Cortisol Awakening Reaction and Anxiety in Depressed Coronary Artery Disease Patients

Disturbances of HPA axis functioning as represented by cortisol awakening reaction (CAR) belong to the mediating pathways linking psychosocial distress and cardiovascular risk. Both depression and anxiety have been confirmed as independent risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD). However, data on anxiety and cortisol output in CAD patients are scarce. Based on previous data, we hypothesized that anxiety would be associated with higher cortisol output and a more pronounced morning increase in moderately depressed CAD patients. 77 patients (60 y, 79% male) underwent saliva sampling (+0, +30, +45, +60 min after awakening, midday and late-night sample). Anxiety was measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and patients were grouped into anxious versus non anxious subjects based upon the recommended score (≥11). A repeated measures ANOVA yielded a significant time and quadratic time effect referring to the typical CAR. Anxious patients showed a significantly steeper 30 min increase, higher AUCi, lower waking and late-night cortisol levels. The steeper cortisol increase in the anxious group is in line with previous data and may be interpreted as a biological substrate of affect regulation. The lower basal and late-night levels coupled with greater AUCi mirror a more dynamic reactivity pattern compared to depressed subjects without anxiety.

Oxytocin increases perceived competence and social-emotional engagement with brands

Humans express loyalty to consumer brands much like they do in human relationships. The neuroactive chemical oxytocin is an important biological substrate of human attachment and this study tested whether consumer-brand relationships can be influenced by oxytocin administration. We present a mathematical model of brand attachment that generates empirically-testable hypotheses. The model is tested by administering synthetic oxytocin or placebo to male and female participants (N = 77) who received information about brands and had an opportunity to purchase branded products. We focused on two brand personality dimensions: warmth and competence. Oxytocin increased perceptions of brand competence but not brand warmth relative to placebo. We also found that participants were willing to pay more for branded products through its effect on brand competence. When writing about one’s favorite brands, oxytocin enhanced the use of positive emotional language as well as words related to family and friends. These findings provide preliminary evidence that consumers build relationships with brands using the biological mechanisms that evolved to form human attachments.

Effect of a liquid with a negative redox potential on the indicators of blood and humoral immunity after resection thin gut

An experimental study was conducted to establish changes in blood indices and humoral immu1nity in rats in the postoperative period with the use of catholyte and anolyte. The experiments were carried out on 45 male rats weighing 290–320 g, which were distributed equally into 3 groups: group 1 — intact animals, group 2 and 3 — animals which underwent surgery in the amount of resection of the small intestine (1.5 cm) with anastomosis end to end.After surgery, rats used catholyte as a drink, instead of drinking water. The surgical wound was treated with anolyte. Blood and the wall of the small intestine in the anastomosis zone were used as a biological substrate. The material was studied on days 5 and 15. A study of the composition of blood and the walls of the small intestine was carried out on days 5 and 15 4. An analysis of the materials showed that the use of catholyte (a liquid with negative AFP-leads to positive changes in blood counts, humoral immunity and phagocytic activity, impaired after resection of the small intestine. The use of anolyte antiseptic (liquid with positive AFP) prevents bacterial contamination of the surgical wound. The studied parameters indicate that catholyte positively affects humoral immunity, and anolyte prevents bacterial insemination of the surgical wound.

Alteration of NMDA receptor trafficking as a cellular hallmark of psychosis

A dysfunction of the glutamatergic transmission, especially of the NMDA receptor (NMDAR), constitutes one of the main biological substrate of psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia. The NMDAR signaling hypofunction, through genetic and/or environmental insults, would cause a neurodevelopmental myriad of molecular, cellular, and network alterations that persist throughout life. Yet, the mechanisms underpinning NMDAR dysfunctions remain elusive. Here, we compared the membrane trafficking of NMDAR in three gold-standard models of schizophrenia, i.e., patient’s cerebrospinal fluids, genetic manipulations of susceptibility genes, and prenatal developmental alterations. Using a combination of single nanoparticle tracking, electrophysiological, biochemical, and behavioral approaches in rodents, we identified that the NMDAR trafficking in hippocampal neurons was consistently altered in all these different models. Artificial manipulations of the NMDAR surface dynamics with competing ligands or antibody-induced receptor cross-link in the developing rat brain were sufficient to regulate the adult acoustic startle reflex and compensate for an early pathological challenge. Collectively, we show that the NMDAR trafficking is markedly altered in all clinically relevant models of psychosis, opening new avenues of therapeutical strategies.

