Mycoplasma felis septic arthritis in a patient with hypogammaglobulinemia

Atypical Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection developed in a patient under intermittent administration of FK506 (one dose in 10 days) after living-related liver transplantation. The clinical course was similar to severe chronic active EBV infection syndrome (SCAEBV), which is characterized by extremely high titers of antibody to EBV antigens. The clinical symptoms improved without graft rejection even after the cessation of FK506; however, the titers of antibody to EBV antigens remained at high levels. It was considered that: (i) even intermittent use of FK506 could influence the immune response, which then induced atypical EBV infection similar to SCAEBV; and (ii) the impaired immune response, especially to EBV antigens, remained after complete cessation of FK506.     

The life-time rates of three major mood disorders and four major anxiety disorders in alcoholics and controls

AIMS: While psychiatric symptoms are common in the general population and even more prevalent in alcoholics, their clinical implications are not clear. The goal of this study was to establish the life-time rates of several independent and concurrent mood and anxiety disorders in alcoholics, controls and their relatives. DESIGN: Structured interviews were administered to alcoholics entering treatment, their relatives, and controls. SETTING: The study was carried out in six different centers in the United States as part of the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA). PARTICIPANTS: Data were gathered from 2713 alcohol dependent subjects (probands and their alcoholic relatives) and 919 controls. MEASUREMENTS: The timeline-based Semi-Structured Assessment for the Genetics of Alcoholism (SSAGA) interview was administered face to face by trained, closely supervised interviewers. The life-time rates for concurrent and independent disorders were determined for three DSM-III-R major mood and four major anxiety disorders. FINDINGS: Some form of independent mood disorder was seen during the life-time in slightly fewer alcoholics than controls (14.0% and 17.1%), but alcoholics did show higher rates of independent bipolar disorder (2.3% vs. 1.0%). The life-time rate for independent anxiety disorders was significantly higher in alcoholics than controls (9.4% vs. 3.7%), with most of the differential related to panic disorder (4.2% vs. 1.0%) and social phobia (3.2% vs. 1.4%), but no significant group differences for agoraphobia or obsessive-compulsive disorder. In general, these findings regarding mood and anxiety disorders were reflected in close relatives. CONCLUSIONS: The large majority of alcohol-dependent men and women in this sample did not have any of the independent mood or anxiety disorders evaluated here. However, there was evidence of enhanced risks among alcoholics for independent bipolar, panic and social phobic disorders. Studies which do not distinguish carefully between independent and concurrent mood and anxiety disorders in alcoholics are likely to report much higher rates of co-morbid psychiatric disorders than those that distinguish between the two types of syndromes.     

Immunogold localization of the dopamine transporter: an ultrastructural study of the rat ventral tegmental area

The dopamine transporter (DAT) plays an important role in the plasmalemmal reuptake of dopamine and, thus, in the termination of normal dopaminergic neurotransmission. DAT is also a major binding site for cocaine and other stimulants, the psychoactive effects of which are associated primarily with the inhibition of dopamine reuptake within mesocorticolimbic dopaminergic neurons. We used electron microscopy with an anti-peptide antiserum directed against the N-terminal domain of DAT to determine the subcellular localization of this transporter in the rat ventral tegmental area (VTA), the region that contains the cell bodies and dendrites of these dopaminergic neurons. We show that in the VTA, almost 95% of the DAT immunogold-labeled profiles are neuronal perikarya and dendrites, and the remainder are unmyelinated axons. Within perikarya and large proximal dendrites, almost all of the DAT immunogold particles are associated with intracellular membranes, including saccules of Golgi and cytoplasmic tubulovesicles. In contrast, within medium- to small-diameter dendrites and unmyelinated axons, most of the DAT gold particles are located on plasma membranes. In dually labeled tissue, peroxidase reaction product for the catecholamine-synthesizing enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase is present in DAT-immunoreactive profiles. These findings suggest that intermediate and distal dendrites are both the primary sites of dopamine reuptake and the principal targets of cocaine and related psychostimulants within dopaminergic neurons in the VTA.     

Evaluation of the effectiveness of anecaine in central segmental blockades in orthopedic-traumatologic interventions

Efficacy of anecaine (A) (bupivacaine, Pliva) and marcaine (M) (bupivacaine, Astra) in central neuroaxial block combined with sedation is compared. In the group with epidural block (n = 167, ASA I-III), 102 patients were given anecaine and 65 marcaine in equivalent doses. In the group with spinal block (n = 82, ASA I-III), anecaine was administered to 52 and marcaine to 30 patients. In the epidural block group a catheter was placed at L2-3 or L3-4 with cranial direction. A test dose of bupivacaine (20 mg) was followed after 5-7 min by the main dose of 2 mg.kg-20 mg. Propofol was given for partial suppression of consciousness at a continuous infusion rate 1.6 mg.kg.hr. In spinal block group, bolus dose of bupivacaine (10-20 mg) was injected through the subarachnoidal approach at L2-3 or L3-4. Diazepam (0.1 mg.kg.hr) was used for sedation. Block onset, duration of sensor and motor block, and of effective analgesia were evaluated in all groups. Hemodynamics and respiratory function were monitored. Moderate hypotension (16-17% decline from basic values) was observed in all patients irrespective of bupivacaine brand. In a comparative non-randomized study anecaine showed a faster onset of block and longer duration of clinical effect than marcaine in epidural and spinal anesthesia for orthopedic surgery on the lower limbs.     

