Suicide in Lithuania During the Years of 1990 to 2002

Lithuania, among other Eastern European countries, has the highest suicide rates in the world. While the mid 1980's experienced a sharp decline in suicidality, the year of 1991 began a new increase in suicide rates, reaching an estimated 44.7 per 100,000 persons in the year of 2002. The ratio of male to female rates was 4.5 to 6.1 in the years of 1990 to 2002. The suicide mortality of rural inhabitants, especially men, has been growing even more intensely, occurring twice as often as among their urban counterparts. When looking at the age factor, the highest suicide risk is for middle-aged men. Among the males aged 45 to 54 years suicide rates reach 154.6. The most common method of suicide remains hanging, both for males and females. The underlying reasons of the suicide spread in Lithuania are multi determined.     

Suicide in Lithuania during the years of 1990 to 2002.

Lithuania, among other Eastern European countries, has the highest suicide rates in the world. While the mid 1980's experienced a sharp decline in suicidality, the year of 1991 began a new increase in suicide rates, reaching an estimated 44.7 per 100,000 persons in the year of 2002. The ratio of male to female rates was 4.5 to 6.1 in the years of 1990 to 2002. The suicide mortality of rural inhabitants, especially men, has been growing even more intensely, occurring twice as often as among their urban counterparts. When looking at the age factor, the highest suicide risk is for middle-aged men. Among the males aged 45 to 54 years suicide rates reach 154.6. The most common method of suicide remains hanging, both for males and females. The underlying reasons of the suicide spread in Lithuania are multi determined.     

Tailoring a Low Young Modulus for a Beta Titanium Alloy by Combining Severe Plastic Deformation with Solution Treatment

The present paper analyzed the microstructural characteristics and the mechanical properties of a Ti–Nb–Zr–Fe–O alloy of β-Ti type obtained by combining severe plastic deformation (SPD), for which the total reduction was of ε_tot = 90%, with two variants of super-transus solution treatment (ST). The objective was to obtain a low Young’s modulus with sufficient high strength in purpose to use the alloy as a biomaterial for orthopedic implants. The microstructure analysis was conducted through X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) investigations. The analyzed mechanical properties reveal promising values for yield strength (YS) and ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of about 770 and 1100 MPa, respectively, with a low value of Young’s modulus of about 48–49 GPa. The conclusion is that satisfactory mechanical properties for this type of alloy can be obtained if considering a proper combination of SPD + ST parameters and a suitable content of β-stabilizing alloying elements, especially the Zr/Nb ratio.     

Experimental Study on the Corrosion of Carbon Steel and Aluminum Alloy in Firefighting Protein Foam Concentrates

The corrosion of mild steel and Al alloy in Fomtec P 6% and 6% P Profoam 806 protein-based foam concentrates was investigated. Weight-loss data for steel showed corrosion penetration of 0.745 mipy in Fomtec and 2.269 mipy in Profoam, whereas for Al alloy the penetration levels were 0.474 and 1.093 mipy, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy allowed characterization of the metallic surface covered or free from corrosion products. Values of corrosion potential, corrosion current density and corrosion penetration were calculated by using potentiodynamic polarization curves. Electrochemical impedance spectra illustrated the change in polarization resistance during anodic polarization. Data obtained by accelerated electrochemical methods confirm the greater aggressiveness of the Profoam concentrate compared to Fomtec concentrate.     

Acute and long‐term response of dopamine nigrostriatal synapses to a single,low‐dose episode of 3‐nitropropionic acid‐mediated chemical hypoxia

The goal of the present investigation was to determine the persistence of striatal (DA) dopaminergic dysfunction after a mild chemically induced hypoxic event in Fisher 344 rats. To this end, we gave a single injection of the mitochondrial complex II inhibitor 3‐nitropropionic acid (3‐NP; 16.5 mg/kg, i.p.) to 2‐month old male F344 rats and measured various indices of striatal DA functioning and lipid peroxidation over a 3‐month span. Separate groups of rats were used to measure rod walking, evoked DA release, DA content, malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation, DA receptor binding, and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) activity. The results showed that 3‐NP exposure reduced most measures of DA functioning including motoric ability, DA release, and D₂ receptor densities for 1 to 3 months postdrug administration. Interestingly, DA content was reduced 1 week after 3‐NP exposure, but rose to 147% of control values 1 month after 3‐NP treatment. MDA accumulation, a measure of lipid peroxidation activity, was increased 24 h and 1 month after 3‐NP treatment. 3‐NP did not affect TH activity, suggesting that alterations in DA functioning were not the result of nigrostriatal terminal loss. These data demonstrate that a brief mild hypoxic episode caused by 3‐NP exposure has long‐term detrimental effects on the functioning of the nigrostriatal DA system. Synapse, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Autoimmune diseases and vitamin D receptor Apa-I polymorphism are associated with vitiligo in a small inbred Romanian community

Vitiligo has been associated with the host's genetic profile, metabolic abnormality and immunostatus. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of vitiligo with autoimmune diseases for 31 out of 39 subjects with vitiligo and their first-degree relatives living in a small Caucasian inbred rural community. They were compared with healthy individuals. A 2.28% prevalence of vitiligo was calculated and the presence of consanguine marriages (72.3%) was noted for this community. Our results indicate an increased prevalence of thyroidopathies, diabetes mellitus and rheumatoid arthritis in families with vitiligo. We also show that the Apa-I polymorphism of the vitamin D receptor gene is associated with vitiligo. This is the first study of its kind performed in Romania suggesting that the vitamin D receptor gene might play a role in the aetiopathogenesis of skin depigmentation.     

