MODULATION OF COGNITIVE PERFORMANCE AND MOOD BY AROMAS OF PEPPERMINT AND YLANG-YLANG

This study provides further evidence for the impact of the aromas of plant essential oils on aspects of cognition and mood in healthy participants. One hundred and forty-four volunteers were randomly assigned to conditions of ylang-ylang aroma, peppermint aroma, or no aroma control. Cognitive performance was assessed using the Cognitive Drug Research computerized assessment battery, with mood scales completed before and after cognitive testing. The analysis of the data revealed significant differences between conditions on a number of the factors underpinning the tests that constitute the battery. Peppermint was found to enhance memory whereas ylang-ylang impaired it, and lengthened processing speed. In terms of subjective mood peppermint increased alertness and ylang-ylang decreased it, but significantly increased calmness. These results provide support for the contention that the aromas of essential oils can produce significant and idiosyncratic effects on both subjective and objective assessments of aspects of human behavior. They are discussed with reference to possible pharmacological and psychological modes of influence.     

EYE-SIGHTING PREFERENCE OF NORMAL AND HEMIPLEGIC CHILDREN AND ADULTS

Monocular eye-sighting preference was examined in 32 children with hemiplegia, 51 adult-onset hemiplegic patients and 57 normal children and adults. Eye preference was compared with ear preference on dichotic listening for 25 of the hemiplegic children. No independent association could be detected between eye preference and ear preference. In both the children and adults with hemiplegia the preferred eye tended to be on the same side as the damaged hemisphere. Among the adults, this tendency was more pronounced with more extensive lesions, as manifested by aphasia and/or hemianopia. These findings are interpreted as indicating that eye-sighting preference is unrelated to unitary hemispheric dominance, and that, unlike dominance for hearing and speech, it is not irreversible after a critical period of development. A simpler explanation than incomplete hemispheric dominance is offered for the weakly positive association between mixed laterality and cerebral dysfunction.     

鸡视网膜MEL受体的表达及部分电生理,药理特性的研究

褪黑激素（ＭＥＬ）是松果体和视网膜分泌的一种重要内分泌激素,它参与生物季节周期昼夜节律,视网膜信号调制及其他多种重要生理功能的调节。关于鸟类视网膜中ＭＥＬ受体的定位和亲和性类型的研究已有报道,然而由于所用方法的限制,对它的电生理特性知之甚少。我们首次成功地在爪蟾卵母细胞上表达了鸡视网膜ＭＥＬ受体,并利用双电极电压箝技术及常用的药物灌流的方法研究了它的部分电生理、药理学特性。我们发现,这种表达的ＭＥ     

HISTOCHEMICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL STUDIES OF BUTYRYLCHOLINESTERASE ACTIVITY IN ADULT AND DEVELOPING CEREBELLUM. EFFECTS OF ABNORMAL THYROID STATE AND UNDERNUTRITION

The cellular and subcellular localization of BuchE activity (EC.3.1.1.8) was studied in the developing and adult rat cerebellum at light and electron microscope levels. In the adult cerebellum, BuchE activity was exclusively localized to glial cells, myelin and endothelial cells. In the immature cerebellum, BuchE activity was additionally found transiently localized to the neuroblasts of the external germinative layer and in Purkinje cells of the nodulus. In both the immature and the adult animals, the main part of the activity seemed to be membrane-bound. The developmental pattern of cerebellar BuchE activity was assayed in developing normal, hypothyroid, thyroxine-treated and undernourished rats. In normal newborn rats, the specific activity was higher than in adults and it showed one characteristic peak at 6 days (1.8 times the adult value reached at 30 days). At the age of 5 days, the ratio of BuchE-containing astrocytes (numbered in the ganglionic layer) to Purkinje cells was the same as the ratio of Bergmann astrocytes to Purkinje cells determined at 35 days in Nissl preparations; their nucleus size already represented 80% of the adult value and their processes were well developed. The three experimental conditions modified the timing of BuchE development. During the early post-natal period, it was accelerated in the thyroxine-treated and undernourished animals, while in the hypothyroid rats it was delayed. During the same period, the number of labelled astrocytes per Purkinje cell was modified only by hypothyroidism and undernourishment. On the basis of these histochemical and biochemical results, BuchE can be considered as a good marker for the study of Bergmann glia development in the early post-natal period.     

GROWTH OF TRUNK AND LEGS OF CHILDREN WITH MYELOMENINGOCELE

Total body length and body segments (crown-rump length, sub-ischeal length) of 78 children with myelomeningocele were measured at regular intervals during growth for a mean duration of 4.4 years. These children were shown to have defective growth, with an increased upper segment/lower segment ratio. It was found that the higher the level of the meningocele the greater the growth defects. However, the relationship was statistically significant only for the first seven years of life. It is concluded that neurological damage was mainly responsible for defective growth during the first years of life, but that other factors independent of the level of the meningocele also come into play in later years.