Nitric oxide and cGMP regulate gene expression in neuronal and glial cells by activating type II cGMP-dependent protein kinase.

Nitric oxide (NO) and cGMP have been implicated in many neuronal functions, including regulation of gene expression, but little is known about the downstream targets of NO/cGMP in the nervous system. We found that type II cGMP-dependent protein kinase (G-kinase), which is widely expressed in the brain, mediated NO- and cGMP-induced activation of the fos promoter in cells of neuronal and glial origin; the enzyme was ineffective in regulating gene expression in fibroblast-like cells. The effect of G-kinase II on gene expression did not require calcium uptake but was synergistically enhanced by calcium. G-kinase II was membrane associated and did not translocate to the nucleus; however, a soluble G-kinase II mutant translocated to the nucleus and regulated gene expression in fibroblast-like cells. Soluble G-kinase I also regulates fos promoter activity, but membrane targeting of G-kinase I prevented the enzyme from translocating to the nucleus and regulating transcription in multiple cell types, including glioma cells; this suggests that cell type-specific factor(s) that mediate the transcriptional effects of extranuclear G-kinase II are not regulated by G-kinase I. Our results suggest that G-kinase I and II control gene expression by different mechanisms and that NO effects on neuronal plasticity may involve G-kinase II regulation of gene expression.-Gudi, T., Hong, G. K.-P., Vaandrager, A. B., Lohmann, S. M., Pilz, R. B. Nitric oxide and cGMP regulate gene expression in neuronal and glial cells by activating type II cGMP-dependent protein kinase.

High prevalence of thyroid function test abnormalities in chronic schizophrenia.

The thyroid status of 249 patients with chronic schizophrenia (males = 136, females = 113) with a median age of 36 years (range: 16 to 58 years) and a median duration of hospitalisation of 10 years (range: 1 to 30 years) was assessed. Thyroid antibodies (TAb) were found in 51 patients (20%). In female patients, 32 (28%) were TAb positive compared to 13% (n = 152, p = 0.01) in healthy female blood donors. In male patients, the prevalence of TAb was 14% compared to 7% (n = 449, p = 0.01) in healthy male blood donors. Of the 183 patients who had thyroid hormone measurements, 60% had normal test, 5% had elevated TSH and 17% had low TSH. The T4, FT41 and FT31 were significantly lower in those with low or high TSH (p < 0.001) compared to those with normal TSH. Of the 143 patients with normal TSH, 33 (23%) had low T3. In conclusion, there is a spectrum of thyroid function test abnormalities in chronic schizophrenia; this may be related to an abnormality in the central regulation of the hypothalamo-pituitary thyroid axis as well as at the peripheral level. However the association between chronic schizophrenia and the presence of thyroid antibodies, and the clinical relevance of these biochemical abnormalities, are still not clear.

Comparative perspectives on child abuse and neglect: Chinese versus Hispanics and whites.

In a quota sample of 150 individuals, equally divided among Chinese, Hispanics, and whites, it was found that the Chinese were more tolerant of parental conduct than the Hispanics and whites, and were less likely to ask for investigation by protective agencies in potential cases of child abuse and neglect. The Chinese attitude is explained in part by well-known features of traditional Chinese culture, such as filial piety and familism. In addition to contributing to a transcultural understanding of child mistreatment, the study calls for heightened sensitivity in approaching issues of abuse and neglect in minority groups.

A confirmation of NIMH training objectives for consultation-liaison residents.

Data from a 4-year prospective study suggest that the objectives of the NIMH Psychiatry Education Branch for psychiatry residents in regard to consultation-liaison training can be achieved. Residents developed a more positive view about consultation-liaison psychiatry and saw themselves more as integral members of the general hospital; some were influenced to pursue postgraduate consultation-liaison positions.

Effects of resource availability and importance of behavior on the experience of crowding.

According to the interference formulation, participants in a crowded setting will experience interference to the extent that behavioral goals conflict with environmental conditions. The importance of the behavioral goals directly affects not only the magnitude of the interference but also the mechanism by which people cope with interference. It was reasoned that important goals would induce a more active coping strategy in a crowded setting than in an uncrowded setting and would maintain task performance at the price of increasing crowding stress. When the behavioral goal is unimportant, decrements in task performance preclude a rise in stress. A laboratory study manipulated group size, in order to vary the availability of resources, and the importance of the task behavior. The predictions were confirmed, and partial confirmation was obtained for predictions involving the effects of the internal-external personality dimension. The meaning of the results is discussed in terms of other findings in the literature on crowding and the mediating role of the type of mechanism used to cope with interference.