Influence of age on heart rate variability during therapeutic hypothermia in a rat model

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the effect of age on heart rate variability (HRV) in a rat model of therapeutic hypothermia.

METHODS

Thirty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats (18 were 2 months old and 18 were 18 months old) were randomized into one of three groups: normothermia (37°C), mild hypothermia (34°C), and moderate hypothermia (31°C). An electrocardiogram (ECG) was recorded at baseline and continuously for 1h once the target core body temperature was reached. Various heart rate variability measurements were calculated.

RESULTS

Significant effects of age were observed in respect to the ratio of standard deviation of all normal to normal R-R [NN] intervals (SDNN)/standard deviation of the differences between adjacent NN intervals (SD of delta NN) (P=0.037), low frequency (LF) power, normalized units (nu, %) (P<0.001), and the ratio of LF and high frequency (HF) (P<0.001). Significant effects of temperature were found in LF power and a significant body-temperature interaction was found in HF power. HF power was significantly lower in the young rats at mild and moderate hypothermic conditions. For the LF/HF, the ratio was significantly lower in the young animals compared to the older animals at normal body temperatures and during mild hypothermia. LF/HF increased significantly at both 34°C and 31°C in the young rats compared to the young rats at 37°C. In contrast, LF/HF was significantly lower in the older group of rats at 34°C and 31°C compared to the older group of rats maintained under normothermic conditions.

CONCLUSIONS

This study noted that autonomic regulation determined via HRV, primarily the ratio of LF to HF, was different between different age groups. Additional studies on this topic are needed to achieve a more detailed understanding of therapeutic hypothermia.

Temperamentsxgenes in bipolar I and bipolar II disorder patients

We found the main effects of harm avoidance temperament in predicting bipolar I and II, but the interaction between novelty seeking and Ser9Gly polymorphisms of dopamine D3 receptor gene was demonstrated in bipolar-I patients only. This study provided evidence that differences existed between BP-I and BPII in gene and temperament interactions.

Lack of association between AKT1 variances versus clinical manifestations and social function in patients with schizophrenia

The elucidation of genotype-phenotype relationships in psychiatric research is at an early stage. V-akt murine thymoma viral oncogene homolog 1 (AKT1) is a serine/threonine kinase known as protein kinase B. Emerging studies have implicated the role of AKT1 in pathogenesis of schizophrenia; however, the findings have not been consistent. This study aims to examine the association of AKT1 polymorphisms with drug-free and post-treatment symptomatology and social function in patients with schizophrenia. One hundred and twenty newly hospitalised patients with acutely exacerbated schizophrenia who had never been treated by atypical antipsychotics were recruited. They received optimal treatment of risperidone for up to 42 days in the inpatient research unit. Clinical manifestations were monitored by Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and social function by Nurses' Observation Scale for Inpatients Evaluation (NOSIE). Patients were genotyped for eight AKT1 Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNPs), which have been previously investigated for association with schizophrenia. At drug-free status and after best possible treatment of risperidone, genotypes of each SNP did not influence performances in NOSIE, PANSS-total, -positive, -negative and -general psychopathology profiles. These results suggest that AKT1 does not play a significant role in clinical and functional manifestations in patients with schizophrenia who receive risperidone treatment. Future research should also focus on the relationships between genotypes of other susceptibility genes and phenotypes or functional outcomes of schizophrenia.

[The self-protective effect of low dosage of gentamicin]

AIM

To approach the protective effect of low dose gentamicin against high ototoxic dose of gentamicin.

METHODS

The guinea pigs were randomly divided into four groups: control group, low dose group, low dose protective group and high dose group. Each group received multiple intraperitoneal injections of gentamicin sulphate within different durations. Auditory brain stem response (ABR) was examined one day previous to the first and 24 h after the final injection respectively. The bulla was taken out so that the content of NO, MDA and the activity of LDH in cochlear were determined.

