Reversal of startle gating deficits in transgenic mice overexpressing corticotropin-releasing factor by antipsychotic drugs.

Chronically elevated levels of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) in transgenic mice overexpressing CRF in the brain (CRF-OE) appear to be associated with alterations commonly associated with major depressive disorder, as well as with sensorimotor gating deficits commonly associated with schizophrenia. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that antipsychotics may be effective in normalizing prepulse inhibition (PPI) of acoustic startle in CRF-OE mice, which display impaired sensorimotor gating compared to wild-type (WT) mice. The typical antipsychotic haloperidol and atypical antipsychotic risperidone improved PPI in the CRF-OE mice, but were ineffective in WT mice. The atypical antipsychotic clozapine did not influence PPI in CRF-OE mice, but reduced gating in WT mice. This effect of clozapine in the CRF-OE mice may thus be regarded as a relative improvement, consistent with the observed effect of haloperidol and risperidone. As expected, the anxiolytic, nonantipsychotic chlordiazepoxide was devoid of any effect. All four compounds dose-dependently reduced the acoustic startle response irrespective of genotype. These results indicate that antipsychotic drugs are effective in improving startle gating deficits in the CRF-OE mice. Hence, the CRF-OE mouse model may represent an animal model for certain aspects of psychotic depression, and could be a valuable tool for research addressing the impact of chronically elevated levels of CRF on information processing.     

An ounce of prevention ... STDs and women's health

Using recent data from the U.S., the argument is reiterated that sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) have serious consequences on female morbidity, mortality, pregnancy outcome and that the cost of screening and treatment can afford significant savings. Since the rosy view of the 1950s that STDs had been eliminated with penicillin, new viral, parasitic and bacterial forms have emerged, and antibiotic-resistant classical STDs have increased yearly. 13 million new cases were reported in 1989, excluding non-reportable diseases and asymptomatic infections, such as over half of chlamydia cases. Mortality is possible from STDs, most notably from AIDS, now among the top 5 causes of death of women aged 15-44. Other fatal outcomes are cervical cancer related to human papilloma virus, accelerated by HIV, pelvic inflammatory diseases (PID) its consequences, ectopic pregnancy. Symptomatic PID affects 1 million women, resulting in 210,000 hospitalizations per year. Ectopic pregnancy accounts for 12% of maternal mortality. STDs are involved in neonatal infections with HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, cytomegalovirus, and herpes. Chorioamnionitis, a finding in many miscarriages, is caused by many of the same organisms. Several studies have projected sizeable potential savings, even within the current year, by providing STD screening and treatment in family planning clinics and prenatal care, in terms of prevention of hospitalization of women, and intensive care for low birth weight, premature and infected newborns.     

Block copolymers with bipyridine containing segments: Synthesis and self-organization by Cu(I) complexation

The synthesis and properties of segmented ABA triblock and (AB)_n multiblock copolymer systems with 6,6′-disubstituted 2,2′-bipyridine (bpy) building blocks B and poly(oxytetramethylene) soft segments A are described. The access to the disubstituted bipyridines in large scale quantities was achieved by modification of conventional synthetic routes. In the presence of copper(I) ions these polymers formed mononuclear [Cu(I)(bpy)₂] complexes in solution through self-assembly. The complexed copolymers were microphase separated systems in bulk with nano to mesoscopic superstructures consisting of copper-bpy complex aggregates in a polyether matrix. The thermal, mechanical and elastomer properties of the block copolymers varied with composition.