Decrease in pathology and progression of scrapie after immunisation with synthetic prion protein peptides in hamsters

Effective therapy for prion diseases is currently unavailable. Recently, vaccination was shown to be effective in mouse models of a particular neurodegenerative conditions: Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here, we report that vaccination with synthetic oligopeptides homologous to the hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) prion protein augments survival time in animals infected intraperitoneally with 263K scrapie agent. For each hamster included in the study, prion-specific serum antibodies as well as deposition of pathological prion protein (PrP(res)), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and mRNA expression for cytokines (TNF alpha, IL-1beta, IL-10) in brain tissues were evaluated. In immunized animals, increased survival after challenge was associated with a reduction of cerebral lesion, PrP deposition and GFAP expression; in these animals, anti-prion protein peptide antibody levels were increased, and the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF alpha and IL-1beta) was reduced. Vaccination could be an effective therapeutic approach to postpone disease onset.     

Cardiovascular action of 1,2,4-benzothiadiazine-1,1-dioxide derivatives. IX

A series of quaternary ammonium salts of 3-alkylaminoderivatives of 1,2,4-benzothiadiazine-1,1-dioxide were prepared and tested for cardiovascular activity. Almost all the substances tested proved to have some measure of depressant activity on arterial pressure and the most interesting compounds in this respect were (XII), (XIII), (XV) and (XIX) for which hypotensive values between 60 and 70% with respect to the base level were recorded. Compound (XV) also caused increase in the differential pressure and decrease of cardiac frequency. The later however was increased by some other compounds [(XII), (XVIII)]. The structure-activity relationships are discussed taking into account also the activity of the parent tertiary amines.     

Potentiation of morphine analgesia by muscimol

The injection of 0.15 to 0.2 mg/kg of muscimol intravenously, lowered the ED₅₀ dose of morphine in mice and rats. Maximal tolerated doses of muscimol failed to cause alangesia when injected alone     

Molecular structure of 1,7-dichlorotetradecaphenylheptasilane as a model of poly(diphenylsilane)

The molecular and crystal of 1,7-dichlorotetradecaphenylheptasilane Cl(SiPh₂)₇Cl

1 Dedicated to Prof. Dr. H. Sinn on the occasion of his 60th birthday

(I) was determined. The molecule has a helical conformation with the torsion angles SiSiSiSi in the range of 154°–162°. Crystal I is built of infinite polysilane chains extended along the [111] direction and separated by solvating benzene and toluene molecules.     

Do children born before and after adequate birth intervals do better at school?

There are un-verified reports that adequate birth intervals are associated with better physical and mental development children in the school age. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of preceding and succeeding birth intervals on the school performance of 9-10-year-old male Saudi children. This is a cross-sectional study of the performance of Saudi school children in relation to the length of the birth interval before and after the birth of the index child, conducted in Khobar, Eastern Saudi Arabia. A two-stage randomized sampling technique was adopted. Data were collected on scholastic achievements. Data was analyzed using SPSS software using chi-square, linear and logistic regression analysis. Children born after birth intervals longer than 31 months who scored grade A in the year of study, and the year before, were found to be significantly more than children born after intervals less than 17 months. There are more above-average students amongst those born after an interval of 31 months or more compared to those born after a shorter birth interval of 17 months or less according to teachers. Significantly more children born before birth interval longer than 35 months did better at school than children born before interval shorter intervals (less than 19 months). Logistic regression analysis showed that the possibility of classifying the index child as average or above in school performance increased as the succeeding birth interval increased. Results of the study verified previous findings that children born after adequate birth intervals do better at school. The study revealed that the succeeding birth interval in relation to school performance is more significant than the preceding birth interval. Apart from mother's education and breastfeeding, no other variables were found to be significantly related to the birth interval. These findings would enable us to advise couples that by observing a birth interval of around 3 years, their children are likely to do better at school.     

Programmed cell death of myelin basic protein-specific T lymphocytes is reduced in patients with acute multiple sclerosis

We investigated the apoptosis of myelin basic protein (MBP)-specific T lymphocytes in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with acute (AMS) or stable (SMS) MS by evaluating the expression of apoptosis markers on peripheral cells. Cells of healthy controls (HC) were evaluated as well. Results showed that mitogen-stimulated apoptosis was comparable among patients and controls, whereas MBP-stimulated CD4+ and CD8+ 7-AAD+ and 7-AAD+ Fas+ cell (apoptotic cells) were significantly reduced in AMS patients. A reduction of the apoptotic rate of myelin-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes could be involved in the immune-mediated destruction of the myelin sheath seen in AMS patients.     

