Comparison of hippocampal volumes in schizophrenia, schizoaffective and bipolar disorder

The reduction of hippocampal volume was frequently reported in schizophrenia, but not in bipolar disorder This volume reduction is associated with clinical features of schizophrenia, in particular with working and verbal memory impairments. Schizoaffective disorder, as a specific disorder sharing clinical features of both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder is rarely analyzed as a separate disorder in neurobiological studies. The aim of this study was to compare hippocampal volumes in separate groups of patients with schizophrenia, schizoaffective and bipolar disorder. Hippocampal volumes were estimated using high resolution magnetic resonance imaging in 60 subjects, 15 subjects in each patient and one healthy volunteer (control) group. There were no significant differences in hippocampal volume between bipolar disorder and control group. Hippocampal volume was statistically significantly reduced in the group of patients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder, compared to either bipolar disorder or control group, thus supporting the hypothesis that hippocampal volume reduction could be considered as a possible neurobiological basis for clinical aspects of schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder associated with working and verbal memory impairment.     

1-H MRS changes in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex after donepezil treatment in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) noninvasively provides information on the concentration of some cerebral metabolites in vivo. Among those measurable by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS), N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA) is decreased, and myo-inositol (ml) and choline (Cho) levels are increased in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Donepezil, an acetylcholinesteraze inhibitor, has proven effect on cognitive symptoms in patients with AD. In previous studies, treatment response was associated with an increase of NAA and NAA/Cr in the parietal lobe and hippocampi. Correlation of longitudinal changes of 1H-MRS detectable metabolites in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) with clinically observable changes is a poorly researched topic. The objective of this non-interventional study is to assess whether changes in 1H-MRS measurable metabolites correlate with clinical outcome after donepezil treatment. Twelve patients with mild to moderate AD were evaluated during 26 weeks of donepezil treatment. 1H-MRS parameters in DLPFC were assessed before and after 26 weeks of donepezil treatment. Cognition was assessed with Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale cognitive subscale (ADAS-Cog). A significant increase in NAA/Cr ratio and significantly lower decrease in mI/Cr ratio were found in AD patients with positive treatment response. The results of this study indicate possible modest donepezil effect on prevention of neuronal functional deterioration in DLPFC which correlates with clinical outcome and point the use of 1HMRS as technique of help in assessment of drug effect.     

Self-assessment of well-being as an indicator of quality of life of former war prisoners - A Croatian study

The impact of war on the population is vast, especially when it comes to those who were directly affected by war, among other things as concentration camp detainees. Because of the specific war experience of this population it is important to better understand the possible contribution of key socio-demographic variables, war traumatization and acute disturbances in mental health to their subjective assessment of their own well-being, which represents a psychological category and is based on a subjective assessment. The starting point is a theoretical precept according to which individual characteristics, together with war experience, can have repercussions on mental health, and eventually on the general well-being of an individual and their quality of life. The study comprised 184participants who had given their informed consent for participation and filled out complete questionnaires. The participants were a convenience sample of male persons who had survived war captivity in the Homeland War in the period from 1991 to 1995. The study was conducted as part of the physical examinations at the University Hospital "Fran Mihaljevi?" in Zagreb. The data was collected using several self-evaluation measuring instruments one of which served to collect socio-demographic data, two to collect data on the participants' mental health, one for the data on the participants' combat and war experiences and one to assess the participants' well-being. The data obtained suggest that only avoidance and arousal symptoms and psychosomatic difficulties are predictors of the well-being of persons who have experienced war captivity.     

