Behavioural, physiological and immunological consequences of social status and aggression in chronically coexisting resident-intruder dyads of male rats

The behavioural and physiological consequences of social status and reciprocal fighting in resident-intruder dyads of Long Evans male rats were evaluated. Before a chronic cohabitation of 10 days, residents and intruders were individually housed for one month to increase their aggressiveness. Control animals included isolates, i.e., animals kept individually housed throughout the experiment and pair-housed rats, i.e., pairs of rats housed together from their rats in the laboratory. In 19 out of 20 dyads, a clear dominance relationship developed with an advantage to the resident in 68% of the cases. Dominants showed more exploratory activity than subordinates in a open-field test at the end of the cohabitation period; subordinates groomed longer than animals from other experimental groups. Dominants had lower pain thresholds than individually and pair-housed animals. Both dominants and subordinates had higher tyrosine hydroxylase enzymatic activities in the left adrenal than isolated and pair-housed rats. Subordinates lost body weight and had higher plasma corticosteroid concentrations than animals from the other experimental groups. In addition, they had smaller thymus glands and reduced spleen lymphocyte responses to mitogenic stimulation in vitro, in comparison to dominant animals. These results show that subordination in the dyadic resident-intruder paradigm leads to a complex syndrome of behavioural and physiological changes, some of which may be modulated by the intensity of aggressive interactions.     

Reversible pathologic jealousy (Othello syndrome) associated with amantadine

We describe a case of pathologic jealousy (Othello syndrome) in a patient with Parkinson disease, which abated after discontinuing amantadine. We indicate that early recognition and treatment of the syndrome in this disease may avert physical violence. We also believe that our report further suggests a link between this specific behavioral disorder and dopaminergic activity.     

Chronic treatment with scopolamine and physostigmine changes nerve growth factor (NGF) receptor density and NGF content in rat brain

Nerve growth factor (NGF) and NGF receptors were measured in cortex and hippocampus of rats treated with drugs affecting cholinergic neurotransmission. High (K_d= 0.045nM) and low (K_d= 21nM) affinity¹²⁵I-NGF binding sites were present in both cortical and hippocampal membranes with hippocampus containing higher numbers of both sites than cortex. Chronic treatment of rats with the muscarinic receptor antagonist scopolamine (5 mg/kg, twice daily) decreased the density of high- and low-affinity sites by 50–90% in cortical and hippocampal membranes. These changes were seen after 7 days, but not 3 days, of scopolamine treatment. Chronic infusion of physostigmine (1 mg/kg/day) using minipumps increased the number of high- and low-affinity sites in cortex 3- and 6-fold, respectively. The changes in receptor-binding parameters induced by physostigmine were transient as they were evident after 3 days of treatment, but returned to control levels after 7 days. NGF content in cortex and hippocampus was reduced by about 50% following 7, but not 3, days of chronic physostigmine infusion. In contrast, scopolamine treatment failed to change NGF levels in the cholinergic neuronal target regions but it decreased NGF content in the septal area. The content of NGF mRNA in the cortex measured by Northern blot analysis failed to change following either scopolamine or physostigmine treatment. The results suggest that levels of NGF and NGF receptors in the target regions of cholinergic neurons are regulated by the extent of cholinergic neurotransmitter activity.     

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.     

A problem-solving approach to group psychotherapy in the inpatient milieu

Because of the trend toward a marked decrease in length of psychiatric hospitalization, clinicians need to improve the organization of the therapeutic milieu so that behavioral changes can be effected more rapidly. A university general psychiatric unit has adapted a problem-solving model that integrates groups and activities so that each one focuses on complementary behavioral objectives for each patient with the aim of effecting more rapid behavior change. The stages of the model are incorporated in a weekly sequence that begins with a goal-setting group. In a series of subsequent groups, each patient tries to develop and implement a solution to the problem identified that week. At the end of each week, patients participate in a goal review group, with feedback from staff and peers and self-reinforcement. The model can be used with a diverse patient population without interfering with each patient's individual psychotherapy or pharmacotherapy.     

Rapid, competitive enzymoimmunoassay for albumin in urine

In this solid-phase competitive enzymoimmunoassay for albumin in human urine, antiserum to human serum albumin labeled with horseradish peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.7) is incubated with solid-phase-bound human serum albumin in the presence of sample or standard. Results obtained correlate well (r = 0.96) with those of an established fluoroimmunoassay. The present assay covers the range 0.9 to 200 mg/L and can be performed within 1 h. These characteristics, together with the simplicity of the assay protocol, make it very useful for monitoring low concentrations of albumin in urine. Detection of such minimal albuminuria allows initiation of therapy that may prevent development of clinical proteinuria and associated diabetic nephropathy.     

