1
|
Keating D, Krengel M, Dugas J, Toomey R, Chao L, Steele L, Janulewicz LP, Heeren T, Quinn E, Klimas N, Sullivan K. Cognitive decrements in 1991 Gulf War veterans: associations with Gulf War illness and neurotoxicant exposures in the Boston Biorepository, Recruitment, and Integrative Network (BBRAIN) cohorts. Environ Health 2023; 22:68. [PMID: 37794452 PMCID: PMC10548744 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-023-01018-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND During deployment, veterans of the 1991 Gulf War (GW) were exposed to multiple war-related toxicants. Roughly a third of these veterans continue to exhibit neurotoxicant induced symptoms of Gulf War Illness (GWI), a multi-faceted condition that includes fatigue, pain and cognitive decrements. When studied empirically, both deployed veterans with exposures and those who meet the criteria for GWI are more likely to show deficits in the area of neuropsychological functioning. Although studies have shown cognitive impairments in small sample sizes, it is necessary to revisit these findings with larger samples and newer cohorts to see if other areas of deficit emerge with more power to detect such differences. A group of researchers and clinicians with expertise in the area of GWI have identified common data elements (CDE) for use in research samples to compare data sets. At the same time, a subgroup of researchers created a new repository to share these cognitive data and biospecimens within the GWI research community. METHODS The present study aimed to compare cognitive measures of attention, executive functioning, and verbal memory in a large sample of GWI cases and healthy GW veteran controls using neuropsychological tests recommended in the CDEs. We additionally subdivided samples based on the specific neurotoxicant exposures related to cognitive deficits and compared exposed versus non-exposed veterans regardless of case criteria status. The total sample utilized cognitive testing outcomes from the newly collated Boston, Biorepository, Recruitment, and Integrative Network (BBRAIN) for GWI. RESULTS Participants included 411 GW veterans, 312 GWI (cases) and 99 healthy veterans (controls). Veterans with GWI showed significantly poorer attention, executive functioning, learning, and short-and-long term verbal memory than those without GWI. Further, GW veterans with exposures to acetylcholinesterase inhibiting pesticides and nerve gas agents, had worse performance on executive function tasks. Veterans with exposure to oil well fires had worse performance on verbal memory and those with pyridostigmine bromide anti-nerve gas pill exposures had better verbal memory and worse performance on an attention task compared to unexposed veterans. CONCLUSIONS This study replicates prior results regarding the utility of the currently recommended CDEs in determining impairments in cognitive functioning in veterans with GWI in a new widely-available repository cohort and provides further evidence of cognitive decrements in GW veterans related to war-related neurotoxicant exposures.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- D Keating
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany Street, T4W, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - M Krengel
- Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, 72 East Concord St, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - J Dugas
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany St, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - R Toomey
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Boston University, 900 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA, USA
| | - L Chao
- San Francisco Veterans Affairs Health Care System, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - L Steele
- Baylor College of Medicine Neuropsychiatry Division, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Lloyd P Janulewicz
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany Street, T4W, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - T Heeren
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany St, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - E Quinn
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany St, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - N Klimas
- Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Institute for Neuroimmune Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33314, USA
- Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, Miami VA Medical Center, Miami, FL, 33125, USA
| | - K Sullivan
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany Street, T4W, Boston, MA, 02118, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Allende S, Mathersul DC, Schulz-Heik JR, Avery TJ, Mahoney L, Bayley PJ. Yoga is effective for treating chronic pain in veterans with Gulf War Illness at long-term follow-up. BMC Complement Med Ther 2023; 23:319. [PMID: 37704984 PMCID: PMC10498617 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-023-04145-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Clinical Practice Guidelines for Gulf War Illness (GWI) recommend integrative health approaches such as yoga for relief from symptoms, yet little is known about the long-term efficacy of yoga in reducing symptoms of GWI. Here, we evaluated the long-term efficacy of yoga and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) chronic pain treatment in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of 75 Veterans (57 men, 42-71 ± 7.1 years of age) with Gulf War Illness (GWI). METHODS Participants received either 10 weeks of yoga or 10 weeks of CBT for chronic pain. The primary outcome measures were pain severity, and pain interference (Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form). The secondary outcome measures were fatigue, as indicated by a measure of functional exercise capacity (6-Minute Walk Test), depression, autonomic symptom severity, and quality of life. Piecewise linear mixed models were used to examine study hypotheses. RESULTS Compared to the CBT group, yoga was associated with greater reductions in pain severity during the 6-month follow-up period (group × time interaction: b = 0.036, se = 0.014, p = .011). Although we did not find between-group differences in the other primary or secondary outcome measures during follow-up (p's > 0.05), exploratory analyses revealed within-group improvements in pain interference, total pain (an experimental outcome variable which combines pain severity and interference), and fatigue in the yoga group (p's < 0.05) but not in the CBT group. CONCLUSIONS This is the first study to report long-term follow-up results of yoga as a treatment for GWI. Our results suggest that yoga may offer long-term efficacy in reducing pain, which is a core symptom of GWI. TRIAL REGISTRATION Secondary analyses of ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02378025.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Santiago Allende
- War Related Illness and Injury Study Center, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
| | - Danielle C Mathersul
- War Related Illness and Injury Study Center, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, USA
- School of Psychology, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Health Futures Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia
| | - Jay R Schulz-Heik
- War Related Illness and Injury Study Center, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, USA
- Peninsula Behavioral Health, CA, Palo Alto, 94306, USA
| | - Timothy J Avery
- War Related Illness and Injury Study Center, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, USA
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Peninsula Vet Center, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, United States of America
| | - Louise Mahoney
- War Related Illness and Injury Study Center, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Peter J Bayley
- War Related Illness and Injury Study Center, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Wallace DA, Gallagher JP, Peterson SR, Ndiaye-Gueye S, Fox K, Redline S, Johnson DA. Is exposure to chemical pollutants associated with sleep outcomes? A systematic review. Sleep Med Rev 2023; 70:101805. [PMID: 37392613 PMCID: PMC10528206 DOI: 10.1016/j.smrv.2023.101805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/03/2023]
Abstract
Environmental exposures may influence sleep; however, the contributions of environmental chemical pollutants to sleep health have not been systematically investigated. We conducted a systematic review to identify, evaluate, summarize, and synthesize the existing evidence between chemical pollutants (air pollution, exposures related to the Gulf War and other conflicts, endocrine disruptors, metals, pesticides, solvents) and dimensions of sleep health (architecture, duration, quality, timing) and disorders (sleeping pill use, insomnia, sleep-disordered breathing)). Of the 204 included studies, results were mixed; however, the synthesized evidence suggested associations between particulate matter, exposures related to the Gulf War, dioxin and dioxin-like compounds, and pesticide exposure with worse sleep quality; exposures related to the Gulf War, aluminum, and mercury with insomnia and impaired sleep maintenance; and associations between tobacco smoke exposure with insomnia and sleep-disordered breathing, particularly in pediatric populations. Possible mechanisms relate to cholinergic signaling, neurotransmission, and inflammation. Chemical pollutants are likely key determinants of sleep health and disorders. Future studies should aim to evaluate environmental exposures on sleep across the lifespan, with a particular focus on developmental windows and biological mechanisms, as well as in historically marginalized or excluded populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Danielle A Wallace
- Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Jayden Pace Gallagher
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Shenita R Peterson
- Woodruff Health Sciences Center Library, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Seyni Ndiaye-Gueye
- Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kathleen Fox
- Woodruff Health Sciences Center Library, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Susan Redline
- Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Dayna A Johnson
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Niles BL, Grossman S, McQuade M, Grossman D, Kaiser AP, Muccio B, Warner B, Wang C, Mori DL. Study protocol for a revised randomized trial: Remotely delivered Tai Chi and wellness for Gulf War illness. Contemp Clin Trials 2023; 125:107045. [PMID: 36494045 PMCID: PMC9918688 DOI: 10.1016/j.cct.2022.107045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many of the 700,000 American military personnel deployed to the Persian Gulf region in 1990 and 1991 have since reported health symptoms of unknown etiology. This cluster of symptoms has been labeled Gulf War Illness and include chronic musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, headaches, memory and attention difficulties, gastrointestinal complaints, skin abnormalities, breathing problems, and mood and sleep problems [1,2]. There have been few high-quality intervention trials and no strong evidence to support available treatments [3]. Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese martial art with benefits that include enhancing physical and mental health and improving quality of life for those with chronic conditions. PROPOSED METHODS In this randomized controlled trial, GW Veterans are randomly assigned to either Tai Chi or a Wellness control condition, with both remotely delivered intervention groups meeting twice a week for 12 weeks. The primary aim is to examine if Tai Chi is associated with greater improvements in GWI symptoms in Veterans with GWI compared to a Wellness intervention. Participants will receive assessments at baseline, 12 weeks (post-intervention), and follow-up assessments 3- and 9-months post-intervention. The primary outcome measure is the Brief Pain Inventory that examines pain intensity and pain interference. CONCLUSION This trial will produce valuable results that can have a meaningful impact on healthcare practices for GWI. If proven as a helpful treatment for individuals with GWI, it would support the implementation of remotely delivered Tai Chi classes that Veterans can access from their own homes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Barbara L Niles
- National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System and Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States of America.
