Sex Differences in the Neuroendocrine Stress Response: A View from a CRH-Reporting Mouse Line.

Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) neurons within the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus (PVH) play a crucial role in initiating the neuroendocrine response to stress and are also pivotal in coordination of autonomic, metabolic, and behavioral stress reactions. Although the role of parvocellular CRH neurons in activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is well established, the distribution and function of CRH-expressing neurons across the whole central nervous system are less understood. Stress responses activate complex neural networks, which differ depending on the type of stressor and on the sex of the individual.

Bones or Stones: How Can We Apply Geophysical Techniques in Bone Research?

Some studies have used physical techniques for the assessment of bone structure and composition. However, very few studies applied multiple techniques, such as those described below, at the same time. The aim of our study was to determine the chemical and mineralogical/organic composition of bovine tibial bone samples using geophysical/geochemical reference techniques.

Dipeptide metabolite, glutamyl-glutamate mediates microbe-host interaction to boost spermatogenesis.

The decrease in sperm count and infertility is a global issue that remains unresolved. By screening environmental bacterial isolates, we have found that a novel lactic acid bacterium, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum SNI3, increased testis size, testosterone levels, sperm count, sexual activity and fertility in mice that have consumed the bacteria for four weeks. The abundance of L.

Recruitment of Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone (CRH) Neurons in Categorically Distinct Stress Reactions in the Mouse Brain.

Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) neurons in the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus (PVH) are in the position to integrate stress-related information and initiate adaptive neuroendocrine-, autonomic-, metabolic- and behavioral responses. In addition to hypophyseotropic cells, CRH is widely expressed in the CNS, however its involvement in the organization of the stress response is not fully understood. In these experiments, we took advantage of recently available Crh-IRES-Cre;Ai9 mouse line to study the recruitment of hypothalamic and extrahypothalamic CRH neurons in categorically distinct, acute stress reactions.

The metabolic stress response: Adaptation to acute-, repeated- and chronic challenges in mice.

There is a strong relationship between stress and metabolism. Because acute traumatic- and chronic stress events are often accompanied with metabolic pathophysiology, it is important to understand the details of the metabolic stress response. In this study we directly compared metabolic effects of acute stress with chronic repeated- and chronic unpredictable stress in mouse models.

Associations of vascular and bone status in arthritis patients.

Cardiovascular (CV) disease and osteoporosis (OP) have been associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Bone and vascular biomarkers and parameters along with the effect of 1-year anti-TNF therapy on these markers were assessed in order to determine correlations between vascular pathophysiology and bone metabolism in RA and AS. Thirty-six patients treated with etanercept or certolizumab pegol and 17 AS patients treated with ETN were included in a 12-month follow-up study.

Peripheral quantitative computed tomography in the assessment of bone mineral density in anti-TNF-treated rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis patients.

Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) are associated with osteoporosis. There have not been many peripheral quantitative computed tomography (QCT) studies in patients receiving biologics. We assessed volumetric and areal bone mineral density (BMD) by forearm QCT and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), respectively in addition to laboratory biomarkers in these arthritides.

Efficient treatment of a preclinical inflammatory bowel disease model with engineered bacteria.

We developed an orally administered, engineered, bacterium-based, RNA interference-mediated therapeutic method to significantly reduce the symptoms in the most frequently used animal model of inflammatory bowel disease. This bacterium-mediated RNA interference strategy was based on the genomically stable, non-pathogenic MDS42 strain, which was engineered to constitutively produce invasin and the listeriolysin O cytolysin. These proteins enabled the bacteria first to invade the colon epithelium and then degrade in the phagosome.

Eight pillars of oncorheumatology: Crossroads between malignancies and musculoskeletal diseases.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MALIGNANCIES AND MUSCULOSKELETAL DISEASES: Oncorheumatology is the meeting point of tumor formation and rheumatic musculoskeletal diseases (RMD). Multiple interactions exist between these two medical specialties. One major field is the topic of malignancies associated with rheumatic diseases, while the other topic covers the development of musculoskeletal disease in cancer patients.

Thrombocytosis and Effects of IL-6 Knock-Out in a Colitis-Associated Cancer Model.

There is an increasing number of studies showing that thrombocytosis-accompanying a variety of solid tumors including colorectal cancer (CRC)-is associated with shorter survival and earlier development of metastases. The mechanisms of cancer-associated thrombocytosis are not completely understood yet. The aim of our study was to evaluate the role of IL-6 in tumor development and thrombocytosis in mice with inflammation-induced CRC, using a CRISPR/cas9 IL-6 knockout (KO) strain.

[Oncorheumatology: relationship between malignancies and musculoskeletal diseases].

