Relationship between stress hormones and immune response during high-altitude exposure in women.

We previously confirmed that high altitude (HA) exposure can modify the number and function of immune cells, leading to a disruption in the homeostatic regulation of T helper1 (Th1)/T helper2 (Th2) immune responses. Our aim was to evaluate possible relationships between the stress response and immunological parameters during HA exposure. Thirteen healthy women spent 21 days at 5050 m. Before (SL1), the first and the 21st day at HA (HA1 and HA2, respectively), and the day after returning at sea level (SL2), we collected blood samples for immunologic parameters, and 24-h urine samples for norepinephrine, epinephrine, and cortisol. Norepinephrine and cortisol significantly increased (p<0.01) at HA1 and HA2 compared to SL1, while epinephrine did not change. At HA1, CD3+ T-cell fell significantly (p<0.001) with respect to SL1, owing to a significant (p<0.001) CD4+ T-cell reduction, while CD16+ and CD56+ increased (p<0.001) at HA2 compared to SL1. The expression of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) decreased (p<0.0005) at HA1 and HA2 with respect to SL1. At HA1 different lymphocyte subset (CD3+, CD4+, CD19+) were well correlated with epinephrine (p<0.05), whereas in analyzing the combined data (SL1-HA1-HA2-SL2), CD3+ (r=-0.310), CD4+ (r=-0.332), CD16+ (r=0.404), and CD56+ (r=0.373) demonstrated moderate but significant correlations (p<0.05) with norepinephrine. Moreover, norepinephrine levels were inversely correlated (r=-0.591; p<0.001) with IFN-gamma expression, a typical Th1 cytokine. We suggest that the sympatho-adrenal axis may have a role on the immunologic adaptations observed during HA exposure, and specifically on the observed impairment of the Th1/Th2 immune balance.

Signal transduction pathways and haem oxygenase induction in soybean leaves subjected to salt stress.

We have previously demonstrated that the induction of haem oxygenase-1 (EC 1.14.99.3) plays a protective role for soybean plants against cadmium and UV-B stress. Here, we have investigated the possible signal transduction pathways involved in haem oxygenase-1 induction in leaves of soybean plants subjected to salt stress. Treatment with 100 mM NaCl during 48 h increased thiobarbituric acid reactive substances by 30%, whereas GSH decreased by 50%, with respect to controls. These effects were prevented by pre-incubation with diphenyleneiodonium (DPI; an NADPH oxidase inhibitor), [1,2,4]oxadiazolo-[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ; a guanylate cyclase inhibitor) or LaCl3 (calcium channel blocker). NaCl at 100 mM produced in situ accumulation of H2O2 and O2*-, which were also prevented by DPI, ODQ or LaCl3. Moreover, salt-induced haem oxygenase-1 activity was also totally abolished by pretreatment with the different inhibitors. These results clearly demonstrated that the signal transduction pathways involved in oxidative stress triggered by salt stress were similar to those implicated in haem oxygenase-1 induction, and provide additional information suggesting that haem oxygenase might play a key role in the antioxidative protection machinery of higher plants.

Acute psychosis associated with oral trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole therapy.

A 74 year old woman became progressively confused and developed visual hallucinations and delusions over a six day period, after the institution of routine oral trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole therapy for a urinary tract infection. The medication was discontinued, and a marked improvement was noted 36 hours later. There was a complete return to normal mental functioning 60 hours after therapy was discontinued. The relationship between the patient's symptoms with the initiation and discontinuation of the medication suggests that the drug had a causal effect.

The attitudes toward committal of patients hospitalized in a psychiatric facility for the first time.

This study examines the attitudes toward committal of patients admitted to a psychiatric facility for the first time. Sixteen patients, from a group of 28 patients consecutively admitted to hospital on an Ontario Form 1 certificate were able to complete a satisfactory interview. In general, patients viewed the committal procedure favourably. They endorsed medical professionals as being best qualified to institute the committal procedure. A discrepancy between behaviour documented on the committal form and the patients' own perception of their mental state at the time of committal was noted. These findings are discussed with reference to previous research on civil commitment.

Screening for psychiatric illness in patients with oral dysesthesia by means of the General Health Questionnaire--twenty-eight item version (GHQ-28) and the Irritability, Depression and Anxiety Scale (IDA).

Thirty-one consecutive subjects suffering from oral dysesthesia and without detectable organic disease were seen in a university outpatient dental clinic. They were assessed with a screening test for psychiatric illness, the General Health Questionnaire, 28-item version (GHQ-28). Twelve subjects also completed the Irritability, Depression and Anxiety Scale (IDA). At the 4/5 cutoff on the GHQ, 51.9% of the patients showed evidence of psychiatric illness. The IDA appeared to be more sensitive than the GHQ-28 in terms of detecting psychiatric illness, especially depression, and 75% of the 12 subjects who completed both scales were found to be depressed on the IDA. These results were compared to results obtained by another cross-sectional study of different types of pain clinics in which the same scales were used to screen for psychiatric illness. The subjects with oral dysesthesia as measured by the IDA appeared to have psychiatric illness more often than the other subjects with chronic pain, except those attending a psychiatric clinic. The GHQ-28 results on the other hand showed less psychiatric illness in the latter group. Our findings indicate that psychiatric illness, especially depression, may play an important role in this disorder and that the IDA may be more sensitive than the GHQ for detecting depression.

Biologic markers and bipolar disease in children.

The diagnosis of manic depressive or bipolar disease is difficult in adolescents. Poorly defined nosology, and a high incidence of schizophrenia-like symptoms contribute to this difficulty. The authors discuss the use of the Dexamethasone Suppression Test (DST) in the diagnosis of bipolar disease in adolescents, presenting three case studies. The existence of phase-dependent DST non-suppression is described for the first time in adolescents.

Impairment of motor coordination induced by doxorubicin in mice.

The neurotoxic effects of a single intraperitoneal or intravenous injection of doxorubicin were evaluated in CD1 mice by means of the rotarod test. The test was performed daily for nine weeks after treatment. For both routes of administration, animals were treated with various doxorubicin dosages ranging from 18 to 5.9 mg/kg. The three higher i.v. doses (18, 14.4 and 12.5 mg/kg) of doxorubicin induced a severe motor coordination impairment. The histopathological analysis of these animals showed severe damage of sensory nerves. On the contrary, all the i.p. treated animals did not show any sign of motor impairment and of appreciable neurohistological lesion.