Histamine and selective H3-receptor ligands: a possible role in the mechanism and management of epilepsy.

The interaction of selective histamine H3-receptor agonist R(alpha)-methyl-histamine (RAMH) and antagonist thioperamide (THP) with some antiepileptic drugs [AED; phenytoin (PHT), carbamazepine (CBZ), sodium valproate (SVP), and gabapentin (GBP)] was studied on seizures induced by maximal electroshock (MES) and pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) in mice. It was found that subeffective dose of THP in combination with the subeffective doses of PHT and GBP provided protection against MES and/or PTZ-induced seizures. Further, RAMH reversed the protection afforded by either PHT or GBP on MES and/or PTZ seizures. In another set of experiments, the histamine content was measured in the whole brain and in different brain regions including cerebral cortex, hypothalamus, brain stem and cerebellum following convulsant (MES and PTZ) and AED treatment. It was seen that while MES exhibited a tendency to enhance brain histamine levels, PTZ showed the opposite effect. AEDs either increased (PHT and GBP) or decreased (SVP) brain histamine content in different regions to varying degrees. The results indicate a role for histamine in seizures and in the action of AEDs and suggest that selective H3-receptor antagonists may prove to be of value as adjuncts to conventional AEDs.     

Poor results of anterior cruciate ligament repair in adolescence

Eight adolescents were followed 3-8 years after primary suture of a substance rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament. Only 3 patients had good function, and 5 were unstable. We conclude that the Palmer-Marshall technique should not be used in children and adolescents.     

Public awareness and acceptance of an HIV/AIDS information campaign in Norway

Public acceptance and awareness of an HIV/AIDS information campaignin Norway were studied using empirical data from a nationwideinterview survey (N = 1066) of adult Norwegians aged 15 yearsand above. ‘The condom campaign’ was a $100 000campaign displayed on billboards, posters and postcards throughoutNorway. A total of 60% of the population accepted this kindof sexual information and 70% had noticed it. The most importantpredictors of acceptance were in rank order: education, politicalpreference, age, interpersonal communication and geographicregion, and these factors explained 16% of the variance. Themost important predictors of awareness of the campaign were:acceptance, age, education, interpersonal communication andurbanization, explaining 16% of the variance in awareness. Acceptanceof the campaign corresponds closely to the religious-moralisticaxis in Norwegian politics, and seems to influence the awarenessof the campaign through a personal process related either toselective or voluntary exposure. Personal relevance and discussionwith friends and family influence awareness. Thus, personalrelevance and communication utility seem to be important inthe communication of HIV/AIDS information to the public.     

Preferential loss of maternal alleles in sporadic Wilms' tumour

Loss of heterozygosity at loci on the short arm of chromosome 11 has been reported in 31% (11/38) of Wilms' tumours in our series. Lymphoblastoid cell lines were prepared from the parents of 10/11 of the patients showing allele loss in their tumours. In 9 of the cases, where the parental origin of the alleles could be followed, it was the paternal alleles which were retained in the tumour. This preferential loss of the maternal alleles implies a role for genomic imprinting in the pathogenesis of Wilms' tumour.