Alteration of nociceptive integration in the spinal cord of a rat model of Parkinson's disease

Background : Pain is a major non motor symptom that contributes to impaired quality of life in PD. However, its mechanism is unknown. Objectives and Methods : We sought to identify the pain phenotypes and parallel changes in spinal integration of peripheral stimuli in a rat model of PD induced by lesions of SN dopamine neurons, using behavioral plantar and von Frey tests as well as electrophysiology of the dorsal horn. Results : We show that dopamine depletion by 6‐OHDA induced hypersensitivity to mechanical and thermal stimuli. These abnormal behaviors were paralleled by increased neuronal responses and hyperexcitability of wide dynamic range neurons of lamina V of the dorsal horn of the spinal cord in response to electrical stimulation of the sciatic nerve in the 6‐OHDA model as compared to sham rats. Conclusions : These results provide evidence for alteration of nociceptive integration in the spinal dorsal horn neurons in 6‐OHDA rats that can reflect changes in pain behavior. © 2018 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society     

High neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio in schizophrenia independent of infectious and metabolic parameters

Background: Immunological and inflammatory mechanisms play an important role in schizophrenia. In the literature, there are studies investigating neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) association with schizophrenia.

Aims: The purpose of this study was to compare NLR values between patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls. In addition, the study aimed to investigate the relationship between NLR and disease severity and some metabolic/inflammatory parameters.

Methods: Fifty-two patients diagnosed with schzophrenia and 53 healthy controls were included in the study. A socio-demographic information form was filled out by the clinician. Height, body weight, waist and hip circumference and blood pressure values of each patient were measured. Severity of disease was assessed by positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS) and clinical global impression-severity scale (CGI-S). Complete blood count was performed to both patient and control groups. Fasting blood glucose, insulin, HbA1c, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), triglyceride, total cholesterol and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured.

Results: The number of leukocytes, neutrophils, monocytes and NLR values in patients with schizophrenia was significantly higher than in the control group. There was no significant relationship between NLR values and the number of hospitalisation, duration of ilness or disease severity in patients. There was no correlation between other laboratory findings and NLR values.

Conclusion: NLR levels are high in schizophrenia independent of metabolic parameters according to the results. So, it can be considered that inflammatory processes may play a role in the etiology of the disease.     

Management of paediatric dermatological emergencies

Most skin diseases can be safely managed in outpatients; however, in a significant proportion of cases, immediate and aggressive intervention is required. Recognition of these more serious and potentially life-threatening dermatological presentations is imperative in order to provide correct emergency treatment and limit morbidity and mortality. This article looks at conditions which may present in childhood that might require urgent treatment. These include infection, drug reactions, erythroderma, congenital ichthyoses (especially collodian baby and Harlequin ichthyosis), Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, infantile haemangiomas and epidermolysis bullosa.     

Genotoxicity assessment of carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) fingerlings by tissue DNA damage and micronucleus test, after environmental exposure to fenitrothion

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the adverse effects of sublethal doses of fenitrothion, an organophosphothionate insecticide on brain, gill, liver, and muscle tissues as a ratio of 8-OHdG to dG to indicate the DNA damage and erythrocyte micronucleus frequency for genotoxicity of carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) fingerlings. In our study, the mean weights and lengths of the fish (n?=?4-12) were 31.13?±?14.24?g and 12.53?±?1.41, respectively. Before the experiment, fish were maintained in aerated dechlorinated tap water at 21.8?±?1 °C and fed daily with commercial feed at a rate of 2% of their body weights. Experiments were conducted under static conditions in the aquaria. Technical grade (95%) fenitrothion was diluted in acetone to give a dosing solution of 10?mg/L. The increased lesions/10? DNA bases (p?相似文献   

Various simultaneous nail changes due to valproic acid use

There are only a few case reports about nail changes due to valproic acid in the literature despite its widespread use. We present a 50-year-old man who had onycholysis, roughness of the nail surface and brownish-yellow discoloration of both fingernails and toenails, which remarkably ameliorated upon cessation of valproic acid.     

