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Chronic enteropathy (CE) in dogs is common worldwide, but little data is available from Australia. The aim of this study was to describe treatment response and long‐term outcome in a cohort of dogs with CE. Dogs were prospectively enrolled at Murdoch University and the University of Melbourne. After diagnostic investigation to rule out diseases other than CE, dogs underwent sequential therapeutic trials until achieving a clinical response (diet then antibiotics, and finally immunosuppressants). Success was defined as 75% reduction of clinical severity for a minimum of five weeks. A total of 21 dogs were enrolled, and 19 completed the study. One dog was euthanised for lack of response to treatment and one excluded for lack of owner compliance. Most dogs responded to diet (n = 10), followed by antibiotics (n = 7) and immunosuppressants (n = 2). Long‐term remission (median 21.1 months, [3.0‐44.7]) was achieved in eight out of ten dietary responders without additional treatment. In contrast, only two dogs with antibiotic response remained in long‐term remission, of which one needed on‐going antibiotic treatment. Longer term remission was achieved in the two dogs treated with immunosuppressants with on‐going low dose therapy. This study concludes that most dogs referred for CE in Australia respond to dietary treatment (even after previous dietary interventions), and remission is long‐term compared to dogs treated with an antibiotic. Furthermore, the need for long‐term antibiotics in some dogs to maintain response may lead to antibiotic resistance. This study supports adequate dietary trials for CE in dogs, and a need for alternative second‐line treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronotype is a proxy sleep measure that has been associated with neuropsychiatric disorders. By investigating how chronotype influences risk for neuropsychiatric disorders and vice versa, we may identify modifiable risk factors for each phenotype. Here we used Mendelian randomization (MR), to explore causal effects by (1) studying the causal relationships between neuropsychiatric disorders and chronotype and (2) characterizing the genetic components of these phenotypes. Firstly, we investigated if a causal role exists between five neuropsychiatric disorders and chronotype using the largest genome-wide association studies (GWAS) available. Secondly, we integrated data from expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) to investigate the role of gene expression alterations on these phenotypes. Evening chronotype was causal for increased risk of schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia was causal for a tendency toward evening chronotype. We identified 12 eQTLs where gene expression changes in brain or blood were causal for one of the phenotypes, including two eQTLs for SNX19 in hippocampus and hypothalamus that were causal for schizophrenia. These findings provide important evidence for the complex, bidirectional relationship that exists between a sleep-based phenotype and neuropsychiatric disorders, and use gene expression data to identify causal roles for genes at associated loci., (© 2024 The Authors. American Journal of Medical Genetics Part B: Neuropsychiatric Genetics published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

This study investigated the consequence of repeated stress on actin cytoskeleton remodeling in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and prefrontal cortex (Pfc), and the involvement of this remodeling in the expression of stress-induced motor cross-sensitization with cocaine. Wistar rats were restrained daily (2 h) for 7 days and, 3 weeks later, their NAc and Pfc were dissected 45 min after acute saline or cocaine (30 mg/kg i.p.). F-actin, actin-binding proteins (ABP) and GluR1 were quantified by Western blotting, and dendritic spines and postsynaptic density (PSD) size measured by electron microscopy. In the NAc from the stress plus cocaine group we observed a decrease in the phosphorylation of two ABPs, cofilin and cortactin, and an increase in the PSD size and the surface expression of GluR1, consistent with a more highly branched actin cytoskeleton. The Pfc also showed evidence of increased actin polymerization after stress as an increase was observed in Arp2, and in the number of spines. Inhibiting actin cycling and polymerization with latrunculin A into the NAc, but not the Pfc, inhibited the expression of cross-sensitization to cocaine (15 mg/kg i.p.) and restored the expression of GluR1 to control levels. This study shows that a history of repeated stress alters the ability of a subsequent cocaine injection to modulate dendritic spine morphology, actin dynamics and GluR1 expression in the NAc. Furthermore, by regulating GluR1 expression in the NAc, elevated actin cycling contributes to the expression of cross-sensitization between stress and cocaine, while stress-induced changes in the Pfc were not associated with cross-sensitization., (© 2012 The Authors. European Journal of Neuroscience © 2012 Federation of European Neuroscience Societies and Blackwell Publishing Ltd.)

