Active behaviors in the rat forced swimming test differentially produced by serotonergic and noradrenergic antidepressants

This study demonstrated that distinct patterns of active behaviors are produced by antidepressants that selectively inhibit norepinephrine (NE) or serotonin (5-HT) uptake in the rat forced swimming test (FST). A behavior sampling technique was developed to score the active behaviors swimming, climbing and diving, as well as immobility. The rat's behavior was recorded at the end of each 5-s period during the test session. The sampling technique was both reliable, as demonstrated by test-retest reliability and inter-rater reliability, and valid, as shown by comparison to the timing of behavior durations. Five different antidepressant drugs which block monoamine uptake and two 5-HT_1A receptor agonists were shown to decrease immobility in the FST; however, they produced distinct patterns of active behaviors. The selective NE uptake inhibitors desipramine and maprotiline selectively increased climbing, whereas the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) fluoxetine, sertraline and paroxetine selectively increased swimming. The 5-HT_1A receptor agonists 8-OH-DPAT and gepirone also selectively increased swimming. These results show that:1) SSRIs are not false negatives in the FST; 2) at least two behaviorally distinct processes occur in the FST; and 3) enhancement of NE neurotransmission may mediate climbing in the FST, whereas enhancement of 5-HT neurotransmission may mediate swimming.     

Variability of the Schirmer tear test values in a normal Arab population

Background: As in many parts of the world, the Schirmer tear test is the main test used by optometrists in Saudi Arabia for assessing adequacy of tear production. Variability of the test has been reported in different ethnic groups but not in Arabs. This paper looks at the mean and repeatability of the values obtained by the Schirmer test in a normal Arab population Method: The test was performed on the right eyes of 23 young adult Saudi male subjects at five visits over two weeks. Result: Results showed that for each subject the test values were not repeatable, varying widely over the period of evaluation. The mean value was estimated at 10.6 mm and the 95 per cent confidence limits were 7.9 and 13.3 mm. It was also established that the greater the amount of tears, the greater the variability. Conclusion: This study supports the claim that the Schirmer test is not repeatable and hence is unreliable. Therefore, caution should be exercised in employing it for clinical diagnosis. (Clin Exp Optom 1995; 78: 5: 190–193)     

正常人口腔粘膜不同部位表面感觉的测试

目的 建立正常人口腔粘膜不同部位表面感觉的正常参考值，并测试各年龄组感觉值是否存在差异。方法 利用动静两点辨别觉试验，测试90例健康人口腔粘膜不同部位的表面感觉。结果 舌尖感觉功能最好，其次为舌背、舌腹、颊粘膜、口底和硬腭。健康人的口腔粘膜不同部位的表面感觉随着年龄增长有显著性变化。结论 口腔粘膜不同部位感觉辨别力存在差异，健康人口底、舌腹、舌背、颊和硬腭粘膜感觉功能有增龄性变化。     

The desipramine-induced growth hormone response and the dexamethasone suppression test in obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Ten patients with DSM-III-R obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) underwent the desipramine (DMI) growth hormone (GH) stimulation test as well as the dexamethasone suppression test (DST). The results were compared with the responses in a group of matched healthy controls. The GH response to DMI did not differ between patients and controls and 9 of 10 patients showed cortisol suppression in response to dexamethasone. The data suggest that neither alpha 2 adrenergic dysfunction nor DST non-suppression are features of primary OCD.     

Oxidative breakdown of octanoic acid is maintained in patients with cirrhosis despite advanced disease

As an octanoic acid 13CO2 breath test is frequently used to test gastric emptying of solid food, the purpose of the present study was to study whether oxidative breakdown of octanoic acid is affected by severe liver disease. The design of our study was twofold. First, cirrhotic patients (n = 82) of varying severity were compared with healthy controls (n = 17). Values of half-time, time point of maximal expiration and cumulative recovery of octanoic acid breath tests (OBT) were not significantly different between them. Secondly, cirrhotic patients (n = 10) were studied before placement of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt, 4-7 days later and 1-2 months later. Values of half-time, time point of maximal expiration and cumulative recovery of consecutive OBTs did not change significantly. The OBT may therefore be a suitable test in the future to detect delayed gastric emptying of solids in cirrhotic patients with reduced liver function and portal hypertension.     

Controversies in tuberculosis

Tuberculous infection among children continues to be a significant cause of morbidity. The symptom complex are so variable among children that the final diagnosis often rests on the laboratory tests. Proper interpretation of the tests, specially tuberculin test and radiographic studies, are necessary for establishing correct diagnosis. The usefulness of tuberculin test in both unimmunized and BCG vaccinated children is highlighted. BCG accelerated response as a test should be reserved for identifying serious form of pulmonary disease or CNS tuberculosis when the tuberculin test is negative. Radiographic assessment may be sensitive in some instances but not always specific and hence needs cautious interpretation. Tuberculosis among BCG vaccinated children though not uncommon, needs proper documentation. Current trends in the management of tuberculosis including CNS forms are briefly outlined.     

