Chorioamnionitis induced hepatic inflammation and disturbed lipid metabolism in fetal sheep.

Chorioamnionitis frequently induces a fetal inflammatory response syndrome (FIRS), characterized by an elevation of pro-inflammatory mediators and systemic inflammation. Although there is increasing evidence that inflammation and lipid metabolism influence each other, the effects of chorioamnionitis-induced FIRS on fetal lipid homeostasis are currently not known. Accordingly, we hypothesize that chorioamnionitis induces an inflammatory response in the fetal liver, consequently leading to metabolic disturbances. Chorioamnionitis was induced by intra-amniotic injection of 10 mg endotoxin (control) two days or two weeks before delivery. Saline injections were given to controls. The effect of chorioamnionitis on hepatic inflammation and metabolic parameters was analyzed in ovine fetuses at the gestational age (GA) of 125 days (normal GA= 150 days). We found that two days after the endotoxin injections, inflammatory markers were significantly higher compared to controls. Additionally, lipid and glucose metabolism were disturbed in response to endotoxin. Moreover, the anti-oxidant state capacity was reduced and hepatic damage was apparent. Two weeks after the endotoxin injections the fetal livers were still inflamed and had higher glucose concentrations in the blood. In addition, the levels of markers for hepatic damage (ALT, AST) were elevated. In conclusion, chorioamnionitis induces liver inflammation, leading to metabolic disturbances in the fetus. ABBREVIATIONS

Performance on the Stroop predicts treatment compliance in cocaine-dependent individuals.

Treatment dropout is a problem of great prevalence and stands as an obstacle to recovery in cocaine-dependent (CD) individuals. Treatment attrition in CD individuals may result from impairments in cognitive control, which can be reliably measured by the Stroop color-word interference task. The present analyses contrasted baseline performance on the color-naming, word-reading, and interference subtests of the Stroop task in CD subjects who completed a cocaine treatment trial (completers: N=50) and those who dropped out of the trial before completion (non-completers: N=24). A logistic regression analysis was used to predict trial completion using three models with the following variables: the Stroop task subscale scores (Stroop model); the Hamilton depression rating scale (HDRS) scores (HDRS model); and both the Stroop task subscale scores and HDRS scores (Stroop and HDRS model). Each model was able to significantly predict group membership (completers vs non-completers) better than a model based on a simple constant (HDRS model p=0.02, Stroop model p=0.006, and Stroop and HDRS model p=0.003). Models using the Stroop preformed better than the HDRS model. These findings suggest that the Stroop task can be used to identify cocaine-dependent subjects at risk for treatment dropout. The Stroop task is a widely available, reliable, and valid instrument that can be easily employed to identify and tailor interventions of at risk individuals in the hope of improving treatment compliance