PPARα agonists regulate lipid metabolism and nitric oxide production and prevent placental overgrowth in term placentas from diabetic rats

Maternal diabetes impairs fetoplacental metabolism and growth. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) is a nuclear receptor capable of regulating lipid metabolism and inflammatory pathways. In this study, we analyzed whether placental and fetal PPARα activation regulates lipid metabolism and nitric oxide (NO) production in term placentas from diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced by neonatal streptozotocin administration. On day 21 of pregnancy, placentas from control and diabetic rats were cultured in the presence of PPARα agonists (clofibrate and leukotriene B(4) (LTB(4))) for further evaluation of levels, synthesis, and peroxidation of lipids as well as NO production. Besides, on days 19, 20, and 21 of gestation, fetuses were injected with LTB(4), and the placentas were explanted on day 21 of gestation for evaluation of placental weight and concentrations of placental lipids, lipoperoxides, and NO metabolites. We found that placentas from diabetic rats showed reduced PPARα concentrations. They presented no lipid overaccumulation but reduced lipid synthesis, parameters negatively regulated by PPARα activators. Lipid peroxidation and NO production, increased in placentas from diabetic rats, were negatively regulated by PPARα activators. Fetal PPARα activation in diabetic rats does not change placental lipid concentrations but reduced placental weight and NO production. In conclusion, PPARα activators regulate lipid metabolism and NO production in term placentas from diabetic rats, an activation that regulates placental growth and can partly be exerted by the developing fetus.     

Detection of Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato infection by using extracts derived from a protoscoleces G1 cell line

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) can be diagnosed by means of several serological approaches, but their results vary among laboratories due to the molecular characteristics of the reference antigens used. Thus, this study aimed to address both the relevance of an EGPE cell line previously obtained from Echinococcus granulosus protoscoleces G1 and the complexity of the immune response by using two different in vitro growth stages as separate sources of parasite antigens. The serum reactivity was investigated by western blotting (WB) in 21 CE patients from an endemic area in a matched case‐control design and also in seven experimentally infected sheep and five healthy control sheep. EGPE‐antigen‐human serum sensitivity by WB was higher than that of hydatid fluid (HF) WB, ELISA and DD5 (P < .05, Chi‐square test). EGPE protein extract was immunogenic in mice and hyperimmune plasma reacted with HF proteins, and AgB2 expression was detected by molecular analysis. Proteins of 37 to 60 kDa were recognized by 95.24% of the CE patients’ sera but, with poor specificity. Statistically significant differences were found between serum protein extract recognition at 7 and 20 days of cell growth. The EGPE cell line is a laboratory source of antigens for improvement of CE serological diagnosis.     

Evaluation of Cytotoxic and Mutagenic Effects of Coriolus versicolor and Funalia trogii Extracts on Mammalian Cells

This study examined the in vitro cytotoxic activities of standardized aqueous bioactive extracts prepared from Coriolus versicolor and Funalia trogiiATCC 200800 on HeLa and fibroblast cell lines using a MTT (3-[4,5-dimetiltiazol-2-]-2–5-difeniltetrazolium bromide) cytotoxicity assay. F. trogii and C. versicolor extracts were cytotoxic to both cell lines. At 10 μL treatment level, F. trogii and C. versicolor extracts inhibited proliferation of HeLa cancer cells by 71.5% and 45%, respectively, compared with controls. Toxicity was lower toward normal fibroblasts. In the latter case, treatment at 10 μL level with F. trogii and C. versicolor extracts reduced cell proliferation by 51.3% and 38.7%, respectively. In separate experiments, the mitotic index (MI) obtained with 3 μL treatment level of unheated extracts of the two fungi was comparable to the MI value obtained by treatment with 4 μg/mL MMC (anticancer agent mitomycin-C). A significant induction of sister chromatid exchange (SCE) was observed in normal cultured lymphocytes treated with MMC (4 μg/mL). MMC treatment reduced replication index compared with treatment with unheated F. trogii extract and negative controls (p < 0.001). In contrast to MMC, F. trogii extracts did not affect the proliferation of human lymphocytes compared with controls (p > 0.05). Laccase and peroxidase enzyme activities in F. trogii extract were implicated in their inhibitory effect on cancer cells. F. trogii extract was concluded to have antitumor activity.     

Gender differences in worry and associated cognitive-behavioral variables

Research has shown that there is a significant gender difference in the worry report of women and men, with women often reporting more worry than men. The present study investigated this phenomenon by looking at gender differences in cognitive variables associated with worry; namely, intolerance of uncertainty, negative problem orientation, positive beliefs about worry, and cognitive avoidance. The sample consisted of 217 female and 100 male university students who completed six questionnaires assessing worry and associated cognitive variables. Women reported more worry than men on two measures of the tendency to worry, as well as more worries about lack of confidence issues. Women also reported a more negative problem orientation and engaging in more thought suppression, a type of cognitive avoidance. Thought suppression and negative orientation were found to make a significant contribution to the prediction of worry scores. Moreover, when both variables were controlled, the significant prediction of gender to worry disappeared. Hypotheses accounting for gender differences in thought suppression and negative problem orientation are discussed.     

