Composition of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) in different encephalic regions and its association with behavior in spontaneous hypertensive rat (SHR).

Long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) are hypothesized to play an important role in attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This study evaluated LC-PUFAs composition in different encephalic regions by gas chromatography and its association with behavior on the attentional set-shifting task, open field test and the Morris water maze of spontaneous hypertensive rat (SHR)-a genetic animal model of ADHD. In behavioral tests, the SHRs exhibited deficiencies in attentional set-shifting, autonomic activities and spatial learning and memory. In all the studied encephalic regions, we observed higher concentration of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (AA) and higher AA/DHA ratio in the SHRs compared with the Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) and Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats (p<0.01), which was associated with abnormal behavior in the SHRs. This study provided an appropriate animal model for study on the relationship between LC-PUFAs and ADHD. Our results prove abnormal neurobehaviour associated with imbalance of AA/DHA ratio and highlights the significance of normal AA/DHA ratio in behavior.

Atomoxetine increases histamine release and improves learning deficits in an animal model of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: the spontaneously hypertensive rat.

Substantial development in the pharmacological treatment for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been made recently including approval of new non-stimulant agents targeting noradrenergic, histaminergic and dopaminergic systems. Among such, atomoxetine has been widely used, although its mechanism of action is poorly understood. It is known that central nervous system histamine is closely associated with cognition and it was recently shown that both atomoxetine and methylphenidate enhance cortical histamine release in rats. To that end, the aim of our study was to investigate the effect of atomoxetine (2 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) on histamine release using the microdialysis technique in the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR), a suitable genetic model for ADHD. Our data confirmed that atomoxetine increases extracellular levels of histamine in the prefrontal cortex, a brain region that is implicated in the pathophysiology of ADHD. Given the tie between histamine neurotransmission and treatment of cognitive dysfunction, we also assessed the effects of atomoxetine on learning and memory as measured by the Morris water maze in SHR. The results indicated that atomoxetine significantly ameliorated performance in the Morris water maze, consistent with its histamine-enhancing profile. In conclusion, the current study provides further support for the notion that the therapeutic effect of atomoxetine could involve activation of histamine neurotransmission within the prefrontal cortex.

[Successful treatment of agammaglobulinemia by HLA-mismatched unrelated cord blood stem cell transplantation--the first case report].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate cord blood stem cell transplantation (CBT) in the treatment of X-linked agammaglobulinemia, and observe the courses of the hematopoietic and immune reconstitution. METHODS: A 14-year-old male patient with agammaglobulinemia received CBT from a 1/6 HLA-mismatched unrelated cord blood. The conditioning regimen was Bu/Cy/anti-CD3 antibody. CsA was given together with MMF and MTX for prophylaxis of GVHD. The patient received 0.42 x 10(8) nucleated cells/kg, containing 0.35 x 10(6) CD34(+) cells/kg. RESULTS: The recipient showed hematopoietic reconstitution on day 30 post-transplantation when ANC was 0.5 x 10(9)/L and BPC 20 x 10(9)/L. Sex chromosome analysis showed engraftment (donor 46, XX/recipient 46, XY = 4:1) on day 45. The recipient's blood group changed from AB to O, IgG from 1.1 g/L to 3.5 g/L, sex chromosome from 46, XY to full 46, XX, and mature B cells in peripheral blood from 0 to 5% on day 100, indicating immune reconstitution. At the last follow-up of 360 days, the patient without acute or chronic GVHD showed normal hemogram and myelogram, IgG 13.5 g/L and 10% mature B cells in peripheral blood, indicating the hematopoiesis and immune persistent reconstitution. No acute or chronic GVHD was developed. CONCLUSION: This is the first case report of successful treatment of X-linked agammaglobulinemia by HLA-mismatched unrelated CBT.

[Clinical features of hematological abnormality in systemic lupus erythematosus-related hematological disorders].

In order to investigate the clinical characteristics of hematological abnormality in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and inquire into the basis for differential diagnosis, the hematological data of 92 cases with lupus erythematosus-related hematological disorder (SLERHD) were retrospectively analyzed by use of SPSS/PC software. The results showed that these patients were short of specificity in clinical manifestation and hemogram, however, all cases possessed multiple SLE-related autoantibodies, increase of serum globulin level and varying extent dermal and arthral signs. The incidence of primary or initial symptom in the 92 cases was as follow: 65 anemia (72.8%), 39 purpura (42.4%), 17 hemolytic anemia (18.5%), 56 leukopenia (60.9%), 54 thrombocytopenia (58.7%), and 41 pancytopenia (44.6%). The bone marrow examinations showed that the cellularity of nucleated cells was mostly normal, and active proliferation in 57 cases (61.9%) and hypercellularity in 35 cases (38.1%); the G/E ratio was normal in majority, and G/E ratio > 3 in 59 cases (64.1%) and < 3 in 33 cases (35.9%) and G/E < 1 in 17 cases with hemolytic anemia Coombs' test positive; megakaryocyte counts were normal in 11 cases (11.9%), increase in 80 cases (86.9%) and lower than 7/marrow smear in 1 case (1.1%). Neutrophil alkaline phosphatase staining was negative in all of the cases. From above data it is concluded that patients with SLERHD are varied in clinical and blood pictures, but all patients are provided with multiple SLE-related autoantibodies, globulinemia and dermal and arthral signs. It is easy to identify SLERHD from aplastic anemia, myelodysplastic syndrome, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, autoimmune hemolytic anemia and Evans' syndrome by comprehensive and detailed clinical and laboratory examinations.

[Analysis of Clinical and Hematologic Features in 22 Patients with Metastatic Carcinoma of Bone Marrow]

The clinical and hematologic features in 22 patients with metastatic carcinoma of bone marrow were observed and analyzed. Morphology of bone marrow cells, bone marrow biopsy and other accessory examinations were performed. The primary or cardinal symptoms of metastatic carcinoma of bone marrow included anemia (17 cases, 77.3%), ostealgia (10 cases, 45.5%), fever (8 cases, 36.4%), hemorrhage (4 cases, 18.2%) and complicated hemolytic anemia (4 cases, 18.2%). The primary carcinomas, diagnosed by pathologic and accessory examinations, include gastric carcinoma (6 cases, 27%), lung cancer (3 cases, 13.6%), ovarian cancer (2 cases, 9%), mammary cancer, prostatic carcinoma, osteocarcinoma and metastatic malignant melanoma (1 case, respectively), and unknown primary lesion (7 cases, 31.8%). The hematologic features were decrease of hemoglobin (17 cases, 77.3%) and blood plate count (16 cases, 72.7%), leukocytosis (11 cases, 50%), immature leukocytes (14 cases, 63.6%) and erythrocytes (9 cases, 40.9%) seen on the peripheral blood smear, and reticulocytosis (4 cases, 18.2%). Masses of metastatic carcinoma cells can be frequently seen at two sides and tail of bone marrow smear. Bone marrow biopsy of 8 cases demonstrated the infiltration of carcinoma cells with nest-like distribution in the bone marrow cavity. Examination of MRI in 6 case showed destruction of bone and corpus vertebra and abnormal signal focus. Bone marrow biopsy could contribute to improve the accuracy of diagnosis and determine the origin of primary carcinoma. MRI plays an important role in diagnosis of metastatic carcinoma in bone marrow.