Computer Based Body Exposure in Adolescents With Anorexia Nervosa: A Study Protocol

Body dissatisfaction is a core feature of eating disorders (EDs) and plays an essential role in the development and maintenance of anorexia nervosa (AN). In the current study, a computer based body exposure intervention is conducted and evaluated regarding short-term effects on body dissatisfaction, psychopathology, viewing patterns, and stress reactivity. Within a randomized controlled trial (RCT) female adolescents and young women with AN are either receiving the intervention or treatment as usual (TAU). Furthermore, in a transdiagnostic approach, a highly body-dissatisfied group of clinical control participants obtaining the intervention will be surveyed to identify AN-specific processes. The standardized four-session body exposure intervention using photographs of the own body is adapted from a manualized body image treatment program for computer use. Psychopathology (body dissatisfaction, body image avoidance, body checking, depression, anxiety) is assessed via standardized questionnaires before and after the intervention. During each session, attentional biases regarding one's own body are measured via eye tracking, stress levels are measured via subjective ratings, heart rate variability, as well as salivary cortisol and alpha amylase. Between- and within-subject effects will be assessed. The pilot study aims to identify short-term effects of the intervention on body dissatisfaction and attentional bias, as well as to investigate the potential underlying mechanism of physiological habituation.

Attention towards food: Conflicting mechanisms in anorexia nervosa

In Anorexia nervosa (AN) attentional biases towards, as well as away from, food cues have been found using different paradigms. In the current study, adult and adolescent AN patients and control participants performed two tasks while their eye movements were recorded. The tasks involved viewing and rating: 1. Single photographs of food items; 2. Pairs of pictures consisting of one picture of high calorie and one of low calorie food. Girls and women suffering from AN rated pictures of high calorie food as more negative than control participants. In the task showing single food pictures, reduced fixation times within Regions of Interest of low calorie food were seen in AN; during the task using picture pairs, a visual attentional bias towards low calorie and away from high calorie stimuli for AN was demonstrated. There is evidence for heightened visual attentional capture by high calorie stimuli when presented alone as well as attraction of attention by low calorie stimuli when shown next to high calorie stimuli, possibly facilitated by avoidance of the latter. Different attentional mechanisms seem to be activated when only one stimulus is shown compared to when two stimuli are competing for the viewer's attention.

Neurofeedback of slow cortical potentials: neural mechanisms and feasibility of a placebo-controlled design in healthy adults

To elucidate basic mechanisms underlying neurofeedback we investigated neural mechanisms of training of slow cortical potentials (SCPs) by considering EEG- and fMRI. Additionally, we analyzed the feasibility of a double-blind, placebo-controlled design in NF research based on regulation performance during treatment sessions and self-assessment of the participants. Twenty healthy adults participated in 16 sessions of SCPs training: 9 participants received regular SCP training, 11 participants received sham feedback. At three time points (pre, intermediate, post) fMRI and EEG/ERP-measurements were conducted during a continuous performance test (CPT). Performance-data during the sessions (regulation performance) in the treatment group and the placebo group were analyzed. Analysis of EEG-activity revealed in the SCP group a strong enhancement of the CNV (electrode Cz) at the intermediate assessment, followed by a decrease back to baseline at the post-treatment assessment. In contrast, in the placebo group a continuous but smaller increase of the CNV could be obtained from pre to post assessment. The increase of the CNV in the SCP group at intermediate testing was superior to the enhancement in the placebo group. The changes of the CNV were accompanied by a continuous improvement in the test performance of the CPT from pre to intermediate to post assessment comparable in both groups. The change of the CNV in the SCP group is interpreted as an indicator of neural plasticity and efficiency while an increase of the CNV in the placebo group might reflect learning and improved timing due to the frequent task repetition. In the fMRI analysis evidence was obtained for neuronal plasticity. After regular SCP neurofeedback activation in the posterior parietal cortex decreased from the pre- to the intermediate measurement and increased again in the post measurement, inversely following the U-shaped increase and decrease of the tCNV EEG amplitude in the SCP-trained group. Furthermore, we found a localized increase of activity in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). Analyses of the estimation of treatment assignment by the participants indicate feasibility of blinding. Participants could not assess treatment assignment confidently. Participants of the SCP-group improved regulation capability during treatment sessions (in contrast to the participants of the placebo-group), although regulation capability appeared to be instable, presumably due to diminished confidence in the training (SCP- or sham-training). Our results indicate that SCP training in healthy adults might lead to functional changes in neuronal circuits serving cognitive preparation even after a limited number of sessions.

