Neuroanatomical correlates of executive functioning in depressed adults with type 2 diabetes

Depression is often comorbid with type 2 diabetes. Depression may increase vulnerability to and/or exacerbate existing cognitive deficits. Little is known about the brain pathophysiology underlying depression and cognitive abnormalities in diabetes. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship of orbitofrontal and anterior cingulate volumes with executive functioning and attention/processing speed in type 2 diabetic participants with and without major depression. A total of 21 diabetic participants with major depression, 23 diabetic participants with no depression, and 22 healthy controls were compared. Using brain magnetic resonance imaging, volumetric measures of the prefrontal cortex were examined in relation to executive functioning and attention/processing speed. Partial correlations suggested a significant positive relationship between right orbitofrontal regions and executive functioning in the group with diabetes and depression only, indicating that neurobiological changes in the orbitofrontal region may contribute to observed cognitive dysfunction.     

Acute complications of movement disorders surgery: Effects of age and comorbidities

The most common indication for movement disorder surgery is Parkinson's disease (PD), and the incidence of PD increases with age. The analysis reported here was undertaken with the primary goal of examining whether there is a relationship between peri‐operative complications and age. The Nationwide Inpatient Sample (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD, USA) was queried for 10 years beginning in 1999 for patients undergoing deep brain stimulator insertion, pallidotomy, and thalamotomy for treatment of PD, essential tremor, and dystonia. Inpatient complications, including death, stroke (both ischemic and hemorrhagic), and other overall complications were examined. The relative risks associated with advanced age; primary diagnosis; treatment modality; the diagnoses of hypertension, diabetes, and nicotinism; and the cumulative number of comorbidities were examined. There were 5464 patients who met inclusion criteria, including 4145 patients treated for PD and 4961 patients treated with deep brain stimulation (DBS). Overall in‐hospital mortality was 0.26%, with 0.15% related to surgical factors. There was a correlation between in‐hospital mortality, increasing age, and number of medical comorbidities. After multivariate regression no factor remained predictive of mortality. Having more than 1 medical comorbidity or PD increased the risk of in‐hospital complications. Patients with PD were more likely to suffer hemorrhage or stroke. Hypertension, diabetes, nicotinism, and modality of treatment were not associated with increased mortality, hemorrhage or stroke risk, or in‐hospital mortality in univariate or multivariate analysis. Both age and medical comorbidity are correlated with in‐hospital complications, but age appears to serve as a surrogate for comorbidity. Surgery for PD appears to carry an increased risk of hemorrhage or stroke and in‐hospital complications. © 2013 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society     

In vitro cytotoxicities of ionic liquids: effect of cation rings, functional groups, and anions

In vitro cytotoxicities were measured for ionic liquids (ILs) containing various cations and anions using the MCF7 human breast cancer cell line. We measured the cytotoxicities of ionic liquids containing the cations pyridinium, pyrrolidinium, piperidinium, or imidazolium with various alkyl chain lengths, and the anions bromide, bis(trifluoromethanesulfone)imide (Tf(2)N), trifluoromethylsulfonate (TfO), or nonafluoromethylsulfonate (NfO). Three new hydrophobic, task-specific ionic liquids (TSILs), namely, [MBCNPip](+)[Tf(2)N](-), [MPS(2)Pip](+)[Tf(2)N](-), and [MPS(2)Pyrro](+)[Tf(2)N](-) designed for metal-ion extraction were also evaluated. IC(50) values of the ionic liquids toward the MCF7 cells ranged from 8 microM to 44 mM. The toxicity depended significantly on the nature of the cations and anions, especially when the cations contained a long side chain. TSILs studied in this work were less toxic than the classical ILs.     

Characterization of 107 genomic DNA reference materials for CYP2D6, CYP2C19, CYP2C9, VKORC1, and UGT1A1: a GeT-RM and Association for Molecular Pathology collaborative project

Pharmacogenetic testing is becoming more common; however, very few quality control and other reference materials that cover alleles commonly included in such assays are currently available. To address these needs, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Genetic Testing Reference Material Coordination Program, in collaboration with members of the pharmacogenetic testing community and the Coriell Cell Repositories, have characterized a panel of 107 genomic DNA reference materials for five loci (CYP2D6, CYP2C19, CYP2C9, VKORC1, and UGT1A1) that are commonly included in pharmacogenetic testing panels and proficiency testing surveys. Genomic DNA from publicly available cell lines was sent to volunteer laboratories for genotyping. Each sample was tested in three to six laboratories using a variety of commercially available or laboratory-developed platforms. The results were consistent among laboratories, with differences in allele assignments largely related to the manufacturer's assay design and variable nomenclature, especially for CYP2D6. The alleles included in the assay platforms varied, but most were identified in the set of 107 DNA samples. Nine additional pharmacogenetic loci (CYP4F2, EPHX1, ABCB1, HLAB, KIF6, CYP3A4, CYP3A5, TPMT, and DPD) were also tested. These samples are publicly available from Coriell and will be useful for quality assurance, proficiency testing, test development, and research.     

