Bipolar spectrum-substance use co-occurrence: Behavioral approach system (BAS) sensitivity and impulsiveness as shared personality vulnerabilities.

Bipolar disorders and substance use disorders (SUDs) show high co-occurrence. One explanation for this co-occurrence may be common personality vulnerabilities involved in both. The authors tested whether high behavioral approach system (BAS) sensitivity and impulsiveness are shared personality vulnerabilities in bipolar spectrum disorders and substance use problems and their co-occurrence in a longitudinal study of 132 individuals on the bipolar spectrum and 153 control participants.

Di- and trinuclear phosphido-bridged platinum complexes. Crystal structures of [Pt{CH(2)=CHC(O)OMe}(PPh(3))(2)], trans-[Pt(2)(micro-PPh(2))(2)I(2)(PPh(3))(2)] and cis,cis,cis-[Pt(3)(mu-I)(2)(mu-PPh(2))(2)Cl(0.5)I(1.5)(PPh(3))(2)].

The readily available Pt(0) methyl acrylate complex [Pt{CH2CHC(O)OMe}(PPh3)2] (2) allows access to the known, mixed-valence trinuclear cluster [Pt3(mu-PPh2)3Ph(PPh3)2] (3) in 64% yield. Oxidation of 3 with 2 equivalents of I2 afforded the new trinuclear complex [Pt3(mu-I)2(mu-PPh2)2I2(PPh3)2] (4) whose molecular structure is similar to that of the related compound of empirical formula [Pt3(mu-I)2(mu-PPh2)2Cl0.5I1.

Postnatal expression pattern of HCN channel isoforms in thalamic neurons: relationship to maturation of thalamocortical oscillations.

Hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated cation (HCN) channels are the molecular substrate of the hyperpolarization-activated inward current (I(h)). Because the developmental profile of HCN channels in the thalamus is not well understood, we combined electrophysiological, molecular, immunohistochemical, EEG recordings in vivo, and computer modeling techniques to examine HCN gene expression and I(h) properties in rat thalamocortical relay (TC) neurons in the dorsal part of the lateral geniculate nucleus and the functional consequence of this maturation. Recordings of TC neurons revealed an approximate sixfold increase in I(h) density between postnatal day 3 (P3) and P106, which was accompanied by significantly altered current kinetics, cAMP sensitivity, and steady-state activation properties.

A "community-friendly" version of integrated group therapy for patients with bipolar disorder and substance dependence: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Integrated group therapy, a new treatment for patients with bipolar disorder and substance use disorder, has previously been found to be efficacious in reducing substance use, but its length (20 sessions) and need for highly trained therapists may limit its adoption in substance use disorder community treatment programs. This paper compares a briefer (12 session) version of integrated group therapy, led by substance use disorder counselors without previous cognitive-behavioral training or bipolar disorder experience, to group drug counseling.

Methods: Sixty-one patients with bipolar disorder and substance dependence, taking mood stabilizers, were randomized to 12 sessions of integrated group therapy (n=31) or group drug counseling (n=30).

Risk of malignancies in patients with diabetes treated with human insulin or insulin analogues: a cohort study.

Aims/hypothesis: The aim of this cohort study was to investigate the risk of malignant neoplasms and mortality in patients with diabetes treated either with human insulin or with one of three insulin analogues.

Methods: Data were provided by the largest German statutory health insurance fund (time-frame: January 1998 to June 2005 inclusive), on patients without known malignant disease who had received first-time therapy for diabetes mellitus exclusively with human insulin, aspart, lispro or glargine. The primary outcome was the diagnosis of a malignant neoplasm.

Calculation of NNTs in RCTs with time-to-event outcomes: a literature review.

Background: The number needed to treat (NNT) is a well-known effect measure for reporting the results of clinical trials. In the case of time-to-event outcomes, the calculation of NNTs is more difficult than in the case of binary data. The frequency of using NNTs to report results of randomised controlled trials (RCT) investigating time-to-event outcomes and the adequacy of the applied calculation methods are unknown.

