Distribution of VIP mRNA and two distinct VIP binding sites in the developing rat brain: Relation to ontogenic events

The peptide neurotransmitter vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) has neurotrophic properties and influences neurobehavioral development. To assess the role of VIP during neural ontogeny, the present work traces the development of VIP mRNA with in situ hybridization and VIP receptors with in vitro autoradiography in rat central nervous system (CNS) from embryonic day 14 (E14) to the adult. VIP mRNA was not evident in the CNS until birth. Postnatally, it was expressed in several distinct brain regions, but its distribution bore little relation to that of VIP receptors. VIP receptors were present and expressed changing patterns of distribution throughout CNS development. The changing patterns were the result of (1) the transient appearance of GTP-insensitive VIP receptors in several regions undergoing mitosis or glial fasciculation and (2) the transient appearance of GTP-sensitive VIP receptors homogeneously distributed throughout the CNS during the first 2 postnatal weeks, the period of the brain growth spurt. At E14-16 VIP binding was dense throughout the brainstem and spinal cord, but limited in the rest of the brain. From E19 to postnatal day 14 (P14), while VIP binding was higher in germinal zones, it tended to be uniformly dense throughout the remainder of the brain. By P21 the adult pattern began to emerge; VIP binding was unevenly distributed and was related to specific cytoarchitectural sites. Since the expression of VIP in the CNS is limited to postnatal development but VIP receptors are abundant prenatally, we suggest that extraembryonic VIP may act upon prenatal VIP receptors to regulate ontogenic events in the brain. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

In Vitro Effects of Tp5 Analogs on E-Rosette Formation and Cell Division

The effects of seventeen synthetic analogs of thymopentin (TP-5) have been studied in the active and azathioprine-inhibited E-rosette tests.

Thymopentin was gradually shortened from the C terminus to peptides and single amino acids. Thymopoietin 32-34 (Arg-Lys-Asp-RGH-0205-TP-3) (II) and thymopoietin 32-35 (Arg-Lys-Asp-Val-RGH-0206-TP-4) (I) were the most active peptides.

Dipeptide Arg-Lys produced significant stimulatory effect on azathioprine (ED₇₅) inhibited E-receptor. Treatment of azathioprine (ED₇₅-inhibited E-rosette forming cells (ERFC) with arginine or especially lysine increased the number of ERFC.

Some of TP-4 analogs decreased further the number of ERFC decreased by azathioprine ED₃₀. These “suppressive” peptides as well as TP-3 caused a partial arrest of K 562 cell proliferation up to 96 hours.

Results suggest that TP-5 is not the smallest active fragment of thymopoietins, since peptides (TP-3 and TP-4) exhibit similar or higher T-cell membrane activation on E-receptor. Arginine, lysine, and acidic aspartyl residue seem to be a necessary basic structure to produce a cumulative chemical signal on the activity of T-lymphocytes.     

An unusual case of perseveration sparing body-related tasks

A patient who, following left occipital and posterior callosal lesion, showed a massive pattern of perseveration with sparing of body related tasks is described. It is thought that such dissociation would reflect independence of body related tasks at the level of internal representation.     

The electrophysiological effects of ouabain on sinus node and atrium in man.

Electrophysiological studies were performed in 16 patients before and 30 min after intravenous administration of ouabain (0.1 mg/kg). P-A interval (mean+/-SEM) was 40+/-2.1 ms before and 44+/- 1.5 ms after ouabain (P less than 0.001). Atrial effective and functional refractory periods (ERP and FRP) were measured in all patients during sinus rhythm and during driving at equivalent paced rates in 12 patients. The mean atrial ERP and FRP during sinus rhythm were, respectively, 244+/-10.5 and 307+/-11.0 ms before and 253+/-9.7 and 318+/-11.4 ms after infusion of ouabain (NS). Mean atrial ERP and FRP during driving were, respectively, 231+/-15.3 and 264+/-14.9 ms before and 266+/-18.6 and 296+/-19.7 ms after ouabain (P less than 0.01 and P less than 0.01). Mean sinus cycle length and sinus recovery times were, respectively, 887+/-31.2 and 1,113+/-38.7 ms before and 905+/-38.2 and 1,008+/-30.7 ms after infusion of ouabain (NS and P less than 0.005). Calculated sinoatrial conduction times before and after ouabain were 90+/-6.8 and 110+/-8.5 ms, respectively (P less than 0.005). In summary, ouabain produced depression of intraatrial conduction as manifested by increase in P-A interval and atrial effective and functional refractory periods. Ouabain significantly increased calculated sinoatrial conduction time without significant effect on spontaneous sinus cycle length.     

