Low level of response to alcohol as associated with serotonin transporter genotype and high alcohol intake in adolescents.

BACKGROUND: A low level of response to alcohol has been associated with both the genetic constitution of the regulatory region (SLC6A4) of the human serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) transporter (5-HTT) and with future alcohol intake and an increased risk for alcoholism. To date, all studies of relevant polymorphisms have been carried out in populations in the United States. METHODS: Data were extracted from a subset (n = 243) of a cohort of children who have been observed since birth through evaluation of the family history of alcoholism and psychosocial risk influences. At age 16 years, the response to alcohol was assessed with the Self-Rating of the Effects of Alcohol (SRE) questionnaire, and the average amount of alcohol intake per month was assessed during the prior 6 months. Additional variables that were measured included the 5-HTT genotype, externalizing behavior, and sociodemographic variables, such as gender and age. RESULTS: The level of response to alcohol was significantly lower among carriers of two long alleles of the 5-HTT regulatory region compared with carriers of one or two short alleles (Mann-Whitney U = 5225.0, p = .005). In a multiple regression analysis, the level of response to alcohol and externalizing behavior but not psychosocial factors significantly predicted the average amount of alcohol intake per month. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that, independent of the assessed psychosocial variables, the 5-HTT genotype correlated with the level of response to alcohol and predicted alcohol intake among 16-year-old adolescents.     

Differenzierung getrockneter Spuren vom Blut Schwangerer,von fetalem Blut und Fruchtwasser durch die Bestimmung des Alpha-Feto-Proteins

Zusammenfassung Alpha-Fetoprotein läßt sich durch radioimmunologische Bestimmung in den getrockneten Spuren von fetalem Blut, Schwangerenblut und Fruchtwasser nachweisen. Eine eindeutige Zuordnung durch den bestimmten Wert ist nicht möglich. Eine zusätzliche Bestimmung des Gesamteiweißes oder eine elektrophoretische Trennung ist erforderlich.     

Der osteoplastische Zugang bei Zystenoperationen am Unterkiefer

Zusammenfassung Grundlagen: Die operative Therapie gro?er Zysten am Unterkiefer wirft hinsichtlich des chirurgischen Vorgehens verschiedene Probleme auf. Ohne begleitende Ma?nahmen erfordern gro?e Zysten h?ufig eine Zystostomie, die mit einer ausgedehnten Nachbenhandlungsphase und einem zum Teil erheblichen Knochensubstanzverlust verbunden ist. Methodik: Ein operatives Vorgehen unter Verwendung eines tempor?r entfernten freien Kortikalisdeckels wird vorgestellt, das die M?glichkeit er?ffnet, auch gro?e Zysten im Sinne einer Zystektomie zu entfernen. Ergebnisse: Die Anwendung und der Verlauf bei 16 Patienten werden retrospektiv dargelegt. Wesentliche Komplikationen im Sinne von Wundheilungsst?rungen traten bei 3 Patienten auf. Schlu?folgerungen: Bei ausgedehnten Zysten des Unterkiefers stellt die beschriebene Methode eine Alternative zu den sonst üblichen Verfahren dar, um dem Patienten sowohl die Nachteile der Zystostomie als auch den Mehraufwand einer Knochentransplantation zu ersparen.      

Postextrasystolic regulation patterns of blood pressure and heart rate in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy

Assessment of fluctuations in heart rate (HR) following a premature ventricular complex (PVC) is valuable for identifying patients at high risk of sudden cardiac death. We hypothesised that postextrasystolic potentiation is the main determinant of the regulation patterns of blood pressure (BP) and HR following a PVC. Twelve patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDC) and 13 control subjects with single PVCs (comparable coupling intervals) were investigated. Non-invasive finger arterial BP and ECGs were analysed. Regulation patterns following a single PVC were quantified using the indices postextrasystolic amplitude potentiation (PEAP) and maximum turbulence slope of five consecutive mean BP values (MBP-TS), and compared with the HR turbulence parameters turbulence slope (HR-TS) and turbulence onset (HR-TO). PEAP was significantly higher in IDC patients compared to controls (48.7 ± 32.6 vs. 9.8 ± 5.4 %, P < 0.01), whereas MBP-TS was lower (0.97 ± 0.60 vs. 2.07 ± 1.04 mmHg BBI⁻¹ (BBI, beat-to-beat interval), P < 0.05), as was HR-TS (8.46 ± 7.90 vs. 30.73 ± 22.90 ms BBI⁻¹, P < 0.01). HR-TO was significantly higher in IDC patients (−0.56 ± 2.19 vs. −5.52 ± 4.13 %, P < 0.01). In addition, the regulation patterns of BP and HR following a single PVC differed significantly between IDC patients and controls. Specifically, we observed pronounced PEAPs in IDC patients. The baroreflex response initiated by the low pressure amplitude of the PVC was suppressed in IDC patients due to the augmented potentiation of the first postextrasystolic blood pressure. Furthermore, IDC patients displayed impressive postextrasystolic pulsus alternans phenomena, whereas healthy subjects exhibited a typical baroreflex pattern. The pulsus alternans phenomenon seems to be triggered by a PVC.     

Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 distinctively modulates T-cell cycling and expansion via toll-like receptor 2 signaling

Although the probiotic Escherichia coli strain Nissle 1917 has been proven to be efficacious for the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases, the underlying mechanisms of action still remain elusive. The aim of the present study was to analyze the effects of E. coli Nissle 1917 on cell cycling and apoptosis of peripheral blood and lamina propria T cells (PBT and LPT, respectively). Anti-CD3-stimulated PBT and LPT were treated with E. coli Nissle 1917-conditioned medium (E. coli Nissle 1917-CM) or heat-inactivated E. coli Nissle 1917. Cyclin B1, DNA content, and caspase 3 expression were measured by flow cytometry to assess cell cycle kinetics and apoptosis. Protein levels of several cell cycle and apoptosis modulators were determined by immunoblotting, and cytokine profiles were determined by cytometric bead array. E. coli Nissle 1917-CM inhibits cell cycling and expansion of peripheral blood but not mucosal T cells. Bacterial lipoproteins mimicked the effect of E. coli Nissle 1917-CM; in contrast, heat-inactivated E. coli Nissle 1917, lipopolysaccharide, or CpG DNA did not alter PBT cell cycling. E. coli Nissle 1917-CM decreased cyclin D2, B1, and retinoblastoma protein expression, contributing to the reduction of T-cell proliferation. E. coli Nissle 1917 significantly inhibited the expression of interleukin-2 (IL-2), tumor necrosis factor alpha, and gamma interferon but increased IL-10 production in PBT. Using Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR-2) knockout mice, we further demonstrate that the inhibition of PBT proliferation by E. coli Nissle 1917-CM is TLR-2 dependent. The differential reaction of circulating and tissue-bound T cells towards E. coli Nissle 1917 may explain the beneficial effect of E. coli Nissle 1917 in intestinal inflammation. E. coli Nissle 1917 may downregulate the expansion of newly recruited T cells into the mucosa and limit intestinal inflammation, while already activated tissue-bound T cells may eliminate deleterious antigens in order to maintain immunological homeostasis.     

Amygdala-prefrontal coupling depends on a genetic variation of the serotonin transporter

Major depression is conditionally linked to a polymorphism of the human serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4). During the presentation of aversive, but not pleasant, pictures, healthy carriers of the SLC6A4 short (s) allele showed stronger activation of the amygdala on functional magnetic resonance imaging. s carriers also showed greater coupling between the amygdala and the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, which may contribute to the abnormally high activity in the amygdala and medial prefrontal cortex seen in major depression.