Cerebral blood flow in autogenic training and hypnosis

In 12 healthy volunteers with at least an experience of six months in autogenic training (AT), the cerebral blood flow (CBF) was measured at rest, in AT and in hypnosis (H). The results were correlated with individual test profiles. The cortical flow pattern at rest of our AT trained volunteers did not show the hyperfrontality which is described in the literature. This may be interpreted as an effect of better and habitualized relaxation in long trained AT practitioners. This flow pattern corresponds to the low grades of neuroticism and aggressivity found in the tests. Furthermore an activation in central cortical areas and a deactivation in regions which are associated with acoustic and autonomous functions occur.Possible explanations for these phenomena as well as for the relatively low perfusion of the left hemisphere at rest and activation in AT are discussed. The global rise of CBF in H may be an activation effect caused by resistance against the hypnotizer: the deeper the trance, the smaller the CBF increase in the motor cortical area needed for maintaining catalepsy of the right arm and in temporal cortical fields processing acoustic inputs.     

Comparison of Biochemical Parameters of Human Blood Serum and Seminal Plasma

Blood and semen samples obtained from 24 "normal" volunteers were analyzed for 16 different biochemical parameters. These included: Ca, Mg, K, Na, Zn, Cl, P, glycerolphosphorylcholine (GPC), carnitine, fructose, uric acid, prostatic acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), and glutamic pyruvate transaminase (SGPT). With the exception of uric acid, all the biochemical constituents in seminal plasma were either significantly higher (p less than 0.001, except alkaline phosphatase which was significant at p less than 0.05) or significantly lower (p less than 0.001) than in blood serum. Further, potassium (r = 0.51); carnitine (r = 0.54); and SGOT (r = 0.70) showed a significant direct relationship in blood and seminal plasma.     

Konsekutive Serie von 100 Colonresektionen mit einer modifizierten fortlaufenden Nahttechnik

Zusammenfassung Es wird anhand einer konsekutiven Serie über eine modifizierte fortlaufende Nahttechnik am Colon berichtet, die gerade bei älteren Patienten eine sichere und rasche Methode der Anastomosierung darstellt. Die klinisch relevante Insuffizienzrate sowie auch die Letalitätsrate betrugen in dieser Serie je 2%, wobei die Ursachen für die Letalität aber keine Folge der Insuffizienz waren. Die Komplikationsrate betrug 11%, die urologischen Komplikationen mit 6% standen hierbei im Vordergrund.

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A consecutive series of 100 resections of the colon using a modified technique of continuous (running away) suture

Summary Based on a consecutive series it is reported about a modified type of continuous suture on the colon, used especially in elderly patients for being a secure and prompt method of anastomosing. The rate of insufficiency and mortality, as far as the clinical relevance is concerned, turns out to be 2% each and there was no relation between mortality and insufficient anastomosis. The complication rate was 11%, whereby the urological complications predominated with 6% of the total.

     

脑血管性痴呆的辨证治疗经验

大脑动脉粥样硬化引起的脑血管性痴呆,以神智痴呆、记忆力减退、表情淡漠、呆滞或欣快感、头晕肢麻、手足瞤动等为特点,属于祖国医学的“文痴”、“语言颠倒”、“癫狂”、“善忘”等病症。中老年以后,肝血衰少,肾精亏损,脑失所养,大病久病,热灼真阴,心肝肾阴阳失调,肝阳化风,挟火挟痰,冲犯脑髓,元神失聪。因此,本病是本虚标实之证。虚者,治以培补真阴,补髓填精;实者,则平肝泻火,涤痰醒神,调气化瘀。文中附病案两例,经两个多月治疗,智力提高、记忆增强、精神活动基本恢复正常、生活自理,好转出院。     

丹参和黄芪治疗气虚血瘀型心力衰竭的作用

本文报道91例气虚血瘀型心力衰竭(心衰)病人选用丹参和黄芪治疗作用。16例作气囊漂浮导管监测,发现黄芪明显增加心排出量、每搏量及心脏指数,而丹参无此作用,提示黄芪有正性肌力作用;30例给黄芪加党参,治疗后心功能分级及某些异常的血液流变学指标均有改善;44例先丹参,继之丹参加黄芪,治疗后心功能分级有明显改善,且能改善异常的血液流变学指标,明显抑制血小板聚集功能。提示丹参具有活血化瘀改善血液流变学及抑制血小板的聚集性,黄芪有补气强心改善心功能的作用。     

