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.     

Interaction of psychotropic drugs with brain muscarinic cholinoceptors: similarities of biperiden with pirenzepine in receptor binding properties

It is generally accepted that there are at least three different subtypes of muscarinic cholinoceptors, pirenzepine being considered a selective M1 antagonist. In the present study, a number of different types of psychotropic drugs have been compared with pirenzepine and atropine as reference antimuscarinic drugs regarding their affinities for rat brain muscarinic cholinoceptors with the help of in vitro receptor binding studies. The most potent drugs, inhibiting 3H-1-quinuclidinyl benzilate (3H-QNB) binding at subnanomolar concentrations, were the antimuscarinic drugs scopolamine and atropine. Biperiden, promethazine, pirenzepine and some tricyclic antidepressants (amitriptyline, doxepin) were the next potent drugs, with IC50-values between 8.4 nM and 190 nM. The inhibition curves were steep and parallel giving Hill coefficients close to unity in all but two drugs studied. These exceptions were biperiden and pirenzepine both with Hill coefficients about 0.55. Thus, in addition to pirenzepine also biperiden seems to bind to the M1 receptor selectively. Additional receptor and functional studies are warranted to further elucidate the possible similarities of these two drugs.     

Legionnaires' Disease in Leukaemic Reticuloendotheliosis

At our hospital 15 cases of leukaemic reticuloendotheliosis and 4 cases of Legionnaires' disease have been diagnosed. 3 patients had both diseases. The clinical findings are reported. It is probable that patients with leukaemic reticuloendotheliosis have an increased susceptibility to Legionnaires' disease. Possible reasons for the decreased resistance are discussed.     

Hepatic oil embolism following lymphography: CT diagnosis

Hepatic oil embolism following lymphography is reported in a 68-year-old man admitted for chylous ascites associated with recurrent prostatic carcinoma. Abdominal plain radiography, CT, and ultimately liver biopsy strongly support a direct lymphatic pathway and are against the role of lymphaticovenous anastomoses generally advocated to explain this phenomenon.     

Insulin and insulin-like growth factor I exert different effects on plasminogen activator production or cell growth in the ovine thyroid cell line OVNIS.

Insulin and Insulin-like Growth Factor I (IGF-I) are evaluated for their capacity to affect cell proliferation and plasminogen activator (PA) activity production in an ovine thyroid cell line OVNIS. Insulin at physiological and supraphysiological doses induces cell proliferation and increases PA activity. IGF-I, which is also clearly mitogenic for these cells, surprisingly does not modulate PA activity. The results indicate that the growth promoting effect is mediated through the insulin and IGF-I receptors whereas PA activity is solely regulated via the insulin receptors.     

Cerebral lymphoma and HIV encephalitis in a case of paediatric AIDS,with Pre-Existing multicystic eneephalomalacia

A case of intracerebral malignant B cell lymphoma associated with encephalitis typical of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection is described in a 4 year old child, with post-transfusion Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and severe pre-existing cystic encephalomalacia. This report further documents B cell lymphoma as the commonest cause of an intracerebral mass, and an important cause of death in paediatric AIDS. That more than one pathological process may be responsible for neurological symptoms in paediatric AIDS is also emphasised.     

The microbial flora of in-use blood pressure cuffs

The capacity of blood pressure cuffs to act as vehicles of hospital infection has been recognised. We describe the microbial flora of in-use DINAMAP blood pressure cuffs used in the operating theatres and one recovery room in a teaching hospital. Our results show significant microbial contamination of in-use blood pressure cuffs.     

Gd-DTPA-enhanced MR in thoracic disc herniations

Summary The Gd-DTPA-enhanced magnetic resonance findings in two patients with herniated thoracic intervertebral discs are reported. The first patient was a 56-year-old woman with a small subligamentous T6-7 disc herniation, slightly lateralized to the right. The second patient was a 51-year-old man with a central and right posterolateral disc herniation, including a large calcified fragment, at the T8-9 level. The nonenhanced MR examination revealed the presence of an extradural mass lesion in both patients, impinging upon the dural sac and compressing and displacing the spinal cord posteriorly. The lesion was slightly hypointense on both T1- and T2-weighted spin echo sequences. Following intravenous injection of Gd-DTPA in a dosage of 0.1 mmol/kg body weight, enhancement of the posterior longitudinal ligament was noted and triangular areas of contrast uptake were seen to occur in the epidural space above and below the herniated disc. At surgery, they were found to correspond to dilated and congested epidural veins.