How should the clinician evaluate and manage the cardiovascular complications of anorexia nervosa?

Five to twenty percent of patients with anorexia nervosa die from their illness. One half of those patients die of medical complications (Steinhavsen, 2002). Malnutrition, dehydration, and electrolyte abnormalities may precipitate death by inducing heart failure or fatal arrhythmias.

Parent reasons for nonreturn to a pediatric weight management program.

To identify parent reasons for lack of return to a weight management program, a questionnaire was sent to 85 families who attended two or fewer visits; 43 families completed the questionnaire. A total of 37% reported that the program was not what they were looking for. Specifically, they were dissatisfied with the staff or treatment focus.

Activation of AP-1 through reactive oxygen species by angiotensin II in rat cardiomyocytes.

Cardiovascular pathogenesis induced by angiotensin II (Ang-II) is a complex process often connected to oxidative stress. In the present study we show that, 4 h after addition, Ang-II induces a four- to fivefold increase in AP-1 activity in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes and that the intracellular level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) correlates with the extent of AP-1 binding activity. Ang-II stimulated ROS generation in rat cardiomyocytes in a dose- and time-dependent manner.

Adolescents' compliance with return visits for depot medroxyprogesterone initiation.

Study Objectives: To determine if and when female adolescents choosing depot medroxyprogesterone would return for a second visit for initiation of the method.

Design/setting: Retrospective chart review at an adolescent clinic in an urban health department in St. Louis, MO.

GABAA receptor-expressing astrocytes in the supraoptic nucleus lack glutamate uptake and receptor currents.

An important function of astrocytes is the clearance of excess extracellular glutamate via specific carriers whose expression has become an astrocytic marker. In the present study, we found that a large population of astrocytes in the supraoptic nucleus (SON) of the rat hypothalamus lacks glutamate uptake currents and receptor responses but expresses GABAA receptors. Patch clamp recordings in acute hypothalamic slices that included the SON showed typical astrocytic membrane currents and demonstrated that GABA, via GABAA receptor activation, triggered a conductance increase with the reversal potential close to the Cl- equilibrium potential and a decrease in resting K+ conductance.

Elevation of basal intracellular calcium as a central element in the activation of brain macrophages (microglia): suppression of receptor-evoked calcium signaling and control of release function.

Microglia-brain macrophages are immune-competent cells of the CNS and respond to pathologic events. Using bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) as a tool to activate cultured mouse microglia, we studied alterations in the intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca 2+]i) and in the receptor-evoked generation of transient calcium signals. LPS treatment led to a chronic elevation of basal [Ca 2+]i along with a suppression of evoked calcium signaling, as indicated by reduced [Ca 2+]i transients during stimulation with UTP and complement factor 5a.

Astrocyte Ca2+ waves trigger responses in microglial cells in brain slices.

Pathologic impacts in the brain lead to a widespread activation of microglial cells far beyond the site of injury. Here, we demonstrate that glial Ca2+ waves can trigger responses in microglial cells. We elicited Ca2+ waves in corpus callosum glial cells by electrical stimulation or local adenosine triphosphate (ATP) ejection in acute brain slices.

GFAP promoter-controlled EGFP-expressing transgenic mice: a tool to visualize astrocytes and astrogliosis in living brain tissue.

We have generated transgenic mice in which astrocytes are labeled by the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) under the control of the human glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) promoter. In all regions of the CNS, such as cortex, cerebellum, striatum, corpus callosum, hippocampus, retina, and spinal cord, EGFP-positive cells with morphological properties of astrocytes could be readily visualized by direct fluorescence microscopy in living brain slices or whole mounts. Also in the PNS, nonmyelinating Schwann cells from the sciatic nerve could be identified by their bright green fluorescence.

Distinct physiologic properties of microglia and blood-borne cells in rat brain slices after permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion.

The authors investigated the time course of leukocyte infiltration compared with microglial activation in adult rat brain slices after permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). To distinguish peripheral leukocytes from microglia, the blood cells were prelabeled in vivo with Rhodamine 6G (Rhod6G) i.v.

Incorporation of N-propanoylneuraminic acid leads to calcium oscillations in oligodendrocytes upon the application of GABA.

Sialylation of glycoproteins and glycolipids plays an important role during development, regeneration and pathogenesis. It has been shown that unnatural sialylation within glial cell cultures can have distinct effects on their proliferation and antigenic profiles. These cultures metabolize N-propanoylmannosamine (N-propanoylneuraminic acid precursor=P-NAP), a synthetic non-physiological precursor of neuraminic acid, resulting in the expression of N-propanoylneuraminic acid in glycoconjugates of their cell membranes [Schmidt, C.

Regionally distinct regulation of astroglial neurotransmitter receptors by fibroblast growth factor-2.

Fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2 is an abundant astroglial cytokine. We have previously shown that FGF-2 downregulates gap junctions in primary astroglial cultures (B. Reuss et al.

Purification and analysis of in vivo-differentiated oligodendrocytes expressing the green fluorescent protein.