Role of Ca channel in the renal autoregulatory vascular response analysed by the use of BAY K 8644

Summary The role of Ca channel and extracellular Ca²⁺ on autoregulation of renal blood flow was investigated in the perfused kidney of the anesthetized dog. The perfusion pressure was changed in the range between 60 and 200 mm Hg. Intra-arterial infusion of nifedipine (5 g/min) increased renal blood flow at a perfusion pressure above 100 mm Hg and inhibited autoregulation. Simultaneous infusion of 5 g/min of BAY K 8644 antagonized the effect of nifedipine. Renal blood flow was increased and autoregulatory relationship between flow and perfusion pressure was inhibited by EDTA (30 mg/min) infusion. The inhibitory effect of EDTA on renal autoregulation was counteracted by simultaneous infusion of CaCl₂ at 30 mg/min, but not counteracted by that of BAY K 8644 (5 g/min). BAY K 8644 also could not antagonize the inhibitory effect of a vasodilator, papaverine (5 mg/min) on renal blood flow autoregulation. These results provide the evidence that the renal autoregulation involves the process of Ca²⁺ influx into the vascular smooth muscle cell through the Ca channels. Send offprint requests to N. Ogawa at the above address     

Transport of molecules across tumor vasculature

The vascular-extravascular exchange of fluid and solute molecules in a tissue is determined by three transport parameters (vascular permeability, P, hydraulic conductivity, L_p, and reflection coefficient, ); the surface area for exchange, A; and the transluminal concentration and pressure gradients. The transport parameters and the exchange area for a given molecule are governed by the structure of the vessel wall. In general, tumor vessels have wide interendothelial junctions; large number of fenestrae and transendothelial channels formed by vesicles; and discontinuous or absent basement membrane. While these factors favor movement of molecules across tumor vessels, high interstitial pressure and low microvascular pressure may retard extravasation of molecules and cells, especially in large tumors. These characteristics of the transvascular transport have significant implications in tumor growth, metastasis, detection and treatment.     

Glomeruli and microvessels of the rabbit kidney contain both A1- and A2-adenosine receptors

Summary Rabbit renal cortices were fractionated by collagenase dispersion and glomeruli, microvessels and tubuli purified on a discontinuous sucrose gradient. Binding experiments with (–)[¹²⁵I]N⁶-(4-hydroxyphenylisopropyl)-adenosine ([¹²⁵I]HPIA) provided evidence for the presence of A₁-adenosine receptors in the glomerular and microvascular fraction. With glomeruli, saturation isotherms for specific [¹²⁵I]HPIA binding were mono-phasic with a K _D of 1.3 nmol/l and a B _maxof 7.7 fmol/mg protein. In kinetic experiments, an association rate constant of 4.9 × 105 (mol/ 1)^–1 s^–1 and a dissociation rate constant of 4.3 × 10^–4 s^–1 were obtained, yielding a K _D of 0.9 nmol/l. Adenosine analogs displaced [¹²⁵I]HPIA binding with a rank order of potency typical of A₁-adenosine receptors; furthermore, binding was inhibited by methylxanthines and modulated by GTP. Saturation experiments with the microvessels revealed a K _D of 1.9 nmol/l and a B _max of 13.4 fmol/mg protein. However, no inhibition of glomerular and microvascular adenylate cyclase activity could be demonstrated, but instead both 5-N-ethylcarboxamido-adenosine (NECA) and N⁶-(R-phenylisopropyl)-adenosine (R-PIA) stimulated enzyme activity, with EC₅₀ values of 0.14 mol/l and 1.5 mol/l, respectively. The concentration-response curve for NECA was shifted to the right (factor 9) by 10 mol/l 8-phenyltheophylline. On the other hand, computer simulation of biphasic curves (adenylate cyclase inhibition in the presence of activation via a stimulatory receptor) indicates that the failure to observe an A₁-adenosine receptor-mediated inhibition of adenylate cyclase activity in the presence of stimulatory adenosine receptors may be attributable to methodological constraints. The results demonstrate that both A₁- and A₂-adenosine receptors are present in rabbit glomeruli and microvessels. It is suggested that both receptors are involved in the control of renin secretion.Abbreviations R-PIA (–)N⁶(R-phenylisopropyl)-adenosine - NECA 5-(N-ethyl-carboxamido)-adenosine - S-PIA (+)N⁶-(S-phenylisopropyl)-adenosine - I-HPIA (–)N⁶-(3-iodo-4-hydroxy-phenylisopropyl)-adenosine - HPIA (–)N⁶-(4-hydroxyphenylisopropyl)-adenosine - [¹²⁵I]HPIA (–)N6-(3-[¹²⁵I]iodo-4-hydroxy-phenylisopropyl)-adenosine - ATP adenosine-5-triphosphate - cAMP cyclic 3,5-adenosine-monophosphate - GTP guanosine-5-triphosphate - HEPES 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazine-ethanesulfonic acid - EDTA (ethylenedinitrilo)-tetraacetic acid Send offprint requests to W. Schütz at the above addressThis study was supported by the Fonds zur Förderung der wissenachiftlichen Forschung in Österreich (Project 5712)     

