Neuropeptide Y is important for basal and seizure-induced precursor cell proliferation in the hippocampus

We have shown that neuropeptide Y (NPY) regulates neurogenesis in the normal dentate gyrus (DG) via Y(1) receptors (Howell, O.W., Scharfman, H.E., Herzog, H., Sundstrom, L.E., Beck-Sickinger, A. and Gray, W.P. (2003) Neuropeptide Y is neuroproliferative for post-natal hippocampal precursor cells. J Neurochem, 86, 646-659; Howell, O.W., Doyle, K., Goodman, J.H., Scharfman, H.E., Herzog, H., Pringle, A., Beck-Sickinger, A.G. and Gray, W.P. (2005) Neuropeptide Y stimulates neuronal precursor proliferation in the post-natal and adult dentate gyrus. J Neurochem, 93, 560-570). This regulation may be relevant to epilepsy, because seizures increase both NPY expression and precursor cell proliferation in the DG. Therefore, the effects of NPY on DG precursors were evaluated in normal conditions and after status epilepticus. In addition, potentially distinct NPY-responsive precursors were identified, and an analysis performed not only of the DG, but also the caudal subventricular zone (cSVZ) and subcallosal zone (SCZ) where seizures modulate glial precursors. We show a proliferative effect of NPY on multipotent nestin cells expressing the stem cell marker Lewis-X from both the DG and the cSVZ/SCZ in vitro. We confirm an effect on proliferation in the cSVZ/SCZ of Y(1) receptor(-/-) mice and demonstrate a significant reduction in basal and seizure-induced proliferation in the DG of NPY(-/-) mice.     

White matter lesions are associated with the results of I-metaiodobenzylguanidine myocardial scintigraphy in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients

White matter lesions (WMLs) and cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction are associated with high mortality in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. This preliminary study was therefore designed to test the hypothesis that WML is associated with insulin resistance and cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients without insulin treatment. Based on brain magnetic resonance imaging findings, 55 type 2 diabetes mellitus patients were divided into 2 groups: a WML-positive group (59 ± 5 years [mean ± SD], n = 21) and a WML-negative group (58 ± 6 years, n = 34). Cardiovascular autonomic function was assessed by baroreflex sensitivity, heart rate variability, plasma norepinephrine concentrations, and cardiac ¹²³I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) scintigraphy. Baroreflex sensitivity was lower in the WML-positive group than in the WML-negative group (P < .01). Early and delayed ¹²³I-MIBG myocardial uptake values were lower (P < .005 and P < .001, respectively) and the percentage washout rate (WR) of ¹²³I-MIBG was higher (P < .0001) in the WML-positive group than in the WML-negative group. The fasting plasma glucose (P < .005) and insulin concentrations (P < .0001) and the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) index values (P < .0001) were higher in the WML-positive group than in the WML-negative group. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that HOMA index and percentage WR of ¹²³I-MIBG were associated with WML patients. Our results suggested that WML was associated with depressed cardiovascular autonomic function and insulin resistance and that HOMA index and the percentage WR of ¹²³I-MIBG were independent associations for WML in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.     

Public knowledge and awareness of cardiovascular disease and its risk factors: a cross‐sectional study of 1000 Jordanians

Objective To assess the level of the current knowledge and understanding of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among Jordan's general public, their behaviour towards CVD and the factors associated with different CVD knowledge levels. Methods The data in the present study were collected using an interview‐administered questionnaire. One thousand members of the general public were interviewed face to face. CVD knowledge was computed as a continuous variable. Key findings The present study reports limited public knowledge and awareness of CVD. Participants were more likely to have better CVD knowledge scores if they were non‐smokers, always or often paid attention to their diet, reported having an ‘about right’ weight, occupied a very high socioeconomic level, held a university degree and had positive family history of CVD. Participants indicated that the community pharmacists had to play a role in helping patients manage their prescribed medicines; however, they did not recognise the community pharmacists' role in other areas of CVD prevention and management. Conclusion The present study reports that the general public in Jordan has limited knowledge and awareness of CVD. In planning to positively impact CVD prevention and management, community pharmacists must develop and promote effective and accessible services.     

Eosinophilic gastroenteritis in a patient with chronic hepatitis C who received treatment with pegylated interferon

A 54-year-old male was treated for chronic hepatitis C with pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) ??-2a administered for 24?weeks. HCV-RNA was negative at 24?weeks after treatment, showing sustained virological response (SVR). Abdominal distention and diarrhea were observed 28?weeks after commencing the treatment, i.e., 4?weeks after completing treatment. The elevation of eosinophil count was observed in blood tests and ascites, and because eosinophilic infiltration was also observed on gastrointestinal histopathology, the patient was diagnosed with eosinophilic enteritis. As the eosinophil count spontaneously improved and abdominal symptoms disappeared, the patient was not treated with steroids. The onset of eosinophilic enteritis during interferon therapy is comparatively rare. In this case, PEG-IFN was considered to be the causative factor. Furthermore, we suggested that subserosal eosinophilic enteritis may have characteristic symptoms in patients having hepatic diseases treated with interferon.     

