Increased SUMO-1 expression in the unilateral rotenone-lesioned mouse model of Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease resulting from progressive loss of dopaminergic nigrostriatal neurons. α-Synuclein protein conformational changes, resulting in cytotoxic/aggregated proteins, have been linked to PD pathogenesis. We investigated a unilateral rotenone-lesioned mouse PD model. Unilateral lesion of the medial forebrain bundle for two groups of male C57 black mice (n=5); adult (6-12 months) group and aged (1.75-2 years) group, was via stereotactic rotenone injection. After 2 weeks post-lesion, phenotypic Parkinsonian symptoms, resting tremor, postural instability, left-handed bias, ipsiversive rotation and bradykinesia were observed and were more severe in the aged group. We investigated protein expression profiles of the post-translational modifier, SUMO-1, and α-synuclein between the treated and control hemisphere, and between adult and aged groups. Western analysis of the brain homogenates indicated that there were statistically significant (p<0.05) increases in several specific molecular weight species (ranging 12-190 kDa) of both SUMO-1 (0.75-4.3-fold increased) and α-synuclein (1.6-19-fold increase) in the lesioned compared to un-lesioned hemisphere, with the adult mice showing proportionately greater increases in SUMO-1 than the aged group.

Impact of hospitalisation on the outcome of adolescent anorexia nervosa.

BACKGROUND: Owing to the lack of controlled trials of treatment setting in adolescent anorexia nervosa, the benefits and costs of in-patient treatment are not established. AIMS: To clarify the relationship between a range of presenting features, treatment received and medium- to long-term outcome in adolescent anorexia nervosa. METHOD: A range of presenting variables were rated for 75 cases of DSM-III-R anorexia nervosa at presentation to an adolescent service, including the Morgan-Russell Global Assessment Score. Cases were followed up at 2-7 years and outcome rated according to reliable methods. Setting of treatment received was also recorded. RESULTS: Two out of 75 cases had died by the time of follow-up. Adequate data for 72 enabled an outcome category to be assigned. The 21 who had received inpatient treatment had a significantly worse outcome than the 51 never admitted to hospital. Multivariate analysis suggests admission to be the major predictor of poor outcome. CONCLUSIONS: The benefits and costs of admission to hospital require further investigation, ideally in a randomised-controlled trial. The negative consequences of in-patient treatment are neglected in research.