Shock-induced hyperalgesia: III. Role of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and amygdaloid nuclei.

Rats exposed to a few moderately intense (1 mA) shocks subsequently exhibit lower vocalization thresholds to shock and thermal stimuli. They also exhibit facilitated learning in a Pavlovian conditioning paradigm. Together, these results suggest that shock exposure can enhance pain (hyperalgesia). The present study examined the role of the amygdala and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), 2 systems that have been implicated in the induction and maintenance of negative affective states. Experiment 1 showed that lesions of the central, but not the basolateral, amygdala eliminate shock-induced hyperalgesia as measured by a decrease in vocalization thresholds to shock. Experiment 2 revealed that central nucleus lesions also prevent shock-induced sensitization of the vocalization response to heat. Anterior, but not posterior, BNST lesions had a similar effect. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Intrinsic selectivities and yields in the catalytic hydrogenation of polyenoic fatty acid methyl esters

Precise values of the intrinsic selectivities and yields for the hydrogenation products of methyl linolenate (Ln) and methyl linoleate (L) obtained under carefully controlled conditions using a commercial Ni catalyst are presented and analyzed in detail. The existence of a preferential adsorption of Ln and a significant co-hydrogenation of its double bonds are confirmed as being the dominant features under typical vegetable oil processing conditions. It is shown that the values of the selectivities that are obtained from the classical consecutive reactions network account for the intrinsic selectivity of the catalyst only while hydrogenating feedstocks with moderate to low (<10%) contents of Ln. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad Nacional del Lltoral (U.N.L.)     

An evaluation of the life cycle cost of rapeseed oil as a straight vegetable oil fuel to replace petroleum diesel in agriculture

The use of straight vegetable oil (SVO) as biofuel has been recognized as a valid substitute of diesel fuel in the agricultural sector under specific circumstances. Its direct use reduces most of the chemical processes involved when converting it into biodiesel, thus lowering harmful emissions. This study presents the economic analysis of a self-supply farming model that uses rapeseed as its fuel base. This model addresses agricultural environmental concerns and can even minimize dependence on the fluctuating costs of diesel fuel. The use of SVO in agriculture can help reduce farmers’ vulnerability to fossil fuel prices. The economic evaluation of the model proposed in this study shows clear economic benefits of introducing rapeseed to the traditional crop rotation of wheat and barley. The key factors analyzed in this model are diesel fuel price, diesel fuel grants and crop aids. The current situation in Spain favors the use of diesel fuel in agriculture rather than rapeseed SVO due to an 8% profit difference. However, results show that changes in key factors slightly affect the profit margin, calculating a difference of only 3.7% for particular factor combinations. Combined environmental-friendly agriculture supporting policies are necessary to cover this slight profit difference to promote this biofuel.     

Cell cultures and nephrolithiasis

Large bone flaps for free transfer can be successfully and safely harvested based on the deep branch of the superior gluteal artery. The anatomy is consistent, the vessels are large, and the complications of this technique are minimal.     

慕尼黑植物园的演变是欧洲园林艺术发展的缩影

欧洲的园林文化传统上青睐于规整式花园(后来被称为文艺复兴时期的花园),一直到18世纪自然风景园在英国和整个欧洲迅速蔓延开来.相比较而言,中国有着悠久的自然风景园林传统.建于1812年的慕尼黑的旧植物园刚开始也是一个规整式的花园.直到1890年才转型为一个自然风景园.城市扩张给花园造成很大的用地问题.因此1914年慕尼黑新植物园选址在城市的西郊.这20hm2的花园既有规整式的花园区域,也有自然式的花园区域.此外,园内还另辟场地,成立了一个主题花园——生态高山植物园.主题园自20世纪中叶以来越来越受欢迎.如今,主题花园为植物园提供了提高形象的重要机会.     

Bone tumors of the coracoid process of the scapula

Bone tumors of the coracoid process of the scapula are rare, and diagnosis and treatment often are delayed. The records of 18 patients with bone tumors of the coracoid process were reviewed. Histologic types included eight cases of ordinary chondrosarcoma, three cases of dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma, two cases of osteoid osteoma, and one case each of osteosarcoma, plasmacytoma, lymphoma, giant cell tumor, and aneurysmal bone cyst. All 18 patients had shoulder pain, and eight of them had been treated with steroid injections for nonneoplastic conditions. Radiologically, chondrosarcoma did not always show clear cortical destruction, and one giant cell tumor had features mimicking those of chondrosarcoma. Five patients (three with dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma, one with chondrosarcoma, one with plasmacytoma) died of disease. The coracoid process was the site with a markedly high proportion of chondrosarcomas. Bone tumors of the coracoid process may be difficult to detect on plain radiographs. In the patient with persistent shoulder pain unresponsive to the selected treatment, additional imaging studies should be considered to eliminate the possibility of a bone lesion.     

An essential role for retinoid receptors RARbeta and RXRgamma in long-term potentiation and depression

Hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD) are the most widely studied forms of synaptic plasticity thought to underlie spatial learning and memory. We report here that RARbeta deficiency in mice virtually eliminates hippocampal CA1 LTP and LTD. It also results in substantial performance deficits in spatial learning and memory tasks. Surprisingly, RXRgamma null mice exhibit a distinct phenotype in which LTD is lost whereas LTP is normal. Thus, while retinoid receptors contribute to both LTP and LTD, they do so in different ways. These findings not only genetically uncouple LTP and LTD but also reveal a novel and unexpected role for vitamin A in higher cognitive functions.     

Outcome of orthotopic liver transplantation in patients with haemophilia

As part of environmental toxicology, it is important to assess both the carcinogenic potential of xenobiotics and their mode of action on target cells. Since dysregulation of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), a rate-limiting enzyme of polyamine biosynthesis, is considered as an early and essential component in the process of multistage carcinogenesis, we have studied the mode of ODC induction in Syrian-hamster-embryo(SHE) cells stage-exposed to carcinogens and to non-carcinogens. One-stage (5 hr) treatment of SHE cells with 50 microM clofibrate (CLF), a non-genotoxic carcinogen, or with 0.4 microM benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), a genotoxic carcinogen, slightly decreased basal ODC activity. Using the 2-stage exposure, 1 hr to carcinogen, then replacement by TPA for 5 hr, the ODC activity was higher than that obtained with TPA alone. This ODC superinduction was not observed when SHE cells were similarly pre-treated with non-carcinogenic compounds. Several environmental chemicals, pesticides, solvents, oxidizers and drugs were investigated with this SHE cell model. With one-stage exposure, some xenobiotics decreased basal ODC activity, while for others ODC changes were not noticeable. With 2-stage exposure (chemical followed by TPA), all carcinogens amplified the TPA-inducing effect, resulting in ODC superinduction. Comparative studies of the action of carcinogens and of non-carcinogens, using 2-stage exposure protocols, clearly show a close relationship between ODC induction rate and morphological transformation frequency.