Too strong? Barriers from getting support before a suicide attempt in Lithuania

The study aimed to understand the tendencies of help seeking before a suicide attempt in Lithuania. An analysis of interviews with 21 Lithuanian adults demonstrated strong avoidance of seeking help. The main reasons for avoidance included a lack of trust in other people, thinking that one must solve problems independently without sharing them, avoiding troubling others, and a belief that showing genuine emotions is a sign of weakness. These findings may contribute to suicide prevention by more deeply understanding the barriers to help seeking among high suicide risk groups, particularly in countries with a traumatic historical experience.     

Relationship of endothelial area with VEGF-A,COX-2, maspin,c-KIT,and DOG-1 immunoreactivity in liposarcomas versus non-lipomatous soft tissue tumors

Soft tissue tumors are rare tumors that show a heterogeneous structure; thus far, their molecular behavior has not been elucidated. The aim of our study was to define the relationship between microvessel density (MVD), evaluated with CD31, and other immunohistochemical markers, such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), CD34, maspin, DOG-1, and c-KIT. Immunostains were done in 55 cases consisting of benign and malignant tumors, such as liposarcomas, dermatofibrosarcomas, and tumors with histiocytic differentiation. Renal tubes were used as external control for VEGF, maspin, and DOG-1. Although DOG-1 is considered a specific marker for gastrointestinal tumors (GISTs), its positivity, correlated with c-KIT and VEGF immunoexpression, was also shown by dermatofibrosarcomas and tumors with histiocytic and lipomatous differentiation, suggesting its possible pro-angiogenic role. Maspin expression was observed in adipose tissue tumors only. Regarding angiogenesis, 31 of the 55 cases were VEGF-positive, such positivity being directly correlated with COX-2 and CD34 positivity as evaluated in the tumor cells and also with MVD. Although no significant differences in angiogenic activity were found between benign and malignant non-lipomatous tumors, the MVD was directly correlated with the histological type/grade of liposarcomas. Based on these aspects, we conclude that VEGF/COX-2-induced angiogenesis is specific for non-lipomatous tumors, whereas liposarcomas are dependent on the VEGF/maspin angiogenic pathway. The DOG-1/c-KIT/VEGF target may be used for further personalized therapy of soft tissue sarcomas. No data about DOG-1 and maspin positivity in liposarcomas have been published to date.     

Disease-associated increased HIF-1, αvβ3 integrin,and Flt-1 do not suffice to compensate the damage-inducing loss of blood vessels in inflammatory myopathies

Objective To analyze the microvascular network in skeletal muscle biopsies from patients with dermatomyositis (DM) and systemic sclerosis (SSc) compared to polymyositis (PM) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and non-inflammatory myopathies, and to clarify whether reparative angiogenesis-related factors are expressed in parallel to blood vessel damage.Methods Immunohistochemical staining of muscle biopsies (10 DM, 10 SSc, 10 PM, 10 SLE, and 10 non-inflammatory myopathies) with antibodies against von Willebrand factor (vWF), hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1), 3 integrin subunit, and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (VEGFR-1). The TechMate staining robot and biotin-streptavidin protocol were used.Results DM and SSc muscles were characterized by endothelial damage and reduction of blood vessel network. Expression of angiogenesis-related factors (HIF-1, 3, VEGFR-1) was also found in the same biopsies. In contrast, in PM and SLE muscles, vascular networks were apparently not affected and angiogenic stimuli were less expressed if at all.Conclusions This work demonstrates that in inflamed muscles hypoxia/ischemia induces increased expression of angiogenic factors, yet their impact is insufficient to repair disease-associated reduction of the capillary network. This leads to questions considering the usefulness of angiogenic factors in the treatment of ischemic inflammatory myopathies in DM and SSc.     

Hybrid anticancer 1,2-diazine derivatives with multiple mechanism of action. Part 3 [4,5]

Antitumour chemotherapy is nowadays a very active field of research, DNA targeting drugs being the most widely used group in therapy. The design, synthesis and anticancer activity of a new class of anticancer derivatives with pyrrolo-1,2-diazine and benzoquinone skeleton is presented. The synthesis is direct and efficient, involving an alkylation followed by a [3+2] dipolar cycloaddition. The penta- and tetra-cyclic pyrrolo-1,2-diazine were evaluated for their in vitro anticancer activity against an NCI 60 human tumour cell line panel. The pentacyclic-1,2-diazine exhibit a significant anticancer activity against Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer NCI-H460, Leukemia MOLT-4, Leukemia CCRF-CEM and Breast Cancer MCF7. We hypothesize that these molecules will exert their anticancer activity through multiple mechanisms of action: intercalating the DNA, inhibiting the topoisomerase enzymes and, destroying the DNA strands via electron transfer mechanism. However, the intercalation with the DNA seems to prevail in competition with the others mechanisms.