Primary and secondary depression in alcoholism--clinical features and family history

One hundred thirty-six alcoholic inpatients were studied with regard to the association between alcoholism and depression. They fell into three groups: primary depression, secondary depression and non-depressive alcoholism. The main results obtained are as follows: (1) Depression was found in 46 patients (33.8%) in the present or past history; 13 were regarded as primary depression and 33 as secondary depression. (2) The clinical symptoms and the background of the primary group resembled those of endogenous depression. (3) The clinical features, including the duration of depressive episodes in the secondary depression group differed from those in the primary group. (4) No statistically significant differences were noted as to the rates of family-history of alcoholism and depression among the three groups. Clinical and biological differences between the primary and secondary groups were discussed on the basis of these results.     

Gene expression profiling of 19q-loss astrocytomas suggest a specific pattern associated with the better prognosis

Journal of Neuro-Oncology - Awake surgery is the standard treatment to preserve motor and language functions. This longitudinal study aimed to evaluate the resection rate and preservation of...     

Dehydroepiandrosterone suppresses elevated hepatic glucose-6-phosphatase mRNA level in C57BL/KsJ-db/db mice: comparison with troglitazone

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is known to improve hyperglycemia of diabetic C57BL/KsJ-db/db mice that are obese and insulin resistant. In a previous study, we reported that DHEA as well as troglitazone suppresses the elevated hepatic gluconeogenic enzymes, glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) and fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (FBPase) activities in C57BL/KsJ-db/db mice. In the present study, we evaluated the changes in mRNA of G6Pase and FBPase in db/db mice. Despite hyperinsulinemia, the G6Pase mRNA level of db/db mice was elevated as compared to their heterozygote littermate db/+m mice. In contrast, the FBPase mRNA level was not elevated in db/db mice. Administration of DHEA for two weeks significantly decreased the blood glucose level and the elevated G6Pase mRNA level in db/db mice. No significant changes were seen in the FBPase mRNA level after the administration of DHEA. Administration of troglitazone also decreased the blood glucose and G6Pase mRNA level in db/db mice although no changes were seen in the FBPase mRNA level. These results suggest that the elevation of G6Pase mRNA is important in elucidating the cause of insulin resistance, and that the G6Pase gene is at least one target for the hypoglycemic effects of DHEA as an insulin sensitizing agent in db/db mice.     

The use of personal digital assistants for data entry at the point of collection in a large household survey in southern Tanzania

Background  

Survey data are traditionally collected using pen-and-paper, with double data entry, comparison of entries and reconciliation of discrepancies before data cleaning can commence. We used Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) for data entry at the point of collection, to save time and enhance the quality of data in a survey of over 21,000 scattered rural households in southern Tanzania.     

Individual Differences in Psychophysiological Responses after Alcohol Ingestion

Abstract: We have conducted a study on the individual differences in psychophysiological responses to alcohol. The subjects were 12 flushers and 12 non-flushers. In the flushers, significant increases in the blood acetaldehyde (AcH) level, skin temperature and pulse rate were found. In the non-flushers, on the contrary, no significant increase was observed. There was no difference between the flushers and the non-flushers concerning the change in the blood ethanol (EtOH) level nor the change of P₁ and P₂ latencies in photopalpebral reflex (PPR). Also, no difference was found in the change of the state anxiety level.
From these results, we concluded that there exists an obvious discrepancy between the central inhibitory response (elicited by EtOH) and the autonomic response (elicited by AcH) of the human subjects to a small amount of alcohol.     

Frontal midline theta activity and platelet MAO in human subjects

The distinctive theta rhythm that appears at the frontal midline during the performance of mental tasks has been designated as frontal midline theta (Fm theta). Fm theta shows individual differences and seems to be related to certain personality traits. In several studies, it has been indicated that low platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity is also associated with certain personality traits. In the present study, we found a negative correlation between the appearance of Fm theta and platelet MAO activity. Subjects with marked extroversion show a high amount of Fm theta and low MAO activity. It is therefore suggested that Fm theta, an electrophysiological marker, may be useful in the investigation of monoamine functions in the central nervous system (CNS) by way of platelet MAO activity, a biochemical marker.     

Clinicopathological features of 171 cases of primary thyroid lymphoma: a long-term study involving 24553 patients with Hashimoto's disease

There are few large‐scale reports of primary thyroid lymphoma (PTL). This study clinically and pathologically reviewed 171 patients with PTL and 24 553 patients with Hashimoto’s disease at Ito Hospital between January 1990 and December 2004, to investigate the clinical features and the treatment outcomes of PTL. The median age of the patients with PTL was 67 years (range, 27–90 years). The pathological diagnosis of PTL patients included diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL) (n = 74), DLBCL with mucosa‐associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma (n = 13), MALT lymphoma (n = 80) and others (n = 4). Of the 167 patients with B‐cell lymphoma, treatment included combined modality therapy (CMT) (n = 95), radiation therapy (RT) alone (n = 60) and chemotherapy alone (n = 6). Information on treatment was not available in six patients. Information on treatment response was available in 154 patients; 149 patients (97%) responded to treatment. According to the institutional treatment strategy of Ito Hospital, 45 of 54 patients with stage IE disease received RT alone, and 87 of 113 stage IIE patients received CMT. The 5‐year overall survival rate was 85% (95% confidence interval, 79–91%). This study demonstrated that PTL showed good response to radiotherapy and chemotherapy and had a favourable prognosis.