Dynorphin A (2–17) attenuates the unconditioned but not the conditioned effects of opiate withdrawal in the rat

OBJECTIVES: An unbiased place preference conditioning procedure was used to examine the influence of the non-opioid peptide, dynorphin A 2-17 (DYN 2-17), upon the conditioned and unconditioned effects of opiate withdrawal in the rat. METHODS: Rats were implanted SC with two pellets containing 75 mg morphine or placebo. Single-trial place conditioning sessions with saline and the opioid receptor antagonist naloxone (0.1-1.0 mg/kg; SC) commenced 4 days later. Ten minutes before SC injections, animals received an IV infusion of saline or DYN 2-17 (0.1-5.0 mg/kg). Additional groups of placebo- and morphine-pelleted animals were conditioned with saline and DYN 2-17. During each 30-min conditioning session, somatic signs of withdrawal were quantified. Tests of place conditioning were conducted in pelleted animals 24 h later. RESULTS: Naloxone produced wet-dog shakes, body weight loss, ptosis and diarrhea in morphine-pelleted animals. Morphine-pelleted animals also exhibited significant aversions for an environment previously associated with the administration of naloxone. These effects were not observed in placebo-pelleted animals. DYN 2-17 pretreatment resulted in a dose-related attenuation of somatic withdrawal signs. However, conditioned place aversions were still observed in morphine-pelleted animals that had received DYN 2-17 in combination with naloxone. Furthermore, the magnitude of this effect did not differ from control animals. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate that the administration of DYN 2-17 attenuates the somatic, but not the conditioned aversive effects of antagonist-precipitated withdrawal from morphine in the rat. Differential effects of this peptide in modulating the conditioned and unconditioned effects of opiate withdrawal are suggested.     

Effects of an Extract of Salmon Milt on Symptoms and Serum TNF and Substance P in Patients With Fibromyalgia Syndrome

PurposeThe aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a dietary supplement containing primarily an extract of salmon's milt (semen) on symptoms and blood levels of proinflammatory molecules in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), a chronic, painful musculoskeletal disease without a distinct pathogenesis or treatment. We recently reported increased serum levels of the proinflammatory molecules substance P (SP) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in patients with FMS as compared to those in normal controls.MethodsThis prospective, open-label study was conducted in patients with FMS (n = 87; 80 women, 7 men; age range, 18–80 years) selected from 2 clinical centers in Spain. Patients were administered the supplement and were evaluated at weeks 1 (before treatment), 4, 8, and 12 (end of treatment) for clinical parameters of functioning, fatigue, and pain, as well as overall impression. Patients were directed to take 1 capsule per day in the morning for the first 4 weeks, followed by 1 capsule in the morning and 1 capsule in the evening for the remaining 8 weeks. Differences in symptom scores in patients with FMS between weeks 1 and weeks 4, 8, and 12 were evaluated using ANOVA. Blood was obtained and serum separated in patients with FMS at 1 and 12 weeks and in a separate population of healthy controls (n = 20; 15 women, 5 men; age range, 25–65 years). Serum levels of SP and TNF were measured in patients with FMS at 1 and 12 weeks and in healthy controls by ELISA. TNF and SP levels in patients with FMS were compared between weeks 1 and 12, as well as between patients with FMS and untreated controls, using the Mann–Whitney U test.FindingsClinical parameters of functioning, fatigue, and pain, as well as overall impression, were improved significantly at 4 weeks as compared to 1 week and remained unchanged for the duration of the study (all, P < 0.0001). Serum TNF and SP levels were significantly elevated at 1 week in patients with FMS compared to controls and were decreased significantly at 12 weeks as compared to 1 week (all, P < 0.0001).ImplicationsOur findings indicate that this dietary supplement may significantly improve symptoms in patients with FMS. This is the first time to our knowledge that any molecule has been reported to be associated with a reduction in serum SP level. Consequently, the supplement or its hypothesized main active ingredient, spermine, may be developed as a novel treatment approach to FMS or other neuroinflammatory conditions. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03911882.     

