Elevated locomotor activity without altered striatal dopamine contents in Nurr1 heterozygous mice after acute exposure to methamphetamine.

Gene targeting experiments, in which both alleles of the Nurr1 gene were deleted, have shown that this molecule plays an essential role in the development of midbrain dopaminergic neurons, as shown by the loss of dopaminergic markers and the neurotransmitter dopamine (DA) in the ventral mesencephalon of Nurr1 null mutant mice. Nurr1-deficient mice die within a few hours of birth. Herein, we investigated whether adult mice (12-15-month-old), heterozygous for the Nurr1 mutation (Nurr1(+/-)), show alterations in locomotor function and in the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system after acute exposure to methamphetamine.

Sensory recovery after hand reimplantation: a clinical, morphological, and neurophysiological study in humans.

Despite fairly good return of motor function, patients who have amputated hands reimplanted demonstrate poor sensory recovery and severe cold intolerance, two variables that are difficult to quantify reliably. In this study we wanted to find out if there is a correlation between morphological findings of sensory and sympathetic reinnervation and clinical and neurophysiological variables. Skin was biopsied from the reimplanted and corresponding area in the normal hands of eight patients who had sustained a hand amputation and subsequent reimplantation.

Coexistence of serotonin 3 (5-HT3) and CB1 cannabinoid receptors in interneurons of hippocampus and dentate gyrus.

Using in situ hybridization histochemistry, a high degree of coexpression of the functional 5-HT3A subunit of the 5-HT3 receptor and the central CB1 cannabinoid receptor was detected in all subfields of the hippocampus and subgranular layer of the dentate gyrus (DG). Semi-quantitative analysis demonstrated that, depending on the hippocampal layer, 72-88% of CB1-expressing interneurons coexpress the 5-HT3A subunit. Within the DG, 5-HT3A/CB1 double-labeled neurons were confined to the subgranular layer, where close to 80% of all CB1-expressing basket neurons were found to contain 5-HT3A subunit transcripts.

Contaminant exposure and effects in Baltic ringed and grey seals as assessed by biomarkers.

The Baltic Sea ecosystem has suffered from a heavy pollutant load for more than three decades. Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and heavy metals have been of most concern due to their persistence and toxic properties. Ringed seals (Phoca hispida baltica) and grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) living in the Baltic Sea have been suffering from pathological impairments, including reproductive disturbances, which have resulted in a depressed reproductive capacity.

Effects of cerebral ischemia in mice deficient in Persephin.

Persephin (Pspn), a recently cloned member of the transforming growth factor-beta superfamily (TGF-beta) and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) subfamily, is distributed throughout the nervous system at extremely low levels and is thought to function as a survival factor for midbrain dopaminergic and spinal motor neurons in vivo. Here, we report that mice lacking Pspn by homologous recombination show normal development and behavior, but are hypersensitive to cerebral ischemia. A 300% increase in infarction volume was observed after middle cerebral artery occlusion.

Acute methamphetamine administration upregulates NGFI-B mRNA expression in the striatum: co-localization with c-Fos immunoreactivity.

In this study, the effects of acute methamphetamine administration on expression of the nuclear transcription factor NGFI-B mRNA and its co-localization with c-Fos immunoreactivity in the striatum were evaluated in animals receiving a single dose of methamphetamine (4 mg/kg) given at 2 or 6 h prior to perfusion. All animals received a daily saline injection for 6 days prior to methamphetamine treatment. We have found that, similar to c-fos activation, NGFI-B mRNA levels were significantly increased 2 h after methamphetamine treatment and returned to basal levels 6 h later.

Progression of cardiomyopathy after liver transplantation in patients with familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy, Portuguese type.

Background: Transthyretin amyloidosis is today an accepted indication for orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). For several mutations progression of the cardiomyopathy has been observed after OLT. The aim of this study was to assess the course of cardiac involvement in Swedish familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy (FAP), Portuguese type, after OLT.