11Beta-hydroxylase deficiency and other syndromes of mineralocorticoid excess as a rare cause of endocrine hypertension

Hypertension represents a major public and global health problem, most of which likely can be improved by lifestyle changes including changing dietary habits with less consumption of processed and preserved foods, which generally contain higher amounts of salt than freshly prepared food items. Among causes for endocrine hypertension are syndromes of mineralocorticoid excess. This group of mostly monogenic and acquired disorders typically causes hypertension through activation of the mineralocorticoid receptor either directly or indirectly via hormonal mediators and from overactive amiloride-sensitive epithelial sodium channels located in the distal tubule and collecting ducts of the kidneys. Apart from primary aldosteronism, mineralocorticoid excess can be caused by congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) due to mutations of the 11beta-hydroxylase and 17alpha-hydroxylase genes, by inactivating mutations of the glucocorticoid receptor gene (Chrousos syndrome), endogenous hypercortisolism (Cushing's syndrome), by mutations of the 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 gene (apparent mineralocorticoid excess/AME) or licorice/carbenoxolone intake, mutations of the epithelial sodium channel genes (Liddle syndrome), mutations of the mineralocorticoid receptor gene (Geller syndrome), and by mutations in the WNK1, WNK4, KLHL3, CUL3 genes (pseudohypoaldosteronism type 2 or Gordon syndrome). Most of these conditions are treated by restricting dietary salt intake. However, some require special therapies including dexamethasone/hydrocortisone (CAH), spironolactone/eplerenone (AME), epithelial sodium channel inhibitors amiloride/triamterene (Liddle and Gordon syndrome), while in others spironolactone and MR antagonists may be contraindicated due to an abnormally structured MR (Geller syndrome). We here review the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and therapy of these rare conditions including the presentation of a patient with 11beta-hydroxylase deficiency.

Bone repair using periodontal ligament progenitor cell-seeded constructs

The success of tissue-engineering therapies is dependent on the ability of scaffolds to guide differentiation of progenitor cells. Here we present a new approach using a biomimetic construct composed of hydroxyapatite modified with an in vitro-derived extracellular matrix (HA-ECM) and seeded with periodontal ligament progenitor cells (PDLCs). The study aimed to investigate the effect of HA-ECM on osteogenic differentiation of PDLCs and in vivo evaluation of the PDLC-seeded HA-ECM constructs using a rat calvarial critical-sized defect model. After flow-cytometric phenotyping of PDLCs for typical mesenchymal stem cell markers, the PDLCs were cultured on HA-ECM or HA alone in osteogenic media and assessed by MTT, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) assays, and real-time qPCR at different time intervals after seeding. New bone formation induced by PDLC-seeded constructs was assessed by histomorphometric analysis at 12 weeks post-operatively. The PDLCs seeded on HA-ECM showed significantly higher ALP activity and up-regulation of bone-related genes. The treatment with PDLC-seeded HA-ECM significantly improved calvarial bone repair, with the highest amount of newly formed bone elicited by cell-seeded constructs cultured for 14 days. Our results highlight the PDLC-seeded HA-ECM constructs as a promising tool for craniofacial bone regeneration.

