Socially learned attitude change is not reduced in medicated patients with schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is often associated with distinctive or odd social behaviours. Previous work suggests this could be due to a general reduction in conformity; however, this work only assessed the tendency to publicly agree with others, which may involve a number of different mechanisms. In this study, we specifically investigated whether patients display a reduced tendency to adopt other people’s opinions (socially learned attitude change). We administered a computerized conformity task, assumed to rely on reinforcement learning circuits, to 32 patients with schizophrenia or schizo-affective disorder and 39 matched controls. Each participant rated 153 faces for trustworthiness. After each rating, they were immediately shown the opinion of a group. After approximately 1 hour, participants were unexpectedly asked to rate all the faces again. We compared the degree of attitude change towards group opinion in patients and controls. Patients presented equal or more social influence on attitudes than controls. This effect may have been medication induced, as increased conformity was seen with higher antipsychotic dose. The results suggest that there is not a general decline in conformity in medicated patients with schizophrenia and that previous findings of reduced conformity are likely related to mechanisms other than reinforcement based social influence on attitudes

Exhaled nitric oxide in a population-based study of Southern California Schoolchildren

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Determinants of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) need to be understood better to maximize the value of FeNO measurement in clinical practice and research. Our aim was to identify significant predictors of FeNO in an initial cross-sectional survey of southern California schoolchildren, part of a larger longitudinal study of asthma incidence.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>During one school year, we measured FeNO at 100 ml/sec flow, using a validated offline technique, in 2568 children of age 7–10 yr. We estimated online (50 ml/sec flow) FeNO using a prediction equation from a separate smaller study with adjustment for offline measurement artifacts, and analyzed its relationship to clinical and demographic characteristics.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>FeNO was lognormally distributed with geometric means ranging from 11 ppb in children without atopy or asthma to 16 ppb in children with allergic asthma. Although effects of atopy and asthma were highly significant, ranges of FeNO for children with and without those conditions overlapped substantially. FeNO was significantly higher in subjects aged > 9, compared to younger subjects. Asian-American boys showed significantly higher FeNO than children of all other sex/ethnic groups; Hispanics and African-Americans of both sexes averaged slightly higher than non-Hispanic whites. Increasing height-for-age had no significant effect, but increasing weight-for-height was associated with decreasing FeNO.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>FeNO measured offline is a useful biomarker for airway inflammation in large population-based studies. Further investigation of age, ethnicity, body-size, and genetic influences is needed, since they may contribute to substantial variation in FeNO.</p

Influence of preoperative nucleus pulposus status and radiculopathy on outcomes in mono-segmental lumbar total disc replacement: results from a nationwide registry

Background: Currently, herniated nucleus pulposus (HNP) with radiculopathy and other preconditions are regarded as relative or absolute contraindications for lumbar total disc replacement (TDR). In Switzerland it is left to the surgeon's discretion when to operate. The present study is based on the dataset of SWISSspine, a governmentally mandated health technology assessment registry. We hypothesized that preoperative nucleus pulposus status and presence or absence of radiculopathy has an influence on clinical outcomes in patients treated with mono-segmental lumbar TDR. Methods. Between March 2005 and April 2009, 416 patients underwent mono-segmental lumbar TDR, which was documented in a prospective observational multicenter mode. The data collection consisted of perioperative and follow-up data (physician based) and clinical outcomes (NASS, EQ-5D). Patients were divided into four groups according to their preoperative status: 1) group degenerative disc disease ("DDD"): 160 patients without HNP and no radiculopathy, classic precondition for TDR; 2) group "HNP-No radiculopathy": 68 patients with HNP but without radiculopathy; 3) group "Stenosis": 73 patients without HNP but with radiculopathy, and 4) group "HNP-Radiculopathy": 132 patients with HNP and radiculopathy. The groups were compared regarding preoperative patient characteristics and pre- and postoperative VAS and EQ-5D scores using general linear modeling. Results: Demographics in all four groups were comparable. Regarding the improvement of quality of life (EQ-5D) there were no differences across the four groups. For the two main groups DDD and HNP-Radiculopathy no differences were found in the adjusted postoperative back- and leg pain alleviation levels, in the stenosis group back- and leg pain relief were lower. Conclusions: Despite higher preoperative leg pain levels, outcomes in lumbar TDR patients with HNP and radiculopathy were similar to outcomes in patients with the classic indication; this because patients with higher preoperative leg pain levels benefit from a relatively greater leg pain alleviation. The group with absence of HNP but presence of radiculopathy showed considerably less benefits from the operation, which is probably related to ongoing degenerative processes of the posterior segmental structures. This observational multicenter study suggests that the diagnoses HNP and radiculopathy, combined or alone, may not have to be considered as absolute or relative contraindications for mono-segmental lumbar TDR anymore, whereas patients without HNP but with radiculopathy seem to be suboptimal candidates for the procedure. © 2011 Zweig et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd

Complications related to deep venous thrombosis prophylaxis in trauma: a systematic review of the literature

Deep venous thrombosis prophylaxis is essential to the appropriate management of multisystem trauma patients. Without thromboprophylaxis, the rate of venous thrombosis and subsequent pulmonary embolism is substantial. Three prophylactic modalities are common: pharmacologic anticoagulation, mechanical compression devices, and inferior vena cava filtration. A systematic review was completed using PRISMA guidelines to evaluate the potential complications of DVT prophylactic options. Level one evidence currently supports the use of low molecular weight heparins for thromboprophylaxis in the trauma patient. Unfortunately, multiple techniques are not infrequently required for complex multisystem trauma patients. Each modality has potential complications. The risks of heparin include bleeding and heparin induced thrombocytopenia. Mechanical compression devices can result in local soft tissue injury, bleeding and patient non-compliance. Inferior vena cava filters migrate, cause inferior vena cava occlusion, and penetrate the vessel wall. While the use of these techniques can be life saving, they must be appropriately utilized

Genotypische stabiliteit van Campylobactr jejuni onder gecontroleerde kweekcondities

Campylobacter (C.) jejuni is de meest frequente veroorzaker van gastro-enteritis in Nederland. Onderzoek met verschillende genetische typeringstechnieken laat zien dat er zeer veel campylobactertypen bestaan. Pluimvee wordt beschouwd als een belangrijke bron van C. jejuni, maar veel van de stammen die worden ge6soleerd uit pluimvee worden niet teruggevonden in de humane populatie, terwijl van de stammen die zijn ge6soleerd uit humane pati6nten slechts 30% wordt teruggevonden bij pluimvee. Hieraan kunnen verschillende oorzaken ten grondslag liggen: (1) Mogelijk bestaan er nog andere bronnen van C. jejuni. Risicofactoren voor het oplopen van een infectie met Campylobacter zijn het houden van (jonge) huisdieren en het drinken van ongepasteuriseerde melk. Opvallend genoeg wordt het eten van kip niet altijd als risicofactor gezien; (2) Groei van campylobacters lijkt beperkt te zijn tot het maagdarmstelsel van warmbloedig dieren. Onder omstandigheden waar groei niet mogelijk is, blijft Campylobacter weliswaar vitaal, maar neemt de kweekbaarheid, en daarmee de aantoonbaarheid, af. Mogelijk is Campylobacter in deze vitale, maar niet meer kweekbare vorm toch nog in staat om een infectie te veroorzaken; (3) Pluimvee is besmet met verschillende typen C. jejuni waarvan er een of enkele domineren en dus worden aangetoond. Bij een voedselinfectie worden alle typen overgedragen, maar omdat in de mens andere typen gaan domineren, worden in de mens ook andere typen aangetoond; (4) Mogelijk treden er veranderingen op in het genotype van Campylobacter, waardoor het slechts lijkt alsof er sprake is van niet-verwante typen. In deze studie is C. jejuni gedurende 150 generaties gekweekt onder gecontroleerde omstandigheden en is van op geregelde tijdstippen genomen monsters met behulp van verschillende genetische technieken het genotype bepaald. Er zijn in deze periode en onder de gebruikte omstandigheden geen veranderingen in genotype waargenomen.Campylobacter (C.) jejuni is identified as the major cause of bacterial gastro-enteritis in the Netherlands. Although poultry is considered as the main source of C. jejuni, many strains found in poultry (identified by various genotyping techniques) cannot be traced in the human population and in the Netherlands, of all human isolates, only 30% has been detected in poultry. Variations in genotype due to mutations or exchange of DNA might underlie these observations. This study was undertaken to monitor changes in genotype of C. jejuni. We cultured C. jejuni for approximately 150 generations in nutrient rich medium in the absence of exchangeable DNA under various microaerobic conditions. Alterations in genotype were studied by pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and the multi locus sequence typing (MLST) technique. No rearrangements, inserts or deletions of large DNA fragments were detected. PFGE and AFLP patterns of cultures at start were indistinguishable from cultures 150 generations later. No mutations were observed in any of the restriction sites and no detectable mutations had occurred in the loci subjected to MLST analysis. In the absence of exchangeable DNA under constant culture conditions the genotype of C. jejuni appeared to be stable.RIV

