Chronic corticosterone administration down-regulates metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 protein expression in the rat hippocampus

Several lines of evidence suggest a dysfunctional glutamate system in major depressive disorder (MDD). Recently, we reported reduced levels of metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 5 (mGluR5) in postmortem brains in MDD, however the neurobiological mechanisms that induce these abnormalities are unclear. In the present study, we examined the effect of chronic corticosterone (CORT) administration on the expression of mGluR5 protein and mRNA in the rat frontal cortex and hippocampus. Rats were injected with CORT (40 mg/kg s.c.) or vehicled once daily for 21 days. The expression of mGluR5 protein and mRNA was assessed by Western blotting and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). In addition, mGluR1 protein was measured in the same animals. The results revealed that while there was a significant reduction (-27%, P=0.0006) in mGluR5 protein expression in the hippocampus from CORT treated rats, mRNA levels were unchanged. Also unchanged were mGluR5 mRNA and protein levels in the frontal cortex and mGluR1 protein levels in both brain regions. Our findings provide the first evidence that chronic CORT exposure regulates the expression of mGluR5 and are in line with previous postmortem and imaging studies showing reduced mGluR5 in MDD. Our findings suggest that elevated levels of glucocorticoids may contribute to impairments in glutamate neurotransmission in MDD.

Characteristics of patients with fibromyalgia in France and Germany

INTRODUCTION

Few studies have comprehensively assessed the burden associated with fibromyalgia (FM). This cross-sectional, observational study evaluates the impact of FM on patients in France and Germany.

METHODS

A total of 299 FM patients were recruited from 33 physician offices in France and Germany during routine visits. Patients completed a survey that included the Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form (BPI-sf), Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), EuroQol 5D (EQ-5D) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) to describe their pain, FM and health-related quality of life (HRQOL). FM severity was defined using patients' FIQ total scores with 0 to < 39, 39 to < 59 and 59-100, representing mild, moderate and severe FM, respectively. Site staff completed case report forms using patients' medical records.

RESULTS

Mean (standard deviation, SD) age was 54.2 (12.6); 81% of patients were women. The mean (SD) FIQ total score was 53.3 (19.6); 33% and 44% of patients reported moderate and severe FM, respectively. Most patients (91%) were receiving prescription medications for FM during the study. Patients reported a mean (SD) EQ-5D health state valuation of 0.44 (0.33) and a mean (SD) BPI-sf Pain Severity Index score of 4.9 (1.8). Forty-one percent of patients reported some level of disruption in their employment because of FM; employed patients missed a mean (SD) of 2.2 (4.6) workdays during the past 4 weeks. An increase in FM severity was significantly associated with increased pain severity, productivity loss, sleep disturbance and higher anxiety and depression (p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

There is a substantial burden of illness including treatment limitations for FM patients in France and Germany.

Differential regulation of the serotonin 1 A transcriptional modulators five prime repressor element under dual repression-1 and nuclear-deformed epidermal autoregulatory factor by chronic stress

Chronic stress is known to affect brain areas involved in learning and emotional responses. These changes, thought to be related to the development of cognitive deficits are evident in major depressive disorder and other stress-related pathophysiologies. The serotonin-related transcription factors (Freud-1/CC2D1A; five prime repressor element under dual repression/coiled-coil C2 domain 1a, and NUDR/Deaf-1; nuclear-deformed epidermal autoregulatory factor) are two important regulators of the 5-HT1A receptor. Using Western blotting and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) we examined the expression of mRNA and proteins for Freud-1, NUDR, and the 5-HT1A receptor in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of male rats exposed to chronic restraint stress (CRS; 6 h/day for 21 days). After 21 days of CRS, significant reductions in both Freud-1 mRNA and protein were observed in the PFC (36.8% and 32%, respectively; P<0.001), while the levels of both NUDR protein and mRNA did not change significantly. Consistent with reduced Freud-1 protein, 5-HT1A receptor mRNA levels were equally upregulated in the PFC, while protein levels actually declined, suggesting post-transcriptional receptor downregulation. The data suggest that CRS produces distinct alterations in the serotonin system specifically altering Freud-1 and the 5-HT1A receptor in the PFC of the male rat while having no effect on NUDR. These results point to the importance of understanding the mechanism for the differential regulation of Freud-1 and NUDR in the PFC as a basis for understanding the related effects of chronic stress on the serotonin system (serotonin-related transcription factors) and stress-related disorders like depression.

