Clinical validation of the self-reported 6-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D6-SR) among inpatients.

Background: Brief and valid patient-rated symptom scales represent a valuable addition to clinician-rated scales for assessing depression. Studies on the psychometric properties of the self-rated 6-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D6-SR) have shown promising results for outpatients with depression. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the HAM-D6-SR among inpatients using the clinician-rated 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD17) as the gold standard.

Competition and coevolution drive the evolution and the diversification of CRISPR immunity.

The diversity of resistance challenges the ability of pathogens to spread and to exploit host populations. Yet, how this host diversity evolves over time remains unclear because it depends on the interplay between intraspecific competition among host genotypes and coevolution with pathogens. Here we study experimentally the effect of coevolving phage populations on the diversification of bacterial CRISPR immunity across space and time.

Clinical validation of ratings on the six-item Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale obtained via the Simplified Negative and Positive Symptoms Interview.

Background: The six-item version of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS-6) has shown promise as a brief measure of the severity of core symptoms of schizophrenia. However, since all prior analyses of the PANSS-6 were based on data extracted from studies using the full 30-item PANSS (PANSS-30), it remains unknown whether it is possible to obtain valid information for the PANSS-6 ratings via a brief interview, such as the Simplified Negative and Positive Symptoms Interview (SNAPSI).

Aims: We aimed to validate the PANSS-6 ratings obtained via the SNAPSI using the PANSS-6 scores extracted from the PANSS-30 ratings obtained via the comprehensive Structured Clinical Interview for PANSS (SCI-PANSS) as the gold-standard reference.

Inter-rater reliability of ratings on the six-item Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS-6) obtained using the Simplified Negative and Positive Symptoms Interview (SNAPSI).

Purpose: The six-item version of the Positive And Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS-6) is a brief rating scale focusing on core symptoms of schizophrenia. In order to facilitate rating of PANSS-6 and selected items from other common psychiatric rating scales, we recently developed the Simplified Negative and Positive Symptoms Interview (SNAPSI). The objective of the present study was to test the inter-rater reliability of PANSS-6 ratings obtained using the SNAPSI.

Evaluation of two HIV antibody confirmatory assays: Geenius™ HIV1/2 Confirmatory Assay and the recomLine HIV-1 & HIV-2 IgG Line Immunoassay.

The laboratory diagnosis of an HIV infection mainly depends on the detection of HIV-specific antibodies/HIV p24 antigen whereby different algorithms for the confirmation of reactive screening assays exist. The objective of the present study was to compare the performance of two supplemental HIV antibody confirmatory assays: the Geenius™ HIV1/2 Confirmatory Assay and the recomLine HIV-1 & HIV-2 IgG Line Immunoassay. Therefore 279 serum samples previously analyzed for HIV during routine diagnostics at the Institute for Medical Virology, National Reference Center for Retroviruses, University Hospital Frankfurt, were analyzed retrospectively.

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes and natural killer cells display impaired cytotoxic functions and reduced activation in patients with alcoholic hepatitis.

The dynamics and role of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), natural killer (NK) cells, and NKT cells in the life-threatening inflammatory disease alcoholic hepatitis is largely unknown. These cells directly kill infected and damaged cells through, e.g.

Drug-induced mild therapeutic hypothermia obtained by administration of a transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 agonist.

Background: The use of mechanical/physical devices for applying mild therapeutic hypothermia is the only proven neuroprotective treatment for survivors of out of hospital cardiac arrest. However, this type of therapy is cumbersome and associated with several side-effects. We investigated the feasibility of using a transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) agonist for obtaining drug-induced sustainable mild hypothermia.

Chronic cystamine treatment inhibits small artery remodelling in rats.

Background/aims: We investigated whether the tissue transglutaminase inhibitor cystamine is able to inhibit remodelling of small arteries in vivo, a possibility suggested by recent in vitro experiments.

Methods: Using osmotic minipumps, phenylephrine, cystamine and/or amlodipine were infused for 1-2 weeks into 9-week-old Wistar rats. Small arteries were then removed for pressure myograph investigation.

Neuropeptide Y2 receptors are involved in enhanced neurogenic vasoconstriction in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

1. The present study addressed the role of neuropeptide (NPY) Y2 receptors in neurogenic contraction of mesenteric resistance arteries from female spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Arteries were suspended in microvascular myographs, electrical field stimulation (EFS) was performed, and protein evaluated by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry.

HSP20 phosphorylation and interstitial metabolites in hypoxia-induced dilation of swine coronary arteries.