Human longevity and personality traits are both heritable and are consistently linked at the phenotypic level. We test the hypothesis that candidate genes influencing longevity in lower organisms are associated with variance in the five major dimensions of human personality (measured by the NEO-FFI and IPIP inventories) plus related mood states of anxiety and depression. Seventy single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in six brain expressed, longevity candidate genes (AFG3L2, FRAP1, MAT1A, MAT2A, SYNJ1, and SYNJ2) were typed in over 1,000 70-year old participants from the Lothian Birth Cohort of 1936 (LBC1936). No SNPs were associated with the personality and psychological distress traits at a Bonferroni corrected level of significance (P < 0.0002), but there was an over-representation of nominally significant (P < 0.05) SNPs in the synaptojanin-2 (SYNJ2) gene associated with agreeableness and symptoms of depression. Eight SNPs which showed nominally significant association across personality measurement instruments were tested in an extremely large replication sample of 17,106 participants. SNP rs350292, in SYNJ2, was significant: the minor allele was associated with an average decrease in NEO agreeableness scale scores of 0.25 points, and 0.67 points in the restricted analysis of elderly cohorts (most aged >60 years). Because we selected a specific set of longevity genes based on functional genomics findings, further research on other longevity gene candidates is warranted to discover whether they are relevant candidates for personality and psychological distress traits., (Copyright © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Objective: To establish in the Mexican population with thyroid disease the risk of injury to the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve (EBSLN) based on its anatomical position., Study Design: Non-randomized comparative clinical trial., Methods: Seventy-three patients subjected to thyroidectomy because of thyroid nodule in which the EBSLN was identified and classified. The dependent variable was Cernea's classification of the EBSLN, and the independent variables were weight (in grams) of the nodule, side studied, gender, and age. For statistical analysis, chi2 test, Fisher's Exact test, and analysis of multiple variables (analysis of variance) were used., Results: We studied 73 patients; 64 (87.62%) were women and 9 (12.38%) were men (average age, 39.3 years [age range, 17-73 y]; median age, 40 y; mode, 40 y; SD +/- 23.4 y). Regarding location of the EBSLN, for pathological lobes, 78.1% were located in a high-risk position and for nonpathological lobes, 72.7%. Comparative analysis between sides and relation between weight and classification revealed no statistical significance., Conclusion: The frequency of high-risk position for EBSLN lesion in our milieu was higher than that reported in series from other countries and races.

The pharmacodynamic properties of low-molecular-weight heparins differ. Data from randomized clinical trials show that despite these differences, the agents have similar efficacy and safety profiles in preventing and treating new and recurrent venous thromboembolism in patients who underwent general surgery or total hip or knee replacement. Dalteparin, enoxaparin, or tinzaparin, when administered at the dosages used in the reviewed clinical trials, are essentially indistinguishable.

Elevated systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure in the elderly is a problem the extent of which may be somewhat overstated. In those elderly with definite hypertension, pathophysiology may differ from that of younger counterparts. The contribution of elevated plasma renin activity to hypertension and to the choice of therapy also appears to be exaggerated. The risks of ignoring hypertension in the elderly are similar to those in younger patients, and therefore excessively elevated blood pressure should no longer be considered a normal consequence of aging. Notably, elevated systolic pressure is a better predictor of future adverse occurrences than is elevated diastolic pressure. Unfortunately, there is no well defined therapeutic regimen to manage isolated systolic hypertension. Conservative reduction of elevated systolic and diastolic pressures may nevertheless be accomplished safely and effectively. Individualization of therapy is recommended based primarily on concomitant disease(s). Thus no single agent or combination of agents is preferable in all elderly hypertensive patients. Aggressive use of non-pharmacologic therapy preferably precedes judicious of antihypertensive medication. Aggressive blood pressure reduction with potent drugs is not recommended.