RESULTS

The threshold of ABR was significantly lower in low dose protective group compared with high dose group (P < 0.01). The content of NO (15.86 +/- 1.98 nmol/mg pro) and MDA (19.14 +/- 0.96 nmol/mg pro) in homogenate of high dose group was significantly higher than that of control group, low does group and low does protective group (P < 0.01). The increase of the content of NO and MDA induced by high dose GM could be significantly decreased by low dose GM administration previous to high dose injection (P < 0.01). The activity of LDH in homogenate of high dose group was significantly higher compared with control group, low dos group and low dos protective group (P < 0.01). There was no statistically significant difference of content of NO and MDA among control group, low does group and low does protective group.

CONCLUSION

The protective effects resulting from previous low dose administration to high dose injection of GM may be related to the decrease of content of NO and MDA and activity of LDH both of which induced by high dose GM.

The relationship between serotonin receptor 1B polymorphisms A-161T and alcohol dependence

BACKGROUND

Several studies have suggested that the serotonin receptor 1B gene (5HT1B) may be important in the pathogenesis of alcohol dependence (alcoholism; ALC; AD). We examined whether 5HT1B gene A-161T polymorphisms (rs130058) are a susceptibility factor for total AD and subgroups of AD. We further explored correlation of this 5HT1B gene variant between anxiety-depression alcoholism (ANX/DEP ALC) and antisocial alcoholism (antisocial ALC) subgroups because of the high comorbidity of anxiety-depression, antisocial personality disorder, and AD.

METHODS

We recruited 522 Han Chinese in Taiwan for this study: 322 AD patients and 200 controls. The patient group was recruited primarily from medical teaching hospitals; patients with antisocial alcoholism were recruited from Taiwanese prisons. Individuals with AD were classified into 3 homogeneous clinical subgroups -- pure alcoholism (pure ALC), ANX/DEP ALC, and antisocial ALC -- using DSM-IV diagnosis. The 5HT1B gene A-161T polymorphism was determined using PCR-RFLP.

RESULTS

No significant differences in genotypic and allelic frequencies were found between controls and the total AD group or between controls and the 3 AD subgroups. However, there were significant differences in the 5HT1B gene A-161T polymorphism at both the genotype and allelic levels between the ANX/DEP ALC and antisocial ALC subgroups.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that the 5HT1B gene A-161T polymorphism alone is not a risk factor for increasing susceptibility to either AD or its subtypes. However, 5HT1B gene A-161T polymorphisms might be one of the common genetic factors between the ANX/DEP ALC and antisocial ALC subgroups.

Chemical constituents from Abutilon indicum

The investigation on the chemical constituents of the whole plant of Abutilon indicum has resulted in the isolation of two new compounds, abutilin A (1) and (R)-N-(1'-methoxycarbonyl-2'-phenylethyl)-4-hydroxybenzamide (2), as well as 28 known compounds. The structures of the two new compounds were established on the basis of the spectroscopic analysis, and the known compounds were identified by comparison of their spectroscopic and physical data with those reported in the literature.

Isolation, structure elucidation, and synthesis of cytotoxic tryptanthrin analogues from Phaius mishmensis

Bioassay-guided chromatographic separation of the cytotoxic MeOH extract of Phaius mishmensis led to the isolation of two known and six new indoloquinazolinones, phaitanthrins A-E (1-5) and methylisatoid (6). The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis. Phaitanthrin A (1) and tryptanthrin (7) showed moderate cytotoxicity against MCF-7, NCI-H460, and SF-268 cell lines. A series of ketone adducts of tryptanthrin were prepared and tested initially for anticancer activity in vitro against MCF-7, NCI-H460, and SF-268 human cancer cell lines. The 3-pentanone adduct 13 showed activity similar to tryptanthrin.