Differences between early-phase primary psychotic disorders with concurrent substance use and substance-induced psychoses

CONTEXT: The distinction between a substance-induced psychosis and a primary psychotic disorder that co-occurs with the use of alcohol or other drugs is critical for understanding illness course and planning appropriate treatment, yet there has been little study and evaluation of the differences between these 2 diagnostic groups. OBJECTIVE: To identify key demographic, family, and clinical differences in substance-induced psychosis and primary psychotic disorders diagnosed according to DSM-IV criteria using a research diagnostic instrument for psychiatric and substance use comorbidity. DESIGN: Data on demographic, family, and clinical factors were gathered at baseline as part of a 3-year longitudinal study of early-phase psychosis and substance use comorbidity in New York, NY. SETTING: Psychiatric emergency department admissions. PARTICIPANTS: The study is based on a referred sample of 400 subjects interviewed at baseline. Participants had at least 1 psychotic symptom assessed during administration of the research protocol, had used alcohol and/or other drugs within the past 30 days, and had no psychiatric inpatient history before the past 6 months. Subject race included 43.5% black, 42.0% Hispanic, and 14.5% white or other. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Psychotic disorders defined by the DSM-IV. RESULTS: Overall, 169 (44%) were diagnosed as having substance-induced psychosis and 217 (56%), as having primary psychosis. Significant differences were observed in all 3 domains. Multivariate analysis using logistic regression identified the following 3 key predictors as being greater in the substance-induced group: parental substance abuse (odds ratio [OR], 1.69; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.00-2.85), a diagnosis of dependence on any drug (OR, 9.41; 95% CI, 5.26-16.85), and visual hallucinations (OR, 2.13; 95% CI, 1.10-4.13). The key predictor of total positive and negative symptom score was greater in the primary psychosis group (OR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.94-0.97). CONCLUSIONS: Differences in demographic, family, and clinical domains confirm substance-induced and primary psychotic disorders as distinct entities. Key predictors could help emergency clinicians to correctly classify early-phase psychotic disorders that co-occur with substance use.     

Robotic techniques improve quality of life in patients undergoing atrial septal defect repair

BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive cardiac surgery has emerged as an alternative to conventional, open surgery. Although most studies of robotically assisted cardiac surgery have reported morbidity and mortality, few have addressed outcome measures, such as pain and quality of life, which was the aim of this study. METHODS: Eleven patients with atrial septal defects (ASD), and five patients with patent foramen ovale, underwent repair using the Da Vinci system (Intuitive Surgical, Mountain View, CA). The Medical Outcomes Study Short Form Survey (SF-36), along with two additional questions, were administered to these patients on postoperative day 30, along with a similar number of patients who underwent ASD repair by mini-thoracotomy or sternotomy. Quality of life endpoints included bodily pain, vitality, mental health, general health, physical function, and social function. RESULTS: Robotic patients demonstrated significantly higher scores in 6 of the eight variables (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in intensive care unit or overall hospital stay among the groups (p = NS). Robotic patients returned to work after 40.2 +/- 30.2 days, mini-thoracotomy patients after 45.6 +/- 27.9 days, and sternotomy patients after 51.7 +/- 40.2 days (p = 0.767). There were no significant differences in SF-36 scores between patients who underwent mini-thoracotomy and sternotomy approaches. CONCLUSIONS: Closure of an ASD can be performed safely and effectively via an endoscopic approach. Robotic technology minimized the degree of invasiveness, hastened postoperative recovery, and improved quality of life, although length of hospital stay was unchanged.     

Right versus left internal jugular vein catheterization for hemodialysis: complications and impact on ipsilateral access creation

This study investigated whether the anatomical differences between right and left internal jugular vein catheterization (RJVC and LJVC) would lead to differences in the frequency of complications, in particular, central vein occlusion (CVO). A group of 479 jugular vein catheterizations, 403 RJVC and 77 LJVC done in 294 prevalent hemodialysis patients were analyzed. A right-sided carotid pseudoaneurysm was the only major puncture-related complication. A total of 78 RJVC and 17 LJVC were inserted more than once in the same position. Of the RJVC, 44 (10.9%) of 403 were removed because of infection compared with 16 (20.8%) of 77 LJVC (P < 0.02). The overall incidence of infections was 1.58 episodes of infection per 1000 catheter days, 1.57 for RJVC and 3.72 for LJVC, respectively. Catheter dwell times were not different. A group of 127 patients with former RJVC and 44 with LJVC had ipsilateral arteriovenous access (RJVC+ and LJVC+ group, respectively). Four diabetic LJVC+ developed severe arm swelling secondary to CVO leading ultimately to access ligation. The RJVC+ group had no access ligated. LJVC may cause CVO in diabetics.