Microglia are more susceptible than macrophages to apoptosis in the central nervous system in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis through a mechanism not involving Fas (CD95)

Morphological studies have shown that macrophages and microglia undergo apoptosis in the central nervous system (CNS) in acute experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in the Lewis rat. To assess the relative levels of macrophage and microglial apoptosis, and the molecular mechanisms involved in this process, we used three-colour flow cytometry to identify CD45lowCD11b/c+ microglial cells and CD45highCD11b/c+ macrophages in the inflammatory cells isolated from the spinal cords of Lewis rats 13 days after immunization with myelin basic protein (MBP) and complete Freund's adjuvant. Simultaneously, we analyzed the DNA content of these cell populations to assess the proportions of cells undergoing apoptosis and in different stages of the cell cycle or examined their expression of three apoptosis- regulating proteins, i.e. Fas (CD95), Fas ligand (FasL) and Bcl-2. Microglia were highly vulnerable to apoptosis and were over-represented in the apoptotic population. Macrophages were less susceptible to apoptosis than microglia and underwent mitosis more frequently than microglia. The different susceptibilities of microglia and macrophages to apoptosis did not appear to be due to variations in Fas, FasL or Bcl- 2 expression, as the proportions of microglia and macrophages expressing these proteins were similar, and were relatively high. Furthermore, in contrast to T cell apoptosis, apoptosis of microglia/macrophages did not occur more frequently in cells expressing Fas or FasL, or less frequently in cells expressing Bcl-2. These results indicate that the apoptosis of microglia and CNS macrophages in EAE is not mediated through the Fas pathway, and that Bcl-2 expression does not protect them from apoptosis. Expression of FasL by macrophages and microglia may contribute to the pathogenesis and immunoregulation of EAE through interactions with Fas+ oligodendrocytes and Fas+ T cells. The high level of microglial apoptosis in EAE indicates that microglial apoptosis may be an important homeostatic mechanism for controlling the number of microglia in the CNS following microglial activation and proliferation.      

Correlates of suicide risk in adolescent inpatients who report a history of childhood abuse

The study objective was to examine correlates of suicide risk in psychiatrically hospitalized adolescents with a reported history of childhood abuse. Predictors of suicide risk were examined in 74 subjects who reported a history of childhood abuse and 53 depressed subjects who did not report a history of childhood abuse. Subjects completed a battery of psychometrically well-established self-report instruments to assess childhood abuse, suicide risk, and internalizing and externalizing psychopathology. Correlational analyses showed that higher levels of depression, self-criticism, and hopelessness were significantly associated with suicide risk in both study groups and violence was significantly associated with suicide risk in the childhood abuse group. For the childhood abuse group, multiple regression analyses with seven predictor variables accounted for 54% of the variance in suicide risk; depression and alcohol problems made significant independent contributions, while violence and self-criticism were independent predictors at the trend level. For the depressed/nonabused group, multiple regression analyses with the seven predictor variables accounted for 60% of the variance in suicide risk; depression, hopelessness, and self-criticism were independent predictors. Our findings suggest that both internalizing (i.e., depression or self-criticism) and externalizing (i.e., violence or alcohol) factors predict suicide risk in adolescent inpatients who report childhood abuse. This profile appears different from the more internalizing pattern (i.e., depression, self-criticism, and hopelessness) observed for the depressed adolescent inpatients who reported no history of childhood abuse.     

Factor analysis of the DSM-III-R borderline personality disorder criteria in psychiatric inpatients

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to examine the factor structure of the DSM-III-R criteria for borderline personality disorder in young adult psychiatric inpatients. METHOD: The authors assessed 141 acutely ill inpatients with the Personality Disorder Examination, a semistructured diagnostic interview for DSM-III-R personality disorders. They used correlational analyses to examine the associations among the different criteria for borderline personality disorder and performed an exploratory factor analysis. RESULTS: Cronbach's coefficient alpha for the borderline personality disorder criteria was 0.69. A principal components factor analysis with a varimax rotation accounted for 57.2% of the variance and revealed three homogeneous factors. These factors were disturbed relatedness (unstable relationships, identity disturbance, and chronic emptiness); behavioral dysregulation (impulsivity and suicidal/self-mutilative behavior); and affective dysregulation (affective instability, inappropriate anger, and efforts to avoid abandonment). CONCLUSIONS: Exploratory factor analysis revealed three homogeneous components of borderline personality disorder that may represent personality, behavioral, and affective features central to the disorder. Recognition of these components may inform treatment plans.     

