Developmental expression of nitric oxide synthase in the rat diencephalon with special reference to the thalamic paratenial nucleus

Using immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization the distribution of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) was investigated in the rat brain during pre- and postnatal development. At E15 weak NOS-like immunoreactivity (NOS-LI) could be seen in the differentiation field of the anterior hypothalamus. At E17 strong NOS-LI was observed in the developing neurons of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus, supraoptic nucleus, anterodorsal nucleus and lateral hypothalamic areas. In the thalamic paratenial nucleus a strong NOS-LI was observed in these neurons at E17, E18 and P1 with a weaker intensity at P3, P7, P9 and P15, whereas at P30 and in adult rats no NOS-positive neurons could be detected. NOS expression at E17 and P3 was verified by in situ hybridization. These results suggest that NO may have a developmental role at least in one of the regions studied, the thalamic paratenial nucleus.     

Late effects of radiotherapy in children

PURPOSE: To examine benzoporphyrin derivative angiography as a modality for studying photosensitizer biodistribution in experimental choroidal melanomas. METHODS: A liposomal preparation of benzoporphyrin derivative was used in this study. Digital benzoporphyrin derivative angiograms were performed in 10 rabbits (six for experimental choroidal melanomas, two for normal choroids, and two for irides) using a Topcon ImageNet H1024 digital imaging system, a Kodak Megaplus video camera, and a Topcon TRC-50-VT fundus camera. Only one eye from each rabbit was used. Filters specifically designed for benzoporphyrin derivative (peak absorption at 580 nm and peak emission at 695 nm) were used. Benzoporphyrin derivative (1 mg/kg) was injected into an ear vein while images of tumor, normal choroid, or iris were being obtained. Follow-up images were obtained during the first 3 hours and at 24 hours after injection. Fluorescence microscopy was performed in all 10 rabbits using 1 mg/kg of benzoporphyrin derivative. Tumor-bearing eyes were enucleated at the same time points that angiograms were performed, and the two sets of results were compared for maximum dye accumulation. RESULTS: Digital angiography demonstrated that maximal benzoporphyrin derivative fluorescence occurred in tumors 15 to 45 minutes after injection. Fluorescence photometry corroborated these results. CONCLUSION: Photosensitizer angiography is a valid modality for determining the optimum treatment time for photodynamic therapy.     

Irregular dynamics of a chain of circle maps with quasiperiodic excitation

An analysis is made of the spatial evolution of quasiperiodic regimes in a chain of coupled circle maps. Mechanisms for the appearance of strange nonchaotic dynamics and the properties of irregular attractors are analyzed. Pis’ma Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 23, 73–79 (April 12, 1997)     

On the crystal structure and magnetic properties of the ternary rare earth compounds RETSb2 with RE rare earth and T Ni, Pd, Cu and Au

Novel compounds RETSb₂ have been prepared and characterized for T Cu (RE rare earth from La to Lu), Ni (RE La to Ho), Pd (RE La to Tb) and Au (RE La to Sm). From X-ray powder diffraction analyses all compounds were found to crystallize as the ZrCuSi₂ type. Magnetic susceptibilities were generally measured in the temperature range from 4 to 100 K. YCuSb₂ and LaTSb_z are temperature-independent paramagnets. RETSb₂ compounds are found to order antiferromagnetically below T = 20 K. PrPdSb₂ and TbPdSb₂ undergo metamagnetic transitions, whereas PrCuSb₂ and ErCuSb₂ are simple ferromagnets. The Sm-containing compounds are typical Van Vleck paramagnets owing to the closely spaced multiplets.     

Intravenous microdialysis sampling in awake, freely-moving rats.

Intravenous microdialysis sampling in the awake, freely-moving rat for the determination of free drug concentrations in blood is described. Intravenous microdialysis was performed with a nonmetallic, flexible dialysis probe. The pharmacokinetics of theophylline were determined using both microdialysis sampling and collection of whole blood following an iv dose. There was no difference in the half-life of elimination of theophylline determined by microdialysis, 4.4 +/- 0.4 h, and whole blood sampling, 4.5 +/- 0.7 h. The kinetics of elimination were affected by removing blood samples and by using anesthesia. The half-life of elimination was 4.4 +/- 0.4 h when using simultaneous microdialysis and whole-blood sampling and only 3.0 +/- 0.4 h using microdialysis alone. The half-life of elimination was 17.0 +/- 7.1 h in chloral hydrate anesthesized rats. Microdialysis samples were continuously collected for over 7 h without fluid loss using a single experimental animal. Microdialysis sampling directly assesses the free drug concentration in blood. The extent of theophylline binding to blood proteins was determined in vitro in rat plasma and rat whole blood using both ultrafiltration and microdialysis. Theophylline was (47.3 +/- 1.3)% bound in rat plasma and (52.2 +/- 1.6)% bound in rat whole blood. Microdialysis sampling is a powerful tool for pharmacokinetic studies, providing accurate and precise pharmacokinetic data.     