[How does maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy affect the development of attention deficit/hyperactivity syndrome in the child]

Besides genetic susceptibility, environmental factors and gene-environment interactions are of central interest in research on attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children. Focusing on maternal behaviour during pregnancy, prenatal maternal alcohol consumption is associated with behavioural disorders in children. In animal models, developmental disorders of brain structures as well as subsequent behavioural disorders - similar to findings in attention deficit disorder - were caused by prenatal alcohol exposure. These findings occur in small rodents (mice, rats) as well as in primates and can be caused by even moderate alcohol exposure. In foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and foetal alcohol spectrum disease (FASD) in humans, symptoms like hyperactivity, disruptive or impulsive behaviour along with reduced attention and slower reaction time are observed. These findings resemble the symptoms of ADHD. For that reason, children diagnosed with FAS/FASD are frequently diagnosed with ADHD in parallel. Even small amounts of alcohol during pregnancy are responsible for cognitive and behavioural impairments like a significantly decreased IQ. About 50 % of adult ADHD patients show alcohol abuse or dependency and/or other substance disorders. Due to this, a higher rate of prenatal exposition to psychoactive substances for children of mothers affected with ADHD seems probable. However, there are no sufficient data on ADHD and its association to substance abuse in pregnancy, which makes it difficult to quantify the impact of genetic and environmental causes for the development of childhood ADHD. So far, no link could be proven with a high level of evidence between moderate prenatal alcohol consumption and the development of childhood ADHD. It has to be recognised that all present studies are based on self-reported alcohol consumption. Data collected by this methodology are usually severely biased to an underestimation of alcohol abuse. Objective tests for alcohol abuse in pregnancy, such as the analysis of fatty acid ethyl esters or ethyl glucuronide in foetal feces after birth, show rates of alcohol consumption in pregnant women which are dramatically higher than reported. Therefore, studies investigating the association between prenatal alcohol exposure and ADHD should incorporate the analysis and validation of more objective methods, such as parameters for alcohol degradation.

Synthesis of pseudopeptides with sulfoximines as chiral backbone modifying elements

The synthesis of pseudopeptides with a chiral alpha-sulfonimidoylcarboxy moiety in the backbone is described. Starting from readily available (Ss)-S-methyl S-phenyl sulfoximine and various cyclic and acyclic alpha-amino acids the desired products are obtained in good yields with peptide coupling methodology. Specific secondary structures caused by intramolecular hydrogen bonds may be adopted. Results of NMR studies to reveal conformational preferences will be discussed.

Mechanistic properties of the two-component bacteriocin lactococcin G

Lactococcin G is a bacteriocin whose activity depends on the complementary action of two peptides, termed alpha and beta. Biologically active, synthetic lactococcin G was used to study the mode of action on sensitive cells of Lactococcus lactis. The alpha and beta peptides can bind independently to the target cell surface, but activity requires the complementary peptide. Once bound to the cell surface, the peptides cannot be displaced to the surfaces of other cells. A complex of alpha and beta peptides forms a transmembrane pore that conducts monovalent cations but not protons. Efflux of potassium ions is observed only above pH 5.0, and the rate of efflux increases steeply with the pH. The consequences of cation fluxes for the viability of the target cells are discussed.

Tight connection between choline transport and phosphatidylcholine synthesis in MDCK cells

In MDCK cells, choline uptake, the first step in the CDP-choline pathway for the biosynthesis of choline-containing phospholipids and osmolytes, occurs via both a transport system highly specific for choline and a non-specific pathway. The specific choline carrier is present at the apical domain of cells grown on dishes and is sodium-independent. Growing the cells on a permeant support results in the preferential localization of the specific choline carrier at the basolateral domain. To characterize the relationships between the choline uptake sites and the synthesis of phosphatidylcholine, MDCK cells were incubated with [Me-3H]choline and/or [Me-14C]choline for various times (up to 36 h) and the incorporation of label into phospholipids and water-soluble molecules was determined. For cells grown on dishes, addition of [Me-3H]choline at the apical side was followed by rapid incorporation of the label into the successive intermediates of the CDP-choline pathway. A comparable situation was found when growing the cells on a permeant support and adding the labelled choline at the basolateral side of the culture. On the other hand, radioactive choline added to the apical bath entered the CDP pathway to only a very low extent. Efflux experiments on cells loaded with choline from either the apical or the basolateral side demonstrate the existence of intracellular pools of choline. Addition of hemicholinium-3, an inhibitor of the specific choline carrier, markedly reduced the metabolism of choline taken up by the cells on the basolateral side but had no effect on that transported at the apical side. These results strongly suggest the existence of a tight connection between the entry of choline through the specific choline carrier and phosphatidylcholine synthesis in MDCK cells.

