The roles of central amygdala D1 and D2 receptors on attentional performance in a five-choice task.

The central amygdala (CeA) has been shown to play an important role in mediating several attentional processes, including selective and sustained attention. Emerging evidence suggests that the connections between the CeA and the midbrain dopamine areas are important for attentional processing. However, little is known about the role of dopaminergic input into the CeA in mediating attentional processes.

Humic acid interferes with species recognition in zebrafish (Danio rerio).

Few studies have addressed how chemosensation may be impaired by chemical alterations of the environment and anthropogenic disturbance. Humic acid (HA) is a pervasive, naturally occurring organic derivative found in aquatic and terrestrial environments; human activity, however, can lead to elevated levels of HA. Recent studies suggest that environments that contain high levels of HA may hinder chemical communication.

Fate of the transpedicular intervertebral bone graft after posterior stabilisation of thoracolumbar fractures.

The authors present a retrospective clinical and radiological study addressing the outcome after posterior stabilisation of thoracolumbar fractures with intervertebral fusion via transpedicular bone grafting. The study included computed tomographic (CT) scan after implant removal for analysis of the intervertebral fusion and incorporation of the intervertebral bone graft and its influence on postoperative re-kyphosing. Twenty-nine patients with acute fractures of the thoracolumbar spine, treated between 1988 and 1995 at the Department of Trauma Surgery, Hannover Medical School, underwent posterior stabilisation and interbody fusion with transpedicular cancellous bone grafting.