Potentiation of antiproliferative drug activity by lonidamine in hepatocellular carcinoma cells

The ability of lonidamine (LND), a derivative of indazole-carboxylic acid, to modulate the cytotoxic activity of anticancer drugs was investigated in two human hepatocarcinoma (HCC) cell lines. The cytotoxicity of drugs used singly, in association or in sequence was evaluated using the Sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay. LND did not appreciably potentiate the effect of antitumor drugs when given before or simultaneously, in either cell line. Conversely, a synergistic interaction was observed in both cell lines when LND was given after conventional drugs. LND produced a moderate decrease in S-phase cell fraction and did not induce apoptosis. Conversely, paclitaxel (TAX) induced an important block in G2 and an increase in apoptosis. Following a 48-h TAX wash out, a progressive passage of cells from G2 to M phase was observed with a corresponding increase in apoptotic cells. Post-treatment with LND increased the cytotoxicity of some antitumor drugs, especially TAX, in hepatocarcinoma cells, possibly by preventing, as an energolytic drug, cell damage repair or by producing an additional effect on microtubule stabilization.     

An evaluation of the integration of non-traditional learning tools into a community based breast and cervical cancer education program: The witness project of Buffalo

Background  

Breast and cervical cancer continue to represent major health challenges for African American women. among Caucasian women. The underlying reasons for this disparity are multifactorial and include lack of education and awareness of screening and early detection. Traditional educational methods have enjoyed varied success in the African American community and spawned development of novel educational approaches. Community based education programs employing a variety of educational models have been introduced. Successful programs must train and provide lay community members with the tools necessary to deliver strong educational programs.     

Acupuncture and spinal cord medicine

BACKGROUND: The National Institutes of Health has concluded that the potential value of acupuncture justifies expanding its use into conventional medicine and studying it further. METHODS: Literature review of acupuncture as it pertains to spinal cord medicine. RESULTS: Acupuncture has been used to treat a number of spinal cord injury (SCI)-related conditions, including motor deficits, pain, spasticity, and syringomyelia. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture shows promise as an intervention in the treatment of SCI-related conditions. Further research, carried out in careful and systematic fashion by qualified practitioners of acupuncture in concert with spinal cord medicine specialists, is needed.     

Social anxiety spectrum

Abstract. The aim of this paper is to provide the prevalence rates of mild, moderate and severe symptoms of social anxiety in a sample of high school students and to analyze gender differences and associated impairment levels within these three levels of severity. Five hundred and twenty students were assessed with the Social Anxiety Spectrum Self-Report (SHY-SR), a questionnaire that explores social anxiety spectrum. By applying two cut-off scores determined on a separate sample by using ROC analysis, the large majority (73.3 %) of subjects were classified as low scorers, 9% as medium scorers and 17.7% as high scorers. Fears related to social situations were reported both by high and medium scorers. Functional impairment defined by avoidance and school difficulties was more common among high scorers, but it was also reported to a significant extent by medium scorers. Compared to low and medium scorers, high scorers showed a higher F/M ratio (about 4:1) and a more homogeneous symptomatological profile in the two genders. In conclusion, our report confirms, in line with the literature, that even moderate levels of social anxiety are associated with significant functional impairment and distress for the individuals.     

Behavioural learning-induced increase in spontaneous GABAA-dependent synaptic activity in rat striatal cholinergic interneurons

Cholinergic striatal interneurons play a crucial role in cognitive aspects of context-dependent motor behaviours. They are considered to correspond to the tonically active neurons (TANs) of the primate striatum, which phasically decrease their discharge at the presentation of reward-related sensory stimuli. The origin of this response is still poorly understood. Therefore, in the present paper, we have investigated whether synaptic changes establish in cholinergic interneurons from young rats that have learned a rewarded, externally cued sensorimotor task. Corticostriatal slices were prepared from both control and trained rats. No significant change in intrinsic membrane properties and evoked synaptic activity was observed in cholinergic interneurons, nor the responsiveness to exogenously applied dopaminergic and glutamatergic agonists was modified. Conversely, an increased occurrence of spontaneous bicuculline-sensitive depolarizing postsynaptic potentials (sDPSP) was recorded. The frequency of the GABAA-mediated sDPSP was increased in comparison to not-conditioned rats. Overall, these results suggest that after learning a rewarded sensorimotor paradigm an increased GABA influence develops on cholinergic interneurons. The origin of this effect might be searched in collaterals of GABAergic output spiny neurons as well as in GABAergic striatal interneurons impinging onto cholinergic interneurons. This intrastriatal mechanism might be involved in the phasic suppression of discharge of TANs at the presentation of reward-related sensory stimuli.     

Development and preliminary testing of the General 5-Spectrum Measure (GSM-V)

The Collaborative Spectrum Project has developed structured interviews and self-report instruments to assess the spectrum of symptomatology related to panic-agoraphobia, mood, social phobia, and obsessive-compulsive and eating disorders. In order to obtain a rapid pre-test on all five of these spectrum conditions, the authors sought to develop a brief instrument that would tap these conditions. This paper reports on 1) the procedures to derive this composite instrument, the General 5-Spectrum Measure (GSM-V), by selecting items from five existing spectrum instruments, and 2) preliminary testing of the internal consistency and test-retest reliability of the GSM-V. The GSM-V consists of 54 items grouped into scales that explore the five spectra described above. It was derived from existing data on five Structured Clinical Interviews that were designed to assess spectrum features by using multiple regression models. The GSM-V was administered as a stand-alone instrument along with the self-report versions of the spectrum interviews to a sample of 56 psychiatric patients in order to determine the internal consistency of its scales and the correlation with the parent spectrum measures. Moreover, to determine whether subjects would respond consistently to the same items on two different occasions (test-retest reliability), the GSM-V was re-administered within 1 month from the baseline. From each of the five spectrum interviews, items were selected that accounted for a significant proportion of variance of the total score of the parent instrument. The five sets of items so selected constitute separate scales. The scales of the GSM-V had a good to excellent internal consistency, excellent test-retest reliability, and proved to reproduce adequately the long-form measures. The GSM-V appears to provide a reliable alternative to the five longer spectrum interviews. It is envisaged that the instrument will be most useful as a pre-test to identify subjects with spectrum features that should be explored in greater detail. Additionally, it could provide a better characterization of patients with a syndromal level Axis-I disorder, who might require specific treatment strategies targeted to co-occurring subsyndromal conditions.     

Neuropsychological changes after subthalamic nucleus stimulation: a 12 month follow-up in nine patients with Parkinson's disease

Deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus has been recognized as one of the most promising techniques to decrease 'off' motor symptoms and motor fluctuations, allowing a reduction of drug therapy and limiting side effects of drug therapy. However, there is still open debate on the possible consequences of chronic subthalamic stimulation on general cognitive performance. A general amelioration of cognitive performance, in particular of executive functions has been reported but results are not homogeneous. We studied nine patients with Parkinson's Disease for 12 months following surgery for deep stimulation, studying their cognitive performances, paying particular attention to linguistic tests and selective alternating words production. Our results may be consistent with a slowing of cognitive activity, with a reduction of quantitative production, but with an increase in control of linguistic production, which is more precise and definite. We discuss the possible significance of these results, fully aware that only nine patients were involved, and that the potential for generalization is seriously limited, with a particular overview on the frontal-subthalamic pathway, which in our opinion is responsible for the results we observed.