Endocrinology: Comparative pharmacokinetics of two urinary human follicle stimulating hormone preparations in healthy female and male volunteers

These studies were designed to compare the pharmacokinetic characteristicsof a very highly purified urinary human follicle stimulatinghormone (FSH-HP) preparation (sp. act. 9000 IU FSH/mg of protein),Metrodin HP^®, with a standard urinary FSH preparation Metrodin^®(FSH). The two preparations were administered in a balanced,random-order, cross-over sequence as single doses of 150IU,separated by 1 week of washout to 12 female volunteers by i.v.injection and to 12 male volunteers by i.m. and s.c. routes.FSH concentrations were measured by immunoradiometric assayand by an in-vitro rat granulosa cell aromatase bioassay. Afteran i.v. bolus, the pharmacokinetics of the two FSH preparationswere identical. Total clearance was 0.5 and 0.15 1/h respectivelyfor immunoassay and bioassay data. Immunoassay showed that thetwo preparations were similar for renal clearance (0.1 1/h),volumes of distribution at steady state (9 1), distributionand terminal half-lives (2 and 17 h, respectively). After parenteraladministrations, the absorption half-life of FSH was 3 h andthe apparent terminal half-life was 1.5 days. Both preparationshad relative bio-availabilities close to 100% for i.m. and s.c.administrations. Immunopurification, which results in a veryhighly purified FSH-HP, does not modify the pharmacokineticproperties of FSH. This study also confirmed that s.c. and i.m.doses of FSH-HP are equivalent from the pharmacokinetic andpharmacodynamic points of view.     

Developing a Sound Body: Open Trial Results of a Group Healthy Lifestyle Intervention for Young Adults with Psychosis

Community Mental Health Journal - The mortality disparity for persons with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs) due to cardiovascular disease is a devastating problem. Many risk factors are...     

Photodynamic inactivation of pathogenic species <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas aeruginosa</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Candida albicans</Emphasis> with lutetium (III) acetate phthalocyanines and specific light irradiation

Photodynamic inactivation (PDI) is a light-associated therapeutic approach suitable for treatment of local acute infections. The method is based on specific light-activated compound which by specific irradiation and in the presence of molecular oxygen produced molecular singlet oxygen and other reactive oxygen species, all toxic for pathogenic microbial cells. The study presents photodynamic impact of two recently synthesized water-soluble cationic lutetium (III) acetate phthalocyanines (LuPc-5 and LuPc-6) towards two pathogenic strains, namely, the Gram-negative bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa and a fungus Candida albicans. The photodynamic effect was evaluated for the cells in suspensions and organized in 48-h developed biofilms. The relatively high levels of uptakes of LuPc-5 and LuPc-6 were determined for fungal cells compared to bacterial cells. The penetration depths and distribution of both LuPcs into microbial biofilms were investigated by means of confocal fluorescence microscopy. The photoinactivation efficiency was studied for a wide concentration range (0.85–30 μM) of LuPc-5 and LuPc-6 at a light dose of 50 J cm^?2 from red light-emitting diode (LED; 665 nm). The PDI study on microbial biofilms showed incomplete photoinactivation (<3 logs) for the used gentle drug-light protocol.     

Factors associated with retaliatory attitudes among African American adolescents who have been assaulted

OBJECTIVES: (a) To describe attitudes regarding retaliation among adolescents who have been assaulted. (b) To examine assault/event characteristics, personal, parental, and environmental factors associated with the retaliatory attitudes of adolescents who have been assaulted. METHODS: African American youth aged 10-15 years presenting to two large urban hospitals with peer assault injury and a parent/caregiver completed interviews in their home after their emergency department visit. RESULTS: Multivariate analyses revealed that lower SES, older age, and adolescents' perceptions that their parents support fighting were related to endorsing retaliatory attitudes. Girls who were aggressive were more likely to endorse retaliatory attitudes. However, level of aggression did not impact boys' retaliatory attitudes. Affiliating with aggressive peers influenced the retaliatory attitudes of boys, but did not influence girls' retaliatory attitudes. Overall, youths' perceptions of their parents' attitudes toward fighting had the greatest impact on retaliatory attitudes. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents' perceptions of their parents' attitudes toward fighting may be a factor in subsequent re-injury among youth. Violence prevention and intervention efforts need to involve components that assess parental attitudes and incorporate strategies to engage parents in violence prevention efforts. In addition, interventions for youth who have been assaulted may need to incorporate some gender-specific components in order to address the unique needs of girls and boys.     