| | - Stephanie Grossman
- National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System and Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Maria McQuade
- National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System and Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Daniel Grossman
- National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System and Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Anica Pless Kaiser
- National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System and Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Brian Muccio
- Body Movement Solutions, 2700 N. Highway A1A, 2-101, Indialantic, FL 32903, United States of America
| | - Ben Warner
- Yang Martial Arts Association Boston, 756 South Street, Roslindale, MA, 02131, United States of America
| | - Chenchen Wang
- Center for Integrative Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Tufts Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - DeAnna L Mori
- VA Boston Healthcare System and Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Ferguson S, McCartan R, Browning M, Hahn-Townsend C, Gratkowski A, Morin A, Abdullah L, Ait-Ghezala G, Ojo J, Sullivan K, Mullan M, Crawford F, Mouzon B. Impact of gulf war toxic exposures after mild traumatic brain injury. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2022; 10:147. [PMID: 36258255 PMCID: PMC9580120 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-022-01449-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemical and pharmaceutical exposures have been associated with the development of Gulf War Illness (GWI), but how these factors interact with the pathophysiology of traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains an area of study that has received little attention thus far. We studied the effects of pyridostigmine bromide (an anti-nerve agent) and permethrin (a pesticide) exposure in a mouse model of repetitive mild TBI (r-mTBI), with 5 impacts over a 9-day period, followed by Gulf War (GW) toxicant exposure for 10 days beginning 30 days after the last head injury. We then assessed the chronic behavioral and pathological sequelae 5 months after GW agent exposure. We observed that r-mTBI and GWI cumulatively affect the spatial memory of mice in the Barnes maze and result in a shift of search strategies employed by r-mTBI/GW exposed mice. GW exposure also produced anxiety-like behavior in sham animals, but r-mTBI produced disinhibition in both the vehicle and GW treated mice. Pathologically, GW exposure worsened r-mTBI dependent axonal degeneration and neuroinflammation, increased oligodendrocyte cell counts, and increased r-mTBI dependent phosphorylated tau, which was found to colocalize with oligodendrocytes in the corpus callosum. These results suggest that GW exposures may worsen TBI-related deficits. Veterans with a history of both GW chemical exposures as well as TBI may be at higher risk for worse symptoms and outcomes. Subsequent exposure to various toxic substances can influence the chronic nature of mTBI and should be considered as an etiological factor influencing mTBI recovery.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Scott Ferguson
- Roskamp Institute, 2040 Whitfield Ave, Sarasota, FL, 34243, USA
| | - Robyn McCartan
- Roskamp Institute, 2040 Whitfield Ave, Sarasota, FL, 34243, USA
| | | | | | | | - Alexander Morin
- Roskamp Institute, 2040 Whitfield Ave, Sarasota, FL, 34243, USA
| | - Laila Abdullah
- Roskamp Institute, 2040 Whitfield Ave, Sarasota, FL, 34243, USA.,James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital, Tampa, FL, USA
| | | | - Joseph Ojo
- Roskamp Institute, 2040 Whitfield Ave, Sarasota, FL, 34243, USA
| | - Kimberly Sullivan
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Boston University, 715 Albany St. T4W, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Michael Mullan
- Roskamp Institute, 2040 Whitfield Ave, Sarasota, FL, 34243, USA
| | - Fiona Crawford
- Roskamp Institute, 2040 Whitfield Ave, Sarasota, FL, 34243, USA.,James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Benoit Mouzon
- Roskamp Institute, 2040 Whitfield Ave, Sarasota, FL, 34243, USA. .,James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital, Tampa, FL, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Flunker LK, Nutter TJ, Bowers CM, Cooper BY. Development of KVO treatment strategies for chronic pain in a rat model of Gulf War Illness. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2022; 434:115821. [PMID: 34896435 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2021.115821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Revised: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
We examined whether combinations of Kv7 channel openers could be effective modifiers of deep tissue nociceptor activity; and whether such combinations could then be optimized for use as safe analgesics for pain-like signs that developed in a rat model of GWI (Gulf War Illness) pain. Voltage clamp experiments were performed on subclassified nociceptors isolated from rat DRG (dorsal root ganglion). A stepped voltage protocol was applied (-55 to -40 mV; Vh = -60 mV; 1500 ms) and Kv7 evoked currents were subsequently isolated by linopirdine subtraction. Directly activated and voltage activated K+ currents were characterized in the presence and absence of Retigabine (5-100 μM) and/or Diclofenac (50-140 μM). Retigabine produced substantial voltage dependent effects and a maximal sustained current of 1.14 pA/pF ± 0.15 (ED50: 62.7 ± 3.18 μM). Diclofenac produced weak voltage dependent effects but a similar maximum sustained current of 1.01 ± 0.26 pA/pF (ED50: 93.2 ± 8.99 μM). Combinations of Retigabine and Diclofenac substantially amplified resting currents but had little effect on voltage dependence. Using a cholinergic challenge test (Oxotremorine, 10 μM) associated with our GWI rat model, combinations of Retigabine (5 uM) and Diclofenac (2.5, 20 and 50 μM) substantially reduced or totally abrogated action potential discharge to the cholinergic challenge. When combinations of Retigabine and Diclofenac were used to relieve pain-signs in our rat model of GWI, only those combinations associated with serious subacute side effects could relieve pain-like behaviors.
Collapse
|
7
|
Bayley PJ, Schulz-Heik RJ, Cho R, Mathersul D, Collery L, Shankar K, Ashford JW, Jennings JS, Tang J, Wong MS, Avery TJ, Stanton MV, Meyer H, Friedman M, Kim S, Jo B, Younger J, Mathews B, Majmundar M, Mahoney L. Yoga is effective in treating symptoms of Gulf War illness: A randomized clinical trial. J Psychiatr Res 2021; 143:563-571. [PMID: 33218747 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2020.11.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Revised: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Many Veterans of the 1990-1991 Gulf War report symptoms of Gulf War Illness, a condition involving numerous chronic symptoms including pain, fatigue, and mood/cognition symptoms. Little is known about this condition's etiology and treatment. This study reports outcomes from a randomized controlled single-blind trial comparing yoga to cognitive behavioral therapy for chronic pain and other symptoms of Gulf War Illness. Participants were Veterans with symptoms of GWI: chronic pain, fatigue and cognition-mood symptoms. Seventy-five Veterans were randomized to treatment via selection of envelopes from a bag (39 yoga, 36 cognitive behavioral therapy), which consisted of ten weekly group sessions. The primary outcomes of pain severity and interference (Brief Pain Inventory- Short Form) improved in the yoga condition (Cohen's d = .35, p = 0.002 and d = 0.69, p < 0.001, respectively) but not in the CBT condition (d = 0.10, p = 0.59 and d = 0.25 p = 0.23). However, the differences between groups were not statistically significant (d = 0.25, p = 0.25; d = 0.43, p = 0.076), though the difference in an a-priori-defined experimental outcome variable which combines these two variables into a total pain variable (d = 0.47, p = 0.047) was significant. Fatigue, as indicated by a measure of functional exercise capacity (6-min walk test) was reduced significantly more in the yoga group than in the CBT group (between-group d = .27, p = 0.044). Other secondary outcomes of depression, wellbeing, and self-reported autonomic nervous system symptoms did not differ between groups. No adverse events due to treatment were reported. Yoga may be an effective treatment for core Gulf War Illness symptoms of pain and fatigue, making it one of few treatments with empirical support for GWI. Results support further evaluation of yoga for treating veterans with Gulf War Illness. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRY: clinicaltrials.gov Registration Number NCT02378025.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peter J Bayley
- War Related Illness and Injury Study Center, VA Palo Alto Healthcare System, Palo Alto, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
| | - R Jay Schulz-Heik
- War Related Illness and Injury Study Center, VA Palo Alto Healthcare System, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Rachael Cho
- War Related Illness and Injury Study Center, VA Palo Alto Healthcare System, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Danielle Mathersul
- War Related Illness and Injury Study Center, VA Palo Alto Healthcare System, Palo Alto, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Linda Collery
- War Related Illness and Injury Study Center, VA Palo Alto Healthcare System, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | | | - J Wesson Ashford
- War Related Illness and Injury Study Center, VA Palo Alto Healthcare System, Palo Alto, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Jennifer S Jennings
- War Related Illness and Injury Study Center, VA Palo Alto Healthcare System, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Julia Tang
- War Related Illness and Injury Study Center, VA Palo Alto Healthcare System, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Melinda S Wong
- War Related Illness and Injury Study Center, VA Palo Alto Healthcare System, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Timothy J Avery
- War Related Illness and Injury Study Center, VA Palo Alto Healthcare System, Palo Alto, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | - Hillary Meyer
- War Related Illness and Injury Study Center, VA Palo Alto Healthcare System, Palo Alto, CA, USA; Palo Alto University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Marcelle Friedman
- War Related Illness and Injury Study Center, VA Palo Alto Healthcare System, Palo Alto, CA, USA; Palo Alto University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Stephan Kim
- War Related Illness and Injury Study Center, VA Palo Alto Healthcare System, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Booil Jo
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Jarred Younger
- Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | | | | | - Louise Mahoney
- War Related Illness and Injury Study Center, VA Palo Alto Healthcare System, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Keating D, Zundel CG, Abreu M, Krengel M, Aenlle K, Nichols MD, Toomey R, Chao LL, Golier J, Abdullah L, Quinn E, Heeren T, Groh JR, Koo BB, Killiany R, Loggia ML, Younger J, Baraniuk J, Janulewicz P, Ajama J, Quay M, Baas PW, Qiang L, Conboy L, Kokkotou E, O'Callaghan JP, Steele L, Klimas N, Sullivan K. Boston biorepository, recruitment and integrative network (BBRAIN): A resource for the Gulf War Illness scientific community. Life Sci 2021; 284:119903. [PMID: 34453948 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2021.119903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Revised: 07/31/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Gulf War Illness (GWI), a chronic debilitating disorder characterized by fatigue, joint pain, cognitive, gastrointestinal, respiratory, and skin problems, is currently diagnosed by self-reported symptoms. The Boston Biorepository, Recruitment, and Integrative Network (BBRAIN) is the collaborative effort of expert Gulf War Illness (GWI) researchers who are creating objective diagnostic and pathobiological markers and recommend common data elements for GWI research. MAIN METHODS BBRAIN is recruiting 300 GWI cases and 200 GW veteran controls for the prospective study. Key data and biological samples from prior GWI studies are being merged and combined into retrospective datasets. They will be made available for data mining by the BBRAIN network and the GWI research community. Prospective questionnaire data include general health and chronic symptoms, demographics, measures of pain, fatigue, medical conditions, deployment and exposure histories. Available repository biospecimens include blood, plasma, serum, saliva, stool, urine, human induced pluripotent stem cells and cerebrospinal fluid. KEY FINDINGS To date, multiple datasets have been merged and combined from 15 participating study sites. These data and samples have been collated and an online request form for repository requests as well as recommended common data elements have been created. Data and biospecimen sample requests are reviewed by the BBRAIN steering committee members for approval as they are received. SIGNIFICANCE The BBRAIN repository network serves as a much needed resource for GWI researchers to utilize for identification and validation of objective diagnostic and pathobiological markers of the illness.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- D Keating
- Boston University School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health, 715 Albany St. T4W, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
| | - C G Zundel
- Boston University School of Medicine, Behavioral Neuroscience Program, 72 East Concord St., Boston, MA 02118, USA.