Immunohistochemical Expression of Blood Group Substances and Related Carbohydrate Antigens in Breast Carcinoma

In forty–one carcinomas and sixteen benign lesions (fibroadenoma and mastopathy) of the human breast, immunohistochemical expression of sialylated and non–sialylated forms of both Le^a and Le^x, and the A, B, and H type 2 blood group substances were studied by using an indirect immunoperoxidase staining. In normal ductal epithelium and benign lesion of breast, Lewis–related antigens were mostly expressed. Breast carcinomas showed these antigens with the following frequencies: Le^a, 31.7% (13/41); sialyl Le^a, 56.1% (23/41); Le^x, 46.3% (19/41); sialyl Le^x, 68.3% (28/41); A/B/H type 2, 38.1% (16/41). Sialylated forms of Le^a and Le^x were observed more frequently than their respective non–sialylated forms in breast carcinomas. In both one normal epithelium and four carcinomas of breast with Le^(a?b-) phenotype, the expressions of type 2 antigens were observed, while type 1 antigens were not consistently expressed. Although compatible expression was observed in all specimens of both normal epithelium and benign lesion of breast, twenty–four cases with the deletion of A and/or B antigens, six cases with H type 2 accumulation and one case with incompatible expression were demonstrated in breast carcinoma. Thirty–one breast carcinomas which showed the deletion of A/B/H type 2 expressed the Lewis–related antigens more frequently than nine cases which showed compatible expression. These results suggested that the activation of terminal fucosyltransferase and sialyltransferase as well as inactivation of some glycosyltransferases had occurred in cancer cell membrane, and sialyl Le¹, defined by a new monoclonal antibody CSLEX1, may be useful as a tumor–associated antigen independent of Lewis blood group type in breast cancer.     

The role of neuropeptides in psoriasis

The pathogenesis of psoriasis is incompletely understood but cutaneous neurogenic inflammation is probably involved. This involvement is suggested by a number of clinical and histological observations. Reports about the distribution of cutaneous nerves and the quantification of nerve growth factor and neuropeptides, including calcitonin gene-related peptide and vasoactive intestinal peptide, in lesional and nonlesional psoriatic skin suggest that sensory neuropeptides contribute to the development of psoriasis. This review summarizes what is known about the role of neurogenic markers in psoriasis.     

大鼠角膜中央区SP样、CGRP样免疫阳性纤维的起源

向角膜中央区注射ＨＲＰ后，用抗ＳＰ和抗ＣＧＲＰ抗体对三叉神经节、颈上神经节和迷走神经节进行免疫组织化学处理。结果证明：双重阳性细胞出现于三叉神经节的内侧区且集中分布于背内侧部．ＣＧＲＰ样双重阳性细胞主要分布在节的背内侧部的周边区；ＳＰ样双重阳性细胞散在于节的背内侧部的深部。两者均为圆形或椭圆形。在颈上神经节和迷走神经节内未见双重阳性细胞。     

How structural and functional MRI can inform dual-site tACS parameters: A case study in a clinical population and its pragmatic implications

BackgroundAbnormalities in frontoparietal network (FPN) were observed in many neuropsychiatric diseases including substance use disorders. A growing number of studies are using dual-site-tACS with frontoparietal synchronization to engage this network. However, a computational pathway to inform and optimize parameter space for frontoparietal synchronization is still lacking. In this case study, in a group of participants with methamphetamine use disorders, we proposed a computational pathway to extract optimal electrode montage while accounting for stimulation intensity using structural and functional MRI.MethodsSixty methamphetamine users completed an fMRI drug cue-reactivity task. Four main steps were taken to define electrode montage and adjust stimulation intensity using 4x1 high-definition (HD) electrodes for a dual-site-tACS; (1) Frontal seed was defined based on the maximum electric fields (EF) predicted by simulation of HD montage over DLPFC (F3/F4 in EEG 10–10), (2) frontal seed-to-whole brain context-dependent correlation was calculated to determine connected regions to frontal seeds, (3) center of connected cluster in parietal cortex was selected as a location for placing the second set of HD electrodes to shape the informed montage, (4) individualized head models were used to determine optimal stimulation intensity considering underlying brain structure. The informed montage was compared to montages with large electrodes and classic frontoparietal HD montages (F3-P3/F4-P4) in terms of tACS-induced EF and ROI-to-ROI task-based/resting-state connectivity.ResultsCompared to the large electrodes, HD frontoparietal montages allow for a finer control of the spatial peak fields in the main nodes of the FPN at the cost of lower maximum EF (large-pad/HD: max EF[V/m] = 0.37/0.11, number of cortical sub-regions that EF exceeds 50% of the max = 77/13). For defining stimulation targets based on EF patterns, using group-level head models compared to a single standard head model results in comparable but significantly different seed locations (6.43 mm Euclidean distance between the locations of the frontal maximum EF in standard-space). As expected, significant task-based/resting-state connections were only found between frontal-parietal locations in the informed montage. Cue-induced craving score was correlated with frontoparietal connectivity only in the informed montage (r = ?0.24). Stimulation intensity in the informed montage, and not in the classic HD montage, needs 40% reduction in the parietal site to reduce the disparity in EF between stimulation sites.ConclusionThis study provides some empirical insights to montage and dose selection in dual-site-tACS using individual brain structures and functions and proposes a computational pathway to use head models and functional MRI to define (1) optimum electrode montage for targeting FPN in a context of interest (drug-cue-reactivity) and (2) proper transcranial stimulation intensity.     