Depression precipitated by alcohol use in patients with co-occurring bipolar and substance use disorders.

Objective: Bipolar disorder and substance use disorder frequently co-occur. However, little is known about the near-term effects of substance use on bipolar disorder. Thus, the present study tests whether alcohol use precipitates depression among patients with co-occurring bipolar disorder and substance use disorder.

Longitudinal changes in energy expenditure in an elderly German population: a 12-year follow-up.

Background/objectives: This study investigates age-dependent changes in different components of energy expenditure (EE) within the longitudinal study on nutrition and health status in an aging population in Giessen, Germany (GISELA).

Subjects/methods: Between 1994 and 2006, data obtained at a total of 3033 visits from 363 women and 153 men with a mean initial age of 67.4+/-5.

Molecular classification of unknown primary cancer.

The diagnosis of unknown primary carcinoma is often the result of the failure of light microscopy and immunohistochemistry to elucidate the origin of adenocarcinoma or poorly differentiated carcinoma. Recent advances in gene expression profiling using either reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) or microarray have enabled researchers to develop expression profiles unique to a wide variety of well-characterized primary cancers and to compare these unique signatures with those from unknown primary cancers. As the gene expression profile is frequently conserved when the tumor metastasizes, it is often possible to analyze a biopsy specimen and genomically identify its tissue of origin.

Histone deacetylase inhibition improves differentiation of dendritic cells from leukemic blasts of patients with TEL/AML1-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HdI) could potentially improve the differentiation of leukemic dendritic cells (DC). Therefore, bone marrow samples from 100 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) were cultured in the cytokines TNF-alpha, GM-CSF, c-kit ligand, and fetal liver tyrosine kinase 3 ligand, with or without IL-3 and -4 and after administration of HdI valproic acid (VAL), suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA), isobutyramid, or trichostatin A. Among the tested samples, 25 were positive for the chromosomal translocation t(12;21), encoding the fusion gene translocation ETS-like leukemia/acute myeloid leukemia 1 (TEL/AML1).

Introduction to the use of regression models in epidemiology.

Regression modeling is one of the most important statistical techniques used in analytical epidemiology. By means of regression models the effect of one or several explanatory variables (e.g.

The hpx genetic system for hypoxanthine assimilation as a nitrogen source in Klebsiella pneumoniae: gene organization and transcriptional regulation.

Growth experiments showed that adenine and hypoxanthine can be used as nitrogen sources by several strains of K. pneumoniae under aerobic conditions. The assimilation of all nitrogens from these purines indicates that the catabolic pathway is complete and proceeds past allantoin.

Hyperpolarization activated cyclic-nucleotide gated (HCN) channels in developing neuronal networks.

Developing neuronal networks evolve continuously, requiring that neurons modulate both their intrinsic properties and their responses to incoming synaptic signals. Emerging evidence supports roles for the hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels in this neuronal plasticity. HCN channels seem particularly suited for fine-tuning neuronal properties and responses because of their remarkably large and variable repertoire of functions, enabling integration of a wide range of cellular signals.

Attention should be given to multiplicity issues in systematic reviews.

Objective: The objective of this paper is to describe the problem of multiple comparisons in systematic reviews and to provide some guidelines on how to deal with it in practice.

Study Design And Setting: We describe common reasons for multiplicity in systematic reviews, and present some examples. We provide guidance on how to deal with multiplicity when it is unavoidable.

Flexible regression models are useful tools to calculate and assess threshold values in the context of minimum provider volumes.

Objective: The aim was to review different approaches for the derivation of threshold values and to discuss their strengths and limitations in the context of minimum provider volumes.

Study Design And Setting: The following methods for the calculation of threshold values are compared and discussed: The value of acceptable risk limit, the value of acceptable risk gradient, the benchmark value proposed by Budtz-Jørgensen and Ulm's breakpoint model. The latter is extended to account for two different breakpoints.