Basal ganglia organization in amphibians: catecholaminergic innervation of the striatum and the nucleus accumbens

The aim of the present study was to determine the origin of the catecholaminergic inputs to the telencephalic basal ganglia of amphibians. For that purpose, retrograde tracing techniques were combined with tyrosine hydroxylase immunohistochemistry in the anurans Xenopus laevis and Rana perezi and the urodele Pleurodeles waltl. In all three species studied, a topographically organized dopaminergic projection was identified arising from the posterior tubercle/mesencephalic tegmentum and terminating in the striatum and the nucleus accumbens. Although essentially similar, the organization of the mesolimbic and mesostriatal connections in anurans seems to be more elaborate than in urodeles. The present study has also revealed the existence of a noradrenergic projection to the basal forebrain, which has its origin in the locus coeruleus. Additional catecholaminergic afferents to the striatum and the nucleus accumbens arise from the nucleus of the solitary tract, where catecholaminergic neurons appear to give rise to the bulk of the projections to the basal forebrain. In other regions, such as the olfactory bulb, the anterior preoptic area, the suprachiasmatic nucleus, and the thalamus, retrogradely labeled neurons (after basal forebrain tracer-applications) and catecholaminergic cells were intermingled, but none of these centers contained double-labeled cell bodies. It is concluded that the origin of the catecholaminergic innervation of the striatum and the nucleus accumbens in amphibians is largely comparable to that in amniotes. The present study, therefore, strongly supports the existence of a common pattern in the organization of the catecholaminergic inputs to the basal forebrain among tetrapod vertebrates.     

Gliotoxicity, reverse transcriptase activity and retroviral RNA in monocyte/macrophage culture supernatants from patients with multiple sclerosis

Utilizing cultured lenses from normal and homozygous glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx-1) knockout mice and inhibitors for GSSG Reductase (GSSG Red), 1,3-bis(2-chlorethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU) and catalase (Cat), 3-aminotriazole (3-AT), the ability to degrade H2O2 was examined at two H2O2 concentrations, 300 microM and 80 microM. It was found that GSHPx-1 contributed about 15% to the H2O2 degradation. The Cat contribution was concentration dependent being about 30% at 300 microM H2O2 and approximately 8% to 15% at 80 microM H2O2. GSH loss measured as nonprotein thiol (NP-SH) was shown to be linked to most of the remaining H2O2 degradation accounting for about 54% to 72% of the H2O2 degradation at 300 microM and 80 microM, respectively. However, based on evaluation of the ability of GSH to nonenzymatically degrade H2O2, it can only account for about 36% at 300 microM and 19% at 80 microM H2O2 of the observed lens H2O2 degradation. It is, therefore, concluded that lens GSH must be involved in other reactions either directly or indirectly related to H2O2 degradation.     

Superficial hemangiomas: associations and management

A new design of single tooth implant (AstraTech, Molndal Sweden) featuring a microthreaded conical neck and TiO blast surface was evaluated clinically and radiographically after 2 years in function. Fifteen patients (age range 16 to 48) with missing maxillary anterior teeth (6 central incisors, 8 laterals, 1 bicuspid) had 4, 13 mm and 11, 15 mm implants placed under local anaesthesia and left for a period of 6 months before exposure and abutment connection/crown fabrication. All patients were seen at 4 to 6 monthly intervals for hygienist maintenance. Radiographs using Rinn holders and a long cone technique were taken at the crown insertion and after 1 year (14 subjects) and 2 years (12 subjects). All implants were successfully integrated at stage 2, and no implants have been lost. The internal conical seal design of the abutment/implant interface facilitated connection and there were no cases of abutment screw loosening. No soft tissue problems were observed, and the gingival morphology/health was well maintained. One crown was recemented after 18 months in function, and 1 crown was replaced because of a fracture to the porcelain incisal edge. At crown insertion, the mean bone level was 0.46 to 0.48 mm apical to the top of the implant and there were no statistically significant changes in the bone level over the 2 years of the study. In conclusion, the single tooth Astra implants were highly successful and bone changes within the first 2 years of function were comparable with other systems reporting high long-term success rates.     

4- and 13-GHz tuned amplifiers implemented in a 0.1-μm CMOStechnology on SOI, SOS, and bulk substrates

Four- and 13-GHz tuned amplifiers have been implemented in a partially scaled 0.1-1 μm CMOS technology on bulk, silicon-on-insulator (SOI), and silicon-on-sapphire (SOS) substrates. The 4-GHz bulk, SOI, and SOS amplifiers exhibit forward gains of 14, 11, and 12.5 dB and F_min's of 4.5 (bulk) and 3.5 db (SOS). The 13-GHz SOS and SOI amplifiers exhibit gains of 15 and 5.3 dB and F_unn's of 4.9 and 7.8 dB. The 4-GHz bulk amplifier has the highest resonant frequency among reported bulk CMOS amplifiers, while the 13-GHz SOS and SOI amplifiers are the first in a CMOS technology to have tuned frequencies greater than 10 GHz. These and other measurement results suggest that it may be possible to implement 20-GHz tuned amplifiers in a fully scaled 0.1-1 μm CMOS process     

Air-atomized iron powders — past, present, future

This article examines the history and future prospects of the production of iron powders by the atomizing high-carbon melts with compressed air. In terms of their properties, the iron powders obtained by this method are intermediate between water-atomized powders and reduced powders. They can be used to make anti-friction products or structural elements having a density within the range 6.3–6.9 g/cm³. The outlook for these powders is promising in Russia because they are needed for machine construction, especially in the auto industry.