Prolactin responses to haloperidol in drug-free and treated schizophrenic patients

Summary The prolactin response to 5 mg haloperidol i.m. was studied in 12 schizophrenic patients in a drug-free state and after a month treatment with haloperidol, as a possible index of dopamine receptor sensitivity and occupancy. Blood samples were taken at times 0, 60, 90 and 120 minutes. The increase in PRL observed in the drug-free state disappeared after drug treatment. The PRL plasma levels after treatment with 60 mg haloperidol per os were higher than the maximal PRL responses after 5 mg i.m. The increases in baseline PRL caused by the treatment correlated positively to the reduction in the BPRS score. The test was also performed in a group of 11 patients chronically treated with haloperidol during a daily dose of 60 mg, and 15 days after reduction of the dose to 30 mg. PRL increases after 5 mg haloperidol i.m. were observed only after reduction of the dose. It is suggested that the prolactin response to haloperidol is an index of the occupancy of receptors that are involved in the PRL releasing mechanisms, and could be used to verify their blockade by the neuroleptics, especially in patients that do not respond positively to drug treatment.     

The spermatozoal volume as indicative of the plasma membrane integrity (modification of the hypoosmotic swelling test). I. Methods

Summary. The aim of the present study was to establish a more differentiating indicator of plasma membrane integrity of spermatozoa than the classic version of the hypoosmotic swelling test according to Jeyendraan. Spermatozoa were prepared by density gradient centrifugation (90% Percoll) to select 'fertilization competent' spermatozoa only. After a second washing procedure sufficiently pure sperm cell suspensions were obtained. The volume distributions of these sperm cells were measured with a Coulter Counter at 25 °C after adaptation in 300 mosmolar NaCl solution resp. 150 mosmolar NaCl solution for 5 min. These volume distributions showed significantly different patterns for the isotonic and hypotonic stress situation in the simple salt solution. Moreover, the comparison of the response to hypoosmotic stress showed more than four reproducible characteristic patterns, promising well differentiated results for different sperm populations. The new method for the detection of hypoosmotic swelling effect might be a real and valuable functional parameter.     

Effect of temperature variation (22˚C- 44˚C) on halothane and caffeine contracture testing in normal humans

Background: Malignant hyperthermia (MH) susceptibility is diagnosed using halothane-caffeine contracture testing of a muscle sample maintained at 37˚C. However, there has not been a systematic study that examines the effect of different temperatures on the response of normal muscle to halothane and caffeine. We hypothesized that altering bath temperature would modify the contracture responses.
Methods: We obtained muscle samples from 20 patients undergoing surgical procedures of the lower extremities. The samples were dissected into 245 bundles and the bundles were exposed to halothane 3% or incremental caffeine, according to the North American MH group protocol. Several bundles from each patient were simultaneously studied at four different temperatures (22˚C, 30˚C, 37˚C and 44˚C). Each bundle was studied at only one temperature, the muscle samples of 3 patients were simultaneously studied at all four temperatures for halothane and caffeine.
Results: Maximum contracture to caffeine (32 mM) was highest at 37˚C; however, at lower caffeine concentrations (2–4 mM), there was no consistent effect of temperature on contracture response. Likewise, temperature did not alter contracture responses to halothane. The extremes of temperature (22˚C and 44˚C) were associated with lack of twitch in response to electrical stimulation. For the bundles exposed to halothane at 22"C, the absence of a twitch was associated with the presence of a contracture, although these were never above the diagnostic threshold.
Conclusions: We conclude that temperature has little effect on responses of normal muscle to halothane and caffeine.     

Visual assessment of urethrovesical junction mobility

The aim of the study was to compare visual assessment of anterior vaginal wall descent with the Q-tip test in evaluating urethrovesical junction mobility. One hundred and eleven patients with prolapse and/or urinary incontinence were examined in the supine lithotomy position with an empty bladder. Maximum straining Q-tip tests and maximum descent of the anterior vaginal wall were measured. Using each centimeter of descent as a cutoff value, the sensitivities, specificities and positive and negative predictive values were compared to those of the Q-tip test. As the cutt-off points were moved distally, specificity increased at the expense of sensitivity. There was no single cut-off point that provided adequate sensitivity and specificity to be clinically useful to replace the Q-tip test. It was concluded that visual assessment of anterior vaginal wall descent does not provide diagnostic accuracy and acceptable sensitivity and specificity to determine urethrovesical junction mobility. Other methods should be employed to assess support.Editorial Comment: Many clinicians claim that they can assess urethrovesical junction mobility visually and thus avoid employing other means, such as the Q-tip test, ultrasonography, bead-chain cystography or fluoroscopy. Montella et al. evaluate a technique of visual assessment of urethrovesical junction mobility based on the International Continence Society's Standardization of Terminology of Female Organ Prolapse and Pelvic Floor Dysfunction as compared to evaluation with the Q-tip test. Their results clearly indicate that this technique (measurement of the descent of point Aa) does not provide adequate sensitivity or specificity in determining urethrovesical junction descent compared to the Q-tip test. Although this technique was only compared to the Q-tip test and not all other modalities available, it is doubtful that visual assessment of anterior wall descent at any level would correspond to urethrovesical junction mobility, as is discussed very succinctly by the authors.