Survival of enteric bacteria and coliphage MS2 in pure human urine

AIMS

The survival of Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, Enterococcus faecalis and coliphage MS2 was studied in stored, fresh and diluted (1 : 1) human urine at 15 and 30 degrees C.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Survival rate was studied by the plate count method. All the organisms showed rapid inactivation in stored urine, but they survived better in diluted and fresh urine. The high pH level and temperature were the major factors found to influence the survival of the micro-organisms with the survival rate being higher at 15 degrees C than at 30 degrees C.

CONCLUSIONS

The destruction of all micro-organisms in stored urine required <1 week at 30 degrees C. Thus, the storage of urine is a useful way to reduce the risk of contamination while using urine as a fertilizer.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

The urine fertilization is aimed for the developing countries and the high temperatures in these countries may hasten the destruction of micro-organisms in urine. On the contrary, a higher survival rate of these organisms in fresh and diluted urine is a public health concern because the dilution of urine with water is likely to happen during flushing.

A comparison of valsartan and perindopril in the treatment of essential hypertension in the malaysian population

This study was conducted to determine the tolerability and efficacy of valsartan (DIOVAN) compared to perindopril (COVERSYL) in Malaysian patients with mild to moderate hypertension. Two hundred and fifty adult Malaysian patients with a mean sitting diastolic blood pressure of more than 95 mmHg and less than 115 mmHg after a 14 day washout period were randomized to receive either valsartan 80 mg once daily (n=125) or perindopril 4 mg daily (n=125) for eight weeks. The primary end point for efficacy was the change in mean sitting systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SiSBP and SiDBP). The primary criteria for evaluation of tolerability was the incidence of adverse events. There were no significant differences between the two groups with respect to sex, age, weight, baseline sitting and standing systolic and diastolic blood pressure. At 0, 4 and 8 weeks the mean SiDBP in the valsartan group were 101.4, 92.8 and 91.0 mmHg respectively. The corresponding BP for the perindopril treated group was 102.6, 93.8 and 93.2 mmHg. (95% CI -1.39 to +3.27). There were no significant differences in the mean BP measurements between the valsartan and perindopril group at 0, 4 and 8 weeks. In each group there were significant differences between the BP at 4 and 8 weeks compared to baseline. A similar pattern was seen with SiSBP. At 4 weeks 28.7% of the valsartan and 25% of the perindopril group had their BP normalized (SiDBP <90 mmHg) The percentages of patients who responded (SiDBP reduction >10 mmHg but SiDBP >90 mmHg) were 21.3 in the valsartan group and 20.8 in the perindopril group. At 8 weeks, 31.1% of the valsartan group and 30.8% of the perindopril group had their BP normalized. The response rate was 27% and 22.5% for valsartan and perindopril respectively. The major adverse event was cough which occurred in 18 patients (14.4%) in the perindopril and 1 (0.8%) in the valsartan group at 4 weeks. At 8 weeks the figures were 24 (19.2%) and 2 (1.6%) respectively. The results indicate that Valsartan is safe and efficacious in the treatment of mild to moderate hypertension. It is equally efficacious to Perindopril and not associated with any major adverse event. It has a better tolerability profile with respect to dry cough.

Long segment Hirschsprung's disease in the Waardenburg-Shah syndrome

Presentation with signs of bowel obstruction in an infant with Waardenburg syndrome should raise the suspicion of aganglionosis. We report such a case of long segment Hirschsprung's disease associated with Waardenburg syndrome. Long term care of such children is fraught with high morbidity and mortality.

