Argon blocks the expression of locomotor sensitization to amphetamine through antagonism at the vesicular monoamine transporter-2 and mu-opioid receptor in the nucleus accumbens

We investigated the effects of the noble gas argon on the expression of locomotor sensitization to amphetamine and amphetamine-induced changes in dopamine release and mu-opioid neurotransmission in the nucleus accumbens. We found (1) argon blocked the increase in carrier-mediated dopamine release induced by amphetamine in brain slices, but, in contrast, potentiated the decrease in KCl-evoked dopamine release induced by amphetamine, thereby suggesting that argon inhibited the vesicular monoamine transporter-2; (2) argon blocked the expression of locomotor and mu-opioid neurotransmission sensitization induced by repeated amphetamine administration in a short-term model of sensitization in rats; (3) argon decreased the maximal number of binding sites and increased the dissociation constant of mu-receptors in membrane preparations, thereby indicating that argon is a mu-receptor antagonist; (4) argon blocked the expression of locomotor sensitization and context-dependent locomotor activity induced by repeated administration of amphetamine in a long-term model of sensitization. Taken together, these data indicate that argon could be of potential interest for treating drug addiction and dependence.     

Dose response relationships for radiation induced chromosome aberrations in human lymphocytes in vivo and in vitro

Chromosome aberrations have been analysed in cultured lymphocytes from a patient undergoing whole-body treatment with split doses of gamma-rays up to a cumulative dose of 1.4 Gy. The dependence on dose of the yield of dicentrics was best fitted to the linear-quadratic relationship with a linear component predominating in the low dose range (below 0.56 Gy). These observations were compared with the data obtained when blood samples were exposed in vitro to low acute doses of gamma-rays (from 0.05 up to 2.0 Gy). The frequencies of induced chromosome aberrations were similar in both cases and little deviation was found between the dose response curves (a/b ratio equal to 0.56 and 0.69 Gy, respectively in vivo and in vitro). These results confirm that in vitro calibration curves can be utilized confidently for the biological estimate of an in vivo absorbed dose.     

Assessment of myocardial viability in rats: Evaluation of a new method using superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles and Gd-DOTA at high magnetic field.

The aim of this study was to detect salvageable peri-infarction myocardium by MRI in rats after infarction, using with a double contrast agent (CA) protocol at 7 Tesla. Intravascular superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles and an extracellular paramagnetic CA (Gd-DOTA) were used to characterize the peri-infarction zone, which may recover function after reperfusion occurs. Infarcted areas measured from T1-weighted (T1-w) images post Gd-DOTA administration were overestimated compared to histological TTC staining (52% +/- 3% of LV surface area vs. 40% +/- 3%, P=0.03) or to T2-w images post SPIO administration (41% +/- 4%, P=0.04), whereas areas measured from T2-w images post SPIO administration were not significantly different from those measured histologically (P=0.7). Viable and nonviable myocardium portions of ischemically injured myocardium were enhanced after diffusive Gd-DOTA injection. The subsequent injection of vascular SPIO nanoparticles enables the discrimination of viable peri-infarction regions by specifically altering the signal of the still-vascularized myocardium.     

Effects of hyperthermia on natural killer cells: inhibition of lytic function and microtubule organization.

Cells with natural killer activity (NK) may play an important role in host defence against tumour cells. The lytic function of NK cells is very sensitive to hyperthermic inactivation. However, cells with NK activity isolated from rat spleen and exposed to 41-42.5 degrees C for 30 min could partially recover their cytotoxic activity after incubation at 37 degrees C. The recovered cytotoxicity was still NK-specific, as it only resulted in the lysis of YAC-1 sensitive targets, and could not lyse NK-resistant P815 mastocytoma cells. Conjugate formation assay using NK cells labelled with specific monoclonal antibody (mAb) 3.2.3 indicated that the binding of NK cells to targets was not significantly affected by heat treatment. Compared to controls, however, microtubule organizing centre (MTOC) reorientation towards the region of intercellular contact was reduced by 40% in heated effector cells. This was accompanied by a greater inhibition (62-77%) of NK lytic activity. Kinetic analysis indicated that MTOC reorientation capacity recovered following incubation at 37 degrees C. MTOC recovery was maximal 4 h after treatment whereas that of lytic activity peaked at 6 h. These data indicate that NK cells recover NK-specific lytic activity after heat inactivation. Moreover, our study demonstrates that hyperthermia interferes with post-binding MTOC reorientation, and further supports a role for microtubule in secretory processes involved in NK-mediated cytolysis.     

Retrocostoxyphoid hernia in children. Apropos of 6 cases. Review of the literature

Six further cases of retrocostoxiphoid hernia in children are reported, the postoperative course being uncomplicated following supraumbilical laparotomy. The relevant literature is reviewed and emphasis placed on the value of peritoneography for establishing diagnosis prior to operation.     

BioArgos: a fully automated blood culture system.

BioArgos (Sanofi Diagnostics Pasteur, Marnes-la-Coquette, France) is a fully automated blood culture system that detects carbon dioxide production by infrared spectroscopy through a glass bottle. This hands-off system was compared with the BACTEC NR-660 system (Becton Dickinson Diagnostic Instrument Systems, Towson, Md.). A total of 336 microorganisms belonging to 74 taxa were tested in simulated blood cultures by both systems. Experimental data showed no significant differences between the two systems. The inclusive detection times (+/- the standard deviations) were 33.2 +/- 28.7 and 35.0 +/- 30.6 h with BioArgos and BACTEC, respectively. Anaerobes were detected earlier with BioArgos, whereas detection of some organisms that need oxygen to grow was slightly delayed. In conclusion, BioArgos is as reliable and accurate as BACTEC NR-660 and shows better practicability owing to noninvasive detection, reduction of vial manipulation, and absence of daily maintenance.     

Disposition of sandostatin, a new synthetic somatostatin analogue, in rats

The distribution, excretion, and metabolism of Sandostatin, a long-acting octapeptide analogue of somatostatin, have been studied in the rat after iv administration. Similar plasma levels and excretion values were observed by using radioimmunoassay and HPLC-liquid scintillation techniques. For the latter technique Sandostatin was radiolabeled with either 14C or 3H. The plasma pharmacokinetics of Sandostatin were as follows: Vdss = 0.4 liter/kg, C/t = 4.2 ml/min, and t1/2 2.0 hr; this half-life was by far longer than that of somatostatin. The in vitro protein binding amounted to 59% in rat plasma; no Sandostatin was taken up by blood cells. The tissue concentrations of Sandostatin were similar when determined either by radioimmunoassay or by quantitative whole-body autoradiography; this suggests that the distribution of 3H or 14C radioactivity observed 0.5 hr after iv administration mostly represented unchanged Sandostatin. Kidney and liver were the only tissues in which Sandostatin levels were higher than in blood; high radioactivity levels were observed in the blood vessel walls, whereas levels in brain were insignificant. Unchanged drug accounted for most of the radioactivity found in plasma, urine, and bile, whereas only traces of unchanged drug were detected in feces. These results demonstrated the metabolic stability of Sandostatin in the tissues, primarily in the liver, and suggested an extensive degradation in the intestinal tract. The degradation products consisted of smaller peptides and free amino acids. About 50% and 20% of the applied dose were excreted as unchanged Sandostatin in bile and urine, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)