Specific personality traits and dopamine, serotonin genes in anxiety-depressive alcoholism among Han Chinese in Taiwan

BACKGROUND

Cloninger [Cloninger CR. 1987. Neurogenetic adaptive mechanisms in alcoholism. Science 236: 410-416.] had proposed a psychobiological model suggesting that three main personality dimensions distinguish the alcoholism into two subtypes (type I and type II). However, the classification was equivocal for clinical diagnosis. Recently, anxiety-depressive alcohol dependence (ANX/DEP ALC) has been posited as a genetically specific subtype of alcoholism. Its clinical characteristics were similar to individuals with type I alcoholism [Cloninger, C.R. 1987. Neurogenetic adaptive mechanisms in alcoholism. Science 236: 410-6.] such as having a high comorbidity with mood disorder, late-onset and more anxious/depressed traits. We attempted to investigate whether the dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2) and the serotonin transporter promoter region (5-HTTLPR) genes were involved in Novelty Seeking (NS) and Harm Avoidance (HA) of ANX/DEP ALC.

METHODS

We recruited 46 pure alcohol dependents (Pure ALC) and 87 anxiety-depression alcohol dependents (ANX/DEP ALC). All participants were diagnosed by DSM-IV criteria, genotyped by the PCR method and assessed with Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire (TPQ).

RESULTS

Both NS and HA were high in ANX/DEP ALC (p = 0.021; p = 0.001, respectively). The association between NS and ANX/DEP ALC only existed in subjects with DRD2 TaqI A1(+) allele (A1/A1 or A1/A2 genotypes) (p = 0.004) and in those with S/S genotype of 5-HTTLPR (p = 0.005). With the stratification of DRD2 TaqI A1(+) allele, high NS of ANX/DEP ALC existed only in carriers of 5-HTTLPR S/S genotype (p=0.001). Moreover, ANX/DEP ALC was related to high HA only in samples carrying 5-HTTLPR S/L or L/L genotype (p = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings provided the empirical genetic characterization of the specific personality traits in ANX/DEP ALC among Han Chinese population in Taiwan.

Monoamine oxidase-A polymorphisms might modify the association between the dopamine D2 receptor gene and alcohol dependence

OBJECTIVE

Low monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity and the neurotransmitter dopamine are 2 important factors in the development of alcohol dependence. MAO is an important enzyme associated with the metabolism of biogenic amines. Therefore, the present study investigates whether the association between the dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2) gene and alcoholism is affected by different polymorphisms of the MAO type A (MAOA) gene.

METHODS

A total of 427 Han Chinese men in Taiwan (201 control subjects and 226 with alcoholism) were recruited for the study. Of the subjects with alcoholism, 108 had pure alcohol dependence (ALC) and 118 had both alcohol dependence and anxiety, depression or both (ANX/DEP ALC). All subjects were assessed with the Chinese Version of the Modified Schedule of Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Lifetime. Alcohol dependence, anxiety and major depressive disorders were diagnosed according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition criteria.

CONCLUSION

The genetic variant of the DRD2 gene was only associated with the ANX/DEP ALC phenotype, and the genetic variant of the MAOA gene was associated with pure ALC. Subjects carrying the MAOA 3-repeat allele and genotype A1/A1 of the DRD2 were 3.48 times (95% confidence interval = 1.47-8.25) more likely to be ANX/DEP ALC than the subjects carrying the MAOA 3-repeat allele and DRD2 A2/A2 genotype. The MAOA gene may modify the association between the DRD2 gene and ANX/DEP ALC phenotype.

Anti-inflammatory effects of 7-methoxycryptopleurine and structure–activity relations of phenanthroindolizidines and phenanthroquinolizidines

A cryptopleurine analogue, 7-methoxycryptopleurine, a phenanthroquinolizidine, was first found to exert potent anti-inflammatory activity in vitro and in vivo as well as have remarkable cytotoxic activity against cancer cells. The non-planar structure between the two major moieties, phenanthrene and indolizidine/quinolizidine, played a crucial role in the activity of phenanthroindolizidines or phenanthroquinolizidines in terms of cytotoxic effects on cancer cells and anti-inflammatory activity. We also showed that increase in planarity and rigidity of the indolizidine/quinolizidine moiety and change of the amine group into an amide by introducing a keto group to phenanthroindolizidines or phenanthroquinolizidines at the equivalent position 9 of tylophorine significantly reduced their activities. Moreover, in general, phenanthroquinolizidines are more potent than their respective phenanthroindolizines.

