Evaluation of human pineal gland acetylserotonin O-methyltransferase immunoreactivity in suicide: A preliminary study

2018 ◽  
Vol 58 (4) ◽  
pp. 233-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayse Kurtulus Dereli ◽  
Goksin Nilufer Demırci ◽  
Yavuz Dodurga ◽  
Seda Özbal ◽  
Ulker Cankurt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cerebrospinal Fluid ◽  
Pineal Gland ◽  
Positive Staining ◽  
Strong Staining ◽  
Preliminary Study ◽  
Immunohistochemical Methods ◽  
Moderate Staining ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Suicide Group ◽  
Noradrenaline Levels

Disorders of the serotonergic system are especially known to be present in the neurobiology of suicidal behavior. Studies investigating melatonin levels show that changes in pineal gland functions may also play a role in the pathogenesis of suicide. However, to our knowledge, there are no studies evaluating the activity of pinealocytes responsible for melatonin synthesis in suicide. This preliminary study aimed to investigate the relationship among pinealocyte, acetylserotonin O-methyltransferase (ASMT) immunoreactivity, and suicide. Samples of pineal gland, cerebrospinal fluid, blood, and urine were obtained from 21 suicide and 21 non-suicide cases on which medicolegal autopsies were performed. Expression of ASMT in human pineal gland was evaluated by immunohistochemical methods. A scoring system was used to define the anti-ASMT-positive staining in the sections. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were employed to assess serum and cerebrospinal fluid melatonin levels and blood and urine noradrenaline levels. The ASMT-immunopositive pinealocyte count was observed to be lower in suicide cases compared to the non-suicide cases. With the exception of two cases (with moderate staining), all graded scores were 3 (strong staining) in non-suicide group, whereas scores were 1 (mild staining) or 2 (moderate staining) in the suicide group. Melatonin levels in the blood were lower among the suicide victims. These results support decreased pineal gland activity in suicide. However, further studies are needed to assess whether these changes are related to a psychiatric disorder.

scholarly journals Slithering CSF: Cerebrospinal Fluid Dynamics in the Stationary and Moving Viper Boa, Candoia aspera

Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 672
Author(s):  
Bruce A. Young ◽  
Skye Greer ◽  
Michael Cramberg
Keyword(s):  
Cerebrospinal Fluid ◽  
Cardiac Cycle ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Mean Amplitude ◽  
The Body ◽  
Body Waves ◽  
Lower Amplitude ◽  
Lateral Undulation ◽  
Recovery From Anesthesia ◽  
The Relationship

In the viper boa (Candoia aspera), the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shows two stable overlapping patterns of pulsations: low-frequency (0.08 Hz) pulses with a mean amplitude of 4.1 mmHg that correspond to the ventilatory cycle, and higher-frequency (0.66 Hz) pulses with a mean amplitude of 1.2 mmHg that correspond to the cardiac cycle. Manual oscillations of anesthetized C. aspera induced propagating sinusoidal body waves. These waves resulted in a different pattern of CSF pulsations with frequencies corresponding to the displacement frequency of the body and with amplitudes greater than those of the cardiac or ventilatory cycles. After recovery from anesthesia, the snakes moved independently using lateral undulation and concertina locomotion. The episodes of lateral undulation produced similar influences on the CSF pressure as were observed during the manual oscillations, though the induced CSF pulsations were of lower amplitude during lateral undulation. No impact on the CSF was found while C. aspera was performing concertina locomotion. The relationship between the propagation of the body and the CSF pulsations suggests that the body movements produce an impulse on the spinal CSF.

scholarly journals Plasma and cerebrospinal fluid inflammation and the blood-brain barrier in older surgical patients: the Role of Inflammation after Surgery for Elders (RISE) study

