Response to manuscript 'Is Opisthorchis viverrini an avian liver fluke?'

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Opisthorchis viverrini-like liver fluke in birds from Vietnam: morphological variability and rDNA/mtDNA sequence confirmation

Flukes were found in the bile ducts of domestic ducks (Anas platyrhynchos), necropsied in the Binh Dinh province of Central Vietnam. Following staining, morphological characteristics of the bird flukes were compatible with Opisthorchis viverrini, although some characteristics differed from those described in specimens collected from mammal hosts. Computation of the phylogenetic trees on the partial sequences of the second internal ribosomal spacer (ITS2) of the ribosomal DNA and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) markers of the mitochondrial DNA showed close similarity of the 'bird' Opisthorchis sp. with O. viverrini. We speculate that these bird flukes are O. viverrini that show intraspecies morphological and molecular variability compared to isolates from mammals. This demonstrates the complex epidemiological situation of opisthorchiasis in Vietnam and urges investigations on the potential of birds as a reservoir host of this zoonotic fluke.

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The identification of metabolic disturbances in the prefrontal cortex of the chronic restraint stress rat model of depression

Publication date: 15 May 2016
Source:Behavioural Brain Research, Volume 305
Author(s): Lanxiang Liu, Xinyu Zhou, Yuqing Zhang, Yiyun Liu, Lining Yang, Juncai Pu, Dan Zhu, Chanjuan Zhou, Peng Xie
Major depressive disorder, with serious impairment in cognitive and social functioning, is a complex psychiatric disorder characterized by pervasive and persistent low mood and a loss of interest or pleasure. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of depression remain largely unknown. In this study, we used a non-targeted metabolomics approach based on gas chromatography–mass spectrometry of the prefrontal cortex in chronic restraint stress (CRS)-treated rats. CRS was induced in the stress group by restraining rats in a plastic restrainer for 6h every day. This stress paradigm continued for 21 days. Body weight measurement and behavior tests were applied, including the sucrose preference test for anhedonia, the forced swimming test for despair-like behavior, and open field test and the elevated plus-maze to test for anxiety-like behaviors in rats after CRS. Differentially expressed metabolites associated with CRS-treated rats were identified by combining multivariate and univariate statistical analysis and corrected for multiple testing using the Benjamini-Hochberg procedure. A heat map of differential metabolites was constructed using Matlab. Ingenuity Pathways Analysis was applied to identify the predicted pathways and biological functions relevant to the bio-molecules of interest. Our findings showed that CRS induces depression-like behaviors and not anxiety-like behaviors. Thirty-six metabolites were identified as potential depression biomarkers involved in amino acid metabolism, energy metabolism and lipid metabolism, as well as a disturbance in neurotransmitters. Consequently, this study provides useful insights into the molecular mechanisms of depression.



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Full title with Editorial board members

Publication date: 1 May 2016
Source:Behavioural Brain Research, Volume 304





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Intensive care for cancer patients

Abstract

Every sixth to eighth European intensive care unit patient suffers from an underlying malignant disease. A large proportion of these patients present with cancer-related complications. This review explains why the prognosis of critically ill cancer patients has improved substantially over the last decades and which risk factors are of prognostic importance. Furthermore, the main reasons for intensive care unit admission – acute respiratory failure and septic complications – are discussed with regard to diagnostic and therapeutic specifics. In addition, we discuss potential intensive care unit admission criteria with respect to cancer prognosis. The successful management of critically ill cancer patients requires a close collaboration of intensivists with hematologists, oncologists and colleagues from other disciplines, such as infectious disease specialists, microbiologists, radiologists, surgeons, pharmacists, and others.

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memo—new frontiers to be reached

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Adjuvant medical treatment for breast cancer in elderly and old women

Abstract

The probability of developing breast cancer increases with age. Therefore, more than 50 % of women with breast cancer are older than 65 years at the time of diagnosis. However, elderly patients are often undertreated and clinical trials for elderly patients in the adjuvant setting are lacking. Elderly patients who are otherwise fit should receive the standard treatment regimen independent of age.

Endocrine therapy should not be withheld from patients by age alone. Thus, there are more adverse events in the elderly population.

The decision on adjuvant chemotherapy should be made taking into consideration the patient's comorbidities and frailty. A less toxic single-agent regimen may influence overall survival, but are associated with much less toxicity. Trastuzumab has a similar effect in elderly patients to that in younger patients. The risk of cardiotoxicity should be carefully considered in each patient.

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