Substituents on etoposide that interact with human topoisomerase IIalpha in the binary enzyme-drug complex: contributions to etoposide binding and activity.

Etoposide is a widely prescribed anticancer agent that stabilizes topoisomerase II-mediated DNA strand breaks. The drug contains a polycyclic ring system (rings A-D), a glycosidic moiety at C4, and a pendant ring (E-ring) at C1. A recent study that focused on yeast topoisomerase II demonstrated that the H15 geminal protons of the etoposide A-ring, the H5 and H8 protons of the B-ring, and the H2', H6', 3'-methoxyl, and 5'-methoxyl protons of the E-ring contact topoisomerase II in the binary enzyme-drug complex [ Wilstermann et al.

Assessing negative consequences in patients with substance use and bipolar disorders: psychometric properties of the short inventory of problems (SIP).

The Short Inventory of Problems (SIP), a questionnaire that measures negative consequences of alcohol use, has not been validated among substance users with co-occurring psychiatric illness. This study examined the psychometric properties of the SIP in 57 outpatients diagnosed with substance use disorder and bipolar disorder. We modified the items to assess drugs in addition to alcohol and, further, we added corresponding items to assess consequences of bipolar disorder.

Activity-dependent heteromerization of the hyperpolarization-activated, cyclic-nucleotide gated (HCN) channels: role of N-linked glycosylation.

Formation of heteromeric complexes of ion channels via co-assembly of different subunit isoforms provides an important mechanism for enhanced channel diversity. We have previously demonstrated co-association of the hyperpolarization activated cyclic-nucleotide gated (HCN1/HCN2) channel isoforms that was regulated by network (seizure) activity in developing hippocampus. However, the mechanisms that underlie this augmented expression of heteromeric complexes have remained unknown.

A randomized trial comparing INR monitoring devices in patients with anticoagulation self-management: evaluation of a novel error-grid approach.

Background: In addition to the metrological quality of international normalized ratio (INR) monitoring devices used in patients' self-management of long-term anticoagulation, the effectiveness of self-monitoring with such devices has to be evaluated under real-life conditions with a focus on clinical implications. An approach to evaluate the clinical significance of inaccuracies is the error-grid analysis as already established in self-monitoring of blood glucose. Two anticoagulation monitors were compared in a real-life setting and a novel error-grid instrument for oral anticoagulation has been evaluated.

Mechanisms of seizure-induced 'transcriptional channelopathy' of hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide gated (HCN) channels.

Epilepsy may result from abnormal function of ion channels, such as those caused by genetic mutations. Recently, pathological alterations of the expression or localization of normal channels have been implicated in epilepsy generation, and termed 'acquired channelopathies'. Altered expression levels of the HCN channels - that conduct the hyperpolarization-activated current, I(h) - have been demonstrated in hippocampus of patients with severe temporal lobe epilepsy as well as in animal models of temporal lobe and absence epilepsies.

Epileptogenesis in the developing brain: what can we learn from animal models?

Knowledge of the processes by which epilepsy is generated (epileptogenesis) is incomplete and has been a topic of major research efforts. Animal models can inform us about these processes. We focus on the distinguishing features of epileptogenesis in the developing brain and model prolonged febrile seizures (FS) that are associated with human temporal lobe epilepsy.

Estimating adjusted NNT measures in logistic regression analysis.

The number needed to treat (NNT) is a popular measure to describe the absolute effect of a new treatment compared with a standard treatment or placebo in clinical trials with binary outcome. For use of NNT measures in epidemiology to compare exposed and unexposed subjects, the terms 'number needed to be exposed' (NNE) and 'exposure impact number' (EIN) have been proposed. Additionally, in the framework of logistic regression a method was derived to perform point and interval estimation of NNT measures with adjustment for confounding by using the adjusted odds ratio (OR approach).