EFFECTS OF LIFELONG ETHANOL CONSUMPTION ON RAT LOCUS COERULEUS

The effects of lifelong ethanol consumption and ageing on themorphology of locus coeruleus (LC) were studied in alcohol-preferringAA (Alko Alcohol) rats of both sexes. Ethanol (12% v/v) wasthe only available liquid for the ethanol-consuming rats from3 months up to 24 months of age. Young (3-month-old) and old(24-month-old) control groups were included in the measurements.The LC morphometry was performed by an unbiased disector method.In the old control rats, the total neuron number, neuronal densityand the volume of the LC proper did not differ from the youngcontrols. In the ethanol-exposed rats, the total neuron numberof the LC was decreased by 30% and the LC neuronal density by22%, compared to the age-matched controls. No gender differencewas found in the vulnerability of LC neurons to ethanol-induceddegeneration. The results suggest a remarkable sensitivity ofthe LC neurons to the ethanol-induced degeneration in both maleand female rats. The possible mechanisms and functional implicationsof this neuronal loss are discussed.     

Enhancement of Tuberculin-Induced Lymphocyte Transformation by Precultivated Macrophages from Patients with Sarcoidosis

Precultivated autologous macrophages enhanced the early PPD-induced blastogenic response of tuberculin-sensitive lymphocytes. This effect was not caused by a diffusible macrophage product. Macrophages exposed to PPD and subsequently washed caused as high a response as did PPD in cultures without precultivated macrophages. Sensitive macrophages were not able to induce nonsensitive lymphocytes to respond to PPD. Precultivated macrophages from tuberculin-negative patients with sarcoidosis enhanced the PPD-induced transformation of sensitive lymphocytes, as did autologous macrophages Cord blood-derived macrophages were significantly less effective     

Low bone mass in patients with motor disability: prevalence and risk factors in 59 Finnish children

Aim Children with motor disabilities are at increased risk of compromised bone health. This study evaluated prevalence and risk factors of low bone mass and fractures in these children. Method This cross‐sectional cohort study evaluated bone health in 59 children (38 males, 21 females; median age 10y 11mo) with motor disability (Gross Motor Function Classification System levels II–V). Bone mineral density (BMD) in the lumbar spine was measured with dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry; BMD values were corrected for bone size (bone mineral apparent density [BMAD]) and skeletal maturity, and compared with normative data. Spinal radiographs were obtained to assess vertebral morphology. Blood biochemistry included vitamin D concentration and other parameters of calcium homeostasis. Results Ten children (17%) had sustained in total 14 peripheral fractures; lower‐limb fractures predominated. Compression fractures were present in 25%. The median spinal BMAD z‐score was ?1.0 (range ?5.0 to 2.0); it was ?0.6 in those without fractures and ?1.7 in those with fractures (p=0.004). Vitamin D insufficiency was present in 59% of participants (serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D <50nmol/l) and hypercalciuria in 27%. Low BMAD z‐score and hypercalciuria were independent predictors for fractures. Interpretation Children with motor disability are at high risk of peripheral and vertebral fractures and low BMD. Evaluation of bone health and prevention of osteoporosis should be included in the follow‐up.     

Histamine release in skin monitored with the microdialysis technique does not correlate with the weal size induced by cow allergen

