Perturbations of hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and adrenal androgen functions in rheumatoid arthritis: an odyssey of hormonal relationships to the disease.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a heterogeneous disease with a diverse spectrum of manifestations and course of illness. Multiple factors are believed to contribute to its etiology. Nevertheless, consistent features are observed across populations, which include (1) increased familial or immunogenetic risk in younger-onset disease; (2) female predisposition, particularly during child-bearing ages; (3) predictable clinical improvement during pregnancy and worsening postpartum; and (4) increased incidence with aging, which suggest that hormonal factors influence the disease.

Effect of systemic ethanol on basal and stimulated glutamate releases in the nucleus accumbens of freely moving Sprague-Dawley rats: a microdialysis study.

This study was conducted to assess the impact of systemic ethanol (EOH) on the glutamatergic transmission in the nucleus accumbens (NACC). Extracellular concentrations of glutamate (GLU) in the NACC of freely moving Sprague-Dawley rats were monitored by intracerebral microdialysis. Intraperitoneal injection of EOH at a dose of 2 g/kg significantly decreased basal extracellular GLU by 21%.

Polycystic kidney disease: an unrecognized emerging infectious disease?

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is one of the most common genetic diseases in humans. We contend that it may be an emerging infectious disease and/or microbial toxicosis in a vulnerable human subpopulation. Use of a differential activation protocol for the Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) assay showed bacterial endotoxin and fungal (1-->3)-beta-D-glucans in cyst fluids from human kidneys with PKD.

Antidepressants and seizures: clinical anecdotes overshadow neuroscience.

Pharmacological treatment of depression in persons with epilepsy has been an area of controversy because some drugs commonly are perceived specifically to induce or exacerbate seizures in patients with seizure disorders. This prevailing misconception is unjustified by scientific studies, yet it continues to prevent afflicted persons from receiving appropriate therapy. The scientific literature shows that tricyclic antidepressant drugs cause seizures in overdose in both animals and humans.

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with low dose methotrexate.

We describe 2 patients who developed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma during treatment with low dose methotrexate (MTX) for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A review of the literature identified 16 more cases published in English. Among these 18 patients, the mean RA duration was 16 yrs and lymphoma developed after a mean of 2.

Perturbations of hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis and adrenal androgen (AA) functions in rheumatoid arthritis.

The available evidence reviewed does not allow definitive response to the question of a primary versus secondary role of sex hormone perturbations in RA. However, this conclusion should not be discouraging in view of the relatively recent focus upon this facet of the physiopathogenesis of RA and the enormous complexities of sex hormone biology and this disease. Specifically, data on the incidence of RA as well as life cycle changes in serum androgenic-anabolic (A-A) and sex hormone levels suggest important risk correlations.

Focal ethanol elevates extracellular dopamine and serotonin concentrations in the rat ventral tegmental area.

The present study describes the effects of local perfusion with ethanol on extracellular dopamine and serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) concentrations in the ventral tegmental area. Various concentrations of ethanol in artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF) (0.1-10%, v/v) were administered through a microdialysis probe into the ventral tegmental area of freely moving Sprague-Dawley rats.

Strangulation injuries in children. Part 2. Cerebrovascular hemodynamics.

The cerebrovascular hemodynamics were recorded in two children with comparable hypoxic-ischemic injuries after strangulation. Monitoring was initiated within 13 hours of injury and continued for at least 38 hours. The profile included continuous measurements of cortical regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) with a subdural thermal diffusion probe, intracranial pressure, mean arterial pressure, and expired CO2 tension.

Strangulation injuries in children. Part 1. Clinical analysis.

Over the past 4 years, 7.4% of deaths caused by strangulation in Peoria County, Ill., involved children under 18 years of age.

Myelopathy associated with fibrocartilaginous emboli (FE): review and two suspected cases.

Background: Myelopathy secondary to fibrocartilaginous emboli is rarely reported and has been documented antemortem only once. The pathophysiology of fibrocartilaginous emboli lacks consensus, although the role of trauma has been previously entertained.

Methods: We reviewed the reported cases of myelopathy secondary to fibrocartilaginous emboli.

Anticonvulsant properties of D-20443 in genetically epilepsy-prone rats: prediction of clinical response.

D-20443 is an experimental antiepileptic drug. Its mechanism of antiepileptic action is unknown. We evaluated the anticonvulsant effectiveness of D-20443 against sound-induced seizures in genetically epilepsy-prone rats (GEPRs).

