Melatonin modifies the spontaneous multiunit activity recorded in several brain nuclei of freely behaving rats.

Melatonin, a pineal hormone, released photoperiodically, was administered systemically in rats, previously implanted with semimicroelectrodes into six different brain structures. The multiunit electrical activity of these structures was recorded for 10 min before and 60 min after melatonin administration in unanesthetized, freely moving rats. Different melatonin doses (100, 200, 500, and 1000 micrograms/kg) produced changes in the electrical activity of all tested structures. However, amygdala, rostral hypothalamus and mesencephalic reticular formation showed the most important changes. The main effect induced by melatonin was a dose-related decrease of the spontaneous electrical activity. The significance of these effects is discussed within the context of the behavioral and endocrinological effects of melatonin.     

Long-lasting effects of chronic chlorimipramine treatment of rats on exploratory activity on a hole-board, and on immobility in the forced swimming test

The study concerned the effects of acute and chronic clomipramine administration to male rats on exploratory activity in a novel environment (hole-board) and on immobility in the forced swimming test. Acute clomipramine administration did not alter either exploratory activity on a hole-board as measured 3 or 20 h after drug administration, or immobility in the forced swimming test as measured 20 h after drug administration. Approximately 20 h after the last injection of clomipramine, the rats chronically treated with the drug showed reduced exploratory activity on the hole-board. In contrast, chronic clomipramine treatment significantly increased the activity in the forced swimming test. The effects of the drug on exploratory and forced swimming activities persisted for 14 days after the cessation of clomipramine administration. These data indicate that chronic clomipramine administration exerted profound and long-lasting effects on central nervous system function. The long-lasting action of the drug on behaviour in the forced swimming test might explain the long-term beneficial effect of antidepressant drugs in counteracting behavioral depression.     

Leading etiologic factors in periventricular bleeding and periventricular leukomalacia

Prenatal, intrapartum and postnatal factors were investigated in less than 32 gestational age preterm infants known to have periventricular haemorrhage or periventricular leukomalacia. The diagnoses were established on cranial ultrasonography and/or autopsy. Factors associated with periventricular haemorrhage were: postnatal severe hypercapnia, acidosis and hypoxia. In the periventricular leukomalacia group the incidence of antepartum and intrapartum hypoxia and/or ischaemia (antepartum haemorrhage) were significantly higher than in the control group.     

Cytophotometric investigations on atypical epithelial cells of the human seminal vesicle

Normal seminal vesicles were studied histologically in 80, and by Feulgen’s cytophotometric method in 10 autopsied cases (males, 44–82 years of age). In every case large, hyperchromatic nuclei were found. By cytophotometry euploid polyploid atypia was also shown in every case, which is characteristic of benign hormonal dysplasia.     

Adenocarcinoma cervicis uteri. An appraisal of treatment results for a period of 40 years

A retrospective study was done in 316 patients with primary cervical adenocarcinoma treated at the Research Institute for Clinical and Experimental Oncology in Brno over a period of 40 years (1939-1978). The treatment results were compared to those in 2571 patients with epidermoid carcinomas of the uterine cervix treated at the Institute over the same period. The 5-year survival rate was significantly lower in adenocarcinoma patients (in Stage I patients, 77.8% vs. 84.5%, and, in the whole group, 60.8% vs. 70.3%). The assessment of the treatment results of this study has clearly showed that in cervical adenocarcinomas, surgery combined with radiotherapy was much more effective than radical radiotherapy alone (77.4% vs. 64.7%). In contrast to this, in epidermoid carcinomas the treatment results were better after radical radiotherapy (86.5% vs. 81.3%). Thus, in the prognosis of cervical adenocarcinomas the mass of the tumor, the size of the uterus, as well as the grading play a role. That means that primary cervical adenocarcinomas at early stages can be successfully treated by a combination of radical surgery and radiotherapy, while radiotherapy of advanced stages of this tumor is less successful.     

Dexamethasone inhibits food intake suppression induced by low doses of interleukin-1 beta administered intracerebroventricularly.

Intracerebroventricular (ICV) microinfusion of recombinant human interleukin-1 beta (rhIL-1 beta, 0.125 to 2.0 ng/rat) dose-dependently suppressed 2 h and nighttime food intake in rats. The following daytime food intake did not change or increased. ICV infusion of bovine serum albumin (BSA), or heat-treated rhIL-1 beta had no effect on food intake. Pretreatment with dexamethasone (200 micrograms/rat, intraperitoneal) blocked the food intake suppression induced by low doses of rhIL-1 beta. This ability of dexamethasone, a synthetic corticosteroid, may have potential therapeutic implications in acute and chronic pathological processes associated with increased levels of IL-1 and appetite suppression.     

散结消肿贴中大黄重楼提取工艺优选研究

目的：优选散结消肿贴中大黄、重楼的渗漉提取工艺。方法：以总固体物得率和总蒽醌得率为指标，用正交实验优选。结果：工艺中影响最大的因素是乙醇浓度，其次是乙醇用量，浸泡时间影响较小。最佳工艺条件为乙醇浓度65％，乙醇用量8倍量。浸泡时间24h。结论：渗漉法操作简单，成份破坏少，用优选所得条件进行提取，总蒽醌和总固体物得率均较高，优选结果可用于散结消肿贴中大黄、重楼的提取。     

膳食黑米皮抑制高脂诱导的家兔动脉粥样硬化形成及其机制的初步探讨

目的 探讨膳食黑米皮对高脂诱导的家兔动脉粥样硬化形成的影响及其作用机制。方法 24只雄性新西兰大耳白家兔,按体重随机分为3组,分别饲以正常基础饲料、高脂饲料(含96％基础饲料、0.5％胆固醇、3.5％猪油)、黑米皮饲料(含 91％基础饲料、0.5％胆固醇、3.5％猪油、5％黑米皮),实验期为 60d。用图像分析法测定各组家兔主动脉脂质斑块面积,并分析家兔氧化与抗氧化状态。结果 黑米皮实验家兔的主动脉壁斑块面积较高脂组低66%(P<0.001);黑米皮组实验家兔的主动脉壁8-ohdG含量和血清及主动脉壁中MDA水平也低于高脂组(P<0.05 );而红细胞及主动脉壁中SOD水平和血清α-生育酚含量在两个处理组之间差异无显著性。结论 膳食黑米皮可以抑制高脂诱导的家兔动脉粥样硬化形成,其机制可能与之降低机体氧化应激水平及过氧化脂质生成有关。