In vitro neuroendocrine effects of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) in the AhR-expressing hypothalamic rat GnV-3 cell line.

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is involved in a wide variety of biological and toxicological responses, including neuroendocrine signaling. Due to the complexity of neuroendocrine pathways in e.g. the hypothalamus and pituitary, there are limited in vitro models available despite the strong demand for such systems to study and predict neuroendocrine effects of chemicals. In this study, the applicability of the AhR-expressing rat hypothalamic GnV-3 cell line was investigated as a novel model to screen for neuroendocrine effects of AhR ligands using 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) as reference compound. The qRT-PCR analyses demonstrated the presence of several sets of neurotransmitter receptors in the GnV-3 cells. TCDD (10nM) altered neurotransmitter signaling by up-regulation of glutamate (Grik2), gamma-amino butyric acid (Gabra2) and serotonin (Ht2C) receptor mRNA levels. However, no significant changes in basal and serotonin-evoked intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)]i) or serotonin release were observed. On the other hand, TCDD de-regulated period circadian protein homolog 1 (Per1) and gonadotropin releasing hormone (Gnrh) mRNA levels within a 24-h time period. Both Per1 and Gnrh genes displayed a similar mRNA expression pattern in GnV-3 cells. Moreover, the involvement of AhR in TCDD-induced alteration of Neuropeptide Y (Npy) gene expression was found and confirmed by using siRNA targeted against Ahr in GnV-3 cells. Overall, the combined results demonstrate that GnV-3 cells may be a suitable model to predict some mechanisms of action and effects of AhR ligands in the hypothalamus.

Ultrasonografía transcraneal: utilidad en los Trastornos del Movimiento.

El diagnóstico de enfermedad de Parkinson Idiopática (EPI) y otros trastornos del movimiento (TM) se basa en criterios clínicos, aunque la ultrasonografía transcraneal ha demostrado cierta utilidad en el diagnóstico. En este trabajo, describimos los hallazgos ultrasonográficos en 291 pacientes con TM y evaluamos su utilidad clínica. Encontramos que la hiperecogenicidad de la sustancia nigra (SN) es más frecuente y extensa en la EPI y que el área de hiperecogenicidad de la SN y el tamaño del tercer ventrículo son útiles para predecir EPI, parálisis supranuclear progresiva y atrofia multisistémica. Según nuestros resultados, la ultrasonografía transcraneal es una técnica complementaria válida y segura para el diagnóstico de EPI.

Detection and Characterization of Rotavirus G and P Types from Children Participating in a Rotavirus Vaccine Trial in Belém, Brazil

This study sought the characterization of rotaviruses in a trial with a tetravalent rhesus-human rotavirus vaccine in Belém, Brazil in children who received three doses of vaccine or placebo in the 1st, 3rd and 5th months of life. Rotavirus electropherotypes, subgroups, G serotypes, G, [P] and [P],G genotypes were determined in 93.3%, 95.9%, 93.3%, 73.3%, 95.5% and 92.2% of isolates, respectively. Serotypes G1, G2 and G4 were detected in 58.9%, 30% and 4.4% of the cases, respectively. Rotavirus genotype G5 was detected for the first time in Northern region in 4.4% of the infections. Rotavirus genotypes P[8], P[4], P[6] and P[8+6] were detected in 54.5%, 26.7%, 12.2%, and 2.2% of the cases, respectively. The predominant genotypes were P[8],G1 and P[4],G2 with 53% and 26.6% of the infections, respectively. Unusual strains accounted for 20.5% including P[4],G1, P[6],G1, P[6],G4, P[6],G5, P[8],G2, P[8],G5. Mixed infections involving P[8+6],G2 and P[8+6],G1 were also noted. The neonatal P[6] strains associated with diarrhea were detected among children aged 9-24 months. To our knowledge, this study represents the first in Brazil to analyse, on molecular basis, rotavirus genotypes from children participating in a rotavirus vaccine trial. These results are of potential importance regarding future rotavirus vaccination strategies in Brazil.

Estudio comparativo de los valores de difusión por RM de las radiaciones ópticas en pacientes diagnosticados de síndrome clínico aislado con pacientes controles.

Diversos estudis han demostrat que, en pacients amb esclerosi múltiple, existeixen alteracions als paràmetres de difusió mesurats amb Resonància Magnètica als tractes de substància blanca que es mostren aparentment normals en les seqüències convencionals. Amb l’objectiu de demostrar si aquestes alteracions apareixen precoçment en la fase de síndrome clínic aïllada, es van analitzar una sèrie d’estudis de Resonància Magnètica cerebral amb seqüències potenciades en difusió i tractografia de les radiacions òptiques, de pacients amb el diagnòstic de síndrome clínic aïllada i pacients controls, mesurant en tots ells els valors dels paràmetres principals de difusió: coeficient de difusió aparent y fracció d’anisotropia. Amb aquestes exploracions no es van demostrar alteracions als paràmetres de difusió en fases tan precoces de la malaltia als pacients casos davant els controls.

