Melatonin Inhibits GnRH-Induced Increase of cFOS Immunoreactivity in Neonatal Rat Pituitary

In neonatal rat gonadotrophs, melatonin inhibits several GnRH-induced effects: stimulation of LH release as well as the increase of several second messengers as cAMP, diacylglycerol and [ Ca²⁺]_i . Recently, GnRH has been shown to induce expression of immediate early genes of fos and jun family in adult rat gonadotrophs. The purpose of this study was to determine, whether melatonin inhibits the GnRH-induced induction of cFos in neonatal rat pituitary cells.     

Fibre type characteristics of the lumbar paraspinal muscles in normal healthy subjects and in patients with low back pain

A knowledge of the alteration in the fibre type profile of paraspinal muscle associated with low back pain is essential for the design of successful rehabilitation programmes. In attempting to compare the muscles of patients with low back pain with those of controls, few previous studies have considered factors such as gender, age, and size of the subjects, each of which can potentially confound interpretation of the results. We obtained samples of lumbar paraspinal muscle during spinal surgery from 21 patients with low back pain and, using the percutaneous biopsy technique, from 21 control volunteers matched for gender, age, and body mass. The samples were subject to routine histochemicsl typcal analysis to determine characteristics of muscle fibre type. Compared with controls, the muscle of the patients had a significantly higher proportion of type-IIB (fast-twitch glycolytic) fibres than type- I (slow oxidatve) fibres. The mean size of a given fibre type did not differ between the patients and the controls. Consequently, the relative area of the muscle iccupied by type-IIB fibres was higher and that by type-I fibres Was lower in the patients. The patients had a greater number of muscle samples with more than 1% type-IIC fibres, and abnormalities that could be described as pathological were more marked in the patients than in the controls. In conclusion, the paraspinal muscles of patients who have low back pain display a more glycolytic (faster) profile; this can be expected to render them less resistant to fatigue.     

Drug analysis with polarographic methods. 33. Electroanalytic studies of a new benzodiazepine: [6(o-chlorophenyl)-2,4-dihydro-2-[(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl) methylene]-8-nitro-1H-imidazol[1,2-a][1,4]benzodiazepine-1-one (WHO) (loprazolam,1)] and content determination its drug forms

Loprazolam (1) is a tricyclic benzodiazepine containing a new butazadiene moiety, which has not been investigated by polarography up to now. 1 is reduced in three waves at a DME over the whole pH-region. In BRP (pH 2-9) 10 electrons are consumed in this process. The first step is suitable for the determination of 1 in Loprazolam tablets containing 1 or 2 mg. These tablets are on the pharmaceutical market in several European countries. The mechanism of the electrode process will be reported in the communication XXXIV.     

Multimodal intraoperative monitoring: towards a routine use in surgical treatment of severe spinal disorders

European Spine Journal -     

Use of two parallel oxygenators in a very large patient (2.76 m2) for an acute "A" dissecting aortic aneurysm repair

The very large patient (weight 142 kg, height 197 cm, body surface 2.76 m2) was referred to acute operation with dissecting type A ascending aortic aneurysm. The calculated blood flow was 6.63 l/min. To anticipate potential difficulties with perfusion and oxygenation two oxygenators connected in parallel were incorporated into the circuit. Bentall procedure with ACB to the RCA was performed. The perfusion was uneventful. Bypass time was 259 minutes, cross clamp time 141 minutes, circulatory arrest 7 minutes. The highest oxygenators gas flow was 2.6 l/min with maximum FiO2 0.42. The use of two in parallel connected oxygenators is a very effective, easy and safe method in such extreme perfusions, offering to the perfusionist a great reserve of oxygenator output.     

The cellular uptake of sensitizers bound to cyclodextrin carriers

Photodynamic therapy of cancer uses the interaction of sensitizers and light to destroy cancer cells. In this study we tested the cellular uptake of meso-tetrakis(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphine (TPPS4) and its complex PdTPPS4 in the presence or absence of 2-hydroxypropyl-cyclodextrins (hpCDs) on G361 human melanoma cells. Self-fluorescence in G361 cells were measured by Perkin-Elmer LS50B luminometer equipped with well plate reader accessory. Morphological changes in cells have been evaluated using inversion fluorescent microscope Olympus IX 70 and image analysis. The uptake of the sensitizer PdTPPS4 at the given time interval from 1 to 48 hours is markedly higher than the uptake of TPPS4. The highest uptake was found for sensitizer PdTPPS4 in combination with hpbetaCD. TPPS4 and PdTPPS4 especially in the supramolecular complex with nontoxic cyclodextrin carriers represent efficient sensitizers for photodynamic therapy in vitro on G361 cells.     

