ERPs in schizophrenia: effects of antipsychotic medication

Thirty unmedicated schizophrenics were compared to 29 age-matched controls on auditory and visual event-related brain potential (ERP) paradigms. Twenty-one of these patients were tested again after 1 week on placebo and after 4 weeks on antipsychotic medication. Before treatment, N1, N2, and P3 components of the auditory ERP were smaller in the schizophrenics than in the controls. Although visual N2 was smaller in schizophrenics, visual P3 was not. In spite of significant clinical improvement with antipsychotic treatment, amplitudes of auditory and visual N1, N2, and P3 were not significantly changed. Higher blood levels of antipsychotic medication were related to reductions in auditory P3 latency, however. In addition, higher levels of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) MHPG (methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol) were associated with larger auditory N1s and larger auditory and visual P3s, suggesting an influence of arousal on these components in schizophrenics. In spite of this influence, reduction of the auditory P3 in schizophrenia is an enduring trait of the disease, which is not affected by antipsychotic medication or clinical improvement.     

Achieving thermal rectification in natural-circulation solar-energy water heaters

Thermal rectification is often required in solar-energy water heating systems in order to prevent unwanted heat leaks which occur at night as a result of reverse thermosyphonic motions from the store to the solar-energy collector. Conventional methods of accomplishing such a thermal rectification are reviewed, and novel non-return valves for this purpose and their potential applications are described.     

Diagnosis and treatment of the plica syndrome of the knee

Zn, Cu, Cd and Pb contents in liver, spleen and lymph nodes of 30 cows with lymphatic leukemia were determined using polarographic method. In leukemic tissues more or less prominent increase of mentioned metals was observed. Results of the examinations would indicate a partical disappearance of natural antagonism between particular elements in neoplastic tissues. Metals accumulation in leukemic tissue is prabably a secondary phenomenon in relation to virus infection. Alterated by virus physicochemical cell properties promote not only accumulation bat also perversion of heavy metals to tissues.     

Mood states and 24-hour cardiac monitoring

Cochlear microphonics and succinic dehydrogenase (SDH) activity of the hair cells during anoxia were studied in guinea pigs. After injection of the glucose-glucose oxidase mixture into the cerebellomedullary cistern, the deprivation of the oxygen tension in CSF and perilymph was measured in different time courses. In CSF, oxygen tension was reduced to zero within 60 min while in perilymph the maximal reduction was about a half the original level. The cochlear microphonics responded well to the oxygen tension deprivation in the perilymph. SDH activity, particularly in the outer hair cells was quite parallel to the oxygen tension in perilymph and also to the behavior of the cochlear microphonics. The present results indicate a close relationship between the electrophysiological and histochemical findings and that cochlear microphonics represent the function of the outer hair cells only.