L'écrit sacerdotal comme réplique au récit deutéronomiste des origines. Quelques remarques sur la "bibliothèque" de P

(Résumé de l'ouvrage) Cet ouvrage présente les résultats du premier Colloque international consacré à l'analyse narrative de la Bible (Lausanne, mars 2002). De la Genèse à l'Apocalypse, la Bible est un immense trésor d'histoires. Une nouvelle lecture explore depuis peu cet art du raconter. Ses outils sont empruntés à Paul Ricoeur, Gérard Genette, Meir Sternberg ou Jan Fokkelman. Les biblistes sont ainsi à même d'exhumer la stratégie narrative des auteurs bibliques: temporalité du récit, gestion de l'espace, construction des personnages, point de vue du narrateur. Certains des plus grands spécialistes de l'Ancien comme du Nouveau Testament explicitent ici ces texte fondateurs à la lumière de la narratologie.

Antecedents of Job Satisfaction, Organizational Commitment and Stress in a Public Hospital: A P-E Fit Perspective

This article tests different P-E fit dimensions in order to assess their impact on three work outcomes: job satisfaction; organizational commitment; and stress perception. Findings shows that P-E fit dimensions have differentiated effects on its dependent variables. This study contributes to several important academic discussions. The first concerns the model tested, which contains several P-E fit dimensions. The second scientific contribution is to consider P-E fit dimensions as antecedents of three job outcomes. The third contribution concerns the development and testing of a new P-E fit dimension called "person-reforms" fit.

Estudio comparativo de RM perfusión en pacientes diagnosticados de hidrocefalia normotensiva con pacientes controles.

Diversos estudis han demostrat que existeix una disminució en la irrigació de la substància blanca periventricular en pacients diagnosticats d’hidrocefàlia normotensiva quan es comparen amb subjectes normals. Amb l’objectiu de demostrar aquestes troballes, pacients afectes d’aquesta patología es van sotmetre a una RM cerebral morfológica, un estudi de dinàmica de fluxe de LCR i un estudi de perfusió. Amb aquestes exploracions es va demostrar un augment en l’índex d’Evans i una disminución dels valors de VSC (Volum Sanguini Cerebral) de la substància blanca periventricular als pacients casos enfront dels controls.

The Holiness Code between D and P. Some Comments on the Function and Significance of Leviticus 17-26 in the Composition of the Torah.

(Résumé de l'ouvrage) Das Deuteronomium nimmt sowohl in der Literaturgeschichte der alttestamentlichen Geschichtsbücher Josua bis Könige eine Schlüsselstellung ein als auch für die Entstehung des Pentateuchs. Wie lassen sich diese beiden Funktionen vereinbaren? Mit der Verhältnisbestimmung haben sich namhafte Wissenschafter der Arbeitsgruppe »Biblical and Ancient Near Eastern Law« im Rahmen der Internationalen Treffen der Society of Biblical Literature in Berlin (2002) und Cambridge (2003) befasst. Der Band präsentiert die neuesten Forschungsergebnisse. Er enthält Vorträge von E. Otto, K. Schmid, H.-C. Schmitt, T. Römer, W.M. Schniedewind, G.N. Knoppers, R. Achenbach, M.M. Zahn und C. Nihan.

p.L1612P, a novel voltage-gated sodium channel Nav1.7 mutation inducing a cold sensitive paroxysmal extreme pain disorder.

BACKGROUND: Mutations in the SCN9A gene cause chronic pain and pain insensitivity syndromes. We aimed to study clinical, genetic, and electrophysiological features of paroxysmal extreme pain disorder (PEPD) caused by a novel SCN9A mutation. METHODS: Description of a 4-generation family suffering from PEPD with clinical, genetic and electrophysiological studies including patch clamp experiments assessing response to drug and temperature. RESULTS: The family was clinically comparable to those reported previously with the exception of a favorable effect of cold exposure and a lack of drug efficacy including with carbamazepine, a proposed treatment for PEPD. A novel p.L1612P mutation in the Nav1.7 voltage-gated sodium channel was found in the four affected family members tested. Electrophysiologically the mutation substantially depolarized the steady-state inactivation curve (V1/2 from -61.8 ± 4.5 mV to -30.9 ± 2.2 mV, n = 4 and 7, P < 0.001), significantly increased ramp current (from 1.8% to 3.4%, n = 10 and 12) and shortened recovery from inactivation (from 7.2 ± 5.6 ms to 2.2 ± 1.5 ms, n = 11 and 10). However, there was no persistent current. Cold exposure reduced peak current and prolonged recovery from inactivation in wild-type and mutated channels. Amitriptyline only slightly corrected the steady-state inactivation shift of the mutated channel, which is consistent with the lack of clinical benefit. CONCLUSIONS: The novel p.L1612P Nav1.7 mutation expands the PEPD spectrum with a unique combination of clinical symptoms and electrophysiological properties. Symptoms are partially responsive to temperature but not to drug therapy. In vitro trials of sodium channel blockers or temperature dependence might help predict treatment efficacy in PEPD.