Depressive symptoms and actigraphy-measured circadian disruption predict head and neck cancer survival.

OBJECTIVE: Depressive symptoms have demonstrated prognostic significance among head and neck cancer patients. Depression is associated with circadian disruption, which is prognostic in multiple other cancer types. We hypothesized that depressive symptoms would be associated with circadian disruption in head and neck cancer, that each would be related to poorer 2-year overall survival, and that relationships would be mediated by tumor response to treatment. METHODS: Patients (N = 55) reported on cognitive/affective and somatic depressive symptoms (PHQ-9) and wore an actigraph for 6 days to continuously record rest and activity cycles prior to chemoradiation. Records review documented treatment response and 2-year survival. Spearman correlations tested depressive symptoms and circadian disruption relationships. Cox proportional hazard models tested the predictive capability of depressive symptoms and circadian disruption, separately, on survival. RESULTS: Depressive symptoms were significantly associated with circadian disruption, and both were significantly associated with shorter survival (somatic: hazard ratio [HR] = 1.325, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.089-1.611, P = .005; rest/activity rhythm: HR = 0.073, 95% CI = 0.009-0.563, P = .012; nighttime restfulness: HR = 0.910, 95% CI = 0.848-0.977, P = .009). Tumor response to treatment appeared to partly mediate the nighttime restfulness-survival relationship. CONCLUSIONS: This study replicates and extends prior work with new evidence linking a subjective measure of depression and an objective measure of circadian disruption-2 known prognostic indicators-to shortened overall survival among head and neck cancer patients. Continued examination should elucidate mechanisms by which depressive symptomatology and circadian disruption translate to head and neck cancer progression and mortality.

Perfiles de personalidad de estudiantes de psicología de universidad privada comparados em similitud y congruencia / Personality profiles of psychology students from a privateuniversity compared by similarity and congruence

En continuidad con los estudios del área de Perfiles de la Cátedra de Psicología Experimental I y II, se llevó a cabo un análisis comparativo de Perfiles de Personalidad en estudiantes de psicología. La muestra fue intencional y autoseleccionada, quedó conformada por 153 estudiantes de Psicología. Se ha utilizado un diseño Descriptivo y Comparado. El instrumento utilizado fue el Inventario Multifásico de la Personalidad Minnesota-2 (MMPI-2). Los resultados reportan que existe un patrón de personalidad con similitudes muy acentuadas en los estudiantes de la carrera de psicología, independiente del curso al que pertenecen, y en comparación a los perfiles de años anteriores (n = 152, muestra 2001: n=168, muestra 2007: y n= 101 muestra 2008).

In continuity with the studies of the area of Profiles of the Professorship of Experimental Psychology I and II, a comparative analysis of Profiles of Personality in students of psychology was carried out. The sample was intentional and autoseleccionada, remained conformed by 153 (166) students of Psychology. A Descriptive design has been utilized and Compared. The instrument utilized was the Polyphase Inventory of the Personality Minnesota-2 (MMPI-2). The results report that a boss of personality with similarities exists very accentuated in the students of the career of psychology, independent of the course to which they belong, and in comparison to the profiles of previous years (n = 152 sample 2001; n = 168, sample 2007 and n = 101 sample 2008).

Paraneoplastic myopathy as a very rare manifestation of acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

We present a 9-year-old girl who developed acute muscular weakness of proximal muscles of the upper and lower limbs. Investigations revealed a common acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The neuromuscular symptoms are classified as a paraneoplastic neurological syndrome (PNS). Under chemotherapy according to ALL-BFM-2000 protocol symptoms resolved within 4 weeks. This case presents a rare manifestation of acute lymphoblastic manifestation.

Changes in metformin pharmacokinetics after intravenous and oral administration to rats with short-term and long-term diabetes induced by streptozotocin.

It has been reported that metformin was primarily metabolized via hepatic CYP2C11, 2D1, and 3A1/2 in rats, and the expression and mRNA levels of hepatic CYP2C11 and 3A1 decreased and increased, respectively, whereas the expression of CYP2D1 was not changed in rat model of diabetes induced by streptozotocin (DMIS). Also minimizing the toxic effects of streptozotocin by carrying out experiments 4-5 weeks after streptozotocin injection has been reported. Thus, the pharmacokinetics of metformin was evaluated in rat model of DMIS at the 7th and the 29th days after streptozotocin injection. After intravenous administration of metformin (100 mg/kg) to rat model of DMIS, the CL(R) became significantly faster (46.9% and 77.8% increase for the 7th and the 29th days, respectively; due to urine flow rate-dependent timed-interval renal clearance of the drug) and CL(NR) became significantly slower (28.0% and 34.3% decrease, respectively; due to decreased hepatic CYP2C11) than in their respective controls. After oral administration of metformin (100 mg/kg) to rat model of DMIS, the AUC became significantly smaller (18.6% and 33.7% decrease for the 7th and the 29th days, respectively) than in their respective controls. The CL(NR) of metformin were comparable between two rat models of DMIS.

The 2000 canine distemper epidemic in Caspian seals (Phoca caspica): pathology and analysis of contributory factors.

