ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Proinflammatory cytokines have been reported to be elevated in individuals experiencing chronic stress as well as in those with major depressive disorder. Much less is known about cytokines in anxiety disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and panic disorder (PD). We hypothesized that PD and PTSD would be associated with a generalized proinflammatory cytokine signature. METHOD: We utilized Luminex technology to examine 20 cytokines and chemokines in serum from 48 well-characterized individuals with a primary DSM-IV PD or PTSD diagnosis, and 48 age- and gender-matched healthy controls. We conservatively employed a Bonferroni correction for multiple testing (alpha=.05/20=.0025). RESULTS: Individuals with primary PTSD or PD had significantly elevated median peripheral cytokine levels for 18 of 20 different cytokines compared to age- and gender-matched healthy controls (all P<.0025). To assess for the presence of a generalized proinflammatory state, we also examined the proportion of subjects with detectable levels of at least six of nine common proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines (IL-6, IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, IL-8, MCP-1, MIP-1alpha, Eotaxin, GM-CSF, and IFN-alpha). For men and women, 87% of anxiety patients had six or more detectable levels of these proinflammatory cytokines, compared with only 25% of controls (Fisher's Exact Test (FET) P=.000). Confirmatory analysis of the subset of individuals without current psychiatric medication use or comorbid depression was of comparable significance. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that a generalized inflammatory state may be present in individuals with PD or PTSD.
Subject(s)
Cytokines/blood , Panic Disorder/immunology , Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/immunology , Adult , Agoraphobia/immunology , Agoraphobia/psychology , Chemokines/blood , Female , Humans , Inflammation/immunology , Inflammation/psychology , Inflammation Mediators/blood , Male , Middle Aged , Panic Disorder/psychology , Reference Values , Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/psychologyABSTRACT
A survey for Babesia microti in rodents was conducted at six sites within Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming. Blood and spleen smears, hematocrits, and reticulocyte counts were made on all of the animals to evaluate parameters for the diagnosis of babesiosis. Ticks were removed for identification. Of 257 Microtus montanus, 103 were infected with B. microti. In addition, five of 12 Microtus pennsylvanicus and one of three Arvicola richardsoni were parasitized by B. microti. Peromyscus maniculatus (n = 40) were not infected. Concurrent infections by Hepatozoon sp., Trypanosoma sp., and the bacterium, Grahamella sp., were noted in blood smears from a number of M. montanus. Splenomegaly and reticulocytosis were significant parameters associated with babesiosis while decreased hematocrit was not. Ticks removed from the voles were identified as Ixodes eastoni and were the probable vectors of the B. microti.
Subject(s)
Arvicolinae , Babesiosis/parasitology , Reticulocytes , Rodent Diseases/parasitology , Splenomegaly/veterinary , Animals , Arthropod Vectors , Babesia/isolation & purification , Babesia/ultrastructure , Babesiosis/diagnosis , Babesiosis/epidemiology , Cell Count , Disease Reservoirs , Incidence , Rodent Diseases/diagnosis , Rodent Diseases/epidemiology , Spleen/parasitology , Splenomegaly/diagnosis , Splenomegaly/epidemiology , Splenomegaly/parasitologyABSTRACT
Maternal physiological responses to exercise during pregnancy and post-partum were studied. The results indicated that: (a) the maternal submaximal oxygen consumption (1/min) at a constant heart rate remained essentially unchanged during the last two trimesters of pregnancy and eight months post-partum, (b) the fetal heart rate returned to near-baseline levels within a two-minute exercise recovery, and (c) the infant birth data were all within the normal range. It would appear that moderate aerobic exercise during pregnancy may be done without apparent harm to either mother or baby, and could possibly benefit the mother by maintaining her aerobic fitness during pregnancy.
Subject(s)
Exercise/physiology , Oxygen Consumption , Postpartum Period/physiology , Pregnancy/physiology , Adult , Exercise Test , Female , Fetal Heart/physiology , Heart Rate , Humans , Physical Fitness/physiologyABSTRACT
1. The incorporation of [2-(14)C]mevalonic acid by Chloropseudomonas ethylica strain 2K into chlorobactene was studied. 2. Oxidative degradation of chlorobactene of constant specific radioactivity produced labelled benzenecarboxylic acids and indicated that the benzene ring originates from mevalonic acid. 3. Decarboxylation studies demonstrated a stereospecific methyl migration in the formation of the 1,2,5-trimethylphenyl group of chlorobactene. The migrating methyl group was derived from the C-3' position of mevalonic acid.