| | - M Abreu
- Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Institute for Neuroimmune Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314, USA; Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, Miami VA Medical Center, Miami, FL 33125, USA.
| | - M Krengel
- Boston University School of Medicine, Department of Neurology, 72 East Concord St., Boston, MA 02118, USA.
| | - K Aenlle
- Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Institute for Neuroimmune Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314, USA; Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, Miami VA Medical Center, Miami, FL 33125, USA.
| | - M D Nichols
- Boston University School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health, 715 Albany St. T4W, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - R Toomey
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Boston University, 900 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA, USA.
| | - L L Chao
- San Francisco Veterans Affairs Health Care System, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
| | - J Golier
- James J. Peters VA Medical Center, OOMH-526, 130 West Kingsbridge Road, Bronx, NY 10468, USA; Psychiatry Department, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1428 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10029, USA.
| | - L Abdullah
- Roskamp Institute, 2040 Whitfield Ave, Sarasota, FL 34243, USA; Open University, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom; James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital, Tampa, FL, USA.
| | - E Quinn
- Boston University School of Public Health, Department of Biostatistics, 715 Albany St., Boston, MA 02118, USA.
| | - T Heeren
- Boston University School of Public Health, Department of Biostatistics, 715 Albany St., Boston, MA 02118, USA.
| | - J R Groh
- Boston University School of Medicine, Behavioral Neuroscience Program, 72 East Concord St., Boston, MA 02118, USA.
| | - B B Koo
- Boston University School of Medicine, Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, 72 East Concord St., Boston, MA 02118, USA.
| | - R Killiany
- Boston University School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health, 715 Albany St. T4W, Boston, MA 02118, USA; Boston University School of Medicine, Department of Neurology, 72 East Concord St., Boston, MA 02118, USA; Boston University School of Medicine, Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, 72 East Concord St., Boston, MA 02118, USA.
| | - M L Loggia
- Department of Radiology, Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA.
| | - J Younger
- Neuroinflammation, Pain & Fatigue Lab, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
| | - J Baraniuk
- Department of Medicine, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA.
| | - P Janulewicz
- Boston University School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health, 715 Albany St. T4W, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
| | - J Ajama
- Boston University School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health, 715 Albany St. T4W, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
| | - M Quay
- Boston University School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health, 715 Albany St. T4W, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
| | - P W Baas
- Drexel University College of Medicine, Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, 2900 Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19129, USA.
| | - L Qiang
- Drexel University College of Medicine, Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, 2900 Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19129, USA.
| | - L Conboy
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - E Kokkotou
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - J P O'Callaghan
- Health Effects Laboratory Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV, USA.
| | - L Steele
- Baylor College of Medicine Neuropsychiatry Division, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
| | - N Klimas
- Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Institute for Neuroimmune Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314, USA; Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, Miami VA Medical Center, Miami, FL 33125, USA.
| | - K Sullivan
- Boston University School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health, 715 Albany St. T4W, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
McAndrew LM, Khatib LA, Sullivan NL, Winograd DM, Kolar SK, Santos SL. Healthcare providers' perceived learning needs and barriers to providing care for chronic multisymptom illness and environmental exposure concerns. Life Sci 2021; 284:119757. [PMID: 34425128 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2021.119757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Patient provider encounters for chronic multisympom illness (CMI) and/or environmental exposures are difficult often resulting in Veterans and providers having high levels of dissatisfaction. Patients attribute these difficulties to providers lacking knowledge about these health concerns. It is not known whether providers perceive themselves as lacking expertise in CMI and environmental exposure concerns. METHODS This needs assessment used a descriptive online survey design. A total of 3632 VA healthcare providers across disciplines were surveyed. RESULTS Healthcare providers reported speaking with Veterans about CMI and environmental exposures despite feeling they have minimal to no knowledge of these topics. At the same time, only half of the providers had taken an available training on CMI or environmental exposure within the last year. CONCLUSION Healthcare providers recognize a knowledge gap regarding CMI and environmental exposures, despite this, there is low uptake of provider education on these topics. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS A better understanding of barriers to uptake of training on CMI and environmental exposures is needed to increase engagement with these important trainings.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M McAndrew
- War Related Illness and Injury Study Center (WRIISC), Veterans Affairs New Jersey Health Care System, 385 Tremont Avenue, East Orange, NJ 07018, USA; Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology, University at Albany, Albany, NY 12222, USA.
| | - Linda A Khatib
- War Related Illness and Injury Study Center (WRIISC), Veterans Affairs New Jersey Health Care System, 385 Tremont Avenue, East Orange, NJ 07018, USA.
| | - Nicole L Sullivan
- War Related Illness and Injury Study Center (WRIISC), Veterans Affairs New Jersey Health Care System, 385 Tremont Avenue, East Orange, NJ 07018, USA.
| | - Darren M Winograd
- Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology, University at Albany, Albany, NY 12222, USA.
| | - Stephanie K Kolar
- Employee Education System, Veterans Health Administration Veterans Affairs, Long Beach Medical Facility, 901 East 7thStreet, Long Beach, CA 90822, USA.
| | - Susan L Santos
- War Related Illness and Injury Study Center (WRIISC), Veterans Affairs New Jersey Health Care System, 385 Tremont Avenue, East Orange, NJ 07018, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Kimono DA. Gastrointestinal problems, mechanisms and possible therapeutic directions in Gulf war illness: a mini review. Mil Med Res 2021; 8:50. [PMID: 34503577 PMCID: PMC8431926 DOI: 10.1186/s40779-021-00341-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
By its nature, Gulf war illness (GWI) is multisymptomatic and affects several organ systems in the body. Along with other symptoms, veterans who suffer from GWI commonly report chronic gastrointestinal issues such as constipation, pain, indigestion, etc. However, until recently, most attention has been focused on neurological disturbances such as cognitive impairments, chronic fatigue, and chronic pain among affected veterans. With such high prevalence of gastrointestinal problems among Gulf war (GW) veterans, it is surprising that there is little research to investigate the mechanisms behind these issues. This review summarizes all the available works on the mechanisms behind gastrointestinal problems in GWI that have been published to date in various databases. Generally, these studies, which were done in rodent models, in vitro and human cohorts propose that an altered microbiome, a reactive enteric nervous system or a leaky gut among other possible mechanisms are the major drivers of gastrointestinal problems reported in GWI. This review aims to draw attention to the gastrointestinal tract as an important player in GWI disease pathology and a potential therapeutic target.
