A study of platelet serotonin receptor in mania

BACKGROUND

Serotonergic (5-HT) dysfunction has been hypothesized in mania; however platelet studies on the 5-HT uptake rate and the 5-HT transporter have revealed inconsistent results. To the best of our knowledge no studies have been conducted on the 5-HT2 receptor status in mania.

METHODS

We determined density (Bmax) and dissociation constant (Kd) of 5-HT2 receptors in the platelets of 29 normal control and 29 manic subjects using 125I-ketanserin as the binding radioligand. The manic patients were assessed for the same after 14 days of treatment with lithium (n = 14) and after return to premorbid levels of functioning (n = 5).

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in the Bmax (3.51 +/- 3.04 vs. 3.14 +/- 3.44 fmol/mg protein, p = ms) values between normal control and manic subjects. In comparison to the baseline values Bmax at day 14 (3.49 +/- 3.68 vs. 2.18 +/- 1.90 fmol/mg protein, p = ns) and following recovery (1.17 +/- 0.85 vs. 1.29 +/- 1.13 fmol/mg protein, p = ns) did not show any significant difference.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings preliminarily suggest that the platelet 5-HT2 receptor is neither a state marker nor a trait marker in mania; however studies on the 5-HT2 receptor using positron-emission tomography ligands will help in conclusively ruling out the involvement of this receptor in mania.

Alpha-lipoic acid supplementation: tissue glutathione homeostasis at rest and after exercise

Antioxidant nutrients have demonstrated potential in protecting against exercise-induced oxidative stress. alpha-Lipoic acid (LA) is a proglutathione dietary supplement that is known to strengthen the antioxidant network. We studied the effect of intragastric LA supplementation (150 mg/kg, 8 wk) on tissue LA levels, glutathione metabolism, and lipid peroxidation in rats at rest and after exhaustive treadmill exercise. LA supplementation increased the level of free LA in the red gastrocnemius muscle and increased total glutathione levels in the liver and blood. The exercise-induced decrease in heart glutathione S-transferase activity was prevented by LA supplementation. Exhaustive exercise significantly increased thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance levels in the liver and red gastrocnemius muscle. LA supplementation protected against oxidative lipid damage in the heart, liver, and red gastrocnemius muscle. This study reports that orally supplemented LA is able to favorably influence tissue antioxidant defenses and counteract lipid peroxidation at rest and in response to exercise.

Morphine reversed formalin-induced CA1 pyramidal cell suppression via an effect on septohippocampal neural processing

We have investigated the effect of morphine on (i) dorsal hippocampus field CA1 nociceptive response to a formalin injection, and (ii) septohippocampal neural processing. Extracellular recordings were made in urethane (1.0 g/kg)-anaesthetized rats. Previously, we reported that formalin (5%, 0.05 ml, s.c.) injection into a hindpaw evoked, in the CA1 field, a "signal-to-noise processing", i.e. a selective excitation of a few pyramidal cells with high spontaneous extracellular activity against a background of widespread pyramidal cell suppression accompanied by an increase in period of rhythmic slow activity. In the present study, morphine administered i.p. concurrent to a formalin injection reversed the pyramidal cell suppression in conjunction with a decrease in the period of evoked rhythmic slow activity. The effect was dose dependent and was prominent at the dose of 5 mg/kg. This dose, administered as a pretreatment, also truncated CA1 pyramidal cell suppression or excitation to a formalin injection. Furthermore, the drug decreased the power and frequency of the posterior hypothalamus-supramammillary region stimulation-evoked hippocampal field CA1 rhythmic slow activity. Such an effect was observed in a time-frame parallel to the decline in the period of formalin injection-induced field CA1 rhythmic slow activity. However, morphine sulphate administration per se did not alter pyramidal cell excitability or extracellular activity. Together, the above findings are consistent with the notion that morphine influences dorsal hippocampus field CA1 pyramidal cell suppression partly via an effect on the septohippocampal neural processing. However, the effect of the drug does not involve a change in the pyramidal cell basal extracellular responses. The effect of morphine on septohippocampal neural processing might be functionally relevant to the influence of the drug on the affective-motivational component of pain.