Kalanchosides A-C, new cytotoxic bufadienolides from the aerial parts of Kalanchoe gracilis

[Structure: see text] Three new compounds, kalanchosides A-C (1-3), as well as five known compounds, were isolated from the aerial parts of Kalanchoe gracilis. The compound structures were determined by spectroscopic methods. All eight isolated compounds showed significant cytotoxic activity against a panel of human tumor cell lines, with potency reaching the nanomolar range. However, only bryophyllin B (8) inhibited HIV replication in H9 lymphocyte cells.

Cytotoxic 5-alkylresorcinol metabolites from the leaves of Grevillea robusta

Bioassay-guided fractionation of the MeOH extract of the leaves of Grevillea robusta led to the isolation of six new 5-alkylresorcinols, gravicycle (1), dehydrogravicycle (2), bisgravillol (3), dehydrobisgravillol (4), dehydrograviphane (5), and methyldehydrograviphane (6), as well as eight known compounds. The structures of these compounds were determined by spectroscopic and chemical methods. Graviphane (7) and methylgraviphane (8) were isolated in the pure form for the first time from a natural source. The compounds all showed marginal cytotoxicity against MCF-7, NCI-H460, and SF-268 cell lines.

Possible interaction between MAOA and DRD2 genes associated with antisocial alcoholism among Han Chinese men in Taiwan

Both monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) and dopamine D(2) receptor (DRD2) genes have been considered as candidate genes for antisocial personality disorder with alcoholism (Antisocial ALC) [Parsian, A., 1999. Sequence analysis of exon 8 of MAO-A gene in alcoholics with antisocial personality and normal controls. Genomics. 45, 290-295.; Samochowiec, J., Lesch, K.P., Rottmann, M., Smolka, M., Syagailo, Y.V., Okladnova, O., Rommelspacher, H., Winterer, G., Schmidt, L.G., Sander, T., 1999. Association of a regulatory polymorphism in the promoter region of the monoamine oxidase A gene with antisocial alcoholism. Psychiatry. Res. 86, 67-72.; Schmidt, L.vG., Sander, T., Kuhn, S., Smolka, M., Rommelspacher, H., Samochowiec, J., Lesch, K.P., 2000. Different allele distribution of a regulatory MAO-A gene promotor polymorphism in antisocial and anxious-depressive alcoholics. J. Neural .Transm. 107, 681-689.]. However, the association between alcoholism and MAOA or DRD2 gene has not been universally accepted [Lee, J.F., Lu, R.B., Ko, H.C., Chang, F.M., Yin, S.J., Pakstis, A.J., Kidd, K.K., 1999. No association between DRD(2) locus and alcoholism after controlling the ADH and ALDH genotypes in Chinese Han population. Alcohol. Clin. Exp. Res. 23, 592-599.; Lu, R.B., Lin, W.W., Lee, J.F., Ko, H.C., Shih, J.C., 2003. Neither antisocial personality disorder nor antisocial alcoholism association with MAOA gene among Han Chinese males in Taiwan. Alcohol. Clin. Exp. Res. 27, 889-893.]. Since dopamine is metabolized to 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl-acetaldehyde (DOPAL) via monoamine oxidase (MAO) [Westerink, B.H., de Vries, J.B., 1985. On the origin of dopamine and its metabolite in predominantly noradrenergic innervated brain areas. Brain. Res. 330, 164-166.], the interaction between MAOA and DRD2 genes might be related to Antisocial ALC. The present study aimed to determine whether Antisocial ALC might be associated with the possible interactions of DRD2 gene with MAOA gene. Of the 231 Han Chinese subjects who were recruited for the study, 73 participants were diagnosed with Antisocial ALC and 158 subjects were diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder without alcoholism (Antisocial Non-ALC). The DRD2 TaqI A and MAOA-uVNTR (variable number of tandem repeat located upstream) polymorphisms were not found to be associated with Antisocial ALC. However, an association between DRD2 TaqI A polymorphisms and Antisocial ALC was shown only after stratification for the MAOA-uVNTR 4-repeat polymorphism. Additionally, after multiple logistic regressions, we found that, under stratification of MAOA-uVNTR 4-repeat polymorphism and in comparison with the DRD2 A1/A1 genotype as a reference group, the DRD2 A1/A2 genotype has a possible protective effect against alcoholism in individuals with antisocial personality disorder (ASPD). We concluded that the possible interactions between MAOA-uVNTR polymorphism and DRD2 TaqI A polymorphism might be related to Antisocial ALC among Han Chinese men in Taiwan.