Increased prevalence of atherosclerosis in patients with medium term rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: To measure the extent of atherosclerosis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with a disease duration of considerable length, and in age and sex matched individuals.

Methods: Thirty-nine patients with RA (30 women, 9 men) with disease onset occurring between 1974 and 1978, and less than 65 years of age at the time of investigation, were enrolled together with 39 sex and age matched controls. Quantitative measurement of intima-media thickness (IMT) and semiquantitative assessment of the presence of plaque were undertaken by B-mode ultrasound of the common carotid artery (CCA-IMT) and the common femoral artery on the right-hand side.

Effects of age and GDNF on noradrenergic innervation of the hippocampal formation: studies from intraocular grafts.

Recent studies have suggested that factors in the target tissue influence the degree of plasticity and regeneration following aging and/or specific insults. We have investigated whether young or aged targets differ in their noradrenergic innervation from fetal locus coeruleus (LC) neurons, and also if a specific growth factor, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) can affect this innervation pattern. Tissue pieces of fetal brainstem and young (3 months) or old (18 months) iris tissue were transplanted simultaneously into the anterior chamber of the eye of adult hosts.

Use of a personal diary written on the ICU during critical illness.

Objective: To explore the use of a diary as an aid in debriefing patients and relatives following critical illness.

Design: Observation study.

Setting: Intensive care unit of a 500-bed hospital.

A microbiological six-plate method for the identification of certain antibiotic groups in incurred kidney and muscle samples.

A microbiological method was developed for group level identification of antibiotics in incurred kidney and muscle samples from cattle and pigs. The method was composed of six test bacterium-plate growth medium combinations and the result was recorded as a profile of growth inhibition zones. The sample profiles were compared to two sets of references: one constructed with standard antibiotic solution profiles, and the other with these combined with profiles of microbiologically and chemically identified residues from incurred samples.

Cellular mRNA expression of the transcription factor NGFI-B suggests a gene regulatory role in striatal opiate-peptide neurons.

Previous studies have shown that NGFI-B mRNA is highly expressed in the adult striatum. In the present study we analyzed the anatomical distribution of NGFI-B mRNA within this brain region as well as the degree of co-existence of NGFI-B with different striatal markers in the adult brain. NGFI-B mRNA levels were found to be significantly higher within the dorsomedial portion of the striatum as compared to the ventrolateral striatum.

Microbiological and chemical detection of incurred penicillin G, oxytetracycline, enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin residues in bovine and porcine tissues.

Incurred penicillin G, oxytetracycline, enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin residues in bovine and porcine muscle and kidney samples were analysed by microbiological and chemical methods, the former using Bacillus subtilis BGA as a test organism on agar media of pH 6, pH 7.2 and pH 8 and the latter using liquid chromatography. Least squares fits between the logarithms of the chemically obtained concentrations of the antimicrobials and the widths of the inhibition zones were used to estimate the inhibition zone widths corresponding to the maximum residue limit concentrations.

Effect of manual lymph drainage as described by Vodder on oedema of the hand after fracture of the distal radius: a prospective clinical study.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of manual lymph drainage, as described by Vodder, in reducing oedema in the hand after a traumatic injury. During a period of 10 months in 1996-7, a total of 26 consecutive patients with a fracture of the distal radius that was treated by external fixation were included in the study. Patients were randomised into an experimental (n = 12) and a control group (n = 14).

Microbiological and chemical identification of antimicrobial drugs in kidney and muscle samples of bovine cattle and pigs.

Microbiological and chemical identification of antimicrobial drug residues was attempted in 95 kidney and 76 muscle samples from 58 cattle, 36 pigs and one horse which had revealed kidneys positive to an inhibitor test. Information on pre-slaughter medication with one antimicrobial drug was available for 63% of the carcasses. Microbiological identification was performed by agar diffusion using 17 or 18 combinations of eight test bacteria, varying medium pH and three substances blocking the action of certain antimicrobials.