Acute systemic and renal haemodynamic effects and long-term antihypertensive action of cadralazine in patients pretreated with β-blockers and diuretics

Summary The antihypertensive effects of the hydralazine-related compound cadralazine (2-{3-[6-(2-hydroxypropyl)ethylamino]pyridazinyl}ethyl carbazate, ISF 2469), were investigated in 16 patients with primary hypertension concurrently treated with -blockers and diuretics. The protocol included a double-blind placebo controlled haemodynamic evaluation after the first tablet and two 4-week double-blind placebo controlled cross-over periods followed by an open evaluation during 2 months. Cadralazine induced a moderate, prolonged fall in blood pressure that was associated with vasodilatation and slight increases in cardiac output (dye-dilution) and heart rate. Renal plasma flow (PAH) and glomerular filtration rate (⁵¹Cr-EDTA) were not significantly influenced, but the filtration fraction was reduced. Plasma concentrations of noradrenaline and adrenaline rose, whereas plasma renin activity was unchanged. The haemodynamic parameters were not correlated with the plasma concentrations of cadralazine. During chronic cadralazine treatment the supine blood pressure was significantly lower than during the double-blind placebo phase (160/93 vs 174/102 mmHg). The compound was generally well tolerated but the body weight increased slightly (1.1 kg), probably because of fluid retention. Several patients who had previously experienced side effects with hydralazine, including one with hydralazine-syndrome, tolerated cadralazine well. This suggests that cadralazine does not cross-react with hydralazine.     

Rectal and brain temperatures in ethanol intoxicated mice

The organometal neurotoxin trimethyltin (TMT), induces impaired learning and memory for various tasks. However, administration is also associated with other non-specific behavioral changes which may be responsible for effects on conditioned behaviors. To determine if TMT treatment causes a specific learning impairment, three experiments were done using variations of a delay of reinforcement autoshaping task in which rats learn to associate the presentation and retraction of a lever with the delivery of a food pellet reinforcer. No significant effects of TMT treatment were found with a short (4 s) delay of reinforcement, indicating that rats were motivated and had the sensorimotor capacity for learning. When the delay was increased to 6 s, 3.0 or 6.0 mg TMT/kg produced dose-related reductions in behaviors directed towards the lever. Performance of a group given 7.5 mg TMT/kg, while still impaired relative to controls, appeared to be better than the performance of groups given lower doses. This paradoxical effect was investigated with a latent inhibition paradigm, in which rats were pre-exposed to the Skinner boxes for several sessions without delivery of food reinforcement. Control rats showed retardation of autoshaping when food reinforcement was subsequently introduced. Rats given 7.5 mg TMT/kg exhibited elevated levels of lever responding during pre-exposure and autoshaping sessions. The results indicate that 7.5 mg TMT/kg produces learning impairments which are confounded by hyperreactivity to the environment and an inability to suppress behavior toward irrelevant stimuli. In contrast, low doses of TMT cause learning impairments which are not confounded by hyperreactivity, and may prove to be useful models for studying specific associational dysfunctions.