Cardiovascular changes in response to selective monoamine oxidase inhibition in the rat

Chronic (21 days) treatment with the selective monoamine oxidase (MAO)-A inhibitor clorgyline, but not with the MAO-B inhibitor deprenyl in pithed rats leads to increased blood pressure responses to sympathetic stimulation and intravenous tyramine, and to elevated unstimulated heart rates. No significant changes are observed in plasma catecholamine responses to sympathetic stimulation, nor in β-adrenoreceptor numbers in heart ventricles. These findings suggest that the hypotensive effects of MAO inhibitors result from central nervous system rather than peripheral nervous system alterations.     

Phytochemical screening and antiviral activity of some medicinal plants from the island Soqotra

Methanol and hot-aqueous extracts of 25 different plant species, used in Yemeni traditional medicine and growing, partly as endemic plants, on the island Soqotra have been investigated for their antiviral activity. In addition, the phytochemical identification of the main chemical constituents was performed. The extracts were assayed in two in vitro viral systems, which used influenza virus type A/MDCK cells and herpes simplex virus type 1/Vero cells, at non-cytotoxic concentrations. The herpes simplex virus type 1 showed more sensitivity than the influenza virus type A against the extracts investigated. The methanol extracts of Boswellia ameero, Boswellia elongata, Buxus hildebrandtii, Cissus hamaderohensis, Cleome socotrana, Dracaena cinnabari, Exacum affine, Jatropha unicostata and Kalanchoe farinacea showed anti-influenza virus type A activity with 50% inhibition (IC50) concentrations ranging from 0.7 to 12.5 microg/mL. In addition, 17 plants of the 25 investigated exhibited anti-HSV-1 activity. The antiviral activity of some active extracts was also observed on a molecular level.     

Clinical experience with fetal echocardiography

Current ultrasound technology allows for accurate evaluation of the fetal heart. To evaluate the importance and accuracy of the routine clinical use of fetal echocardiography at our center, a consecutive series of 338 fetal cardiac studies of 323 patients was reviewed. Average gestational age was 24 weeks (range, 17 to 39 weeks). Forty-seven (15%) patients with abnormal conditions were detected. The most common indication for fetal cardiac scan was a family history of congenital heart disease (28%). Other indications were maternal diabetes mellitus (25%), fetal dysrhythmia (14%), other major defect (10%), drug exposure (10%), and obstetrician suspicion of fetal congenital heart disease on routine scan (10%). The highest yield of significant abnormal findings was among those referred for dysrhythmia (31%) and obstetrician suspicion of congenital heart disease (29%). Five fetuses with sustained supraventricular tachycardia and hydrops were successfully treated. The combination of fetal bradycardia and structural heart disease was the most ominous finding. Fifteen (4.6%) patients had clear changes in management based on the fetal echocardiogram. Our experience suggests that the routine use of fetal echocardiography is accurate and an important part of the overall management of the pregnancy considered at risk for producing an infant with congenital heart disease.     

Stoffwechsel

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Einzelreferate und Buchbesprechungen

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Der Osmotische Druck,Seine Bedeutung und Seine Regulation im Tierkörper

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