Effect of peripheral administration of cinnarizine and verapamil on the abstinence syndrome in diazepam-dependent rats

The effects of two calcium channel blockers (verapamil and cinnarizine) were evaluated on diazepam withdrawal symptoms. Rats were made diazepam dependent by chronic treatment with daily injections of the drug, 20 mg/kg IP for 3 weeks. On abrupt termination of the drug, animals showed withdrawal hyperactivity that was assessed by autonomic, behavioural and motor signs. The peak effect was seen 3 days after the withdrawal of diazepam. On IP administration, verapamil and cinnarizine (10, 20 and 40 mg/kg) given on eight occasions at an interval of 12 h reversed the withdrawal-induced increase in spontaneous motor activity. Cinnarizine in higher doses (20 and 40 mg/kg) was found to be effective in suppressing the behavioural signs but verapamil did not show any protective effect against startle response and irritability. These results suggest that modulation of the calcium influx in the CNS might influence withdrawal.This study was presented in XIth International Congress of Pharmacology (IUPHAR) at Amsterdam (July 1–6, 1990)     

Supportive care needs and quality of life of patients with gynecological cancer undergoing therapy

Objective

To identify the relationship of unmet supportive care needs with quality of life of patients with gynecological cancer undergoing therapy.

The Ratu's Model: A prevention model of postpartum depression

Introduction

The Ratu's Model is a nursing model to prevent postpartum depression, is a product of Ratu's dissertation. Depression is one of the common psychological problem experienced by postpartum women. The number is estimated to reach 20% in Indonesia, 15–20% in the Riau Province, and must to be pressed to 1%.

Group A rotavirus-associated diarrhea in children seeking treatment in Indonesia

BACKGROUND: Globally, group A rotavirus causes significant morbidity and mortality among children. Limited data exist on the epidemiology of rotavirus disease among Indonesian children. OBJECTIVES: We describe the epidemiology of rotavirus-associated diarrhea among Indonesian children <6 years of age, including clinical symptoms and genotypes. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a hospital-based, case series study at four referral hospitals between February 2004 and February 2005 among children with diarrhea. Rotavirus positivity was defined by a positive result from either EIA or RT-PCR. A semi-nested RT-PCR was used to determine specific rotavirus genotypes. RESULTS: 1660 stools were tested for pathogens. The overall rotavirus prevalence was 45.5%. Children with rotavirus-associated diarrhea were significantly younger (p<0.0001) and more likely to be hospitalized (81.3% versus 72.2%; p<0.0001). Symptoms associated with rotavirus included, vomiting, fever, nausea, fatigue and dehydration, while bloody stool was significantly less common with rotavirus-associated diarrhea. CONCLUSION: Rotavirus was an important contributor of morbidity to our study sample. Rotavirus genotyping demonstrated a temporal shift from G1-G4 to G9, but this was highly associated with the P[8] gene, suggesting that a multivalent rotavirus vaccine, incorporating G9 P[8] antigen, may reduce the burden of diarrheal illnesses among Indonesian children.     

Cardiovascular response to Stroop: effect of verbal response and task difficulty

The purpose was to examine the effect of verbal response and task difficulty on cardiovascular response to the Stroop task. Heart rate, mean arterial blood pressure, forearm blood flow (FBF), and catecholamine response of 13 males was assessed during 3, 5-min differing versions of the Stroop task. Heart rate, epinephrine, and FBF were significantly greater during Stroop 1 (the color-word conflict task) compared to Stroop 3 (a non-verbal version of Stroop where participants responded cognitively without any oral or behavioural response), whereas mean arterial pressure was significantly greater during Stroop 1 than that of Stroop 2 (slides in monochrome without color conflict) and Stroop 3. Rating of level of difficulty and concentration was lower for Stroop 2 compared to the other two Stroop tasks. These results suggest that performance of the traditional Stroop task caused significant cardiovascular, FBF, and epinephrine reactivity. This reactivity was attenuated during reading of monochrome words and was virtually abolished when performing the Stroop without verbally responding.     

Effect of Carbon Nanofibers on Physical,Adhesion and Rheological Properties of Liquid Epoxidized Natural Rubber Modified Asphalt

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of carbon nanofibers (CNFs) on the performance of liquid epoxidized natural rubber (LENR)-modified asphalt. The physical, adhesion and rheological properties were determined by several tests such as penetration, elastic recovery, ring and ball softening point, Brookfield rotational viscometer, AFM and dynamic shear rheometer. LENR was used at concentrations of 3, 6, and 9%, while CNFs were used at contents of 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5% by weight of asphalt. Conventional test results showed that the increases in LENR and LENR/CNFs composite contents in binder leads to an increase in the hardness and consistency and a reduction in the temperature susceptibility of base asphalt. Adhesion results revealed that the addition of CNFs significantly increases the adhesion and bonding properties of base and rubberized binders. Rheological properties analysis exhibited that LENR improved the viscoelastic properties and permanent deformation resistance of asphalt at different temperatures and frequencies. On the other hand, it was found that the addition of CNFs significantly improves the stiffness, elasticity, and hardness of LENR-modified binders. The 6% LENR and 0.4% CNFs were found to be the optimum to enhance the physical, adhesion, and rheological properties of asphalt in this study. Thus, it can be stated that the addition of CNFs is promising to improve the performance of rubberized binders for high temperature applications.     

IL-6-174G/C及-572C/G位点基因多态性与新疆NVAF人群及民族差异性分析

目的 探讨新疆地区白细胞介素-6(IL-6)-174C/G及-572C/G位点的基因多态性,与非瓣膜性心房颤动(NVAF)的关系及新疆地区汉族、哈萨克族(哈族)IL-6基因多态性的民族差异性.方法 分别选择新疆地区汉族、哈族NVAF对象79、78铡(汉族、哈族NVAF组),汉族、哈族非心房颤动对象75、79例(汉族、哈族对照组),采集静脉血提取DNA,采用聚合酶链反应-限制性酶切片段长度多态性(PCR-RFLP)技术对各组对象的IL-6基因-174G/C及-572C/G的多态性进行分析.结果 IL-6-572G在NVAF组中等位基因频率明显高于对照组(x2=4.076,P＜0.05);NVAF组和对照组IL-6基因-572G/C位点G等位基因频率比较,差异有统计学意义(OR=1.519,95％CI:1.087～2.122,P＜0.05),而在汉族及哈族对照组中分布差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05);年龄大于或等于75岁(OR=6.468,95％CI:2.427～17.240)、左心房内径(OR=1.053,95％CI:1.022～1.085),是发生房颤的独立危险因素;左心室射血分数(OR=0.946,95％CI:0.922～0.971)是防止房颤发生的保护因素.各组IL-6基因-174G/C位点C、G等位基因频率比较,差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).结论 IL-6-572G/C位点G等位基因是NVAF遗传易感性的危险因子,IL-6-174G/C位点的基因多态性与心房颤动的易感性无关.     

Status disclosure and the acceptance of women living with HIV

Objective

This study aimed at identifying the acceptance of women living with HIV in relation to status disclosure.