Immunoelectrophoretic characteristics of four broad bean stain virus isolates

Four isolates of broad bean stain virus (BBSV; Comovirus group), representing two serotypes in immunodiffusion tests, were compared by immunoelectrophoresis. Two electrophoretic forms (slow and rapid) migrating from the cathode to the anode were found in virus preparations purified from above-ground plant parts harvested 14 or 21 days after inoculation with any of the four isolates. In virus preparations kept for a year at 4 degrees C in the presence of sodium azide both electrophoretic forms were preserved, while in preparations without a preservative only the rapidly migrating form could be detected. In virus preparations from plant roots, only the rapidly migrating form was demonstrated.     

Cytoprotection by somatostatin of normal and malignant clonogenic cells against the in vitro cytotoxicity of bischloroethylnitrosourea (BCNU)

The various pharmacological effects of somatostatin may be explained by the hypothesis that the paracrine peptide, by "stabilizing" cell membranes, inhibits the secretion of hormones as well as protects other cells (vascular endothelium, parenchyma) from different lesions (vasculo-, organo-, cytoprotection). This hypothesis was tested in vitro, using bischloroethyl-nitrosourea (BCNU)-intoxicated stem cells of normal mouse granulopoiesis and of the L 1210 leukemia. Clonogenic mouse bone marrow and L 1210 cells were grown in agar-containing glass capillaries. Using these colony assays and a ID90 of BCNU, cyclic somatostatin influenced the BCNU-cytotoxicity neither at simultaneous nor at subsequent application. However, when given 2 h prior to BCNU, the inhibition of colony growth was almost totally abolished. This cytoprotective effect was seen with normal granulopoietic as well as with leukemic cells. The effect did not show up, if the inactive linear somatostatin was used. N-acetyl-cysteine, a SH-compound applied as a chemoprotective adjunct, did not reveal a cytoprotective effect under identical experimental conditions, either. The results were discussed in view of common efforts to reduce the toxicity of cancer chemotherapy.     

Acute effects of using a mobile phone on CNS functions

Twenty volunteers participated in two experiments exploring the acute effects of using the mobile phone Motorola GSM 8700 on the functions of the CNS. When speaking (5 minutes reading a text from daily newspapers) the electromagnetic fields from the mobile apparatus did not affect the visual evoked potentials. Also a 6-min exposure did not reveal any effect of electromagnetic fields on the results in two tests (memory and attention) performed while speaking into the mobile. On the other hand the phone call itself strongly influenced the performance in a secondary task applying a test of switching attention which is a good model for driving a car. The response and decision speed were significantly worse. This is a proof that even a slight psychological stress involved in calling while driving can be a great risk.     

Neuropsychological Assessment in a Case of Adult-Onset Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH)

We present a case of an individual diagnosed with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), an extremely rare and commonly fatal disorder characterized by rapid dysregulation of immune system processes. Typical age of onset is in childhood, with adult-onset occurring less frequently. The pathophysiology of this condition is characterized by a hyperinflammatory response with infiltration of visceral organs, lymph nodes, bone marrow, and the central nervous system. The clinical presentation has been documented in the extant medical literature. However, there appear to be no published reports of neuropsychological functioning in HLH patients. The patient we present here is a 28-year-old woman with 16 years of education who developed HLH subsequent to systemic lupus erythematosus flare-up. She was initially comatose for 3 weeks. Acute MRI reported multiple subcortical abnormalities, including the brainstem. The patient underwent chemotherapy, immunosuppresant, and steroid treatments. She underwent a neuropsychological evaluation at 2.5 and 7 months post initial presentation. Preliminary neuropsychological evaluation found impairments in motor abilities and aspects of executive functions. Subsequent evaluation showed improved executive function and relative sparing of higher-order cognitive abilities, but continued impairment on motor tests. To our knowledge this is the first study to report neuropsychological data for an adult diagnosed with HLH.     

