5-HTT genotype and inertia of negative affect in adolescents and young adults from the general population

The study aims to replicate the previous found association of 5-HTTLPR and inertia of negative affect in daily life of adolescents and young adults. Data of 877 adolescents (aged 14–21 years) of the Behavior and Mind Health (BeMIND) study (epidemiological cohort study, Dresden, Germany) were genotyped for 5-HTTLPR/rs25531, grouped into SS/SL_G/SL_A/L_GL_A/L_GL_G vs. L_AL_A, and provided ratings on negative affect items, depression and anxiety (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System) eight times a day over 4 days. Multilevel regression models did not reveal an association of 5-HTTLPR genotype and inertia of negative affect, nor associations with inertia of anxiety or depression. Inertia of negative affect seems not to be a psychological mechanism through which 5-HTTLPR acts on psychopathology.

Attachment representations, patterns of emotion regulation, and social exclusion in patients with chronic and episodic depression and healthy controls

BACKGROUND

The experience of social exclusion (ostracism) is linked to the etiology and maintenance of depression. Most individuals experience emotional stress in states of social exclusion. Insecurely attached individuals, especially with an unresolved trauma, show maladaptive coping in response to social stress. The present study examines (a) the differences with regards to attachment representations in episodic (ED) and chronic depressive (CD) inpatients and (b) how ostracism affects their emotional reactions.

METHODS

Patients with CD (n=29) and ED (n=23) and healthy control subjects (n=29) were interviewed using the Adult Attachment Projective Picture System (AAP), a valid measure to assess attachment representation; and played a virtual ball tossing game simulating social exclusion (Cyberball). Multiple depression-related risk and protective factors were considered. We hypothesized that CD patients show the most severe attachment disorganization and are emotionally most affected by the social exclusion situation. Moreover, we explored the interaction between ostracism and attachment.

RESULTS

Contradicting our hypotheses, ED and CD individuals were almost akin with regards to their attachment insecurity/disorganization and reactions to Cyberball. An emotionally altered reaction to social exclusion was identified in the insecure-disorganized depressive subgroup.

LIMITATIONS

Small sample size hampering further subgroup analyses. The ED sample may include single CD subjects with recent manifestation.

CONCLUSIONS

The pattern of emotion regulation in the depressive groups matches with findings from clinical studies, including attachment research. The relationship between attachment representations and ostracism should be further investigated in larger samples of depressive individuals.

6.7-Dihydroxycumarin (Aesculetin) als Substrat der Catechol-O-Methyltransferase / 6,7-Dihydroxycoumarin (Aesculetin) as a Substrate for Catediol-O-methyltransferase

6,7-Dihydroxycoumarin (Aesculetin) was found to be a substrate of rat liver Catechol-O-methylfransferase (COMT) (EC 2.1.1.6).

Incubation of this substrate with S-Adenosyl-ʟ-[methyl-14C] methionine and/or S-Adenosyl- methionin-hydrogensulfate in the presence of COMT yields the highly fluorescent compounds 7-hydroxy-6-methoxycoumarin (Scopoletin) and 6-hydroxy-7-methoxycoumarin (Isoscopoletin) in the ration of about 2:1. The O-methylated products obtained from Aesculetin were identified after separation by thin layer chromatographpy mainly by the reversed isotope dilution technique.

The fluorescence of the isolated methylethers was proportional to concentration within the range from 10-5 - 10-7M. A reciprocal plot of activity versus substrate concentration gives a Km of 1 × 10-6 M.

Hematologic and clinical chemistry reference values in red lories (Eos spp.)

We established reference ranges for three hematologic and 15 clinical chemistry parameters of 40 clinically healthy birds of the genus Eos. The following species were included to the study: Eos histrio (n = 19), Eos squamata (n = 8), Eos bomea (n = 5), Eos reticulata (n = 4), Eos cyanogenia (n = 4). Detailed information concerning methodology, which is often missing in papers dealing with reference values, is included. As far as possible, data are compared with literature, and some thoughts on obvious deviations are given. The problem of establishing reference values in rare species is reviewed.

[Improved tumor stent for internal palliative urinary diversion]

The disadvantages of high flexible endoureteral stents (DJ) in case of tumorinduced extrinsic ureteral compression are due to an insufficient vertical stability of the used stents leading to stent-compression and consecutive hydro- or pyonephrosis. The new developed tumor-stent used in case of tumor-induced ureteral compression is available from 6 to 8 French in diameter and 24 to 32 cm in length. The corpus consists of a combination of high-stability plastics but is of sufficient elasticity in length. Both ends consist of extremely elastic J-parts guaranteeing an exact fixation. As against common DJ's with the same outside-diameter the new stent has a comparable interior diameter and compared to used "old" tumor stents promises a higher interior flow in case of extrinsic diseases. The application can be undertaken in well-known technique, needs no special instrumentation and no learning-curve. To date 52 stents at our urologic departments were placed without any problems, the latest remaining for 15 months. Tumor-induced compression or a higher rate of encrustation could not be seen. All patients tolerated these stents well. In our opinion the new stabilized endoureteral stent can be seen as a better solution instead of percutaneous nephrostomy or frequent stent changing in patients with tumor induced extrinsic ureteral compression.

