Topography of cholinergic afferents from the nucleus basalis of meynert to representational areas of sensorimotor cortices in the rat

We investigated (1) the topography of projection neurons in the nucleus basalis of Meynert (NBM) with efferents to restricted regions of the primary somatosensory (SI), the second somatosensory (SII), and the primary motor (MI) cortices in the rat; (2) the percentage of these NBM projection neurons that were cholinergic; and (3) the collateralization, if any, of single NBM neurons to different subdivisions within SI, to homotopic areas of SI and SII, and to homotopic areas of SI and MI. Retrograde single-and double-labeling techniques were used to study NBM projections to electrophysiologically identified subdivisions of SI and to homotopic representational areas of SI and SII, and of SI and MI. Choline acetyltransferase immunocytochemistry was done to identify cholinergic NBM neurons. Of the retrogradely labeled NBM neurons that projected to selective subdivisions of SI, SII, and MI, 89%, 87%, and 88%, respectively, were cholinergic. We found a rostral-to-caudal progression of retrogradely labeled NBM neurons following a medial-to-lateral sequence of injections into subdivisions of SI. Overlapping groups of single-labeled NBM neurons were observed after injections of different tracers into adjacent subdivisions within SI or homotopic areas of SI and SII, and of SI and MI. We conclude that NBM innervation to SI, SII, and MI is mostly cholinergic in the rat, that each cortical area receives cholinergic afferents from neurons widely distributed within the NBM, and that each NBM neuron projects to a restricted cortical area without significant collateralization to adjacent subdivisions within SI or to homotopic areas of SI and SII, or SI and MI. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

The information needs of women newly diagnosed with breast cancer

Nurses can play a key role in patient education, including providing patients with useful and approrate information Rather than focusing on the process of education or information giving by nurses, this study places emphasis on the content of that information by taking the patients'perspective and asking the patients themselves what particular types of information are perceived as important at a specific point in time The aim of the study was to explore what particular types of information were important to women newly diagnosed with breast cancer, to enable nurses and other health care professionals to utilize their time as effectively as possible and provide a high-quality service to individuals in their care Women with breast cancer (a mean of 2 5 weeks from diagnosis) were interviewed and asked to compare items of information The items of information were presented m pairs and the women stated a preference for one item in that pan- Thirty-six pairs were presented in total The analysis involved the use of a Thurstone scaling model, which allowed rank ordermgs, or profiles of information needs, to be developed, reflecting the perceived importance of each item Information about the likelihood of cure, the spread of the disease and treatment options were perceived as the most important items of information at the tune of diagnosis Other information needs, in order of descending priority, included information about the risk to family, side-effects     

EXTERNAL CEPHALIC VERSION

External cephalic version has been used periodically for centuries to manage breech presentations. As cesarean section rates have escalated in the last two decades, ways to curb this rise have been evaluated. By reducing the number of infants that arrive in labor in a representation, it is possible to impact the overall cesarean section rate. External cephalic version is a safe, effective method when used in appropriate cases of breech presentation. A forward or backward roll can be accomplished in women at term with singleton gestations, adequate amniotic fluid, and reactive nonstress tests. Parity, fetal and placental position, and descent of the presenting part may all influence the success rate of the version.     

Normothermic renal artery perfusion: A comparison of perfusates

Hypothermia and preservative perfusates have been used to decrease ischemic renal injury. This study was performed to identify the preservative function of perfusates independent of the effects of hypothermia. Rats underwent 45 minutes of renal ischemia. Rectal and renal parenchyma temperatures were monitored and maintained within 1° C of normal. Perfusates were University of Wisconsin solution (UW), Euro-Collins solution, normal saline solution, and Ringer's lactate solution. A nonperfused ischemic control and a nonischemic control group were also evaluated. Parameters evaluated included serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels, renal ischemic injury grade, renal weight, and gross appearance of the injured kidney. Rats treated with UW solution were found to have a significantly lower creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, and injury grade than the other three perfused groups. The external gross appearance of the UW-treated kidneys was normal, whereas that of the other groups demonstrated moderate to severe injury. Although the mean right/left renal weight difference of the UW-treated group was lower than that of the other three groups, this was not statistically significant. Under normothermic conditions in rats, UW solution affords significant renal protection from ischemia. Euro-Collins, normal saline, and Ringer's lactate solutions display no significant protective effect.Presented at the Twentieth Annual Meeting of the Peripheral Vascular Surgery Society, New Orleans, La., June 10, 1995.     