Rapid assessment of the sex of codling moth Cydia pomonella (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) eggs and larvae

Two different methods were tested to identify the sex of the early developmental stages of the codling moth Cydia pomonella (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) with a WZ/ZZ (female/male) sex chromosome system. First, it was shown that the sex of all larval stages can be easily determined by the presence or absence of sex chromatin, which is formed by the female‐specific W chromosome in interphase nuclei. This trait can also be used to identify the sex of newly hatched larvae but it does require care and accuracy. Secondly, a new sexing technique was developed based on a molecular marker of the codling moth W chromosome. Flanking regions of an earlier described W‐specific sequence (CpW2) were isolated and sequenced and a 2.74 kb sequence (CpW2‐EcoRI), specific for the W chromosome, was obtained. Several PCR tests were conducted, which confirmed that the CpW2‐EcoRI sequence is a reliable marker for the sex identification in codling moth samples of different geographical origin. In addition, a fragment of a codling moth gene, period (Cpper) was isolated and sequenced. Results of southern hybridization of the Cpper probe with female and male genomic DNA suggested that the Cpper gene is located on the Z chromosome. Then a multiplex PCR assay was developed, which co‐amplified the CpW2‐EcoRI sequence to identify the W chromosome and the Z‐linked Cpper sequence, which served as a positive control of accurate processing of tested samples. The multiplex PCR provides an easy and rapid identification of the sex of embryos and early larval instars of the codling moth.     

Balloon Catheter Position and its Relationship with Esophageal Temperature during Pulmonary Vein Isolation using High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound

BackgroundHIFU can achieve PVI, but severe esophageal complications have happened. We analyzed relative position of HIFU balloon catheter (BC) to esophageal temperature (ET) probe and correlated it to ET changes.Methods and ResultsBefore each ablation relative position of HIFU BC to ET probe was recorded in RAO 30° and LAO 40°. We compared ablations where ET at end of ablation was < 38.5°C or ≥ 38.5°C and < 40.0°C or ≥ 40.0°C.A total of 600 images from 311 ablations in 28 patients (18 male, age 63 ± 7 years), were analyzed. ET ≥ 38.5°C was reached when distance from BC to ET probe was: < 20 mm in LAO for RSPV and < 29 mm in LAO for RIPV. For RIPV ET ≥ 38.5°C was reached when angle between BC and ET probe was significantly smaller in LAO and RAO. ET ≥ 40.0°C was reached when distance of BC to ET probe was: < 20 mm in LAO for RIPV, < 14 mm in RAO for RIPV, < 18 mm in RAO for LIPV. ET increased to ≥ 40.0°C when distance from BC to ET probe was significantly longer in LAO for LIPV. For RIPV ET ≥ 40.0°C was reached when angle between BC and ET probe was significantly smaller in LAO.ConclusionsThere is a relationship between distance/angle of HIFU BC to ET probe and ET: shorter distances and smaller angles can cause higher ET.     

4-hydroxynonenal as a bioactive marker of pathophysiological processes

The review is focused on the currently major aspect of 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE) research--studies that combine biological activities of the aldehyde together with the methods of its identification in cells and tissues. Because there were some excellent reviews on HNE published in recent years, starting in 1990 and 1991 with supreme reviews done by Hermann Esterbauer, who discovered the aldehyde, and colleagues from the Institute of Biochemistry in Graz, this article pays most of attention to the most recent articles, published in the last 15 months. Additionally, an overview on the relevance of HNE is given with respect to the research and publication trends in the period of 10 years (1993-2002) according to the data in the Current Contents and Medline data bases. It is obvious that HNE started in 1993 as a "toxic product of lipid peroxidation" and "second toxic messenger of free radicals", to become in 2002 a reliable marker of oxidative stress, a possible causative agent of several diseases (such as Alzheimer's disease), growth modulating factor and a signaling molecule. Novel analytical methods developed suitable pathways for HNE to become a clinically applicable marker of lipid peroxidation on one side and on the other a standardized parameter of food quality control. As it is also present physiologically in various cells and tissues, it is likely that HNE will soon become one of the most attractive factors for those who search for a small and reactive molecular link between genomics and proteomics.     