Objective: Hypoxia induces coronary artery dilation, but the responsible mechanism is largely unknown. Many stimuli induce arterial smooth muscle relaxation by reducing ser19-myosin regulatory light chain (MLC) phosphorylation. Other stimuli can induce smooth muscle relaxation without reductions in ser19-MLC phosphorylation.

Small artery remodeling depends on tissue-type transglutaminase.

Remodeling of small arteries is essential in the long-term regulation of blood pressure and blood flow to specific organs or tissues. A large part of the change in vessel diameter may occur through non-growth-related reorganization of vessel wall components. The hypothesis was tested that tissue-type transglutaminase (tTG), a cross-linking enzyme, contributes to the inward remodeling of small arteries.

Force-independent expression of c-fos mRNA by endothelin-1 in rat intact small mesenteric arteries.

Aim: Wall stress-independent signalling pathways were studied for endothelin-1 (ET-1)-induced c-fos expression in rat intact mesenteric small arteries.

Methods: Arteries were kept unmounted in Krebs buffer, equilibrated for 1 h and stimulated with vasoactive substances for 15-60 min. The c-fos mRNA expression was determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Activation of resistance arteries with endothelin-1: from vasoconstriction to functional adaptation and remodeling.

Remodeling of resistance arteries is a key feature in hypertension. We studied the transition of vasoconstriction to remodeling in isolated rat skeletal muscle arterioles. Arterioles activated with 10 nM endothelin-1 showed functional adaptation when kept at low distension in a wire myograph setup, where contractile properties shifted towards a smaller lumen diameter after 1 day.

Smooth muscle cell changes during flow-related remodeling of rat mesenteric resistance arteries.

To obtain information on the molecular and cellular mechanisms of flow-induced arterial remodeling, we analyzed the morphology and smooth muscle cell (SMC) characteristics in rat mesenteric resistance arteries after interventions that decreased and increased flow. Juvenile male Wistar Kyoto rats were subjected to surgery that, compared with control arteries, provided arteries with chronic low flow and chronic high flow. Low flow resulted in a decreased passive lumen diameter, hypotrophy of the artery wall, and both loss and decreased size of SMCs.

Effect of mitogens on growth and contractile responses of rat small arteries: In vitro studies.

Rat mesenteric and epigastric small arteries were cultured to investigate influences of mitogens on contractility, proliferation and protein synthesis. Wistar rat arteries were cultured in serum-free Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium, first, for 24 h to equilibrate and then for a further 24-48 h either in the absence or presence of test substances: angiotensin II (AII), 1 microM; AII, 1 microM + platelet derived growth factor BB-chain (PDGF-BB), 1 ng mL-1; PDGF-BB, 1 ng mL-1; PDGF-BB, 30 ng mL-1. No mechanical stress was applied.

Neuropeptide Y regulates intracellular calcium through different signalling pathways linked to a Y(1)-receptor in rat mesenteric small arteries.

Simultaneous measurements of intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) and tension were performed to clarify whether the mechanisms which cause the neuropeptide Y (NPY)-elicited contraction and potentiation of noradrenaline contractions, and the NPY inhibition of forskolin responses are linked to a single or different NPY receptor(s) in rat mesenteric small arteries. In resting arteries, NPY moderately elevated [Ca(2+)](i) and tension. These effects were antagonized by the selective Y(1) receptor antagonist, (R)-N(2)-(diphenacetyl)-N-[(4-hydroxyphenyl)methyl]-D-argininea mide (BIBP 3226) (apparent pK(B) values of 8.

Mechanisms of Ca2+ sensitization of force production by noradrenaline in rat mesenteric small arteries.

1. Mechanisms of Ca2+ sensitization of force production by noradrenaline were investigated by measuring contractile responses, intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) and phosphorylation of the myosin light chain (MLC) in intact and alpha-toxin-permeabilized rat mesenteric small arteries. 2.

Interactions between neuropeptide Y and the adenylate cyclase pathway in rat mesenteric small arteries: role of membrane potential.

1. Simultaneous measurements of membrane potential and tension were performed to investigate the intracellular mechanisms of neuropeptide Y (NPY) in rat mesenteric small arteries. 2.

Turnover of acyl-CoA-binding protein in four different cell lines measured by using two-dimensional polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis.

Acyl-CoA-binding protein (ACBP), also named diazepam-binding inhibitor or endozepine, is a 10 kDa protein for which a surprisingly large number of biological activities has been suggested. Some of these would seem to require a rapid intracellular turnover of the protein. In this paper we report on the turnover of ACBP in cell lines derived from mouse, rat and man.