Haemodynamic effects of leg raising in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting

Twenty patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass grafting were studied prospectively to evaluate the haemodynamic effects of passive leg raising. The patients were divided into two groups: those having good left ventricular function with ejection fraction of 0.50 or more (group I, n = 10) and those having poor left ventricular function with ejection fraction of upto 0.35 (group II, n = 10). Morphine-based anaesthetic technique was used and standard haemodynamic measurements were obtained at following stages: (1) control--20 to 30 min after induction of anaesthesia; (2) one minute, and (3) five min after raising both the legs; (4) one min, and (5) five min after the legs were repositioned. In group I, heart rate decreased from 71 +/- 9 to 66 +/- 8 beats/min (p < 0.001) at stage 1 and persisted throughout the study period. This was accompanied by a decrease in cardiac index, although, the statistical significance was achieved at stage 3 and 4 only. The haemodynamic changes observed in group II were of more severe magnitude. The heart rate decreased from 90 +/- 13 to 84 +/- 13 beats/min at stage 1 (p < 0.05) and persisted throughout the study with maximum decrease of 14 percent occurring at stage 3. The cardiac index decreased significantly from 2.4 +/- 0.3 to 2.0 +/- 0.5 L/min/m2 (p < 0.05) at stage 1. This persisted throughout the study except that it recovered at stage 4. The maximum decrease in cardiac index (20%) occurred at stage 2. In addition, systemic vascular resistance increased significantly from 1458 +/- 255 to 1830 +/- 420 dyne.sec.cm-5 (p < 0.05) at stage 1 and persisted throughout the study period. We conclude that passive leg raising should be undertaken with caution in patients with coronary artery disease especially in those who have poor left ventricular function.

Stereotactic microelectrode-guided posteroventral pallidotomy and pallidal deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease

Three patients underwent stereotactic posteroventral pallidotomy, and 1 patient underwent pallidal deep brain stimulation, for medically intractable symptoms of advanced Parkinson's disease, characterized by peak-dose levodopa dyskinesias, wearing-off fluctuations, tremor, rigidity and bradykinesia. Surgery was performed stereotactically under local anaesthesia, with eventual target coordinates derived from a combination of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), coregistration with an electronic brain atlas, intraoperative microelectrode neuronal recordings and microstimulation before lesioning or placement of a deep brain stimulator was done. Assessment was made at baseline preoperatively and at 3-month intervals postoperatively, with Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) and Core Assessment Program for Intracerebral Transplantation (CAPIT) scoring. All patients improved in dyskinesia, tremor, rigidity and bradykinesia contralateral to the lesion side, but also on the ipsilateral side to a lesser extent. The improvement was largely seen in the 'off' state: UPDRS by 41%, and CAPIT by 19% on the contralateral side. 'On' freezing was not helped. There were no deaths and no visual complications, but there was one complication of a delayed contralateral upper limb dystonia after pallidotomy. The 1 patient with pallidal deep brain stimulation (DBS) obtained similar improvement as those with pallidotomy. Posteroventral pallidotomy and pallidal stimulation improves all the cardinal features of Parkinson's disease, and effectively ameliorates levodopa dyskinesias.

Spectrum of breast disease in young females: a retrospective study of 1315 patients

A total of 1315 breast lesions seen in women up to 40 years of age were registered in the files of Pathology Department. Out of these 807 were benign and 508 malignant lesions. Breast carcinoma was very rare up to second decade of life but its incidence progressively increased with age. Among benign tumours fibroadenomas were the commonest tumours. This study shows a higher incidence of inflammatory diseases and malignant tumours in young females as compared to the reports from the West.

Skeletal muscle and liver lipoyllysine content in response to exercise, training and dietary alpha-lipoic acid supplementation

In human cells, alpha-lipoic acid (LA) is present in a bound lipoyllysine form in mitochondrial proteins that play a central role in oxidative metabolism. The possible effects of oral LA supplementation, a single bout of strenuous exercise and endurance exercise training on the lipoyllysine content in skeletal muscle and liver tissues of rat were examined. Incorporation of lipoyl moiety to tissue protein was not increased by enhanced abundance of LA in the diet. Endurance exercise training markedly increased lipoyllysine content in the liver at rest. A bout of exhaustive exercise also increased hepatic lipoyllysine content. A significant interaction of exhaustive exercise and training to increase tissue lipoyllysine content was evident. In vastus lateralis skeletal muscle, training did not influence tissue lipoyllysine content. A single bout of exhaustive exercise, however, clearly increased the level of lipoyllysine in the muscle. Comparison of tissue lipoyllysine data with that of free or loosely-bound LA results showed a clear lack of association between the two apparently related parameters. Tightly protein-bound lipoyllysine pool in tissues appeared to be independent of the loosely-bound or free LA status in the tissue.

