Cognitive deficits associated with a high-fat diet and insulin resistance are potentiated by overexpression of ecto-nucleotide pyrophosphatase phosphodiesterase-1.

There is growing evidence that over consumption of high-fat foods and insulin resistance may alter hippocampal-dependent cognitive function. To study the individual contributions of diet and peripheral insulin resistance to learning and memory, we used a transgenic mouse line that overexpresses ecto-nucleotide pyrophosphatase phosphodiesterase-1 in adipocytes, which inhibits the insulin receptor. Here, we demonstrate that a model of peripheral insulin resistance exacerbates high-fat diet induced deficits in performance on the Morris Water Maze task. This finding was then reviewed in the context of the greater literature to explore potential mechanisms including triglyceride storage, adiponectin, lipid composition, insulin signaling, oxidative stress, and hippocampal signaling. Together, these findings further our understanding of the complex relationship among peripheral insulin resistance, diet and memory.

Regulation of motivation for food by neuromedin U in the paraventricular nucleus and the dorsal raphe nucleus.

BACKGROUND: Motivation for high-fat food is thought to contribute to excess caloric intake in obese individuals. A novel regulator of motivation for food may be neuromedin U (NMU), a highly-conserved neuropeptide that influences food intake. Although these effects of NMU have primarily been attributed to signaling in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN), NMU has also been found in other brain regions involved in both feeding behavior and motivation. We investigate the effects of NMU on motivation for food and food intake, and identify the brain regions mediating these effects. METHODS: The motivational state for a particular reinforcer (e.g., high-fat food) can be assessed using a progressive-ratio schedule of reinforcement under which an increasing number of lever presses are required to obtain subsequent reinforcers. Here, we have used a progressive-ratio operant responding paradigm in combination with an assessment of cumulative food intake to evaluate the effects of NMU administration in rats, and identify the brain regions mediating these effects. RESULTS: We found that peripheral administration of NMU decreases operant responding for high-fat food in rats. Evaluation of Fos-like immunoreactivity in response to peripheral NMU indicated the PVN and dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) as sites of action for NMU. NMU infusion into either region mimics the effects of peripheral NMU on food intake and operant responding for food. NMU-containing projections from the lateral hypothalamus (LH) to the PVN and DRN were identified as an endogenous source of NMU. CONCLUSIONS: These results identify the DRN as a site of action for NMU, demonstrate that the LH provides endogenous NMU to the PVN and DRN and implicate NMU signaling in the PVN and DRN as a novel regulator of motivation for high-fat foods.

Observations of growth and postspawning survival of lumpfish Cyclopterus lumpus from mark-recapture studies.

Growth and postspawning survival of lumpfish Cyclopterus lumpus are described by mark-recapture experiments using juveniles in offshore areas in the north-east Atlantic Ocean and spawning adults in coastal Norway and Iceland. A female fish tagged as a juvenile and recaptured as an adult matured in a period of 18 months, providing the first observation on development in a wild C. lumpus. The von Bertalanffy growth function, fitted to data from recaptured fish, was used to estimate K and L∞ and recaptured fish spawning after a year at liberty indicated a postspawning survival of c. 10% in Iceland.

[Experiences with a "Diploma of Continuing Medical Education from the Chamber of Physicians of Thuringia"]. / Erfahrungen mit dem "Fortbildungsdiplom der Landesärztekammer Thüringen".

On March 18, 1995, the assembly of the delegates of the chamber of physicians of Thuringia passed a resolution to introduce a Diploma of continuing medical education (DCME), which is to be acquired on a voluntary basis. The objective hereby is to describe and document the physician's efforts towards continuing medical education and quality assurance. Since 1998 the first diplomas have been awarded. But the number of diplomas applied for has not yet met expectations, though questions about access conditions clearly show that there is real demand. It needs more convincing promotional ideas for the DCME and standardization of existing drafts/plan for certifying continuing medical education. Thus a higher degree of acceptance for a CME diploma/certificate could be reached.

[Physician graduate and continuing education from the viewpoint of new legal requirements]. / Arztliche Fort- und Weiterbildung aus der Sicht der neuen rechtlichen Bedingungen.

Continuing and specialist education are inseparably linked to professional activities. The changes and especially the new legal aspects that have arisen since the GDR joined the FRG, are described.

[Significance of the EEG for various classifications of epilepsies. Results in 856 epileptic children]. / Die Bedeutung des EEG für die verschiedenen Klassifikationen der Epilepsien. Ergebnisse bei 856 kindlichen Epileptikern.

Although the Heidelberg classification is based on the phenomenology of fits, some EEG findings already imply certain epileptic syndromes. These are almost exclusively epilepsies with age-bound minor fits in which generalised peak potentials with characteristic morphology can be demonstrated. In Doose's classification, focal findings moreover mean the co-ordination to types of fits that are either focal or due to a focus. Focal findings in the EEG were more frequently found with a statistical high significance in epilepsies with focal or psychomotor fits and in Grand mal of a focal genesis. The co-ordination to the forms of the epileptic course of the International Classification is also carried out according to the morphology of generalised peak potentials and according to the presence or absence of focal findings and, less important, of general changes. As compared with Doose's classification, there are differences in spite of the application of the same principles that cannot be overlooked.