Lactococcin G is a potassium ion-conducting, two-component bacteriocin

Lactococcin G is a novel lactococcal bacteriocin whose activity depends on the complementary action of two peptides, termed alpha and beta. Peptide synthesis of the alpha and beta peptides yielded biologically active lactococcin G, which was used in mode-of-action studies on sensitive cells of Lactococcus lactis. Approximately equivalent amounts of both peptides were required for optimal bactericidal effect. No effect was observed with either the alpha or beta peptide in the absence of the complementary peptide. The combination of alpha and beta peptides (lactococcin G) dissipates the membrane potential (delta omega), and as a consequence cells release alpha-aminoisobutyrate, a non-metabolizable alanine analog that is accumulated through a proton motive-force dependent mechanism. In addition, the cellular ATP level is dramatically reduced, which results in a drastic decrease of the ATP-driven glutamate uptake. Lactococcin G does not form a proton-conducting pore, as it has no effect on the transmembrane pH gradient. Dissipation of the membrane potential by uncouplers causes a slow release of potassium (rubidium) ions. However, rapid release of potassium was observed in the presence of lactococcin G. These data suggest that the bactericidal effect of lactococcin G is due to the formation of potassium-selective channels by the alpha and beta peptides in the target bacterial membrane.

Lipid interaction of the 37-kDa and 58-kDa fragments of the Helicobacter pylori cytotoxin

Helicobacter pylori cytotoxin vacA (95 kDa) causes a vacuolar degeneration of epithelial cells. There is evidence that this protein toxin acts inside cells, and hence has to cross a cell membrane. This cytotoxin is frequently obtained as two fragments of 58 kDa (p58) and 37 kDa (p37) and it is available only in minute amounts. Here, its membrane interaction was studied with the two fragments, produced in Escherichia coli. Light scattering and energy transfer experiments show that p37 and p58 cause aggregation and fusion of small unilamellar lipid vesicles; only a reversible aggregation is induced at neutral pH, whereas at acid pH fusion also takes place. p58, but not p37, causes potassium efflux from liposomes and this occurs only at acid pH. Hydrophobic photolabelling with photoactivatable phosphatidylcholines inserted into liposomes shows that both fragments are labelled at neutral pH. The amount of labelling of the two fragments is much higher at acid pH, consistent with a further penetration into the hydrophobic core of the lipid bilayer. Tryptophan fluorescence measurements indicate that the two fragments undergo a pH-driven conformational change. These data are consistent with cytotoxin entry in the cell cytosol via an intracellular acidic compartment.

Decreased catalase activity but unchanged superoxide dismutase activity in brains of patients with dementia of Alzheimer type

"Oxidative stress" may be of significance in the etiopathogenesis of dementia of Alzheimer type (DAT). Therefore, we measured activities of the enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), which detoxicate reactive oxygen species. Enzyme activities were measured postmortem in basal ganglia, cortical, and limbic brain regions of patients with DAT and age-matched controls. SOD activity increased with age in basal nucleus of Meynert. However, there was no significant difference in SOD activity between DAT and controls. CAT activity was independent of age and postmortem time. There were significant reductions in CAT activity in parietotemporal cortex, basal ganglia, and amygdala in DAT compared with controls (p < 0.05 to 0.01). Our findings are in line with the assumption that reactive oxygen species could contribute to the pathogenesis of DAT. Absence of these changes in basal nucleus of Meynert might reflect retrograde degeneration of cholinergic fibers.