降糖增效方对糖尿病大鼠肝脏胰岛素信号通路IRS1位点磷酸化的影响

目的通过观察降糖增效方对糖尿病大鼠肝脏胰岛素受体底物1(insulin receptor substrates 1,IRS1)磷酸化的影响来探讨该方发挥降糖增效作用的机制。方法将40只6~8周龄雄性ZDF(fa/fa)大鼠随机分为模型组、二甲双胍组(0.134 g/kg)、降糖增效方组(0.64 g/kg)、联合组(降糖增效方0.64 g/kg+二甲双胍0.134 g/kg),另选ZDF(fa/+)大鼠10只为正常组,连续干预6周;实验结束检测体空腹血糖(fasting blood glucose,FBG)、血清胰岛素水平(fasting insulin,FINS)、胰岛素抵抗指数(homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance,HOMA-IR)、天门冬氨酸氨基转移酶(aspartate aminotransferase,AST)、血肌酐(serum creatinine,Scr)、尿素氮(blood urea nitrogen,BUN)、口服葡萄糖耐量试验(oral glucose tolerance test,OGTT);蛋白免疫印迹法(Western bloting)检测IRS1丝氨酸磷酸化位点ser307、ser612、ser1101表达。结果与模型组相比较,各治疗组大鼠FBG、FIns、HOMA-IR、OGTT2 h血糖水平、AUC、SCr、BUN显著降低(P<0.05,P<0.01);肝组织p-IRS1 Ser307、p-IRS1 ser612、p-IRS1 ser1101蛋白表达显著降低(P<0.05,P<0.01);与二甲双胍、降糖增效方组比较,联合组大鼠FBG、FIns、HOMA-IR显著降低(P<0.05,P<0.01);OGTT2 h血糖水平以及AUC显著降低(P<0.05,P<0.01);肝组织p-IRS1 Ser307、p-IRS1 ser612、p-IRS1 Ser1101蛋白表达显著降低(P<0.05,P<0.01)。结论降糖增效方降低糖尿病大鼠肝脏IRS1 ser307/612/1101位点磷酸化水平,这可能是其增加降糖疗效的机制。     

骆驼刺中异鼠李素-3-O-β-D芸香糖苷对照品的制备研究

目的建立骆驼刺中异鼠李素-3-O-β-D芸香糖苷对照品的制备分离方法。方法取骆驼刺药材醇提浸膏的正丁醇萃取部分,用硅胶柱色谱分离,依次用氯仿-甲醇（90：10～70：30）、氯仿-甲醇-水（70：30：10～60：40：10）梯度洗脱,收集异鼠李素-3-O-β-D芸香糖苷富集流份,继续采用凝胶柱色谱及制备HPLC进行分离纯化,通过NMR、MS等波谱方法鉴定化合物结构,经TLC、HPLC等技术进行质量分数检测。结果从骆驼刺中制备分离的异鼠李素-3-O-β-D芸香糖苷对照品,质量分数〉99％。结论本法得到的异鼠李素-3-O-β-D芸香糖苷对照品符合中药化学对照品的相关技术要求,为骆驼刺药材和的骆驼刺成方制剂的质量控制及药效物质基础研究提供化学对照品。     

