Effects of acute barbiturate administration, tolerance and dependence on brain GABA system: comparison to alcohol and benzodiazepines

Central nervous system depressants, e.g., barbiturates, alcohol and benzodiazepines, have a wide spectrum of activity in humans and animals. Evidence accumulated suggests that some of the pharmacological actions exerted by these agents may be mediated through GABA system by mimicking GABAergic transmission. This review attempts to summarize the evidence available as to how the GABA system plays a part in the barbiturate actions and the development of tolerance to and physical dependence on barbiturates. The comparisons of the effects of alcohol, barbiturates and benzodiazepines at different steps of GABA synapse are also presented. Furthermore, the results which have been reported in the literature are inconsistent. This may be due to differences in: (a) animal models used; (b) brain regions used; (c) protocols (dose, duration, form and route of administration, etc.) used in treating animals and/or (d) techniques (pharmacological, biochemical, physiological, etc.) used.     

Inhibition of hepatic glucose production by SDZ 51641

The new oral hypoglycemic agent SDZ 51641 was evaluated in nondiabetic rats and a rat model of human non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Diabetes was induced with a single injection of 37.5 mg/kg streptozocin, and the rats exhibited hyperglycemia in the fed state with normal insulin levels. Treatment of nondiabetic animals with 100 mg/kg SDZ 51641 given orally significantly decreased serum glucose and ketone levels within 4 h without affecting insulin levels. Nonesterified fatty acids increased more than twofold during the same period. Its effect on ketone and fatty acid levels suggests that SDZ 51641 acts as an inhibitor of fatty acid oxidation. Diabetic rats treated with SDZ 51641 exhibited a significant acute hypoglycemic response, which was more pronounced after 3 days of treatment. The compound also significantly decreased serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels 27 and 53%, respectively. When endogenous hepatic glucose production was assessed in nondiabetic and diabetic animals via continuous infusion of [3-3H]glucose, we found that hepatic glucose production was elevated 43% in diabetic compared with control animals. When diabetic rats were treated with 100 mg/kg SDZ 51641, hepatic glucose production decreased to normal levels within 6 h. Hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp studies indicated that SDZ 51641 had no effect on insulin-stimulated glucose utilization. Measurement of [1-14C]oleate oxidation in isolated hepatocytes demonstrated that SDZ 51641 inhibited long-chain fatty acid oxidation in a concentration-dependent manner. The compound was ineffective at inhibiting long-chain fatty acid oxidation in epitrochlearis or soleus muscles.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Anatomic relationship of the oculomotor nuclear complex and medial longitudinal fasciculus in the midbrain.

PURPOSETo compare the MR characteristics of the oculomotor nucleus with its appearance on anatomic images.METHODSSpecimens of cadaveric brains were imaged in a 3.0-T MR imager equipped with a 3.0-cm solenoid coil. The specimens were sectioned, stained, and examined histologically. On anatomic sections, the oculomotor nuclei, medial longitudinal fasciculus, red nuclei, and oculomotor nerve were identified. The MR images were then compared with the anatomic sections.RESULTSThe oculomotor nuclei, medial longitudinal fasciculus, red nuclei, and oculomotor nerve could be identified on MR images by their size, shape, signal intensity, and location.CONCLUSIONMR images show the anatomic relationship of the oculomotor nerve complex, medial longitudinal fasciculus, and related structures in the brain stem.     

免疫抑制剂SIIA9268A的研究.Ⅰ.发酵、分离及理化性质

在用含ｒａｐａｍｙｃｉｎ结合蛋白基因（ＲＢＰ）的啤酒酵母ＲＳ１８８Ｎ及其变株ＲＳ１８８Ｎ△ｒｂｐ：：：ＬＥＵ筛选免疫抑制剂的过程中，得到活性菌株Ｎｏ．ＳＩＩＡ９２６８（鉴定为吸水链霉菌东湖变种）。应用硅胶柱层析和制备ＴＬＣ等方法从其发酵液中分离出活性化合物ＳＩＡ９２６８Ａ。经理化性质鉴定与ｒａｐａｍｙｃｉｎ同质。     

EMG myokymia as a cause of ptosis in hypothyroidism

Ptosis is known to be associated with thyroid disorders. We describe two biochemically corrected hypothyroid patients presenting with isolated bilateral ptosis. EMG of the orbicularis oculi showed continuous grouped motor unit potentials. In the absence of obvious aetiology, it is hypothesised that focal demyelination of terminal branches to the orbicularis oculi may play a role in the generation of the discharges.     

Production of monoclonal antibody against granulomonopoietic enhancing activity (GM-EA)

The granulomonopoietic enhancing activity (GM-EA) is a novel myelopoietic synergizing factor which acts as an enhancing factor for the proliferation and/or maturation of myelopoietic progenitor cells (CFU-GM) in combination with various types of colony-stimulating factors. In the present study, we report the production of a mouse anti-human GM-EA monoclonal antibody (mAb) designated 63A which is of the IgG1 subclass and has kappa light chains. This mAb can be used to quantitate GM-EA using a solid-phase enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA) and is shown to have no cross-reaction with other myeloid synergizing factors. Furthermore, 63A mAb can significantly neutralize the colony-enhancing activity of GM-EA when added to CFU-GM assay cultures. In addition to being a convenient tool for the assay of GM-EA, 63A mAb may also be valuable for the exploration of the full potential of this enhancing factor in myelopoiesis.     

ATP和SNP控制性降压对血流动力学的影响

对比研究三磷酸腺苷（ＡＴＰ）和硝普钠（ＳＮＰ）控制性降压对氯胺酮麻醉犬血流动力学的影响。选择犬１４只，随机分为ＡＴＰ组和ＳＮＰ组，由股静脉持续输入ＡＴＰ和ＳＮＰ使ＭＡＰ降低３０％￣４０％，维持３０ｍｉｎ，分别于降压前、降压后１５ｍｉｎ、３０ｍｉｎ及停止降压后１５ｍｉｎ用Ｓｗａｎ－Ｇａｎｚ漂浮导管测定血流动力学指标。结果表明，ＡＴＰ、ＳＮＰ降压期间ＳＶＲ、ＬＶＳＷ显著降低，ＣＯ、ＰＣＷＰ、ＳＶ、ＲＶ     

Acupuncture Treatment of Frequent Urination

Patient Liu （a male office worker of a company in Beijing）, aged 49, paid his first visit on March 10, 2003, with the chief complaint of frequent urination at night for over one year. One year ago, he started to have frequent urination 4-5 times every night, which disturbed his sleep and made him fatigue during the day. Though he tried to drink less water, the above symptoms couldn＇t be alleviated. The condition was accompanied by such symptoms as listlessness, general lassitude,