Collapse
|
11
|
Abstract
Gulf War Illness (GWI) is estimated to have affected about one third of the Veterans who participated in the first Persian Gulf War. The symptoms of GWI include chronic neurologic impairments, chronic fatigue syndrome, as well as fibromyalgia and immune system disorders, collectively referred to as chronic multi-symptom illness. Thirty years after the war, we still do not have an effective treatment for GWI. It is necessary to understand the molecular basis of the symptoms of GWI in order to develop appropriate therapeutic strategies. Cellular energetics are critical to the maintenance of cellular homeostasis, a process that is highly dependent on intact mitochondrial function and there is significant evidence from both human studies and animal models that mitochondrial impairments may lead to GWI symptoms. The available clinical and pre-clinical data suggest that agents that improve mitochondrial function have the potential to restore cellular energetics and treat GWI. To date, the experiments conducted in animal models of GWI have mainly focused on neurobehavioral aspects of the illness. Additional studies to address the fundamental biological processes that trigger the dysregulation of cellular energetics in GWI are warranted to better understand the underlying pathology and to develop new treatment methods. This review highlights studies related to mitochondrial dysfunction observed in both GW veterans and in animal models of GWI.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Raghavan Pillai Raju
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, 30912, United States.
| | - Alvin V Terry
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, 30912, United States
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Stegner AJ, Almassi NE, Dougherty RJ, Ellingson LD, Gretzon NP, Lindheimer JB, Ninneman JV, Van Riper SM, O'Connor PJ, Cook DB. Safety and efficacy of short-term structured resistance exercise in Gulf War Veterans with chronic unexplained muscle pain: A randomized controlled trial. Life Sci 2021; 282:119810. [PMID: 34256041 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2021.119810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Revised: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain (CMP) is a primary condition of Veterans suffering from Gulf War illness. This study evaluated the influence of resistance exercise training (RET) on symptoms, mood, perception of improvement, fitness, and total physical activity in Gulf War Veterans (GWV) with CMP. MAIN METHODS Fifty-four GWV with CMP were randomly assigned to 16 weeks of RET (n = 28) or wait-list control (n = 26). Supervised exercise was performed twice weekly starting at a low intensity. Outcomes, assessed at baseline, 6, 11 and 17 weeks and 6- and 12-months post-intervention, were: pain, fatigue, mood, sleep quality, perception of improvement, and physical activity via self-report and accelerometry. Muscular strength was assessed at baseline, 8 and 16 weeks. Accelerometer data yielded estimates of time spent in sedentary, light, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activities. Analyses used separate linear mixed models with group and time point as fixed effects. All models, except for perceived improvement, included baseline values as a covariate. KEY FINDINGS Participants assigned to RET completed 87% of training sessions and exhibited strength increases between 16 and 34% for eight lifts tested (Hedges' g range: 0.47-0.78). The treatment by time interaction for perceived improvement (F1,163 = 16.94, p < 0.001) was characterized by greater perceived improvement since baseline for RET at each time point, until the 12-month follow-up. Effects were not significant for other outcomes (p > 0.05). RET caused no adverse events. SIGNIFICANCE After 16 weeks of RET, GWV with CMP reported improvements in their condition and exhibited increases in muscular strength, without symptom exacerbation or reductions in total physical activity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aaron J Stegner
- William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, WI, United States of America; University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States of America.
| | - Neda E Almassi
- William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, WI, United States of America; University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States of America
| | - Ryan J Dougherty
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
| | - Laura D Ellingson
- William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, WI, United States of America; Western Oregon University, Monmouth, OR, United States of America
| | - Nicholas P Gretzon
- William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, WI, United States of America; University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States of America
| | - Jacob B Lindheimer
- William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, WI, United States of America; University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States of America
| | - Jacob V Ninneman
- William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, WI, United States of America; University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States of America
| | - Stephanie M Van Riper
- William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, WI, United States of America; University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States of America
| | | | - Dane B Cook
- William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, WI, United States of America; University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Bloeser K, McCarron KK, Merker VL, Hyde J, Bolton RE, Anastasides N, Petrakis BA, Helmer DA, Santos S, Litke D, Pigeon WR, McAndrew LM. "Because the country, it seems though, has turned their back on me": Experiences of institutional betrayal among veterans living with Gulf War Illness. Soc Sci Med 2021; 284:114211. [PMID: 34271400 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Revised: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/03/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
People living with medically unexplained symptoms (MUS) often have poor quality of life and health outcomes. Many struggle to engage with and trust in healthcare systems. This qualitative study examined how experiences with institutions influence perceptions of medical care for MUS by applying the theoretical framework of institutional betrayal to narratives of U.S. military Veterans living with Gulf War Illness (GWI). Institutional betrayal refers to situations in which the institutions people depend upon for safety and well-being cause them harm. Experiences of institutional betrayal both during active military service and when first seeking treatment appeared to shape perceptions of healthcare in this sample. Veterans expressed the belief that the military failed to protect them from environmental exposures. Veterans' concerns regarding subsequent quality of healthcare were intrinsically linked to a belief that, despite official documentation to the contrary, the predominant paradigm of both the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is that GWI does not exist. Veterans reported that providers are not adequately trained on treatment of GWI and do not believe Veterans' descriptions of their illness. Veterans reported taking up self-advocacy, doing their own research on their condition, and resigning themselves to decrease engagement with VA healthcare or seek non-VA care. The study's findings suggest institutional level factors have a profound impact on perceptions of care and the patient-provider relationship. Future research and policy aimed at improving healthcare for people living with MUS should consider the concept of institutional betrayal.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katharine Bloeser
- The War Related Illness and Injury Study Center, The VA New Jersey Health Care System, 385 Tremont Ave. Mail Stop 129, 11th Floor, East Orange, NJ, 07018, USA; Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College, The City University of New York, NY, USA.
| | - Kelly K McCarron
- The War Related Illness and Injury Study Center, The VA New Jersey Health Care System, 385 Tremont Ave. Mail Stop 129, 11th Floor, East Orange, NJ, 07018, USA
| | - Vanessa L Merker
- Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research (CHOIR), VA Bedford Healthcare System, MA, USA
| | - Justeen Hyde
- Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research (CHOIR), VA Bedford Healthcare System, MA, USA; Boston University, Department of Medicine, Section General Internal Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Rendelle E Bolton
- Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research (CHOIR), VA Bedford Healthcare System, MA, USA; Brandeis University, Heller School for Social Policy and Management, MA, USA
| | - Nicole Anastasides
- The War Related Illness and Injury Study Center, The VA New Jersey Health Care System, 385 Tremont Ave. Mail Stop 129, 11th Floor, East Orange, NJ, 07018, USA
| | - Beth Ann Petrakis
- Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research (CHOIR), VA Bedford Healthcare System, MA, USA
| | - Drew A Helmer
- VA Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety (IQuESt), Houston, TX, USA
| | - Susan Santos
- The War Related Illness and Injury Study Center, The VA New Jersey Health Care System, 385 Tremont Ave. Mail Stop 129, 11th Floor, East Orange, NJ, 07018, USA
| | - David Litke
- The War Related Illness and Injury Study Center, The VA New Jersey Health Care System, 385 Tremont Ave. Mail Stop 129, 11th Floor, East Orange, NJ, 07018, USA
| | - Wilfred R Pigeon
- VA Center of Excellence for Suicide Prevention, Canandaigua, NY, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Lisa M McAndrew
- The War Related Illness and Injury Study Center, The VA New Jersey Health Care System, 385 Tremont Ave. Mail Stop 129, 11th Floor, East Orange, NJ, 07018, USA; Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology, University at Albany, State University of New York, NY, USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Angoa-Pérez M, Zagorac B, Francescutti DM, Theis KR, Kuhn DM. Effects of gut microbiota remodeling on the dysbiosis induced by high fat diet in a mouse model of Gulf war illness. Life Sci 2021; 279:119675. [PMID: 34081987 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2021.119675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Gulf war illness (GWI) is a chronic disorder of unknown etiology characterized by multiple symptoms such as pain, fatigue, gastrointestinal disturbances and neurocognitive problems. Increasing evidence suggests that gut microbiome perturbations play a key role in the pathology of this disorder. GWI courses with gut microbiota alterations and their metabolites (e.g. short chain fatty acids -SCFA-), which can be aggravated by lifestyle risk factors such as a high fat diet (HF). To investigate the causative role of the gut microbiome, non-absorbable antibiotics (Abx) were administered to mice treated with GWI agents and concomitantly fed with a HF. In light of the wide use of Abx as pseudo-germ-free models, we evaluated the effects of Abx exposure on GWI and HF on body weight, food intake, gut microbiota changes and levels of the SCFA acetate. Results show that HF decreased food intake while increasing body weight in both controls and GWI. Exposure to Abx prevented these HF effects by offsetting the body weight gain in GWI. GWI and HF led to decreases in α-diversity, disruptions in the composition and structure of the gut bacterial community and decreases in acetate levels. This Abx-induced remodeling of the gut microbiome was characterized by an expansion of Proteobacteria, decreases in Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes, and overall increases in acetate levels, as well as by the proliferation of potential pathobionts. Therefore, the use of Abx may not represent a dependable approach to deplete the gut microbiome and its advantages as a pseudo germ-free model warrant further investigation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Angoa-Pérez
- Research and Development Service, John D. Dingell VA Medical Center, Detroit, MI, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA.
