The proteome microenvironment determines the protective effect of preconditioning in cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury

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Experiences with psychotherapy for depression in routine care: a naturalistic patient survey in Germany

The present survey assessed consumer satisfaction of patients having undergone psychotherapy for depression as well as service characteristics including treatment access, communication of diagnosis and treatment rationale, quality assurance and adverse events. The study was conducted in the form of a 15‐item questionnaire that was published in one of Germany's leading health magazines. 473 persons responded (81.5% women, age range 17–83). 49.8% of the respondents reported substantial or reasonable improvement; two out of three patients stated they had been satisfied with their therapy. Improvement and satisfaction were greater in those patients who had been informed about diagnosis and treatment; they were lower when unpleasant experiences were reported. Methodological restrictions of the study are outlined and hypotheses about potential strengths and deficits in the delivery of psychotherapy for depression in Germany are proposed. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

[3H]Ketanserin labels 5-HT2 receptors and α1-adrenoceptors in human and pig brain membranes

The binding characteristics of [3H]ketanserin (a reported selective radioligand for serotonin 5-HT2 receptors) and [125I]BE 2254 (which labels selectively alpha 1-adrenoceptors) were characterized in brain frontal cortex membranes of pig and man. Saturation experiments indicated that both radioligands label apparently a homogeneous class of binding sites in human and pig fontal cortex membranes. Competition experiments with [125I]BE 2254 using 17 agonists and antagonists showed monophasic and steep curves in human and pig frontal cortex membranes. The pharmacological profile of these sites is typical of alpha 1-adrenoceptors. In competition experiments with [3H]ketanserin, most of the tested compounds displayed shallow or biphasic curves. In particular, alpha 1-adrenoceptor-selective antagonists (prazosin, WB 4101, BE 2254...) displaced with nanomolar affinity about 15 and 40% of the specific [3H]ketanserin binding in human and pig frontal cortex membranes, respectively. The minor component of [3H]ketanserin binding correlated highly significantly with [125I]BE 2254 binding in both membrane preparations. The major component of [3H]ketanserin binding to pig and human frontal cortex membranes correlated significantly with [3H]ketanserin binding in rat brain cortex membranes (which is essentially to 5-HT2 receptors). The present data demonstrate that [3H]ketanserin in nanomolar concentrations binds significantly to alpha 1-adrenoceptors in human and pig frontal cortex membranes; this suggests a rather limited degree of selectivity of ketanserin for 5-HT2 receptors in pig and human tissues.