Synthesis of triglycerides of phenylalkanoic acids by lipase-catalyzed esterification in a solvent-free system

Immobilized Candida antarctica lipase B catalyzed the synthesis of triglycerides from glycerol and phenylalkanoic acids in a solvent-free system. 4-Phenylbutyric acid was the best acyl donor and displayed the highest synthetic rate of triphenylbutyrin (glyceryl triphenylbutyrate) at 65 degrees C among various phenylalkanoic acids with straight alkyl chains. The external mass transfer between the immobilized lipase and the bulk reaction mixture was limited. Different methods of removing water during the lipase-catalyzed esterification including spontaneous evaporation, the use of saturated salts solutions, and the use of molecular sieves were studied. The highest yield of triphenylbutyrin at 65 degrees C was 98%, by the elimination of water using molecular sieves in a solvent-free system. The glycerol was almost completely esterified to triphenylbutyrin in excess phenylbutyric acid with various substrate molar ratios.

Biosynthesis enhancement and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) arachidin-1, arachidin-3, and isopentadienylresveratrol

Peanut is a potent plant to be induced to synthesize bioactive stilbenoids. Bioactivities of those stilbenoids except resveratrol have been meagerly investigated. When peanut kernels (Tainan 14, a Spanish cultivar) were imbibed, incubated 3 days for germination, sliced, incubated with artificial aeration, periodically sampled, lyophilized, extracted with methanol, and subjected to reverse-phase HPLC analysis, four major fractionations were detected and identified as trans-resveratrol (Res), trans-arachidin-1 (Ara-1), trans-arachidin-3 (Ara-3), and trans-isopentadienylresveratrol (IPD). During incubation of the peanut slices, contents of Res, Ara-1, and Ara-3 increased tremendously from initially trace or not detectable amounts up to 147.3, 495.7, and 2414.8 microg/g, corresponding to 20, 16, and 24 h of incubation, while IPD contents continued to increase up to 28 h (4474.4 microg/g). When the four stilbenoids and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) were subjected to antioxidant characterization by various measures, all have exhibited varied potencies of antioxidant activity. In particular, retardation of absorbance increase at 234 nm as formation of the conjugated diene hydroperoxides in a real pork oil system stored at 60 degrees C, supplement of Ara-1 at 100 microM has shown equivalent or even greater activity than did BHT. When the media were supplemented with Res, Ara-1, Ara-3, and IPD at 15 microM for cultivation of mouse macrophage RAW 264.7 cells activated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the LPS-induced extracellular production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and nitric oxide (NO) was significantly inhibited by Ara-1 (p < 0.001), Res (p < 0.001), Ara-3 (p < 0.01), and IPD (p < 0.01). It is noteworthy and of merit that all test stilbenoids have exhibited potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities and varied as affected by number of hydroxyl groups and isopentenyl or isopentadienyl moiety.

KEYWORDS

Arachis hypogaea L.; peanut; groundnut; resveratrol; stilbenoids; arachidin; antioxidant; anti-inflammation.

Indole alkaloids from Cephalanceropsis gracilis

Purification of CHCl3 and EtOAc solubles of the MeOH extract of Cephalanceropsis gracilis afforded seven new indole alkaloids, cephalinones A (1), B (2), C (3), and D (4) and cephalandoles A (5), B (6), and C (7), besides eight known compounds. The structures of the new compounds were determined by spectroscopic analysis. All 15 indole alkaloids were evaluated for their cytotoxic effects on MCF-7, NCI-H460, and SF-268 cell lines by the MTT method. Only cephalinone-F (6) showed significant cytotoxicity.