Migratory double breeding in Neotropical migrant birds

Neotropical migratory songbirds typically breed in temperate regions and then travel long distances to spend the majority of the annual cycle in tropical wintering areas. Using stable-isotope methodology, we provide quantitative evidence of dual breeding ranges for 5 species of Neotropical migrants. Each is well known to have a Neotropical winter range and a breeding range in the United States and Canada. However, after their first bout of breeding in the north, many individuals migrate hundreds to thousands of kilometers south in midsummer to breed a second time during the same summer in coastal west Mexico or Baja California Sur. They then migrate further south to their final wintering areas in the Neotropics. Our discovery of dual breeding ranges in Neotropical migrants reveals a hitherto unrealized flexibility in life-history strategies for these species and underscores that demographic models and conservation plans must consider dual breeding for these migrants.     

Initial appointment nonattendance in child and family mental health clinics

Current medical, psychiatric, and nursing sources were examined for literature concerning the problem of initial appointment non attendance at child and family mental health clinics. The factors proposed to underlie missed initial appointments were reviewed and found to be both contradictory and inconsistent. Interventions designed to increase attendance were considered. These interventions were found to significantly increase attendance consistently. However, it is noted that the research on underlying factors is not utilized in structuring these interventions. Suggestions for future research to address this problem are offered.     

Endogenous gonadal hormones modulate behavioral and neurochemical responses to acute and chronic cocaine administration

Recent evidence demonstrates that there are sex differences in behavioral responses to cocaine. Further, reproductive gonadal hormones (estrogen, progesterone and testosterone) have been further implicated in mediating some of the cocaine-induced alterations. To better understand sex differences and the role of gonadal hormones in cocaine-induced locomotor and stereotypic behavior, intact and gonadectomized male and female Fischer rats were randomly assigned to either chronic cocaine (15 mg/kg) or saline treatments for 14 days followed by a challenge administration (7 days after the last cocaine/saline administration). Locomotor (ambulatory and rearing) and stereotypic activities were measured on days 1, 7 and 14 as well as after withdrawal/challenge with cocaine. Overall, intact female rats consistently showed a rapid (acquired by day 7) and longer lasting (persistent through the challenge dose) sensitization for all locomotor behaviors than any of the other groups. In contrast, intact males developed sensitization of these locomotor activities only in response to chronic cocaine administration, and after withdrawal and drug challenge the sensitization to cocaine-induced locomotor activity was no longer present. In female rats, gonadectomy affected ambulatory activity but not total and rearing responses after acute, sub-acute, chronic and challenge response to cocaine. On the other hand, castrated male rats were affected in cocaine-induced ambulatory activity but not rearing activity. In intact male rats, cocaine-induced stereotypic activity was rapidly and persistently sensitized after 7 days of cocaine administration, where gonadectomized male rats developed sensitization to cocaine-induced stereotypic activity only after a challenge cocaine administration. Although cocaine induced stereotypic activity, no statistically significant differences were observed between intact and ovariectomized female rats or throughout the different lengths of cocaine administration. After a challenge of cocaine, corticosterone levels were induced in all experimental groups. Moreover, no differences in levels of benzoylecgonine, a cocaine metabolite, were observed. Similar to our previous observations after acute cocaine administration, after challenge of cocaine, an increase in progesterone and a decrease in testosterone levels were observed in intact females and males, respectively. In summary, endogenous hormones seem to be involved in the behavioral activation and development of sensitization to cocaine.     

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors for children and adolescents with major depression: current controversies and recommendations

Recent warnings about potential serious adverse effects with the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in children and adolescents with depression raises questions about the risk-benefit ratio of these drugs in this population. Published safety and efficacy trials of SSRIs for the treatment of youth with depression are critically reviewed. These data were augmented by information from regulatory hearings in 2003-2004 and selected open-label reports. Based on this review, recommendations for medication treatment and monitoring of children and adolescents with major depression on SSRIs are provided. Emerging data from several clinical trials show that the SSRIs provide moderate benefits for youth with depression. In addition, SSRI treatment may be associated with increased risk of behavioral activation, self-harm, and suicidal ideation. Appropriate use of the SSRIs in children and adolescents requires careful diagnostic assessment, evaluation of comorbidity, and close monitoring, especially early in treatment.