Cryptosporidium and isospora belli diarrhoea in immunocompromised hosts

Cryptosporidium and isospora, two of the intestinal coccidian parasites known to be the causative agents of acute diarrhoea in animals, have now emerged as one of the main causes of prolonged life threatening diarrhoea in immunocompromised patients particularly so in patients with AIDS. Between June 1996 and December 1997, a total of 75 immunocompromised patients presenting with diarrhoea were investigated both for Cryptosporidium and Isospora. The study group consisted of cancer and AIDS patients with history of diarrhoea. Cryptosporidium oocysts were detected in 35 patients (46.7%). One of the faecal samples from an AIDS patient with diarrhoea showed the presence of both Cryptosporidium and Isospora oocysts. To the best of our knowledge, this is the second documented report of Isospora associated diarrhoea in an AIDS patient from India. The various techniques used for demonstration of these parasites were modified acid fast staining, Safranine Methylene-blue staining and direct immunofluorescence test.

Shigella and the fluorinated quinolones

Between July 1996 to June 1997 a total of 531 Stool samples from cases of acute diarrhoea, dysentry, colitis admitted to Kasturba Medical College Hospital, Manipal were investigated. Shigella were isolated from 29 samples (5.46%). Out of them, Shigella flexneri were 16 (55.17%), Shigella boydii 8 (27.58%), Shigella dysentriae 3 (10.34%) and Shigella sonnei 2 (6.89%). Five strains of Shigella flexneri and one strain of Shigella dysentriae were found to show resistance to Nalidixic acid and the newer fluoroquinolones viz., Ciprofloxacin, Norfloxacin and Ofloxacin. The in vitro 'R' factor transfer study showed that the resistance was not transferable.

Bone mineral lies mainly outside collagen fibrils: predictions of a composite model for osteonal bone

We propose that the elastic properties of osteonal bone can be modeled accurately as a simple fiber-reinforced composite, provided that accurate properties for the mineral and collagen phases of the ultrastructure are available. Off-axis stiffness coefficients were measured in anterior quadrant of canine femora at 10 degrees increments from longitudinal to transverse direction using an acoustic microscope. The resolution of these measurements was about 60 microns or less than the radius of one osteon. The bone specimens were subsequently demineralized and the off-axis measurements were repeated to determine the elasticity of bone collagen. Bone collagen fibrils were not principally aligned along the long axis of the bone, but demonstrated an alignment that was 30 degrees from the long axis. A simple composite model was developed based on the experimental data. The model that best fit experimental data assumed that (1) bone collagen was aligned 30 degrees from the long axis of the bone, (2) 75% of mineral crystals reside outside of collagen fibrils, and (3) mineral crystals outside of collagen fibrils have their c-axis in the longitudinal direction.

The anisotropy of osteonal bone and its ultrastructural implications

The anisotropic elastic symmetry of osteonal bone reflects the ultrastructural organization of collagen fibrils and mineral crystals within the osteons as well as the lamellar microstructure. Until recently, reported values for bone's anisotropic elastic properties were limited in their interpretation by poor precision and resolution of measurement techniques. Here, we report measurements of bone anisotropy using high precision acoustic microscopy. The elastic properties of canine femoral bone specimens, taken from 23 femora, were measured at 10 degrees increments from the long axis of the bone. Half of the bone specimens subsequently were demineralized in EDTA solution, the other half were decollagenized in sodium hypochlorite solution, and the acoustic measurements were repeated. We found the elastic symmetry of osteonal bone deviates significantly from orthotropic theory supporting the hypothesis that the lamellar microstructure forms a "rotated plywood" (Weiner and Traub, FASEB J 6:879-885; 1992). The principal orientation of bone mineral was along the long axis of the bone, while bone collagen appeared to be aligned at a 30 degrees angle to the long axis. The misalignment between the mineral and the collagen suggests that (1) a substantial percentage of the mineral is extrafibrillar, and (2) the alignment of extrafibrillar mineral is governed by external influences, e.g., mechanical stresses.