The physiological basis for contrast opponency in motion computation in Drosophila

In Drosophila, direction-selective neurons implement a mechanism of motion computation similar to cortical neurons, using contrast-opponent receptive fields with ON and OFF subfields. It is not clear how the presynaptic circuitry of direction-selective neurons in the OFF pathway supports this computation if all major inputs are OFF-rectified neurons. Here, we reveal the biological substrate for motion computation in the OFF pathway. Three interneurons, Tm2, Tm9 and CT1, provide information about ON stimuli to the OFF direction-selective neuron T5 across its receptive field, supporting a contrast-opponent receptive field organization. Consistent with its prominent role in motion detection, variability in Tm9 receptive field properties transfers to T5, and calcium decrements in Tm9 in response to ON stimuli persist across behavioral states, while spatial tuning is sharpened by active behavior. Together, our work shows how a key neuronal computation is implemented by its constituent neuronal circuit elements to ensure direction selectivity.

use of methods of the biocrystallomics in personification of the treatment with high diluted drugs

Background: One of most important trends in modern medicine is its transformation to personalized diagnostics and treatment. This tendency fully applies to homeopathy, especially considering that this discipline is based on the principles of individual approach to the patient. At the same time, the methods of individualization of treatment in homeopathy are relatively few. Aims: Develop of methodology and methods of application biocrystalloscopic tests to personalize the homeopathic treatment. The proposed technology became previously proposed for ozone therapy practice as biocrystallomics pre-test. It includes study of the result of co-crystallization of a biological liquid of a patient with the intended dose of the drug. At the same time, the character of co-crystallization of biological liquid with several doses of tested drug or different parameters of the action of the studied factor is comparatively estimated for the purpose of individualization. Most appropriate for a particular patient believe the dose that causes optimal structuring in the dried microscopic slides obtained from a mixture of biological fluid and a solution containing a given dose of the drug. The comparison is made with a control sample of biological fluid, which has not been exposed to any effects. The optimal result is a sample that matches the control sample as much as possible. It is most preferably for biocrystallomics pre-test to use blood serum or plasma as an analyzed biological fluid. Methodology: To study the characteristics of the structuring of the semicroscopic slides we use the previously created system of semi-quantitative parameters. They are calculated on a straight four-point scale and include: crystallizability (semi-quantitative indicator of crystallization activity), structure index (complexity criterion for constructing crystal elements of facias), facia destruction degree (indicator of “correctness” of crystal formation) and clearity of facia marginal zone (parameter indicating the amount of native protein in the sample of biological fluid). These indicators comprehensively characterize all the main features of the process of dehydration structurization of biological substrate. Conclusion: It should be noted that the technique described above is universal and can be applied to any liquid or soluble compounds with potential therapeutic activity, including their ultra-high dilutions. The data obtained by us indicate the possibility of using this technology in homeopathy.

Current Strategies for Tracheal Replacement: A Review

Airway cancers have been increasing in recent years. Tracheal resection is commonly performed during surgery and is burdened from post-operative complications severely affecting quality of life. Tracheal resection is usually carried out in primary tracheal tumors or other neoplasms of the neck region. Regenerative medicine for tracheal replacement using bio-prosthesis is under current research. In recent years, attempts were made to replace and transplant human cadaver trachea. An effective vascular supply is fundamental for a successful tracheal transplantation. The use of biological scaffolds derived from decellularized tissues has the advantage of a three-dimensional structure based on the native extracellular matrix promoting the perfusion, vascularization, and differentiation of the seeded cell typologies. By appropriately modulating some experimental parameters, it is possible to change the characteristics of the surface. The obtained membranes could theoretically be affixed to a decellularized tissue, but, in practice, it needs to ensure adhesion to the biological substrate and/or glue adhesion with biocompatible glues. It is also known that many of the biocompatible glues can be toxic or poorly tolerated and induce inflammatory phenomena or rejection. In tissue and organ transplants, decellularized tissues must not produce adverse immunological reactions and lead to rejection phenomena; at the same time, the transplant tissue must retain the mechanical properties of the original tissue. This review describes the attempts so far developed and the current lines of research in the field of tracheal replacement.