A selective group of dopaminergic neurons express Nurr1 in the adult mouse brain.

Nurr1, an orphan receptor of the nuclear receptor superfamily, is widely expressed in the central nervous system (CNS) including brain regions where dopaminergic neurons are abundant. Recent analyses of Nurr1 null mutant mice have shown that Nurr1 is essential for the development and survival of midbrain dopaminergic neurons. However, other dopaminergic neuronal populations do not seem to be affected by ablation of the Nurr1 gene.

Acute application of NGF increases the firing rate of aged rat basal forebrain neurons.

Nerve growth factor (NGF) has been widely used in animal models to ameliorate age-related neurodegeneration, but it cannot cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB). NGF conjugated to an antibody against the transferrin receptor (OX-26) crosses the BBB and affects the biochemistry and morphology of NGF-deprived basal forebrain neurons. The rapid actions of NGF, including electrophysiological effects on these neurons, are not well understood.

Case studies, single-subject research, and N of 1 randomized trials: comparisons and contrasts.

Case studies, single-subject research designs, and N of 1 randomized clinical trials are methods of scientific inquiry applied to an individual or small group of individuals. A case study is a form of descriptive research that seeks to identify explanatory patterns for phenomena and generates hypotheses for future research. Single-subject research designs provide a quasi-experimental approach to investigating causal relationships between independent and dependent variables.

Occupations and well-being: a study of personal projects.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between occupation and subjective well-being (SWB).

Method: A convenience sample of 120 adults completed a personal projects analysis, a method of rating their current goal-directed pursuits. They also completed measures of SWB (Affect Balance Scale, Life Satisfaction Index Form A) and personality traits (Myers-Briggs Personality Inventory).

Electrophysiological characterization of cerebellar neurons from adult rats exposed to ethanol during development.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the spontaneous activity of mature rat cerebellar neurons that had been exposed to ethanol (EtOH) during postnatal days 4 to 10, which corresponds to the third trimester in humans. Newborn Sprague-Dawley rats were implanted with gastric feeding tubes and were artificially reared from postnatal days 4 to 10 with two different diets. The experimental group received 4.

A non-invasive system for delivering neural growth factors across the blood-brain barrier: a review.

Intraventricular administration of nerve growth factor (NGF) in rats has been shown to reduce age-related atrophy of central cholinergic neurons and the accompanying memory impairment, as well as protect these neurons against a variety of perturbations. Since neurotrophins do not pass the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in significant amounts, a non-invasive delivery system for this group of therapeutic molecules needs to be developed. We have utilized a carrier system, consisting of NGF covalently linked to an anti-transferrin receptor antibody (OX-26), to transport biologically active NGF across the BBB.

Personal projects: a useful approach to the study of occupation.

A comprehensive and useful understanding of human occupation requires research methods that capture its individual dimensions while permitting analyses within and across groups. In this article we describe the construct of personal projects and the research method of personal projects analysis. Both have their origins in studies of personality and have been used successfully to link individual traits and context-based, goal-directed behavior to well-being and other variables.

Cold intolerance is not more common or disabling after digital replantation than after other treatment of compound digital injuries.

Cold intolerance is a common reason for disability after hand injury. In this study of posttraumatic cold intolerance, 20 patients with a history of digital replantation were matched with 20 control subjects who had not undergone replantation. The incidence and intensity of cold-related symptoms among patients in the two groups was investigated through the use of individual interviews and a grading scale for self-assessment of symptoms.

Pattern recognition in post-traumatic cold intolerance.

The subjective symptoms called "post-traumatic cold intolerance" were analysed in a study of 40 patients with a history of digital trauma (amputation, neurovascular laceration, or comminuted fracture requiring surgical reconstruction). The patients were individually interviewed to obtain detailed information about perception of each symptom as well as the pattern of symptoms of post-traumatic cold intolerance. The study confirmed the high incidence of the condition and its potentially disabling nature.