Molecular Cloning of the Zebrafish Neurofilament Proteins Plasticin and Gefiltin: Increased mRNA Expression in Retinal Ganglion Cells After Optic Nerve Crush

During retinal growth and optic axon regeneration, the differential expression of the neuronal intermediate filament proteins, plasticin and gefiltin, in the goldfish visual pathway suggests that these proteins support programmed axonal growth. To investigate plasticin and gefiltin during axonogenesis, we turned to the zebrafish, a system that is more amenable to mutational analysis. As a first step, we demonstrated that the intermediate filament compositions of goldfish and zebrafish are similar. In addition, the cDNAs for zebrafish plasticin and gefiltin were cloned and characterized. Using in situ hybridization in retina, we show increased mRNA levels for these proteins following optic nerve crush. Zebrafish plasticin and gefiltin peak and return to baseline levels of expression more rapidly than in goldfish. Furthermore, in the unoperated eye of experimental fish, there was a moderate increase in the levels of plasticin and gefiltin mRNA, suggesting that soluble factors influence the expression of these proteins. The successive expression of plasticin and gefiltin suggests that these neuronal intermediate filament proteins are integral components of axonogenesis. The cloning and characterization of cDNAs for plasticin and gefiltin permit mutational analyses of these proteins during zebrafish axonogenesis

Cloning of zebrafish neurofilament cDNAs for plasticin and gefiltin: Increased mRNA expression in ganglion cells after optic nerve injury

During retinal growth and optic axon regeneration, the differential expression of the neuronal intermediate filament proteins, plasticin and gefiltin, in the goldfish visual pathway suggests that these proteins support programmed axonal growth. To investigate plasticin and gefiltin during axonogenesis, we turned to the zebrafish, a system that is more amenable to mutational analysis. As a first step, we demonstrated that the intermediate filament compositions of goldfish and zebrafish are similar. In addition, the cDNAs for zebrafish plasticin and gefiltin were cloned and characterized. Using in situ hybridization in retina, we show increased mRNA levels for these proteins following optic nerve crush. Zebrafish plasticin and gefiltin peak and return to baseline levels of expression more rapidly than in goldfish. Furthermore, in the unoperated eye of experimental fish, there was a moderate increase in the levels of plasticin and gefiltin mRNA, suggesting that soluble factors influence the expression of these proteins. The successive expression of plasticin and gefiltin suggests that these neuronal intermediate filament proteins are integral components of axonogenesis. The cloning and characterization of cDNAs for plasticin and gefiltin permit mutational analyses of these proteins during zebrafish axonogenesis