Endorphins: mechanism of acupuncture analgesia.

Discharges were recorded from spinal dorsal horn neurons in response to noxious skin heating (50 degrees C) in anesthetized cats. Repetitive electrical stimulation of the superficial peroneal (SP) and posterior tibial (PT) nerves inhibited these nociceptive discharges as well as systemic administration of met-enkephalinamide (synthetic endorphin). The inhibitory effects of electro-stimulation as well as administration of synthetic endorphin were partially but significantly antagonized by naloxone, thus arguing in favor of endogenous morphine release as the basis for the mechanism of acupuncture analgesia.

[Cardiovascular effects of two synthetic enkephalin analogues following intracoronary administration in dogs (author's transl)].

Haemodynamic changes following intracoronary injection of two synthetic Met5-enkephalin analogues (FK 33-824 and DALA) with prolonged action as compared with "natural" enkephalines were investigated in anaesthetized dogs (n = 5; dosage; 200, 400, 600 micrograms of both substances i. cor.).

Intracerebral myiasis in a child.

Larvae of Hypoderma bovis accidentally parisitize man. These larvae can penetrate into the brain by a path which remains unknown, causing an intracerebral haematoma and clinical signs. Computerized tomography shows the haematoma, and carotid angiography shows the absence of a vascular malformation, but these examinations do not allow etiological diagnosis.

[Activities of enzymes synthesizing catecholamines in areas of the brain stem in sudden infant death].

In victims of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, the activity of phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase was found to decrease in the nucleus retroambigu, the Kolliker-Fuse nucleus and the C 2 area of medulla, whereas a decrease in the dopamine-beta-hydroxylase activity was found only in the C 2 area. These results suggest a hypoactivity of adrenergic neurons in respiratory and cardiac centres in the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

Voltage-dependent charge movement in frog slow muscle fibres.

1. Voltage-clamp experiments on frog slow and twitch fibres were carried out using the three-micro-electrode technique. Potassium currents were blocked by tetraethylammonium.

Membrane electrical properties of frog slow muscle fibres.

1. Pyriformis slow (and sartorius twitch) fibres from Rana temporaria were studied with a three-micro-electrode voltage-clamp technique to obtain an approximate measurement of membrane current density at a fibre end. In most experiments, a modified Ringer solution containing 2H20 and 230 mM-sucrose was used to reduce movement.

Mechanical activation in slow and twitch skeletal muscle fibres of the frog.

1. Slow and twitch muscle fibres of the frog were studied with a two-micro-electrode point voltage-clamp method. Slow fibres were identified in pyriformis and cruralis muscles by their appearance in the light microscope, electrical characteristics, and rate of sarcomere shortening or of tension development.

Gating current and potassium channels in the giant axon of the squid.

Gating current (Ig) underlying Na-channel activation is large enough to enable resolution of components both preceding and paralleling Na conductance (gNa) turn-on. For large depolarizations (beyond +20 mV), an additional "slow phase" of Ig is observed during a time when Na activation is already complete, but when K-channel opening is just becoming detectable. If Na- and K-channel gating are similar, the slow kinetics and long delay for K activation predict that K channel Ig must be relatively small and slow.

[Mesoblastic nephroma. Apropos of 6 cases].

6 cases of congenital mesoblastic nephroma removed surgically between 5 days and 2 months 1/2 of age are reported. The authors point out the peculiar histological aspect of this tumor : myomatous or fibromyomatous proliferation which surround in some places normal or dysplastic glomerular or tubular structures and penetrates by digitations in parenchymatous elements without destroying them. At the periphery of the tumor there are some lymphatic capsular ectasia or lymphoid infiltration or cartilaginous islets.

Fast and slow steps in the activation of sodium channels.

Kinetic features of sodium conductance (gNa) and associated gating current (Ig) were studied in voltage-clamped, internally perfused squid axons. Following a step depolarization Ig ON has several kinetic components: (a) a rapid, early phase largely preceding gNa turn-on; (b) a delayed intermediate component developing as gNa increases; and (c) a slow component continuing after gNa is fully activated. With small depolarizations the early phase shows a quick rise (less than 40 mus) and smooth decay; the slow component is not detectable.

[Readmissions in a pilot psychiatric ward].

We did this work because the observation shows us a high percentage of readmissions in Psychiatric Services. Alejandro Korn Hospital has 2,306 beds, 98% of them occupied. Of these beds, 104 belong to neurology and 63 to clinic and surgery.

[Functional evaluation of "tekatest", a test equipment for halothane-vaporizers (author's transl)].

The results of investigations on the reliability of a commericially available test equipment for anaesthetic vaporizers based on the Rotameter principle (s.c. "Tekatest") are reported.

[Tumours or mediastinal pseudo-tumours of Castleman? One observation (author's transl)].

Through a routine examination a Castleman tumour of left hilary topography was discovered in a 30 years old man. No recurrence followed exeresis. With regard to this case, the authors underlined the infrequency of these tumours with no preferential mediastinal topography and its occurrence at any age.

The pattern of urinary catecholamines and their metabolites in Duchenne myopathy, in relation to disease evolution.

In this report we have tried to determine whether or not catecholamines are involved in the progressive muscular dystrophy. Catecholamines and their metabolites were studied in urines of children with Duchenne disease or other forms of myopathy (limb-girdle and facio-scapulo humeral myopathies). Catecholamine deaminated metabolites were normal in either form of myopathy; in contrast, Duchenne patients, contrarily to other children, eliminated excessive amounts of most amines (catecholamines and methoxylated amines) in relation to age and degree of disease evolution.

[Infantile form of Gaucher's disease. Clinical and biological studies in 1 case. Prenatal diagnosis in 2 further normal pregnancies].

A clinical report of a typical case of infantile Gaucher's disease is given. Study of the beta-glucosidase activity in leukocytes and skin fibroblasts confirmed the diagnosis in the patient and established the heterozygote condition of the parents. Two later pregnancies have been monitored by enzymatic study of cultured amniotic fluid cells.