Effects of amphetamine and haloperidol on avoidance behavior and exploratory activity

The effect of graded doses of D-amphetamine and haloperidol were tested on retention of a one trial learning passive avoidance response, on extinction of pole-jumping active avoidance behavior and on open-field activity. Low doses of amphetamine (10 microgram/animal) increased passive avoidance latency when given s.c. 1 h prior to the retention test. Higher doses (20 and 1000 microgram/animal) caused a bimodal distribution of avoidance latencies. Haloperidol (0.03 or 1.0 microgram/animal) significantly attenuated passive avoidance behavior. Amphetamine caused a delay of extinction of pole-jumping avoidance behavior in a dose-dependent manner (10, 30 or 90 microgram per rat). Conversely, haloperidol induced a dose-dependent facilitation of extinction (0.03 or 0.1 microgram per rat). Open-field activity was not significantly affected by 30 microgram amphetamine or 0.03 microgram haloperidol; 90 microgram amphetamine significantly increased rearing activity and 0.1 microgram haloperidol decreased ambulation. The data show that passive and active avoidance behavior are sensitive measures to test the activity of psychomotor stimulant and neuroleptic drugs. Exploratory behavior allows more specific behavioral effects to be dissociated from locomotor influences.     

Fatal anaphylactic reaction to tetracycline in the postoperative period

A case of anaphylactic reaction in the form of acute cyanosis, hypotension with sudden and unexpected death of a patient in the post-operative period following the administration of tetracycline is described. There was no history of previous exposure to the drug.     

The interaction of 1-anilino-8-naphthalenesulfonate with lipids: a nuclear magnetic resonance study

The proton magnetic resonance (PMR) and phosphorus magnetic resonance (PhMR) spectra of egg phosphatidylcholine in the presence of 1-anilino-8-nahthalenesulfonate (ANS) have been studied. At low ratios of ANS to phospholipid, the spectra indicate that ANS molecules are in the lipid interface region where they interact with the head-group protons. ANS also penetrates into the hydrocarbon region to some extent. As the ANS/phospholipid ratio approaches one, a significant splitting of the head-group signal occurs. This splitting is associated with head-group signals from inner and outer molecules of the phospholipid vesicles. As the ANS/phospholipid ratio is further increased, a gel phase often occurs. The spectra for this gel phase suggest a highly mobile head-group. Further ANS addition results in a PMR spectrum suggestive of ANS-phospholipid micelle formation. The results for a phospholipid-cholesterol complex and for the total lipid extract from a cell membrane show that the ANS effect is more complicated in these cases.     

Summary of the Closing Session

Plausible costs of photovoltaic power plants of concentration are presented. Costs are based as much as possible on the recent experience of solar thermal plants. Efficiencies, on the existing world experience of PV power plants. The result is that the costs of concentrating photovoltaic plants should be of 0.08 ECUs/ kWh, about 1/3 of that of flat module plants, and of the same order of magnitude, even lower, than those attributed to solar thermal plants of present technology.

For the future, high concentration systems based on Si or tandem cells seem to be the most promising, also in the range of costs of the advanced solar thermal plants.     

The role of emergency medical services in primary injury prevention. East Carolina Injury Prevention Program

Recent studies have shown a high frequency of genetic hemochromatosis in the Caucasian population. In addition, the well known organ involvement of genetic hemochromatosis was evident; more than 50% of patients develop a typical arthropathy which may result in severe physical disability. Among approximately 5000 patients referred to the rheumatology outpatient clinics of Bad Nauheim and Frankfurt with different rheumatologic diagnoses, 11 patients with typical signs of hemochromatotic arthropathy were identified. In none of those cases had the diagnosis "genetic hemochromatosis" been previously established. These patients had been treated for rheumatoid arthritis and other rheumatologic disorders over several years. All showed severe organ dysfunction due to iron overload, resulting in a reduced life expectancy. This investigation shows that knowledge of the typical signs of hemochromatotic arthropathy could lead to an earlier diagnosis of genetic hemochromatosis which is necessary to prevent the complications of iron overload in those patients.