Lithium treatment of chronic hair pulling

Ten patients with chronic hair pulling received trials of lithium carbonate of 2 to 14 months' duration. Eight patients demonstrated decreased hair pulling and mild to marked hair regrowth. Three responders experienced increased hair pulling subsequent to discontinuation of lithium treatment. Lithium's effect on hair pulling may be related to its observed benefits in treating aggressivity, impulsivity, and mood instability.     

Experimental isovolemic haemodilution-induced augmentation of carotid blood flow and oxygen transport through graded carotid stenoses.

The effect of haemodilution without volume expansion (isovolemic haemodilution) was assessed with respect to blood flow and oxygen transport across stenotic lesions of progressive severity in the dog carotid artery. As the mean haematocrit (Hct) was reduced from 40 +/- 1% (+/- SEM) to 32 +/- 0% (p less than 0.001), reductions in vascular resistance were significant across the 90% (p less than 0.001) and 95% (p less than 0.0003) relative carotid stenoses. Isovolemic haemodilution reduced fresh blood viscosity significantly by 27 +/- 3% (p less than 0.001) and 42 +/- 4% (p less than 0.001) at the low shear rates of 10 sec-1 and 1 sec-1 which are typical of low-flow states. Following a 20% reduction in Hct 30 to 35% increase (p less 0.001) in carotid blood flow occurred at non-critical degrees of stenosis while a mean 83% increase (p less than 0.001) occurred at the highly critical 95% relative stenosis. Oxygen transport after a 22% decrease in blood haemoglobin was significantly increased by 28% (p less than 0.01) at the 95% relative stenosis level. These data provide a physiologic rationale for the beneficial effects of haemodilution in acute cerebral ischaemia, cerebral vasospasm and cerebral revascularization or carotid endarterectomy.     

Spectral analysis of the electroencephalogram in neonatal rats chronically treated with the NMDA antagonist MK-801.

In order to study the involvement of NMDA-receptor activation in brain development, rat pups were chronically treated with the non-competitive NMDA antagonist MK-801 during the neonatal period. We recorded the cortical EEG at various vigilance states throughout the treatment period. Spectral analysis of the EEG showed reduced power in the delta (delta) frequency range (1.5-4 Hz) during quiet sleep and less power in the theta (theta) range (4-7 Hz) during REM-sleep in MK-801 animals than in controls. No significant differences were found for the total time spent in each of the different vigilance states. We conclude that chronic MK-801 treatment probably causes a developmental retardation in state-related brain activities.     

The function of neutrophils in dermatoses]

A total of 102 patients were examined, 32 of these with true eczema, 38 with exudative mycosis of the soles, and 32 with eczema etiologically related to a fungal infection. Analysis of the immune and biochemical reactions in the examinees has shown a marked reduction of adenyl nucleotides in the leukocytic suspension and neutrophils of patients with a mycotic infection as against those with true eczema. The lowest creatine phosphate levels were detected in the leukocytic suspension and neutrophils of the patients suffering from eczema etiologically related to mycosis and exudative mycosis of the soles. These results give grounds to search for effective corrective therapy.     

Is pregnancy the best treatment for hyperprolactinaemia?

This paper reports the changes in prolactin levels after 12 spontaneous and 52 induced pregnancies in 54 women with unambiguous hyperprolactinaemia (median plasma prolactin levels 67.5 ng/ml, range 40-400). Twenty-three of the patients showed radiological evidence of prolactinoma. The pregnancies were induced in 37 patients by bromocriptine, in nine by metergoline, in two by lisuride and in four by other treatments. Of the 64 pregnancies, 16 ended in spontaneous abortion, while 48 went to term. Follow-up was continued for at least 6 months after delivery or until the end of lactation. In a control group of 32 hyperprolactinaemic women (median prolactin 70 ng/ml, range 40-400) not wishing to become pregnant, prolactin changes were similarly registered over a mean period of 15 months without any treatment (range 6-38 months). After pregnancy, a significant downward trend of plasma prolactin was observed in the puerperal women with a 'normalization' rate of 17%. No changes were observed in the 32 controls who did not become pregnant.     

Plasma tumor necrosis factor and mortality in critically ill septic patients

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) cachectin has been implicated as an important host mediator responsible for shock and multiple organ failure (MOF) observed during sepsis. Using a sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, we measured plasma TNF levels in 43 septic patients suffering from a broad range of diseases. Measurements were taken on the day that sepsis was diagnosed. Eleven patients had detectable TNF plasma levels ranging from 10 to 100 pg/ml (TNF-positive group); in 32 patients circulating TNF could not be detected (TNF-negative group). The groups did not differ significantly as to age, underlying disease, percentage positive bacteremia and bacteriologic profile, sepsis score, and extent of MOF. Eight (73%) of 11 TNF-positive patients died from sepsis during ICU stay, vs. 11 (34%) of 32 TNF-negative patients (p less than .05). This study demonstrates that sepsis is accompanied by detectable circulating TNF in 25% of the cases, and for these patients mortality is twice that for comparable TNF-negative patients.     

Ultrastructural investigation of substance P-, leucine-enkephalin- and 5-hydroxytryptamine-like immunoreactive terminals in the area of cremaster motoneurons of the male rat

Studies were made on whether substance P-, leucine-enkephalin- and 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin)-like immunoreactive fibers exert a direct influence on the cremaster motoneurons of the male rat by immunocytochemistry combined with retrograde tracing at the light- and electron-microscopic levels. Horseradish peroxidase was used as a retrograde tracer. Two days after injection of horseradish peroxidase into the genitofemoral nerves, its accumulation in the cremaster motoneurons was demonstrated by the diaminobenzidine-nickel method. On immunocytochemical examination of the same sections immunoreactive end-products were detected by the peroxidase-antiperoxidase method. Two different kinds of reaction products were distinguishable at both the light- and electron-microscopical levels. The horseradish peroxidase-labeled cremaster motoneurons at the L1 and L2 levels of the spinal cord were surrounded by abundant immunoreactive terminals. Examination at the ultrastructural level showed that substance P-like immunoreactive terminals formed synaptic contacts almost exclusively with the proximal dendrites of these horseradish peroxidase-labeled cremaster motoneurons. On the other hand, in the leucine-enkephalin- and serotonin-like boutons, significant numbers of axosomatic contacts with horseradish peroxidase-labeled cells were seen although axodendritic contacts with horseradish peroxidase-labeled cells were predominant. Occasionally, leucine-enkephalin-like immunoreactive fibers with synapses on horseradish peroxidase-labeled neurons formed axoaxonic contacts with other leucine-enkephalin-like axonal terminals. Thus, substance P-, leucine-enkephalin- and serotonin-like fibers clearly regulate the function of cremaster motoneurons monosynaptically. The varied synaptic contacts of these fibers according to the neuroactive substances involved suggest different actions of these substances on the cremaster motoneurons.