Cardiovascular and subjective effects of intravenous cocaine administration in humans

Nine volunteer subjects were tested with intravenously administered cocaine hydrochloride in doses ranging from 4 to 32 mg, as well as 10 mg of dextroamphetamine sulfate. Measures of cardiovascular and subjective effects were made. Generally parallel dose-effect functions were obtained for heart rate, blood pressure, Addiction Research Center Inventory scores, Profile of Mood Scales, and subject ratings. A substantial effect on each of these variables was recorded after 8 mg of cocaine. The increase continued and peaked at approximately 16 mg after which it usually leveled off. Ten milligrams of dextroamphetamine generally had an effect comparable to 8 to 16 mg of cocaine.     

Recovery of memory after posthypnotic amnesia

Notes that documentation of the reversibility of posthypnotic amnesia has been hampered by the correlation of hypnotizability with the initial level of response to amnesia suggestions. 691 college students were placed in groups differing in hypnotic susceptibility that could be matched for initial amnesia recall, thereby eliminating the ceiling effect. At virtually every point along the distribution of initial amnesia response, hypnotizable Ss were significantly better able than insusceptible Ss to recapture the previously blocked memories after the amnesia suggestion was lifted. Conversely, those Ss who showed reversibility of amnesia were more responsive overall to hypnosis than those who did not. It is concluded that reversibility is of value in distinguishing between amnesia and pseudoamnesia and between partial amnesia and nonamnesia. Furthermore, reversibility helps define posthypnotic amnesia as a process involving the disruption of retrieval processes in memory. (15 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Mechanosensitive afferent units in the hypogastric nerve of the cat

1. Recordings have been made from ninety single afferent units in the hypogastric and lumbar splanchnic nerves of the cat. 2. The majority of units examined had properties similar to those previously described in the splanchnic nerve: they were slowly adapting mechanoreceptors with one to six punctate mechanosensitive sites distributed mainly along blood vessels as they approached the viscera in peritoneal ligaments; they had a wide range of mechanical thresholds and conduction velocities in the range 0.5-24 m s-1. 3. Receptive fields were found over the bladder base or its peritoneal ligaments or both, on the uterus or broad ligament or both, on the colon or mesocolon or both, and in association with the ureter, vas deferens, prostate or pelvic fat pads. 4. Discharges from afferent units associated with the bladder were investigated during spontaneous (or reflex) bladder contractions, passive distensions, and tetanic contractions induced by electrical stimulation of the sacral spinal cord. The mean spike rates of the adapted (tonic) discharges, observed during distensions and induced tetani, differed over part of the range of intravesical pressures examined. Their behaviour is discussed in relation to the concept of 'in series' tension receptors within the bladder wall.     

A simple device to obtain a pulsatile flow. Application to the vascular perfusion of dogs isolated intestinal segments

A simple device allowing a pulsatile flow to be obtained in isolated organ perfusion has been developed and applied to the vascular perfusion of isolated canine jejunal segments. The principle of the device consists of superimposing on a constant pressure produced by a roller pump, a pulsatile pressure of which the amplitude, frequency, and shape of the pulses can be adjusted separately and independently of the mean pressure value. The role of the arterial pulse in intestinal vascular perfusion has been studied by comparing the hemodynamic and metabolic behavior during alternate periods of pulsatile and nonpulsatile pumping. While no striking change in vascular resistance was observed, the O2 consumption was significantly increased under pulsatile flow. These results testify to better metabolic conditions and enhanced organ functions under pulsatile pumping and also argue for improved intestinal microcirculation despite the constancy of the vascular resistance.     

Measurement of thrombus formation on intravascular catheters

War is a complex social situation due to the interplay of multiple factors. Economical and political ones are of utmost importance, but human attitudes and motivations must be also taken into account. Being desirable to modify human transactions in such a way that they do not interfere with the basic right of everyone to a condition of physical and mental well-being, war must be abolished. The author contends that an understanding of behaviour through Psychology can be helpful in that aim. Aggression is considered the principal psychological cause of war. It is worth while to differentiate between aggression as an instrument for attaining a special end, and as pure hostility. Only in the first form, it is held here, does it play an important role in war. Psychogists must deal also with a wide range of states of mind that can be "served" by aggression: feelings of inferiority or insecurity, fear, greed, projections, compensations, rationalizations, etc. Scientific approach is not the only one Physiology brings to war prevention. It is equally important the wide dissemination of its conclusions among the general public. Information on the dynamics that prompt people to decide war would make it easier to control. This applies not only to political or military leaders, but also to civil populations. Concerning those two possible contributions of psychologists, scientific and educative, it is suggested the extensive use of psychodramatic techniques. Their richness lie in the lifelike experiences they convey to the participants, and particular aptitude to promote changes of attitudes. Investigation and information on the psychological processes related to war should be undertaken by international organizations of social scientists, acting simultaneously in several countries. Some of the initial steps they could further: 1) that prevention of war be a current subject matter in psychological courses; 2) that the World Health Organization take interest in this subject; 3) that psychologists participate in international political and economical bodies in order to clarify the psychological factors leading to war.