Profile of male adolescents with conduct disorder on intellectual efficacy, cognitive flexibility, cognitive coping, impulsivity and alexithymia: a comparison with high-risk controls

Background and Objectives: To specify which of the documented cognitive and emotional deficits characterize adolescents with conduct disorder (CD) compared with high-risk controls. Methods: High-risk adolescent males with and without CD were compared on intellectual efficiency, cognitive flexibility, impulsivity, alexithymia, and cognitive coping strategies. Substance use was controlled for in analyses. Results: Both groups showed normal intellectual efficiency and cognitive flexibility, as weil as heightened alexithymia and bebavioral impulsivity. Youths with CD evidenced more self-defeating and black-and-white tbinking under stress, and more acting-out under negative affect, than those without CD. Conclusions: Deficits specifie to CD resided in facets of emotional functioning and cognitive coping that might be targeted by a coping skills intervention.

State of Iowa Substance Use Epidemiological Profile, February 2008.

A report by the Iowa Epidemiological Outcome Workgroup showing the substance use epidemiological profile for the state of Iowa. The data shows the consumption patterns and consequences of adults and youths, males and females in Iowa.

Psychological profile of adolescents with a kidney transplant.

To describe the psychological profile of renal transplant adolescents compared to healthy peers and to adolescents with CKD, three groups of adolescents aged 12-18 yr were selected: TX, CX, and adolescents with CKD. Psychiatric symptoms and disorders were evaluated through direct interviews (K-SADS-PL) and self-report questionnaires (YSR and CBCL). Forty TX (14 LRD and 26 DD transplant recipients), 40 CX and 20 CKD were included. Twelve of 40 (30%) TX, three of 20 (15%) CKD, and three of 40 (7.5%) CX had a history of learning difficulties (p = 0.03). Compared to CX, TX had lower total YSR competencies score (p = 0.028) and lower total CBCL competencies score (p = 0.003). Twenty-six of 40 (65%) TX, 12 of 20 (60%) CKD and 15 of 40 (37.5%) CX (p = 0.038) met DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for lifetime psychiatric disorder, with rates of depressive disorder of 35% among TX and CKD compared to 15.2% among CX (p = 0.043). Eight of 40 (20%) TX had a history of simple phobia. Nine of 40 (22.5%) TX met diagnostic criteria for ADHD as compared to one of 20 (5%) CKD and three of 40 (7.5%) CX. In the TX group, we found no significant differences in educational and psychiatric variables between LRD and DD. In conclusion, we found a high prevalence of psychiatric morbidity (depression, phobia, ADHD), educational impairment and social competence problems in the TX group. CKD scored in between TX and CX on most measures.

Expression profile of a Laccase2 encoding gene during the metamorphic molt in Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera,Apidae)

Expression profile of a Laccase2 encoding gene during the metamorphic molt in Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera, Apidae). Metamorphosis in holometabolous insects occurs through two subsequent molting cycles: pupation (metamorphic molt) and adult differentiation (imaginal molt). The imaginal molt in Apis mellifera L. was recently investigated in both histological and physiological-molecular approaches. Although the metamorphic molt in this model bee is extremely important to development, it is not well-known yet. In the current study we used this stage as an ontogenetic scenario to investigate the transcriptional profile of the gene Amlac2, which encodes a laccase with an essential role in cuticle differentiation. Amlac2 expression in epidermis was contrasted with the hemolymph titer of ecdysteroid hormones and with the most evident morphological events occurring during cuticle renewal. RT-PCR semiquantitative analyses using integument samples revealed increased levels of Amlac2 transcripts right after apolysis and during the subsequent pharate period, and declining levels near pupal ecdysis. Compared with the expression of a cuticle protein gene, AmelCPR14, these results highlighted the importance of the ecdysteroid-induced apolysis as an ontogenetic marker of gene reactivation in epidermis for cuticle renewal. The obtained results strengthen the comprehension of metamorphosis in Apis mellifera. In addition, we reviewed the literature about the development of A. mellifera, and emphasize the importance of revising the terminology used to describe honey bee molting cycles.

Antiretroviral drug toxicity in relation to pharmacokinetics, metabolic profile and pharmacogenetics.

Introduction: Besides therapeutic effectiveness, drug tolerability is a key issue for treatments that must be taken indefinitely. Given the high prevalence of toxicity in HIV therapy, the factors implicated in drug-induced morbidities should be identified in order to improve the safety, tolerability and adherence to the treatments. Current approaches have focused almost exclusively on parent drug concentrations; whereas recent evidence suggests that drug metabolites resulting from complex genetic and environmental influences can also contribute to treatment outcome. Pharmacogenetic variations have shown to play a relevant role in the variability observed in antiretroviral drug exposure, clinical response and sometimes toxicity. The integration of pharmacokinetic, pharmacogenetic and metabolic determinants will more probably address current therapeutic needs in patients. Areas covered: This review offers a concise description of three classes of antiretroviral drugs. The review looks at the metabolic profile of these drugs and gives a comprehensive summary of the existing literature on the influence of pharmacogenetics on their pharmacokinetics and metabolic pathways, and the associated drug or metabolite toxicity. Expert opinion: Due to the high prevalence of toxicity and the related risk of low adherence to the treatments, association of kinetic, genetic and metabolic markers predictive of therapeutic or toxicity outcomes could represent a more complete approach for optimizing antiretroviral therapy.