Dibenzo[a,f]quinolizines: syntheses and cytostatic activity in estrogen-sensitive tumor cells

A number of methoxy-substituted 7,11b,12,13-tetrahydro-6H-dibenzo-[a,f]quinolizines with short alkyl groups in position 6 or 12 were synthesized by the Bischler-Napieralski reaction using the appropriate starting material followed by a second ring closure reaction involving a base-generated benzyne intermediate. The methoxy functions in positions 2 or 3 and 9 were cleaved with BBr3 and the free hydroxy groups converted into the acetates. The enantiomers of two of these derivatives were separated by liquid chromatography on triacetylcellulose. Compounds with alkyl substituents bind strongly to the estrogen receptor except those with a cis-orientation at the central ring connection. The RBA values ranged from 2.2-10.8 (17 beta-estradiol: RBA = 100). There was no major difference in binding between the (+) and (-)-enantiomers. The 3,9-diacetoxy-6-alkyl derivatives also showed binding affinity for the progesterone receptor (RBA: 1.2-3.1). The 2,9-diacetoxydibenzoquinolizines trans-61 and -6m with ethyl and propyl respectively in position 12 strongly inhibited the growth of hormone-sensitive MCF-7 breast cancer cells at concentrations of 10(-6) M and higher but were inactive in hormone-independent MDA-MB 231 breast cancer cells. Preliminary tests with hormone-dependent MXT mouse mammary tumors as model showed that these compounds have also antineoplastic activity in vivo. Derivative trans-61 at a dose of 20 mg/kg body weight, administered 3 times/week, inhibited the growth of these tumors by 78% (tamoxifen: 76% inhibition). Studies on the estrogenic and antiestrogenic properties of these agents in mice revealed that they are mixed agonists/antagonists with strong antiestrogenic activity at low doses but significant estrogenic effects at higher doses.

Chromosome mosaicism of the placenta--a cause of developmental failure of the fetus?

Fourteen (2.5 per cent) of 568 chromosome preparations after CVS showed discrepancies between the placental and fetal karyotype, mainly due to placental mosaicism. The presence of a second cell line within the placenta was confirmed in all but one case, in which cytogenetic reinvestigations were carried out. Our clinical data indicate that severe developmental retardation in the newborn is not to be expected if only the placenta carries the chromosomally abnormal cell line.

Opioid dependence in the guinea-pig myenteric plexus is controlled by non-tolerant and tolerant opioid receptors

The experiments concerned the association of opioid dependence with specific opioid receptors. Previous investigations have demonstrated that tolerance may be confined to only one type of opioid receptor. These findings could suggest that dependence develops invariably only with receptors which have been rendered tolerant. We report here that in the guinea-pig isolated ileum, which has been made selectively tolerant to a mu-receptor agonist, naloxone may precipitate a sign of dependence at mu-receptors chronically activated and at naive kappa-receptors. Furthermore, suppression of the withdrawal contracture in preparations rendered dependent on a mu-receptor agonist can be achieved by very low concentrations of a kappa-agonist, e.g. dynorphin A. These findings challenge the current concept that confines drug dependence only to that opioid receptor type which has been activated chronically.

Selective opiate tolerance in the guinea-pig ileum is not associated with selective dependence

Opiate dependence attributable to specific types of opiate receptors was studied in the isolated guinea-pig ileum made tolerant/dependent in vivo to a specific narcotic agonist. Apparently, induction of dependence of mu-receptors was associated with dependence of kappa-receptors and vice versa. These investigations involved the use of the irreversible mu-receptor antagonist beta-funaltrexamine to provide preparations with functional kappa-receptors only. The documented cross-dependence between different opiate receptor types suggests a common system with which these opiate receptors interact.

