Behavioral and immunohistochemical effects of chronic intravenous and subcutaneous infusions of varying doses of rotenone

Mitochondrial toxins such as the complex 1 inhibitor rotenone are widely used as pesticides and may be present in military environments. Administration of rotenone can induce biochemical and histological alterations similar to those of Parkinson's disease in rats. However, only a subset of animals show these effects and it is unclear whether more subtle alterations are caused by chronic administration of rotenone in those animals that appear resistant to its toxic effects on dopaminergic nerve terminals. To address this question, vehicle or rotenone (2.0, 2.5, or 3.5 mg/kg/day) was administered intravenously or subcutaneously for 21 days to adult rats, and rotenone effects on survival, motor behavior, and striatal tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity (TH-IR) were examined. Both intravenous and subcutaneous rotenone induced a dose-dependent decrease in survival rates. Surviving animals showed a decrease in spontaneous rearing. Locomotor activity and movement initiation time were also altered in some of the experimental groups. Confirming previous results, TH-IR in the striatum was markedly decreased in rats that fell ill early in the study and in a few of the surviving rats with high rotenone doses. However, none of the surviving rats receiving 2.0 mg/kg/day showed TH-IR loss reminiscent of Parkinson's disease, and loss of striatal TH-IR across doses was not correlated with motor behavior in individual rats. Thus, chronic administration of low doses of rotenone induces motor anomalies even in animals that do not develop histological signs of Parkinson's disease, indicating a pervasive neurological effect of moderate mitochondrial dysfunction in vivo.     

Scholastic difficulties with behavioural problems

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed at investigating behavioral problems in children with scholastic skill difficulties. METHOD: A sample of children (n=20) aged 5 to 8 years with scholastic difficulties with those who did not have difficulties was being compared. RESULT: It has revealed the number of externalizing, internalizing and learning problems in children with scholastic difficulties. CONCLUSION: Need for management of behavioral problems along with re-mediation of scholastic difficulties is highlighted.     

Withdrawal of steroid therapy in African American kidney transplant recipients receiving sirolimus and tacrolimus

BACKGROUND: Withdrawal of corticosteroids from the immunosuppressive regimens of kidney transplant recipients has been associated with an increased risk of acute and chronic allograft rejection. Previous studies indicate that the risk of rejection is particularly high in African Americans. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled 44 African American kidney transplant recipients to participate in an uncontrolled trial in which they were initially treated with sirolimus, tacrolimus, and corticosteroids. No patient received antibody induction therapy. Prednisone was withdrawn from eligible patients free of acute rejection beginning as early as 3 months posttransplant, and followed for a minimum of 9 months posttransplant. Patients were followed for acute rejection and for changes in blood pressure, body weight, and serum creatinine concentrations before and after withdrawal of steroids. RESULTS: Thirty of 44 patients (68%) were weaned off of prednisone. Follow-up after withdrawal of prednisone ranged from 3 to 26 months (mean, 14.3+/-7.7 months). Two of 30 patients (6.7%) developed acute rejection. At last follow-up, 27 of 30 patients (90%) remain steroid-free. Steroid withdrawal was associated with significant reductions in blood pressure. CONCLUSIONS: Use of sirolimus and tacrolimus, without the use of induction antibody therapy, allows withdrawal of prednisone as early as 3 months posttransplant with low rates of subsequent acute rejection in African American kidney transplant recipients. Withdrawal of prednisone was associated with lower blood pressures and the need for fewer antihypertensive medications.     

Use of a prone transfer technique in patients with severe hip-flexion restrictions: a report of 3 cases

We report 3 cases in which the prone transfer technique improved the functional status of patients with postoperative restriction of hip flexion. All 3 patients, who had undergone a different type of surgery, were unable to get out of bed without a tilt table, and therefore could not be discharged home. The prone transfer technique enables patients to move from a lying to a standing position with or without the use of a flat board. All 3 patients were discharged home when they could perform this transfer without assistance. It required 10 to 18 sessions of therapy training, which took place in 5 to 9 days. With advancements in surgical techniques, postoperative joint-motion restriction may be seen more frequently in community settings. Prone transfer may provide a low-cost, low-technologic way to mobilize patients with hip-flexion restriction.