Endogenous cortisol in keratinized matrices: Systematic determination of baseline cortisol levels in hair and the influence of sex, age and hair color.

The measurement of hair cortisol is increasingly used to measure long-term cumulative cortisol levels and investigate its role as an important stress mediator. In this study a comparative statistical analysis of five independent studies (all analyzed in our laboratory) was performed to investigate baseline ranges of cortisol values in hair and evaluate potential influences of sex, age and hair color. Cortisol concentrations in hair of 554 subjects were measured and a comparative statistical analysis was performed. The analysis showed that cortisol levels significantly differ depending on age. The toddler group (7 months (0.6 years) to 3 years) showed significantly higher values (median 10pg/mg, p-value<0.0001, d=0.78) than the adolescent group. The adolescent groups showed significantly lower (p-value<0.0001, d=0.58 and p<0.0001, d=0.13) values (median 2.4pg/mg and 2.8pg/mg) than the adult group (median 5.8pg/mg). Furthermore, in the adult group men showed significantly higher cortisol values than women (p-value<0.05, d=0.17). This effect could not be seen in the adolescent group. Black hair showed higher cortisol concentrations than blond hair (p-value<0.0001, d=1.3). In addition, two rounds of interlaboratory comparisons for hair cortisol samples between four laboratories revealed very consistent results. Our results demonstrate that baseline cortisol levels are generally low in hair thus making a standardized and well-elaborated analytical method indispensable for accurate determination. Age-dependent normative baseline cortisol levels (toddlers, adolescents and adults) are highly recommended based on the comparative analysis comprising five independent studies.

[Treating cocaine addiction]. / Behandlung der Kokainabhängigkeit.

Estimates assume approximately 100'000 occasional and 11'000 addicted cocaine consumers in Switzerland. Although there is no established «standard treatment¼, helpful pharmacological and psychotherapeutic treatment strategies for cocaine addiction and its consequences exist. A selection of the most relevant treatment options is presented in this review. Their application should be embedded within an individualized treatment plan, which usually includes several of the therapeutic elements presented hereafter, depending on the patient's current situation. The treatment of patients with cocaine dependence might encompass longer periods and multiple sequences of treatment in out- or inpatient setting, yet it is promising.

Target cell-derived superoxide anions cause efficiency and selectivity of intercellular induction of apoptosis.

Transformed fibroblasts are specifically eliminated by their nontransformed neighbors through intercellular induction of apoptosis. This process depends on the number of nontransformed effector cells and on the local density of transformed target cells. Intercellular signalling is inhibited by SOD (a scavenger of superoxide anions), taurine (a scavenger of HOCl), 4-aminobenzoyl hydrazide (a mechanism-based inhibitor of peroxidase), DMSO (a hydroxyl radical scavenger), and two inhibitors of NO synthase. Therefore, selective apoptosis induction seems to be based on superoxide anion production by transformed cells, their spontaneous dismutation to hydrogen peroxide, and HOCl generation by a novel effector cell-derived peroxidase. HOCl then interacts with target cell-derived superoxide anions to yield hydroxyl radicals. Due to the short diffusion pathway of superoxide anions, hydroxyl radical generation is confined to the intimate vicinity of transformed cells. In parallel, NO derived from effector cells interacts with superoxide anions of target cells to yield the apoptosis inducer peroxynitrite. Reconstitution experiments using transformed or nontransformed cells in conjunction with myeloperoxidase, HOCl, or an NO donor demonstrated that superoxide anions generated extracellularly by transformed cells participate in intercellular signalling and at the same time determine transformed cells as selective targets for intercellular induction of apoptosis.