The functional role of the septum

A study of the electrical activity (background and at sensory stimulation) of the motor and visual areas of the cortex, hippocampus, septum (in some cases the lateral geniculate body and the midbrain reticular formation) was carried out on rabbits by the method of spectral-correlation analysis. The method of driving reactions to electrical stimulation of the lateral and medial nuclei of the septum was used to investigate its functional role as a pace-maker. The spectograms of all the analyzed areas of the brain showed the presence of acquired rhythms during electrical stimulation at 4-30 Hz. The acquired rhythm was most prominent in cortical potentials. It is assumed that the generation of rhythmical cortical activity is due to physiological interaction of the cortex and septum.     

The genetic characteristics of the analgesic action of substance P, bradykinin and thyroliberin in the rats of 2 inbred strains

A participation of nonopiate peptide brain systems in the mechanism of individual pain sensation was studied. The experiments were carried out on rats of two inbred strains, Fischer-344 and WAG/G, which exhibit different threshold of thermal pain sensation. The action of nonopiate oligopeptides (substance P, bradykinin, and thiroliberin) on the latent period of tail immersion from hot water was studied. It was found that significant analgesic action of substance P, bradykinin, and thiroliberin is more pronounced in rats more sensitive to thermal stimuli (WAG/G). The rats with reduced thermal sensitivity (Fischer-344) are shown to be insensitive to analgesic action of substance P, bradykinin, and thiroliberin.     

The preparation of palladium for cold fusion experiments

Techniques have been established to prepare palladium specimens for cold fusion experiments using an ultra-high-vacuum, allmetal, high-temperature furnace to melt palladium metal in high purity alumina molds having a test tube shape. To date 6-mm and 15-mm cylinders have been fabricated, the latter being used to fabricate a sphere 12.5-mm in diameter. Techniques and facilities used for palladium-hydrogen isotope pressure-volume-temperature measurements^1–4 have been used to anneal these palladium specimens after machining and, in some cases, to charge these specimens with deuterium to PdD_0.63 stoichiometry prior to their use in electrochemical cells. The modeling of palladium-hydrogen isotope pressure-composition-temperature curves is described wherein existing data^5,6 is used to derive models that accurately describe the existing data and that extrapolate to high compositions. Experiments for reacting⁶LiD with Pd rods at 700°C to 800°C, in an attempt to precharge⁶Li into the Pd rods, are being prepared.Operated for the U.S. Department of Energy by Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc. Under Contract no. DE-AC05-84OR21400.     

Oxygen consumption by suspensions of Bacillus anthracoides spores

The respiration rate of spore suspensions of Bacillus anthracoides 96 was assayed by mass spectrometry employing a hermetically sealed reaction vessel constructed for this purpose. The rate of respiration was found to depend on the method of preparing suspensions, the duration of their storage at +4 degrees C, the physiological state of spores, and the action of a disinfectant containing chlorine on them.     

Surgical treatment of perforated gastroduodenal ulcer

The surgical treatment tactics of patients with perforative gastroduodenal ulcer was substantiated, basing on the complex analysis done. Radical intervention, mainly organ preserving one, constitutes the operation.     

Interaction of bivalent copper, nickel, manganese ions with native DNA and its monomers

UV differential spectroscopy is applied to study the interaction of Cu2+, Ni2+, Mn2+ ions with deoxyribonucleotides of canonic bases (dGMP, dAMP, dCMP, dTMP) and native DNA. Heteroatoms of the bases, coordinating ions, and binding constants which characterize the formation of metal complexes are found. The affinity of the ions is lower for the deoxyribonucleotide bases than for the ribonucleotide ones. This indicates that 02' of ribose participates in the stabilization of the metal complex even under conditions close to the neutral one (pH 6). Unlike the Cu2+ ions, Ni2+ and Mn2+ ions do not interact with N3C both in monomers and polymers. This seems to be the main factor explaining why copper makes DNA transform into a structure with a quasi-Hoogsteen pairing of GC pairs. No transformations of this kind of helix-coil transitions are caused by manganese and nickel up to concentrations 4 X 10(-2) M.     

Distribution of CCR5-delta 32 gene deletion across the Russian part of Eurasia

We describe the cases of two premature infants carrying a central venous line who developed on the fourth day of life a catheter related intracardiac thrombus. Although they were clinically asymptomatic we opted for thrombolytic treatment considering the potential risks of this situation. Treatment with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) was performed for one day in the first case and for three days in the second one, in association with fresh frozen plasma. Thrombus dissolution occurred in both patients and no adverse effects were noted. In our experience tissue plasminogen activator was a therapy acceptably safe and effective inducing clot lysis in very low birthweight neonates into critical situations.