Biofeedback in Grandmothers Raising Grandchildren: Evaluating Intervention Parameters

This study examined the six critical parameters for evaluating interventions, including necessity, acceptability, feasibility, safety, fidelity, and effectiveness, of a heart rate variability (HRV) biofeedback training intervention in a sample of 20 grandmothers who were the primary caregivers of their grandchildren. After the grandmothers completed the HRV biofeedback training, they answered open-ended questions to provide data on the six parameters during face-to-face interviews. The findings of the study provided evidence for the necessity, acceptability, feasibility, safety, fidelity, and effectiveness of the HRV biofeedback intervention for reducing the stress experienced by grandmothers in raising their grandchildren.     

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in the Czech Republic

The objective of the study was to assess the prevalence and more detailed data pertaining to the incidence of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) in the Czech Republic. The authors examined 99 patients with cirrhosis of the liver and ascites. SBP was diagnosed in a high percentage--35 patients, i.e. 35.4%. It was found more frequently in patients with an alcoholic etiology of cirrhosis who had a history of subfebrile and febrile temperatures and increasing trend of ascites. For the diagnosis the increase of leucocytes in serum and C reactive protein levels may prove useful. Lower values of total protein and albumin in ascites predispose to the development of this infection. Reduction of the number of thrombocytes in the group of patients with SBP indicates the influence of portal hypertension in the etiology of this disease.     

Weight gain and antipsychotics: a drug safety review

Introduction: Second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) are widely used in several psychiatric disease entities and exert to a different extent a risk for antipsychotic-induced weight gain (AIWG). As AIWG is associated with an increase in metabolic syndrome or cardiovascular events, knowledge of these risks is crucial for further monitoring and the initiation of counteractive measures.

Areas covered: We searched PubMed and Web of Sciences for randomized-controlled trials and naturalistic observational studies published between 2010 and 2014 with sample sizes exceeding 100, including all marketed SGAs apart from zotepine, and providing data on weight increase. We also summarized relevant systematic reviews and meta-analyses of head-to-head comparisons.

Expert opinion: Recently published data still support the hierarchical ranking of SGAs already proposed in previous reviews ranking clozapine and olanzapine as having the highest risk, followed by amisulpride, asenapine, iloperidone, paliperidone, quetiapine, risperidone and sertindole in the middle, and aripiprazole, lurasidone and ziprasidone with the lowest risk. Number needed to harm varied considerably in our meta-analysis. Younger patients and patients with a lower baseline body mass index are most vulnerable. The greatest amount of weight gain occurs within the first weeks of treatment. AIWG occurs in all diagnostic groups and is also common in treatment with first-generation antipsychotics; therefore, awareness of this adverse event is essential for anyone prescribing antipsychotics.     

Watchful waiting: role of disease progression on uncertainty and depressive symptoms in patients with chronic Hepatitis C

Background and Aims: New therapies for HCV are rapidly emerging and providers are advising select patients to defer treatment and elect ‘watchful waiting’. During the watchful waiting period, patients have been shown to have high rates of illness uncertainty and depression. We sought to answer the question of whether reassuring histological data (showing minimal fibrosis or no fibrosis progression over time) is associated with less illness uncertainty and depressive symptoms. Methods: This was a single‐centre outpatient prospective cohort study to determine whether stage of fibrosis, fibrosis progression and reasons for treatment deferral were related to illness uncertainty and depressive symptoms in patients following watchful waiting. Results: Illness uncertainty was significantly related to depressive symptoms (r = 0.49, P < 0.01). More than half of the participants (54%) had moderate levels of uncertainty. About 40% of the participants were at risk for clinical depression (21.7% at mild to moderate risk and 18.5% at high risk). Treatment naïve subjects had lower mean scores on both the CES‐D (depressive symptoms measure) and the MUIS‐A (illness uncertainty measure) total score, MUIS‐A Ambiguity subscale and MUIS‐A Inconsistency subscale than subjects who failed treatment or were interferon intolerant or ineligible. Surprisingly, liver fibrosis stage and progression were not significantly associated with overall illness uncertainty or depressive symptoms. Conclusion: Patients with chronic hepatitis C on watchful waiting are at high risk for significant illness uncertainty and depressive symptoms. Reassuring histological data does not seem to correlate with less uncertainty or depressive symptoms.