Deregulation of the G1/S-phase control in human testicular germ cell tumours

Deregulated cell cycle and defective genome-integrity checkpoints are among the hallmarks of cancer.Here we summarize our recent studies of key components of the GI/S machinery in normal human spermatogenesis, and their abnormalities in testicular germ cell tumours (TGCTs), with special emphasis on carcinoma in situ lesions (CIS). Our combined immunohistochemical and immunoblotting analyses of normal human adult and fetal testes, CIS, seminomas, embryonal carcinomas, and teratomas, revealed an 'unorthodox' spectrum of defects within the so-called RB pathway in TGCTs. The early aberrations included lack of expression of the retinoblastoma tumour suppressor (pRB) and the CDK inhibitor pl9ink4d, and overexpression of cyclin D2. Progression from CIS to invasive TGCTswas associated with loss of another two CDK inhibitors and tumour suppressors: pl6ink4a and pl8ink4c. We also found the lack of pRB and pl9ink4d in fetal gonocytes, the candidate target cell for all types of TGCTs. These findings, together with the status of the Chk2-p53 DNA-integrity checkpoint, are considered in relation to the origin, biology and pathogenesis of TGCTs, and potential implications of the GI/S defects for the curability of these tumours.     

Spatial EEG Synchronisation Over Sensorimotor Hand Areas in Brisk and Slow Self-Paced Index Finger Movements

The changes of spatial EEG synchronisation during brisk and slow voluntary self-paced movements of the right and left index finger were analysed in 12 right-handed and 11 left-handed subjects. EEG was recorded from the left and right sensorimotor area using 24 closely spaced electrodes. A novel measure of spatial EEG synchronisation, -complexity, was computed separately for the left and right sensorimotor area in 64 overlapping one-second epochs representing 4.5 s of the pre-movement and 3.5 s of the post-movement period. -complexity was higher, hence spatial synchronisation was lower, in slow than in brisk movements, especially in the right-handed. A sustained increase of -complexity was observed during execution of a slow movement. A decrease of -complexity which was often associated with a brief burst of spatially synchronised 10-Hz oscillations occurred at the onset of extensor muscle contraction. We suggest that increased spatial EEG synchronisation at movement onset may prevent spillover of excitation from the sensorimotor hand area to other cortical regions. During movement, the cortical neuronal assemblies subserve distinct, specialised functions manifesting in increased -complexity.     

Local production of IgA- and IgM-rheumatoid factors in adult periodontal disease

The enzyme-linked immunospot assay was used to enumerate both the number and the frequency of spontaneous IgG, IgA, and IgM immunoglobulin-secreting cells and IgA- and IgM-rheumatoid factor (RF)-producing cells present in the gingivae and peripheral blood of adult periodontitis patients. Cells from 29 patients were incubated on plates coated with human IgG, Fc, or F(ab)₂ fragments and on plates coated with class-specific antihuman antibodies and secreted antibodies were subsequently visualized by means of an immunoenzymatic procedure. The data indicate that (1) IgA-RF- and IgM-RF-secreting cells are frequently present in the gingiva of adult periodontitis patients; (2) production of RF in gingivae of adult periodontitis patients occurs in the absence of demonstrable RF production by simultaneously obtained peripheral blood mononuclear cells, suggesting that local autoimmune reactions may occur in this disease; and (3) lack of correlation between IgA-RF and IgM-RF production in diseased gingiva suggests that the two RF isotypes are regulated independently of each other.     

Neuropeptide Y in the female reproductive tract of the rat. Distribution of nerve fibres and motor effects

The spontaneous firing of single neurones in the region of the lateral reticular nucleus was the subject of a pharmacological study employing microiontophoretic and systemic application of adrenoceptor agonists and antagonists. Both iontophoretic noradrenaline and systemic clonidine depressed neuronal firing. The depressions were consistently reversed by the alpha-2 antagonist RX781094. Other adrenergic antagonists, prazosin and sotalol, were ineffective. The results suggest the existence of alpha-2 receptors in this region of the brain.