Pubertal testosterone predicts mental rotation performance of young adult males

Robust sex differences in some spatial abilities that favor males have raised the question of whether testosterone contributes to those differences. There is some evidence for prenatal organizational effects of testosterone on male-favoring spatial abilities, but not much is known about the role of pubertal testosterone levels on adult cognitive abilities. We studied the association between pubertal testosterone (at age 14) and cognitive performance in young adulthood (at age 21-23), assessing male-favoring, female-favoring, and sex-neutral cognitive domains in a population-based sample of 130 male and 178 female twins. Pubertal testosterone was negatively associated with performance in the Mental Rotation Test in young adult men (r=-.27), while among women no significant associations between testosterone and cognitive measures were detected. The significant association among men remained after controlling for pubertal development. Confirmatory within-family comparisons with one-sided significance testing yielded a negative correlation between twin pair differences in testosterone levels and Mental Rotation Test performances in 35 male twin pairs (r=-.32): the twin brother with higher testosterone performed less well on the Mental Rotation Test. That association was evident in 18 pairs of dizygotic male twin pairs (r=-.42; analysis controlling for shared environmental effects). In contrast, the association of differences was not evident among 17 monozygotic male twin pairs (r=-.07; analysis controlling for shared genetic influences). Results suggest that pubertal testosterone levels are related specifically to male-favoring spatial ability and only among men. Within-family analyses implicated possible shared genetic effects between pubertal testosterone and mental rotation ability.     

Early life stress triggers sustained changes in histone deacetylase expression and histone H4 modifications that alter responsiveness to adolescent antidepressant treatment

Early life stress can elicit long-lasting changes in gene expression and behavior. Recent studies on rodents suggest that these lasting effects depend on the genetic background. Whether epigenetic factors also play a role remains to be investigated. Here we exposed the stress-susceptible mouse strain Balb/c and the more resilient strain C57Bl/6 to a powerful early life stress paradigm, infant maternal separation. In Balb/c mice, infant maternal separation led to decreased expression of mRNA encoding the histone deacetylases (HDACs) 1, 3, 7, 8, and 10 in the forebrain neocortex in adulthood, an effect accompanied by increased expression of acetylated histone H4 proteins, especially acetylated H4K12 protein. These changes in HDAC expression and histone modifications were not detected in C57Bl/6 mice exposed to early life stress. Moreover, a reversal of the H4K12 hyperacetylation detected in infant maternally separated Balb/c mice (achieved with chronic adolescent treatment with a low dose of theophylline that only activates HDACs) worsened the abnormal emotional phenotype resulting from this early life stress exposure. In contrast, fluoxetine, a drug with potent antidepressant efficacy in infant maternally separated Balb/c mice, potentiated all histone modifications triggered by early life stress. Moreover, in non-stressed Balb/c mice, co-administration of an HDAC inhibitor and fluoxetine, but not fluoxetine alone, elicited antidepressant effects and also triggered changes in histone H4 expression that were similar to those provoked by fluoxetine treatment of mice exposed to early life stress. These results suggest that Balb/c mice develop epigenetic modifications after early life stress exposure that, in terms of the emotive phenotype, are of adaptive nature, and that enhance the efficacy of antidepressant drugs.     

Ligand based pharmacophore model development for the identification of novel antiepileptic compound

Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder throughout the world which is characterized by recurrent unprovoked epileptic seizures. A need exists for the development of new antiseizure drugs with improved efficacy and tolerability, as several of the currently available antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) have been associated with severe side effects. A ligand based pharmacophore approach has been generated for 44 new antiepileptic compounds with emphasis on the development of new drugs by using LigandScout software and distance estimation using Jmol. The pharmacophore of the compounds contained three features hydrophobic unit, hydrogen bonding domain and electron donor. The pharmacophore models derived were then filtered using the Lipinski's rule of five criteria and orally bio-available compounds were obtained. Thus, this approach was able to reclaim few leads which had projected inhibitory activity alike to most active compounds with suitable calculated drug-like properties and therefore they could be recommended for further studies.     

