Associations between Lifetime Traumatic Events and Subsequent Chronic Physical Conditions: A Cross-National,Cross-Sectional Study

Background

Associations between lifetime traumatic event (LTE) exposures and subsequent physical ill-health are well established but it has remained unclear whether these are explained by PTSD or other mental disorders. This study examined this question and investigated whether associations varied by type and number of LTEs, across physical condition outcomes, or across countries.

Methods

Cross-sectional, face-to-face household surveys of adults (18+) were conducted in 14 countries (n = 38, 051). The Composite International Diagnostic Interview assessed lifetime LTEs and DSM-IV mental disorders. Chronic physical conditions were ascertained by self-report of physician''s diagnosis and year of diagnosis or onset. Survival analyses estimated associations between the number and type of LTEs with the subsequent onset of 11 physical conditions, with and without adjustment for mental disorders.

Findings

A dose-response association was found between increasing number of LTEs and odds of any physical condition onset (OR 1.5 [95% CI: 1.4–1.5] for 1 LTE; 2.1 [2.0–2.3] for 5+ LTEs), independent of all mental disorders. Associations did not vary greatly by type of LTE (except for combat and other war experience), nor across countries. A history of 1 LTE was associated with 7/11 of the physical conditions (ORs 1.3 [1.2–1.5] to 1.7 [1.4–2.0]) and a history of 5+ LTEs was associated with 9/11 physical conditions (ORs 1.8 [1.3–2.4] to 3.6 [2.0–6.5]), the exceptions being cancer and stroke.

Conclusions

Traumatic events are associated with adverse downstream effects on physical health, independent of PTSD and other mental disorders. Although the associations are modest they have public health implications due to the high prevalence of traumatic events and the range of common physical conditions affected. The effects of traumatic stress are a concern for all medical professionals and researchers, not just mental health specialists.     

Establishment of a Sensitized Immunoblotting Method for Measuring Plant Tubulin Content

A sensitized immunoblotting method was established for measuringsmall amounts of plant tubulin. The method involves electrophoretictransfer of protein including tubulin from SDS-polyacrylamidegels onto nitrocellulose paper, successive incubation of thenitrocellulose paper with a mouse monoclonal antibody to - orß-tubulin of chicken brain, an antibody to mouse IgGas the second antibody and the radioactive iodinated proteinA, and determination of the radioactivities of the bands onthe nitrocellulose paper thus probed. The radioactivities werelinearly proportional to the amounts of - or ß-tubulinfrom dark-grown Vigna mungo seedlings within a range of 4 to56 ng or of 4 to 32 ng, respectively. This method was used to estimate the tubulin contents of severalplant species using Vigna tubulin as a standard. -Tubulin contentsthus estimated were 25, 9, 19 and 11 µg-equivalents ofVigna tubulin per mg protein for Vigna seedlings, Daucus suspensioncells, Catharanthus suspension cells and Mougeolia cells, respectively.ß-Tubulin contents of Vigna, Daucus, Catharanthusand Mougeotia cells were 29, 10, 13 and 5 µg-equivalentsof Vigna tubulin per mg protein, respectively. (Received August 6, 1985; Accepted December 5, 1985)     

A Mono-2-Ethylhexyl Phthalate Hydrolase from a Gordonia sp. That Is Able To Dissimilate Di-2-Ethylhexyl Phthalate

Gordonia sp. strain P8219, a strain able to decompose di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate, was isolated from machine oil-contaminated soil. Mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate hydrolase was purified from cell extracts of this strain. This enzyme was a 32,164-Da homodimeric protein, and it effectively hydrolyzed monophthalate esters, such as monoethyl, monobutyl, monohexyl, and mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate. The K_m and V_max values for mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate were 26.9 ± 4.3 μM and 18.1 ± 0.9 μmol/min · mg protein, respectively. The deduced amino acid sequence of the enzyme exhibited less than 30% homology with those of meta-cleavage hydrolases which are serine hydrolases but exhibited no significant homology with the sequences of serine esterases. The pentapeptide motif GXSXG, which is conserved in serine hydrolases, was present in the sequence. The enzymatic properties and features of the primary structure suggested that this enzyme is a novel enzyme belonging to an independent group of serine hydrolases.     

Retinoblastoma protein phosphorylation via PI 3-kinase and mTOR pathway regulates adipocyte differentiation

In the early phase of adipocyte differentiation, transient increase of DNA synthesis, called clonal expansion, and transient hyperphosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein (Rb) are observed. We investigated the role of these phenomena in insulin-induced adipocyte differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells. Insulin-induced clonal expansion, Rb phosphorylation and adipocyte differentiation were all inhibited by the PI 3-kinase inhibitors and rapamycin, but not the MEK inhibitor, whereas the MEK inhibitor, but not PI 3-kinase inhibitors or rapamycin, decreased c-fos induction. We conclude that insulin induces hyperphosphorylation of Rb via PI 3-kinase and mTOR dependent pathway, which promotes clonal expansion and adipocyte differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells.     