Removal of acenaphthene from water by Triton X-100-facilitated biochar-immobilized Pseudomonas aeruginosa

By adding the nonionic surfactant Triton X-100 and using biochar as an immobilization carrier, a Triton X-100-facilitated biochar-immobilized Pseudomonas aeruginosa (TFBIP) material was prepared using the sorption method and was used to treat acenaphthene in water. The results showed that a low concentration of Triton X-100 simultaneously promoted the sorption capacity of the biochar and the degradation activity of P. aeruginosa, thereby significantly enhancing the removal of acenaphthene from water by the immobilized P. aeruginosa material. Compared with the control without Triton X-100, a low concentration of Triton X-100 significantly increased the acenaphthene removal rate by 20–50%. The optimal conditions for preparing the TFBIP were a loading time of 24 h, the use of a bacterial suspension with a concentration of OD₆₀₀ = 0.2, and a Triton X-100 concentration of 10 mg L⁻¹. The optimized TFBIP material could efficiently remove acenaphthene from water at temperatures of 10–50 °C, pH values of 4.5–10.5, and NaCl concentrations of up to 0.2 mol L⁻¹. The new TFBIP material can be used for the treatment of wastewater and may also be directly used for the remediation of soils contaminated with organic pollutants.

A new efficient PAH-degrading bacterial material was produced by using biochar as an immobilization carrier and adding nonionic surfactant.     

Role of insulin resistance in nondipper essential hypertensive patients.

In hypertensive patients, diminished nocturnal blood pressure (BP) fall is associated with poor prognosis for cardiovascular events. However, the relation of insulin resistance with the etiology of nondipper essential hypertension remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to assess the role of insulin resistance in diminished nocturnal BP fall, left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), and increased plasma atrial (ANP) and brain natriuretic peptides (BNP) in essential hypertensive patients. One hundred and three patients with essential hypertension were divided into dippers (n = 57; age: 57 +/- 5 years, mean +/- SD) or age-matched nondippers (n = 46; 57 +/- 4 years), based on ambulatory BP (ABP) monitoring. Although the systolic and diastolic ABP values were similar during the day, those at night were higher in nondippers than in dippers ( p < 0.0001 for each). Echocardiographic findings revealed that the left ventricular mass index (LVMI) was higher in nondippers (p < 0.0001). Plasma ANP and BNP were also higher in nondippers (p < 0.0001 for each). Fasting plasma concentrations of glucose and insulin (p < 0.0001 for each) and the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) index (p < 0.0001) were also higher in nondippers. Multivariate analysis revealed that systolic ABP at night was a significant factor for LVMI, ANP and BNP. In addition, the HOMA index was a significant factor for LVMI and BNP. These observations suggest that diminished nocturnal BP fall is closely related to the development of LVH with concomitant increase in BNP in essential hypertensive patients, and that insulin resistance may play a key role in these processes.     

A nationwide genetic analysis of inherited retinal diseases in Israel as assessed by the Israeli inherited retinal disease consortium (IIRDC)

Inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) cause visual loss due to dysfunction or progressive degeneration of photoreceptors. These diseases show marked phenotypic and genetic heterogeneity. The Israeli IRD consortium (IIRDC) was established in 2013 with the goal of performing clinical and genetic mapping of the majority of Israeli IRD patients. To date, we recruited 2,420 families including 3,413 individuals with IRDs. On the basis of our estimation, these patients represent approximately 40% of Israeli IRD patients. To the best of our knowledge, this is, by far, the largest reported IRD cohort, and one of the first studies addressing the genetic analysis of IRD patients on a nationwide scale. The most common inheritance pattern in our cohort is autosomal recessive (60% of families). The most common retinal phenotype is retinitis pigmentosa (43%), followed by Stargardt disease and cone/cone–rod dystrophy. We identified the cause of disease in 56% of the families. Overall, 605 distinct mutations were identified, of which 12% represent prevalent founder mutations. The most frequently mutated genes were ABCA4, USH2A, FAM161A, CNGA3, and EYS. The results of this study have important implications for molecular diagnosis, genetic screening, and counseling, as well as for the development of new therapeutic strategies for retinal diseases.