Individual differences in reproductive strategy are related to views about recreational drug use in Belgium, the Netherlands and Japan

Individual differences in moral views are often explained as the downstream effect of ideological commitments, such as political orientation and religiosity. Recent studies in the U.S. suggest that moral views about recreational drug use are also influenced by attitudes towards sex and that this relationship cannot be explained by ideological commitments. In this study, we investigate student samples from Belgium, the Netherlands, and Japan. We find that, in all samples, sexual attitudes are strongly related to views about recreational drug use, even after controlling for various ideological variables. We discuss our results in the light of reproductive strategies as determinants of moral views

Prothymosin alpha: a ubiquitous polypeptide with potential use in cancer diagnosis and therapy

The thymus is a central lymphoid organ with crucial role in generating T cells and maintaining homeostasis of the immune system. More than 30 peptides, initially referred to as “thymic hormones,” are produced by this gland. Although the majority of them have not been proven to be thymus-speciWc, thymic peptides comprise an eVective group of regulators, mediating important immune functions. Thymosin fraction Wve (TFV) was the Wrst thymic extract shown to stimulate lymphocyte proliferation and diVerentiation. Subsequent fractionation of TFV led to the isolation and characterization of a series of immunoactive peptides/polypeptides, members of the thymosin family. Extensive research on prothymosin (proT) and thymosin 1 (T1) showed that they are of clinical signiWcance and potential medical use. They may serve as molecular markers for cancer prognosis and/or as therapeutic agents for treating immunodeWciencies, autoimmune diseases and malignancies. Although the molecular mechanisms underlying their eVect are yet not fully elucidated proT and T1 could be considered as candidates for cancer immunotherapy. In this review, we will focus in principle on the eventual clinical utility of proT, both as a tumor biomarker and in triggering anticancer immune responses. Considering the experience acquired via the use of T1 to treat cancer patients, we will also discuss potential approaches for the future introduction of proT into the clinical setting

Iron Behaving Badly: Inappropriate Iron Chelation as a Major Contributor to the Aetiology of Vascular and Other Progressive Inflammatory and Degenerative Diseases

The production of peroxide and superoxide is an inevitable consequence of aerobic metabolism, and while these particular "reactive oxygen species" (ROSs) can exhibit a number of biological effects, they are not of themselves excessively reactive and thus they are not especially damaging at physiological concentrations. However, their reactions with poorly liganded iron species can lead to the catalytic production of the very reactive and dangerous hydroxyl radical, which is exceptionally damaging, and a major cause of chronic inflammation. We review the considerable and wide-ranging evidence for the involvement of this combination of (su)peroxide and poorly liganded iron in a large number of physiological and indeed pathological processes and inflammatory disorders, especially those involving the progressive degradation of cellular and organismal performance. These diseases share a great many similarities and thus might be considered to have a common cause (i.e. iron-catalysed free radical and especially hydroxyl radical generation). The studies reviewed include those focused on a series of cardiovascular, metabolic and neurological diseases, where iron can be found at the sites of plaques and lesions, as well as studies showing the significance of iron to aging and longevity. The effective chelation of iron by natural or synthetic ligands is thus of major physiological (and potentially therapeutic) importance. As systems properties, we need to recognise that physiological observables have multiple molecular causes, and studying them in isolation leads to inconsistent patterns of apparent causality when it is the simultaneous combination of multiple factors that is responsible. This explains, for instance, the decidedly mixed effects of antioxidants that have been observed, etc...Comment: 159 pages, including 9 Figs and 2184 reference

Allele-Specific Knockdown of ALS-Associated Mutant TDP-43 in Neural Stem Cells Derived from Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

TDP-43 is found in cytoplasmic inclusions in 95% of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and 60% of frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). Approximately 4% of familial ALS is caused by mutations in TDP-43. The majority of these mutations are found in the glycine-rich domain, including the variant M337V, which is one of the most common mutations in TDP-43. In order to investigate the use of allele-specific RNA interference (RNAi) as a potential therapeutic tool, we designed and screened a set of siRNAs that specifically target TDP-43(M337V) mutation. Two siRNA specifically silenced the M337V mutation in HEK293T cells transfected with GFP-TDP-43(wt) or GFP-TDP-43(M337V) or TDP-43 C-terminal fragments counterparts. C-terminal TDP-43 transfected cells show an increase of cytosolic inclusions, which are decreased after allele-specific siRNA in M337V cells. We then investigated the effects of one of these allele-specific siRNAs in induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived from an ALS patient carrying the M337V mutation. These lines showed a two-fold increase in cytosolic TDP-43 compared to the control. Following transfection with the allele-specific siRNA, cytosolic TDP-43 was reduced by 30% compared to cells transfected with a scrambled siRNA. We conclude that RNA interference can be used to selectively target the TDP-43(M337V) allele in mammalian and patient cells, thus demonstrating the potential for using RNA interference as a therapeutic tool for ALS

