The effect of local chemical sympathectomy of the rat uterus on its sensitivity to sex hormones

Chemical sympathectomy of the rat uterus did not alter the main metabolic processes maintaining the uterus weight even though it changed its response to sex steroids. Sensitivity of endo- and myometrium to progesterone significantly decreased thus inducing a relative increase in the estradiol action.     

The prolonged-action form of Lomir (isradipine) in the treatment of mild and moderate essential hypertension

24-hour monitoring of arterial pressure has been performed outpatiently in 20 subjects with mild or moderate essential hypertension using portable system Space Labs 90207. The design of the study implied 2 weeks of observation without any treatment followed by a 4-week course of lomir SRO-5 plus a 2-week course of lomir administration in a double dose. Control examination was performed at the end of each period. It was established that a 4-week lomir course results in a lowering of systolic and diastolic pressure by 8.4 + -2.1 and 6.9 + -1.3 mm Hg, respectively. Double-dose lomir was also effective: a fall in both systolic and diastolic pressure by 15.6 + -3.2 and 8.1 + -1.8 mm Hg, respectively, was achieved.     

Yeasts contaminating salmon roe

Quantitative and species compositions of yeast contaminating eggs, fry and fingerlings of Salmo gairdneri Rich under artificial breeding have been studied. Prevalence of species of genera Candida, Rhodotorula, Cryptococcus and Debaryomyces is noted. Yeast isolated from perished eggs and sick fry do not possess pathogenic properties. Certain strains of yeast make stimulating effect on the studied microorganisms.     

Anti-cardiolipin and anti-beta2-glycoprotein I antibodies in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) frequently suffer from thromboembolic events. Anti-cardiolipin (aCL) antibodies have been shown to be associated with thrombosis. Recently, the antibodies against the anti-cardiolipin cofactor beta2-glycoprotein I (a(beta2)GPI) have been found with higher specificity for thrombosis. The presence of these antibodies was assessed in 128 patients with IBD [83 with ulcerative colitis (UC) and 45 with Crohn's disease (CD)] and 100 healthy controls (blood donors). Patients with UC and CD had a significantly higher prevalence of aCL (18.1% and 15.6%, respectively) than healthy controls (HC) (3%). Eleven IBD patients (8.6%) but no HC had a(beta2)GPI. None of the IBD patients with a history of thrombosis had aCL and only one of them (a UC patient with deep vein thrombosis of the right leg) had a high titer of IgG a(beta2)GPI. In conclusion, these data show that both aCL and a(beta2)GPI are significantly associated with IBD but further studies are needed to determine the significance of our findings.     

In-situ monitoring of fibre and matrix deformation in fibre/polymer composites

Three methods, namely microphotoelasticimetry, Raman spectroscopy and surface microgrids, are currently used at ONERA on fibre-reinforced polymers to measure the in-situ fibre or matrix deformation. They provide the materials scientist with valuable indications on the early damage growth. Recent results are given and information about the limitations of the methods are indicated.     

Simplified assessment of asphyxia at birth

A choroid plexus papilloma of the lateral ventricle presenting in early infancy and producing symptoms purely by secretion of cerebrospinal fluid with formation of a large cyst is presented. Initial conservative management by cyst-peritoneal shunt was followed by late recurrence of symptoms due to reformation of the cyst when the shunt blocked. Excision of the tumour afforded definitive relief.     

Monoamine oxidase activity in the brain of male laboratory mice differing in the capacity for social dominance

The activity of type A and B monoamine oxidases (MAO-A and MAO-B) was studied in the brain stem and cerebral hemispheres of male mice from the PT and CBA inbred laboratory lines with opposite dominance capabilities and in their direct and reciprocal F1 hybrids. MAO-B activity was shown to be lower in the hemispheres of intact PT males and F1 hybrid males, which are genetically predisposed to social domination, than in CBA males. One-hour social stress imposed by grouping mice into a micropopulation resulted in a decrease in MAO-A and MAO-B activity in the hemispheres of dominant PT and F1 hybrid males and an increase in MAO-B activity in the brain stem of subordinant CBA and dominant F1 males.     

Isoflurane- and halothane-mediated dilation of distal bronchi in the rat depends on the epithelium

BACKGROUND: Respiratory epithelium releases substance(s) that can modulate bronchoconstriction in response to constrictive agonists and enhance bronchodilation in response to certain bronchodilators. The hypothesis that the bronchodilatory effect of isoflurane and halothane depends on the epithelium was tested in rat distal bronchial segments. METHODS: Wistar rat bronchial segments of the fourth order (diameter approximately 100 microns) were dissected. After preconstriction with 5-hydroxytryptamine, each bronchial segment was exposed to increasing concentrations of 0% to 3% isoflurane or 0% to 3% halothane under four conditions: after epithelial rubbing, after pretreatment with the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine, after pretreatment with the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin, or with no preintervention (control). Changes in bronchial diameter were monitored using an in vitro video detection system. RESULTS: Both isoflurane and halothane produced concentration-dependent bronchodilation (P < 0.001 for either anesthetic; 40% +/- 11% [mean +/- SD] dilation for 3% isoflurane and 57% +/- 10% dilation for 3% halothane). For both anesthetics, bronchodilation was significantly but incompletely attenuated by epithelial rubbing (12% +/- 7% dilation for 3% isoflurane [P < 0.01] and 31% +/- 10% dilation for 3% halothane [P < 0.01]), by pretreatment with indomethacin (20% +/- 8% dilation for 3% isoflurane [P < 0.02] and 21% +/- 9% dilation for 3% halothane [P < 0.001]), or by L-NNA (9% +/- 7% dilation for 3% isoflurane [P < 0.005] and 39% +/- 12% dilation for 3% halothane [P < 0.05]). Epithelial rubbing did not impair nitroprusside-associated bronchodilation. CONCLUSIONS: Isoflurane- and halothane-mediated bronchodilation depends at least partially on the epithelium and may involve both a prostanoid and nitric oxide in distal rat bronchi.