Gender differences in brain volume and size of corpus callosum and amygdala of rhesus monkey measured from MRI images

While it has been established that the weight of the female rhesus monkey brain is less than that of the male, the sexual dimorphism of specific brain structures has not been well-documented. To further understand potential sex differences, we measured the whole brain volume and the size of the corpus callosum (mid-sagittal) and amygdala (largest coronal section) in MRI images from juvenile to adult male and female rhesus monkeys between 8 months and 7.2 years of age. The mean volume of the male brain was 89.2 +/- 1.9 (S.E.M.) compared to the female brain volume of 70.8 +/- 0.72 cm3. The average area of the corpus callosum increased from 8 months to 4.5 years; 0.56 to 0.93 cm2 in males and 0.45 to 0.66 cm2 in females. However, the average area of splenium is significantly greater in females (0.280 cm2), than males (0.184 cm2). The average area of the amygdala did not change with age; it was 1.07 +/- 0.037 (S.E.M.) in males and 1.08 +/- 0.022 cm2 in females. This data suggests that the whole brain volume and the size of the entire corpus callosum of young adult female rhesus monkeys are approximately 20% smaller than those of young adult males. Interestingly, the area of the splenial portion of the corpus callosum is larger in female monkeys. The size of the amygdala showed no sex difference.     

Quantitative evaluation of four 99Tcm colloids for bone marrow scintigraphy using single photon emission computed tomography

Colloids used for bone marrow scintigraphy are also taken up in the liver and spleen. The liver activity in particular hampers interpretation of the study. In this study, four small-sized commercial colloids labelled with 99Tcm were compared for bone marrow uptake relative to the liver, spleen and background activity. Three human albumin colloids (Microlite, E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co; Solco Nanocoll, Solco Nuclear; TCK-9, International CIS) and one antimony sulphide colloid (TechneScan Sb2S3, Mallinckrodt Diagnostics) were compared. The study was performed in patients routinely referred for liver/spleen scintigraphy who had a normal result. Each examination was carried out using single photon emission computed tomography. After correction for attenuation and scattering of photons, the activity of the bone marrow of the lumbar spine was related to the liver, spleen and background activity. The bone marrow/liver activity quotient of Solco Nanocoll and TCK-9 was almost twice the value for Microlite and TechneScan Sb2S3. The bone marrow/spleen quotient was almost four times higher and the bone marrow/background quotient almost twice as high for Solco Nanocoll as for the other three colloids, between which there were no significant differences.     

A collaborative day treatment program for chronic patients in adult homes.

Three agencies providing services for the Nassau County (N.Y.) Department of Mental Health initiated a pilot program to provide comprehensive day treatment services to chronic psychiatric patients living in adult homes in Long Beach, New York. After screening, the clients are assigned to the regular day program of one of the centers. Two buses transport the clients to and from the centers, and a paraprofessional is assigned to each bus to encourage group discussion and interaction. The sponsoring agencies found that the original expectations for rehabilitating the clients were unrealistic. However, while clinical symptomatology was not altered, many of the clients manifested improved social behavior as the result of training in social and daily-living skills, and rates of rehospitalization were substantially reduced.     

Acute stress-induced increases in thalamic CRH mRNA are blocked by repeated stress exposure

Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) coordinates multiple aspects of the stress response. Recently, CRH mRNA has been identified in two regions of the thalamus: the posterior nuclear group (Po), and a region located at the interface of the central medial and ventral posteromedial nucleus (parvicellular part) (CM-VPMpc). Previous studies demonstrated that in both regions CRH mRNA increases following 1 h of restraint stress, suggesting involvement of thalamic CRH in processing somatosensory and visceral information related to stress. The current study was proposed to further understand the effects of repeated and acute restraint stress on levels of thalamic CRH mRNA. Adult male rats were assigned to one of four groups in a 2 (repeated stress, no repeated) x2 (acute, no acute) design. Brain sections were processed for CRH mRNA in situ hybridization. ANOVA revealed no main effects of acute or repeated stress in either thalamic region. However, significant interactions between acute and repeated stress for levels of CRH mRNA were found for both regions of the thalamus. Compared to the no stress condition, acute restraint significantly increased CRH mRNA in the Po (39%) and the CM-VPMpc (32%). Repeated restraint did not alter baseline CRH mRNA levels, but blocked the acute restraint-induced effects. Thus, while acute stress increases levels of thalamic CRH mRNA, repeated exposure to the same stressor is without effect and prevents the acute response. These findings add to data establishing a role for thalamic CRH in the stress response and suggest a mechanism that may underlie habituation to repeated stress exposure.     

Synthesis,molecular modeling studies,ADME prediction of arachidonic acid carbamate derivatives,and evaluation of their acetylcholinesterase activity

In this work, a series of novel anandamide units containing carbamate were designed and synthesized. All the derivatives were evaluated in vitro for their inhibitory potential against the electric eel acetylcholinesterase enzyme (AChE) and showed reversible inhibitions. The compounds 7a , 7d , 7e , and 7f are mixed inhibitors of AChE, while the compounds 7b , 7c , and 7g are uncompetitive (K_i in the range 0.93–8.86 μM). The kinetic studies revealed that compounds 7b , 7c , 7f , and 7g inhibit considerably AChE activity. Molecular docking analyses were made to evaluate the binding type and interactions of the synthesized compounds to the ligand-binding site of hAChE. It was observed that the docking results were in parallel with the in vitro results. The adsorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion properties were computed for the compounds, and were found within the acceptable range. This study suggests the compounds 7b , 7c , 7f , and 7g identified as novel reversible AChE inhibitors may be useful lead compounds for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.     

Fluoroless catheter ablation of accessory pathways in adult and pediatric patients: a single centre experience

The International Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging - Catheter radio-frequency ablation (RFA) and cryo-ablation (CRA) procedures are an effective and safe treatment options for adult and pediatric...