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarinnapha M. Vasunilashorn ◽  
◽  
Long H. Ngo ◽  
Simon T. Dillon ◽  
Tamara G. Fong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cerebrospinal Fluid ◽  
Blood Brain Barrier ◽  
Plasma Levels ◽  
Inflammatory Markers ◽  
Brain Barrier ◽  
Markers Of Inflammation ◽  
Blood Brain ◽  
Csf Levels ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Background Our understanding of the relationship between plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) remains limited, which poses an obstacle to the identification of blood-based markers of neuroinflammatory disorders. To better understand the relationship between peripheral and central nervous system (CNS) markers of inflammation before and after surgery, we aimed to examine whether surgery compromises the blood-brain barrier (BBB), evaluate postoperative changes in inflammatory markers, and assess the correlations between plasma and CSF levels of inflammation. Methods We examined the Role of Inflammation after Surgery for Elders (RISE) study of adults aged ≥ 65 who underwent elective hip or knee surgery under spinal anesthesia who had plasma and CSF samples collected at baseline and postoperative 1 month (PO1MO) (n = 29). Plasma and CSF levels of three inflammatory markers previously identified as increasing after surgery were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay: interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), and chitinase 3-like protein (also known as YKL-40). The integrity of the BBB was computed as the ratio of CSF/plasma albumin levels (Qalb). Mean Qalb and levels of inflammation were compared between baseline and PO1MO. Spearman correlation coefficients were used to determine the correlation between biofluids. Results Mean Qalb did not change between baseline and PO1MO. Mean plasma and CSF levels of CRP and plasma levels of YKL-40 and IL-6 were higher on PO1MO relative to baseline, with a disproportionally higher increase in CRP CSF levels relative to plasma levels (CRP tripled in CSF vs. increased 10% in plasma). Significant plasma-CSF correlations for CRP (baseline r = 0.70 and PO1MO r = 0.89, p < .01 for both) and IL-6 (PO1MO r = 0.48, p < .01) were observed, with higher correlations on PO1MO compared with baseline. Conclusions In this elective surgical sample of older adults, BBB integrity was similar between baseline and PO1MO, plasma-CSF correlations were observed for CRP and IL-6, plasma levels of all three markers (CRP, IL-6, and YKL-40) increased from PREOP to PO1MO, and CSF levels of only CRP increased between the two time points. Our identification of potential promising plasma markers of inflammation in the CNS may facilitate the early identification of patients at greatest risk for neuroinflammation and its associated adverse cognitive outcomes.

scholarly journals The relationship between body image and emotional and cognitive impairment after brain damage: A preliminary study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Corallo ◽  
Dominique Tarda ◽  
Valentina Coppola ◽  
Lilla Bonanno ◽  
Viviana Lo Buono ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Image ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Brain Damage ◽  
Preliminary Study ◽  
The Relationship

Age-Dependency of Total Tau in the Cerebrospinal Fluid Is Corrected by Amyloid-β 1–40: A Correlational Study in Healthy Adults

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Paul Theo Zebhauser ◽  
Achim Berthele ◽  
Marie-Sophie Franz ◽  
Oliver Goldhardt ◽  
Janine Diehl-Schmid ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cerebrospinal Fluid ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Healthy Adults ◽  
Tau Proteins ◽  
Clinical Settings ◽  
Inclusion Criteria ◽  
Total Tau ◽  
Potential Marker ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Relationship

Background: Tau proteins are established biomarkers of neuroaxonal damage in a wide range of neurodegenerative conditions. Although measurement of total-Tau in the cerebrospinal fluid is widely used in research and clinical settings, the relationship between age and total-Tau in the cerebrospinal fluid is yet to be fully understood. While past studies reported a correlation between age and total-Tau in the cerebrospinal fluid of healthy adults, in clinical practice the same cut-off value is used independently of patient’s age. Objective: To further explore the relationship between age and total-Tau and to disentangle neurodegenerative from drainage-dependent effects. Methods: We analyzed cerebrospinal fluid samples of 76 carefully selected cognitively healthy adults and included amyloid-β 1–40 as a potential marker of drainage from the brain’s interstitial system. Results: We found a significant correlation of total-Tau and age, which was no longer present when correcting total-Tau for amyloid-β 1–40 concentrations. These findings were replicated under varied inclusion criteria. Conclusion: Results call into question the association of age and total-Tau in the cerebrospinal fluid. Furthermore, they suggest diagnostic utility of amyloid-β 1–40 as a possible proxy for drainage-mechanisms into the cerebrospinal fluid when interpreting biomarker concentrations for neurodegenerative diseases.

