Functional activity mapping of the rat spinal cord during formalin-induced noxious stimulation.

The functional activity pattern in the cervical enlargement of the spinal cord (as expressed by changes in local glucose utilization) was investigated by the semi-quantitative [14C]2-deoxyglucose technique 2 min ("early" group) or 60 min ("late" group) after injection of a small amount of dilute formalin (0.06-0.08 ml, 5%) in a forepaw of unanesthetized, freely-moving rats.

Differential expression of muscle-specific enolase in embryonic and fetal myogenic cells during mouse development.

Three isoforms of the glycolytic enzyme enolase are present in mammals and birds. During development, a switch from the alpha to the beta form takes place in skeletal muscle. In order to investigate the molecular basis of this developmental transition of enolase isoforms, we extracted total RNA from limbs of mouse embryos of different ages, and from cultures of embryonic and fetal myogenic cells.

Structure of the human gene for alpha-enolase.

In mammals there are at least three isoforms of the glycolytic enzyme enolase encoded by three similar genes: alpha, beta and gamma. In this report we describe the isolation and characterization of the human alpha-enolase locus. The gene appears to exist as a single copy in the haploid genome and is composed of 12 exons distributed over more than 18,000 bases.

The gene for the muscle-specific enolase is on the short arm of human chromosome 17.

The human gene encoding the muscle-specific beta-enolase has been isolated. The beta-enolase gene was mapped to chromosome 17 by analysis of a panel of rodent-human somatic cell hybrids. The gene was further localized to the short arm and tentatively to the region 17pter-p11 by analysis of cell hybrids and transfectant cell lines carrying different portions of chromosome 17.

Studies on lymphokine production in lepromatous leprosy patients.

In order to evaluate whether lymphokine (LK) release is impaired in patients with lepromatous leprosy (LL), the production of two LKs, namely leukocyte inhibitory factor (LIF) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of LL individuals was investigated. Results show that in eight patients CD4+ cells exhibit a reduced release of LIF, while CD8+ lymphocytes are still able to secrete this LK. In the remaining three patients both CD4+ and CD8+ cells produced LIF as do normal lymphocyte subpopulations.

Thirteenfold increase of chromosomal aberrations non-randomly distributed in chagasic children treated with nifurtimox.

Chromosomal aberrations were analyzed from cultures of peripheral lymphocytes in 2 groups of chagasic children, before and after treatment with nifurtimox. The mean incidence of chromosomal aberrations increased from control values of 1.75 +/- 1.

Cloning, expression and sequence homologies of cDNA for human gamma enolase.

The nucleotide sequence of the human gamma-enolase mRNA was determined from recombinant cDNA clones. The sequence spans 2273 bp and includes the complete coding region of 1299 bp, a 5'-noncoding region of 74 bp and a 897-bp-long 3'-noncoding region containing a variant polyadenylation signal (ATTAAA). The deduced amino acid (aa) sequence is 433 aa long and shows a 97% similarity with rat gamma-enolase.

Assessment of cytogenetic damage in chagasic children treated with benznidazole.

Chromosomal aberrations and induction of micronuclei were analyzed from cultures of peripheral lymphocytes in 2 groups of chagasic children, before and after treatment with benznidazole. The median incidence of micronucleated interphase lymphocytes (20 patients) and chromosomal aberrations (10 patients) increased from control values of 5/1000 and 3% to 11.5/1000 and 6%, respectively, at a significance of P = 0.

Beta-lipotropin is the major component of the plasma opioid response to surgical stress in humans.

There is growing experimental evidence that beta-endorphin immunoreactivity is raised by surgical stress in patients undergoing general anesthesia. As the assay methods employed to date did not allow to fully discriminate between beta-endorphin and its immediate precursor, beta-lipotropin, we have investigated in the present study plasma levels of these two peptides by separating them by chromatography on plasma extracts prior to radioimmunoassay in eighteen surgical patients under general anesthesia and eight under spinal anesthesia. Beta-lipotropin, but not beta-endorphin, plasma levels were found to be significantly elevated during surgery in the general anesthesia group, while no change was found in either peptide concentration in the spinal one.

Ketamine effects on local cerebral blood flow and metabolism in the rat.

The effects of an anesthetic dose (100 mg/kg) of ketamine, a phencyclidine derivative, on local rates of cerebral glucose utilization (LCGU) and CBF (LCBF) have been investigated by the quantitative [14C]2-deoxy-glucose and [14C]iodoantipyrine techniques in the unparalyzed, spontaneously breathing rat. In ketamine-injected animals, LCGU was significantly increased in some limbic structures and decreased in inferior colliculus, vestibular, and cerebellar nuclei. The degree and spatial distribution of drug-induced changes was similar for local blood flow rates, LCBF being increased in limbic regions and decreased in the inferior colliculus.

General method of synthesis for natural long-chain beta-diketones.

Two general methods of synthesis have been developed for the preparation of long-chain beta-diketones. The first relies on malonate-type alkylation of acid chlorides derived from fatty acids, while the second, more direct method, involves coupling and subsequent hydrolysis of long-chain acetylenes with acid chlorides of fatty acids.

Effects of a synthetic extract (thymopentin) on the immune system of lepromatous leprosy patients.

Twenty three patients with lepromatous leprosy (LL) not in reactional phase and bacteriologically negative were evaluated for their immune status (T cell frequency and interferon gamma production). In six patients with deficits of both immune parameters, a synthetic thymic extract (TP-5) was administered. At the end of the treatment, a full recovery of immune dysfunction was observed.

Opioid control of LH secretion in humans: menstrual cycle, menopause and aging reduce effect of naloxone but not of morphine.

A number of studies have been made on the role played by endogenous opioid peptides in the secretion of LH in humans. However no previous studies have compared the effects of the most potent pharmacological agonist and antagonist, morphine and naloxone, in the same subjects. The present study examined the acute effects of injections of morphine and naloxone on plasma LH levels in 30 healthy subjects (18 women and 12 men).

Hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis of heroin addicts.

The hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis of heroin addicts was investigated by evaluating plasma cortisol levels throughout the day in 37 heroin abusers (HA), 17 of whom showed detectable morphine levels, indicating heroin administration in the previous hours and in 12 controls. All HA showed lower cortisol levels in basal condition (100.7 +/- 61.

[Description of a case of type E botulism in Italy].

The authors report the first documented italian case of type E botulism. The initial symptoms were typical permitting prompt diagnosis; the symptoms became severe and the patient had to be moved to intensive care. Biological tests on guinea-pigs showed the presence of type E botulin toxin in the tuna (stored in oil) which the patient had eaten 24 hours prior to admission.