The Jung-Ferenczi dossier.

The acquaintance between Sándor Ferenczi and C G Jung pre-dates their first encounter with Sigmund Freud. Later, a triangular relationship developed when the three men crossed the Atlantic together and spent an extended period in one another's company. Ferenczi's friendship with Jung could not survive the latter's break with Freud, but its development between 1907 and 1913 is evidenced by unpublished letters from Jung to Ferenczi, found in the Ferenczi Archive, now at the Freud Museum.

[New phytotherapical opportunity in the prevention and treatment of 2-type of diabetes mellitus].

The authors report their preclinical and clinical test results of an infusion (Diabole) made of dill (Anethum graveolens), nettle (Urtica dioica) and gingko (Gingko biloba) herbal mixture and accordingly, this preparation given in right dosages could be suitable for reducing blood sugar level significantly in II. type of diabetes mellitus.

New semisynthetic vinca alkaloids: chemical, biochemical and cellular studies.

A new semisynthetic anti-tumour bis-indol compound, KAR-2 [3'-(beta-chloroethyl)-2',4'-dioxo-3,5'-spiro-oxazolidino-4-dea cetoxy-vinblastine] with lower toxicity than vinca alkaloids used in chemotherapy binds to calmodulin but, in contrast to vinblastine, does not exhibit anti-calmodulin activity. To investigate whether the modest chemical modification of bis-indol structure is responsible for the lack of anti-calmodulin potency and for the different pharmacological effects, new derivatives have been synthesized for comparative studies. The synthesis of the KAR derivatives are presented.

Interaction of a new bis-indol derivative, KAR-2 with tubulin and its antimitotic activity.

1. KAR-2 (3"-(beta-chloroethyl)-2",4"-dioxo-3,5"-spiro-oxazolidino- 4-deacetoxy-vinblastine), is a bis-indol derivative; catharantine is coupled with the vindoline moiety which contains a substituted oxazolidino group. Our binding studies showed that KAR-2 exhibited high affinity for bovine purified brain tubulin (Kd-3 microM) and it inhibited microtubule assembly at a concentration of 10 nM.

Norepinephrine sensitivity of mesenteric veins in pregnant rats.

This study was designed to test the hypothesis that during the course of pregnancy there is a decrease in the venous response to adrenergic stimulation that is characterized by a decrease in venoconstriction to both exogenous norepinephrine (NE) and to transmural electric stimulation of endogenous sympathetic nerves. Capacitance-size mesenteric veins were removed from nonpregnant and early- (7/8 day) and late-pregnant (18/19 and 20/21 day) Sprague-Dawley rats and studied in vitro under pressurized conditions. Lumen diameter was measured continuously by a video-electronic method.

Characterization of norepinephrine sensitivity in the maternal splanchnic circulation during pregnancy.

Vascular sensitivity to exogenous norepinephrine and transmural nerve stimulation was studied in the splanchnic bed of nonpregnant, early pregnant, and late pregnant rats. Resistance-size mesenteric arteries were removed from late pregnant (18 to 20 days), early pregnant (7 days), and nonpregnant cycling rats and mounted in a myograph system, which permits the precise setting of vessel circumference for the determination of norepinephrine sensitivity. Norepinephrine dose-response curves and frequency-response curves for transmural nerve stimulation were obtained in the presence and absence of cocaine, a specific inhibitor of neuronal reuptake.

Vascular catecholamine sensitivity during pregnancy in the ewe.

Four pregnant and four castrated ewes were chronically instrumented for the measurement of external iliac blood flow to test the hypothesis that pregnancy alters alpha-adrenergic sensitivity in a major regional circulation. Complete dose-response curves were generated to methoxamine, phenylephrine, and norepinephrine. Pregnancy was associated with no change in methoxamine sensitivity, an increase in phenylephrine sensitivity, and a decrease in norepinephrine sensitivity.

Ovine placental perfusion balance: effect of marijuana smoke.

This study was designed to test the hypothesis that maternal marijuana smoking impairs placental oxygen transfer in late ovine pregnancy by disrupting perfusion balance between the maternal and fetal placental circulations. Placental hemodynamics were assessed in nine chronically prepared ewes 1 hour after exposure to smoke from either a marijuana (n = 5) or a placebo (n = 4) cigarette. When compared with placebo smoke, maternal marijuana smoke exposure resulted in a fall in both uterine and umbilical placental vascular resistance and a 30% improvement in placental perfusion balance at a cotyledonary level.

Pregnancy-induced changes in resistance blood vessels.

This study was designed to examine the effect of reproductive status on the basic mechanical properties of resistance size blood vessels. The hypothesis to be tested was that pregnancy is associated with alterations in both the passive and active properties of blood vessels small enough to be major determinants of peripheral vasculature resistance. Third-order arteries (165 microns in diameter) from the mesenteric arcade of the rat were removed at all three stages of gestation and the four stages of the estrous cycle.