Retrograde block during dual pathway atrioventricular nodal reentrant paroxysmal tachycardia

There are limited reported data regarding the occurrence of retrograde block during dual pathway atrioventricular (A-V) nodal reentrant paroxysmal tachycardia. This study describes two patients with this phenomenon. The first patient had 2:1 and type 1 retrograde ventriculoatrial block during the common variety of A-V nodal reentrance (slow pathway for anterograde and fast pathway for retrograde conduction). Fractionated atrial electrograms suggested that the site of block was within the atria. The second patient had type 1 retrograde block (between the A-V node and the low septal right atrium) during the unusual variety of A-V nodal reentrance (stow pathway for retrograde and fast pathway for anterograde conduction). The abolition of retrograde block by atropine suggested that the site of block was within A-V nodal tissue. Both cases demonstrate that intact retrograde conduction is not necessary for the continuation of A-V nodal reentrant paroxysymal tachycardia. Case 2 supports the hypothesis that the atria are not a requisite part of the A-V nodal reentrant pathway.     

Understanding patient acceptance and refusal of HIV testing in the emergency department

Background  

Despite high rates of patient satisfaction with emergency department (ED) HIV testing, acceptance varies widely. It is thought that patients who decline may be at higher risk for HIV infection, thus we sought to better understand patient acceptance and refusal of ED HIV testing.     

Micro-level economic factors and incentives in Children’s energy balance related behaviours - findings from the ENERGY European cross-section questionnaire survey

Women who are physically active during early pregnancy have notably lower odds of developing gestational diabetes than do inactive women. The purpose of the intervention was to examine whether intensified physical activity (PA) counseling in Finnish maternity care is feasible and effective in promoting leisure-time PA (LTPA) among pregnant women at risk of gestational diabetes. Fourteen municipalities were randomized to intervention (INT) and usual care group (UC). Nurses in INT integrated five PA counseling sessions into routine maternity visits and offered monthly group meetings on PA instructed by physiotherapists. In UC conventional practices were continued. Feasibility evaluation included safety (incidence of PA-related adverse events; questionnaire), realization (timing and duration of sessions, number of sessions missed, attendance at group meetings; systematic record-keeping of the nurses and physiotherapists) and applicability (nurses’ views; telephone interview). Effectiveness outcomes were weekly frequency and duration of total and intensity-specific LTPA and meeting PA recommendation for health self-reported at 8-12 (baseline), 26-28 and 36-37 weeks’ gestation. Multilevel analysis with adjustments was used in testing for between-group differences in PA changes. The decrease in the weekly days of total and moderate-to-vigorous-intensity LTPA was smaller in INT (N = 219) than in UC (N = 180) from baseline to the first follow-up (0.1 vs. -1.2, p = 0.040 and −0.2 vs. -1.3, p = 0.016). A similar trend was seen in meeting the PA recommendation (−11%-points vs. -28%-points, p = 0.06). INT did not experience more adverse events classified as warning signs to terminate exercise than UC, counseling was implemented as planned and viewed positively by the nurses. Intensified counseling had no effects on the duration of total or intensity-specific weekly LTPA. However, it was able to reduce the decrease in the weekly frequency of total and moderate-to-vigorous-intensity LTPA from baseline to the end of second trimester and was feasibly embedded into routine practices. ISRCTN 33885819 ( http://www.isrctn.org )     

Multiple reentry tachycardia in patients with ventricular preexcitation: report of three cases

The electrophysiologic studies of three patients with accessory pathways and multiple reentrant circuits are reported. The first patient had two atrioventricular accessory pathways: a left posterior capable of bidirectional conduction and a right paraseptal with retrograde conduction only. Four atrioventricular reentry circuits were documented: left and right orthodromic circuits and a left antidromic circuit with retrograde conduction over the right paraseptal accessory pathway. The second patient had a left lateral atrioventricular accessory pathway with type A preexcitation. Two reentrant tachycardias were noted: an atrial tachycardia where the accessory pathway remained concealed and an orthodromic atrioventricular tachycardia. The third patient had dual atrioventricular nodal pathways and a right nodofascicular accessory pathway. The accessory pathway became manifest only when a critical atrioventricular delay was reached, indicating its association with the slow atrioventricular nodal pathway. Wide QRS tachycardia with left bundle branch block contour was documented, by means of the slow atrioventricular nodal pathway and nodofascicular fiber antegradely, and the proximal right bundle branch, the His bundle, and the fast atrioventricular nodal pathway retrogradely.