A 12-month randomized controlled trial of balance training in elderly women with osteoporosis: Improvement of quality of life

Objective

Physical and psychological incapacity, including fear of falling is related to decreased satisfaction with life in osteoporosis (OP). The impact of a balance exercise program on improving the quality of life is not well established. We have, therefore, investigated the effect of 12-month Balance Training Program in quality of life, functional balance and falls in elderly OP women.

Methods

Sixty consecutive women with senile OP were randomized into a Balance Training Group (BT) of 30 patients and no intervention control group (CG) of 30 patients. The BT program included techniques to improve balance over a period of 12 months (1 h exercise session/week and home-based exercises). The quality of life was evaluated before and at the end of the trial using the Osteoporosis Assessment Questionnaire (OPAQ), functional balance was evaluated by Berg Balance Scale (BBS). Falls in the preceding year were noted and compared to the period of study.

Results

The comparison of OPAQ variations (INITIAL–FINAL) revealed a significant improvement in quality of life in all parameters for BT compared to CG: well-being (1.61 ± 1.44 vs. −1.46 ± 1.32, p < 0001), physical function (1.30 ± 1.33 vs. −0.36 ± 0.82, p < 0.001), psychological status (1.58 ± 1.36 vs. −1.02 ± 0.83, p < 0.001), symptoms (2.76 ± 1.96 vs. −0.63 ± 0.87, p < 0.001), social interaction (1.01 ± 1.51 vs. 0.35 ± 1.08, p < 0.001). Of note, this overall benefit was paralleled by an improvement of BBS (−5.5 ± 5.67 vs. +0.5 ± 4.88 p < 0.001) and a reduction of falls in 50% in BT group vs. 26.6% for the CG (RR: 1.88, p < 0.025).

Conclusion

The long-term Balance Training Program of OP women provides a striking overall health quality of life improvement in parallel with improving functional balance and reduced falls.     

Behavioral health care in solid organ transplantation in a pediatric setting

This study examined the demographic, medical, and psychiatric characteristics of transplant patients across organ groups seen by transplant psychology/psychiatry clinicians at a pediatric institution between 2008 and 2014. Chart reviews were conducted to better understand the behavioral health care provided to SOT patients and the role of transplant‐dedicated psychology and psychiatry clinicians. Transplant psychology/psychiatry was consulted a total of 1060 times on 399 unique SOT patients over a 6‐year period. There were no significant differences in the distribution of age, sex, or ethnicity across organ groups. Common reasons for a consultation included pretransplant evaluation, anxiety, depression, agitation, and general coping. Rates varied by organ groups. Twenty percent of consults also received a psychopharmacological evaluation, with differences in rates between organ groups. Roughly one‐third of patients required high frequency of transplant psychology/psychiatry involvement. Lung and heart patients had the highest utilization. Psychiatric diagnosis rates were identified, with adjustment (41.0%) and anxiety disorders (30.1%) being the most common. Pediatric psychology and psychiatry clinicians offer developmentally informed biopsychosocial approaches to treatment for SOT patients. Clarifying the prevalence and nature of behavioral health care provided by organ group can help pediatric providers better understand appropriate psychosocial interventions and resources utilized by this patient population and ultimately guide centers toward a more unified approach to care.     

A genome‐wide analysis of colorectal cancer in a child with Noonan syndrome

Noonan syndrome (NS) is a developmental syndrome caused by germline mutations in the Ras signaling pathway. No association has been shown between NS and pediatric colorectal cancer (CRC). We report the case of CRC in a pediatric patient with NS. The patient underwent whole genome sequencing. A germline SOS1 mutation c.1310T>C (p. Ile437Thr) confirmed NS diagnosis. No known hereditary cancer syndromes were identified. Tumor analysis revealed two mutations: a TP53 missense mutation c.481G>A (p. Ala161Tyr) and NCOR1 nonsense mutation c.6052C>T (p. Arg2018*). This report highlights the complexity of Ras signaling and the interplay between developmental syndromes and cancer.     

The Bold and the Beautiful: a Neurotoxicity Comparison of New World Coral Snakes in the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Micruroides</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Micrurus</Emphasis> Genera and Relative Neutralization by Antivenom

Coral snake envenomations are well characterized to be lethally neurotoxic. Despite this, few multispecies, neurotoxicity and antivenom efficacy comparisons have been undertaken and only for the Micrurus genus; Micruroides has remained entirely uninvestigated. As the USA’s supplier of antivenom has currently stopped production, alternative sources need to be explored. The Mexican manufacturer Bioclon uses species genetically related to USA species, thus we investigated the efficacy against Micrurus fulvius (eastern coral snake), the main species responsible for lethal envenomations in the USA as well as additional species from the Americas. The use of Coralmyn® coral snake antivenom was effective in neutralizing the neurotoxic effects exhibited by the venom of M. fulvius but was ineffective against the venoms of Micrurus tener, Micrurus spixii, Micrurus pyrrhocryptus, and Micruroides euryxanthus. Our results suggest that the Mexican antivenom may be clinically useful for the treatment of M. fulvius in the USA but may be of only limited efficacy against the other species studied.