A novel GH secretagogue, A233, exhibits enhanced growth activity and innate immune system stimulation in teleosts fish

In teleosts fish, secretion of GH is regulated by several hypothalamic factors that are influenced by the physiological state of the animal. There is an interaction between immune and endocrine systems through hormones and cytokines. GH in fish is involved in many physiological processes that are not overtly growth related, such as saltwater osmoregulation, antifreeze synthesis, and the regulation of sexual maturation and immune functions. This study was conducted to characterize a decapeptide compound A233 (GKFDLSPEHQ) designed by molecular modeling to evaluate its function as a GH secretagogue (GHS). In pituitary cell culture, the peptide A233 induces GH secretion and it is also able to increase superoxide production in tilapia head-kidney leukocyte cultures. This effect is blocked by preincubation with the GHS receptor antagonist [d-Lys(3)]-GHRP6. Immunoneutralization of GH by addition of anti-tilapia GH monoclonal antibody blocked the stimulatory effect of A233 on superoxide production. These experiments propose a GH-mediated mechanism for the action of A233. The in vivo biological action of the decapeptide was also demonstrated for growth stimulation in goldfish and tilapia larvae (P<0.001). Superoxide dismutase levels, antiprotease activity, and lectin titer were enhanced in tilapia larvae treated with this novel molecule. The decapeptide A233 designed by molecular modeling is able to function as a GHS in teleosts and enhance parameters of the innate immune system in the fish larvae.     

Perception of worsening health predicts mortality in older men: The Health in Men Study (HIMS)

The main purpose of this study was to determine the most robust predictor of mortality among global self-rated health (SRH), time-comparative SRH or a combination of both measures. We also sought to determine factors associated with global SRH and time-comparative SRH measures. A prospective cohort study of 5583 community-dwelling older men aged 70 years or over living in Perth, Western Australia, was used. Older age, depressive symptoms, low social support, sensory impairment, presence of pain, and high Charlson score index were associated with both SRH measures. Global and time-comparative SRH were independent predictors of all-cause mortality (adjusted hazard ratio, HR=1.24 vs. 1.41 respectively); and the risk of death was almost doubled in those with both negative global SRH and perception of worsening health over the preceding 12 months (adjusted HR 1.98, 95%CI 1.58-2.47). In this group, the rate of death was especially high during the initial four years of follow up. We concluded that the two measures of SRH are likely to reflect the same domains of health, and the simultaneous use of both measures is the best predictor of short to medium term mortality.     

A Randomized Trial Investigating the Influence of Strength Training on Quality of Life in Ischemic Stroke

Background: Strength training post stroke is widely acknowledged as an important part of a rehabilitation program. Muscle strength has been shown to be a significant contributor to physical disability after stroke, which in turn has an immense impact on the reintegration of patients into society, affecting their quality of life.

Objective: This was a randomized intervention trial to determine the effect of a resistance training program on the quality of life in patients with stroke.

Methods: An experimental group (EG), consisting of 11 subjects aged 51.7 ± 8.0 years, and a control group (CG), consisting of 13 subjects aged 52.5 ± 7.7 years, were studied before and after 12 weeks. EG underwent 12 weeks of strength training three times a week. The CG did not undergo strength training during the 12-week study period.

Results: There was a significant increase in quality of life from pre-test to post-test (Δ% = 21.47%; p = 0.021) in EG. There were significant differences in all indicators of quality of life between groups at 12 weeks. There were greater gains in strength in EG than in CG (p ≤ 0.05). There was a negative correlation between the strength gains as determined with the 1RM test and the quality of life, especially in lower limb exercises.

Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that there was an improvement in the measures of strength in EG, and that there was a correlation between improvements in strength and quality of life in these patients who had previously suffered a stroke at least one year prior to study.     