scholarly journals Caring for Things Helps Humans Grow: Effects of Courteous Interaction with Things on Pro-Environmental Behavior

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 3969
Author(s):  
Hiroko Kamide ◽  
Tatsuo Arai
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Behavior ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Environmentally Conscious ◽  
Everyday Objects ◽  
Preliminary Study ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Active Care ◽  
Familiar Objects

The purpose of this study was to clarify the influence of courteous interaction with familiar objects on pro-environmental behavior and well-being. We explored the process of interaction with everyday objects, such as pens and glasses in a preliminary study (N = 64), and to reveal two aspects that define these interactions, namely active care for objects and awareness of learning from the interaction (N = 687; Study 1). The more people cared for and learned through their interactions with a particular object, the more they perceived a connectedness to it (N = 195; Study 2). Furthermore, caring for and learning with familiar objects promoted various environmentally conscious behaviors and contributed to individual well-being (Study 3; N = 600). In this way, we discussed the relationship between interaction with everyday objects, the aspects of these interactions, and the influence of these interactions on an individual’s perspective toward the wider environment.

Abstract T P351: Unbound Iron and Ceruloplasmin Levels in Cerebrospinal Fluid Are Associated with Development of Deep Cerebral Infarcts Following Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Stroke ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 45 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren Koffman ◽  
Gabor Toth ◽  
M. Shazam Hussain ◽  
Magdy Selim ◽  
Peter Rasmussen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cerebrospinal Fluid ◽  
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ◽  
Cerebral Infarcts ◽  
Active Iron ◽  
Redox Active ◽  
Wilcoxon Rank Sum Test ◽  
Radiological Data ◽  
Experimental Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ◽  
Preliminary Study ◽  
Iron Redox

Introduction: Iron-dependent formation of reactive oxygen species has been implicated in the development of vasospasm (VSP) and neuronal injury following experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). We report the association between unbound (“free”) iron in CSF of SAH patients and the risk of angiographic vasospasm and cerebral infarcts (CI) on neuroimaging from a recently completed pilot study. Methods: Samples of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were obtained on days 1, 3, and 5. A fluorometric assay that relies on an oxidation sensitive probe was used to measure redox active iron (REDOX-Fe). Ceruloplasmin (Cp) concentration and levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), a marker of lipid peroxidation were also measured. We prospectively collected and recorded demographic, clinical, and radiological data. Logistic regression and Wilcoxon Rank Sum test were used. Results: Five of 12 patients developed angiographic VSP (41.6%) and eight developed CI (66.6%). Mean REDOX-Fe was higher in patients with CI (3.96 ± 0.97 Vs. 2.77 ± 0.87 mcg/dl, p 0.07), particularly in patients with deep-seated strokes (4.56 ± 0.67 Vs. 3.35 ± 0.89, p 0.03). Levels of Cp at day 3 were lower in patients with deep strokes (34,092 ± 23,780 Vs. 86,045 ± 34,752 ng/ml, p 0.03). A trend towards higher REDOX-Fe on day 3 in patients who developed VSP (4.52 ± 1.16 Vs. 2.96 ± 0.71, p 0.07), and lower Cp levels on day 5 (45,033 ± 29,079 Vs. 63,044 ± 24,821, p 0.1) was found. Levels of MDA were higher in patients who developed CI (10.36 ± 4.36 Vs. 5.9 ± 4.2 nmol, p 0.08). Conclusions: In this preliminary study we found higher concentrations of redox active iron in CSF of SAH patients who develop deep-seated CI on neuroimaging. Evidence of increased oxidative damage correlated with development of CI. A possible association between non-protein bound iron and angiographic VSP is suggested as well. Ceruloplasmin may exert a protective effect in this setting. Further studies are needed to validate these findings.

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