Association study of BDNF and CNTF polymorphism to depression in non-demented subjects of the "VITA" study.

BACKGROUND: Neurotrophic factors are known to play an important role in the survival and differentiation of many types of neurons during development. Both brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) may act cooperatively in modulating the development and functioning of synapses. Both these neurotrophic factors were intensely investigated with regard to depression without conclusive results. METHODS: We have investigated the possible use of both CNTF null-mutation and BDNF polymorphism C270T as biomarkers for depression in the Vienna Transdanube Aging (VITA) study. The VITA is a prospective community-based cohort study of all 75 years old inhabitants of a geographical region of Vienna. RESULTS: We found no association between CNTF null-mutation and BDNF C270T polymorphism to any depressive symptoms after exclusion of demented subjects. CONCLUSION: These results call in question the hypothesis that either BDNF or CNTF can be used as molecular markers for depression or late onset depression in the elderly.

Physical and motor development in male and female rat offspring prenatally exposed to gamma radiation.

The effects of radiation on physical and motor development of male and female rats exposed to ionizing radiation in utero were studied. Rats were exposed to three different doses of radiation (150 rad, 15 rad and 6.8 rad, considered as high, moderate and low doses of radiation respectively) on the 20th day of prenatal life. Exposure to 150 rad contributed to significantly lower body weights of both male and female rat offspring. Upper jaw tooth eruption was delayed in 150 rad treated male offspring, as well as in 15 rad and 150 rad treated female offspring. Cliff-avoidance response was delayed in 6.8 rad, 15 rad, and 150 rad treated male offspring; and 150 rad treated female offspring. Lower jaw tooth eruption, eye opening, and crawling were not affected by radiation in male or female animals. Results indicate that radiation affected the developmental parameters of both male and female rat offspring, and sex of the offspring played no role in the magnitude of radiation induced damages.

The effect of Trendelenburg and modified trendelenburg positions on cardiac output, blood pressure, and oxygenation: a preliminary study.

BACKGROUND: Although we have insufficient knowledge about the effects of Trendelenburg positions on various hemodynamic parameters, these positions are frequently used to influence cardiac output and blood pressure in critically ill patients. OBJECTIVES: To determine the effect of Trendelenburg and modified Trendelenburg positions on five dependent variables: cardiac output, cardiac index, mean arterial pressure, systemic vascular resistance, and oxygenation in critically ill patients. METHODS: In this preliminary study subjects were 23 cardiac surgery patients (mean age, 55; SD, 8.09) who had a pulmonary artery catheter for cardiac output determination and who were clinically stable, normovolemic and normotensive. Baseline measurements of the dependent variables were taken in the supine position. Patients were then placed in 10 degrees Trendelenburg or 30 degrees modified Trendelenburg position. The dependent variables were measured after 10 minutes in each position. A 2-period, 2-treatment crossover design with a preliminary baseline measurement was used. RESULTS: Five subjects were unable to tolerate Trendelenburg position because of nausea or pain in the sternal incision. In the 18 who were able to tolerate both position changes, no statistically significant changes were found in the five dependent variables. Changes in systemic vascular resistance over time approached statistical significance and warrant further study. CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary study does not provide support for Trendelenburg positions as a means to influence hemodynamic parameters such as cardiac output and blood pressure in normovolemic and normotensive patients.

Locomotion and physical development in rats treated with ionizing radiation in utero.

Effects of ionizing radiation on the emergence of locomotor skill, and physical development were studied in laboratory rats (Fisher F-344 inbred strain). Rats were treated with 3 different doses of radiation (150 rad, 15 rad, and 6.8 rad) delivered on the 20th day of prenatal life. Results indicated that relatively moderate (15 rad) to high (150 rad) doses of radiation had effects on certain locomotion and physical development parameters. Exposure to 150 rad delayed pivoting, cliff-avoidance, upper jaw tooth eruption, and decreased body weights. Other parameters, such as negative geotaxis, eye opening, and lower jaw tooth eruption were marginally delayed in the 150 rad treated animals. Exposure to 15 rad delayed pivoting and cliff-avoidance.

Brain myelination in rats treated with ionizing radiation in utero.