Oncorheumatology is the meeting point of tumour formation and rheumatic diseases. Multiple interactions exist between these two medical specialties. One major field is the topic of malignancies associated with rheumatic diseases, while the other topic covers the development of musculoskeletal disease in cancer patients.

Complex assessment of bone mineral density, fracture risk, vitamin D status, and bone metabolism in Hungarian systemic sclerosis patients.

Objective: We wished to determine bone alterations in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients by conventional densitometry (DXA), peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT), and bone biomarkers.

Methods: We included 44 SSc patients and 33 age-matched healthy controls. Lumbar spine and femoral neck bone mineral density (BMD) was assessed by DXA.

Gastrointestinal (non-systemic) antibiotic rifaximin differentially affects chronic stress-induced changes in colon microbiome and gut permeability without effect on behavior.

Chronic stress is often accompanied by gastrointestinal symptoms, which might be due to stress-induced shift of gut microbiome to pathogenic bacteria. It has been hypothesized that stress alters gut permeability and results in mild endotoxemia which exaggerates HPA activity and contributes to anxiety and depression. To reveal the relationship between microbiome composition, stress-induced gastrointestinal functions and behavior, we treated chronically stressed mice with non-absorbable antibiotic, rifaximin.

Effects of 1-year anti-TNF-α therapies on bone mineral density and bone biomarkers in rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis.

Objectives: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) have been associated with generalized and localized bone loss. We conducted a comprehensive study using imaging (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, DXA) and laboratory biomarkers in order to determine bone health and to study the effects of anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) biologics in RA and AS.

Patients And Methods: Thirty-six RA and 17 AS patients undergoing 1-year etanercept (ETN) or certolizumab-pegol (CZP) therapy were studied.

Hypoglycemia-activated Hypothalamic Microglia Impairs Glucose Counterregulatory Responses.

Glucose is a major fuel for the central nervous system and hypoglycemia is a significant homeostatic stressor, which elicits counterregulatory reactions. Hypothalamic metabolic- and stress-related neurons initiate these actions, however recruitment of glia in control such adaptive circuit remain unknown. Groups of fed- and fasted-, vehicle-injected, and fasted + insulin-injected male mice were compared in this study.

Laser-induced plasma spectroscopy (LIPS): use of a geological tool in assessing bone mineral content.

Bone may be similar to geological formulations in many ways. Therefore, it may be logical to apply laser-based geological techniques in bone research. The mineral and element oxide composition of bioapatite can be estimated by mathematical models.

Malignancies associated with systemic sclerosis.

The outcome of systemic sclerosis (SSc) has become more favorable during the past years. Respiratory failure or renal crisis became less frequent, therefore more attention should be paid to long-term comorbidities, such as malignancies secondary to scleroderma. The incidence of malignant lymphoproliferative diseases, as well as that of solid tumors are higher in a number of rheumatic diseases including SSc.

[Fenotypical diversity of hereditary non-polyposis colorectal carcinoma. Pedigree and genetical analysis of two mutation carrier patients].

Introduction: The phenotype of HNPCC shows great diversity. Investigation of the disease needs the application of both the Amsterdam and Bethesda Guidelines. The clinical diagnosis of HNPCC can be established by means of thorough family history containing more generations.

[Surgical treatment of morbid obesity].

Morbid obesity is a multicausal disease with great importance because of the life threatening associated co-morbidities. Its treatment has many different aspects and needs multidisciplinary collaborations. The most powerful way of treatment is the surgical intervention which demands thorough preoperative investigations and patient selection.

[Increasing dominance of laparoscopic techniques in the surgery of the spleen in hematologic syndromes].

Parallel with the evolution of minimally invasive techniques more and more organs became the subject of different laparoscopic operations. The spleen was not an exception to this trend, the first laparoscopic splenectomy was performed in 1991. In the present publication the authors give an overview of their own initial experience with the technique.

[The role of positron emission tomography (PET) in the detection of local recurrence and metastases of colorectal cancer].

We presented here the results of PET imaging of 12 patients, previously operated on for colorectal cancer and followed at the 1st Department of Surgery, University of Debrecen. The tests were carried out using 0.15 mCi/kg FDG injections.

[Clinical significance of HNPCC, surgical aspects of early recognition].

A hereditary background may be demonstrated in approximately 15-20% of colorectal carcinomas. Familial adenomatous polyposis syndrome (FAP) constitutes about 1% of this patient population whereas hereditary non-polyposis colorectal carcinoma (HNPCC) makes up a further 3-6% of colorectal malignancies. The clinical features of HNPCC are dominant right colon localization, early age of onset, high prevalence of synchronous and metachronous tumors.