消痔丸对复方地芬诺酯致小鼠便秘模型的药效评价及作用机制

目的 探究消痔丸对复方地芬诺酯致小鼠便秘模型的药效作用及机制。方法 ICR小鼠随机分为对照组、模型组、溴化甲基纳曲酮（阳性对照,58.5 mg·kg^-1）组和消痔丸低、中、高剂量（1.17、2.34、4.68 g·kg^-1）组,连续ig给药7 d,给药同时除对照组外,其余各组按照7.5 mg·kg^-1 ig复方地芬诺酯混悬液制备小鼠便秘模型。观察小鼠一般情况;末次给药结束后,各实验组禁食不禁水16 h,模型组和各给药组ig给予复方地芬诺酯,30 min后给药组ig含相应受试药的活性炭悬液,对照组、模型组ig活性炭悬液。第1批小鼠观察首次排黑便时间、6 h内排便粒数、6 h和24 h内排便质量及粪便含水率。第2批小鼠检测小肠推进率,酶联免疫吸附实验（ELISA）检测结肠组织和血清中5-羟色胺（5-HT）、P物质（SP）、血管活性肠多肽（VIP）水平变化,实时荧光定量PCR（qRT-PCR）法检测结肠组织水通道蛋白3（AQP3）、AQP9 mRNA水平,Westernblotting法检测AQP3、AQP9蛋白表达水平。结果 与模型组相比,各给药组小鼠粪便干结情况有所好转,排便量均有不同程度的增加,体质量有所增加,精神状态逐渐好转。与模型组相比,各给药组均能显著缩短排首粒黑便时间,提高6 h排便粒数及粪便含水率、6 h及24 h排便质量（P＜0.05、0.01、0.001）;除消痔丸低剂量组,其余各给药组小鼠24 h粪便含水率均显著增加（P＜0.01、0.001）;各给药组小肠炭末推进距离及炭末推进率均明显提高（P＜0.05、0.01、0.001）;各给药组均能显著降低结肠组织中VIP水平（P＜0.01、0.001）,除消痔丸低剂量组,其余各给药组均能显著提高结肠组织中5-HT、SP水平（P＜0.01、0.001）;各给药组均能显著增加血清中5-HT、SP水平并降低VIP的表达水平（P＜0.05、0.01、0.001）;各给药组AQP3蛋白表达量均显著下降（P＜0.01、0.001）,AQP9蛋白表达量均显著上升（P＜0.05、0.01、0.001）;各给药组AQP3 mRNA水平均显著下降（P＜0.01、0.001）,AQP9 mRNA水平均显著上升（P＜0.05、0.01、0.001）。结论 消痔丸对复方地芬诺酯诱导的小鼠便秘模型有显著的治疗效果,可以显著缩短便秘小鼠排首粒黑便时间、增加排便粒数并提高粪便含水率、显著促进小肠推进作用,作用机制与调节肠液分泌相关因子5-HT、SP、VIP等的释放以及AQP3、AQP9表达相关。     

Management of emergent psychiatric symptoms during smoking cessation

ABSTRACT

Background: Tobacco smoking is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease and cancer and, for current smokers, smoking cessation is one of the most effective therapeutic interventions for reducing the risk of all-cause morbidity and mortality. However, smoking cessation causes nicotine withdrawal syndrome, a condition with symptoms that overlap those of major depression and anxiety disorders.

Scope: The objective of this review was to examine the evidence that smoking cessation may be associated with new onset of psychiatric illness, particularly in individuals with no history of psychiatric disease, and to provide recommendations for the management of emergent psychiatric symptoms in smokers attempting cessation. Relevant articles were obtained from a MEDLINE search (articles indexed up to, and including, October 2008, with no historical date limit), and citation review of selected primary and review articles.

Findings: There is evidence that smoking cessation can result in new onset of major depressive disorder, even in individuals with no history of depression. It has also been suggested that nicotine may be used as a form of self-medication for depression, and that smoking cessation can reveal a previously undiagnosed condition. There is little evidence of an association between smoking cessation and increased risk for other types of psychiatric illness. The management of emergent psychiatric symptoms in smokers attempting abstinence is discussed.

Conclusion: The overall health benefits of quitting smoking undoubtedly outweigh any potential side-effects associated with nicotine withdrawal. However, a well-managed quit attempt must plan for the emergence of nicotine withdrawal, monitor for symptoms of depression and psychiatric disease, and manage these conditions appropriately should they present.