Effects of decompression on behavioral, electrophysiologic, and histomorphologic recovery in a chronic sciatic nerve compression model of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Ping-Hui Wang,1 Cheng-Chang Yang,2 Wei-Ren Su,3 Po-Ting Wu,3 Shun-Chien Cheng,1 I-Ming Jou4 1Department of Orthopedics, Chi-Mei Medical Center, 2Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 3Department of Orthopedics, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan, 4Department of Orthopedics, E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan Purpose: To determine susceptibility to decompression surgery in diabetic and nondiabetic peripheral neuropathy using a chronic compression neuropathy model. Materials and methods: Twenty-four streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were randomly divided into three groups: group I, chronic compression of the left sciatic nerve for 4 weeks with decompression; group II, similar without decompression; and group III, sham exposing the sciatic nerve only. The other 24 nondiabetic rats were assigned to groups IV–VI, which received compression–decompression, compression, and the sham operation, respectively. Mixed-nerve-elicited somatosensory evoked potentials (M-SSEPs) and compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs) were measured to verify the compression neuropathy in the posttreatment follow-up. Behavioral observations in thermal hyperalgesia tests were quantified before electrophysiologic examinations. Treated and contralateral nerves were harvested for histomorphologic analysis. Results: Chronic compression of sciatic nerve induced significant reduction of amplitude and increment of latency of M-SSEP and CMAP in both diabetic and nondiabetic rats. Diabetic group changes were more susceptible. Decompression surgery significantly improved both sensory and motor conduction, thermal hyperalgesia, and the mean myelin diameter of the rat sciatic nerve in both diabetic and nondiabetic groups. Near full recovery of motor and sensory function occurred in the nondiabetic rats, but not in the diabetic rats 8 weeks postdecompression. Conclusion: Behavioral, electrophysiologic, and histomorphologic findings indicate that decompression surgery is effective in both diabetic and nondiabetic peripheral neuropathy. Keywords: compression, decompression, streptozotocin, sciatic nerve, diabetes, ra

Ultrasound-guided percutaneous carpal tunnel release in patients on hemodialysis: early experiences and clinical outcomes

Ping-Hui Wang,1 Chia-Lung Li,2,3 Chung-Jung Shao,4 Kuo-Chen Wu,5 Tai-Chang Chern,6 I-Ming Jou7,81Department of Orthopedics, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan 710, Taiwan; 2Department of Physical Therapy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 701, Taiwan; 3Department of Orthopedics, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 704, Taiwan; 4Department of Orthopedics, Tainan Municipal Hospital, Tainan 709, Taiwan; 5Department of Orthopedics, Kuo General Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan; 6Chern Tai-Chang Orthopedic Clinic, Pingtung 900, Taiwan; 7Department of Orthopedics, E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; 8Department of Orthopedics, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, TaiwanPurpose: The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the effectiveness of ultrasound-guided percutaneous carpal tunnel release in hemodialysis patients with carpal tunnel syndrome.Methods: From February 2009 to April 2013, a prospective review of 113 consecutive cases of ultrasound-guided percutaneous carpal tunnel release was carried out in 84 hemodialysis patients. Results were analyzed by clinical subjective scale, two self-administered questionnaires, and functional evaluations at seven time points (1 week and 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months).Results: Satisfactory symptom improvement in patients was 82%, 80%, 86%, 89%, 90%, 91%, and 90% at 1 week and 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months postoperatively, respectively. Moderate pain was suffered in 11.5% of patients within 1 week, 8.8% within 1 month, 2.7% within 3 months, and none after 12 months postoperatively. Static two-point discrimination and Semmes–Weinstein monofilament examinations presented significant improvements after 1 week and 1 month postoperatively and with time. Postoperative grip power demonstrated recovery and a significant increase after 3 and 6 months postoperatively. Three-jaw chuck-pinch strength showed significant increase after 1 month postoperatively. There were no operative complications.Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided percutaneous carpal tunnel release is an effective and safe procedure in hemodialysis patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. The advantages include a less invasive procedure, no tourniquet needed, only limited infiltration anesthesia, minimal soft-tissue exploration, and relatively short operation time. Our data suggest this technique can reliably relieve clinical symptoms, with early restoration of grip and pinch strength.Keywords: carpal tunnel, hemodialysis, ultrasound, percutaneous releas