Oxidative burst and anticancer activities of rat neutrophils

It is assumed that oxidative damage caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS) from activated neutrophil granulocytes may contribute to pathology of tumors. ROS are crucial in neutrophil-mediated tumor cell lysis. The present study is focused on the oxidative burst and antitumorous activities of neutrophils when challenged with Walker carcinoma W256. Survival and tumor growth dynamics were monitored in vivo, while tumor cell proliferation when mixed with neutrophils was studied in vitro together with the generation/release of neutrophil respiratory burst products, primarily 1O2. Neutrophils were collected upon Sephadex injection. The survival of Sephadex injected animals was slightly improved, while their tumors grew less than in controls. The presence of tumor cells in vitro activated neutrophils to produce singlet oxygen similar to phorbol ester. Neutrophils from Sephadex-bearing animals diminished tumor cell proliferation in vitro (measured by 3H-TdR incorporation), while neutrophils from Sephadex and the tumor-bearing animals did not show such activity in vitro. Our results confirm that in the case of rapidly growing tumors such as murine W256 carcinoma neutrophils have antitumorous effects in the early phase of tumor development.     

Immunohistochemical appearance of HNE-protein conjugates in human astrocytomas

Gliomas are tumors originating from astrocytes, oligodendrocytes or ependimal cells. Those of astrocytic origin are the most widespread of primary brain tumors and account for more then 60% of all CNS neoplasms. The current state of knowledge on the associations between tumor etiology and oxidative stress suggests that environmental factors that cause oxidative stress could also induce and promote cancer, especially in case of hereditary predisposition. Among mediators of oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation product 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE) is of particular relevance in oncology, as it is known to act as a growth-regulating factor and a signaling molecule. The aim of present study was to investigate by immunohistochemistry the presence of HNE-modified proteins in different types of astrocytoma. Our study comprised 45 astrocytic tumors. These tumors were graded in accordance with the WHO classification as diffuse astrocytomas (DA), anaplastic astrocytomas (AA) and glioblastomas (GB), while each group comprised 15 tumors. Slides of paraffin-embedded tumor tissue were stained with hematoxylin-eosin or were prepared for immunohistochemistry with monoclonal antibodies to HNE-histidine conjugate. Positive immunohistochemical reaction to HNE was analyzed semi-quantitatively. HNE positivity was proportional with malignancy of astrocytomas. The weakest presence of HNE-histidine adducts was found in DA, followed by AA and GB. Lowest intensity of HNE immunopositivity was present in tumor cells of almost all DA, predominantly around blood vessels. In malignant variants of astrocytoma, AA and GB, HNE positivity was moderate to strong, and diffusely distributed in all tumors.     

A genetic Xenopus laevis tadpole model to study lymphangiogenesis

Lymph vessels control fluid homeostasis, immunity and metastasis. Unraveling the molecular basis of lymphangiogenesis has been hampered by the lack of a small animal model that can be genetically manipulated. Here, we show that Xenopus tadpoles develop lymph vessels from lymphangioblasts or, through transdifferentiation, from venous endothelial cells. Lymphangiography showed that these lymph vessels drain lymph, through the lymph heart, to the venous circulation. Morpholino-mediated knockdown of the lymphangiogenic factor Prox1 caused lymph vessel defects and lymphedema by impairing lymphatic commitment. Knockdown of vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) also induced lymph vessel defects and lymphedema, but primarily by affecting migration of lymphatic endothelial cells. Knockdown of VEGF-C also resulted in aberrant blood vessel formation in tadpoles. This tadpole model offers opportunities for the discovery of new regulators of lymphangiogenesis.     

Combined heat and controlled atmosphere quarantine treatments for control of codling moth in sweet cherries

Nonchemical quarantine treatments, using a combination of short-duration high temperatures under low oxygen, elevated carbon dioxide atmospheric environment were developed to control codling moth in sweet cherries, Prunus avium (L.). The two treatments developed are a chamber temperature of 45 degrees C for 45 min and a chamber temperature of 47 degreesC for 25 min under a 1% oxygen, 15% carbon dioxide, -2 degrees C dew point environment. Both these treatments have been shown to provide control of all life stages of codling moth while preserving commodity market quality. The third and fourth instars of codling moth are equally tolerant to CATTS treatments and are the most tolerant immature stages to these treatments. We determined that low levels of oxygen are more important than elevated carbon dioxide in achieving high levels of insect mortality. Efficacy tests of both treatments resulted in 100% mortality of 5000 third instars of codling moth in each treatment. These treatments may be used to provide quarantine security in exported sweet cherries where codling moth is a quarantine concern and fumigation with methyl bromide is not desired.