Afterimages, grating induction and illusory phantoms

Under some conditions (dark or light inspection areas) illusory gratings often appear to be in-phase with the inducing gratings and under others (gray inspection area) illusory gratings often appear to be out-of-phase with the inducing gratings. McCourt reported that point-by-point brightness matches reveal only out-of-phase illusory gratings, no matter what the luminance of the inspection area (McCourt, M. E. (1994). Vision Research, 34, 1609-1617). Since the technique used might have led to afterimages which mimic out-of-phase illusory gratings, the present series of experiments was undertaken to determine how such afterimages might bias illusory grating judgments. Afterimages were induced during fixation with brief flashes of inducing gratings within the inspection area (Experiment 1), or by vertical shifts in the entire stimulus which exposed the retina to real gratings prior to judgments within the inspection area (Experiment 2). Experiment 2 was replicated with drifting inducing gratings (Experiment 3). The subjects were asked to indicate whether illusory gratings appeared in- or out-of-phase. The results of all three experiments reveal that out-of-phase illusory gratings predominate, and that afterimages can only bias judgments with stationary displays. It is suggested that grating induction is perceived when subjects attend to local contrast differences, while phantom visibility is facilitated when attention is captured by the more global aspects of the stimulus.     

Discovery of novel non-peptide CCR1 receptor antagonists

Ligands for the CCR1 receptor (MIP-1alpha and RANTES) have been implicated in a number of chronic inflammatory diseases, most notably multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. Because these ligands share a common receptor, CCR1, we sought to discover antagonists for this receptor as an approach to treating these disorders. A novel series of 4-hydroxypiperidines has been discovered by high throughput screening (HTS) which potently inhibits the binding of MIP-1alpha and RANTES to the recombinant human CCR1 chemokine receptor. The structure-activity relationships of various segments of this template are described as the initial HTS lead 1 was optimized synthetically to the highly potent receptor antagonist 6s. This compound has been shown to have at least 200-fold selectivity for inhibition of CCR1 over other human 7-TM receptors, including other chemokine receptors. In addition, data obtained from in vitro functional assays demonstrate the functional antagonism of compound 6s and structurally related analogues against the CCR1 receptor in a concentration dependent manner. The discovery and optimization of potent and selective CCR1 receptor antagonists represented by compound 6s potentially represent a novel approach to the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases.     

"Akinetic depression" in schizophrenia.

It is possible that some "postpsychotic depressions" may be a toxic effect of antipsychotic drugs. Out of a total of 94 schizophrenic patients, 28 developed a mild akinesia and 32 never developed extrapyramidal symptoms. Those who developed akinesia became less psychotic, but they also experienced a significant, although modest, increase in depression ratings. Successful treatment of the akinesia resulted in significant improvements in depression, somatic concern, anxiety, emotional withdrawal, blunted affect, and motor retardation on both physicians' and nurses' ratings. A high association between akinesia and both objectively rated and subjectively experienced sedative effect indicates that an 'akinetic depression' is not likely if the patient does not look or feel drowsy. The 32 nonakinetic patients also became less psychotic, but not more depressed.     

Next move for Hungary

After 40 years of communism, Hungary is a tired nation. But now an enormous task faces its government; bringing its antiquated healthcare system into line with those of western Europe. Annabelle May reports from a conference in Budapest.     

A comprehensive local program for the prevention of fetal alcohol syndrome

A hospital based, comprehensive approach to the prevention of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Effects that combines clinical assessment, community outreach, and epidemiologic knowledge to attack alcohol-related birth defects is described. The program includes training of clinicians and members of the community, baseline screening of suspected children, and alcohol consumption screening of pregnant women in prenatal clinics. The major, although not exclusive, focus of the program is on tertiary prevention undertaken with women defined as "high risk" for producing alcohol affected children. Of the 48 women referred to the program at the Tuba City, AZ, Indian Medical Center between January 1988 and July 1989, 39 (81 percent) became participants. Complete followup was possible on 31; 17 of them reported alcohol abstinence in July 1989, 18 months into the program. Of the 29 referred women who were pregnant at the time, 21 agreed to participate; of these, 19 (85.7 percent) were abstinent by the third trimester of pregnancy; 5 voluntarily accepted offers of contraceptive measures after the birth of their child.     

Assessment of electric differential treatment (EDiT) and Endosan treatment for ovarian cysts and concomitant symptoms

The mechanisms of action and clinical applications of electric differential treatment (EDiT) and Endosan in the treatment of ovarian cysts and concomitant symptoms are reviewed. Possible mechanisms of action include an increased level of cyclic AMP, stimulation of endorphin release, anti-inflammatory action, and steroidogenesis resulting from normalization of intercellular communication. Favorable results in the clinical setting were achieved in the treatment of ovarian cysts. Treatment success was reflected in a significant reduction in overall cyst size as well as amelioration of various concomitant symptoms, including fever, chills, inflammation, and abdominal pain. EDiT and Endosan were shown to have potent analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. No adverse effects have been reported.     

Knochenheilung und dynamischer Interferenzstrom (DIC). —Erste vergleichende tierexperimentelle Studie an Schafen Teil II: Physikalische und chemische Ergebnisse

Zusammenfassung Zusätzlich wurden physikalische und chemische Untersuchungen über den Einfluß von dynamischem Interferenzstrom (DIC) auf die Knochenheilung durchgeführt, nachdem bei 24 Schwarzkopfschafen eine Querosteotomie des Radius vorgenommen worden war. Nach instabiler Osteosynthese wurde die Osteotomiezone wiederholt mit DIC verschiedener mA—Stärken behandelt. (Methodische Einzelheiten sind in Teil I beschrieben). Die Behandlung mit dynamischem Interferenzstrom führte im behandelten Gewebe zu steigenden Temperaturen, die von den mA—Stärken abhängig waren. Weiterhin wurden Zusammenhänge zwischen DIC—mA—Intensität und dem Vorkommen von Hydroxyprolin, einer kollagenspezifischen Aminosäure, nachgewiesen, welches eine erhöhte Calcifizierungsaktivität zur Folge hatte. Messungen des Calcium— und Phosphorgehaltes im neugebildeten Knochengewebe wiesen bei den mit DIC behandelten Tieren vollständige Mineralisation zu einem viel früheren Zeitpunkt als bei den unbehandelten, nach gleichem Verfahren operierten Kontrolltieren auf. Ob DIC einen spezifischen Reiz auf die Knochenneubildung heilender Knochen ausübt, ist noch nicht vollständig geklärt.

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Bone healing and Dynamic Interferential Current (DIC)

Summary In the course of supplementary physical and chemical investigations of the influence ofDynamicInterferential Current (DIC) on bone healing 24 black-head sheep were subjected to transversal osteotomy of the radius. After an instable osteosynthesis the site was exposed to repeated therapy with DIC of varying mA intensity. (Methodological details are described in part 1.) DIC therapy resulted in altering the temperatures in the treated tissue, dependent on the mA intensity. Further associations were verified between DIC intensity and the occurrence of hydroxyprolin, an amino acid specific collagen, which also reflected increased calcifying activity. Measurements of the calcium and phosphorus levels in the regenerated (newly forming) bone tissue documented full mineralization in the DIC-treated animals at a much earlier date than in the untreated controls that had undergone similar operations. Whether DIC specifically stimulates osteogenesis within healing bones is still unclear.