Effects of perioperative intravenous ω-3 fatty acids in colon cancer patients: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Background: The postoperative inflammatory response contributes to tissue healing and recovery but overwhelming inflammation is associated with postoperative complications. n-3 (ω-3) PUFAs modulate inflammatory responses and may help to prevent a proinflammatory cascade.

Objectives: We aimed to investigate the effects of perioperative intravenous n-3 PUFAs on inflammatory cytokines in colon cancer surgery.

Intranasal administration of oxytocin decreases task-related aggressive responses in healthy young males.

Aggression and distrust are often challenging problems in mental health treatment. Converging evidence reveals that oxytocin increases trust in social interactions and decreases fear of social betrayal. However, oxytocin has also been associated with protective behavior and, as such, might increase defensive aggressive reactions.

Oxytocin, vasopressin and trust: Associations with aggressive behavior in healthy young males.

Oxytocin enhances trust during social interactions and reduces the tendency for social betrayal. Animal studies have revealed that oxytocin is also an important factor in the establishment and regulation of aggression, for which social interaction is a critical precondition. In humans, however, the effects of oxytocin appear more nuanced and influenced by social context and personality traits.

Multiple -glycosidases in human serum as detected with the substrate DNP-α-GalNAc. II. Three α--acetylgalactosaminidase-like activities in the pH 5 to 8 region.

With the substrate DNP-α-GalNAc (2,4-dinitrophenyl--acetyl-α-d-galactosaminide) three α--acetylgalactosaminidase-like activities could be distinguished in serum, in addition to the classical lysosomal enzyme (Naga, EC 3.2.1.

Multiple -glycosidases in human serum as detected with the substrate DNP-α-GalNAc. I. A new assay for lysosomal α--acetylgalactosaminidase.

This paper presents a new assay to determine the activity of the lysosomal enzyme α--acetylgalactosaminidase (Naga, EC 3.2.1.

Application of Innovative Hemocytometric Parameters and Algorithms for Improvement of Microcytic Anemia Discrimination.

Hemocytometric parameters like red blood cell (RBC) count, mean red blood cell volume (MCV), reticulocyte count, red blood cell distribution width (RDW-SD) and zinc protoporphyrin (ZPP) are frequently established for discrimination between iron-deficiency anemia and thalassemia in subjects with microcytic erythropoiesis. However, no single marker or combination of tests is optimal for discrimination between iron-deficiency anemia and thalassemia. This is the reason why many algorithms have been introduced.

Salivary Testosterone Is Consistently and Positively Associated with Extraversion: Results from The Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety.

Background: Testosterone has been postulated as a 'social' hormone, but the relationship between testosterone and personality traits linked with socially oriented behaviors such as extraversion remains unclear. The objective of our study was to investigate the association between baseline salivary testosterone levels and the Big Five personality traits.

Methods: We studied the relationship between salivary testosterone (morning and evening) and NEO-FFI (Five-Factor Inventory) personality traits in 1,611 participants with lifetime or current depression and/or anxiety and 482 participants without depression/anxiety of the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (NESDA).

Validation and evaluation of eight commercially available point of care CRP methods.

Background: There are several situations compelling to measure CRP with a point of care (POC) method. Assay performance of various available POC CRP methods were evaluated as analytical quality is important and should be known before clinical use.

Methods: We compared 2 semi-quantitative strips; Actim and Cleartest and 6 quantitative CRP tests; Afinion, QuikRead go, Smart, iChroma, Microsemi and AQT90 Flex to the Synchron CRP method, using the CLSI EP9 protocol.

Carbamylation of albumin is a cause for discrepancies between albumin assays.

Background: Several investigators have reported discrepancies between the bromocresol-purple (BCP), bromocresol-green (BCG) and immunonephelometric (INP) assays in dialysis patients. This study compared the abovementioned assays and investigated whether hemodialysis itself or carbamylation of albumin is the cause for this discrepancy.

Methods: Samples obtained from hemodialysis patients were analyzed by BCP, BCG and INP.

New fluorescent method (PLT-F) on Sysmex XN2000 hematology analyzer achieved higher accuracy in low platelet counting.

Objectives: In thrombocytopenia, high accuracy and precision of low platelet count is essential for appropriate decisions. The recently introduced Sysmex XN2000 analyzer (Sysmex, Kobe, Japan) offers 3 methods for platelet counting: impedance (PLT-I), optical (PLT-O), and a new fluorescence method (PLT-F). The precision of the PLT-F method in blood samples with platelet counts less than 50 × 10(3)/μL (50 × 10(9)/L) was investigated and compared with the ICSH CD61-ImmunoPLT reference method.