Investigation on light-addressable potentiometric sensor as a possible cell-semiconductor hybrid

This article reports an investigation on light-addressable potentiometric sensor (LAPS) to be used as a possible biological cell-semiconductor hybrid that will enable us to make an interface between the physical and biological system. To increase the surface potential sensitivity, we used a LAPS structure with single insulator (SiO2) coated with poly-L-ornithine and laminin (PLOL) on Si. Efficient culturing of PC-12 and nerve cells of Lymnaea stagnalis on PLOL-coated Si3N4 and SiO2 was achieved. The thickness of the PLOL layer was found to be about 4 nm by the atomic force microscope (AFM) measurement. Using the advantage of this thin layer of PLOL, we compared the performance of a novel structure to the previously reported "PLOL-coated Si3N4/SiO2/Si" structure. Due to high insulating capacitance, the photocurrent response of the novel LAPS was found to be very steep. As a result, higher sensitivity was achieved. This steepness did not degrade during 10 days when the sensor surface was kept in contact with the cell culture medium and environment. The thickness of PLOL layer, its ability to improve the biological cell adhesion, enhanced sensitivity, and experiment with simulated neural action potential (AP) applied to the novel LAPS show a good promise for LAPS to be a biological cell-semiconductor hybrid.     

Isolation of mouse FM3A cell mutants with thermolabile thymidylate synthetase by resistance to aphidicolin

Of 625 aphidicolin-resistant clones selected at 33.5°C from mutagenized mouse FM3A cells, 13 clones could not grow at 39.5°C. Five of these clones, chosen at random, resumed growth at 39.5°C when thymidine was added to the culture medium. In hybrids, conditional thymidine auxotrophy was a recessive trait, but aphidicolin-resistance was either a codominant or recessive one depending on the mutant clone used.Thymidylate synthetase activity in crude extracts of these mutants was completely inactivated by preincubation for 30 min at 42°C, whereas that of the parent cells was not affected by the same treatment. Thus, the temperature-sensitive growth of the mutants described here seems to be due to this heat-sensitive thymidylate synthetase.     

Species‐dependent microarchitectural traits of iridescent scales in the triad taxa of Ornithoptera birdwing butterflies

Ornithoptera birdwing butterflies have blue, green, or orange iridescent scales in different species or subspecies. To understand the species‐ or subspecies‐dependent scale color differences, we performed comparative morphometric analyses of iridescent scales from three closely related taxa: O. priamus priamus (green), O. priamus urvillianus (blue), and O. croesus (orange). The three types of Ornithoptera wings exhibited reversible color changes to longer wavelengths with different kinetics upon immersion in methanol, suggesting that their color differences are at least partly based on differences in the size of air cavities made by nanostructures. Cover scales of all three color types were visually semi‐transparent glass scales that exhibited color when placed on a dark background. The dorsoventral differences in coloration were observed in single scales, suggesting the optical importance of scale surfaces. Scanning electron microscopy of cover scales in cross section revealed that all color types exhibited finely sculpted tapered ridges and thick, irregular basal multilayers containing tandemly clustered granular objects and air cavities. Scale thickness, ridge height, and multilayer thickness were significantly different among the three color types, and granular object size was significantly different between orange scales and blue and green scales. We conclude that each of the three taxa of Ornithoptera butterflies possesses unique quantitative size values on tapered ridges and irregular multilayers with granular objects and air cavities to express unique structural color. These species‐ or subspecies‐dependent structural colors might have evolved via quantitative shifts in these microarchitectural traits rather than via changes in the basic developmental or architectural plan for color expression.     

Microencapsulation of dopamine neurons derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells

Background

Dopamine neurons derived from induced pluripotent stem cells have been widely studied for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. However, various difficulties remain to be overcome, such as tumor formation, fragility of dopamine neurons, difficulty in handling large numbers of dopamine neurons, and immune reactions. In this study, human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived precursors of dopamine neurons were encapsulated in agarose microbeads. Dopamine neurons in microbeads could be handled without specific protocols, because the microbeads protected the fragile dopamine neurons from mechanical stress.

Methods

hiPS cells were seeded on a Matrigel-coated dish and cultured to induce differentiation into a dopamine neuronal linage. On day 18 of culture, cells were collected from the culture dishes and seeded into U-bottom 96-well plates to induce cell aggregate formation. After 5 days, cell aggregates were collected from the plates and microencapsulated in agarose microbeads. The microencapsulated aggregates were cultured for an additional 45 days to induce maturation of dopamine neurons.

Results

Approximately 60% of all cells differentiated into tyrosine hydroxylase-positive neurons in agarose microbeads. The cells released dopamine for more than 40 days. In addition, microbeads containing cells could be cryopreserved.

Conclusion

hiPS cells were successfully differentiated into dopamine neurons in agarose microbeads.

General significance

Agarose microencapsulation provides a good supporting environment for the preparation and storage of dopamine neurons.     

Fusion protein approach to improve the crystal quality of cytochrome bo(3) ubiquinol oxidase from Escherichia coli

Crystals of cytochrome bo(3) ubiquinol oxidase from E. coli diffract X-rays to 3.5 A and the structure determination is in progress. The limiting factor to the elucidation of the structural detail is the quality of the crystals; the diffraction spots from the crystals are diffused which leads to difficulties in processing the data beyond 4.0 A. Weak protein-protein contacts within the crystal lattice is assumed to be the cause of this problem. To improve these contacts, we have introduced protein Z to the C-terminal end of the subunit IV of cytochrome bo(3) and expressed both proteins as a single fusion. We have successfully obtained crystals of this fusion protein. The spot shape problem has clearly been solved in the crystals of the fusion protein although further optimization is necessary to obtain higher resolution. We also discuss the potential applications of this approach to the crystallization of membrane proteins in general.