Cardiac complications and diabetes in thalassaemia major: a large historical multicentre study.

The relationship between diabetes mellitus (DM) and cardiac complications has never been systematically studied in thalassaemia major (TM). We evaluated a large retrospective historical cohort of TM to determine whether DM is associated with a higher risk of heart complications. We compared 86 TM patients affected by DM with 709 TM patients without DM consecutively included in the Myocardial Iron Overload in Thalassaemia database where clinical/instrumental data are recorded from birth to the first cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) exam.

Effects of antiepileptic drugs, calcium channel blockers and other compounds on seizures induced by activation of voltage-dependent L calcium channel in DBA/2 mice.

1. The convulsant activity of the calcium voltage L-channel agonist Bay k 8644 was studied in genetically epilepsy prone DBA/2 mice. 2.

Behavioural and ECoG spectrum changes induced by intracerebral infusion of interferons and interleukin 2 in rats are antagonized by naloxone.

Rat interferon, alpha-interferon, interleukin 2 and recombinant interleukin-2 injected into the third cerebral ventricle produced typical behavioural sedation and/or sleep and ECoG synchronization in rats while beta-interferon produced no behavioural sleep or ECoG synchronization. A slight sedation was observed after the largest dose of beta-interferon only. During sleep induced by lymphokines, a dose-dependent increase in total voltage power as well as in the 0.

Behavioural and electrocortical effects after injection of two ornithine decarboxylase inhibitors into several areas of the brain in the rat.

The behavioural and electrocortical effects of alpha-methylornithine and alpha-difluoromethylornithine, two ornithine decarboxylase inhibitors, were evaluated after their infusion into several areas of the brain in the rat. Both compounds induced, in dose-dependent manner, similar epileptogenic effects, stereotyped behaviour and postural asymmetry, depending upon the site of injection. Unilateral injection of DFMO into the entopeduncular nucleus or the substantia nigra pars reticulata, caused an increase in locomotor activity.

Age-dependent ECoG spectrum power alterations are reduced by phosphatidylserine in rats.

The present experiments were carried out in order to characterize the changes in ECoG spectrum power occurring in old compared with young rats. In addition, it was planned to ascertain whether chronic treatment with phosphatidylserine affected possible ECoG changes occurring in aged animals. In comparison to 3 months-old rats, the ECoG activity of 13-15 months-old rats showed spontaneous single or bursts of monophasic and biphasic spikes.

Epileptogenic activity of some beta-lactam derivatives: structure-activity relationship.

The epileptogenic activity of several derivatives of beta-lactam was compared following their intracerebroventricular administration in rats. At a dose of 0.033 mumol/kg cefazolin was the most powerful epileptogenic compound among the drugs tested; dramatic seizure signs (nodding, clonic convulsions and sometimes escape responses) were observed repeatedly.

Effects of pertussis toxin on the behavioural and ECoG spectrum changes induced by clonidine and yohimbine after their microinfusion into the locus coeruleus.

1. Pertussis toxin, a substance which interferes selectively with receptor-mediated signal transduction mechanisms, was injected into the locus coeruleus of rats 1, 2, 3, 6 or 10 days before the microinjection of clonidine or yohimbine into the same site. 2.

Microinfusion of clonidine and yohimbine into locus coeruleus alters EEG power spectrum: effects of aging and reversal by phosphatidylserine.

1. The behavioural and electrocortical (ECoG) power spectrum effects of clonidine, and yohimbine, an agonist and an antagonist at alpha 2-adrenoceptors, after their unilateral microinfusion into the rat locus coeruleus (LC) in young (50-70 days old) and old (13-15 months old) rats were studied. 2.

Anticonvulsant effect of denzimol in DBA/2 mice.

The anticonvulsant activity of N-[beta-[4-beta-phenylethyl)phenyl]-beta-hydroxyethyl]-imidazole hydrochloride, denzimol, was studied following intraperitoneal administration in DBA/2 mice (seizures induced by sound). Protection against sound-induced seizures was observed after intraperitoneal administration of denzimol (3-15 mg/kg). The ED50 values for the suppression of tonic, clonic and wild running phases of sound-induced seizures were 1.

Evidence that locus coeruleus is the site where clonidine and drugs acting at alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoceptors affect sleep and arousal mechanisms.

The behavioural and electrocortical (ECoG) effects of clonidine were studied after microinjection into the third cerebral ventricle, or microinfusion into some specific areas of the rat brain rich in noradrenaline-containing cell bodies (locus coeruleus) or into areas receiving noradrenergic terminals (dorsal hippocampus, amygdaloid complex, thalamus, frontal and sensimotor cortex). The ECoG effects were continuously analysed and quantified by means of a Berg-Fourier analyser as total power and as power in preselected bands of frequency. Clonidine (9.

Behavioral and electrocortical effects of tolonidine in rats.

The rats systemic administration of tolonidine in rats (0.05-5.0 mumol/Kg) produced behavioural and electrocortical slow-wave sleep lasting between 35 and 200 min depending on the dose.