Salivary α-amylase and intended harsh caregiving in response to infant crying: evidence for physiological hyperreactivity.

This is the first study on adults' physiological reactivity to infant cry sounds and the association with intended harsh parenting using salivary α-amylase (sAA) as a novel and noninvasive marker of autonomic nervous system activity. The sample consisted of 184 adult twin pairs. In an experimental design, cry sounds were presented and adults' perception and their intended caregiving responses were measured.

Levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in familial longevity: the Leiden Longevity Study.

Background: Low levels of 25(OH) vitamin D are associated with various age-related diseases and mortality, but causality has not been determined. We investigated vitamin D levels in the offspring of nonagenarians who had at least one nonagenarian sibling; these offspring have a lower prevalence of age-related diseases and a higher propensity to reach old age compared with their partners.

Methods: We assessed anthropometric characteristics, 25(OH) vitamin D levels, parathyroid hormone levels, dietary vitamin D intake and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with vitamin D levels.

Salivary testosterone: associations with depression, anxiety disorders, and antidepressant use in a large cohort study.

Objective: Low circulating levels of testosterone have been associated with major depression, but there is more limited evidence for differences in patients with anxiety disorders. The use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and other antidepressants is associated with sexual side effects, warranting testing for interactions with testosterone.

Methods: Data are from 722 male and 1380 female participants of The Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (NESDA), who were recruited from the community, general practice care, and specialized mental health care.

UVA1 radiation inhibits calcineurin through oxidative damage mediated by photosensitization.

The protein phosphatase calcineurin has been gradually revealing itself as the central controller of our immune response, although it is involved in a wide array of signaling pathways related to cellular development and cell cycle progression. As such, calcineurin is an attractive, yet delicate, therapeutic target for the prevention of allograft rejection and treatment of several inflammatory skin conditions. However, calcineurin activity is not only sensitive to immunosuppressants such as cyclosporin A and tacrolimus, but also subject to modulation by reactive oxygen species.

C-reactive protein polymorphisms are associated with the cortisol awakening response in basal conditions in human subjects.

Cortisol affects the acute-phase response, but it is unknown whether C-reactive protein (CRP), an acute-phase reactant, also affects hypothalamus?pituitary?adrenal axis activity. In the present study, associations were explored between CRP haplotypes with plasma CRP concentrations and basal salivary cortisol level. We included 266 physically healthy Caucasian subjects (103 females and 163 males) aged between 18 and 65 years of whom 94 had a psychiatric disorder in a genetic association study.

A spectrophotometric assay for routine measurement of mammalian target of rapamycin activity in cell lysates.

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is an important mediator in the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. mTOR is the target of immunosuppressive drugs, such as rapamycin and everolimus, that are used in transplant patients but also for the treatment of various cancers. We have developed a method for mTOR activity measurement in cell lysates that measures the phosphorylation of p70 S6 kinase by an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) protocol.

Trauma exposure and hypothalamic-pituitary- adrenal axis functioning in mentally healthy Dutch peacekeeping veterans, 10-25 years after deployment.

Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis alterations have been found in veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is unclear whether trauma exposure during adulthood in the absence of psychopathology is also associated with HPA-axis dysregulation. Thirty-six trauma-exposed peacekeepers, 23 nonexposed peacekeepers, and 25 nonexposed civilians, all without lifetime psychopathology were studied.

Associations between serum lipids and major depressive disorder: results from the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (NESDA).

Background: Several studies have suggested an association between lipids or lipoproteins and depression, but findings are contradictory. However, previous studies did not always take into consideration potentially mediating factors or heterogeneity of symptoms, which may clarify contradicting findings.

Method: We compared levels of serum total, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and triglyceride between 761 subjects with current major depressive disorder (MDD) (Composite International Diagnostic Interview, based on the DSM-IV), 1,071 subjects with remitted MDD, and 629 controls, aged 18 to 65 years.

Pharmacodynamic monitoring of calcineurin inhibition therapy: principles, performance, and perspectives.

The calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) cyclosporin A and tacrolimus are immunosuppressive drugs used extensively in allograft recipients. These drugs show large interindividual pharmacokinetic variation and are associated with severe adverse affects, including nephrotoxicity and cardiovascular disease. In current practice, CNIs are combined with other immunosuppressive drugs such as steroids and mycophenolate mofetil.

Effects of ultraviolet A-1 radiation on calcineurin activity and cytokine production in (skin) cell cultures.

Calcineurin (Cn) is the target of immunosuppressive drugs used for maintenance therapy of transplant patients. UV radiation is also known to be immunosuppressive and, like the Cn inhibitors, UV has been shown to positively influence various inflammatory skin diseases. Recently, Cn activity has been demonstrated in skin and skin cell cultures.