Diazepam-induced amnesia: a neuropharmacological model of an "organic amnestic syndrome"

Diazepam has well-known amnestic properties. These effects, however, are selective for certain psychobiologically distinct memory functions. In this study, incremental doses of diazepam administered to 10 normal volunteers selectively impaired anterograde episodic memory and attention while totally sparing access to information in long-term memory (semantic or knowledge memory). This pattern of disruption mimics that seen in patients with organic amnesias and is in sharp contrast to the pattern seen in patients with dementia. These findings provide a framework for defining specific psychobiological determinants of cognitive failure.     

Deep-freezing versus 4 degrees preservation of avascular osteocartilaginous shell allografts in rats

Osteocartilaginous allografts (distal femurs of rats) were stored at 4 degrees for six, 12, 24, and 48 hours and at -80 degrees for five days and then evaluated for viability of the bone and cartilage. Storage at 4 degrees for 12 or 24 hours had little effect on cartilage viability but decreased bone viability to 40% and 10% of controls, respectively. Storage at -80 degrees for five days resulted in nonviable bone in all cases but showed an either/or response of cartilage, with high viability in two cases and nonviability in the other eight cases. In a second set of experiments, femurs from rats were stored in situ at 4 degrees for 12 or 24 hours or were harvested and stored at -80 degrees for five days, after which they were transplanted into rats of a different strain. The antibody response to each set of femurs was measured at two, six, and 12 weeks after operation. The 4 degrees storage resulted in a moderately decreased immunogenicity, whereas the storage at -80 degrees resulted in significantly reduced immunogenicity.     

Measurement of oxygen uptake in the non-steady-state

The purpose of these experiments was to develop and validate an open-circuit technique for measurement of gas exchange during the transition from rest to constant load steady-state exercise. The design of the open-circuit system employed to measure gas exchange in these experiments used a mixing chamber to collect the subject's expired ventilation where fractions of O2 and CO2 were determined via electronic gas analyzers. A gasometer was used to measure inspired ventilation and the analog signals from the two gas analyzers and the gasometer were sent to a microcomputer for computation of VO2. In calculating VO2, the mixed expired gas concentrations were matched with ventilatory volume using a previously determined time delay. To determine the validity of the open-circuit system, four subjects performed a series of 16 rest-to-work transitions on a cycle ergometer. In eight of the experiments, serial measurements of VO2 were obtained every 20 s for 3 min using the open-circuit mixing chamber system while the additional eight experiments used the Douglas bag technique. No significant difference (p greater than 0.05) existed between VO2 values calculated by the two techniques. Mean differences in VO2 between the two techniques during the first three 20-s measurement periods were 6, 53, and 63 ml, respectively. Using the Douglas bag technique as the standard, this represents a relative measurement error of 0.1%, 4.5%, and 3.6%, respectively, at the above time intervals. These data demonstrate that an open-circuit system employing a mixing chamber and the appropriate time delay to match expired gas fractions and ventilation is a sensitive means of measurement of VO2 in the non-steady-state.     

Administration to humans of ORG 21465, a water soluble steroid i.v. anaesthetic agent

Ten male volunteers received a 1-min i.v. infusion of a new water soluble steroid anaesthetic agent, ORG 21465. Individuals received doses ranging from 0.8 to 1.8 mg kg-1. All subjects experienced venous pain at the site of injection; those receiving 1.0 mg kg-1 or more became anaesthetized. There was no evidence of histamine release and apnoea did not occur. Excitatory phenomena were observed in all subjects and were dose related; no spikes were seen on the EEG. Pharmacokinetic analysis supported a three-compartment (non-weight- related) model with compartmental volumes V1, V2 and V3 of 4.31, 14.2 and 89.4 litre, respectively. Clearance from the central compartment V1 was 1.55 litre min-1. Inter-compartmental clearances Q1 and Q2 were 2.54 and 1.79 litre min-1. We found that ORG 21465 was an effective anaesthetic in humans. The relationship between sedation, anaesthesia and excitation requires further exploration.      

Circadian variation in the frequency of onset of chest pain in elderly patients with acute myocardial infarction.

This study reports the time of onset of chest pain in 792 consecutive elderly patients admitted to a coronary care unit with myocardial infarction during a 10-year period. Statistical analysis demonstrated a bimodal frequency distribution with peaks in the time of onset of chest pain between 23 h 30 and 00 h 30 and between 06 h 30 and 08 h 30.     

A review of the clinical applications of the pattern electroretinogram

The pattern electroretinogram (PERG) has recently been introduced as a clinical procedure. It has been thought by many to represent activity of the retinal ganglion cells, although this is still a matter of contention. The exciting prospect of a selective test of ganglion cell function led to the application of the PERG in a variety of ophthalmological conditions. In the course of these investigations the PERG was found to be diminished in cases of maculopathy, optic atrophy, optic neuritis, toxic optic neuropathy, neurotransmitter disorders, glaucoma and ocular hypertension and in retinal vascular disorders such as diabetes. It was also affected in some cases of amblyopia. This paper briefly describes the techniques used to record the PERG and reviews current literature pertaining to its clinical application.