Dorsal raphe nucleus stimulation modulates the response of layers IV and V barrel cortical neurons in rat

The effect of dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) electrical stimulation on response properties of layers IV and V barrel cortical neurons was studied. To assess the receptive field characteristics of cortical neurons, responses of neurons were recorded following the displacement of principal and adjacent whiskers individually or in a condition test paradigm. Then neuronal responses to the displacement of whiskers were analyzed following DRN stimulation at 0, 50, 100, 200 and 400 ms inter-stimulation intervals. Considering On responses, DRN stimulation suppressed the response magnitude of layer V neurons to principal whisker deflection, while it slightly increased that of layer IV neurons (not statistically significant). The response latency of layer IV neurons increased when DRN was stimulated 200 or 400 ms before principal whisker deflection, while the response latency of layer V was not changed. DRN stimulation had no effect on either magnitude or latency of neuronal response to the adjacent whisker deflections. We observed a decrease in the inhibitory effect of the adjacent whisker deflection on the magnitude of neuronal response to the principal whisker deflection in layer IV when DRN was stimulated 200 ms before the principal whisker deflection. Off responses did not show any significant effect of DRN stimulation. Our results suggest a modulating role for DRN in processing of the incoming information into barrel cortex. This effect might be location dependent.     

Pioglitazone Attenuates Ischemia/Reperfusion–Induced Liver Injury in Rats

Introduction

Hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury leads to free radical generation and acute inflammatory responses that cause liver damage, an important problem for liver transplantation. Pioglitazone is known to protect I/R injury in various tissues; however, the mechanism of cytoprotection is not well understood. This study investigated the effects of pioglitazone administration in a warm hepatic I/R model on tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α level, tissue injury, and antioxidant enzyme activity.

Materials and Methods

Eighty wistar strain rats were divided into 4 groups (n = 20): Group 1 sham hosts; Group 2 hepatic I/R; Group 3 hepatic I/R + pioglitazone (10 mg/kg); and Group 4 hepatic I/R + vehicle. Rat livers were subjected to 30 minutes of ischemia followed by 6 hours of reperfusion. After reperfusion rats were humanely killed to obtain liver tissue to study glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dysmutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and for histopathologic assessment. TNF-α, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were measured in serum.

Results

Pioglitazone pretreatment significantly reduced liver enzyme content (ALT, 176.80 ± 13.75 vs 235.28 ± 31.92 and AST, 748.20 ± 79.29 vs 944.85 ± 101.87) and TNF-α level (9:8.60 ± 8.67 vs 138.28 ± 9.99) after I/R compared with the control group. MDA level (3.02 ± 0.37 vs 4.36 ± 0.38) and hepatocytic degeneration were reduced in the pioglitazone-treated group. GPx (2.40 ± 0.25 vs 1.36 ± 0.31) and SOD activity (2.22 ± 0.30 vs 1.40 ± 0.35) were significantly higher in the pioglitazone-treated group compared with the control group.

Conclusion

The present study showed that pioglitazone administration improved hepatic I/R injury that was associated with enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities and suppression of TNF-α, ALT, and AST levels. Because peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ agonists are widely used to treat diabetic patients, it may be relatively easy to expand their clinical indication. However, further investigations will be required to delineate protective mechanisms by which pioglitazone attenuates hepatic tissue injury after I/R.     

Good outcome after liver transplantation for ALD without a 6 months abstinence rule prior to transplantation including post‐transplant CDT monitoring for alcohol relapse assessment – a retrospective study

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is the second most common indication for liver transplantation (LT). The utility of fixed intervals of abstinence prior to listing is still a matter of discussion. Furthermore, post‐LT long‐term observation is challenging, and biomarkers as carbohydrate‐deficient transferrin (CDT) may help to identify alcohol relapse. We retrospectively analyzed data from patients receiving LT for ALD from 1996 to 2012. A defined period of alcohol abstinence prior to listing was not a precondition, and abstinence was evaluated using structured psychological interviews. A total of 382 patients received LT for ALD as main (n = 290) or secondary (n = 92) indication; median follow‐up was 73 months (0–213). One‐ and five‐year patient survival and graft survival rates were 82% and 69%, and 80% and 67%, respectively. A total of 62 patients (16%) experienced alcohol relapse. Alcohol relapse did not have a statistically significant effect on patient survival (P = 0.10). Post‐transplant CDT measurements showed a sensitivity and specificity of 84% and 85%, respectively. In conclusion, this large single‐center analysis showed good post‐transplant long‐term results in patients with ALD when applying structured psychological interviews before listing. Relapse rates were lower than those reported in the literature despite using a strict definition of alcohol relapse. Furthermore, post‐LT CDT measurement proved to be a useful supplementary tool for detecting alcohol relapse.     

