Increase in environmental temperature affects exploratory behaviour, anxiety and social preference in Danio rerio.

The aim of this work is to investigate the effect of a temperature increase on the behaviour of adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) maintained for 21 days at 34 °C (treatment) and 26 °C (control). The temperatures chosen are within the vital range of zebrafish and correspond to temperatures that this species encounters in the natural environment. Previous results showed that the same treatment affects the brain proteome and the behaviour of adult zebrafish by producing alterations in the proteins involved in neurotransmitter release and synaptic function and impairing fish exploratory behaviour. In this study, we have investigated the performance of treated and control zebrafish during environmental exploration by using four behavioural tests (novel tank diving, light and dark preference, social preference and mirror biting) that are paradigms for assessing the state of anxiety, boldness, social preference and aggressive behaviour, respectively. The results showed that heat treatment reduces anxiety and increases the boldness of zebrafish, which spent more time in potentially dangerous areas of the tank such as the top and the uncovered bright area and at a distance from the social group, thus decreasing protection for the zebrafish. These data suggest that the increase in ambient temperature may compromise zebrafish survival rate in the natural environment.

Visceral obesity, but not metabolic syndrome, is associated with the presence of post-thrombotic syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: The relationship between metabolic syndrome (MetS), and the development of post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) is currently unknown. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We enrolled 120 patients with a previous episode of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) diagnosed more than 2years apart from the enrollment. Presence of MetS was identified according to NCEP ATP III criteria and Villalta Score (VS) was used to establish the presence of PTS (VS≥5). RESULTS: We identified 49 (40.8%) subjects with clinical diagnosed of PTS. Patients with or without PTS showed comparable age and temporal distance from DVT event. We observed higher BMI (p=0.005) and waist circumference (p=0.006) among subjects with VS≥5 as compared to patients without PTS. No differences between the two groups were found in terms of lipid profile, blood pressure, diabetes, hs-CRP level and ongoing medications. The prevalence of MetS was equally distributed among patients with or without PTS (20% vs 26% respectively, p=0.64). Among the individual components of MetS only the prevalence of visceral adiposity was significantly increased in subjects affected by PTS (OR 2.81, p=0.008). Moreover, a significant linear correlation was found between VS and waist circumference in the entire cohort (r=0,354, p<0.0001). CONCLUSION: There is no evidence of association between MetS and PTS. However, the degree of visceral adiposity is strongly correlated with the presence and severity of post-thrombotic disease.

Screening for mutations in the ISL1 gene in patients with thyroid dysgenesis.

CONTEXT: Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is a common endocrine disorder with an incidence of 1:3000- 4000 newborns. In 80-85% of cases, CH is caused by defects in thyroid organogenesis, resulting in absent, ectopically located, and/or severely reduced gland, all conditions indicated as "thyroid dysgenesis" (TD). A higher prevalence of congenital heart diseases has been documented in children with CH compared to the general population. This association suggests a possible pathogenic role of genes involved in both heart and thyroid development. Among these, it can be included Isl1, a transcription factor containing a LIM homeodomain that is expressed in both thyroid and heart during morphogenesis. OBJECTIVE: In the present study, we investigate the role of ISL1 in the pathogenesis of TD. SETTINGS AND PATIENTS: By single stranded conformational polymorphism, we screened for mutations the entire ISL1 coding sequence in 96 patients with TD and in 96 normal controls. RESULTS: No mutations have been found in patients and controls. CONCLUSION: Our data indicate that, despite the relevant role of ISL1 in thyroid and heart morphogenesis, mutations in its coding region are not associated with TD in our group of patients.

Effect of blood pressure and physical activity on carotid artery intima-media thickness in stage 1 hypertensives and controls.