Respiratory syncytial virus genotypes and disease severity among children in hospital

OBJECTIVES: To determine the spectrum of N and G genotypes of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causing respiratory tract infection and whether particular genotypes are associated with severity of infection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPAs) were obtained from 114 infants with acute respiratory tract infection due to RSV over two seasons. Viral mRNA was extracted from NPAs or cultured virus, reverse transcribed, and the cDNA amplified by the polymerase chain reaction using primers directed to parts of the N and G gene respectively. Amplicons were separately digested with four different restriction endonucleases for each gene. The fragments were separated by agarose gel, electrophoresis, and the electrophoretic patterns used to assign the various genotypes. Disease severity was assessed as very mild (upper respiratory tract signs only), mild (coryza and signs of lower respiratory tract infection), moderate (requiring nasogastric or intravenous fluids), and severe (requiring oxygen or ventilation). RESULTS: Five of the six known N genotypes were detected, but NP4 and NP2 were found most frequently. There was no association between N genotype and disease severity. Six G (SHL) genotypes were detected. Significantly (p = 0.04) more of the infants infected with the SHL2 genotype had severe or moderate disease. CONCLUSIONS: During the seasonal peaks of RSV respiratory tract infection at least 10 different RSV genotypes cocirculated. While there is no association between N genotypes and disease severity, infection with the SHL2 G genotype appears to result in moderate to severe disease.     

Total but not resting energy expenditure is increased in infants with ventricular septal defects

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of left-to-right shunting on the resting energy expenditure (REE), total energy expenditure (TEE), and energy intake in a group of 3- to 5-month-old infants with moderate to large unrepaired ventricular septal defects (VSDs) compared with age-matched, healthy infants. METHODS: Eight infants with VSDs and 10 healthy controls between 3 to 5 months of age participated in the study. Indirect calorimetry was used to measure REE and the doubly-labeled water method was used to measure TEE and energy intake. An echocardiogram and anthropometric measurements were performed on all study participants. Daily urine samples were collected at home for 7 days. Samples were analyzed by isotope ratio mass spectrometry. Data were compared using analysis of variance. RESULTS: No significant differences were found in REE (VSD, 42.2 +/- 8.7 kcal/kg/d; control, 43.9 +/- 14.1 kcal/kg/d) or energy intake (VSD, 90.8 +/- 19.9 kcal/kg/d; control, 87.1 +/- 11.7 kcal/kg/d) between the groups. The percent total body water was significantly higher in the VSD infants and the percent fat mass was significantly lower. TEE was 40% higher in the VSD group (VSD, 87.6 +/- 10.8 kcal/kg/d; control, 61.9 +/- 10.3 kcal/kg/d). The difference between TEE and REE, reflecting the energy of activity, was 2.5 times greater in the VSD group. CONCLUSIONS: REE and energy intake are virtually identical between the two groups. Despite this, infants with VSDs have substantially higher TEE than age-matched healthy infants. The large difference between TEE and REE in VSD infants suggests a substantially elevated energy cost of physical activity in these infants. These results demonstrate that, although infants with VSDs may match the energy intake of healthy infants, they are unable to meet their increased energy demands, resulting in growth retardation.     

VEGF对缺血/再灌注损伤胰腺细胞凋亡的影响

目的 研究血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)对缺血/再灌注损伤胰腺组织细胞凋亡的影响.方法 将雄性sD大鼠30只随机分为3组(n=10),A组为假手术组,B组为缺血/再灌注损伤组,C组为缺血/再灌注损伤+VEGF反义寡核苷酸组.通过血管夹阻断大鼠腹腔干及肠系膜上动脉30 min,然后去除血管夹再灌注6 h,建立大鼠胰腺缺血/再灌注损伤模型.对各组胰腺组织进行VEGF免疫组化染色及TUNEL法细胞凋亡检测.结果 缺血/再灌注损伤后胰腺组织出现细胞凋亡,同时VEGF蛋白表达上调.缺血/再灌注损伤+VEGF反义寡核苷酸组的胰腺组织VEGF蛋白表达较缺血/再灌注损伤组显著减少(P<0.05),前者细胞凋亡指数较后者明显升高(P<0.05).结论 VEGF能抑制缺血/再灌注损伤胰腺细胞凋亡,可能对胰腺缺血再灌注损伤具有保护作用.