Gangliosides enhance the membrane actions of ethanol and pentobarbital.

The physical properties of vesicles containing phosphatidylcholine (PC) and gangliosides were evaluated by the fluorescent probes 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene, trans- parinarate (probes of the lower acyl regions), and 1-(4- trimethylammoniumphenyl )-6-phenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (a probe of the glycerol backbone and upper acyl regions). Exposure of PC vesicles to ethanol produced a decrease in polarization of fluorescence of these probes, but large concentrations (200-600 mM) were required. Incorporation of 10 mole% rat brain synaptic gangliosides into the PC vesicles enhanced the effect of ethanol by several-fold.

Physical properties and lipid composition of brain membranes from ethanol tolerant-dependent mice.

DBA/2 mice were made tolerant to and dependent on ethanol by administration of an ethanol-containing liquid diet for 7 days. Fluorescent probe molecules were used to estimate the fluidity and ethanol sensitivity of brain synaptic membranes from these mice. The fluorescence polarization of cis- parinarate , trans- parinarate , and 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (probes of the membrane core) and 1-(4- trimethylammoniumphenyl )-6-phenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (a probe of the membrane surface) was higher in membranes from ethanol tolerant-dependent mice than in membranes from control mice.

Neglect dysgraphia.

A phonological dysgraphic syndrome is documented in a left handed man with a right-hemisphere lesion. His spelling was significantly affected by word length but neither word frequency nor the orthographical irregularity or word class proved to be relevant variables. Words were spelled equally efficiently forwards as backwards.

Protease inhibitors implicate metalloendoprotease in synaptic transmission at the mammalian neuromuscular junction.

Metalloendoproteases have been implicated in the calcium-dependent exocytosis of histamine from mast cells and in the calcium-dependent fusion of myoblasts. Because metalloendoproteases have also been identified in nervous tissue, we investigated the possibility that these proteases may be involved in neurotransmitter release at mammalian synapses. End-plate potentials were recorded intracellularly from mouse diaphragm/phrenic nerve preparations in vitro.

Enzyme regulatory site-directed drugs. MOdulation of thymidine triphosphate inhibition of thymidine kinase by 5'-amino-5'-deoxythymidine.

5'-Amino-5'-deoxythymidine (5'-AdThd) was found to antagonize the feedback inhibition exerted by dTTP on dThd kinase (EC 2.7.1.

Intracellular recordings from crustacean motor axons during presynaptic inhibition.

Action potentials intracellularly recorded from near the nerve terminals of the opener excitor motor axon in crayfish are reduced in amplitude during presynaptic inhibition. The amplitude and sign (hyperpolarizing or depolarizing) of presynaptic inhibitor potentials (PIPs) depends upon the relationship between the resting membrane potential of each excitor axon and its PIP equilibrium potential (which equals the equilibrium potential for gamma-aminobutyric acid).

A growth and development course for allied health majors.

This article describes an interdisciplinary course in growth and development for allied health students. The course focuses on physical, nutritional, and psychosocial aspects of development and views the individual from the time of conception through adulthood. For each developmental stage, professors integrate course material and class activities for students so that a composite picture of the individual is presented.

Effect of L-tryptophan on spasmodic torticollis.

The effect of L-tryptophan, a precursor of serotonin, and placebo were studied in eight patients with spasmodic torticollis. L-Tryptophan (5 g po as a single dose) which increased free plasma tryptophan 20-53 fold improved only one out of six patients. Two out of three patients, including the subject who improved following an oral load of tryptophan, improved with L-tryptophan combined with nicotinamide, a tryptophan pyrrolase inhibitor, when administered for 1-3 weeks.

Anoxic tonic seizures due to asthma; a serious complication in adults.

Anoxic tonic seizures are reported as a complication of severe asthma in two adults. The nature of these attacks can be misinterpreted. They do not indicate the presence of a recurrent seizure problem unconnected to the episodes of anoxia caused by asthma.

Noninvasive evaluation of mediastinal metastases in bronchogenic carcinoma: a prospective comparison of chest radiography and gallium-67 scanning.

Evaluation of regional node involvement in patients with bronchogenic carcinoma is a crucial step in determining therapy and prognosis. Mediastinoscopy has been recommended for staging all potentially operable cases, but technical limitations and the need for anesthesia make this impractical. Gallium-67 scanning and chest radiography were prospectively compared as noninvasive means of evaluating spread to regional nodes in 75 patients with bronchogenic carcinoma in whom histologic evaluation of hilar and mediastinal nodes was performed.

[Palatal myoclonus associated with a decrease in 5-hydroxy-indole acetic acid in cerebrospinal fluid and responding to clonazepam].

A patient representing with palatal myoclonus was diagnosed as suffering from possible multiple sclerosis. A reduction of cerebrospinal 5-hydroxy-indole-acetic acid suggested a decreased central serotonergic turnover. A therapeutic trial with clonazepam, a serotonergic agonist, improved the myoclonus symptomatically.

Running symposium.

The running symposium has been designed to demonstrate to the reader the basic mechanics of the running gait, as compared to normal walking. It is imperative in order to understand the nature of the problems seen in runners to understand the forces and motions which are occurring in the various joints of the lower extremity, so that as much as possible, treatment can be based upon accurate anatomical diagnoses, rather than empiric treatment. The second part of this symposium discusses the nature of the injuries seen in the lower extremity in runners.

Leptinotarsin: a presynaptic neurotoxin that stimulates release of acetylcholine.

Leptinotarsin, a toxin found in the hemolymph of the beetle Leptinotarsa haldemani, can stimulate release of acetylcholine from synaptic termini. Leptinotarsin causes an increase in the frequency of miniature end plate potentials (mepps) of the rat phrenic nerve-diaphragm preparation. The increase in the frequency of mepps induced by leptinotarsin is biphasic: about 10% of the total mepps are released in an initial burst that lasts about 90 sec, after which the remaining mepps are released over a period of 10-20 min.

The relation between insulin and adipocyte insulin receptors during treatment of human obesity.

Seventeen obese patients were submitted to 1 week's severe then 3 months moderate dietary restriction. The glycaemic and insulinaemic response to oral glucose was measured at baseline, after 1 week and at 3 months, and the results related to adipocyte insulin receptors estimated from fat biopsies taken on each occasion and to the weight lost. Adipocyte insulin binding was found to be significantly inversely correlated with the insulinaemic response to oral glucose (r = -0.

Serum concentrations and urinary excretions of zinc in cirrhosis, nephrotic syndrome and renal insufficiency.

Serum zinc conentrations are decreased in patients with a variety of clinical disorders including cirrhosis, nephrotic syndrome and renal insufficiency. Urinary zinc excretions are increased in the first two disease states. Symptoms of acute zinc deficiency (anorexia, dysfunction of smell and taste and mental and cerebellar disturbances) and chronic zinc deficiency (growth retardation, anemia, testicular atrophy and impaired wound healing) are common in these patients.

Effects of abdominal surgery on the development of radiation enteropathy.

A controlled, retrospective study was undertaken to ascertain whether or not abdominal surgery at any time before radiation therapy might result in an increased incidence of radiation enteropathy. One hundred and five patients in three groups were studied; 24 had radiation enteropathy which developed an average of 12.5 months after radiation therapy, and 28 were matched controls without this complication.

Differential diagnosis of paralysis agitans.

Paralysis agitans may be mimicked by other disease processes and drugs which disturb the structural or functional integrity of the dopaminergic nigrostriatal system. In another group of patients, isolated symptoms or signs such as tremor or increased muscle tone are considered out of the context of the total clinical picture and may suggest parkinsonism.