The influence of depression, and family and friendship relations, on residents' loneliness in congregate housing

We examined the impact of various social relationships on levels of loneliness reported by 208 elderly residents of 10 senior housing apartments. Because the literature demonstrates a clear relationship between depression and loneliness, this study controlled for depression to provide a more concise look at the condition of loneliness. Those who were less satisfied with the quality of their relationships and had less contact with close friends were more lonely. Whether one had children, grandchildren, siblings, or neighbors had no significant effect on reported loneliness.     

Maternal exposure to fish oil primes offspring to harbor intestinal pathobionts associated with altered immune cell balance

Our previous studies revealed that offspring from rat dams fed fish oil (at 8% and 18% energy), developed impaired intestinal barriers sensitizing the colon to exacerbated injury later in life. To discern the mechanism, we hypothesized that in utero exposure to fish oil, rich in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), caused abnormal intestinal reparative responses to mucosal injury through differences in intestinal microbiota and the presence of naïve immune cells. To identify such mechanisms, gut microbes and naïve immune cells were compared between rat pups born to dams fed either n-6 PUFA, n-3 PUFA or breeder chow. Maternal exposure to either of the PUFA rich diets altered the development of the intestinal microbiota with an overall reduction in microbial density. Using qPCR, we found that each type of PUFA differentially altered the major gut phyla; fish oil increased Bacteroidetes and safflower oil increased Firmicutes. Both PUFA diets reduced microbes known to dominate the infant gut like Enterobacteriaceae and Bifidobacteria spp. when compared to the chow group. Uniquely, maternal fish oil diets resulted in offspring showing blooms of opportunistic pathogens like Bilophila wadsworthia, Enterococcus faecium and Bacteroides fragilis in their gut microbiota. As well, fish oil groups showed a reduction in colonic CD8+ T cells, CD4+ Foxp3+ T cells and arginase+ M2 macrophages. In conclusion, fish oil supplementation in pharmacological excess, at 18% by energy as shown in this study, provides an example where excess dosing in utero can prime offspring to harbor intestinal pathobionts and alter immune cell homeostasis.     

Lipopolysaccharide-induced interleukin (IL)-4 receptor-α expression and corresponding sensitivity to the M2 promoting effects of IL-4 are impaired in microglia of aged mice

In several models of aging, microglia become more inflammatory and reactive to immune challenges. For example, peripheral LPS injection causes exaggerated microglial activation associated with prolonged sickness and depressive-like behavior in aged BALB/c mice. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which age-related amplified microglial activation was associated with reduced sensitivity to the anti-inflammatory and M2 promoting cytokines interleukin (IL)-10 and IL-4. In initial studies with adult mice, LPS induced a time-dependent increase in M1 and M2 mRNA profiles in microglia. Furthermore, peripheral LPS injection markedly increased surface expression of IL-4 receptor-alpha (IL-4Rα), but not IL-10 receptor-1 (IL-10R1) on microglia. In BV-2 cells, IL-4, but not IL-10, re-directed LPS-activated microglia towards an M2 phenotype. Based on these findings, comparisons of M1 and M2 activation profiles, induction of IL-4Rα, and sensitivity to IL-4 were determined in microglia from adult (3-4 mo) and aged (18-22 mo) mice. In aged microglia, LPS promoted an exaggerated and prolonged M1 and M2 profile compared to adults. Moreover, IL-4Rα protein was not increased on aged microglia following LPS injection. To determine the consequence of impaired IL-4Rα upregulation, adult and aged mice were injected with LPS and activated microglia were then isolated and treated ex vivo with IL-4. While ex vivo IL-4 induced an M2 profile in activated microglia from adult mice, activated microglia from aged mice retained a prominent M1 profile. These data indicate that activated microglia from aged mice are less sensitive to the anti-inflammatory and M2-promoting effects of IL-4.     

A recurrent mutation in KCNA2 as a novel cause of hereditary spastic paraplegia and ataxia

The hereditary spastic paraplegias (HSPs) are heterogeneous neurodegenerative disorders with over 50 known causative genes. We identified a recurrent mutation in KCNA2 (c.881G>A, p.R294H), encoding the voltage‐gated K⁺‐channel, K_V1.2, in two unrelated families with HSP, intellectual disability (ID), and ataxia. Follow‐up analysis of > 2,000 patients with various neurological phenotypes identified a de novo p.R294H mutation in a proband with ataxia and ID. Two‐electrode voltage‐clamp recordings of Xenopus laevis oocytes expressing mutant K_V1.2 channels showed loss of function with a dominant‐negative effect. Our findings highlight the phenotypic spectrum of a recurrent KCNA2 mutation, implicating ion channel dysfunction as a novel HSP disease mechanism. Ann Neurol 2016     

Homocysteine, vitamin B12 and folic acid levels in psoriasis patients

Background  Hyperhomocysteinaemia is a risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, stroke, peripheral arterial occlusive disease and venous thrombosis. An association between psoriasis and cardiovascular diseases has been reported.
Aim  The aim of our study was to examine serum homocysteine, folic acid and vitamin B₁₂ levels in psoriasis patients.
Material and methods  We performed a cross-sectional study in 70 consecutive outpatients with chronic plaque psoriasis and 70 age- and gender-matched controls. Serum levels of homocysteine, vitamin B₁₂ and folic acid levels were measured in both groups.
Results  Serum homocysteine, folic acid and vitamin B₁₂ levels did not differ between patient and control groups. In psoriasis patients, homocysteine levels correlated directly with psoriasis severity as measured by psoriasis area and severity index. Serum homocysteine level inversely correlated with serum folic acid levels in the patient group.
Discussion  Homocysteine levels correlated with psoriasis area and severity index in the patient group, which shows the disease severity. The increase in cardiovascular mortality with the severity of psoriasis might be also due to the effects of homocysteine.

Conflicts of interest

None declared     

Root canal treatment using thermoplasticized carrier condensation technique

Background: The management of pulpally and apically infected teeth has evolved into a modality of conservation with predictable degree of success. Root canal treatmentoften requiresprotracted chairside time. A new technique involving placement of thermoplasticized core carrier obturators was compared with conventional lateral condensation technique.