Gastrointestinal Parasites of Vervet Monkeys (Chlorocebus pygerythrus) in a High Latitude, Semi-Arid Region of South Africa

Given a changing climate and large-scale human migration, understanding infectious diseases in wildlife and the factors that drive the spread of these diseases is becoming increasingly important. Owing to the close phylogenetic relationship between nonhuman primates and humans, primate parasites are of particular interest due to the potential for zoonotic disease transmission and for the study of social transmission within gregarious social groups. There is a wide range of social and environmental factors that influence the prevalence and transmission of pathogens, and identifying these, and their effects, is crucial to understanding the population-level consequences of climate change for animals that live in obligate social groups. Here we investigated gastrointestinal parasite species richness and used fecal egg counts to estimate worm intensities in 3 vervet monkey troops (Chlorocebus pygerythrus) in a high latitude, semi-arid region of South Africa. This region is characterized by unpredictable rainfall and temperature extremes in summer and winter. We identified the gastrointestinal parasites in the population and explored potential demographic predictors, namely sex and troop membership, of parasite species richness and estimated intensity. Additionally, we assessed whether there was short-term intra-individual, inter-sample consistency in egg counts. Six species of gastrointestinal helminths were identified from 3 study troops, with egg counts ranging from 0 eggs/g to 1,100 eggs/g. Neither age nor sex predicted species richness or estimated intensity. This population had the highest prevalence of parasites with an insect vector compared with all other vervet populations studied, and distinctively high prevalences of Trichostrongylus sp. (71%) and Ternidens sp. (27%). Additionally, we found intra-individual egg count consistency in the short term (mean: 32 days).

SS18-SSX fusion protein-induced Wnt/β-catenin signaling is a therapeutic target in synovial sarcoma

Synovial sarcoma is a high-grade soft tissue malignancy characterized by a specific reciprocal translocation t(X;18), which leads to the fusion of the SS18 (SYT) gene to one of three SSX genes (SSX1, SSX2 or SSX4). The resulting chimeric SS18-SSX protein is suggested to act as an oncogenic transcriptional regulator. Despite multimodal therapeutic approaches, metastatic disease is often lethal and the development of novel targeted therapeutic strategies is required. Several expression-profiling studies identified distinct gene expression signatures, implying a consistent role of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in synovial sarcoma tumorigenesis. Here we investigate the functional and therapeutic relevance of Wnt/β-catenin pathway activation in vitro and in vivo. Immunohistochemical analyses of nuclear β-catenin and Wnt downstream targets revealed activation of canonical Wnt signaling in a significant subset of 30 primary synovial sarcoma specimens. Functional aspects of Wnt signaling including dependence of Tcf/β-catenin complex activity on the SS18-SSX fusion proteins were analyzed. Efficient SS18-SSX-dependent activation of the Tcf/β-catenin transcriptional complex was confirmed by TOPflash reporter luciferase assays and immunoblotting. In five human synovial sarcoma cell lines, inhibition of the Tcf/β-catenin protein-protein interaction significantly blocked the canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling cascade, accompanied by the effective downregulation of Wnt targets (AXIN2, CDC25A, c-MYC, DKK1, CyclinD1 and Survivin) and the specific suppression of cell viability associated with the induction of apoptosis. In SYO-1 synovial sarcoma xenografts, administration of small molecule Tcf/β-catenin complex inhibitors significantly reduced tumor growth, associated with diminished AXIN2 protein levels. In summary, SS18-SSX-induced Wnt/β-catenin signaling appears to be of crucial biological importance in synovial sarcoma tumorigenesis and progression, representing a potential molecular target for the development of novel therapeutic strategies.

Neurologische Komplikationen und Wirkverlust unter intrathekaler Schmerztherapie

In a new guideline issued by the German Association for the Study of Pain, intrathecal opioid therapy is described as proven to be effective with relatively few side effects. We reviewed this statement by analysis of the available literature and critical evaluation of the clinical course in a few of our own patients (n=3). In these cases (as well as in a further eight patients), explantation and a switch to oral opioids led to distinctly better alleviation of pain and abatement of the unwanted effects. The problems we discuss do not appear to be rare instances, but by all means complications that are frequently described. The long-term efficacy of intrathecal opioids has not been adequately verified; moreover, their potency is not high. The frequency of undesired events is comparable to that of oral opioid medication, but serious neurological complications are possible. To avoid dose escalations and to recognize neurological complications in time, diligent monitoring by the surgeon or an experienced pain center is essential.