Depression statuses and related predictors in later life: A 10-year follow-up study in Israel

The aim of the current study was to investigate the factors associated with depression statuses in a 10-year follow-up of community-dwelling older adults in Israel. Longitudinal data were used from the Israeli sample of the Survey of Health, Aging and Retirement in Europe, assessing the depressive symptoms in 1042 respondents, aged 50 or above, at three time points: 2004/2005 (Wave I); 2009/2010 (Wave II); and 2014/2015 (Wave III). Multinomial logistic regression was used to determine the relationships among explanatory variables and depression statuses (no-depression, intermittent depression, or persistent depression). Some 46.5 % of the participants suffered from intermittent or persistent depression. Five factors were associated with increasing the probability of both intermittent and persistent depression: being female, unemployed, less educated, physically disabled, and in poor health. Five other explanatory variables were associated only with a higher risk for persistent depression: low family income, widowhood, physical inactivity, more than two chronic diseases, and cognitive dysfunction. According to these findings, depression is common among older people in Israel. Low socio-economic status and poor subjective and physical health are significant determinants of depression statuses over time, underlining the importance of taking measures to improve these conditions in order to reduce the risk of depression in old age.     

Synthesis,acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) activities,and molecular docking studies of a novel compound based on combination of flurbiprofen and isoniazide

Synthesis of a compound with balanced bioactivities against a specific target is always a challenging task. In this study, a novel compound (1) has been synthesized by combination of flurbiprofen and isoniazide and shows ∼2.5 times enhanced acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition activity and ∼1.7 times improved butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) inhibition activity compared to flurbiprofen and a standard drug (i.e. physostigmine). A comparative AutoDock study has been performed, based on the optimized structure, by the DFT/B3LYP method, which confirmed that compound (1) is more active against AChE and BuChE, with calculated binding energies of −12.9 kcal mol⁻¹ and −9.8 kcal mol⁻¹ respectively as compared to flurbiprofen and an eserine (physostigmine) standard for which the binding energy was calculated to be −10.1 kcal mol⁻¹ and −8.9 kcal mol⁻¹, respectively. A mixed mode of inhibition of AChE and BuChE with compound 1 was confirmed by Lineweaver–Burk plots. AChE and BuChE inhibition activity alongside docking results suggests that compound (1) could be used for treatment of Alzheimer''s disease. Moreover, compound (1) also exhibit better α-chymotrypsin activity compared to flurbiprofen. Furthermore, in vitro and in vivo analysis confirmed that compound (1) exhibit more activity and less toxicity than the parent compounds.

A novel compound (1) shows ∼2.5 and ∼1.7 times enhanced AChE inhibition activity and BuChE inhibition activity respectively compared to flurbiprofen and standard drug (i.e. physostigmine). It has also been confirmed by comparative AutoDock studies.     

Reaction control of metal-assisted chemical etching for silicon-based zone plate nanostructures

Metal-assisted chemical etching (MACE) reaction parameters were investigated for the fabrication of specially designed silicon-based X-ray zone plate nanostructures using a gold catalyst pattern and etching solutions composed of HF and H₂O₂. Etching depth, zone verticality and zone roughness were studied as a function of etching solution composition, temperature and processing time. Homogeneous, vertical etching with increasing depth is observed at increasing H₂O₂ concentrations and elevated processing temperatures, implying a balance in the hole injection and silica dissolution kinetics at the gold–silicon interface. The etching depth decreases and zone roughness increases at the highest investigated H₂O₂ concentration and temperature. Possible reasons for these observations are discussed based on reaction chemistry and zone plate design. Optimum MACE conditions are found at HF : H₂O₂ concentrations of 4.7 M : 0.68 M and room temperature with an etching rate of ≈0.7 μm min⁻¹, which is about an order of magnitude higher than previous reports. Moreover, our results show that a grid catalyst design is important for successful fabrication of vertical high aspect ratio silicon nanostructures.

Specially designed X-ray zone plates with high aspect-ratios have been fabricated via metal-assisted chemical etching, by controlling the reaction kinetics.