| | - Branislava Zagorac
- Research and Development Service, John D. Dingell VA Medical Center, Detroit, MI, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Dina M Francescutti
- Research and Development Service, John D. Dingell VA Medical Center, Detroit, MI, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Kevin R Theis
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA; Perinatal Research Initiative in Maternal, Perinatal and Child Health, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Donald M Kuhn
- Research and Development Service, John D. Dingell VA Medical Center, Detroit, MI, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Venkatasamy L, Nizamutdinov D, Jenkins J, Shapiro LA. Vagus Nerve Stimulation Ameliorates Cognitive Impairment and Increased Hippocampal Astrocytes in a Mouse Model of Gulf War Illness. Neurosci Insights 2021; 16:26331055211018456. [PMID: 34104886 PMCID: PMC8165814 DOI: 10.1177/26331055211018456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Gulf war illness (GWI), is a chronic multi-symptom illness that has impacted approximately one-third of the veterans who served in the 1990 to 1991 Gulf War. GWI symptoms include cognitive impairments (eg, memory and concentration problems), headaches, migraines, fatigue, gastrointestinal and respiratory issues, as well as emotional deficits. The exposure to neurological chemicals such as the anti-nerve gas drug, pyridostigmine bromide (PB), and the insecticide permethrin (PER), may contribute to the etiologically related factors of GWI. Various studies utilizing mouse models of GWI have reported the interplay of these chemical agents in increasing neuroinflammation and cognitive dysfunction. Astrocytes are involved in the secretion of neuroinflammatory cytokines and chemokines in pathological conditions and have been implicated in GWI symptomology. We hypothesized that exposure to PB and PER causes lasting changes to hippocampal astrocytes, concurrent with chronic cognitive deficits that can be reversed by cervical vagus nerve stimulation (VNS). GWI was induced in CD1 mice by injecting the mixture of PER (200 mg/kg) and PB (2 mg/kg), i.p. for 10 consecutive days. VNS stimulators were implanted at 33 weeks after GWI induction. The results show age-related cognitive alterations at approximately 9 months after exposure to PB and PER. The results also showed an increased number of GFAP-labeled astrocytes in the hippocampus and dentate gyrus that was ameliorated by VNS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lavanya Venkatasamy
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Texas A&M University, Bryan, TX, USA
| | - Damir Nizamutdinov
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Texas A&M University, Bryan, TX, USA
| | - Jaclyn Jenkins
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Texas A&M University, Bryan, TX, USA
| | - Lee A Shapiro
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Texas A&M University, Bryan, TX, USA
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Malhotra B, Dieterich-Hartwell R, DeBeer B, Burns C, Kaimal G. Collage-based graphic elicitation method for capturing the lived experiences of veterans with Gulf War illness. Life Sci 2021; 284:119656. [PMID: 34043995 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2021.119656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Revised: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Graphic elicitation is an emergent data gathering approach in qualitative research. An overview of the development and application of a collage based graphic elicitation method in gaining greater understanding about the experience of Gulf War Illness (GWI) is presented in this paper. The unique contributions of this method are also discussed. MAIN METHODS Fourteen veterans with GWI were interviewed and then invited to represent their experiences in a visual format through a collage graphic elicitation task. Interviews and collage artworks were coded and compared to both verbal and art responses during the graphic elicitation process. KEY FINDINGS Comparison of the content in the interview responses and collage artwork indicates that the graphic elicitation process resulted in three distinct responses: (1) Synthesis and confirmation of content articulated in the interviews, (2) focus on salient aspects of living with GWI, and (3) revealing previously unarticulated experiences. SIGNIFICANCE This work demonstrates the unique contributions of collage graphic elicitation, including allowing for spontaneity, metaphorical thinking, enriching verbal explication, and uncovering lived experiences and new affective responses. The sample size was too small to make any generalizations, and more research is needed to further validate these initial findings.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bani Malhotra
- Department of Creative Arts Therapies, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America.
| | | | - Bryann DeBeer
- Rocky Mountain Mental Illness, Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC) for Suicide Prevention, Rocky Mountain Regional VHA Medical Center, Aurora, CO and Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States of America
| | - Christina Burns
- Independent Researcher, 4408D Lakeshore Drive, Waco, TX 76710
| | - Girija Kaimal
- Department of Creative Arts Therapies, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Chao LL, Kanady JC, Crocker N, Straus LD, Hlavin J, Metzler TJ, Maguen S, Neylan TC. Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia in veterans with gulf war illness: Results from a randomized controlled trial. Life Sci 2021; 279:119147. [PMID: 33549595 PMCID: PMC8217272 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2021.119147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Revised: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Aims: To examine whether cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), delivered by telephone, improves sleep and non-sleep symptoms of Gulf War Illness (GWI). Main methods: Eighty-five Gulf War veterans (21 women, mean age: 54 years, range 46–72 years) who met the Kansas GWI case definition, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) case definition for Chronic Multisymptom Illness (CMI), and research diagnostic criteria for insomnia disorder were randomly assigned to CBT-I or monitor-only wait list control. Eight weekly sessions of individual CBT-I were administered via telephone by Ph.D. level psychologists to study participants. Outcome measures included pre-, mid-, and post-treatment assessments of GWI and insomnia symptoms, subjective sleep quality, and continuous sleep monitoring with diary. Outcomes were re-assessed 6-months post-treatment in participants randomized to CBT-I. Key findings: Compared to wait list, CBT-I produced significant improvements in overall GWI symptom severity, individual measures of fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, depression and anxiety, insomnia severity, subjective sleep quality, and sleep diary outcome measures. The beneficial effects of CBT-I on overall GWI symptom severity and most individual GWI symptom measures were maintained 6-months after treatment. Significance: GWI symptoms have historically been difficult to treat. Because CBT-I, which is associated with low stigma and is increasingly readily available to veterans, improved both sleep and non-sleep symptoms of GWI, these results suggest that a comprehensive approach to the treatment of GWI should include behavioral sleep interventions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Linda L Chao
- San Francisco Veterans Affairs Health Care System, San Francisco, CA 94121, USA; University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
| | | | - Nicole Crocker
- San Francisco Veterans Affairs Health Care System, San Francisco, CA 94121, USA
| | - Laura D Straus
- San Francisco Veterans Affairs Health Care System, San Francisco, CA 94121, USA; University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Sierra Pacific Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, San Francisco, CA 94121, USA
| | - Jennifer Hlavin
- San Francisco Veterans Affairs Health Care System, San Francisco, CA 94121, USA
| | - Thomas J Metzler
- San Francisco Veterans Affairs Health Care System, San Francisco, CA 94121, USA; University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Sierra Pacific Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, San Francisco, CA 94121, USA
| | - Shira Maguen
- San Francisco Veterans Affairs Health Care System, San Francisco, CA 94121, USA; University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Sierra Pacific Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, San Francisco, CA 94121, USA
| | - Thomas C Neylan
- San Francisco Veterans Affairs Health Care System, San Francisco, CA 94121, USA; University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Sierra Pacific Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, San Francisco, CA 94121, USA
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Wang X, Xu Z, Zhao F, Lin KJ, Foster JB, Xiao T, Kung N, Askwith CC, Bruno JP, Valentini V, Hodgetts KJ, Lin CLG. Restoring tripartite glutamatergic synapses: A potential therapy for mood and cognitive deficits in Gulf War illness. Neurobiol Stress 2020; 13:100240. [PMID: 33344696 PMCID: PMC7739039 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2020.100240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2020] [Revised: 07/05/2020] [Accepted: 07/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Gulf War illness is associated with a combination of exposure to war-related chemical agents and traumatic stress. Currently, there are no effective treatments, and the pathophysiology remains elusive. Neurological problems are among the most commonly reported symptoms. In this study, we investigated the glutamatergic system in the hippocampi of mice exposed to war-related chemical agents and stress. Mice developed Gulf War illness-like symptoms, including mood deficits, cognitive impairments, and fatigue. They exhibited the following pathological changes in hippocampi: elevated extracellular glutamate levels, impaired glutamatergic synapses, astrocyte atrophy, loss of interneurons, and decreased neurogenesis. LDN/OSU-215111 is a small-molecule that can strengthen the structure and function of both the astrocytic processes and the glutamatergic synapses that together form the tripartite synapses. We found that LDN/OSU-215111 effectively prevented the development of mood and cognitive deficits in mice when treatment was implemented immediately following the exposure. Moreover, when symptoms were already present, LDN/OSU-215111 still significantly ameliorated these deficits; impressively, benefits were sustained one month after treatment cessation, indicating disease modification. LDN/OSU-215111 effectively normalized hippocampal pathological changes. Overall, this study provides strong evidence that restoration of tripartite glutamatergic synapses by LDN/OSU-215111 is a potential therapy for Gulf War illness. Exposure to Gulf War-related agents and stress causes long-term hippocampal glutamatergic synapses impairment. LDN/OSU-215111, a small-molecule that enhances tripartite synapses, normalizes hippocampal deficits in a mouse model of GWI. LDN/OSU-215111 effectively ameliorates mood deficits, cognitive impairments, and fatigue in a mouse model of GWI.
