The effects of systemic morphine on behavior and EEG in newborn rats.

Early studies suggested that newborn animals are far more susceptible to the convulsant effect of systemic morphine than adult animals. The present study reassessed morphine's (0, 6, 12.5, 25, 50, 100 and 300 mg/kg) toxic effects, making use of electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings, behavioral observations and the specific opiate antagonist naloxone in immature rats (postnatal days 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24). Although morphine had opiate-specific effects (such as inhibition of activity at low doses), non-specific effects (such as hyperactivity) elicited by the highest doses, predominated in the 3 youngest age groups. At day 12 high doses of morphine first produced Straub tail and catatonia. At this age morphine produced EEG spikes that were not reversed by naloxone. Only at day 24 were electrographic spikes temporarily inhibited by naloxone. Behavioral convulsions were never observed, at any age. These findings indicate that morphine is less toxic in newborns than suggested previously.     

Symptom-free interval after triptorelin treatment of uterine fibroids: long-term results.

An increasing number of publications document regression of fibroids under treatment with gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists. However, recurrence after stopping treatment regularly counterbalances its benefit. We now report on 28 patients with intramural myomas, treated with triptorelin for 4-6 months and followed for 42-56 months. During or shortly after treatment, six patients entered menopause. In this group, a volume reduction of 71% was achieved and no surgery was needed thereafter. In 22 premenopausal women, a 64% decrease of uterine volumes was obtained at the end of treatment; the long-term reductive effect was 31%. When compared with initial values, a significant decrease was observed at the end of treatment (p = 0.0001) and of follow-up (p < 0.0005). In 13 (of 22) premenopausal patients, surgery was needed after triptorelin treatment for permanent control of fibroids. The remaining nine patients were free of symptoms after 42-56 months, having uteri in situ. These two groups differ significantly in pretreatment uterine volume (p < 0.001) and in reduction rate after therapy (p < 0.01), both parameters being higher in patients who finally needed surgery. In conclusion, triptorelin treatment is definitely beneficial in perimenopausal women and in nearly half of premenopausal women, in whom hysterectomy can be prevented. In the other half, surgery is necessary, despite significant volume reduction. These results need to be corroborated on larger groups of patients. More research is needed to explain different responses to treatment in premenopausal patients.     

Serological detection of Helicobacter pylori by a flow microsphere immunofluorescence assay.

A flow cytometric immunofluorescence assay (FMIA) for the detection of immunoglobulin G antibodies to Helicobacter pylori was developed. A multicomponent antigen was prepared and used to coat carboxylated polystyrene microspheres for reaction with patient sera followed by fluorescein isothiocyanate-labelled goat anti-human immunoglobulin G. The reacted microspheres were collected with a flow cytometer, and fluorescence was quantitated relative to the cutoff value provided by pooled sera from patients in whom H. pylori could not be demonstrated by culture or histology. Serum samples from 28 H. pylori-positive patients and 27 H. pylori-negative patients were tested by FMIA. Additionally, an in-house enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) employing the same antigen preparation and a commercially available ELISA were used to assay the patient population. Both the FMIA and in-house ELISA were 100% sensitive and 89% specific with positive and negative predictive values of 90 and 100% and no equivocal results. The commercial ELISA was 96% sensitive and 89% specific with positive and negative predictive values of 90 and 96% and five equivocal results. FMIA provides a rapid, inexpensive, and easily performed means for serodiagnosis of H. pylori.     

Alpha-methyldopa induces a naltrexone-insensitive antinociception and hypomotility in rats.

1. This study served to investigate whether endogenous opioid peptides play a role in the putative antinociceptive and the sedative actions of alpha-methyldopa. 2. In conscious normotensive rats, alpha-methyldopa induced hypotension, starting around 1 h and reaching a maximum 3-4 h after administration. Pretreatment with naltrexone resulted in an inhibition of alpha-methyldopa-induced hypotension. 3. alpha-Methyldopa dose-dependently increased hot plate latency which became evident after a 4 h lag period and reaching a maximum effect at 6 h. The antinociceptive effect of alpha-methyldopa was not affected by naltrexone. 4. In a small open field, alpha-methyldopa dose-dependently suppressed locomotion and sniffing behaviour. These effects of alpha-methyldopa were apparent 1 h after administration and were naltrexone-insensitive. 5. No changes in the level of beta-endorphin-like immunoreactivity in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid were observed after administration of alpha-methyldopa. 6. The results indicate that endogenous opioid peptides are involved in the hypotensive action of alpha-methyldopa but not in alpha-methyldopa-induced hypomotility and antinociception.     

Validation of esophageal pressure occlusion test after paralysis

Measurements of respiratory mechanics are frequently made in ventilated infants and children. Esophageal pressure measurements (P_es using a balloon on a catheter have been used to partition the respiratory mechanics into lung and chest wall components. Appropriate positioning of this balloon is crucial to obtain accurate estimates of pleural pressure. Traditionally, in spontaneously breathing subjects the balloon position is assessed with an occlusion test. In ventilated subjects, it is not always possible to perform an occlusion test prior to paralysis, and even if such a test is performed it may not be relevant under conditions of positive pressure ventilation. We have assessed a positive pressure occlusion test that is suitable for paralyzed subjects. By occluding the airway opening and applying gentle pressure to the abdomen or rib cage, positive swings in pressure can be measured by both P_es and airway opening pressure (P_ao). We compared traditional occlusion tests measured in 16 spontaneously breathing puppies to the positive pressure occlusion test performed after paralysis. In 2 pups we were unable to obtain a reasonable traditional occlusion test (>15% difference between P_es and P_ao) but we obtained 10 traditional occlusion tests in each of the remaining 14 pups (2.1–14 kg). In 11 of these animals Ape, was within 10% of P_ao. This compared well to positive pressure occlusion test using abdominal pressure performed after paralysis, where Apes was within 10% of ΔP_ao in 10 animals. In 9 of these pups occlusion tests were also performed by applying pressure on the rib cage, where ΔP_es was within 10% of ΔP_ao in 6 animals. These results suggest that it is possible to perform accurate occlusion tests in paralyzed subjects by abdominal or rib cage compression with the airway occluded. Pediatr Pulmonol. 1994; 17:56–62. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Irradiation of rabbit retina with diode and Nd:YAG lasers.

AIMS--This study was carried out to compare the effects of continuous wave infrared laser radiation on pigmented and albino rabbit retinas at two wavelengths: 810 nm (diode) and 1064 nm (Nd:YAG). METHODS--Transpupillary laser pulses were applied with a spot size of 200 microns and durations of 200 ms (pigmented rabbits) and 0.5-1 s (albino rabbits). Light and electron microscopic analyses were performed immediately after exposure. RESULTS--In pigmented rabbits, threshold lesions were induced using a power of 100 mW with the diode and 200 mW with the Nd:YAG lasers. Damage was incurred by the retinal pigment epithelium with extension into the superficial and mid choroid posteriorly and into the outer retina anteriorly. In albino rabbits, lesions of comparable anteroposterior extension were identified using a power of 10 W with the Nd:YAG laser. Using diode laser irradiation, a maximum power output of 1.2 W failed to produce discernible lesions. CONCLUSIONS--The observed patterns of morphological damage are produced by complex tissue radiation interactions. In pigmented animals, this was primarily related to absorption of radiant energy by melanin within the retinal pigment epithelium and the choroidal melanocytes. In albino rabbits, laser induced effects occurred as a consequence of multiple scattering, together with absorption within haemoglobin and possibly also within tissue water. The data obtained provide further insight into the biological mechanisms arising from retinal photocoagulation with near infrared lasers.