Summary The purpose of this study was to monitor histamine release in immediate-type hypersensitivity reactions in the skin of 10 atopic patients, sensitive to cow, by using the microdialysis technique. Three healthy subjects, without any atopic features or background, served as the control group. The probe inserted into the forearm dermal skin was perfused with isotonic saline solution. Samples were collected at 15-min intervals. After the first allergen challenge of four prick tests close to the probe with cow allergen extract, the skin was similarly repricked again in five patients and three healthy subjects, and in five other patients, 25μl of 10μmol/l substance P (SP) was injected intracutaneously. The samples were analysed for histamine by radioenzyme assay. The patients were clinically evaluated for allergic symptoms, prick- and scratch-patch test reactivity and for serum cow-specific, and total, IgE levels. The baseline histamine concentration was 7·5±4·0 nmol/l (mean±standard deviation: SD; n=10). After the allergen challenge, the histamine concentration in the consecutive samples was 11·9±11·0 nmol/l, 91·1±127·3 nmol/l, 61·0±94·2 nmol/l and 33·7±53·7 nmol/l. The peak concentration was detected in the 15–30 min fraction, and it varied between 0 and 406 nmol/l regardless of the weal size. The second allergen challenge was unable to induce marked additional histamine release, but SP induced extensive histamine liberation in those patients who did not exhibit histamine release during the preceding prick tests. In three healthy subjects, the baseline histamine concentration was 6·2±3·9 nmol/l. After the allergen challenge, no additional histamine liberation could be measured. Surprisingly, the histamine release was not related to the size of the cow-induced weal nor was it related to any specific allergic symptoms or IgE levels. The results suggest that, in some patients, mast cell mediators other than histamine play a significant part in immediate-type allergic reactions of skin.     

ENZYMES OF CATECHOLAMINE METABOLISM IN THE BRAINS OF RAT STRAINS DIFFERING IN THEIR PREFERENCE FOR OR TOLERANCE OF ETHANOL

The activities of the catecholamine-synthesizing and inactivatingenzymes were determined in whole brains of two pairs of ratstrains differing in their genetically-determined behaviouralresponses to ethanol. The alcohol-tolerant (AT) rats did notshow any significant differences in enzyme activities when comparedwith the non-tolerant (ANT) strain. The activity of tyrosinehydroxylase was found to be significantly higher in brains ofthe alcohol-preferring (AA) rats, than in those of the alcohol-non-preferring(ANA) strain.     

Biofilm formation by Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates from paediatric patients

Tapiainen T, Kujala T, Kaijalainen T, Ikäheimo I, Saukkoriipi A, Renko M, Salo J, Leinonen M, Uhari M. Biofilm formation by Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates from paediatric patients. APMIS 2010; 118: 255–60. The clinical significance of pneumococcal biofilm formation is largely unknown. To clarify this, we tested whether the ability of pneumococcal clinical isolates to form biofilm in vitro accounts for the diverse clinical outcomes. Clinical pneumococcal isolates were cultured from the nasopharynx (n = 106), middle ear effusion (n = 43) and blood (n = 55) of 204 children altogether. Biofilm formation, assessed by measuring optical density (OD) values in microtitre plates after crystal violet staining, did not differ between the bacteria from different sources (p = 0.18), the mean OD values of the isolates being 0.119 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.100–0.138] in the nasopharynx samples, 0.094 (95% CI 0.069–0.119) in the acute otitis media cases, 0.109 (95% CI 0.077–0.141) in the secretory otitis media cases, 0.122 (95% CI 0.084–0.160) in those with sepsis and 0.175 (95% CI 0.071–0.280) in those with other invasive infections. Serotypes 33 and 14 were the most efficient in forming biofilms, whereas serotypes 3 and 38 were poor biofilm producers. We conclude that the clinical presentation of pneumococcal disease did not differ in relation to biofilm formation in vitro, even though there was marked variation between the clinical isolates and serotypes.     

Communication Style Affects Physiological Response in Simulated Cancer Risk Reduction Interactions

Provider communication styles in health encounters have links to patient health outcomes. The Social Cognitive Processing Model (SCPM) is a framework to understand how communication facilitating processing may produce different outcomes than communication directing patient behavior. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the linkages between communication behaviors and patient outcomes. Participants engaged in simulated health care interviews with either a facilitative or directive provider. Heart rate (HR), skin conductance level (SCL), communication, and participant self‐report measures were analyzed. Compared with those communicating with directive providers, participants communicating with facilitative providers were more satisfied and had lower HR and SCL, indicating lowered stress response. Consistent with SCPM, findings have implications for improved processing, which may impact patient outcomes.     