Cholesterol distribution in renal epithelial cells LLC-PK1 as determined by cholesterol oxidase: evidence that glutaraldehyde fixation masks plasma membrane cholesterol pools

Treatment with cholesterol oxidases has shown that cholesterol is heterogeneously distributed in brush border membranes isolated from the apical domain of the renal and intestinal epithelial cells [Bloj, B., & Zilversmit, D. B. (1982) J. Biol. Chem. 257, 7608-7614; El Yandouzi, E. H., & Le Grimellec, C. (1992) Biochemistry 31, 547-551]. Cholesterol distribution between plasma membrane and intracellular membranes of the corresponding cells remains unexplored. The effects of Brevibacterium sp. cholesterol oxidase on the cholesterol content of LLC-PK1 cells, an epithelial cell line with multiple differentiated characteristics of the renal proximal tubule, were investigated. In confluent living cells grown as a monolayer on solid support, a small but significant fraction (13%) of the cholesterol was oxidized during the first hour of the oxidase treatment. Glutaraldehyde fixation prior to treatment resulted in a nearly complete (86.1 +/- 1.8) oxidation of the cellular cholesterol according to first-order kinetics. Filipin labeling and oxidation at 15 degrees C confirmed that cholesterol was essentially confined to the plasma membrane in LLC-PK1 cells. When adding the oxidase either on the apical or on the basolateral side of cells grown on permeant support and fixed with glutaraldehyde, a comparable monophasic oxidation of cholesterol was observed, despite the presence of efficient tight junctions. Adding the oxidase to both sides simultaneously did not increase the rate of oxidation. Finally, fixation of isolated renal brush border membranes with glutaraldehyde rendered undiscernible their cholesterol pools. We conclude that glutaraldehyde fixation, a commonly used process in the analysis of cholesterol distribution in cells, can mask the existence of cholesterol pools in plasma membranes.

Transport of choline by Madin-Darby canine kidney cells

Choline is an essential precursor for the synthesis of phosphatidylcholine, the most abundant phospholipid classes in renal cells, as well as for the synthesis of the osmolyte glycerophosphorylcholine. The characteristics of choline uptake in the renal epithelial cell line MDCK were investigated. In the range of physiological concentrations, choline entered MDCK cells, grown as a monolayer on solid support, via a specific sodium-independent transport system (apparent Km = 43 microM, apparent Vmax = 284 pmol/mg protein per 5 min). Cell ATP depletion, addition of KCl to the medium to reduce the cell membrane potential, and hemicholinium-3 (HC-3) inhibited choline uptake. Specific binding of [3H]HC-3 was detected on the apical membrane of cells grown on plastic dishes, whereas it occurred only on the basolateral domain of cells grown on permeant support. When growing cells on filter, choline uptake from the basolateral side was 10-times the apical uptake. This suggests that the choline carrier present at the apical domain of cells grown on solid support is either inactivated or no longer targeted to the apical but to the basolateral membrane of MDCK cells grown on filter.

Alterations of membrane fluidity by toxic injuries

Alterations in membrane fluidity affect, via an effect on the ease with which proteins may change conformation, the activity of various enzymes and transport systems. Recent experiments have shown that toxic injury is frequently associated with modifications in physical state and/or lipid composition of plasma membranes. Such modifications are likely to play a role in cell dysfunction, especially in epithelial cells whose optimal function depends on the polarity in membrane fluidity between apical and basolateral domains.

[Possible applications of the biotest air microbe collector RCS Vet in swine housing]

A practical test of the Biotest centrifugal air sampler RCS Vet to assess the air quality for microbial levels in pig houses is presented. Estimating the number of microbial colony-forming units (staphylococcus) was only possible after modifying the sampler. Measurement of the total count of microbial-forming units was only possible under controlled conditions because of the high level of organisms in the pig house air. The use of selective media to measure microbial levels in air is described.