乌司他丁对硫化氢急性中毒大鼠肺组织氧化应激损伤的干预作用及机制研究

目的 观察硫化氢(hydrogen sulfide,H2S)急性中毒大鼠肺组织血红素氧合酶-1(heme oxygenase 1,HO-1)、醌氧化还原酶-1(NAD(P)H:quinine oxidoreductase 1,NQO-1)和核转录因子红系相关因子-2(nuclear factor E2-related factor 2,Nrf2)的动态变化及乌司他丁(ulinastatin,UTI对其的影响.方法 将清洁级SD大鼠96只随机(随机数字法)分为健康对照组(NS组,n=8),UTI对照组(UTI组,n=8),H2S染毒模型组(H2S组,n=40,采用在染毒柜内暴露吸入体积分数200×10-6的H2S1h,构建H2S急性染毒模型)和UTI干预组(H2S+UTI组,n=40,建立模型后立即腹腔注射UTI 10万U/kg).后两组大鼠于染毒后2、6、12、24、48 h时点麻醉后活杀,留取肺标本.观察大鼠行为学变化,ELISA法测定肺组织中HO-1和NQO-1活力的动态变化;RT-PCR法检测肺组织HO-1、NQO-1和Nrf2 mRNA表达,Western blot法检测Nrf2蛋白表达.观察肺组织病理学改变并行肺损伤评分.结果 与NS组比较,H2S组在染毒后2、6、12h时点HO-1活力和mRNA表达均明显升高(P＜0.01),其中2h呈高峰;与同时间点H2S组比较,H2S+ UTI组染毒后6、12、24、48 h时点HO-1活力和mRNA表达显著升高(P＜0.01).与 、NS组比较,H2S组在染毒后2、6、12、24 h时点NQO-1活力和mRNA表达均明显升高(P＜0.01)其中2h呈高峰;与同时间点H2S组比较,H2S+UTI组染毒后6、12、24、48 h时点NQO-1活力和mRNA表达显著升高(P＜0.01).与NS组比较,H2S组在染毒后2、6、12 h时点Nrf2mRNA和蛋白表达均明显升高(P＜0.01或P＜0.05),其中2h呈高峰;与同时间点H2S组比较,H2S+UTI组染毒后6、12、24、48 h时点Nrf2 mRNA和蛋白表达显著升高(P＜0.01).光镜下,H2S组在染毒后24 h大鼠肺组织损害明显;H2S+UTI组大鼠肺损伤较H2S组有所减轻.在染毒后12、24、48 h时点H2S+UTI组的肺损伤评分明显低于H2S组(P＜0.01).结论 HO-1、NQO-1和Nrf2参与了H2S中毒急性肺损伤的病理生理学过程;UTI干预治疗能显著提高HO-1、NQO-1及Nrf2的活力及表达,减轻H2S中毒急性肺损伤.     

硫化氢在脓毒症大鼠心肌损伤中的作用

目的 研究硫化氢(H2S)在脓毒症大鼠心肌损伤中的作用.方法 雄性SD大鼠60只,月龄3～4个月,体质量180 ～220 g,随机(随机数字法)分为4组:对照组(Ⅰ组)、脓毒症组(Ⅱ组)、脓毒症+ NaHS(H2S供体)预处理组(Ⅲ组)、脓毒症+PAG(H2S代谢酶CSE抑制剂)组(Ⅳ组),每组各15只.采用盲肠结扎穿孔法制作脓毒症大鼠模型,观察各组大鼠血流动力学改变,测定心肌组织中H2S的变化,采用RT-PCR方法观察CSE mRNA表达,采用髓过氧化物酶(MPO)测定试剂盒测定各组心肌组织MPO含量,用ELISA方法检测心肌组织TNF-α、IL-1β的表达,光学显微镜下观察心肌形态学改变.结果 与Ⅰ组相比,Ⅱ组血压下降,心肌组织中H2S、TNF-α、IL-1β、MPO含量出现不同程度增加(P＜0.01或P＜0.05),CSE mRNA表达水平提高(P＜0.05);与Ⅱ组相比,Ⅲ组血压下降更为显著,心肌组织中H2S、TNF-α、IL-1β含量增加,MPO活性增强(P＜0.05),但CSE mRNA表达水平并无显著改变;与Ⅱ组相比,Ⅳ组血压水平接近,心肌组织中H2S、TNF-α、IL-1β 含量均降低,MPO活性减弱(P＜0.05),CSE mRNA表达水平下降(P＜0.05).四组心肌组织形态学损伤由轻到重依次为Ⅰ、Ⅳ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ.结论 脓毒症大鼠心肌组织CSE/H2S体系上调,给予H2S可以升高脓毒症大鼠心肌组织中MPO、TNF-α、IL-1β水平,加重心肌损伤,给予H2S抑制剂可以减轻心肌损伤.     

凝聚胺法交叉配血全量法与半量法的比较

目的 探讨比较凝聚胺交叉配血试验全量法与半量法的结果,为安全输血、节约成本提供有力的保障.方法 对300例住院患者采用凝聚胺法交叉配血全量法与半量法进行检测.结果 全量法与半量法检出最佳非特异性凝集符合率分别为84.0%、77.7%;而全量法与半量法检出欠佳非特异性凝集分别符合率分别为16.0%、22.3%.全量法与半量法之间最佳非特异性凝集率无显著性差异(χ2=3.25,P＞0.05).结论 凝聚胺交叉配血试验半量法结果与全量法无显著性差异,即凝聚胺试验半量法对抗原抗体的系列反应没有影响.     

