Comparison of the treadmill exercise score and single-photon emission computed tomographic thallium imaging in risk assessment

Background  

This study compared the prognostic value of exercise single-photon emission computed tomographic (SPECT) thallium imaging with that of treadmill exercise score in medically treated patients with coronary artery disease (CAD)     

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: a differential diagnosis of otogenic facial paralysis

Of all the neoplastic conditions of the lymphatic system, Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) represents a heterogenous group. As well as lymph nodes NHL can involve extranodal sites, including regions in head and neck. The mouth and oropharynx are typical extranodal sites, and the ENT surgeon should be aware of this possibility of the swift diagnosis of NHL is to be made. We report two patients with rare invasion of the middle ear, facial nerve paresis, and asymptomatic cerebral involvement by Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.     

A new synthesis of Rink's polymer, 4-(2′,4′-dimethoxyphenylhydroxymethyl) phenoxymethylpolystyrene

For solid-phase peptide synthesis, 2, 4-dimethoxy-4′ -hydroxybenzhydrol linker was prepared via lithium borohydride reduction of 2, 4-dimethoxy-4′-hydroxybenzophenone. The potassium salt of the linker was coupled to chloromethylpolystyrene. This method proved to be better than use of the cesium salt. This new synthesis gave a polymer with appropriate structure and a good degree of substitution.     

Variation in the ability of neuroleptics to block the inhibitory influence of dopaminergic neurons on the activity of cells in the rat prefrontal cortex

The stimulation of the ventro-medial mesencephalic tegmentum (VMT) induces an inhibition of the spontaneous activity of prefrontal cortical cells and blocks the excitatory responses evoked by the stimulation of the medio-dorsal nucleus of the thalamus (MD). This effect is mediated by the activation of the mesocortical dopaminergic (DA) system. In the present study, the influence of the systemic administration of several neuroleptics on the inhibition of prefrontal cortical cells induced by VMT stimulation has been analyzed in ketamine anaesthetised rats. The acute IP administration of fluphenazine (2 mg/kg), spiroperidol (2 mg/kg) or (+/-)sulpiride (100 mg/kg) reversed the inhibitory responses. Moreover, the number of cortical cells inhibited by VMT stimulation was considerably decreased after these treatments. Surprisingly, neither haloperidol at any dose used (0.1 to 0.5 mg/kg IV or 0.5 to 5 mg/kg IP) nor levomepromazine (25 mg/kg IP) nor the long acting neuroleptic, pipotiazine palmitic ester (32 mg/kg SC) blocked the inhibitory effect of VMT stimulation and in fact they lengthened the duration of the inhibition. Finally, the inhibition of MD evoked spikes in prefrontal cortical cells produced by VMT stimulation was no longer observed after sulpiride but persisted after haloperidol administration. Our findings confirm that the mesocortico-prefrontal DA neurons exert an inhibitory influence on target cells but they reveal differences in the efficacy of neuroleptics in blocking this effect.     

妊娠压力对大鼠子代早期空间学习记忆能力的影响

【目的】探索妊娠期精神压力对大鼠子代早期空间学习、记忆能力的影响。【方法】实验采取产前束缚压力,建立妊娠期大鼠精神压力暴露模型。然后对子代进行Morris水迷宫测试,分析妊娠期压力对子代早期学习和记忆的影响及性别间的差异,同时检测实验前、后子鼠的血清肾上腺酮的变化。【结果】①在隐蔽平台试验中,对照组的平均潜伏期较实验组短,但差异无显著性(F=0.599,P>0.05)。②在保持力试验中,对照组在原平台所在象限逗留的时间大于实验组,差异有显著性(F=4.588,P<0.05)。③子代血清肾上腺酮的测定结果表明:水迷宫测试前,实验组和对照组相比,差异无显著性(F=0.169,P>0.05);实验后,实验组血清肾上腺酮比对照组高,差异具有显著性(F=6.098,P<0.05)。【结论】①妊娠压力可导致子代学习,记忆能力的改变;②妊娠压力造成子代在应激情况下血清肾上腺酮的过度分泌。③妊娠压力对子代的影响没有明显性别差异。