Influence of appearance-related TV commercials on body image state

This study investigates the influence of media exposure on body image state in eating-disordered (ED) patients. The attitudinal and perceptual components of body image are assessed, as well as any associations with dysfunctional cognitions and behavioral consequences. Twenty-five ED patients and 25 non-ED controls (ND) viewed commercials either featuring appearance (AC; 5 min) or not featuring appearance (NC; 5 min). Both perceptual and attitudinal body image components changed markedly after the AC condition for ED patients, compared with the ND group and NC condition. Cognitions referring to dietary restraint and internalization/social comparison also changed significantly in ED patients depending on the experimental manipulation, whereas thoughts about body and self-esteem did not. The results suggest that media exposure acts as a stimulus that triggers body-related schemas. Partial support is given to cognitive-behavioral models of eating disorders, which postulate an association between cognitive bias, body image disturbances, and compensatory behavioral consequences.     

Overactive performance monitoring in obsessive-compulsive disorder: ERP evidence from correct and erroneous reactions

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has repeatedly been associated with hyperactivity in fronto-striatal brain regions and regions related to performance monitoring. The aim of the current study was to further investigate electrophysiological correlates of performance monitoring. Specifically, we intended to replicate previous results revealing enhanced error-related negativity (ERN) amplitudes in OCD patients. Furthermore, we examined whether OCD patients also showed alterations regarding the correct-related negativity (CRN), the error positivity (Pe) and behavioural correlates of performance monitoring. Event-related brain potentials (ERPs) were recorded from a group of 20 OCD patients and 20 healthy control participants during a modified flanker task. Force sensitive response buttons were utilized to separate correct trials from incorrect trials with full and partial response activation. Both groups displayed substantial ERN and Pe amplitudes for full and partial errors. On error trials OCD patients showed enhanced ERN amplitudes, but group differences were not significant for the Pe and for behavioural adjustment. Further, the OCD group also exhibited enhanced CRN amplitudes and a correlation of frontal CRN amplitudes with symptom severity. These data provide further support for the view that performance monitoring is overactive in OCD. Further, since the amplitude enhancement is not specific to error processing, but is also observed for correct reactions, a response monitoring or evaluation process that contributes to both ERP components might be overactive in OCD. This is in line with fMRI results that revealed higher error- and conflict-related activity in the medial frontal cortex in OCD patients.     

Impaired word stress pattern discrimination in very-low-birthweight infants during the first 6 months of life

Prosodic information, such as word stress and speech rhythm, is important in language acquisition, and sensitivity to stress patterns is present from birth onwards. Exposure to prosodic properties of the native language occurs prenatally. Preterm birth and an associated lack of exposure to prosodic information are suspected to affect language acquisition in preterm infants. Fifty healthy very low birthweight (<1500 g) preterm German infants (24 males, 26 females; mean gestational age [GA] 27.6 wks, range 26.4-29.9) and 103 comparison term infants (48 males, 55 females; mean GA 40 wks, range 39.4-40.8) were recruited. Prosodic discrimination performance was assessed using the head-turn preference paradigm, an objective behavioural psycholinguistic test for measuring orientation time (OT) to auditory stress patterns. Among matched preterm and term infants, preterm infants (n=30) did not differentiate stress patterns at the corrected age of 4 or 6 months. In term infants (n=30), the OT was longer towards the trochaic (stress on first syllable, characteristic for German) than the iambic (second syllable) stress patterns (11.64 vs 9.18s, p<0.001, and 11.02 vs 8.32s, p<0.001, at 4 and 6 mo respectively). Neurodevelopmental scores (Bayley Scales of Infant Development, 2nd edn) were not different from reference values in both groups of infants. Preterm birth and deficient early prosodic information affect prosodic processing during the first half year of life.     

Induction of the cytokine TWEAK and its receptor Fn14 in ischemic stroke

Stroke outcome is determined by delayed neuronal cell death and edema formation. TWEAK, a cytokine of the TNF superfamily, and its membrane receptor Fn14 promote ischemia-induced neuronal apoptosis and leakage of the blood-brain barrier. Both TWEAK and Fn14 are upregulated in experimental stroke models. In this study, we investigated whether TWEAK and Fn14 are upregulated in stroke patients. We measured serum concentrations of TWEAK in stroke patients and matched control subjects by ELISA. Expression of Fn14 in the brain was evaluated by real-time RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. TWEAK serum concentrations were elevated in stroke patients. In autopsy samples, we found elevated mRNA levels of the receptor Fn14 and a trend towards higher TWEAK mRNA levels. In the infarcted and peri-infarct tissue immunostaining for Fn14 was enhanced. These data show that the cytokine TWEAK and its membrane receptor Fn14 are upregulated in stroke and suggest that they contribute to stroke outcome.     

Depletion of NK cells in a murine polytrauma model is associated with improved outcome and a modulation of the inflammatory response

Sepsis and associated diseases such as systemic inflammatory response syndrome and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome represent common posttraumatic complications on intensive care units induced by a variety of body defense mechanisms. Natural killer (NK) cells are part of the innate immune system. They are thought to play an important role in the development of such syndromes by interplay with other immune cell types and subsequent activation of the inflammatory cascade. To test this hypothesis, NK cells were depleted by administration of antimouse asialo-GM1 antibody in a murine polytrauma model consisting of femur fracture, hemorrhagic shock, and subsequent sepsis. Mortality and immune parameters such as cytokine expression in lung and liver, lymphocyte phenotyping, lymphocyte apoptosis, and organ pathology were determined 96 h after sepsis induction. Survival values showed 50% in the control sepsis group and 100% after NK cell depletion. Thus, NK cell depletion resulted in 50% mortality reduction. Furthermore, we found reductions in the inflammatory response, represented by IL-6 expression in liver, and a decrease in infiltrating neutrophils in the liver and lung. In addition, lymphocyte apoptosis in spleen was decreased by depletion of NK cells. Taken together, these data demonstrate that NK cells contribute to the pathogenetic pathways in a murine polytrauma model. One main mechanism of action seems to be the induction of systemic inflammatory events. Thus, depletion of NK cells results in attenuated inflammation and an overall improvement in outcome. Therefore, NK cells can be considered as important targets for therapeutic strategies.     

