Behavioral stress and activated serotonergic neurotransmission induce XBP-1 splicing in the rat brain.

The splicing of 26 nucleotides in the coding region of the X-box binding protein-1 (XBP-1) transcript to generate a mature active transcription factor is a part of the unfolded protein response to intracellular endoplasmic reticulum stress. In this study, we demonstrated that XBP-1 splicing is promptly induced in the rat brain including the hippocampus by both inescapable electric foot shock (IS) and pharmacologically manipulated activation of 5-hydroxytryptamine release in a dose-dependent manner. By administering ketanserin, a 5-hydroxytryptamine 2A antagonist, however, we could only partially block the increased splicing by IS and observed that the splicing was not influenced by lithium carbonate pretreatment.

Electroencephalogram-triggered functional magnetic resonance imaging in focal epilepsy.

The high spatial resolution and cost performance of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is useful for estimating focus localization in epilepsy, but this is difficult in the case of ictal fMRI because this is susceptible to motion artifacts. Electroencephalogram (EEG)-triggered fMRI, which is interictal, can be performed without marked movement and is thought to be useful, but requires further investigation in order to establish a methodology. The authors studied EEG-triggered fMRI in partial epileptic patients.

ECT for the treatment of psychiatric symptoms in Basedow's disease.

To treat psychiatric symptoms associated with hyperthyroidism, we administered electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) to a patient with Basedow's disease. After unsuccessful treatment with an oral antithyroid drug, neuroleptics, and mood stabilizer, the patient recovered completely after three ECTs and did not relapse in the 40-day follow-up period. Although hyperthyroidism has been considered to induce psychiatric symptoms by enhancement of the sensitivity and turnover in catecholaminergic neurotransmission, we suggest another possible mechanism, involving translational and activational regulation of functional proteins in the brain.