Behavioral state-specific changes in human hippocampal theta activity

Although there has been extensive examination of the behavioral and physiologic correlates of hippocampal theta activity in animals, the human literature consists of a single case study. We investigated the differential effects of four behavioral states on human hippocampal theta activity in 16 epilepsy surgery patients. Behavioral conditions included resting eyes closed (RC), resting eyes open (RO), eyes open with auditory word activation (AW), and eyes open with visuospatial activation (VS). Hippocampal theta activity decreased during both RO and VS compared to both RC and AW. There were reciprocal changes in delta activity. Comparisons of RO to VS and of RC to AW were nonsignificant. The results demonstrate state-specific changes in human hippocampal theta and are consistent with the animal literature that relates hippocampal theta to sensorimotor integration and forebrain volitional mechanisms.     

Oral health of individuals aged 3-80 years in J?nk?ping, Sweden in 1973 and 1983. I. A review of findings on dental care habits and knowledge of oral health

The aim of the present study was to present data from dental care habits and knowledge of oral health in two cross-sectional studies carried out in 1973 and 1983. A random sample of approximately 1000 individuals evenly distributed in the age groups 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70 years was studied for each of these two years. In the 1983-year examination 80 individuals 80 years of age were also included. All subjects were inhabitants of the community of J?nk?ping, Sweden. A questionnaire about dental care habits and knowledge was used in combination with a clinical and radiographical examination. The participants answered 23-101 questions. The same questions were raised in 1973 and 1983. For most age groups more then 80 per cent visited a dentist yearly in 1983. This yearly attendance was higher than that for 1973. In the 20-year-old group 14 per cent of the individuals received dental care in the PDS in 1973 compared to 63 per cent in 1983. The main reason to visit a dentist in 1973 was by the patient's own initiative while in 1983 the appointments were based on the dentist's initiative. The number of subjects that felt discomfort in connection with a visit to the dentist had decreased between 1973 and 1983. Knowledge about the etiology of caries had increased between 1973 and 1983 was not the case for gingivitis and periodontitis. An increase had occurred in toothbrushing frequency and the use of toothpicks and disclosing tablets but this between 1973 and 1983. In 1983, 98 to 93 per cent of the subjects in the age groups 10-30 years had been exposed to topical fluorides. The corresponding figure for 30-year-olds in 1973 was 1 per cent. It is obvious that during the period 1973 to 1983 there has been an increase in dental attendance, knowledge of dental diseases, oral health and the use of preventive measures.     

Diencephalic catecholamine neurons (A-11, A-12, A-13, A-14) show divergent changes in the aged rat

The effects of aging on diencephalic (A-11, A-12, A-13, A-14) catecholamine neurons in the F344 male rat were examined with Falck-Hill?rp histofluorescence. In contrast to the age-related increase in A-12 perikaryal fluorescence intensity previously reported (Hoffman and Sladek: Neurobiol. Aging 1:27-37, '80), incertohypothalamic perikarya showed decreased (A-13) or unchanged (A-11, A-14) fluorescence intensity with age. Cell counts of fluorescent A-12 perikarya disclosed a 47% increase in the number of fluorescent A-12 neurons in 30-month-old F344 rats relative to the 3-month-old controls; numbers of A-11 and A-13 fluorescent perikarya decreased with age, but the declines were not statistically significant. It is unlikely that the age-related increase in number of fluorescent A-12 perikarya is the result of proliferation of neurons in the aged F344 rat. Rather, the greater number of fluorescent A-12 perikarya in 30-month-old F344 rats indicates that some A-12 neurons in 3-month-old F344 rats contain levels of dopamine that are subthreshold for detection with the Falck-Hill?rp fluorescence technique, whereas virtually all A-12 perikarya in 30-month-old F344 rats contain detectable quantities of dopamine. These findings suggest that diencephalic catecholamine neurons exhibit divergent changes in transmitter content and cell number that may reflect varying degrees of functional integrity during brain aging.     

Experimental assessments of behavioral and anatomical components of female chacma baboon (Papio ursinus) sexual attractiveness

Two experiments were carried out in order to separate the effects of the behavioral and the anatomical components of female sexual attractiveness in baboons. In the first experiment, two ovariectomized females were given increasing dosages of exogenous estradiol benzoate, and data were collected on their behavior as well as on male sexual arousal as assessed by the occurrence of coagulated seminal emissions of the type that result from masturbation. Male sexual arousal levels increased positively with the females' perineal swellings and appeared relatively unrelated to the females' behavior. In the second experiment, data were collected from five different groups of males in a systematic fashion across the period of a full menstrual cycle for their varied stimulus female partners. Behavior observations were carried out on the five different stimulus females, and ratings also were made of fluctuations in their perineal tumescence. The results of this experiment make it clear that male sexual arousal fluctuated across the study cycles in a fashion very similar to that of the perineal swellings of the stimulus females. Behavior was shown during all phases of the cycle, and, although it may have had a positive influence on male arousal during the follicular phase of the female's cycle, it had no apparent effect during the luteal phase. These results taken together establish for the first time that an estrogen stimulated female perineum per se has the potential to sexually arouse the male baboon. In addition, the data suggest that, although behavior may exert a positive effect on male arousal, in the absence of an estrogen stimulated perineum it is not sufficient to arouse males to masturbate. Finally the results establish that, although intact females appear to show behavior increases which may be arousing to males around the time of ovulation, these behaviors do not have to be shown by a female in order to arouse a male, provided she is swollen.     

Absence of antibody production in patients treated with botulinum A toxin

To test the possibility of the formation of an antibody to botulinum A toxin after multiple injections of this potent neurotoxin, we collected serum samples from 28 patients who received 57 doses. These injections over a nine-month period with as much as 50 units per injection formed no detectable antibody.     

Oxidative metabolism of lung macrophages exposed to sodium arsenite

Arsenic pollution has become increasingly severe. It occurs as the result of geological processes and different human activities. Arsenic toxicity at the respiratory level occurs mainly by inhalation of products of coal combustion. The aim of this study was to evaluate sodium arsenite (As³⁺) toxicity in murine alveolar macrophages (AMs) in vitro and its association with the alterations in cell metabolism.

No changes in viability, apoptosis or cell area were detected in AMs treated with As³⁺ concentrations up to 2 μM for 24–96 h. A marked decrease in these end-points was observed for As³⁺ concentrations ranging from 2.5 μM to 10 μM.

Regarding the dynamics of the endo-exocytic process triggered by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) cell incorporation, no variations were detected for As³⁺ concentrations lower than 2 μM while higher concentrations markedly modified this response.

MTT specific activity, as a measure of cell metabolic activity, was not modified irrespective of the As³⁺ concentration assayed. However, nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) specific activity, as a measure of superoxide anion generation, is responsive but only to low As³⁺ doses.

Although this study focuses on lung macrophages, the effects of As³⁺ described herein may also apply to the response of macrophages residing in other organs.

Arsenite modifies the metabolic and the oxidative status of AMs in vitro. When macrophages are in an As³⁺ rich medium, they exhibit a reduction in respiratory burst levels and lose their intrinsic capacity to respond to toxicants.