Insomnia treatment in the third trimester of pregnancy reduces postpartum depression symptoms: A randomized clinical trial

Mental health is an important medical issue in perinatal care, and there is increasing evidence that insomnia during pregnancy is associated with postpartum depression (PPD). Therefore, the present study evaluated the effect of insomnia treatment during the third trimester of pregnancy on PPD symptoms. Fifty-four pregnant women with insomnia were randomly assigned to trazodone, diphenhydramine, or placebo treatment. Sleep quality was measured by actigraphy at baseline, and after 2 and 6 weeks of treatment. In addition, depression was assessed 2 and 6 weeks after delivery. Trazodone and diphenhydramine improved sleep profile compared to placebo after 6 weeks of treatment. Further, depressive symptoms were reduced 2 and 6 weeks after delivery in trazodone and diphenhydramine groups compared to placebo. No differences in depressive symptoms were observed between the trazodone and diphenhydramine groups. These findings indicate that insomnia treatment with trazodone or diphenhydramine during the third trimester of pregnancy may prevent PPD.     

Fe3O4@Au core–shell hybrid nanocomposite for MRI-guided magnetic targeted photo-chemotherapy

Lasers in Medical Science - The combination of multiple therapeutic and diagnostic functions is fast becoming a key feature in the area of clinical oncology. The advent of nanotechnology promises...     

Enhancement of third order nonlinear optical responses via alteration of the density of states of electrons: VS2–NiS2 hybrid nanostructure

We successfully synthesized VS₂–NiS₂ hybrid nanostructures via a one-pot hydrothermal technique. Microstructural characterizations were carried out by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), UV-visible spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The optical indexes such as n, k, and ε were assessed based on the reflectance spectra data and Kramers–Kronig method. By adding varying amounts of the NiS₂ phase in the hybrid nanostructure, the morphology of the hybrid nanostructures is altered to produce microflowers, nanoflakes, and nanoflowers. These changes affect the nonlinear optical properties. The third order nonlinear optical parameters (n₂, β) were analyzed via a simple and accurate Z-scan technique using different laser powers. The two-photon absorption phenomenon has a significant enhancement effect on the nonlinear absorption process, but the nonlinear refractive behaviour of the different hybrid nanostructures changes from self-defocusing to self-focusing due to the alteration of the electronic state alignment and morphology. The magnitudes of n₂ and β are in the order of 10⁻⁹ cm² W⁻¹ and 10⁻³ cm W⁻¹, respectively. The increasing of the density of states of electrons leads to the improvement of the nonlinear optical responses of the VS₂–NiS₂ hybrid nanostructures in comparison with the pure VS₂ structure. This study demonstrates the great potential of this hybrid nanostructure for optical limiters and modulators as well as photonic devices.

Increasing of the density of states of electrons is an important criterion in nonlinear optical phenomena. The hybridization of VS₂ with NiS₂ leads to the improvement of nonlinear optical properties using in the optical and photonic applications.     

Household cardiovascular screening of high-risk families: a school-based study.

BACKGROUND: A parental history of cardiovascular disease has a strong relationship with risk factor clusters in the offspring. This study was performed to identify major cardiovascular risk factors in middle school-aged children and their parents in both high and low-risk families. DESIGN: A school-based, cross-sectional study. METHODS: The middle schools of the 6th district of Tehran were divided randomly into two groups. A total of 169 high-risk children with their families were recruited from the first group and 105 low-risk children with their families were recruited from the second group of schools. Anthropometric and metabolic measurements were performed. RESULTS: The means of the waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio were significantly higher in high-risk fathers. The means of total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol were significantly higher in both parents and children of the high-risk group. The means of the fasting plasma glucose were significantly higher in fathers and offspring of high-risk families. More fathers in high-risk families were smokers. The prevalence of increased total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and hyperglycemia (> or = 100 mg/dl) were higher in high-risk parents and children. The prevalence of increased body mass index (> or = 25 kg/m for parents and 85th percentile for children) was higher in fathers and children of high-risk families. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiovascular risk factors are more prevalent and clustered in high-risk families. The screening of high-risk families is essential to prevent the progression of atherosclerosis from childhood and reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease in adulthood.