[Are tramadol enantiomers for postoperative pain therapy better suited than the racemate? A randomized, placebo- and morphine-controlled double blind study]

The goal of this prospective, randomised and double-blind pilot-study was to investigate the analgesic potency and the side-effects of tramadol enantiomers in clinical practice. One hundred patients recovering from orthopaedic surgery with a postoperative pain intensity of more than 50 on a visual analogue scale 0-100 mm (Table 1) were recruited for the study. They were treated in a randomised, double-blind way with a maximal dose of 150 mg i.v.(+)-,(-)-tramadol, racemate, or 15 mg i.v. morphine or saline in the placebo group (5 groups, 20 patients each). The primary criterium of efficacy was the number of responders defined as patients with a pain reduction of at least 20 on VAS after 40 min. In case of pain, responders were allowed to continue with the double-blind drug up to six hours. The non-responders were treated with morphine as the rescue analgesic. The secondary criterium was the incidence and severity of side-effects. Six patients terminated the study prematurely. One patient was excluded because of an allergic reaction to morphine, one patient could not be treated sufficiently with morphine, four were excluded because of protocol violations. There were 8 responders in the (+)-tramadol-,6 in the (-)-tramadol- and 6 in the racemate group, 16* (P < 0.05) in the morphine group, and 5 in the placebo group. Pain intensity after 40 min was reduced by 20 (p < 0.05), 17 (p < 0.05), 17 (p < 0.05), 36 (p < 0.01 vs placebo, p < 0.05 vs (+)-,(-)-tramadol, and racemate group) and 5 mm on the VAS in the (+)-, (-)-, (+/-)-tramadol-, morphine- and placebo-group, respectively. Thirty eight adverse events like nausea, vomiting, PCO2-increase, and urinary retention occurred in 20 patients, most frequently in the (+)-tramadol- and morphine group. Sedation was significantly less profound in the (-)-tramadol group 1-4 h postoperatively. There were no side-effect in the tramadol racemate group. The enantiomers were equal to the racemate in analgesic potency, but inferior by far to morphine. They showed more adverse events and, hence, can not be preferred to the racemate in postoperative pain therapy.

Glutathione peroxidase activity in various types of blood cells in multiple sclerosis

Previous studies demonstrated a significantly lower mean activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in erythrocytes of patients with multiple sclerosis than in control groups of normal subjects or patients with various neurological disorders. The present investigation has demonstrated that, in contradistinction to erythrocytes, a normal activity of GSH-Px is found in lymphocytes, granulocytes and platelets of multiple sclerosis patients. These results were obtained both with hydrogen peroxide, which serves as a specific substrate for selenium dependent GSH-Px, and t-butyl hydroperoxide which reacts both with selenium dependent and independent GSH-Px.

Plasma c-AMP during the normal menstrual cycle and under different hormonal treatment

There is a highly significant difference between the plasma c-AMP value of the first and the second half of the normal menstrual cycle (days 1-12: 10.5 +/- 2.0 pmol, x +/- SEM; days 13-16: 21.9 +/- 4.5; days 17-28: 19.9 +/- 2.0; p less than 0.001). In amenorrheic patients plasma c-AMP levels were nearly the same as in normal women during the first half of the menstrual cycle (11.1 +/- 2.5). Plasma c-AMP of amenorrheic women was significantly higher under HMG treatment (16.7 +/- 2.5; p less than 0.01). Under oral contraception with estrogens (alone) or with low doses of gestagens the plasma c-AMP values were comparable to those of the amenorrheic women, but there was a dose-dependent increase of plasma c-AMP under gestagen application. It is concluded that the midcyclic plasma c-AMP increase is mainly caused by the gonadotropin effect, and is followed by the progesterone effect during the second half of the menstrual cycle. Therefore, plasma c-AMP levels are in accordance to the stages of the menstrual cycle reflecting their different endocrine pattern.

Plasma cAMP in normal and abnormal human pregnancy

Plasma cAMP was determined using the method of Tovey et al. in normal pregnant women with a mean concentration of 18.9 +/- 0.8 pmol/ml (x- +/- SEM). Between weeks 9-12 and 33-36 of gestation, there were two peaks, with a mean cAMP of 22.5 +/- 2.4 which were significantly increased in comparison to the other weeks of pregnancy. Significantly decreased values were found in patients with threatened abortion (weeks 12-28) which terminated in abortion (11.6 +/- 2.4; p < 0.01). In premature labor no differences were found. During therapy with fenoterol there were highly significantly increased plasma cAMP levels (48.2 +/- 2.8; p < 0.0005). During thyroid hormone therapy in euthyroid goiter, cAMP was significantly decreased (14.0 +/- 1.4; p < 0.05). 1 week after cessation of therapy a highly significant increase of cAMP was observed (38.2 +/- 6.9; p < 0.0005). There was a negative linear regression between T3 and cAMP (2p < 0.01). In pregnancy with hypertension cAMP was significantly elevated (30.5 +/- 3.8 p < 0.0005), but nearly normal under antihypertensive therapy. In pregnancy with edema only, no difference was found. Induction of labor with PGE2 alpha was followed by a decrease of plasma cAMP.