Serum salbutamol concentrations during oral and intravenous treatment in pregnant women

Summary. The serum concentration of salbutamol was determined in 29 pregnant women during oral treatment (4 mg five times per day) and in seven during intravenous infusion (6–30 μg/min) because of premature labour. The concentration of salbutamol was determined by combined gas-liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. The mean concentration of serum salbutamol was twice as high during intravenous treatment (24; SD 9 ng/ml), than during oral treatment (12; SD 3 mg/ml). During oral treatment: the salbutamol levels were not correlated to maternal height, weight or the incidence or severity of side-effects. The serum concentrations of salbutamol in patients with twin pregnancies did not differ from those with singleton pregnancies. After stopping intravenous treatment, serum salbutamol levels remained high for several hours and oral treatment can be started 4–6h after stopping intravenous infusion.     

EFFECTS OF LIFELONG ETHANOL CONSUMPTION ON THE ULTRASTRUCTURE AND LIPOPIGMENTATION OF RAT HEART

The myocardial interactions of ageing and lifelong ethanol ingestionwere studied in the ethanol-preferring AA (Alko Alcohol) lineof rats. Samples of the left ventricle from young control rats(3-month), old control rats (30-month) and rats exposed to ethanolfrom 3 to 30 months of age, were studied in terms of myocardialultrastructure and lipopigmentation. Electron microscopic morphometryshowed an age-related increase in the volumetric densities oflipofuscin and unspecified sarcoplasm, while the proportionsof mitochondria, myofibrils and tubular structures remainedunaltered in the left ventricular myocardium. Lifelong ethanolexposure increased the proportion of sarcoplasmic reticulumand transverse tubules, apparently due to dilation of the tubularstructures. Mitochondria were significantly larger in the ethanol-exposedrats compared to the control rats of the same age, while thevolumetric proportion of mitochondria tended to decrease inthe ethanol-exposed group. Fluorescence microscopic image analysisshowed that myocardial lipopigmentation (proportion of myocardialarea covered by autofluorescent lipopigrnents) was about two-foldin the old ethanol-exposed rats compared to the old controlrats, and 13-fold compared to the young controls. It is concludedthat ageing and chronic ethanol ingestion produce rather differentpatterns of alteration in myocardial ultrastructure, which doesnot support the concept of ethanol-induced accelerated ageing.The enhancement of myocardial lipofuscin accumulation is thoughtto reflect chronic oxidative stress in the hearts exposed toethanol.     

QUANTITATIVE HISTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF MAST CELLS AND SENSORY NERVES IN PSORIATIC SKIN

To study the elements of neurogenic inflammation in psoriatic skin, morphological contacts were examined between mast cells and sensory nerves containing the neuropeptides substance P (SP), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) or vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP). Because mast cells in psoriatic lesions appear in great numbers at the basement membrane (BM) zone, neuropeptide–mast cell contacts with the BM were also counted. A double stain for active mast cell tryptase and the neuropeptides was applied and the contacts were quantitated morphometrically. Sensory nerve–mast cell contacts were also studied three-dimensionally with a confocal laser scanning microscope. Increases in the contact values of SP and CGRP with mast cells, as well as with the BM, were obtained in developing (1–3 weeks) lesions when compared with their non-lesional controls. This increase reached statistical significance in mature lesions. In contrast, the corresponding contact values for VIP were decreased. By confocal microscopy, a close association between mast cells and sensory nerves was observed in the lesional dermis. Since tryptase is known to degrade CGRP but not SP, neurogenic stimuli, mainly via SP, can result in degranulation of mast cells, which release substances to enhance inflammation. At the BM zone in psoriatic lesions, the numerous mast cells loaded with tryptase can promote degradation of BM components and allow entry of various mediators to interact with keratinocytes.