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Intracellular signal transduction cascades, particularly those linked to protein kinases A (PKA) and C (PKC), have been implicated in mood disorders. This study examined the activity of PKA and PKC, as well as levels of PKA regulatory (R) and catalytic (C) subunit proteins, in fibroblasts cultured from skin biopsies from patients with major depression, melancholic subtype, in contrast to non-melancholic depressives and controls (n = 12 each group). PKA activity was determined as a function of the transfer of 32P to a target polypeptide, Kemptide. R and C subunit expression was assayed in the melancholic depressed and normal control groups by Western blots. In a separate experiment, the degree of phosphorylation of the endogenous substrate cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) was estimated in samples from melancholic and non-melancholic patients and normal controls (n = 8 each) after incubation with isoproterenol or phorbol ester, which activate PKA and PKC respectively. Melancholics had significantly reduced phosphorylation of Kemptide in contrast to non-melancholics and controls. This was associated with lower levels of PKA RII alpha, C alpha, and C beta subunit isoform proteins, but not RI alpha, RI beta, or RII beta. Furthermore, activation of both PKA and PKC was associated with reduced CREB-P in melancholics relative to normal controls. Finally, PKA activity was found to correlate positively with Hamilton depression scores after 16 weeks of treatment with serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants. These data further implicate signal transduction abnormalities in melancholic major depression, particularly PKA and PKC. This suggests an abnormality of factors controlling the expression or degradation of these enzymes.

BackgroundBacterial resistance to antibiotics is increasing worldwide. Antibiotic-resistant strains can lead to serious problems regarding treatment of infection. Carbapenem antibiotics are the final treatment option for infections caused by serious and life-threatening multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria. Therefore, an understanding of carbapenem resistance is important for infection control. In the study described herein, the phenotypic and genotypic features of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae strains isolated in our hospital were evaluated.MethodsIn total, 43 carbapenem-resistant strains were included in this study. Sensitivity to antibiotics was determined using the VITEK®2 system. The modified Hodge test (MHT) and metallo-β-lactamase (MBL) antimicrobial gradient test were performed for phenotypic identification. Resistance genes IMP, VIM, KPC, NDM-1, and OXA-48 were amplified by multiplex PCR.ResultsThe OXA-48 gene was detected in seven strains, and the NDM-1 gene in one strain. No resistance genes were detected in the remainder of strains. A significant correlation was observed between the MHT test and OXA-48 positivity, and between the MBL antimicrobial gradient test and positivity for resistance genes (p < 0.05).ConclusionThe finding of one NDM-1-positive isolate in this study indicates that carbapenem resistance is spreading in Turkey. Carbapenem resistance spreads rapidly and causes challenges in treatment, and results in high mortality/morbidity rates. Therefore, is necessary to determine carbapenem resistance in Enterobacteriaceae isolates and to take essential infection control precautions to avoid spread of this resistance.

Abnormalities in serotonin (5-HT) receptors and 5-HT receptor-mediated signal transduction systems have been widely reported in mood disorders. This study was intended to evaluate 5-HT 2A receptor-coupled activation of phosphatidylinositol (PI) hydrolysis in subtypes of depression. Samples for fibroblast culture were obtained from patients with major depression with or without melancholia, and normal controls. Dose response curves were determined for 5-HT-induced PI hydrolysis. PI response was determined for bradykinin and l-a-lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), alternative Gq-coupled receptor agonists. [ 125 I]LSD binding for 5-HT 2A also was conducted. Finally, Western blot analysis was performed for phospholipase C b1 (PLC b1 ) and Ga q/11 proteins. The maximum PI response observed with 5-HT was significantly lower in melancholics but not nonmelancholic patients relative to controls. Activation of PI hydrolysis by bradykinin and LPA was not reduced in melancholic vs melancholics and controls; responses to both agonists actually were increased in the melancholic group. [ 125 I]LSD binding, PLC b1 , and Ga q/11 protein levels did not differ between groups. The data raise the possibility that the reduced 5-HT 2A receptor-induced PI hydrolysis is intrinsic to the receptor itself or its coupling to Gq protein, and is not related to altered availability of the 5-HT 2A receptor, Gq or PLC.