A complete understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in the formation and repair of the central nervous system myelin sheath requires an unambiguous identification and isolation of in vivo-differentiated myelin-forming cells. In order to develop a novel tool for the analysis of in vivo-differentiated oligodendrocytes, we generated transgenic mice expressing a red-shifted variant of the green fluorescent protein under the control of the proteolipid protein promoter. We demonstrate here that green fluorescent protein-derived fluorescence in the central nervous system of 9-day- to 7-week-old mice is restricted to mature oligodendrocytes, as determined by its spatiotemporal appearance and by both immunocytochemical and electrophysiological criteria.

Diagnosis of Trichomonas vaginalis in adolescent females: InPouch TV culture versus wet-mount microscopy.

Purpose: This study compared the InPouch TV culture to wet-mount, Diamond's culture medium, and Papanicolaou (Pap) smear for the diagnosis of trichomonas infection in sexually active adolescents.

Methods: A total of 467 subjects were recruited among 12-18-year-old girls who received pelvic examinations at two urban adolescent clinics. All girls were tested by wet-mount and InPouch TV.

Analysis of motile oligodendrocyte precursor cells in vitro and in brain slices.

Oligodendrocyte precursor cells are purported to migrate over long distances into the various brain regions where they differentiate into oligodendrocytes and fulfill their appropriate tasks, i.e., myelination of axons.

Expression of myelin-associated glycoprotein transcripts in murine oligodendrocytes.

The recognition molecule myelin-associated glycoprotein is expressed by oligodendrocytes, the myelinating cells of the central nervous system. The myelin-associated glycoprotein gene gives rise to two alternatively spliced transcript variants ("early" and "late" message) which are developmentally regulated. In this study, using mice, we investigated whether both transcripts can be expressed in an individual oligodendrocyte or whether different oligodendrocyte populations exist expressing either one or the other myelin-associated glycoprotein messenger RNA.

Intracellular pH regulation in cultured microglial cells from mouse brain.

Intracellular pH (pHi) and the mechanisms of pHi regulation have been investigated in cultured microglial cells from mouse brain using the pH-sensitive fluorescent dye 2',7'-bis-(2-carboxyethyl)-5-(6)-carboxyfluorescein (BCECF). Cells were acidified by a pulse of NH4+ (4-5 min; 20 mM) and the subsequent pHi recovery from an acidification was studied. In HCO3(-)-free saline, pH regulation was dependent on extracellular [Na+] and sensitive to amiloride, indicating the involvement of the Na+/H+ exchanger.

Modulation of potassium currents in cultured murine microglial cells by receptor activation and intracellular pathways.

The electrophysiological properties of ameboid microglia from rodent brain are dominated by inwardly rectifying potassium channels and by the lack of outward currents. This channel pattern results in a distinct physiological behavior: depolarizing events, e.g.

Adult rat optic nerve oligodendrocyte progenitor cells express a distinct repertoire of voltage- and ligand-gated ion channels.

Cultured oligodendrocyte progenitor cells derived from the developing central nervous system (CNS) express a pattern of ion channels that is distinct from mature oligodendrocytes and other cell types of the CNS. In the present study, we used the whole-cell patch-clamp technique and the fura-2-based Ca++ imaging system to study the ion channel expression of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells derived from the optic nerves of adult rats. We found that the adult oligodendrocyte progenitor cell membrane is dominated by K+ currents, both delayed outward and inward rectifying.

AMPA/kainate receptor activation in murine oligodendrocyte precursor cells leads to activation of a cation conductance, calcium influx and blockade of delayed rectifying K+ channels.

Studies during the last few years have shown that glial cells can express a large repertoire of neurotransmitter receptors. In this study, we have characterized the properties of a glutamate receptor in oligodendrocytes and their precursor cells from cultures of mouse brain, using the patch-clamp technique to measure ligand-activated currents and a fura-2 imaging system to determine changes in free cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i). The precursor cells were identified by their characteristic morphology and their voltage-gated currents as described previously [Sontheimer H.

Extracellular ATP-induced currents in astrocytes: involvement of a cation channel.

Whole-cell currents were measured with the perforated patch clamp technique in cultured rat astrocytes to analyze the underlying ionic mechanism for a P2-purinoceptor-mediated depolarization. ATP (100 microM) induced an inward current with a mean amplitude of 130 pA and an EC50 of 17 microM. The response desensitized during a 1 min application.

Extracellular ATP activates a cation conductance and a K+ conductance in cultured microglial cells from mouse brain.

Microglial cells have important functions during regenerative processes after brain injury. It is well established that they rapidly respond to damage to the brain tissue. Stages of activation are associated with changes of cellular properties such as proliferation rate or expression of surface antigens.

NMDA-activated currents in Bergmann glial cells.

NMDA receptors play a crucial role in synaptic plasticity of the central nervous system and were thought to be exclusive to neurones. In this study we provide evidence that Bergmann glial cells from mouse cerebellar slices show intrinsic responses to NMDA. As in neurones, NMDA increased membrane conductance and the responses were blocked by the NMDA antagonist ketamine, but not by the non-NMDA glutamate receptor antagonist CNQX.