Electrophysiological and Fos immunohistochemical evidence for the excitatory nature of the parafascicular projection to the globus pallidus

Extracellular recordings and immunohistological detection of c-Fos-like immunoreactive proteins were used to determine the synaptic effect of the parafascicular projection to the globus pallidus. Electrical stimulation of the parafascicular neurons induced a single-spike excitatory response with a stable latency of 2.3 ms, suggesting a monosynaptically driven effect. Pharmacological stimulation of the parafascicular nucleus with carbachol increased tonically the pallidal discharge rate by 142%. The discharge rate of the pallidal neurons was described by 37% in parafascicular-lesioned rats. These results demonstrate the excitatory nature and the tonic action of the parafasciculopallidal projection. Carbachol activation of parafascicular neurons also induced the synthesis of c-Fos-like immunoreactive proteins in the pallidal neurons. Control experiments in subthalamic-lesioned rats showed that the parafascicular excitation of the pallidal neurons remained, but both electrophysiological and expression of c-Fos-like immunoreactive proteins were attenuated. This suggests that the direct parafascicular excitation of the pallidal neurons is indirectly reinforced by the previously described parafascicular excitatory input to the subthalamic nucleus. Conversely, the effect of this last input to the subthalamic nucleus is dramatically enhanced in rats with pallidal lesion. Our results demonstrate the complex role of the parafascicular nucleus in activating both the globus pallidus and the subthalamic nucleus, two closely related structures. These results illustrate the integrative capacities of the globus pallidus, whose activity is modulated by multiple afferents.     

Comparative characterization of endurance properties of ischemic myocardium in cyclic and quasistatic mechanical loads

The mechanical properties of totally ischemic hearts of inbred albino rats were studied. The ischemic myocardium was found to be more sensitive to cyclic loads. Energy deficient contracture of cardiomyocytes is a factor which increases the resistance of the myocardium to mechanical effects.     

The use of non-proven therapy among patients treated in Norwegian oncological departments. A cross-sectional national multicentre study

A national multicentre study was performed to investigate the prevalent use of "alternative medicine", here called "non-proven therapies (NPT)", applied among Norwegian cancer patients. Of 911 patients invited to take part in the study, 642 were included in the analysis. Demographic characteristics were collected for all patients. The participating physicians gave information about the patients' clinical characteristics. Among 630 evaluable patients, 20% had been or were present users of NPTs for their oncological disease. The preferred methods were healing by hand and faith healing. Herbs, vitamins, diets and Iscador were other popular methods. As many as 40% of the users of NPTs had used NPTs earlier for non-malignant diseases. Elderly patients were less likely to use NPTs. Use was high in the northern part of Norway.     

Enhanced Particle Removal in Fluorinated Liquids—An Application in Nuclear Decontamination

An experimental cleaning system has been developed to demonstrate the decontamination of model electronic circuit boards by this cleaning process. The media used in this process are a wash solution of a high molecular weight fluorocarbon surfactant in a perfluorinated carrier liquid which results in enhanced particle removal, followed by a perfluorinated carrier liquid rinse. The perfluorinated liquids of interest, which are recycled in the process, are inert, nonflammable, generally safe to use, and do not present a hazard to the atmospheric ozone layer. The cleaning experiments were performed at the MIT Nuclear Reactor Laboratory. The radioactive particles removed from the circuit boards were captured by 0.22 μm filters with a filtration efficiency of 99.5% per stage. Compatibility tests were performed on these model electronic circuit boards. The results obtained show that neither the process fluids used nor the maximum level of the ultrasonic agitation applied harmed the circuit boards or the circuit components. All the circuit boards used in these tests were still functional after the cleaning experiments. A three log reduction in contamination was obtained in 1 hour. These data indicate that this process, once implemented on a large scale, will offer users in the nuclear industry a practical and cost effective means of decontaminating and recovering a wide variety of tools and instruments.     

KEEPING QUALITY OF DIFFERENT PACKAGED SALTED ATLANTIC BONITO "LAKERDA"

Quality and shelf life of salted Atlantic bonito (lakerda) packaged in brine, under vacuum and in oil conditions and stored at 4  ±  1C were studied. The sensory scores of lakerda stored in all package types at 4C were 14 weeks, respectively. The microbiological count of the vacuum-packaged lakerda was extended than that lower of other group sample. Overall results of this study showed that 9 weeks of storage of lakerda in brine was the beginning of spoilage, whereas storage of samples in oil and vacuum package delayed onset of spoilage about 2–3 weeks in terms of chemical analysis. Lakerda stored in cold storage as sensory, chemical and microbiological results for brine- and oil-packaged lakerda showed us that week 11 was the beginning of spoilage, and for vacuum-packaged lakerda, week 13 was the beginning of spoilage.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Raw fish and processed fish product is highly perishable and has a short shelf life. Packing processing is finding increasing use in the food industry because of its relative advantages versus other food processing methods in eliciting minimal changes in the flavor, microbiological and nutritional qualities of the final product. This paper illustrates the changes induced in salted fish by packaging at different types. By using oil- and vacuum-packaged treatment, shelf life of traditional-packaged (in brine) lakerda could be extended at 4C from 9 weeks to 11–13 weeks.     

The clinical course and cardiohemodynamic status of patients with different variants of diphtheritic myocarditis

The clinical course was studied as was the condition of cardiohemodynamics in 126 patients with different variants of diphtherial myocarditis (DM) versus 23 patients with unspecific infectious and allergic myocarditis (UIAM). Early DM in the majority of cases runs a moderately severe or severe course because of a stronger--by comparison with late DM and UIAM--predisposition to cardiac insufficiency, sinus bradycardia and heart blocks as well as of a moderately severe systolic dysfunction of the left ventricle (LV), as evidenced by Echo-CG. Late DM runs, on the whole, a mild course, and is associated with minimal LV systolic function inadequacies.