Absence of the mid-sized neurofilament subunit decreases axonal calibers, levels of light neurofilament (NF-L), and neurofilament content

Neurofilaments (NFs) are prominent components of large myelinated axons and probably the most abundant of neuronal intermediate filament proteins. Here we show that mice with a null mutation in the mid-sized NF (NF-M) subunit have dramatically decreased levels of light NF (NF-L) and increased levels of heavy NF (NF-H). The calibers of both large and small diameter axons in the central and peripheral nervous systems are diminished. Axons of mutant animals contain fewer neurofilaments and increased numbers of microtubules. Yet the mice lack any overt behavioral phenotype or gross structural defects in the nervous system. These studies suggest that the NF-M subunit is a major regulator of the level of NF-L and that its presence is required to achieve maximal axonal diameter in all size classes of myelinated axons.     

Common quantitative trait loci for alcohol-related behaviors and CNS neurotensin measures: voluntary ethanol consumption

The alcohol breath test (ABT) is evaluated for variability in response to changes in physiological parameters. The ABT was originally developed in the 1950s, at a time when understanding of pulmonary physiology was quite limited. Over the past decade, physiological studies have shown that alcohol is exchanged entirely within the conducting airways via diffusion from the bronchial circulation. This is in sharp contrast to the old idea that alcohol exchanges in the alveoli in a manner similar to the lower solubility respiratory gases (O2 and CO2). The airway alcohol exchange process is diffusion (airway tissue) and perfusion (bronchial circulation) limited. The dynamics of airway alcohol exchange results in a positively sloped exhaled alveolar plateau that contributes to considerable breathing pattern-dependent variation in measured breath alcohol concentration measurements.     

The V(O2) slow component for severe exercise depends on type of exercise and is not correlated with time to fatigue

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of the type of exercise (running vs. cycling) on the O2 uptake V(O2) slow component. Ten triathletes performed exhaustive exercise on a treadmill and on a cycloergometer at a work rate corresponding to 90% of maximal VO2 (90% work rate maximal V(O2)). The duration of the tests before exhaustion was superimposable for both type of exercises (10 min 37 s +/- 4 min 11 s vs. 10 min 54 s +/- 4 min 47 s for running and cycling, respectively). The V(O2) slow component (difference between V(O2) at the last minute and minute 3 of exercise) was significantly lower during running compared with cycling (20.9 +/- 2 vs. 268.8 +/- 24 ml/min). Consequently, there was no relationship between the magnitude of the V(O2) slow component and the time to fatigue. Finally, because blood lactate levels at the end of the tests were similar for both running (7.2 +/- 1.9 mmol/l) and cycling (7.3 +/- 2.4 mmol/l), there was a clear dissociation between blood lactate and the V(O2) slow component during running. These data demonstrate that 1) the V(O2) slow component depends on the type of exercise in a group of triathletes and 2) the time to fatigue is independent of the magnitude of the V(O2) slow component and blood lactate concentration. It is speculated that the difference in muscular contraction regimen between running and cycling could account for the difference in the V(O2) slow component.     

Alexithymia in personal characteristics of patients with coronary heart diseases]

Psychological status was assessed in 120 patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) according to MMPI, Toronto alexithymic scale. Alexithymia was diagnosed in 49.1% of the examinees. They were characterized by difficulties in definition of their feelings, absence of dreams and fantasies, introversion, inclination to depressive response to stress, hypochondria eventuating in senesthopathy. The above psychological and pathopsychological traits in CHD patients require psychotherapeutic and chemotherapeutic correction in order to enhance efficacy of the treatment.     

Common quantitative trait loci for alcohol-related behaviors and central nervous system neurotensin measures: locomotor activation

We have analyzed LSXSS recumbinant inbred for ethanol-induced activity using 2.0 g/kg ethanol and a new method we call ethanol activation slope. The ethanol activation slope provides a robust dose-response measure of ethanol activation, independent of both activity after saline and the inhibitory effects of ethanol on locomotor activity. These behavioral data were used in a quantitative trait locus analysis to map chromosomal loci involved in ethanol-induced locomotor activity. We tentatively identified seven loci that mediate the low-dose stimulatory effect of ethanol and six loci involved in locomotion after 2.0 g/kg ethanol. Only one of the loci are in common between the two behaviors. We also compared the behavioral quantitative trait locus to those previously identified that are involved in regulating central nervous system neurotensin levels and neurotensin receptor densities. Six chromosomal regions were identified that regulate at least one central nervous system neurotensin measure and an ethanol-induced locomotor behavior. The identification of loci controlling both central nervous system neurotensin levels or neurotensin receptor densities and ethanol-induced locomotor activity strengthens the proposal that neurotensin regulates, in part, ethanol-induced behaviors and central nervous system sensitivity to ethanol.