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Growing evidence has been reported on adriamycin (ADR) hepatotoxicity in literature. Hepatotoxicity caused by the use of drugs has a serious undesirable effect in the cure of cancer patients that needs to be eliminated. The exact mechanism of ADR on non-cancerous tissue still remains to be a mystery. The zeolite (clinoptilolite) minerals form a complex group of aluminosilicates that often occur as accessory minerals in intermediate and basic rocks. In light of this information, we investigated the possible anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects of clinoptilolite in ADR that is inducing the toxicity in primary liver cell culture. Primary liver cell culture from rat was used in the study. We had three experiment groups including the following: (1) cells treated only with 50 μM ADR for 24 h, (2) cells treated with the 50 μM ADR for 24 h and then treated with 10(-4) M zeolite for 1 h, and (3) cells were incubated with 50 μM ADR for 24 h and then incubated with 10(-4) M zeolite for 24 h to test its long-term effects. After that, western blotting was performed in order to evaluate protein expression levels of several inflammation markers including IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), and immunohistochemistry was carried out to detect apoptosis in liver cell culture. Also, TdT-dUTP Terminal Nick-End Labeling (TUNEL) method was used for detecting apoptosis. We found elevated levels of inflammatory protein and apoptotic markers in ADR-administered cells (p < 0.05). Inflammatory and apoptotic markers decreased significantly after treated with zeolite (p < 0.05). The present study was pointed out that ADR causes hepatotoxicity via apoptosis and/or inflammation processes resulting from initiator NF-κB and TNF which causes proinflammatory mediators such as IL-1β. Elevation of inflammation might give rise to trigger apoptosis. Clinoptilolite counteracted the apoptosis and inflammation induced by ADR arising from the decrease in NF-κB, TNF-α, and IL-1β protein levels.

A series of 3,5-dimethylpyrazole derivatives, structurally related to the previously described potent ameltolide analogues, were synthesized and evaluated for their anticonvulsant activity. Ten compounds were prepared by reacting the 4-amino-3,5-dimethylpyrazole with appropriate substituted carboxylic acids, benzoyl chlorides and benzaldehydes to obtain amide and imine derivatives. Initial anticonvulsant screening was performed using intraperitoneal pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) and maximal electroshock (MES) induced seizure tests in mice. Among the 10 tested compounds, N-[1-(4-methoxybenzoyl)-3,5-dimethylpyrazole-4-yl]-4-methoxybenzamide 2 and N-[1-(2,6-dichlorobenzoyl)-3,5-dimethylpyrazole-4-yl]-2,6-dichlorobenzamide 3 decreased seizure severity and the mortality rate in the PTZ test. Hence, compound 3 was tested in an animal model of absence epilepsy, Genetic Absence Epileptic Rats from Strasbourg (GAERS). There were no significant changes in the duration or number of spike-and-wave discharges in this model.

1 In this study we examined the involvement of 5-HT 1B and 5-HT 1D receptors in the vasocontractile response induced by 5-HT 1B/D -receptor agonist sumatriptan in rabbit common carotid artery (CCA).2 Immunoblotting experiments using speci®c antisera against 5-HT 1B or 5-HT 1D receptors revealed the presence of one weak (at 93 kD for 5-HT 1B or at 105 kD for 5-HT 1D ) and one strong band (at 46 kD for 5-HT 1B or at 52 kD for 5-HT 1D ) in CCA. 3 Sumatriptan-mediated vasocontractile response was antagonized by SB216641 with an apparent pKb value of 8.6, which was consistent with its a nity for 5-HT 1B receptor. Antagonism by BRL15572 was weak and calculated apparent pKb (6.0) value was consistent with its a nity for 5-HT 1B subtype (but not for 5-HT 1D subtype). This result indicates insigni®cant or no involvement of 5-HT 1D receptor in the vasocontractile response. 4 The vasocontractile response induced by sumatriptan was highly sensitive to pertussis toxin treatment of CCA. Nicardipine, a calcium channel blocker, also potently antagonized vasocontractile response induced by sumatriptan. 5 5-HT, but not sumatriptan, stimulated inositol phosphate accumulation in CCA. 6 These results indicate that stimulation of 5-HT 1B subtype activate a pertussis toxin (PTX) sensitive G protein (Go/Gi) and mediate vasocontraction, in which L-type voltage dependent calcium channels are involved.