Collapse
Key Words
- BBB, Blood brain barrier
- CA, Cornu ammonis
- DCX, Doublecortin
- DEET, N, N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide
- DG, Dentate gyrus
- EAAT2, Excitatory amino acid transporter 2
- GABA, γ-aminobutyric acid
- GFAP, glial fibrillary acidic protein
- GWI, gulf war illness
- Gulf war illness
- LTP, Long term potentiation
- Mood deficits and cognitive impairments
- PB, Pyridostigmine bromide
- PSD95, Postsynaptic density protein 95
- PV, Parvalbumin
- TBS, Theta burst stimulation
- Therapy
- Traumatic stress
- Tripartite glutamatergic synapses
- fEPSP, field excitatory postsynaptic potentials
- sEPSC/mEPSC, Spontaneous/miniature excitatory postsynaptic current
- sIPSC/mIPSC, Spontaneous/miniature inhibitory postsynaptic current
- vGAT, Vesicular inhibitory amino acid transporter
- vGLUT1, Vesicular glutamate transporter 1
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xueqin Wang
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Zan Xu
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Fangli Zhao
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Kuanhung J Lin
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Joshua B Foster
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Tianqi Xiao
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Nydia Kung
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Candice C Askwith
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - John P Bruno
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.,Department of Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Valentina Valentini
- Department of Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Italy
| | - Kevin J Hodgetts
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Chien-Liang Glenn Lin
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Joshi U, Evans JE, Pearson A, Saltiel N, Cseresznye A, Darcey T, Ojo J, Keegan AP, Oberlin S, Mouzon B, Paris D, Klimas N, Sullivan K, Mullan M, Crawford F, Abdullah L. Targeting sirtuin activity with nicotinamide riboside reduces neuroinflammation in a GWI mouse model. Neurotoxicology 2020; 79:84-94. [PMID: 32343995 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2020.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2020] [Revised: 03/26/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Gulf War Illness (GWI) affects 30% of veterans from the 1991 Gulf War (GW), who suffer from symptoms that reflect ongoing mitochondria dysfunction. Brain mitochondria bioenergetics dysfunction in GWI animal models corresponds with astroglia activation and neuroinflammation. In a pilot study of GW veterans (n = 43), we observed that blood nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and sirtuin 1 (Sirt1) protein levels were decreased in the blood of veterans with GWI compared to healthy GW veterans. Since nicotinamide riboside (NR)-mediated targeting of Sirt1 is shown to improve mitochondria function, we tested whether NR can restore brain bioenergetics and reduce neuroinflammation in a GWI mouse model. We administered a mouse diet supplemented with NR at 100μg/kg daily for 2-months to GWI and control mice (n = 27). During treatment, mice were assessed for fatigue-type behavior using the Forced Swim Test (FST), followed by euthanasia for biochemistry and immunohistochemistry analyses. Fatigue-type behavior was elevated in GWI mice compared to control mice and lower in GWI mice treated with NR compared to untreated GWI mice. Levels of plasma NAD and brain Sirt1 were low in untreated GWI mice, while GWI mice treated with NR had higher levels, similar to those of control mice. Deacetylation of the nuclear-factor κB (NFκB) p65 subunit and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-α (PGC-1α) was an increase in the brains of NR-treated GWI mice. This corresponded with a decrease in pro-inflammatory cytokines and lipid peroxidation and an increase in markers of mitochondrial bioenergetics in the brains of GWI mice. These findings suggest that targeting NR mediated Sirt1 activation restores brain bioenergetics and reduces inflammation in GWI mice. Further evaluation of NR in GWI is warranted to determine its potential efficacy in treating GWI.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Utsav Joshi
- Roskamp Institute, 2040 Whitfield Ave, Sarasota, FL, 34243, United States; Open University, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom; James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital, Tampa, Florida, United States
| | - James E Evans
- Roskamp Institute, 2040 Whitfield Ave, Sarasota, FL, 34243, United States; James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital, Tampa, Florida, United States
| | - Andrew Pearson
- Roskamp Institute, 2040 Whitfield Ave, Sarasota, FL, 34243, United States; Open University, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom; James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital, Tampa, Florida, United States
| | - Nicole Saltiel
- Roskamp Institute, 2040 Whitfield Ave, Sarasota, FL, 34243, United States; James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital, Tampa, Florida, United States
| | - Adam Cseresznye
- Roskamp Institute, 2040 Whitfield Ave, Sarasota, FL, 34243, United States; James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital, Tampa, Florida, United States
| | - Teresa Darcey
- Roskamp Institute, 2040 Whitfield Ave, Sarasota, FL, 34243, United States; James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital, Tampa, Florida, United States
| | - Joseph Ojo
- Roskamp Institute, 2040 Whitfield Ave, Sarasota, FL, 34243, United States; James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital, Tampa, Florida, United States
| | - Andrew P Keegan
- Roskamp Institute, 2040 Whitfield Ave, Sarasota, FL, 34243, United States; James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital, Tampa, Florida, United States
| | - Sarah Oberlin
- Roskamp Institute, 2040 Whitfield Ave, Sarasota, FL, 34243, United States
| | - Benoit Mouzon
- Roskamp Institute, 2040 Whitfield Ave, Sarasota, FL, 34243, United States; Open University, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom; James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital, Tampa, Florida, United States
| | - Daniel Paris
- Roskamp Institute, 2040 Whitfield Ave, Sarasota, FL, 34243, United States; Open University, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom; James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital, Tampa, Florida, United States
| | - Nancy Klimas
- Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, United States
| | - Kimberly Sullivan
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Michael Mullan
- Roskamp Institute, 2040 Whitfield Ave, Sarasota, FL, 34243, United States; Open University, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
| | - Fiona Crawford
- Roskamp Institute, 2040 Whitfield Ave, Sarasota, FL, 34243, United States; Open University, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom; James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital, Tampa, Florida, United States
| | - Laila Abdullah
- Roskamp Institute, 2040 Whitfield Ave, Sarasota, FL, 34243, United States; Open University, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom; James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital, Tampa, Florida, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Michalovicz LT, Kelly KA, Sullivan K, O'Callaghan JP. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitor exposures as an initiating factor in the development of Gulf War Illness, a chronic neuroimmune disorder in deployed veterans. Neuropharmacology 2020; 171:108073. [PMID: 32247728 PMCID: PMC7398580 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2020.108073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2019] [Revised: 02/26/2020] [Accepted: 03/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Gulf War Illness (GWI) is a chronic multi-symptom disorder, characterized by symptoms such as fatigue, pain, cognitive and memory impairment, respiratory, skin and gastrointestinal problems, that is experienced by approximately one-third of 1991 Gulf War veterans. Over the nearly three decades since the end of the war, investigators have worked to elucidate the initiating factors and underlying causes of GWI. A significant portion of this research has indicated a strong correlation between GWI and exposure to a number of different acetycholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs) in theater, such as sarin and cyclosarin nerve agents, chlorpyrifos and dichlorvos pesticides, and the anti-nerve agent prophylactic pyridostigmine bromide. Through studying these exposures and their relationship to the symptoms presented by ill veterans, it has become increasingly apparent that GWI is the likely result of an underlying neuroimmune disorder. While evidence indicates that AChEIs are a key exposure in the development of GWI, particularly organophosphate AChEIs, the mechanism(s) by which these chemicals instigate illness appears to be related to "off-target", non-cholinergic effects. In this review, we will discuss the role of AChEI exposure in the development and persistence of GWI; in particular, how these chemicals, combined with other exposures, have led to a chronic neuroimmune disorder. This article is part of the special issue entitled 'Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors: From Bench to Bedside to Battlefield'.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay T Michalovicz
- Health Effects Laboratory Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Kimberly A Kelly
- Health Effects Laboratory Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | | | - James P O'Callaghan
- Health Effects Laboratory Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Bjørklund G, Pivina L, Dadar M, Semenova Y, Rahman MM, Chirumbolo S, Aaseth J. Depleted uranium and Gulf War Illness: Updates and comments on possible mechanisms behind the syndrome. Environ Res 2020; 181:108927. [PMID: 31796256 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.108927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2019] [Revised: 11/13/2019] [Accepted: 11/14/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Indications of proximal tubule effects have been observed in recent surveillance study of Gulf War veterans exposed to depleted uranium (DU). This gives some support for the suspicion that DU may represent one of the causes for the so-called Persian Gulf syndrome. Proposed effects may be especially harmful if the toxicity hits the mitochondrial DNA since the mitochondria lack the nucleotide excision repair mechanism, which is needed for repairing bulky adducts that have been associated with DU. It is a plausible working hypothesis that a significant part of the symptoms from various organs, which have been observed among veterans from Gulf War 1 and that have been grouped under the name of the Persian Gulf syndrome, may be explained as a consequence of mitochondrial DNA damage in various cell types and organs. Interpretation of observations, on military personnel and civilians after Gulf War 1, is associated with difficulties because of the abundance of potential confounding factors. The symptoms observed on veterans from Gulf War 1 may be attributed to a multiplicity of substances functioning directly or indirectly as mitochondrial mutagens. A concise analysis of the cascade of toxic effects initiated by DU exposure in the human body is the subject of this article.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Geir Bjørklund
- Council for Nutritional and Environmental Medicine (CONEM), Mo i Rana, Norway.