Effects of ionizing radiation on brain myelination and some physical development parameters were studied in laboratory rats (Fisher F-344 inbred strain). Rats were treated with three different doses of radiation (150 rad, 15 rad, and 6.8 rad) delivered on the 20th day of prenatal life. Exposure to 150 rad reduced body, brain, ovary, kidney, heart and spleen weights. Prenatal exposure to 150 rad of radiation reduced the cerebral cortex weight by 22 percent at 30 days of age, and 20 percent at 52 days of age which caused a reduction in cerebral cortex myelin content by 20 and 23 percent at the ages of 30 and 52 days respectively. This dose did not affect the myelin content of the cerebellum or the brain stem, or the myelin concentration (mg myelin/g brain tissue) of the cerebral cortex, cerebellum, and the brain stem. The cerebral cortex weight of the 15 rad treated rats was reduced at the age of 30 days. Exposure to 15 rad, and 6.8 rad did not affect either the myelin content or the myelin concentration of these brain areas.

Cardiac myxomas. Diagnosis, surgical excision, and nursing care.

Diagnosis of cardiac myxoma is rare, but one that prompts expeditious action by the cardiac surgical service. It is one form of acquired heart disease for which surgical intervention can result in a cure. Perioperative nursing care plays an important part in helping the patient and family cope with this urgent situation.

Cadmium content in selected rat tissues following treatments with cadmium chloride and/or gamma radiation.

This study was conducted to determine concentrations of cadmium (Cd) in various rat tissues; radiation effectiveness on Cd concentrations in rat tissues; and Cd effectiveness when radiation was applied as the second insult. Animals were subjected to Cd over a 29-day period and on Day 30 were exposed to an acute dose of 60Co gamma-ray. Rats were killed on Day 1, 7, or 21 following irradiation. Cd concentrations were determined by flame spectroscopy. Rats injected with Cd alone or Cd in combination with radiation showed a dose-dependent accumulation and retention of the metal in the liver and kidney over the intervals to sacrifice. Significantly smaller amounts of the metal were seen in the spleen, intestine, stomach, heart, testis, lung, blood, brain, and muscle. Generally, Cd did not afford protection against radiation in the tissues studied. Radiation, when used singly or as a coinsult with Cd, did not significantly alter the concentrations of Cd in any of the tissues studied except the heart, in which it contributed to the clearance of Cd. No synergistic or antagonistic effects were observed between Cd and ionizing radiation in any of the other tissues studied.

Interaction of cadmium chloride and gamma irradiation on blood parameters of the young adult rat.

Two hundred and sixteen male Sprague-Dawley (S-D) rats, 80 +/- 5 days old and weighing 220-250 g each, were assigned at random to nine groups of 24 rats each. Rats were injected with cadmium (Cd) intraperitoneally every 3 days for 29 days for a total of nine injections. Injections doses were 0, 1.0, or 2.5 mg Cd kg-1 body wt. Twenty-four hours after the last Cd injection (Day 30), each rat received an acute whole-body 60Co gamma radiation dose of 0, 3.62, or 5.43 Gray (Gy) at a dose rate of 33.04 Gy min-1. The irradiated groups exhibited significant decreases in the total number of white blood cells (WBCs) and the percentage of lymphocytes. Significant increases were seen in the percentage of polyneutrophils, serum triacylglycerols (TG), serum iron, and serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Cd-treated groups had increased total WBCs, percentage of polyneutrophils, and serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT). Significant decreases were observed in the percentage of lymphocytes, hemoglobin, total number of red blood cells (RBCs), and hematocrit. In the co-insult, significant decreases were seen in the total number of WBCs and RBCs, the percentage of lymphocytes, hemoglobin, and hematocrit. Significant increases were observed in the percentage of polyneutrophils and serum iron. In general, Cd acted as a debilitator which enhanced the overall effect of ionizing radiation when applied as the second insult. On the other hand, Cd also provided protection against radiation; that is, some parameters such as total WBCs, serum TG, serum iron, and serum LDH were not as adversely affected by the co-insult as when radiation only was used. The mechanism of this Cd anomaly is not known.

Developmental and methylmercury effects on brain protein synthesis.

Sprague-Dawley rats (ages 1 to 21 days, alternate days) were chosen for study. Animals were injected with methylmercuric chloride (8 mg/kg IP); 12 hr later each animal was injected with uniformly labeled L-(14C)leucine, allowed 30 min for incorporation, and decapitated. Brains were analyzed for amounts of radioactivity incorporated into TCA precipitable protein. When compared to baseline curves for control animals, curves of treated animals were compressed overall and had age-dependent increases and decreases in rates of protein synthesis.