Anti-IgG antibodies from sera of healthy individuals neutralize HIV-1 primary isolates

Immunoglobulins (Ig) of pooled healthy human sera were purified by affinity chromatography based on their reactivity with human IgG. This Ig fraction represent connected, natural antibodies (NAbs) and here are denoted as anti-IgG antibodies. The data revealed that IgG, IgA and IgM isotypes are constituents of anti-IgG fraction. The ability of anti-IgG antibodies to prevent infection of PBMC by HIV-1 was demonstrated. They exhibited different neutralizing activity depending on the phenotype of the tested virus. The efficacy of neutralization was comparable to monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) IgG1b12 at least for the HIV-1 (92HT593B) strain. These studies suggest that connected antibodies thus, constituents of immune network, could prevent infection by HIV-1. NAbs as essential components of therapeutic molecules of intravenous Ig (IVIg) have a beneficial effect on variety of immunological disorders by affecting the structure, function and dynamics of the immune network. Since, hallmark of HIV-1 infection are immunological disorders we hypothesizes that they might be corrected to some extend by anti-IgG antibodies.     

The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health in practice in rheumatological care and research

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The aim of this article is to review the recent literature on the use of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) in practice in rheumatological care and research. The specific aims were to explore how the ICF has been used as a frame of reference for identifying functional problems of patients using qualitative and quantitative research methods; determining typical problem areas of functioning; and measuring functioning of people with rheumatic diseases. RECENT FINDINGS: The ICF was used as a frame of reference for formulating interview questions and for analysing data in qualitative research. The majority of experiences of patients could be linked to the ICF. In quantitative surveys and by reviewing medical records, the ICF could be used as a model to identify problem areas of patients from the perspective of experts. The ICF served as a frame of reference for performing content comparisons of several health-status instruments. SUMMARY: In rheumatological care and research, the translation of aspects of functioning important to patients and of the content of health-status instruments to ICF terms enables researchers and clinicians to condense and compare the meaning of patients' experiences and the content of the instruments.     

Implantation of stents for treatment of recurrent and native coarctation in children weighing less than 20 kilograms

We report our experience with implantation of stents for treatment of recurrent and native aortic coarctation in children weighing less than 20 kilograms. We treated 9 such patients between March, 2003, and January, 2006.In 2 patients, the coarctation had not previously been treated, while in 7 it had recurred after surgery. The patients had a median weight of 14 kilograms, with a range from 5.5 to 19 kilograms. Balloon dilation was needed in 1 patient before the stent was implanted.We used Palmaz Genesis XD stents in 7 patients, these having lengths from 19 to 29 millimetres, 1 Palmaz Genesis 124P stent, and 1 peripheral JoStent with a diameter of 6 to 12 millimetres. Implantation was effective in all patients. Immediately after implantation, the mean peak systolic gradient decreased from 30 millimetres of mercury, the range having been 15 to 50 mm, to 3 millimetres of mercury, with the final range from zero to 10 mm. There were no complications, with no observations of aneurysms, dissections, or dislocated stents. In 1 patient, the peripheral pulse was weak secondary to arterial access, but treatment with Heparin led to complete resolution. It was necessary to re-dilate the stent in another patient, while 2 others are scheduled for redilation because of growth-related restenosis. Our findings suggest that implantation of stents can produce excellent relief of the gradient produced by recurrent or native coarctation.The process is safe and effective in patients weighing less than 20 kilograms.     

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) -173G/C promoter polymorphism influences upper gastrointestinal tract involvement and disease activity in patients with Crohn's disease

BACKGROUND: Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a proinflammatory cytokine with increased expression in inflammatory bowel disease. The aim of the study was to analyze the role of the MIF -173G/C single nucleotide polymorphism in Crohn's disease (CD). METHODS: Using restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis, genomic DNA of 198 patients with CD and 159 unrelated controls was analyzed for the -173G/C SNP in the MIF promoter region. Colonic MIF mRNA expression was measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR), serum MIF levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: Thirty-six of the 146 G/G wildtype carriers (24.7%) but only 3 of the 45 G/C heterozygotes (6.7%) and only 1 of the C/C homozygotes (14.3%) were diagnosed with upper gastrointestinal tract involvement (P = 0.009, odds ratio [OR] = 0.22, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.06-0.75 for wildtype versus hetero- and homozygous carriers). This result was confirmed in a second prospective study, in which all patients diagnosed with upper gastrointestinal involvement (n = 13) were G/G wildtype carriers (P = 0.01 versus controls). All patients (n = 12; 100%) with a Crohn's disease activity index (CDAI) > 300 were G/G wildtype carriers compared to only 65.6% wildtype carriers in the group with a CDAI < 150 (P = 0.016). MIF is expressed in the colonic mucosa of CD patients and intestinal epithelial cells but its mRNA expression does not correlate with the degree of inflammation and is not upregulated by proinflammatory cytokines. In CD, MIF serum levels are not influenced by the MIF -173G/C polymorphism. CONCLUSIONS: The MIF -173G/C polymorphism appears to be a factor contributing to a particular CD phenotype characterized by protection against upper gastrointestinal tract involvement and severe disease activity.