Normal sleep and circadian rhythms: neurobiologic mechanisms underlying sleep and wakefulness.

Sleep is a vital, highly organized process regulated by complex systems of neuronal networks and neurotransmitters. Sleep plays an important role in the regulation of central nervous system and body physiologic functions. Sleep architecture changes with age and is easily susceptible to external and internal disruption. Reduction or disruption of sleep can affect numerous functions varying from thermoregulation to learning and memory during the waking state.     

Dermal absorption of niclosamide in rats and minipigs

The dermal absorption of niclosamide, a drug shown to prevent Schistosomiasis by blocking the dermal penetration of cercariae, has been examined in Sinclair minipigs and rats. Radioactivity in the urine and feces collected daily for 7 days after application of 14C-niclosamide accounted for less than 2 per cent and 10 per cent of the labelled compound applied to pig and rat skin, respectively. Approximately 20 per cent of the radioactivity from the dose solution was recovered on the skin excised from the area of application in both minipigs and rats. No radioactivity was detected in organs removed from the pig 7 days after application of radiolabelled drug while less than 6 per cent of the dose could be accounted for in the rat organs/carcass. Radioactivity in swine blood, removed 0.5, 1, 2, 4 and at 24 h intervals after dosing, was at or below three times background in all of the samples. Total recovery of the applied radioactivity was 78 per cent in pigs and 57 per cent in rats. These studies indicate that niclosamide is very poorly absorbed after dermal application. The results are consistent with earlier comparative studies showing that dermal penetration of xenobiotics in rats is generally higher than in swine.     

Temporal arteritis-like presentation of carotid atherosclerosis

A 68 year-old woman presented with a two-week history of amaurosis fugax, ipsilateral fronto-temporal headache and jaw claudication suggesting carotid giant cell arteritis. However, this syndrome proved to be due to atherosclerosis causing complete occlusion of the external carotid artery at its origin and narrowing of the internal carotid artery. Combined external and internal carotid endarterectomy relieved the symptoms. The symptom complex of temporal arteritis may be rarely mimicked by carotid atherosclerotic occlusive disease.     

Genotype determining low catechol-O-methyltransferase activity as a risk factor for obsessive-compulsive disorder

In the present study, we address the role of the gene for catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), a key modulator of dopaminergic and noradrenergic neurotransmission, in the genetic predisposition to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). We show that a common functional allele of this gene, which results in a 3- to 4-fold reduction in enzyme activity, is significantly associated in a recessive manner with susceptibility to OCD, particularly in males. This association is further supported by psychiatric evaluation of patients who carry microdeletions encompassing the comt gene. The mechanism underlying this sex-selective association remains to be defined and may include a sexual dimorphism in COMT activity, although close linkage with a nearby disease susceptibility locus cannot be excluded at this point.     

Obstructive sleep apnoea due to a dermoid cyst of the floor of the mouth.

A case of obstructive sleep apnoea is reported that was caused by a dermoid cyst of the floor of the mouth and cured by surgery.     

Infertility in women and moderate alcohol use.

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between moderate alcohol intake and fertility. METHODS. Interviews were conducted with 3833 women who recently gave birth and 1050 women from seven infertility clinics. The case subjects were categorized based on the infertility specialist's assignment of the most likely cause of infertility: ovulatory factor, tubal disease, cervical factor, endometriosis, or idiopathy. Separate logistic regression models were used to assess the relationship between alcohol use and each type of infertility, adjusted for age, infertility center, cigarette smoking, caffeine use, number of sexual partners, use of an intrauterine device (for tubal disease), and body mass index and exercise (for ovulatory factor). RESULTS. We found an increase in infertility, due to ovulatory factor or endometriosis, with alcohol use. The odds ratio for ovulatory factor was 1.3 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.0, 1.7) for moderate drinkers and 1.6 (95% CI = 1.1, 2.3) for heavier drinkers, compared with nondrinkers. The risk of endometriosis was roughly 50% higher in case subjects with any alcohol intake than in control subjects (OR = 1.6, 95% CI = 1.1, 2.3, at moderate levels; OR = 1.5, 95% CI = 0.8, 2.7, at heavier levels). CONCLUSIONS. Moderate alcohol use may contribute to the risk of specific types of infertility.