Pharmacologic profile of UR-7247, an orally active angiotensin II AT1 receptor antagonist, in healthy volunteers. p6.

This study was conducted to assess the pharmacologic properties of the new orally active angiotensin II subtype I (AT1) antagonist UR-7247, a product with a half-life >100 h in humans. The experiment was designed as an open-label, single-dose administration study with four parallel groups of four healthy men receiving increasing single oral doses (2.5, 5, and 10 mg) of UR-7247 or losartan, 100 mg. Angiotensin II receptor blockade was investigated < or =96 h after drug intake, with three independent methods [i.e., the inhibition of blood pressure (BP) response to exogenous Ang II, an in vitro Ang II-receptor assay (RRA), and the reactive increase in plasma angiotensin II. Plasma drug levels also were measured. The degree of blockade observed in vivo was statistically significant < or = 96 h with all UR-7247 doses for diastolic BP (p < 0.05) and < or =48 h for systolic BP. The maximal inhibition achieved with 10 mg UR-7247 was measured 6-24 h after drug intake and reached 54 +/- 17% and 48 +/- 20% for diastolic and systolic responses, respectively. Losartan, 100 mg, induced a greater short-term AT1-receptor blockade than 2.5- and 5.0-mg doses of UR-7247 (p < 0.001 for diastolic BP), but the UR-7247 effect was longer lasting. In vivo, no significant difference was observed between 10 mg UR-7247 and 100 mg losartan 4 h after drug intake, but in vitro, the blockade achieved with 100 mg losartan was higher than that seen with UR-7247. Finally, the results confirm that UR-7247 has a very long plasma elimination half-life, which may be due to a high but also tight binding to protein binding sites. In conclusion, UR-7247 is a long-lasting, well-tolerated AT1 receptor in healthy subjects.

Profile of a technical writer

Abstract

Deep thiopental anesthesia alters steady-state glucose homeostasis but not the neurochemical profile of rat cortex.

Barbiturates are regularly used as an anesthetic for animal experimentation and clinical procedures and are frequently provided with solubilizing compounds, such as ethanol and propylene glycol, which have been reported to affect brain function and, in the case of (1)H NMR experiments, originate undesired resonances in spectra affecting the quantification. As an alternative, thiopental can be administrated without any solubilizing agents. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of deep thiopental anesthesia on the neurochemical profile consisting of 19 metabolites and on glucose transport kinetics in vivo in rat cortex compared with alpha-chloralose using localized (1)H NMR spectroscopy. Thiopental was devoid of effects on the neurochemical profile, except for the elevated glucose at a given plasma glucose level resulting from thiopental-induced depression of glucose consumption at isoelectrical condition. Over the entire range of plasma glucose levels, steady-state glucose concentrations were increased on average by 48% +/- 8%, implying that an effect of deep thiopental anesthesia on the transport rate relative to cerebral glucose consumption ratio was increased by 47% +/- 8% compared with light alpha-chloralose-anesthetized rats. We conclude that the thiopental-induced isoelectrical condition in rat cortex significantly affected glucose contents by depressing brain metabolism, which remained substantial at isoelectricity.

Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic profile of angiotensin II receptor antagonists.

The pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of nonpeptide angiotensin antagonists in humans are reviewed in this paper. Representatives of this new therapeutic class share common features: lipophilia, intermediate bioavailability, high affinity for plasma proteins and liver metabolism; some have active metabolites. Angiotensin II antagonists block the blood pressure response to exogenous angiotensin II in healthy volunteers, decrease baseline blood pressure in both normal and hypertensive patients, produce a marked rise in plasma renin activity and endogenous angiotensin II and increase renal blood flow without altering glomerular filtration rate. These effects are dose-dependent, but their time course varies between the drugs owing to pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic differences. Additionally, the extent of blood pressure reduction is dependent on physiological factors such as sodium and water balance. The characterisation of their pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic relationships deserves further refinement for designing optimal therapeutic regimens and proposing dosage adaptations in specific conditions.

Forrest Spaulding, author, Library Bill of Rights, 2008

Brief history of Forrest Spaulding, head of the Des Moines Public Library from 1917-1952

Long-term cognitive profile and incidence of dementia after STN-DBS in Parkinson's disease

An effect of subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN-DBS) on cognition has been suspected but long-term observations are lacking. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term cognitive profile and the incidence of dementia in a cohort of Parkinson's disease (PD) patients treated by STN-DBS. 57 consecutive patients were prospectively assessed by the mean of a neuropsychological battery over 3 years after surgery. Dementia (DSM-IV) and UPDRS I to IV were recorded. 24.5% of patients converted to dementia over 3 years (incidence of 89 of 1,000 per year). This group of patients cognitively continuously worsened over 3 years up to fulfilling dementia criteria (PDD). The rest of the cohort remained cognitively stable (PD) over the whole follow-up. Preoperative differences between PDD and PD included older age (69.2 +/- 5.8 years; 62.6 +/- 8 years), presence of hallucinations and poorer executive score (10.1 +/- 5.9; 5.5 +/- 4.4). The incidence of dementia over 3 years after STN-DBS is similar to the one reported in medically treated patients. The PDD presented preoperative risk factors of developing dementia similar to those described in medically treated patients. These observations suggest dementia being secondary to the natural evolution of PD rather than a direct effect of STN-DBS.