Effects of d-amphetamine on human aggressive behavior

Male research subjects were administered placebo and three doses of d-amphetamine (5, 10 and 20 mg/70 kg) in a laboratory situation which provided both aggressive and non-aggressive response options. The non-aggressive response was button pressing maintained by presentation of points exchangeable for money at the end of the session. The aggressive response was button pressing on a separate manipulanda which ostensibly subtracted points from a fictitious partner. Aggressive responding was elicited by subtracting points from the research subjects which was attributed to the fictitious partner. d-Amphetamine increased both aggressive and non-aggressive responding, particularly at 5 and 10 mg/70 kg. At the highest dose (20 mg/70 kg), aggressive responding decreased to levels similar to those observed during placebo sessions, while monetary reinforced responding remained elevated.     

DRAINAGE OF THE THORACIC DUCT IN EXPERIMENTAL PERITONITIS

1. When care is taken to produce a peritonitis, which in itself is almost uniformly fatal, drainage of the thoracic duct in dogs has no favorable influence upon the course or result of the peritonitis. 2. Under the conditions of my experiments the thoracic duct did not serve in any important way as a drainage tract for bacterial contamination of the peritoneal cavity.     

Therapeutic studies in NZB/W mice. I. Synergy of azathioprine,cyclophosphamide and methylprednisolone in combination

This study compares different immunosuppressive regimens in the treatment of the lupus-like nephritis of NZB/W mice. Groups of 5-month-old female NZB/W mice were given azathioprine, cyclophosphamide and methylprednisolone in all one-, two- and three-drug regimens, each drug in the relatively low dose of 1.5 mg/kg/day. Treatment for 3 months with one or two drugs resulted in modest suppression of NZB/W disease. Mice receiving all three drugs had significantly less proteinuria, lower titers of anti-DNA antibody and less severe, histologically evident renal involvement than mice treated with one or two drugs. Survival at 1 year was 10% for untreated controls, 44% for one-drug-treated, 37% for two-drug-treated and 86% for the three-drug-treated mice. The survival for the three-drug regimen was significantly longer than any other group (P < 0.01). The three-drug regimen was synergistic, since mice treated with each drug at three times the dose had significantly more proteinuria after 3 months of treatment and lowered 1 year survival (33%). The beneficial effects of triple-drug therapy were attained without increased toxicity. This study represents the first controlled evaluation of single versus combination therapy in a model of autoimmune disease. Based on these results, a controlled evaluation of triple-drug therapy in human systemic lupus erythematosus appears warranted.     

Increased spontaneous activity of antibody-forming cells in the peripheral blood of patients with active sle

Thirty-seven patients with criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and 18 normal controls were studied for their spontaneous background IgM antibody plaque-forming cell number to specific chemical haptens. Active SLE patients had significantly more plaque-forming cells in their peripheral blood to a total of five chemical determinants than did patients with inactive disease or controls. This increased number of plaque forming-cells correlated with depressed serum C3 levels by Spearman rank-order analysis. The finding of elevated numbers of spontaneous IgM plaque-forming cells to defined chemical haptens supports the concept that active SLE demonstrates a generalized increase in B-cell activity toward a variety of antigens.     

早期清创缝合后不使用抗生素的临床分析

目的研究早期清创缝合后不预防性地使用抗生素对创口的影响。方法我科自2004年1月至2005年6月有选择性地对50例皮肤软组织挫裂伤进行了急诊清创缝合,术后未给予抗生素,并连续观察伤口的变化。结果本组所有伤口均未发生感染。结论早期清创及规范的清创缝合术后可以不必预防性地使用抗生素。     

Mechanical endothelial damage results in basic fibroblast growth factor-mediated activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases.

BACKGROUND: Endothelial damage, such as that associated with balloon angioplasty or preparation of veins for bypass grafts, results in intimal hyperplasia. Growth factors and cytokines that modulate endothelial cell functions through various intracellular signaling pathways mediate rapid endothelial repair, which may prevent or reduce restenosis. Here we investigated the effect of mechanical injury of endothelial cells on the mitogen-activated kinase signaling pathways, extracellular-signal-regulated kinases (ERKs), C-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK/SAPK), and p38. METHODS: Confluent human umbilical vein endothelial cells or bovine aortic endothelial cells were wounded with a razor blade; mitogen-activated kinase activation was monitored by immunoblotting with antibodies to active ERK, JNK/SAPK, or p38. RESULTS: Wounding of human umbilical vein endothelial cell or bovine aortic endothelial cell monolayers resulted in rapid (5-minute) activation of ERK-1 and -2, which was abolished by monoclonal antibody to basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2). This antibody or an inhibitor of ERK activation, PD98059, also blocked endothelial cell migration after the wounding. Thus FGF-2-induced ERK activation mediates the endothelial response to wounding. CONCLUSIONS: ERK-1 and -2 are activated by FGF-2 released from endothelial cells in response to injury. Therapeutic strategies aimed at reducing FGF-2-induced intimal hyperplasia should preserve ERK activation in endothelial cells while abolishing it in smooth muscle cells.     

Study of thymic factors. II. Failure of thymosin to alter the natural history of nzb and nzb/nzw mice

The effects of daily injections of thymosin, bovine fraction V, on the natural history of NZB and NZB/NZW F₁ mice were investigated. With the use of several dose schedules, no significant differences were discovered in treated versus control groups when survival, autoantibodies, and mitogen responsiveness were compared. These results provide further evidence that thymosin may have little or no role in the treatment of the autoimmune disease of New Zealand mice. More encouraging research in thymic extracts and their measurement is necessary before clinical trials in SLE are considered.     

Roland Kuhn—100th Birthday of an Innovator of Clinical Psychopharmacology

On the occasion of his 100th birthday this letter is to pay tribute to Swiss psychiatrist and psychopharmacologist Roland Kuhn (1912–2005), who established the antidepressant effects of imipramine starting in 1956. Since until now only monoaminergic-based antidepressants such as this substance found their way into psychopharmacological therapy, one can say that Kuhn established the lead antidepressant substance and has hence fundamentally changed clinical psychiatry and care for the mentally ill.