过氧化氢-血清饥饿诱导脂肪组织来源干细胞凋亡模型的建立

目的探讨过氧化氢/血清饥饿(H2O2/SD)法建立脂肪组织来源干细胞(ASCs)凋亡模型的可行性。方法酶消化法及贴壁法从小型猪腹股沟脂肪组织中分离、培养ASCs,流式细胞仪检测ASCs表面抗原CD29、CD31、CD34、CD44、CD45、CD90、CD105、HLA-DR的表达。采用不同浓度H2O2(100μM、200μM、400μM、600μM、800μM)联合SD作用于ASCs 6 h,Annexin V-FITC/PI、罗丹明123检测各组细胞凋亡率及线粒体内跨膜电位(ΔΨm)的变化。结果第4代ASCs表面抗原CD29、CD44、CD90、CD105表达呈阳性,CD31、CD34、CD45、HLA-DR表达呈阴性。与对照组比较,不同浓度的H2O2/SD干预6 h均可引起ASCs不同程度的凋亡,而细胞凋亡率最明显的是200μM组(P<0.05),该浓度组也引起ΔΨm明显下降(P<0.01)。结论过氧化氢联合血清饥饿是一种简单有效诱导干细胞凋亡的方法。     

以护士执业资格考试改革为契机优化高职内科护理学教学

护士执业资格考试改革对护理教育改革具有引领和指导作用,高职内科护理学教学应以考试改革为契机,推进教学内容、教学方法、考核方法改革,更新教学理念,重新确立教学重点,全面优化该学科教学,以提高教学质量。     

英语专业大学生考试焦虑及相关因素研究

目的探讨英语专业大学生考试焦虑及相关因素。方法应用A型行为类型问卷、艾森克人格问卷、青少年生活事件量表、应付方式问卷、社会支持评定量表、自尊量表、抑郁自评量表、Sarason考试焦虑量表等对600名英语专业大学生进行测查。结果英语专业大学生考试焦虑轻、中、重度检出率分别为27.83%、40.5%、31.67%。有感焦虑检出率为56.17%,男生、女生检出率差异无显著性(57.33%vs56%,χ2=0.05,P0.05)。健康自评差、学习生活不满意、睡眠不规律次数多、A型行为类型的学生考试焦虑多。考试焦虑与艾森克人格问卷之精神质、神经质呈显著正相关,与内外向、掩饰性呈显著负相关,与生活事件呈显著正相关,与应付方式之解决问题、求助呈显著负相关,与自责、幻想、退避、合理化呈显著正相关,与社会支持、自尊呈显著负相关,与抑郁呈显著正相关。逐步回归分析显示,影响英语专业大学生考试焦虑的主要因素为:神经质、生活事件多、采取自责的应付方式、知心朋友数少、性格内向、精神质。结论英语专业大学生考试焦虑的发生率较高,其发生受多种因素的影响。     

Insuffisance surrénalienne secondaire : actualités diagnostiques et thérapeutiques: News in diagnosis and therapeutics of secondary adrenal insufficiency

Immunotherapy and opioids treatment are new causes of secondary adrenal insufficiency (SAI). Prevalence of SAI with immunotherapy is more frequent with combined therapy (8% vs 4 to 10% with CTLA4 blocking antibody and 1% with PD1 blocking antibody). Although hypophysitis are more frequently observed with CTLA4 blocking antibody, some cases of Isolated SAI have been reported in patients treated by PD1 blocking antibody. SAI could be transient, requiring long-term monitoring. The use of opioid analgesics is increasing in many countries, thus becoming a public health problem. Prevalence of opioid-related SAI is unclear but recent prospective studies reveal a prevalence between 5 and 20%. The main risk factor to develop this pathology is morphine-equivalent daily dose. Diagnosis relies on 8.00 am plasma cortisol measurement and cortisol increase after Synacthen^® administration. Recent cortisol immuno-assays, in agreement with mass spectrometry, give lower reference values, encouraging reevaluation of the current cut-off of 500 nmol/L. New modified-release hydrocortisone preparations have been recently developed to better mimic the physiological cortisol rhythm and to improve compliance in adrenocortical deficient patients. Nowadays, continuous subcutaneous hydrocortisone infusion seems to be a unique replacement therapy allowing adequate circadian biorhythm but should be restricted to specific patients due to the complexity of this substituting strategy.© 2019 Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.Cet article fait partie du numéro supplément Les Must de l’Endocrinologie 2019 réalisé avec le soutien institutionnel de Ipsen-Pharma.