Differences in the hypothermic response to ethanol in rats selectively bred for oral ethanol preference and nonpreference

The duration of retention of tolerance to ethanol was tested in the alcohol-preferring (P) and alcohol-nonpreferring (NP) rats lines, using ethanol-induced hypothermia as a measure of tolerance. Rats received two injections of ethanol (3.5 g/kg) body wt, IP) and the time between the injections was 1, 2, or 3 days. When one day separated the two injections, tolerance to the hypothermic effect of a second “test” injection was found in both lines. When 2 or 3 days separated the two injections, the P line showed a loss of tolerance and the NP line showed sensitization to ethanol. Sensitization in the NP line grew stronger when the interval between injections was increased from 2 to 3 days. The duration of retention of tolerance to ethanol-induced hypothermia in the P line was shorter than has previously been reported for motor impairment in this line. It appears that the duration of tolerance retention in the P line depends on the test used to measure tolerance. Sensitization to ethanol in the NP line may be associated with low oral ethanol intake. This research was supported, in part, by grants AA08312, AA03243, and AA07611 from the PHS     

Rhinosinusite chronique de l''enfant: évolution des concepts

The concept of chronic rhinosinusitis in children has been recently individualized. The diagnosis is based upon the clinical history. It may be part of a diffuse inflammatory disease of the respiratory tract. Allergic and environmental polluting factors are possibly involved and must be looked for. Drainage of the rhinopharynx and local steroids are usually the first line treatment. In case of failure, a CT-scan of the sinuses should be performed looking for an obstructive anomaly of the sinuses requiring functional endoscopic sinus surgery     

Delay from Diagnosis to Surgery in Transferred Type A Aortic Dissection

Objectives

The purpose of this research is to analyze factors associated with delays to surgical management of Type A acute aortic dissection patients.

More Vasopressin mRNA in the Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus of Alcohol-Preferring Rats and High Alcohol-Drinking Rats Selectively Bred for High Alcohol Preference

Both the selectively bred alcohol-preferring (P) and high alcohol-drinking (HAD) rats exhibit alcohol preference, and develop tolerance to alcohol more quickly than their counterparts, the alcohol-nonpreferring (NP) and low alcohol-drinking (LAD) rats, respectively. It has been shown that the P rats retain developed tolerance longer than do NP rats, and alcohol drinking increases concurrently with the development of tolerance. Although alcohol preference and tolerance are fundamental elements of alcoholism, the exact mechanisms underlying these two phenotypes in P and HAD rats are not well understood. Recent studies have suggested that arginine vasopressin (AVP) may be involved in modulation of alcohol tolerance. Accordingly, this study was designed to examine whether the AVP mRNA level in the hypothalamus differs in rats that have been selectively bred for alcohol preference and nonpreference. A ³⁵S-AVP antisense oligodeoxynucleotide probe was used for in situ hybridization to localize AVP mRNA in the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus (PVN) and supraoptic nucleus (SON), two major sites for AVP synthesis in the hypothalamus. Quantitative autoradiography demonstrated that P rats had higher levels of AVP mRNA in the PVN than NP rats. Similarly, higher levels of AVP mRNA were also found in the PVN of HAD rats, compared with LAD rats. The AVP mRNA levels in the SON were similar in the alcohol-preferring and alcohol-nonpreferring rat lines. Basal plasma AVP levels were higher in NP rats than in P rats as determined by radioimmunoassay, whereas plasma AVP levels were not significantly different between HAD and LAD rats. The results suggest that increased AVP gene expression in the PVN may contribute to alcohol preference and the development of alcohol tolerance.     

Corpus callosum area in children and adults with autism

Despite repeated findings of abnormal corpus callosum structure in autism, the developmental trajectories of corpus callosum growth in the disorder have not yet been reported. In this study, we examined corpus callosum size from a developmental perspective across a 30-year age range in a large cross-sectional sample of individuals with autism compared to a typically developing sample. Midsagittal corpus callosum area and the 7 Witelson subregions were examined in 68 males with autism (mean age 14.1 years; range 3–36 years) and 47 males with typical development (mean age 15.3 years; range 4–29 years). Controlling for total brain volume, increased variability in total corpus callosum area was found in autism. In autism, increased midsagittal areas were associated with reduced severity of autism behaviors, higher intelligence, and faster speed of processing (p = 0.003, p = 0.011, p = 0.013, respectively). A trend toward group differences in isthmus development was found (p = 0.029, uncorrected). These results suggest that individuals with autism benefit functionally from increased corpus callosum area. Our cross-sectional examination also shows potential maturational abnormalities in autism, a finding that should be examined further with longitudinal datasets.