Multiple lymphomatous polyposis presenting as inflammatory bowel disease

Multiple lymphomatous polyposis is a rare manifestation of primary gastrointestinal lymphoma characterized by polypoidal masses involving several segments of the gastrointestinal tract. We report a case who initially presented with features resembling inflammatory bowel disease.

Uterine surveillance of asymptomatic postmenopausal women taking tamoxifen

The aim of this study was to assess the ability of transvaginal sonography (TVS) and office hysteroscopy with sharp curettage to characterize the morphological changes in the uteri of asymptomatic postmenopausal women taking long-term tamoxifen for breast cancer. The overall acceptability of a single-visit screening clinic for these women was also evaluated. Fifty-eight women were recruited from patients undergoing regular follow-up at the Leicester Royal Infirmary for breast cancer. A single-visit clinic was acceptable to 94.8% of these women. Transvaginal sonography detected endometrial thickness of greater than 5 mm in 84.5% of cases, but there was no relationship between total tamoxifen exposure and endometrial thickness. Transvaginal sonography also detected uterine lesions such as fibroids and endometrial cysts in 34.5% of cases. Hysteroscopy detected the latter uterine lesions in 53.4% of cases, with three cases (5.2%) of endometrial polyps also being identified in these women. Sharp curettage sampling of the endometrium produced specimens sufficient for diagnosis in 84.5% of cases; 70.7% of specimens were reported as showing types of 'quiescent' endometrium with 13.8% of specimens showing 'active' endometrium. In the latter group, there was a case of complex hyperplasia detected and also a case with granulomatous endometritis. For each histopathological diagnosis identified, there was a wide range of endometrial thickness recorded by TVS. A single-visit screening clinic involving TVS and hysteroscopy with sharp curettage was acceptable to asymptomatic women taking tamoxifen. However, hysteroscopy was more effective than TVS in detecting endometrial lesions such as polyps, fibroids and cystic areas. Although TVS detected endometrial thickness greater than 5 mm in the majority of cases, there were no malignancies detected and, for each histopathological classification, there was a wide range of endometrial thickness associated. Thus, the isolated use of TVS is insufficient for screening the endometria of these women.

Risperidone in Indian patients with schizophrenia

Conventional antipsychotic agents are not effective against negative symptoms of schizophrenia and are also noted for their extrapyramidal side effects. Risperidone is a noval antipsychotic agent whose dual antagonism of dopamine and serotonin receptors is believed to underlie its efficacy against negative symptoms and the low incidence of extrapyramidal side effects. An open, non-comparative study of seven weeks duration was performed to evaluate risperidone in the treatment of schizophrenia in Indian patients. Previous antipsychotic therapy was discontinued for a week before risperidone therapy was initiated. At the end of six weeks of risperidone therapy, clinical improvement (≥ 20% reduction in total score on positive and negative syndrome scale for schizophrenia (PANSS;; was shown by 128 (87.7%) of the 146 evaluable patients. Statistically significant reduction (p < 0.05) occurred in the total score of this scale and in the subscale scores for positive, negative and general psychopathology symptoms and in the clinical global impression severity score. The number of patients with adverse experiences were 108 (65.5%) at baseline and 120 (72.7%) at the end of risperidone therapy. Extrapyramidal symptoms, seen in 65 (39.4%) patients compared to 22 (13.3%) patients at baseline, were largely mild to moderate in intensity.

Protective effects of anethole dithiolethione against oxidative stress-induced cytotoxicity in human Jurkat T cells

The protective effects of anethole dithiolethione (ADT) against H2O2- or 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE)-induced cytotoxicity in human Jurkat T cells were investigated. Jurkat T cells were pretreated with ADT (10-50 microM) for 18 hr and then challenged with H202 or HNE for up to 4 hr. Cytotoxicity was assessed by measuring: 1) leakage of lactate dehydrogenase from cells to medium; and 2) exclusion of the DNA intercalating fluorescent probe propidium iodide by viable cells. Pretreatment of cells with ADT (10 or 25 microM) for 18 hr significantly protected cells against H202- or HNE-induced cytotoxicity. Treatment of cells with ADT (10-50 microM) for 72 hr significantly increased the activities of catalase and glutathione reductase. The maximum effect of ADT treatment on the activity of these enzymes was observed when cells were treated with 25 microM of ADT for 72 hr. A significant increase in cellular GSH was observed in cells that were treated with ADT for 72 hr. Using monobromobimane as a thiol probe, we consistently observed that cells pretreated for 18 hr with ADT (25 or 50 microM) had also increased total thiol content. Exposure of Jurkat T cells to H202 or HNE resulted in a time-dependent decrease in cellular GSH. ADT (10-50 microM, 18 hr) pretreatment circumvented H202-dependent lowering of cellular GSH. In conclusion, ADT proved to be a potent cytoprotective thiol antioxidant with multifaceted mechanisms of action, suggesting that the drug has a remarkable therapeutic potential.

