Abnormal auditory N400 in a case of zolpidem dependence, during a working memory test

Zolpidem is a GABA (A) agonist, which is indicated for the short-term management of insomnia. Recent research provide evidence suggesting that zolpidem produces spatial working memory (WM) deficits and dependence; however, the underlying mechanisms of these effects are unknown. Since the auditory N400 component of event-related potentials (ERPS) is considered as an index of memory use of context processing, the present study focused on N400 waveform of ERPs elicited during a WM task in a case suffering from zolpidern dependence. The patterns of N400 waveform of this case were compared to the patterns obtained from healthy controls. This comparison revealed that zolpidem dependence is accompanied by reduced amplitudes located at posterior brain areas and diffuse prolongation of N400. These findings may indicate that zolpidem dependence manifests alterations with regard to the memory use of context processing, involving or affecting a wide-ranging network of the brain’s structures. (c) 2005 Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved

Horse madness (hippomania) and hippophobia

Anthropophagic horses have been described in classical mythology. From a current perspective, two such instances are worth mentioning and describing: Glaucus of Potniae, King of Efyra, and Diomedes, King of Thrace, who were both devoured by their horses. In both cases, the horses’ extreme aggression and their subsequent anthropophagic behaviour were attributed to their madness (hippomania) induced by the custom of feeding them with flesh. The current problem of ‘mad cow’ disease (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) is apparently related to a similar feeding pattern. Aggressive behaviour in horses can be triggered by both biological and psychological factors. In the cases cited here, it is rather unlikely that the former were the cause. On the other hand, the multiple abuses imposed on the horses, coupled with peoples’ fantasies and largely unconscious fears (hippophobia), may possibly explain these mythological descriptions of the ‘horse-monsters’

A zolpidem and cocaine abuse case report

A case is presented of a 30-year-old man, prescribed zolpidem for insomnia arising from cocaine abuse, who sought to use this hypnotic to reduce his craving for cocaine. However, after taking cocaine and up to 300 mg/day zolpidem, he became euphoric and hyperactive. It is suggested that at high doses, zolpidem, like cocaine, has a stimulatory effect on the brain dopaminergic reward pathway

Serum cytokine concentrations in alcohol-dependent individuals without liver disease

In the current study, our aim was to evaluate and investigate the influence of heavy alcohol intake on serum interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) concentrations. The selection of cytokines was based on their presumptive role in the pathophysiology of alcohol dependence. On admission to the Drug-Free Substance Addiction Detoxification clinic (”ATHENA”), blood samples were obtained from study participants, and serum cytokine concentrations were measured by using a commercial sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. Alcohol dependence, as diagnosed according to DSM-IV [Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.)] criteria for alcohol dependence and estimated by using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI), was characterized by increased serum IL-6 concentration. Interleukin-8, IL-10, IL-12, and TNF-alpha concentrations were comparable to those found in control subjects (P > .05). These results indicate that in alcohol-dependent individuals there is a significant increase in the serum IL-6 concentration (P < .05). (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Design and implementation of a multi-PNN structure for discriminating one-month abstinent heroin addicts from healthy controls using the P600 component of ERP signals

A multi-probabilistic neural network (multi-PNN) classification structure has been designed for distinguishing one-month abstinent heroin addicts from normal controls by means of the Event-Related Potentials’ P600 component, selected at 15 scalp leads, elicited under a Working Memory (WM) test. The multi-PNN structure consisted of 15 optimally designed PNN lead-classifiers feeding an end-stage PNN classifier. The multi-PNN structure classified correctly all subjects. When leads were grouped into compartments, highest accuracies were achieved at the frontal (91.7%) and left temporo-central region (86.1%). Highest single-lead precision (86.1%) was found at the P3, C5 and F3 leads. These findings indicate that cognitive function, as represented by P600 during a WM task and explored by the PNN signal processing techniques, may be involved in short-term abstinent heroin addicts. Additionally, these findings indicate that these techniques may significantly facilitate computer-aided analysis of ERPs. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Paricalcitol reduces peritoneal fibrosis in mice through the activation of regulatory T cells and reduction in IL-17 production

Fibrosis is a significant health problem associated with a chronic inflammatory reaction. The precise mechanisms involved in the fibrotic process are still poorly understood. However, given that inflammation is a major causative factor, immunomodulation is a possible therapeutic approach to reduce fibrosis. The vitamin D receptor (VDR) that is present in all hematopoietic cells has been associated with immunomodulation. We investigated whether the intraperitoneal administration of paricalcitol, a specific activator of the VDR, modulates peritoneal dialysis fluid (PDF)-induced peritoneal fibrosis. We characterized the inflammatory process in the peritoneal cavity of mice treated or not treated with paricalcitol and analyzed the ensuing fibrosis. The treatment reduced peritoneal IL-17 levels, which strongly correlated with a significantly lower peritoneal fibrotic response. In vitro studies demonstrate that both CD4+ and CD8+ regulatory T cells appear to impact the regulation of IL-17. Paricalcitol treatment resulted in a significantly increased frequency of CD8+ T cells showing a regulatory phenotype. The frequency of CD4+ Tregs tends to be increased, but it did not achieve statistical significance. However, paricalcitol treatment increased the number of CD4+ and CD8+ Treg cells in vivo. In conclusion, the activation of immunological regulatory mechanisms by VDR signaling could prevent or reduce fibrosis, as shown in peritoneal fibrosis induced by PDF exposure in mice.This study was supported by RETICS 06/0016 (VFM, RS) and FIS PI 09/0064 (RS) from the Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias (Health Research Fund). MLC was funded by SAF 2013-47611-R, SAF 2010-21249, and SAF 2007-61201 from the Ministerio de Economía y competitividad. MRO was supported by RETICS 12/0021,S2012DMD2321 from the Comunidad Autónoma de Madrid, PI 11/01854 from Fondo Investigaciones Sanitarias. GTGM was supported by Renal Foundation Íñigo Álvarez de Toledo, FIBHULP, and by Severo Ochoa FoundationPeer Reviewe