Der Einsatz des Prophy-Jet®-Gerätes zur Schmelzpolitur nach der Bracketentfernung

Zusammenfassung In einer In-vitro-Studie wurde die Einsatzfähigkeit des Prophy-Jet-^®-Gerätes für die Schmelzpolitur nach Bracketentfernung untersucht. In die Studie wurden drei verschieden stark gefüllte orthodontische Kleber einbezogen: Concise^®, Genie^® und Mono Lok^®. Alle Proben wurden rasterelektronenoptisch untersucht und fotografisch dokumentiert in Vergrößerungen zwischen 20- und 10 000fach. Die Oberflächenanalyse ergab, daß das Prophy-Jet^®-Gerät allein zur Schmelzpolitur nach Bracketentfernung nicht ausreicht, um unter klinisch vertretbarem Zeitaufwand (1 Minute/Zahn) eine kunststofffreie Schmelzoberfläche zu erzielen. Nach konventioneller makroskopischer Vorreinigung mit Scalern oder rotierenden Hartmetallfinierern zeigten sich nach fünfsekündiger Prophy-Jet^®-Bestrahlung noch geringe Kleberreste. Nach zehnsekündiger Expositionsdauer waren beim Mono Lok^®-Adhäsiv keine Kleberreste mehr nachweisbar, beim Concise^®-bzw. Genie^®-Adhäsiv fanden sich noch vereinzelte geringe Kleberinseln. Das Prophy-Jet^®-Gerät erscheint zur Unterstützung der Schmelzpolitur nach Bracketentfernung sinnvoll; eine sorgfältige Vorreinigung mit Hand- oder rotierenden Instrumenten ist jedoch erforderlich, um eine weitgehende Adhäsivreduktion zu erreichen. Die konventionelle Gummi- und Bimssteinpolitur kann nach 20sekündiger Prophy-Jet^®-Bestrahlung entfallen.

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Summary The purpose of this in vitro investigation was to ascertain the effects of the Prophy-Jet^® air-powder abrasive system for enamel polishing after debonding. Three adhesives differing in filler content were included in this study: Concise^®, Genie^®, and Mono Lok^®. All specimens were examined by scanning electron microscopy and documented photographically at magnifications from 20 to 10 000. Surface analysis showed that using the Prophy-Jet^® exclusively is not sufficient to produce a clean and smooth enamel surface without residual adhesive after debonding and after one minute of exposure time, as might be justifiable in a clinical situation. After macroscopic conventional clean-up with scalers or rotary finishing instruments and five seconds of exposure time to the Prophy-Jet^® some occasional adhesive remnants could be located. After ten seconds of Prophy-Jet^® treatment all Mono Lok^®-adhesive was removed from the enamel surface; in the Concise^® and Genie^®-group few isolated adhesive remnants could be detected. The Prophy-Jet^® air-powder abrasive system was found to be efficient in supporting enamel polishing after debonding; but an accurate pretreatment with scalers or rotary finishing instruments is essential to achieve an extensive reduction of adhesive. Final polishing of the enamel surface with rubber wheels or prophy cup and pumice can be omitted after treatment with the Prophy-Jet^® for 20 seconds.

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Résumé Le but de ce travail était d'éxaminer à l'aide d'une étude in vitro, l'emploi du Prophy Jet^® pour le polissage de l'émail après l'arrachage des brackets. Dans l'étude on a analysé trois substances adhésives différentes: Concise^®, Genie^® et Mono Lok^®. Après avoir examiné les spécimens par le microscope électronique à balayage, on les a documentés à l'aide de photos d'un grossissement de 20 à 10 000. L'analyse de la surface montre que la seule application du Prophy Jet^® (après l'arrachage des brackets) ne suffit pas pour obtenir une surface d'émail sans substance adhésive en un temps clinique d'une minute par dent. Après prétraitement macroscopique selon la méthode conventionnelle (scaler ou instruments montés sur tour) il demeurait encore de petits restes de la substance adhésive après l'application du Prophy Jet^® pendant cinq secondes. Après une durée d'application de dix secondes, on ne pouvait pas déceler de restes de Mono Lok^®, tandis qu'il y avait sporadiquement des restes de Concise^® et Genie^®. Ces résultats indiquent, que le Prophy Jet^® est efficace pour le polissage de l'émail après l'arrachage des brackets, mais on a tout de même besoin d'un nettoyage précédent minutieux avec des instruments convenables (scaler ou instruments montés sur le tour) pour obtenir une réduction considérable de la substance adhésive. On peut renoncer au polissage conventionnel à l'aide de caoutchouc ou de la pierre ponce après l'application du Prophy Jet^® pendant 20 secondes.

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Vortrag auf der wissenschaftlichen Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Kieferorthopädie 1985.