Further evidence of anticonvulsant role for 5-hydroxytryptamine in genetically epilepsy-prone rats.

1. This study was designed to evaluate further the role of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in regulating susceptibility and/or intensity of audiogenic seizures in genetically epilepsy-prone rats. 2.

The anticonvulsant effect of the broad spectrum anticonvulsant loreclezole may be mediated in part by serotonin in rats: a microdialysis study.

Loreclezole is an experimental anticonvulsant drug. We found previously that several established anticonvulsants increase extracellular serotonin as measured by microdialysis. We have concluded that the increase in extracellular serotonin and the anticonvulsant effect produced by these anticonvulsant drugs are related in a cause and effect manner.

Role of serotonin in the anticonvulsant effect of fluoxetine in genetically epilepsy-prone rats.

This study was designed to demonstrate a role of serotonin in the anticonvulsant effect of fluoxetine, a serotonin reuptake inhibitor, in genetically epilepsy-prone rats. When varied doses of 5-hydroxytryptophan (12.5, 25, 50 mg/kg) were administered i.

Diminished potassium-stimulated GABA release in vivo in genetically epilepsy-prone rats.

This experiment was conducted to assess the physiological relevance of observed changes in transmitter amino acid content in severe seizure genetically epilepsy-prone rats (GEPR-9s) by use of microdialysis. Adult male GEPR-9s and non-epileptic control rats were implanted with guide cannulae, and 6 mm (loop) dialysis probes were inserted unilaterally into rostral caudate and perfused with artificial cerebrospinal fluid. Each subject was perfused in the awake state with 100 or 150 mM K+ for 80 min in separate counterbalanced sessions, and 20-min fractions collected.

Does cognitive behavior therapy assist slow-taper alprazolam discontinuation in panic disorder?

Objective: The authors investigated whether cognitive behavioral treatment could facilitate discontinuation of alprazolam therapy and maintenance of drug abstinence among panic disorder patients treated with alprazolam doses sufficient to suppress spontaneous panic attacks.

Method: Twenty-one outpatients who met DSM-III-R criteria for panic disorder with mild to severe agoraphobia were made panic-free with alprazolam (mean dose = 2.2 mg/day) and were then randomly assigned to receive either supportive drug maintenance and slow, flexible drug taper or an identical medication treatment plus 12 weeks of concurrent, individual cognitive behavioral treatment.

Development of manipulation in capuchin monkeys during the first 6 months.

This study describes the orderly changes in manipulation over the first 6 months in capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella). By 6 months of age, all the basic forms of manipulation seen in adults have appeared. Actions that occur frequently in the first 8 weeks are gentle and involve sustained visual orientation and aimed reaching.

Evidence that a serotonergic mechanism is involved in the anticonvulsant effect of fluoxetine in genetically epilepsy-prone rats.

Fluoxetine (15 mg/kg i.p.) decreased the audiogenic seizure intensity in 33% of severe seizure genetically epilepsy-prone rats (GEPR-9s).

Antinuclear antibodies and connective tissue disease features in fibromyalgia syndrome: a controlled study.

Objective: The objective was to investigate the prevalence of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) and of connective tissue disease (CTD) features in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FS) compared with healthy, pain-free controls.

Methods: One hundred ninety-two patients with FS and 80 pain-free healthy controls were studied by a protocol that included features of FS and those of a CTD, e.g.

Choline incorporation into phospholipids in mesothelial cells in vitro.

Objective: To determine the effect of extracellular choline concentration on phospholipid production and handling by peritoneal mesothelial cells in vitro.

Design And Measurements: Radiolabeled choline was used to monitor the formation of phosphatidylcholine (PC), sphingomyelin (SPH), and lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) by rat and rabbit mesothelial cells as a function of concentration and time of exposure to choline. The subcellular location of the newly formed phospholipids was examined by ultracentrifugation in Percoll-sucrose gradients using analytical cell fractionation techniques.

Nicotinic acid-induced fulminant hepatic failure.

A 46-year-old man began taking nicotinic acid, 3 g daily, for hypercholesterolemia. A month later, he developed clinical and biochemical evidence of modest hepatocellular injury, and therapy was stopped. It was restarted 6 weeks later, and 10 weeks after that, the patient presented with fulminant hepatic failure, which resolved rapidly after cessation of nicotinic acid therapy.