Cellular DNA contact and its correlation with histopathological prognostic parameters in carcinoma of the breast

Present study has given an insight in to the value of the DNA in relation to other morphometrics. Breast cancer shows variability in clinical course in the same clinical stage. Cellular DNA content is an important prognostic parameter. Tumour tissue DNA content is correlated with known histopathological prognostic feature assessing its significance as prognostic parameter in 25 cases of carcinoma breast. The findings showed that cellular DNA content ranged between 1.5-5.08 ug/mg in cancer breast tissue with an average of 2.54 ug/mg as compared to an average of 1.34 ug/mg in normal breast tissue. The DNA content was higher in combined pattern, in poorly differentiated duct carcinoma and in patients with positive lymph node metastasis. No consistent relationship could be seen between cellular DNA and desmoplasia and lymphoreticular response in and around tumour.

Multiple primary visceral malignancy--a review with report of two cases

Multiple primary cancers are being reported with increasing frequency in recent years, the frequency varying from 0.3 to 4.3% in different studies. A combination of primary cancer of larynx and lung is the most common followed by malignant neoplasm involving lip-larynx, skin-larynx, skin-lung, breast-ovary and breast-endometrium. Two interesting cases of rare combinations of primary cancers are being presented. In the first case primary adenocarcinoma of the gall bladder was associated with appendiceal adenocarcinoma. In the second case primary malignant papillary serous cystadenocarcinoma of right ovary and squamous cell carcinoma of cervix uteri were found.

Biochemical speciation of enterococci causing human infections

As Enterococci are now coming up as important nosocomial pathogens, their speciation and antibiotic sensitivity testing is important. 120 isolates of Enterococci from various clinical samples were physiologically and biologically characterised. Speciation on the basis of recommended methods revealed 114(95%) as E. faecalis and 6(5%) as E. faecium. Antibiogram of the 120 isolates showed that 100(83.3%) were sensitive to Ampicillin. Combination of Penicillin and Gentamicin was more effective. E. faecium was more drug resistant.

Glutathione regulation of tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced NF-kappa B activation in skeletal muscle-derived L6 cells

TNF alpha is implicated in several skeletal muscle pathologies including muscle wasting of cachexia. Muscle wasting and other conditions such as physical exercise and immobilization are also associated with disturbances in muscle glutathione status. Hence, it was of interest to investigate the role of endogenous glutathione status in TNF alpha induced NF-kappa B activation in skeletal muscle-derived cells. TNF alpha proved to be a potent inducer of transient NF-kappa B activation in L6 myoblasts. In buthioninesulfoximine (BSO) treated cells, TNF alpha induced NF-kappa B activation was markedly potentiated suggesting that such activation is sensitive to cellular GSH, but may have been independent of high levels of intracellular GSSG. Because this activation was inhibited by the antioxidant pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate (PDTC) the involvement of reactive oxygen species in this activation system seems likely. NF-kappa B activation in L6 cells was also observed in response to direct H2O2 treatment. Results from GSSG reductase inhibited cells suggest that GSSG may participate in, but is not required for, TNF alpha induced NF-kappa B activation. The inhibitory effect of PDTC on NF-kappa B activation correlated with its effect on ICAM-1 expression suggesting that this GSH status modifying agent not only influenced nuclear translocation of NF-kappa B proteins but also regulated kappa B dependent transcription.

Viral antibodies in blood in obsessive compulsive disorder

IgG viral antibodies for herpes simplex virus -1, varicella zoster virus, cytomegalovirus, measles and mumps were studied in 76 subjects with obsessive compulsive disorder and compared with a control population. There was a significantly higher titre for some of the antibodies, most specifically for herpes simplex virus type 1 and mumps. This suggests a possible role for these viral infections in the pathogenesis of obsessive compulsive disorder.