Amygdala 14-3-3ζ as a Novel Modulator of Escalating Alcohol Intake in Mice

Alcoholism is a devastating brain disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. The development of alcoholism is caused by alcohol-induced maladaptive changes in neural circuits involved in emotions, motivation, and decision-making. Because of its involvement in these processes, the amygdala is thought to be a key neural structure involved in alcohol addiction. However, the molecular mechanisms that govern the development of alcoholism are incompletely understood. We have previously shown that in a limited access choice paradigm, C57BL/6J mice progressively escalate their alcohol intake and display important behavioral characteristic of alcohol addiction, in that they become insensitive to quinine-induced adulteration of alcohol. This study used the limited access choice paradigm to study gene expression changes in the amygdala during the escalation to high alcohol consumption in C57BL/6J mice. Microarray analysis revealed that changes in gene expression occurred predominantly after one week, i.e. during the initial escalation of alcohol intake. One gene that stood out from our analysis was the adapter protein 14-3-3ζ, which was up-regulated during the transition from low to high alcohol intake. Independent qPCR analysis confirmed the up-regulation of amygdala 14-3-3ζ during the escalation of alcohol intake. Subsequently, we found that local knockdown of 14-3-3ζ in the amygdala, using RNA interference, dramatically augmented alcohol intake. In addition, knockdown of amygdala 14-3-3ζ promoted the development of inflexible alcohol drinking, as apparent from insensitivity to quinine adulteration of alcohol. This study identifies amygdala 14-3-3ζ as a novel key modulator that is engaged during escalation of alcohol use

The Churches' Bans on Consanguineous Marriages, Kin-Networks and Democracy

This paper highlights the role of kin-networks for the functioning of modern societies: countries with strong extended families as characterized by a high level of cousin marriages exhibit a weak rule of law and are more likely autocratic. To assess causality, I exploit a quasi-natural experiment. In the early medieval ages the Church started to prohibit kin-marriages. Using the variation in the duration and extent of the Eastern and Western Churches' bans on consanguineous marriages as instrumental variables, reveals highly significant point estimates of the percentage of cousin marriage on an index of democracy. An additional novel instrument, cousin-terms, strengthens this point: the estimates are very similar and do not rest on the European experience alone. Exploiting within country variation of cousin marriages in Italy, as well as within variation of a 'societal marriage pressure' indicator for a larger set of countries support these results. These findings point to a causal effect of marriage patterns on the proper functioning of formal institutions and democracy. The study further suggests that the Churches' marriage rules - by destroying extended kin-groups - led Europe on its special path of institutional and democratic development

Zuweisungen in der nuklearmedizinischen Diagnostik

Summary Aim: Written reports are the basis of collaboration between clinician and radiologist or nuclear medicine specialist. For clinicians it is important to receive useful and accurate reports that answer their questions. A thorough referral note is needed in order to choose an appropriate examination method and to write a good report. Methods: In this retrospective study we analyzed 1330 referral notes which were addressed to the Department of Nuclear Medicine at the University Clinic of Nuclear Medicine in Vienna between 2008 and 2011. Examinations were divided into 7 groups (heart, lung, bones, central nervous system, PET or PET-CT and other). The following aspects were studied: diagnosis, clinical question, overall legibility, handwritten/typed, contact information, legibility of the referring doctor’s name, internal/external referral, additional information and region to be examined. Results: 18% of the referrals per year were analyzed. A diagnosis was given in 95%, a clinical question in 73%. Additional information was found in 41%. Only 4% were typed. In nearly all of these aspects there were major differences when compared in the seven different groups. Conclusion: To generate a good report and to provide optimal conditions for examination the data in the referral note should be given as exact as possible. Our retrospective analysis demonstrated the lack of referral note related information concerning the clinical question. In order to achieve good results, intelligent computer-assisted referrals might lead to better referral notes.</jats:p