Opioid dependence and cross-dependence in the isolated guinea-pig ileum

The development of opioid dependence and tolerance attributed to selective types of opiate receptors was studied in the isolated ileum of guinea pigs chronically exposed to specific opioids. These investigations were based on reports that in this preparation highly tolerant opiate receptors may coexist with opiate receptors of almost unchanged sensitivity. Thus, the ilea were set up in vitro and tested for tolerance and dependence. Apparently precipitation of the withdrawal contracture, indicating dependence, proved a more sensitive parameter than the phenomenon of tolerance. Maximal dependence was determined at rather low degrees of tolerance (5 to 10 fold). The intensity of the withdrawal contracture failed to increase as opiate tolerance did. Furthermore, the experiments failed to present evidence for the existence of selective dependence at specific opiate receptor types. These findings may suggest multiple adaptational mechanisms upon chronic activation of opiate receptors. One mechanism may be responsible for the development of dependence and a low degree of tolerance, whilst a further increase of tolerance may be associated with changes at the opiate binding site level.

Distribution of oxygen partial pressure in the carotid body region and in the carotid body (rabbit)

In the specific tissue of the rabbit carotid body as well as in the connective tissue surrounding the organ, pO2 distribution was measured with membrane-covered needle electrodes (tip diameter 1-2 microns). The histograms resulting from measurements in the specific tissue were shifted to low pO2 values as compared to other tissues. The oxygen blowing test, i.e. exposure of the carotid body to humidified 100% oxygen was employed to decide upon the site of measurement: pO2 increased when the electrode measured in the surrounding tissue (type 1 response); pO2 remained stable or slightly decreased when the electrode sampled in the specific carotid body tissue (type 2 response). After the experiment, the electrode track was reconstructed from histological serial sections and the type of reaction was related to the type of tissue. Low pO2 values were found to prevail in the specific carotid body tissue, which leads to the conclusion that the amount of low pO2 values determines the degree of chemoreceptor activity.

Oxygen pressure in small lymphatics

Oxygen tension of the small lymph vessels (PLO2) of the rabbit hind limb was measured with both a flow-through micro chamber and a polarographic catheter-tip oxygen electrode to obtain experimental data on the source of oxygen in the lymph. The following processes may influence PLO2: 1. Since the structure of the lymphatic capillaries allows a free diffusion of small molecules from the interstitial fluid into the lymphatics the lymph within its capillaries can mirror the oxygen supply of the tissue, i.e., probably a mean interstitial PO2. 2. PLO2 might be influenced by the oxygen content of the tissue surrounding the lymph vessels. Measurement with the catheter electrode showed that PLO2 rose after superfusing vessel with O2-saturated saline. After occlusion of the artery running paralled to the lymph vessel, a decrease in PLO2 was recorded. PLO2 in the absence of lymph flow increased rapidly after O2 inhalation. This reaction could be impeded by occluding the artery running parallel with the lymph vessel. 3. The mean oxygen tension of the prenodal (afferent) lymph measured with the flow-through chamber was 28.1 +/- 12.0 torr, whereas that measured with the catheter electrode was 42.0 +/- 12.18 torr. This difference may be attributed to the oxygen consumption of the lymph cells. The lymph containing a large number of cells has a stronger oxygen consumption than that with a lower number of cells. These observations suggest that PLO2 is influenced not only by the oxygen tension of the tissues drained by the lymph but also by the oxygen consumption of lymph cells as well as by the oxygen content of the surrounding tissues and perhaps by that of the blood vessels which are located at different distances from the collecting lymphatic vessels.

[6.7-Dihydroxycoumarin (Aesculetin) as a substrate for catechol-o-methyltransferase (author's transl)]

6,7-Dihydroxycoumarin (Aesculetin) was found to be a substrate of rat liver Catechol-O-methylfransferase (COMT) (EC 2.1.1.6). Incubation of this substrate with S-Adenosyl-L-[methyl-14C]methionine and/or S-Adenosylmethionin-hydrogensulfate in the presence of COMT yields the highly fluorescent compounds 7-hydroxy-6-methoxycoumarin (Scopoletin) and 6-hydroxy-7-methoxycoumarin (Isoscopoletin) in the ration of about 2:1. The O-methylated products obtained from Aesculetin were identified after separation by thin layer chromatography mainly by the reversed isotope dilution technique. The fluorescence of the isolated methylethers was proportional to concentration within the range from 10(-5)-10(-7) M. A reciprocal plot of activity versus substrate concentration gives a Km of 1 X 10(-6) M.

On the variability of form and vascularization of the cat carotid body

The compact carotid body shows, according to the source of the animals, a variability with respect to location, shape and vascularization which is similar to that found in the human carotid body and that of the dog. Aside from the ovoid forms which had been assumed to be characteristic, carotid bodies were found which either lie flat on the stem vessel or embrace it. Vascular supply is achieved not only by the occipito-pharyngeal trunk but also by the external carotid, ascendent pharyngeal and occipital arteries via one to more than three side branches. The findings are also relevant for the physiological investigation since they reveal that the function of the carotid body does not closely depend on its marcro architecture.