Acute Renal Failure and Hypercalcemia

Hypercalcemia can result from excessive bone resorption, renal calcium retention, excessive intestinal calcium absorption, or a combination of these conditions. Hypercalcemia may also provoke acute renal failure (ARF) or hypertension, or aggravate the tubular necrosis that is frequently found in cases of ARF. The association of ARF and hypercalcemia was studied retrospectively in eight patients based in the data in their charts. Data are expressed as median and percentile (25th; 75th). Our results show that ARF associated with hypercalcemia was related with comorbidity in all cases (cancer, multiple myeloma, hyperparathyroidism, sarcoidosis, vitamin D intoxication, and leprosy). Maximum median serum creatinine levels were 3.3 mg/dL (2.7, 3.8 mg/dL) before treatment and 1.1 mg/dL (0.9, 1.3 mg/dL) after treatment. Maximum total median serum calcium was 15.9 mg/dL (13.5, 19.8 mg/dL) before treatment and 9.1 mg/dL (8.4, 9.7 mg/dL) after treatment. Maximum median ionized serum calcium was 2.1 mmol/L (1.8, 2.2 mmol/L) before treatment and 1.1 mmol/L (1.0, 1.2 mmol/L) after treatment. Different kinds of treatment induced a rapid fall in serum calcium concentration. All patients were treated with hydration and diuretics, and three patients also received calcitonin. Serum creatinine concentration always fell simultaneously with the decrease in serum calcium in all cases. All patients progressed with nonoliguric renal failure. In conclusion, in ARF, patients are frequently hypocalcemic. Usually, the presence of hypercalcemia associated with ARF is indicative of the presence of comorbidity, as observed in all eight patients studied here. There was an improvement of renal function in all cases as serum calcium levels decreased.     

Effects of unilateral stereotactic posterior striatotomy on harmaline‐induced tremor in rats

Although long known and the most prevalent movement disorder, pathophysiology of essential tremor (ET) remains controversial. The most accepted hypothesis is that it is caused by a dysfunction of the olivocerebellar system. Vilela Filho et al. [2001; Stereotact Funct Neurosurg 77:149–150], however, reported a patient with unilateral hand ET that was completely relieved after a stroke restricted to the contralateral posterior putamen and suggested that ET could be the clinical manifestation of posterior putamen hyperactivity. The present study was designed to evaluate this hypothesis in the most often used model of ET, harmaline‐induced tremor in rats. Fifty‐four male Wistar rats were randomly distributed into three groups: experimental (EG), surgical control (SCG), and pharmacological control (PCG) groups. EG animals underwent stereotactic unilateral posterior striatotomy. SCG rats underwent sham lesion at the same target. PCG served exclusively as controls for harmaline effects. All animals received, postoperatively, intraperitoneal harmaline, and the induced tremor was video‐recorded for later evaluation by a blind observer. Thirteen animals were excluded from the study. Limb tremor was reduced ipsilaterally to the operation in 20 of 21 rats of EG and in two of nine of SCG, being asymmetric in one of 10 of PCG rats. Comparisons between EG × SCG and EG × PCG were statistically significant, but not between SCG × PCG. Limb tremor reduction was greater in anterior than in posterior paws. Lateral lesions yielded better results than medial lesions. These results suggest that the posterior striatum is involved with harmaline‐induced tremor in rats and support the hypothesis presented. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Intraspecific variation of second internal transcribed spacer of nuclear ribosomal DNA among populations of Anopheles (Kerteszia) cruzii (Diptera: Culicidae)

Anopheline species of the subgenus Kerteszia, including Anopheles (Kerteszia) cruzii Dyar & Knab (Diptera: Culicidae), are bromeliad-malaria vectors in the Atlantic rain forest of Brazil. Morphological, genetic, and molecular polymorphisms among different populations of An. cruzii have been reported, and it has been suggested that this taxon includes a complex of cryptic species. Specimens of An. cruzii were collected in the states of SHo Paulo and Santa Catarina, from locations where autochthonous malaria cases have been reported during the last decade. The second internal transcribed spacers (ITS2) of nuclear ribosomal DNA of the captured specimens were sequenced and compared with each other. Intraspecific ITS2 sequence polymorphisms were identified, and nucleotide divergence among specimens varied from 0.3 to 0.9%. The number of nucleotides in the ITS2 sequences of these mosquitoes varied from 327 to 334, and the CG contents varied from 61.7 to 62%. The data provide further indication of An. cruzii being a complex of cryptic species.