Validation of Tamil Version of Cranley’s 24-Item Maternal–Fetal Attachment Scale in Indian Pregnant Women

Background

Maternal–fetal attachment has not been formally studied among pregnant Indian women using Cranley’s 24-item maternal–fetal attachment scale.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to validate the Cranley’s 24-item maternal–fetal attachment scale (MFAS-24).

Methods

Consecutive pregnant Indian women of all trimesters were studied in Pondicherry, India.

Statistical Analysis

The mean, standard deviation (SD), Cronbach’s alpha, content validity index (CVI), correlation coefficient, and simple correlation analyses were calculated.

Results

230 pregnant women of various sociodemographic, religious and educational background formed the sample. Mean age of sample was 23 (SD ± 3) years, mean MFAS scores was 87.4 (SD ± 10), mean GHQ scores was 14 (SD ± 1.2), and mean gestational age was 27.2 (SD ± 7) weeks. Cronbach’s reliability alpha of MFAS was high (0.71). There was no correlation between MFAS scores and gestational age or the pregnancy trimester. CVI of the scale, for the Tamil version was 0.72 and for the English version was 0.78.

Conclusions

This study shows applicability of MFAS-24 in Indian settings also for measuring maternal–fetal attachment.     

Identification and characterisation of proteins associated with the rhoptry organelles of Plasmodium falciparum merozoites

We describe antigens of Plasmodium falciparum recognised by murine monoclonal antibodies which by immunofluorescence react with the rhoptry organelles of the extracellular merozoite stage. Immunoblotting shows that the antibodies recognise two major parasite antigens of M_r 82 and 65 kilodaltons (kDa). Immunoprecipitations from detergent extracts of [³⁵S]-methioninelabelled parasites show that the 82-kDa and 65-kDa antigens are parasite proteins. Pulse-chase experiments on synchronous parasite cultures show that the 82-kDa protein is synthesised during early schizogony and is later processed into the 65-kDa antigen in segmenting schizonts. In Nonidet P-40, these antigens are non-covalently associated with two other proteins of 40 kDa and 42 kDa. The 40/42-kDa doublet is synthesised in parallel with the 82 kDa antigen and persists, apparently unchanged, till the end of the cell cycle.Abbreviations HEPES N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazine-N-2-ethanesulfonic acid - EDTA ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid - EGTA ethyleneglycolbis-(aminoethylether) tetraacetic acid - PMSF phenylmethylsulphonylfluoride - TLCK tosyl-L-lysine chloromethyl ketone - SDS-PAGE sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis - M _r relative molecular mass     

Circulating levels of the antiangiogenic marker sFLT-1 are increased in first versus second pregnancies

Preeclampsia is far more common in women's first pregnancy but the mechanism of this association is unknown. Altered angiogenesis, marked by increased levels of circulating soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase (sFlt-1), an inhibitor of placental growth factor (PlGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. We tested the hypothesis that nulliparous women demonstrate increased sFlt-1 levels compared with multiparous women, suggesting an overall increase in relative antiangiogenesis during first pregnancies. We measured sFlt-1 and PlGF levels in early pregnancy serum samples from the first 2 completed pregnancies of 97 women who participated in the MOMS cohort study. Repeated measures analyses demonstrated that sFlt-1 levels were significantly increased in first compared with second pregnancies (877+/-598 pg/mL vs 728+/-399 pg/mL; P=.01) but there was no significant difference in PlGF levels (45.3+/-40.7 pg/mL vs 40.1+/-31.9 pg/mL; P=.14). After adjusting for age, gestational age, blood pressure, body mass index, smoking, and the interpregnancy time interval, the residual decrease in sFlt-1 levels from the first to the second pregnancy remained significant at 107 pg/mL (P=.04). Significant interaction between ethnicity and pregnancy order on sFlt-1 levels was observed such that Hispanic women demonstrated greater sFlt-1 levels than white women during their first pregnancy but lower levels in their second pregnancies. Increased sFlt-1 secretion in first versus second pregnancies may account in part for the increased risk of preeclampsia among nulliparous women. Additional studies are needed to verify these findings and to further examine ethnic differences in angiogenesis factors and their potential impact on the incidence of preeclampsia.     

PCR-Enzyme Immunoassay for Detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae DNA in Cerebrospinal Fluid Samples from Patients With Culture-Negative Meningitis

A PCR-based assay was developed to amplify a conserved region of the pneumococcal autolysin gene. The amplified product was labelled with digoxigenin-labelled dUTP and was detected with a biotin-labelled probe in an enzyme immunoassay (EIA). The assay was initially tested with suspensions of various serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae and other gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and was then applied to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens from patients with meningitis and those with other neurological disorders. The assay detected all the serotypes of S. pneumoniae tested, whereas all the other bacterial strains tested were negative. Seven of the 8 CSF specimens positive for pneumococcus by culture or latex agglutination (LA) were positive by PCR-EIA, whereas all 10 specimens positive for other organisms were negative. Among 11 patients with clinically diagnosed meningitis but with negative culture and LA results, 5 were positive by PCR-EIA. The assay was negative for all but one patient without meningitis; it was positive with the CSF from a child with immunodeficiency and pneumococcal abscesses on the scalp. PCR-EIA is a useful tool for the diagnosis of meningitis, especially when culture and LA are negative because of prior antibiotic treatment.