| | - Lyudmila Pivina
- Semey Medical University, Semey, Kazakhstan; CONEM Kazakhstan Environmental Health and Safety Research Group, Semey Medical University, Semey, Kazakhstan
| | - Maryam Dadar
- Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran
| | - Yuliya Semenova
- Semey Medical University, Semey, Kazakhstan; CONEM Kazakhstan Environmental Health and Safety Research Group, Semey Medical University, Semey, Kazakhstan
| | - Md Mostafizur Rahman
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Salvatore Chirumbolo
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy; CONEM Scientific Secretary, Verona, Italy
| | - Jan Aaseth
- Research Department, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Brumunddal, Norway; IM Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Naughton SX, Beck WD, Wei Z, Wu G, Terry AV Jr. Multifunctional compounds lithium chloride and methylene Blue attenuate the negative effects of diisopropylfluorophosphate on axonal transport in rat cortical neurons. Toxicology 2020; 431:152379. [PMID: 31962143 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2020.152379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2019] [Revised: 01/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Organophosphates (OPs) are valuable as pesticides in agriculture and for controlling deadly vector-borne illnesses; however, they are highly toxic and associated with many deleterious health effects in humans including long-term neurological impairments. Antidotal treatment regimens are available to combat the symptoms of acute OP toxicity, which result from the irreversible inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE). However, there are no established treatments for the long-term neurological consequences of OP exposure. In addition to AChE, OPs can negatively affect multiple protein targets as well as biological processes such as axonal transport. Given the fundamental nature of axonal transport to neuronal health, we rationalized that this process might serve as a general focus area for novel therapeutic strategies against OP toxicity. In the studies described here, we employed a multi-target, phenotypic screening, and drug repurposing strategy for the evaluations of potential novel OP-treatments using a primary neuronal culture model and time-lapse live imaging microscopy. Two multi-target compounds, lithium chloride (LiCl) and methylene blue (MB), which are FDA-approved for other indications, were evaluated for their ability to prevent the negative effects of the OP, diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP) on axonal transport. The results indicated that both LiCl and MB prevented DFP-induced impairments in anterograde and retrograde axonal transport velocities in a concentration dependent manner. While in vivo studies will be required to confirm our in vitro findings, these experiments support the potential of LiCl and MB as repurposed drugs for the treatment of the long-term neurological deficits associated with OP exposure (currently an unmet medical need).
Collapse
|
23
|
Holodniy M, Kaiser JD. Treatment for Gulf War Illness (GWI) with KPAX002 (methylphenidate hydrochloride + GWI nutrient formula) in subjects meeting the Kansas case definition: A prospective, open-label trial. J Psychiatr Res 2019; 118:14-20. [PMID: 31446218 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2019.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2019] [Revised: 08/03/2019] [Accepted: 08/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
This study tested the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of KPAX002-a combination of methylphenidate hydrochloride plus a micronutrient formula designed to support mitochondrial function-as a treatment for Gulf War Illness (GWI). This open-label trial enrolled 17 subjects meeting the Kansas case definition for GWI. Of the 17 subjects enrolled, 15 qualified for the Intent-to-Treat (ITT) population with 10 subjects completing the trial per protocol. All analyses were on the ITT population. At 12 weeks, subjects taking KPAX002 experienced a mean 25% reduction in their overall GWI symptoms severity as measured by the GWI Symptoms Assessment Tool (SAT) (p < 0.001). Visual analog scale scores were also significantly reduced for fatigue (p = 0.019), cognitive symptoms (p = 0.006), sleep problems (p = 0.026), and pain (p = 0.05). Twelve weeks of KPAX002 administration resulted in a significant improvement in GWI symptoms with an acceptable side effect profile. A larger randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial is necessary to determine if the observed benefit can be replicated.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mark Holodniy
- Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, USA; Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Jon D Kaiser
- K-PAX Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Mill Valley, CA, USA; University of California San Francisco Medical School, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Seth RK, Maqsood R, Mondal A, Bose D, Kimono D, Holland LA, Janulewicz Lloyd P, Klimas N, Horner RD, Sullivan K, Lim ES, Chatterjee S. Gut DNA Virome Diversity and Its Association with Host Bacteria Regulate Inflammatory Phenotype and Neuronal Immunotoxicity in Experimental Gulf War Illness. Viruses 2019; 11:E968. [PMID: 31640184 DOI: 10.3390/v11100968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2019] [Revised: 10/17/2019] [Accepted: 10/17/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Gulf War illness (GWI) is characterized by the persistence of inflammatory bowel disease, chronic fatigue, neuroinflammation, headache, cognitive impairment, and other medically unexplained conditions. Results using a murine model show that enteric viral populations especially bacteriophages were altered in GWI. The increased viral richness and alpha diversity correlated positively with gut bacterial dysbiosis and proinflammatory cytokines. Altered virome signature in GWI mice also had a concomitant weakening of intestinal epithelial tight junctions with a significant increase in Claudin-2 protein expression and decrease in ZO1 and Occludin mRNA expression. The altered virome signature in GWI, decreased tight junction protein level was followed by the presence an activation of innate immune responses such as increased Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling pathways. The altered virome diversity had a positive correlation with serum IL-6, IL-1β, and IFN-γ, intestinal inflammation (IFN-γ), and decreased Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), a neurogenesis marker. The co-exposure of Gulf War chemical and antibiotic (for gut sterility) or Gulf War chemical and Ribavirin, an antiviral compound to suppress virus alteration in the gut showed significant improvement in epithelial tight junction protein, decreased intestinal-, systemic-, and neuroinflammation. These results showed that the observed enteric viral dysbiosis could activate enteric viral particle-induced innate immune response in GWI and could be a novel therapeutic target in GWI.
Collapse
|
25
|
Anastasides N, Chiusano C, Gonzalez C, Graff F, Litke DR, McDonald E, Presnall-Shvorin J, Sullivan N, Quigley KS, Pigeon WR, Helmer DA, Santos SL, McAndrew LM. Helpful ways providers can communicate about persistent medically unexplained physical symptoms. BMC Fam Pract 2019; 20:13. [PMID: 30651073 PMCID: PMC6334465 DOI: 10.1186/s12875-018-0881-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2018] [Accepted: 11/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Communication between patients and providers about persistent "medically unexplained" physical symptoms (MUS) is characterized by discordance. While the difficulties are well documented, few studies have examined effective communication. We sought to determine what veterans with Gulf War Illness (GWI) perceive as the most helpful communication from their providers. Veterans with GWI, a type of MUS, have historically had complex relationships with medical providers. Determining effective communication for patients with particularly complex relationships may help identify the most critical communication elements for all patients with MUS. METHODS Two hundred and-ten veterans with GWI were asked, in a written questionnaire, what was the most useful thing a medical provider had told them about their GWI. Responses were coded into three categories with 10 codes. RESULTS The most prevalent helpful communication reported by patients was when the provider offered acknowledgement and validation (N = 70). Specific recommendations for managing GWI or its symptoms (N = 48) were also commonly reported to be helpful. In contrast, about a third of the responses indicated that nothing about the communication was helpful (N = 63). There were not differences in severity of symptoms, disability or healthcare utilization between patients who found acknowledgement and validation, specific recommendations or nothing helpful. CONCLUSIONS Previous research has documented the discord between patients and providers regarding MUS. This study suggests that most patients are able to identify something helpful a provider has said, particularly acknowledgement and validation and specific treatment recommendations. The findings also highlight missed communication opportunities with a third of patients not finding anything helpful.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Anastasides
- War Related Illness and Injury Study Center, Veterans Affairs New Jersey Health Care System, 385 Tremont Avenue, East Orange, NJ, 07018, USA
| | - Carmelen Chiusano
- War Related Illness and Injury Study Center, Veterans Affairs New Jersey Health Care System, 385 Tremont Avenue, East Orange, NJ, 07018, USA
| | - Christina Gonzalez
- War Related Illness and Injury Study Center, Veterans Affairs New Jersey Health Care System, 385 Tremont Avenue, East Orange, NJ, 07018, USA
| | - Fiona Graff
- War Related Illness and Injury Study Center, Veterans Affairs New Jersey Health Care System, 385 Tremont Avenue, East Orange, NJ, 07018, USA
| | - David R Litke
- War Related Illness and Injury Study Center, Veterans Affairs New Jersey Health Care System, 385 Tremont Avenue, East Orange, NJ, 07018, USA
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Erica McDonald
- War Related Illness and Injury Study Center, Veterans Affairs New Jersey Health Care System, 385 Tremont Avenue, East Orange, NJ, 07018, USA
| | - Jennifer Presnall-Shvorin
- War Related Illness and Injury Study Center, Veterans Affairs New Jersey Health Care System, 385 Tremont Avenue, East Orange, NJ, 07018, USA
| | - Nicole Sullivan
- War Related Illness and Injury Study Center, Veterans Affairs New Jersey Health Care System, 385 Tremont Avenue, East Orange, NJ, 07018, USA
| | - Karen S Quigley
- Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial VA Hospital, Bedford, 01730, MA, USA
- Department of Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, 02115, MA, USA
| | - Wilfred R Pigeon
- Center of Excellence for Suicide Prevention, Canandaigua VA Medical Center, Canandaigua, NY, USA
| | - Drew A Helmer
- War Related Illness and Injury Study Center, Veterans Affairs New Jersey Health Care System, 385 Tremont Avenue, East Orange, NJ, 07018, USA
| | - Susan L Santos
- War Related Illness and Injury Study Center, Veterans Affairs New Jersey Health Care System, 385 Tremont Avenue, East Orange, NJ, 07018, USA
| | - Lisa M McAndrew
- War Related Illness and Injury Study Center, Veterans Affairs New Jersey Health Care System, 385 Tremont Avenue, East Orange, NJ, 07018, USA.
- Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology, University at Albany, 1400 Washington Ave Ext, Albany, NY, 12222, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Michalovicz LT, Locker AR, Kelly KA, Miller JV, Barnes Z, Fletcher MA, Miller DB, Klimas NG, Morris M, Lasley SM, O'Callaghan JP. Corticosterone and pyridostigmine/DEET exposure attenuate peripheral cytokine expression: Supporting a dominant role for neuroinflammation in a mouse model of Gulf War Illness. Neurotoxicology 2018; 70:26-32. [PMID: 30339781 PMCID: PMC6533534 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2018.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2018] [Revised: 09/24/2018] [Accepted: 10/11/2018] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Gulf War Illness (GWI) is a chronic multi-symptom disorder experienced by as many as a third of the veterans of the 1991 Gulf War; the constellation of “sickness behavior” symptoms observed in ill veterans is suggestive of a neuroimmune involvement. Various chemical exposures and conditions in theater have been implicated in the etiology of the illness. Previously, we found that GW-related organophosphates (OPs), such as the sarin surrogate, DFP, and chlorpyrifos, cause neuroinflammation. The combination of these exposures with exogenous corticosterone (CORT), mimicking high physiological stress, exacerbates the observed neuroinflammation. The potential relationship between the effects of OPs and CORT on the brain versus inflammation in the periphery has not been explored. Here, using our established GWI mouse model, we investigated the effects of CORT and DFP exposure, with or without a chronic application of pyridostigmine bromide (PB) and N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET), on cytokines in the liver and serum. While CORT primed DFP-induced neuroinflammation, this effect was largely absent in the periphery. Moreover, the changes found in the peripheral tissues do not correlate with the previously reported neuroinflammation. These results not only support GWI as a neuroimmune disorder, but also highlight the separation between central and peripheral effects of these exposures.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay T Michalovicz
- Health Effects Laboratory Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Alicia R Locker
- Health Effects Laboratory Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Kimberly A Kelly
- Health Effects Laboratory Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Julie V Miller
- Health Effects Laboratory Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Zachary Barnes
- Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA; Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Mary Ann Fletcher
- Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA; Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Diane B Miller
- Health Effects Laboratory Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Nancy G Klimas
- Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA; Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Mariana Morris
- Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA
| | - Stephen M Lasley
- Department of Cancer Biology & Pharmacology, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria, Peoria, IL, USA
| | - James P O'Callaghan
- Health Effects Laboratory Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Naughton SX, Terry AV. Neurotoxicity in acute and repeated organophosphate exposure. Toxicology 2018; 408:101-112. [PMID: 30144465 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2018.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 141] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2018] [Revised: 08/03/2018] [Accepted: 08/21/2018] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
The term organophosphate (OP) refers to a diverse group of chemicals that are found in hundreds of products worldwide. As pesticides, their most common use, OPs are clearly beneficial for agricultural productivity and the control of deadly vector-borne illnesses. However, as a consequence of their widespread use, OPs are now among the most common synthetic chemicals detected in the environment as well as in animal and human tissues. This is an increasing environmental concern because many OPs are highly toxic and both accidental and intentional exposures to OPs resulting in deleterious health effects have been documented for decades. Some of these deleterious health effects include a variety of long-term neurological and psychiatric disturbances including impairments in attention, memory, and other domains of cognition. Moreover, some chronic illnesses that manifest these symptoms such as Gulf War Illness and Aerotoxic Syndrome have (at least in part) been attributed to OP exposure. In addition to acute acetylcholinesterase inhibition, OPs may affect a number of additional targets that lead to oxidative stress, axonal transport deficits, neuroinflammation, and autoimmunity. Some of these targets could be exploited for therapeutic purposes. The purpose of this review is thus to: 1) describe the important uses of organophosphate (OP)-based compounds worldwide, 2) provide an overview of the various risks and toxicology associated with OP exposure, particularly long-term neurologic and psychiatric symptoms, 3) discuss mechanisms of OP toxicity beyond cholinesterase inhibition, 4) review potential therapeutic strategies to reverse the acute toxicity and long term deleterious effects of OPs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sean X Naughton
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, 30912, Georgia
| | - Alvin V Terry
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, 30912, Georgia.
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Carreras I, Aytan N, Mellott T, Choi JK, Lehar M, Crabtree L, Leite-Morris K, Jenkins BG, Blusztajn JK, Dedeoglu A. Anxiety, neuroinflammation, cholinergic and GABAergic abnormalities are early markers of Gulf War illness in a mouse model of the disease. Brain Res 2018; 1681:34-43. [PMID: 29277710 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2017.12.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2017] [Revised: 12/18/2017] [Accepted: 12/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Gulf War Illness (GWI) is a chronic disease that affects the 1991 Gulf War (GW) veterans for which treatment is lacking. It has been hypothesized that drugs used to protect military personnel from chemical attacks and insects during the war: pyridostigmine bromide (PB),N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET), and permethrin (PER) together with stress may have contributed collectively and synergistically to generate GWI. There is a need to find markers of pathology to be used in pre-clinical trials. For this purpose we employed a previously validated mouse model of GWI evoked by daily exposure to PB (1.3 mg/kg), DEET (40 mg/kg), PER (0.13 mg/kg), and 5 min of restraint stress for 28 days to analyze behavior, brain pathology and neurochemical outcomes three months later. GWI-model mice were characterized by increased anxiety, decreased hippocampal levels of N-acetyl aspartate, GABA, the GABA-producing enzyme GAD-67 and microglial activation. We also observed that GWI model was sexually dimorphic on some measures: males had increased while females had decreased protein levels of the acetylcholine-synthesizing enzyme, choline acetyltransferase, in the septum and hippocampus and decreased levels of the receptor for brain-derived neurotrophic factor, TrkB140, in the hippocampus. Increased hippocampal levels of nerve growth factor were detected in males only. Together the data show behavioral and neuropathological abnormalities detected at 3 months post-exposure and that some of them are sexually dimorphic. Future preclinical studies for GWI may take advantage of this short latency model and should include both males and females as their response to treatment may differ.
Collapse
|
29
|
Gao J, Naughton SX, Beck WD, Hernandez CM, Wu G, Wei Z, Yang X, Bartlett MG, Terry AV. Chlorpyrifos and chlorpyrifos oxon impair the transport of membrane bound organelles in rat cortical axons. Neurotoxicology 2017; 62:111-123. [PMID: 28600141 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2017.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2016] [Revised: 06/02/2017] [Accepted: 06/02/2017] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Chlorpyrifos (CPF) is an extensively used organophosphorus pesticide that has recently come under increasing scrutiny due to environmental health concerns particularly its association with neurodevelopmental defects. While the insecticidal actions and acute toxicity of CPF are attributed to its oxon metabolite (CPO) which potently inhibits the cholinergic enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE), there is significant evidence that CPF, CPO, and other organophosphates may affect a variety of neuronal targets and processes that are not directly related to AChE. Previously, in adult rat sciatic nerves ex vivo and postnatal neurons from rats in vitro we observed that CPF and CPO impaired the movements of vesicles and mitochondria in axons. Here, in embryonic neurons from rats in culture, we evaluated 24h exposures to CPF and CPO across picomolar to micromolar concentrations for effects on fast axonal transport of membrane bound organelles (MBOs) that contained the amyloid precursor protein (APP) tagged with the fluorescent marker, Dendra2 (APPDendra2). The most notable observations of this study were concentration-dependent decreases in the velocity and percentage of MBOs moving in the anterograde direction, an increase in the number of stationary MBOs, and an increased frequency of pauses associated with both CPF and CPO. These effects occurred at concentrations that did not significantly inhibit AChE activity, they were not blocked by cholinergic receptor antagonists, and they were not associated with compromised cell viability. These effects of CPF and CPO may be significant given the importance of axonal transport to neuronal development as well the function of fully developed neurons.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jie Gao
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, 30912, Georgia
| | - Sean X Naughton
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, 30912, Georgia
| | - Wayne D Beck
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, 30912, Georgia
| | - Caterina M Hernandez
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, 30912, Georgia
| | - Guangyu Wu
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, 30912, Georgia
| | - Zhe Wei
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, 30912, Georgia
| | - Xiangkun Yang
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, The University of Georgia College of Pharmacy, 250 W. Green Street, Athens, 30602, Georgia
| | - Michael G Bartlett
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, The University of Georgia College of Pharmacy, 250 W. Green Street, Athens, 30602, Georgia
| | - Alvin V Terry
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, 30912, Georgia.
| |
Collapse
|