Interaction between DRD2 variation and sound environment on mood and emotion-related brain activity.

Sounds, like music and noise, are capable of reliably affecting individuals' mood and emotions. However, these effects are highly variable across individuals. A putative source of variability is genetic background. Here we explored the interaction between a functional polymorphism of the dopamine D2 receptor gene (DRD2 rs1076560, G>T, previously associated with the relative expression of D2S/L isoforms) and sound environment on mood and emotion-related brain activity. Thirty-eight healthy subjects were genotyped for DRD2 rs1076560 (G/G=26; G/T=12) and underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during performance of an implicit emotion-processing task while listening to music or noise. Individual variation in mood induction was assessed before and after the task. Results showed mood improvement after music exposure in DRD2GG subjects and mood deterioration after noise exposure in GT subjects. Moreover, the music, as opposed to noise environment, decreased the striatal activity of GT subjects as well as the prefrontal activity of GG subjects while processing emotional faces. These findings suggest that genetic variability of dopamine receptors affects sound environment modulations of mood and emotion processing.

Evaluation of bloodsucking arthropod bite as possible risk co-factor in Human herpesvirus-8 transmission route.

Human herpesvirus-8 non-sexual transmission occurs primarily from mother-to-child. The viral load in saliva is higher than in other human fluids. Moreover, there is evidence that bloodsucking arthropod bites induce an inflammatory/immune response that facilitates viral replication. We aim to explore possible risk factors in mother-to-child HHV-8 transmission associated with traditional methods which involve the use of saliva to relieve the irritation and skin reaction caused by arthropod bites. We administered questionnaires to 2244 children from several African countries and Italy. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used in the analysis of the answers to evaluate the relationships between the use of traditional methods and other risk factors. The use of traditional methods is high in Cameroon (63.0%) and Uganda (39.9%), intermediate in Senegal (26.7%) and Italy (21.7%), low in Madagascar (6.7%). Statistical analyses show significant direct relationships between the use of traditional methods, skin reactions to the bite and their duration in Cameroon, Uganda and Senegal. The use of saliva and herbs applied by the mothers on the child's skin, is a common habit in Africa. If this practice plays a role in the HHV-8 transmission, then, it could provide the basis for interventions capable of reducing the health impact of the infection in children in tropical areas.

Nelfinavir-induced insulin resistance is associated with impaired plasma membrane recruitment of the PI 3-kinase effectors Akt/PKB and PKC-zeta.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Chronic exposure of 3T3-L1 adipocytes to the HIV protease inhibitor nelfinavir induces insulin resistance, recapitulating key metabolic alterations of adipose tissue in the lipodystrophy syndrome induced by these agents. Our goal was to identify the defect in the insulin signal transduction cascade leading to nelfinavir-induced insulin resistance. METHODS: Fully differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes were exposed to 30 micro mol/l nelfinavir for 18 h, after which the amount, the phosphorylation and the localisation of key proteins in the insulin signalling cascade were evaluated. RESULTS: Insulin-induced interaction of phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase (PI 3-kinase) with IRS proteins was normal in cells treated with nelfinavir, as was IRS-1-associated PI 3-kinase activity. Yet insulin-induced phosphorylation of Akt/protein kinase B (PKB), p70S6 kinase and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 was significantly impaired. This could not be attributed to increased protein phosphatase 2A activity or to increased expression of phosphoinositide phosphatases (SHIP2 or PTEN). However, insulin failed to induce translocation of the PI 3-kinase effectors Akt/PKB and protein kinase C-zeta (PKC-zeta) to plasma membrane fractions of nelfinavir-treated adipocytes. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: We therefore conclude that nelfinavir induces a defect in the insulin signalling cascade downstream of the activation of PI 3-kinase. This defect manifests itself by impaired insulin-mediated recruitment of Akt/PKB and PKC-zeta to the plasma membrane.

Determination of the wax ester content in olive oils. Improvement in the method proposed by EEC regulation 183/93.

A simpler and faster procedure than the official one described in document IV of European Economic Community Regulation 183/93 is proposed. The wax ester fraction is isolated from triglycerides using a commercially available silica gel column and carbon tetrachloride as eluent. The recovered wax ester fraction, with the addition of a suitable internal standard solution, is analyzed by gas chromatography. A column with a 65% phenyl methyl silicone stationary phase allows a satisfying separation of wax ester fraction in comparison with both a steryl ester and a light fraction eluted before the internal standard. Furthermore, also the single components of the wax ester fraction are suitably separated.

[Influence of some ambient factors in the epidemiology of essential hypertension]. / Influencia de algunos factores ambientales en la epidemiología de la hipertensión esencial.

We studied a population of 13,963 subjects of whom 8,043 were group control and 1,915 were patients with undetected hypertension and the remaining patients were patients with hypertension diagnosed before the study. We analyzed age, sex, intake of alcohol, coffee, and saturated fats and compared these variables with the blood pressure readings. A significant statistical correlation between them was found. In addition the odd risks (OR) for each variable, such as alcohol showed a risk 2.26 times greater for drinkers than non-alcohol drinkers. This was 2.76 times greater in men than in women and 3.78 times greater in subjects 30 years old and over.

Percutaneous electrical stimulation for clinical tibial fracture repair.

Observations on stress generated electrical currents in bone have stimulated interest in the possible osteogenetic effect of externally applied electrical energy to establish diaphyseal bone defects in animals and man. This report records the observed effects of pulsed electrical energy directed through a metal (Riordan pin) electrode placed in a large proximal tibial shaft dedect in a young man who sustained loss of bone from a gunshot wound. The fixation pin placed directly into the defect provided the cathode (-) electrode. The anode (+) electrode consisted of an aluminum foil band placed on the skin adjacent to the leg. The tibia had 282 consecutive days of electrical stimulation and provided X-ray and clinical evidence of enhanced osteogenetic activity. The degree of osteogenetic response attributable to the electrical stimulation is undetermined because other factors, including cast immobilization, time and minimal touchdown (25 pounds) weight-bearing in the cast during the period of observation, may also have had some influence on the healing response. Circumstantial clinical evidence indicates that the applied electrical energy was of primary importance in the healing process. This theoretically and technically acceptable source of osteogenetic activity merits continued, intensive investigation.