, HR, CO, TPR and affect). Increases in SBP, DBP, MAP, TPR and negative affect were greater in the high threat than low threat condition. Changes in SBP, MAP and TPR positively covaried with SC under conditions of high interpersonal threat, but showed no significant covariation in the low threat condition. The data suggest that an excessive need for social acceptance may contribute to rises in BP through an increase in TPR, but not CO under conditions of high social threat.     

Lymphocyte Depression Induced in Chickens on Diets Deficient in Vitamin A and Other Components

Chloroma (chloroleukemia) was induced in a splenectomized rat by repeatedly administering dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) and was serially transplanted thereafter. Composed of immature myeloid cells, the tumor imparted a green discoloration to the tissues that it infiltrated extensively. Chloroma cells fluoresced red in ultraviolet light, produced a characteristic curve in spectrophotometry, and contained large amounts of myeloperoxidase. They included numerous intracytoplasmic granules of both types A and B, which contained occasional crystalline bars. Permanent lines of chloroma cells were established in tissue culture. These cells, while maintaining their initial morphology, ceased producing myeloperoxidase and subsequently induced white tumors when they were isotransplanted.     

Improved lesion detection with dimethyl-amino-diphosphonate: A report of two cases

In two patients with metastatic disease more lesions were detected on scintigraphs obtained with the low uptake bone-scanning agent dimethyl-amino-diphosphonate than on images produced using methylene diphosphonate. The results in these two patients provide practical support for the suggestion that bone-scanning agents with low uptake in normal bone, but high tumour-to-normal bone ratios, will allow better delineation of local bone abnormalities.     

Extended treatment of primary osteoporosis by sodium fluoride combined with 25 hydroxycholecalciferol

Summary Nineteen patients suffering from primary osteoporosis, all having at least one vertebral collapse, initially received 50 mg of sodium fluoride alone per day for 6–18 months. Subsequently fluoride was associated with 25–50g of 25 OH cholecalciferol (calcifediol) per day for 6–18 months in 12 of these patients and 9 were treated for 31–58 months. As control group, 9 patients were given placebo for 6–18 months. The effect of the treatment was assessed by three methods: 1) the metacarpal index (MI) determined by radiogrammetry, 2) the calcium content of the hand bone (Ca) measured by local neutron activation, 3) the iliac bone histomorphometry. MI and (Ca) did not change significantly at any time in any group. In each group there was a significant increase in trabecular bone volume, osteoid volume, osteoid surfaces and a significant decrease in mineralization fronts. On the other hand, the changes in osteoblastic surfaces, osteoclastic surfaces, number of osteoclasts/mm2 were not significant in any group. No change was observed in the placebo group. These data suggest that the increase in the trabecular volume of fluorided bone is mainly due to the increase in osteoid which itself is due to a bone mineralization defect despite the association of calcifediol. This is probably one of the reasons why (Ca) does not change significantly.     

Associations of Mediterranean diet with psychological ill-being and well-being throughout the pregnancy course: The GESTAFIT project

Quality of Life Research - The relation between diet and maternal mental health during pregnancy might be relevant to prevent adverse materno-foetal outcomes. This study examined the association of...     

Fish Hydrolysate Supplementation Containing n-3 Long Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Peptides Prevents LPS-Induced Neuroinflammation

Neuroinflammation constitutes a normal part of the brain immune response orchestrated by microglial cells. However, a sustained and uncontrolled production of proinflammatory factors together with microglial activation contribute to the onset of a chronic low-grade inflammation, leading to neuronal damage and cognitive as well as behavioral impairments. Hence, limiting brain inflammatory response and improving the resolution of inflammation could be particularly of interest to prevent these alterations. Dietary n-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) and low molecular weight peptides are good candidates because of their immunomodulatory and proresolutive properties. These compounds are present in a fish hydrolysate derived from marine-derived byproducts. In this study, we compared the effect of an 18-day supplementation with this fish hydrolysate to a supplementation with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in mice. In response to peripherally injected LPS, the fish hydrolysate supplementation decreased the hippocampal mRNA expression of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-6 (p < 0.001), IL-1β (p = 0.0008) and TNF-α (p < 0.0001), whereas the DHA supplementation reduced only the expression of IL-6 (p = 0.004). This decline in proinflammatory cytokine expressions was associated with an increase in the protein expression of IκB (p = 0.014 and p = 0.0054 as compared to the DHA supplementation and control groups, respectively) and to a modulation of microglial activation markers in the hippocampus. The beneficial effects of the fish hydrolysate could be due in part to the switch of the hippocampal oxylipin profile towards a more anti-inflammatory profile as compared to the DHA supplementation. Thus, the valorization of fish byproducts seems very attractive to prevent and counteract neuroinflammation.