Platelet MAO-B activity and the psychopathology of Parkinson's disease, senile dementia and multi-infarct dementia

Monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B) activity of platelets of an age- and sex-matched group of controls was compared with several groups of inpatients having non-familial dementia of Alzheimer type (DAT), Parkinson's disease (PD), multi-infarct dementia (MID), mixed types of these 3 diseases and a group of other central nervous system (CNS) organic disorders. All patients were subjected to several psychometric tests, including the Sandoz Clinical Assessment--Geriatric Scale, Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, Mini-Mental State Examination and the Organic mental Disorder Scale (OMDS). A statistically significant enhancement of MAO-B activity could be observed in DAT patients and in PD patients, whereas the MID group showed a mean activity similar to that of the control group and the group with other organic CNS disorders. In DAT patients the degree of dementia in the OMDS test and the enhancement of MAO activity were positively correlated, but PD did not show such a correlation. It is concluded that the increase of MAO activity in PD and in DAT might be due to a disease-related enhanced affinity to oxygen and to such oxygen-derived radicals as superoxide or hydroxyl radicals. However, a possible drug-induced enhancement of MAO activity in PD cannot be excluded. Furthermore, the MAO-B activity values in platelets of individual patients or controls are not indicative of diagnosis or prognosis of any of these diseases and are of no disease-related specificity.

Epidemiology of theileriosis in calves in an endemic area of Kenya

Thirty-one calves born into five Maasai zebu cattle herds over a period of 1 month in the Trans-Mara Division of Kenya, endemic for theileriosis, were recruited for an intensive study of theileriosis. No calves up to 6 months of age died but all developed Theileria infections as judged by slide examination and serology. Parasitosis by T. mutans schizonts in lymph node smears was usually higher than that of T. parva. The T. mutans schizonts usually occurred at an earlier age but persisted at a patent level for a shorter time than those of T. parva. Serological findings using the indirect fluorescent antibody test confirmed the parasitological findings. It was evident that colostral transfer of Theileria antibodies was frequent. Theileria piroplasm parasitaemia had developed in all calves by 111 days of age. The earlier parasitosis by T. mutans reflected the higher infection rates in Amblyomma spp. than in Rhipicephalus appendiculatus. The mean number of R. appendiculatus on the ears of calves during the observations was 9.1 adults and 1.5 nymphs. Clinical episodes of T. mutans and T. parva infection were associated with febrile responses, enlarged lymph nodes, anaemia and other symptoms and about 80% of calves had poor weight gains or weight losses during either clinical infection. It would appear that theileriosis is one of the most important factors in the stunting of calf development in the area.

Localised (circumscribed) nodular synovitis (histiocytic xanthogranuloma)

Localised nodular synovitis is a benign tumour which originates from the synovia. The circumscribed nodules are characterised by multinucleated giant cells associated with the proliferation of histiocytes. There is a histiogenetic relationship to the diffuse, heavily pigmented, villo-nodular form. The treatment consists in excising the complete nodule.

[Treatment of epicondylitis with locally injected orgotein (double blind study)]

The efficacy of locally injected orgotein in epicondylitis was investigated in a double-blind clinical trial. The results of the previously used method of treatment--injection with procaine hydrochloride--were applied as a comparison. In nearly all cases of acute epicondylitis, improvement was seen after orgotein injections. More than 70% of these patients were symptom-free 6 weeks after beginning therapy, a result significantly superior to that of the compared method. Both regimens produced distinctly less favorable results in chronic epicondylitis. In acute epicondylitis orgotein may be regarded as an alternative to the more common and potentially risky corticoid therapy.

Fluid hexagonal lattices of sub-units in negative staining preparations of fragmented human lymphocytes

Electron microscopic studies of negative staining preparations of fragmented human lymphocytes have revealed highly-ordered fluid hexagonal lattices of repeating 100 A sub-units with central depressions. It is supposed that the particles came from the plasma membrane of the lymphocytes.