The aim of the study was to investigate whether hypertension and physical training induce parallel changes in the arterial wall. Ninety-seven never-treated stage 1 hypertensive patients (HT) (systolic blood pressure 140 to 159 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure 90 to 99 mm Hg) aged 18 to 45 years taking part in the Hypertension and Ambulatory Recording Venetia Study and 27 normotensive volunteers (NT) aged 30 +/- 9 years were studied. Data on physical or sports activity were collected and scored, and target organ involvement was investigated by assessing microalbuminuria, echocardiography, and carotid ultrasound study. The carotid arteries were examined according to the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities protocol. Mean (m-IMT) and maximal (M-IMT) carotid intima-media thickness were measured at end-diastole in the far wall common carotid artery, in the bulb and internal carotid artery, in the lateral and posterior projection, averaging the left and right sides. A comparable level of physical activity was present in HT patients and NT subjects. Twenty-four-hour blood pressure and blood lipid levels, as well as target organ damage, were similar in physically active and sedentary HT. The m-IMT of the common carotid was greater in sedentary HT than in sedentary NT, as well as in active than in sedentary NT. The m-IMT of the internal carotid artery was also greater in active HT than in active NT, as well as in active than in sedentary HT. In logistic regression, comparing the first and fourth quartile of m-IMT, scored physical activity was a predictor of m-IMT in the internal carotid artery. No statistical interaction was found between physical activity and hypertension, indicating that these two items have a cumulative effect and act independently of each other. Sedentary HT had significantly greater levels of M-IMT than sedentary NT in all sites but the bulbs; in the internal and common carotid arteries, HT exercisers had significantly greater M-IMT than NT exercisers. Therefore, physical activity appears to be an early independent predictor of carotid wall thickness. This factor should be taken into consideration in population-based studies aimed at investigating supraortic vessels as it can act as a confounder.

Specific cellular features of atheroma associated with development of neointima after carotid endarterectomy: the carotid atherosclerosis and restenosis study.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether some cellular and molecular features of tissue retrieved at carotid endarterectomy are associated with the extent of neointima formation at ultrasound follow-up. METHODS AND RESULTS: One hundred fifty patients were studied. Endarterectomy specimens were tested by immunocytochemistry with the use of (1) monoclonal antibodies that identify smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and fetal-type SMCs on the basis of smooth muscle and nonmuscle myosin content, (2) the anti-macrophage HAM 56, and (3) the anti-lymphocyte CD45RO. The maximum intima-media thickness (M-IMT) of the revascularized vessel was assessed by the use of B-mode ultrasonography 6 months after surgery. The M-IMT values were related positively to the number of SMCs (r=0.534, P<0.0005) and negatively to that of macrophages and lymphocytes (r=-0.428, P<0.0005, and -0.538, P=0.001, respectively). Patients were classified as class 1 (M-IMT 1.3 mm). An abundance of SMCs, mostly of fetal type, was found in the plaque of class 3 patients, whereas lesions from class 1 patients were rich in macrophages and lymphocytes. In the multivariate analysis, factors related to M-IMT were the number of SMCs and the percentage of fetal-type SMCs present in the plaque. CONCLUSIONS: Although the classic risk factors did not play a role, an abundance of SMCs and a scarcity of macrophages characterized the primary lesion of patients in whom neointima developed after surgery. In patients in whom neointima did not develop, lesions were rich in macrophages and lymphocytes. This approach can be useful in defining patients at risk of restenosis.

Factors underlying the increase in carotid intima-media thickness in borderline hypertensives.

To define the role played by various risk and behavioral factors in the increase of carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) observed in borderline hypertensives. Using B-mode ultrasonography, we compared 97 borderline hypertensives enrolled in the HARVEST study to 27 normotensive controls. Intima-media thickness was measured in the right and left common carotid artery, bulb, and internal carotid artery. Mean IMT (m-IMT), maximum IMT (M-IMT), the mean of M-IMT (M-MAX), and the prevalence of raised lesions (IMT>1 mm) were established. Compared to the controls, higher systolic BP, diastolic BP, mean arterial blood pressure levels and body mass index (BMI) were present in the borderline hypertensives, whereas age, smoking, physical activity, serum cholesterol, and triglycerides were similar. After adjusting for age, sex, heart rate, BMI, smoking, serum cholesterol, triglycerides, and physical activity, higher values of m-IMT and M-IMT were present in most carotid segments of borderline hypertensives compared with controls. After further adjustment for systolic BP and diastolic BP, differences were no longer significant. The adjusted M-MAX was 0.59+/-0.12 in borderline hypertensives compared with 0.50+/-0.10 in controls (P<0.001). After adjustment for systolic BP and diastolic BP it was 0.58+/-0.11 in borderline hypertensives compared with 0.50+/-0.12 in controls (P<0.005). In the various carotid segments, the prevalence of raised lesions was 1. 2% in borderline hypertensives compared with 0.3% in controls (P<0. 001). In the multivariate analysis m-IMT, M-IMT, and M-MAX were related to ambulatory mean arterial pressure, systolic BP and diastolic BP, serum cholesterol and triglycerides, BMI, age, and physical activity. Higher IMT values were found in subjects who were physically active than in those who were sedentary. In borderline hypertensives, an increase in IMT takes place not only in the common carotid artery but also in the bulb and the internal carotid segment. Blood pressure levels are a main determinant of m-IMT while the interaction of BP with other risk factors such as age and plasma lipids is more relevant for advanced intima-media thickening such as M-MAX.