The physiological basis for the computation of direction selectivity in the Drosophila OFF pathway

In Drosophila, direction-selective neurons implement a mechanism of motion computation similar to cortical neurons, using contrast-opponent receptive fields with ON and OFF subunits. It is not clear how the presynaptic circuitry of direction-selective neurons in the OFF pathway supports this computation, because all major inputs are OFF-rectified neurons. Here, we reveal the biological substrate for motion computation in the OFF pathway. Three interneurons, Tm2, Tm9 and CT1, also provide information about ON stimuli to the OFF direction-selective neuron T5 across its receptive field, supporting a contrast-opponent receptive field organization. Consistent with its prominent role in motion detection, variability in Tm9 receptive field properties is passed on to T5, and calcium decrements in Tm9 in response to ON stimuli are maintained across behavioral states, while spatial tuning is sharpened by active behavior. Together, our work shows how a key neuronal computation is implemented by its constituent neuronal circuit elements to ensure direction selectivity.

Modification of the Method for Determining Myeloperoxidase in Blood Neutrophils

Myeloperoxidase is a heme-containing peroxidase expressed primarily in neutrophils and to a lesser extent in monocytes. Determining the activity of myeloperoxidase in blood cells is one of the tests of the immune status of animals. Conventional methods are based on the oxidation of benzidine by the peroxide system to the unstable benzidine blue, which spontaneously turns into stable brown benzidine. The aim of this study was to develop a modification of the cytological determination of the myeloperoxidase enzyme using metol. The relative percentage of peroxidase-positive neutrophils in the peripheral blood of animals was determined after 100 neutrophils had been counted. The task was achieved by using the reaction with metol in the method of cytological determination of the activity of neutrophil myeloperoxidase in animal blood smears, which was based on the oxidation of metol by a peroxide system. Images of micropreparations were digitized using a Sony device for processing the received images of the cells. The Image Tool computer program was used for this purpose. The biological substrate was processed from a buffer-incubation mixture with subsequent drying and microscopy. The main new modification of the method was using metol. Metol does not have the ability to inhibit the activity of myeloperoxidase. The research showed easy and fast results. This method is economical and perspective for using in practice. Keywords: myeloperoxidase, blood, neutrophils, metol

Addiction as a brain disease revised: why it still matters, and the need for consilience

The view that substance addiction is a brain disease, although widely accepted in the neuroscience community, has become subject to acerbic criticism in recent years. These criticisms state that the brain disease view is deterministic, fails to account for heterogeneity in remission and recovery, places too much emphasis on a compulsive dimension of addiction, and that a specific neural signature of addiction has not been identified. We acknowledge that some of these criticisms have merit, but assert that the foundational premise that addiction has a neurobiological basis is fundamentally sound. We also emphasize that denying that addiction is a brain disease is a harmful standpoint since it contributes to reducing access to healthcare and treatment, the consequences of which are catastrophic. Here, we therefore address these criticisms, and in doing so provide a contemporary update of the brain disease view of addiction. We provide arguments to support this view, discuss why apparently spontaneous remission does not negate it, and how seemingly compulsive behaviors can co-exist with the sensitivity to alternative reinforcement in addiction. Most importantly, we argue that the brain is the biological substrate from which both addiction and the capacity for behavior change arise, arguing for an intensified neuroscientific study of recovery. More broadly, we propose that these disagreements reveal the need for multidisciplinary research that integrates neuroscientific, behavioral, clinical, and sociocultural perspectives.