Control of feeding and sexual behaviors by neuropeptide Y: physiological implications

Recent evidence suggests that a variety of hypothalamic neuropeptides may mediate interneuronal communication to coordinate diverse neuroendocrine and behavioral functions. In this work, we describe the effects of neuropeptide Y (NPY) on feeding and sexual behaviors. We observed that central administration of bolus NPY stimulated a robust, dose-related feeding response in satiated male and female rats. Continuous NPY receptor activation also evoked dose-related, intermittent feeding in a manner normally observed during nocturnal feeding. It appears that the paraventricular nucleus in the hypothalamus may be the primary site of NPY action because the anticipated reciprocal changes in NPY concentrations, in response to food deprivation followed by ad libitum food intake, occurred only in this site. Additional findings revealed that NPY-induced feeding may follow either substantial reduction or complete restraint of an inhibitory influence on feeding mediated by alpha 2-adrenoreceptor systems in satiated rats. Further, NPY was found to suppress male and female sexual behaviors. The suppressive effects on sexual behavior were apparent prior to or at the time of the onset of feeding after NPY administration. These observations may provide a neurochemical basis for clinical and animal studies on disorders of feeding associated with diminished reproductive functions.     

米非司酮作用于兔输卵管收缩活动与Ca^2＋关系的研究

通过“结合化学分离与原子吸收分光光度法”对Ca^2 含量测定和离体输卵管肌条收缩记录方法，研究米非司酮（Ru486)对增加假孕（4d)兔输卵管平滑肌收缩频率，而不改变其收缩张力和振幅时与Ca^2 之间的关系，结果提示：（1）Ru486对输卵管分泌液和组织内Ca^2 的含量分布无明显影响；（2）Ru486具有降低细胞外液高Ca^2 浓度促Ca^2 内流，而使收缩增强的效应，且能协同Ca^2 通道阻断剂（Verapamil)抑制细胞外Ca^2 内流，而致收缩减弱的效应。     

Assessment of Aortic Coarctation and Collateral Circulation By Biplane Transesophageal Echocardiography

Our experience in using biplane transesophageal echocardiography in the assessment of coarctation of the aorta is described.     

KS—2A型特效癌症治疗仪治疗宫颈病变905例分析

对我院1992年1月到1994年6月间应用KS—2A型特效癌症治疗仪治疗宫颈病变905例进行疗效分析,总的一次治愈率为97%,治疗宫颈糜烂858例,有效率100%,一次治愈率为97.4%,与冷冻治疗相比差异有显著性(P<0.001).治疗宫颈腺体囊肿34例,治愈率为84.5%.提示:与其它治疗方法相比,KS仅治疗具有治愈率高,副作用少,愈合时问短,操作简单,患者无痛苦等特点,具有推广和普及的价值.     

Evaluation of Functional Capacity after Stroke as a Basis for Active Intervention

ABSTRACT This paper describes further testing of an Activity Index introduced by Hamrin & Wohlin, which was designed especially to evaluate the functional capacity of patients after stroke. The results of reliability tests and validation procedures are presented, in particular in comparison with the internationally well known Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living. The standardised item alpha reliability coefficient for the Activity Index was 0.97 for the total score (n= 231) and the corresponding value for the Katz Index of ADL was 0.94. Using factor analysis with four factors, 88.3% of the variances of the 16 variables of the Activity Index could be explained, and the different variables were found to have a logical distribution between the factors. In a two-factor analysis of the Katz Index of ADL, 89.6% of the variance of the six variables could be explained, and the hierarchical structure of the test was recognised. Compared with the Katz Index of ADL, the Activity Index had a higher predictive capacity and it also better measured changes in the patient's functional ability between different test occasions.     

红细胞同工酶ADA－EAP一AK_1同步电泳分型方法的建立

综合、改良了分别分型的方法，建立了红细胞同工酶ＡＤＡ一ＥＡＰ一ＡＫ１同步电泳分型方法，为ＡＤＡ，ＥＡＰ和ＡＫ１３种红细胞同工酶在法医学鉴定中更广泛的应用，提供了一种可靠、经济、实用的方法。     

Sequential metabolic studies of pancreas allograft function in type 1 diabetic recipients.

We have previously shown that the loss of acute first phase insulin secretion precedes pancreas allograft rejection and development of glucose intolerance in Type 1 diabetic patients. In order to examine whether there is a progressive loss of phases of insulin secretion and beta-cell function in technically successful pancreas transplants during the first year, we measured glucose, insulin, and C-peptide responses to physiological (mixed meal) and pharmacological (IV glucose and IV glucagon) stimulation in 27 glucose-tolerant, insulin-independent allograft recipients at 3, 6, and 12 months. Mean +/- SE fasting serum glucose levels were normalized throughout the study period. Postprandial serum glucose profiles tended to increase by 12 months compared to 3 and 6 months, although peak glucose levels were not statistically different. Following pancreas transplantation, basal serum insulin levels were high at 3 months (163 +/- 17 pM), 6 months (165 +/- 22 pM), and 12 months (248 +/- 54 pM, p = NS) in the Type 1 diabetic pancreas allograft recipients when compared to normal (25 +/- 3 pM). We observed slight elevations in postprandial insulin and C-peptide profiles at 12 months compared to 3 and 6 months. Following IV glucose and glucagon stimulation, serum insulin and C-peptide levels as well as phases of insulin release did not differ over the 12-month study period. Similarly, the glucose decay constant (KG) was nearly identical at 3, 6, and 12 months. In summary, 1 year following successful whole cadaveric, heterotopic pancreas transplantation in Type 1 diabetic recipients, fasting serum glucose remains normalized, while postprandial glucose tends to rise.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Attitudes of the 1984 medical graduates of Sri Lanka to anaesthesia

A total of 196 intern medical officers who had graduated from the four medical schools in Sri Lanka in 1984 indicated their attitudes towards anaesthesia as a medical specialty in response to a postal questionnaire. Eighty per cent of the graduates considered anaesthesia to be an established specialty in Sri Lanka, while 17% felt that the specialty had limited clinical application. A total of 62% of the graduates were not aware, prior to their entry to medical school, that anaesthesia was related to medical practice. All the graduates indicated that the intra-operative role of the anaesthetist was on a par with that of the surgeon, but 40% felt that the pre- and post-operative roles were of a secondary nature. Overall, 42% considered that an anaesthetist acts as an assistant to the surgeon. The graduates were of the opinion that only 35% of the patients undergoing surgery were appreciative of the services rendered by an anaesthetist. Fifty per cent of the graduates considered exposure to the specialty in the undergraduate curriculum as inadequate. Anaesthesia was chosen as the first career preference by 1.5%. The dominant reasons for not selecting anaesthesia as a career specialty were: minimal patient contact and patient recognition (62%), and lack of recognition of the specialty by society (54%). Anaesthetists in Sri Lanka are challenged to alter the perceptions associated with the specialty, which are probably a result of chronic staff shortages restricting practice to the confines of operating theatres.     

Mesenteric cyst with milk of calcium

A mesenteric cyst with milk of calcium in an adult patient is presented. Preoperative evaluation included plain film, ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). To our knowledge, the presence of milk of calcium in a mesenteric cyst has not been previously described.