A preliminary study of serotonergic antidepressants in treatment of dysthymia

Rosenthal, Jesse et al. A Preliminary Study of Serotonergic Antidepressants in the Treatment of Dysthymia. Prog. Neuro-Psychopharmacol. & Biol. Psychiat. 1992, 16(6): 933–941.

1. 1. There is increasing evidence that antidepressants may alleviate symptoms of dysthymia, but few prior studies on selective serotonergic agents.

2. 2. Twenty patients meeting criteria for dysthymia, but not meeting criteria for major depression, received open label trials of a serotonergic antidepressant, either fluoxetine or trazodone.

3. 3. Seventeen (85%) completed three-month medication trials, and of these, twelve (70.6% of completers) responded to treatment. Seven (41.2% of completers) were still in remission on followup at five months.

4. 4. Both fluoxetine and trazodone were well tolerated in dysthymics, and showed similar short-term effectiveness in treating dysthymic symptoms.

Alexithymia in Holocaust Survivors with and Without PTSD

Alexithymia was measured in non-treatment seeking, community-dwelling Holocaust survivors using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale—Twenty Item Version (TAS-20). Scores of survivors with (n = 30) and without (n = 26) posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were compared, and associations among alexithymia, severity of trauma, and severity of PTSD symptoms were determined. Survivors with PTSD had significantly higher scores on the TAS-20 compared to survivors without PTSD. TAS-20 scores were significantly associated with severity of PTSD symptoms, but not with severity of trauma. This study adds to our knowledge of the relationship between alexithymia and trauma by demonstrating that this characteristic is related to the presence of posttraumatic symptoms and not simply exposure to trauma.     

Morphologische Wirkung von Adrenalin und Insulin auf Knochenkapillaren nach Rezeptorenblockade

In three groups of six mice each, the α- and β-receptors were blocked by phentolamine and propranolol. The mice in the three groups then received an intravenous bolus injection of saline solution, epinephrine, and insulin, respectively. Cortical bone capillaries from the tibia diaphysis were submitted to transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The lumen and endothelium were measured and the results compared. Significant changes were only noted in the endothelium after the administration of insulin. These findings suggest that there are also insulin receptors in bone. Furthermore, they support previous findings in similar studies with epinephrine.     

Effect of temperature in focal ischemia of rat brain studied by 31P and 1H spectroscopic imaging

³¹P, ¹H and lactate spectroscopic imaging was used to evaluate the effects of hypothermia on focal cerebral ischemia produced by middle cerebral artery occlusion. The effects on high energy phosphate metabolism, pH, lactate and NAA were investigated in 24 spontaneously hypertensive rats subjected to either permanent or transient ischemia. Under either normothermic (37.5°C) or hypothermic (32°C) conditions, with permanent 6-h occlusion, there was little difference between groups in either the NMR measurements or the volume of infarction. In animals that underwent 3 h of ischemia followed by 12 h of reperfusion, the ischemic changes in lactate, pH, NAA, and high-energy phosphate returned toward control values, and there was a protective effect of hypothermia (infarct volume of 211 ± 26 and 40 ± 14 mm³ in normothermic and hypothermic groups, respectively). Thus, hypothermia did not ameliorate the changes in lactate, pH, NAA, or high energy phosphate levels occurring during ischemia, however, during reperfusion there was an improvement in both the recovery of these metabolites and pathological outcome in hypothermic compared with normothermic animals.