Expedient synthesis and structure-activity relationships of phenanthroindolizidine and phenanthroquinolizidine alkaloids

The total synthesis of alkaloids phenanthroindolizidine 1a, tylophorine 1b, and phenanthroquinolizidine 1c, has been achieved in 46%, 49%, and 42% overall yield, respectively, starting from the corresponding phenanthrene-9-carboxaldehyde. Compound exhibited potent inhibition activity in three human cancer cell lines, with IC(50) values ranging from 104 to 130 nM. The structure-activity relations of these alkaloids and some of their synthetic intermediates against the three cell lines were also described.

Anti-Inflammatory Mechanisms of Phenanthroindolizidine Alkaloids

The molecular mechanisms for the anti-inflammatory activity of phenanthroindolizidine alkaloids were examined in an in vitro system mimicking acute inflammation by studying the suppression of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/interferon-gamma (IFNgamma)-induced nitric oxide production in RAW264.7 cells. Two of the phenanthroindolizidine alkaloids, NSTP0G01 (tylophorine) and NSTP0G07 (ficuseptine-A), exhibited potent suppression of nitric oxide production and did not show significant cytotoxicity to the LPS/IFNgamma-stimulated RAW264.7 cells, in contrast to their respective cytotoxic effects on cancer cells. Tylophorine was studied further to investigate the responsible mechanisms. It was found to inhibit the induced protein levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, inducible nitric-oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase (COX)-II. It also inhibited the activation of murine iNOS and COX-II promoter activity. However, of the two common responsive elements of iNOS and COX-II promoters, nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) and adaptor protein (AP)1, only AP1 activation was inhibited by tylophorine in the LPS/IFNgamma-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Further studies showed that the tylophorine enhanced the phosphorylation of Akt and thus decreased the expression and phosphorylation levels of c-Jun protein, thereby causing the subsequent inhibition of AP1 activity. Furthermore, the tylophorine was able to block mitogen-activated protein/extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase 1 activity and its downstream signaling activation of NF-kappaB and AP1. Thus, NSTP0G01 exerts its anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting expression of the proinflammatory factors and related signaling pathways.

Constituents of Vittaria anguste-elongata and their biological activities

Twelve new compounds, vittarin-A (1), -B (2), -C (3), -D (4), -E (5), -F (6), 3-O-acetylniduloic acid (7), ethyl 3-O-acetylniduloate (8), methyl 4-O-coumaroylquinate (9), vittarilide-A (10), and -B (11), and vittariflavone (12), as well as 20 known compounds have been isolated from the whole plant of Vittaria anguste-elongata. The structures of these compounds were determined by spectroscopic and chemical transformation methods. 5,7-Dihydroxy-3',4',5'-trimethoxyflavone (18) displayed moderate cytotoxicity against human lung carcinoma and central nervous system carcinoma cell lines with inhibition of 89 and 61% at a concentration of 58 microM, respectively. Vittarilide-A (10) and -B (11) and ethyl 4-O-caffeoylquinate (14) exhibited moderate DPPH radical scavenging activity with IC50 values of 91, 290, and 234 microM, respectively.

Phenanthroindolizidine alkaloids from the stems of Ficus septica

In addition to six known phenanthroindolizidine alkaloids, eight new alkaloids, namely, ficuseptines B-D (1-3), 10R,13aR-tylophorine N-oxide (4), 10R,13aR-tylocrebrine N-oxide (5), 10S,13aR-tylocrebrine N-oxide (6), 10S,13aR-isotylocrebrine N-oxide (7), and 10S,13aS-isotylocrebrine N-oxide (8), were isolated from a methanol extract of the stems of Ficus septica. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by means of spectroscopic data interpretation. Cytotoxicity of some of these alkaloids was assessed in vitro using the HONE-1 and NUGC cell lines.