Familial social support and depression in breast cancer: an exploratory study on a Pakistani sample

This exploratory study investigated the relationship between familial social support and depression in a Pakistani sample of 80 female breast cancer patients, and whether the groups of demographic and medical variables differ on the levels of familial social support and depression. Familial social support and depression were measured by indigenous scales administered in Urdu language and found to be significantly inversely correlated. The groups based on age, number of children, financial sources of treatment, and disease stage differed significantly on familial social support and depression. No significant group differences were found on familial social support and depression between the groups of patients living in joint and nuclear families, and those who had and had not undergone mastectomy. Results are discussed in the respective social and cultural context.     

The effects of the novel benzodiazepine receptor inverse agonist Ru 34000 on ethanol-maintained behaviors

Ru 34000 [5-ethyl-7-methoxy-imidazo (1,2-a) pyrimidin-2-yl cyclopropyl methanone] is a novel imidazopyrimidine benzodiazepine inverse agonist that exhibits low affinity for central benzodiazepine receptors (K_i≈0.98 μM). The present study examined the in vivo actions of Ru 34000 (0.5–5 mg/kg) following intraperitoneal (i.p.), subcutaneous (s.c), oral (p.o.), and intraventral tegmental administration in alcohol-preferring (P) rats trained under a concurrent operant schedule (FR4–FR4) for ethanol (10% v/v) and a palatable saccharin (0.025% or 0.75% w/v) reinforcer. Ru 34000 (i.p., s.c., p.o.) markedly reduced ethanol responding by 28–96% of control levels without affecting saccharin responding, except for the highest dose level. Clear dose-dependent suppressant effects were observed with all routes of administration on ethanol responding. Flumazenil [ethyl-8-fluro-5, 6-dihydro-5-methyl-6-4H-imidazo [1,5-a]-[1,4]-benzodiazepine-3-carboxylate] (6 mg/kg; i.p.), a benzodiazepine receptor antagonist reversed the Ru 34000-reduction of ethanol responding, suggesting that the effects were mediated at the benzodiazepine receptor. Bilateral microinjections of Ru 34000 (50, 100, 200 ng) into the ventral tegmental area dose-dependently reduced ethanol responding by as much as 97% of control levels. The results suggest that the in vivo actions of Ru 34000 are determined not only by its binding affinity, but also by its bioavailability at active benzodiazepine sites and route of drug administration. Low affinity imidazopyrimidines may be useful pharmacological probes to further understand the role of the GABA_A-benzodiazepine receptor complex in ethanol motivated behaviors.     

Prevention of experimental diabetes by Uncaria tomentosa extract: Th2 polarization, regulatory T cell preservation or both?

Ethnopharmacological relevance

Uncaria tomentosa (Willd.) DC (Rubiaceae) is a species native to the Amazon rainforest and surrounding tropical areas that is endowed with immunomodulatory properties and widely used around the world. In this study we investigated the immunomodulatory potential of Uncaria tomentosa (UT) aqueous-ethanol extract on the progression of immune-mediated diabetes.

Materials and methods

C57BL/6 male mice were injected with MLDS (40 mg/kg) and orally treated with UT at 10-400 mg/kg during 21 days. Control groups received MLDS alone or the respective dilution vehicle. Pancreatic mononuclear infiltrate and β-cell insulin content were analyzed by HE and immunohistochemical staining, respectively, and measured by digital morphometry. Lymphocyte immunophenotyping and cytokine production were determined by flow cytometry analysis.

Results

Treating the animals with 50-400 mg/kg of UT caused a significant reduction in the glycemic levels, as well as in the incidence of diabetes. The morphometric analysis of insulitis revealed a clear protective effect. Animals treated with UT at 400 mg/kg presented a higher number of intact islets and a significant inhibition of destructive insulitis. Furthermore, a significant protection against the loss of insulin-secreting presented β-cells was achieved, as observed by a careful immunohistochemical evaluation. The phenotypic analysis indicated that the groups treated with higher doses (100-400 mg/kg) presented CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T-cell values similar to those observed in healthy animals. These same higher doses also increased the number of CD4⁺CD25⁺Foxp3⁺ regulatory T-cells. Moreover, the extract modulated the production of Th1 and Th2, with increased levels of IL-4 and IL-5.

Conclusions

The extract was effective to prevent the progression of immune-mediated diabetes by distinct pathways.     

Usefulness of C-reactive protein as an independent predictor of death in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy

The usefulness of serum C-reactive protein, an inflammatory marker, to predict mortality risk in patients who have ischemic cardiomyopathy was investigated. C-reactive protein was measured in 123 men who underwent cardiac catheterization and were noted to have left ventricular ejection fraction 相似文献