More than 10,000 Caspian seals (Phoca caspica) were reported dead in the Caspian Sea during spring and summer 2000. We performed necropsies and extensive laboratory analyses on 18 seals, as well as examination of the pattern of strandings and variation in weather in recent years, to identify the cause of mortality and potential contributory factors. The monthly stranding rate in 2000 was up to 2.8 times the historic mean. It was preceded by an unusually mild winter, as observed before in mass mortality events of pinnipeds. The primary diagnosis in 11 of 13 seals was canine distemper, characterized by broncho-interstitial pneumonia, lymphocytic necrosis and depletion in lymphoid organs, and the presence of typical intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies in multiple epithelia. Canine distemper virus infection was confirmed by phylogenetic analysis of reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction products. Organochlorine and zinc concentrations in tissues of seals with canine distemper were comparable to those of Caspian seals in previous years. Concurrent bacterial infections that may have contributed to the mortality of the seals included Bordetella bronchiseptica (4/8 seals), Streptococcus phocae (3/8), Salmonella dublin (1/8), and S. choleraesuis (1/8). A newly identified bacterium, Corynebacterium caspium, was associated with balanoposthitis in one seal. Several infectious and parasitic organisms, including poxvirus, Atopobacter phocae, Eimeria- and Sarcocystis-like organisms, and Halarachne sp. were identified in Caspian seals for the first time.

[Physical training as interval or continuous training in chronic heart failure for improving functional capacity, hemodynamics and quality of life--a controlled study]. / Körperliches Training als Intervall oder kontinuierliches Training bei chronischer Herzinsuffizienz zur Verbesserung der funktionellen Leistungskapazität, Hämodynamik und Lebensqualität--eine kontrollierte Studie.

We conducted a three-week randomized trial comparing the improvement of functional capacity by exercise training in chronic heart failure by the steady-state (EF 27.3%, n = 20) and the interval modus (EF 29.3%, n = 20) with a control group (EF = 26.6%, n = 10). Minimal EF was 10%, the lowest maximal oxygen consumption was 9.3 ml/kg/min and the lowest cardiac output was 1.9 l/min; 9 patients had been evaluated for HTX. VO2 at the anaerobic threshold and at maximal exercise increased in the continuous exercise group by 1.4 or 1.6 ml/kg/min, respectively, corresponding to an increase of 13.7% (p < 0.05) and 9.3% (p < 0.05). In the interval training group the increase was 1.3 and 1.5 ml/kg/min corresponding to 14% (p < 0.05) and 8.1% (p < 0.05). Continuous short-term exercise had no impact to central hemodynamics as pulmonary artery pressure (PA), capillary wedge pressure (pc), cardiac index (CI) or stroke volume index (SVI), whereas after interval training a significant increase at maximal exercise could be seen in CI (p < 0.05) and SVI (p < 0.01) with a concomitant drop in systemic peripheral resistance (p < 0.05) compared to the steady-state modus. Interval training was further characterized by a higher short-term but lower mean work load with a significantly smaller increase in lactate. Quality of life was improved according to the SF-36 questionnaire in both training groups but the psychologic sum factor was three times as high, increasing to 24.2% in the steady-state exercise group. It can be concluded that clinically stable patients with heart failure and even those already having been evaluated for cardiac transplantation profit from short-term physical training. Both training modalities seem equally suited to improve functional capacity. However interval training leads to more pronounced improvement in hemodynamics compared to the steady-state exercise, whereas the later had a greater impact on psychological well-being and quality of life. Patients with heart failure and severe peripheral deconditioning tolerate higher workloads with more peripheral stress by an interval training modus. Long-term training modalities need to be established to further improve and stabilize functional status.

Mass die-Off of Caspian seals caused by canine distemper virus.

Thousands of Caspian seals (Phoca caspica) died in the Caspian Sea from April to August 2000. Lesions characteristic of morbillivirus infection were found in tissue specimens from dead seals. Canine distemper virus infection was identified by serologic examination, reverse transcriptase- polymerase chain reaction, and sequencing of selected P gene fragments. These results implicate canine distemper virus infection as the primary cause of death.

Organochlorine contaminants in Caspian and harbour seal blubber.

Organochlorine contaminants (pesticides and individual polychlorinated biphenyl congeners, PCBs) were measured in Caspian (Phoca caspica) seal blubber and compared with concentrations in Harbour (Phoca vitulina) seal blubber. Concentrations of total dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and its metabolites were significantly higher in Caspian seal than Harbour seal samples, whereas PCB congeners were significantly higher in Harbour than Caspian seals. Our finding suggests that Caspian seals are exposed to high levels of DDT pesticides. In contrast, PCBs are circulating in this population at much lower levels than in marine mammals from the North Sea.

Novel Ca(2+)-ATPase inhibitors from the dried root tubers of Polygonum Multiflorum.

The MeOH extract of the dried root tubers of Polygonum multiflorum yielded three bioactive compounds with an inhibitory activity on calmodulin-depleted erythrocyte calcium-dependent ATPase. These compounds were identified as E-2,3,5,4'-tetrahydroxystilbene 2-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside [2] (IC50 = 240 microM) and cis- and trans-E-3-butylidene-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-6,7-dihydroxy-1(3H)- isobenzofuranone [3 and 4](IC50 = 160 and 260 microM, respectively). E-2,4,6,4'-Tetrahydroxystilbene 2-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside [1] was also isolated but was found to have no inhibitory effect on the enzyme.