The British Comparative Thromboplastin: the relationship between lipid class composition and procoagulant activity.

Twenty-eight consecutive batches of the reference reagent British Comparative Thromboplastin (BCT) were produced in the National (UK) Reference Laboratory for Anticoagulant Reagents and Control (NRLARC) between 1969 and 1977. The relationship between procoagulant activity and lipid class composition in these batches at various stages of age deterioration on storage has been studied by a modification of the method of high pressure chromatography which allows better definition of the individual lipids. The free fatty acid concentration rose markedly while cconcentrations of phosphatidyl choline, phosphatidyl ethanolamine and phosphatidyl serine were reduced.

Opiate receptor antagonism by L-prolyl-L-leucyl-glycinamide, MIF-I.

Chronic administration of 1-prolyl-l-leucyl-glycinamide (MIF-I) to mice slightly reduced morphine's antinociceptive activity in the hot-plate test and modified the biphasic motor activity response to morphine. MIF-I antagonized the initial depression of activity and potentiated the increased motor activity phase. Chronic treatment of rats with MIF-I prevented morphine's antinociceptive activity in the tail flick tests.

An in vivo method for testing putative GABA-like compounds.

A technique is described that enables compounds with GABA-ergic properties to be rapidly identified in vivo. Electrical stimulation of the neostriatum in the conscious rat evoked a contralateral head-turn. Evidence is presented that this easily timed motor response involves, at least in part, GABA-ergic mechanisms in the globus pallidus.

Effect of hydroxydopamine on the morphine-induced reduction in brain acetylcholine turnover.

Morphine reduced brain acetylcholine turnover in normal and 6-hydroxydopamine-pretreated rats and mice. Morphine probably has a direct effect on cholinergic neurons rather than modifying acetylcholine indirectly through catecholamine neurons. Acetylcholine is not directly involved in morphine's antinociceptive action in the mouse but it could be implicated in the rat.

Breast cancer in Israel: incidence and mortality, 1960-75.

Between 1960 and 1975, the incidence of breast cancer in Israel rose 20%. A steady rise in incidence was seen for women aged 60 or more years, whereas for women younger than 60 years, the incidence pattern was less regular, showing a definite rise only in the period 1970-75. Mortality from breast cancer also rose among women aged 60 or more years, but much more slowly than incidence.

Memory complaint after electroconvulsive therapy: assessment with a new self-rating instrument.

Memory complaints before bilateral electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), 1 week after ECT, and 6 months after ECT were assessed in 35 patients using a newly developed self-rating scale. Memory complaints that occurred 1 week after ECT differed quantitatively and qualitatively from memory complaints that occurred before ECT. Six months later, memory complaints qualitatively resembled the complaints reported 1 week after ECT and differed sharply from those reported before ECT.

Repertory grid and biochemical characterization of depression: a comparison of case reports.

Two cases of depression are presented: One which responded to psychotherapy and the other which responded to medication. These cases were evaluated by repertory grid analysis and by biochemical analysis. These results serve as the basis for a discussion of the use of such analysis as predictors of response in depression to psychotherapy or medication.

Breast cancer in Israel: laterality and survival.

Laterality was examined in 10,702 cases of breast cancer in Israeli Jewish women. The overall left-right ratio was 1.04 and was higher in women over 60.

Comparative survival of 673 patients with chronic uremia treated with renal transplantation (RT) and maintenance hemodialysis (MD).

We performed a retrospective analysis of 673 patients with chronic uremia treated from 1973 through 1978. While MD had a high mortality during the first year, overall mortality was less than 50% in 5 yrs. Diabetics treated by MD have lower survival than do nondiabetics, though 14% may live for 4 yrs.

The effect of morphine and some other narcotic analgesics on brain tryptophan concentrations.

An acute dose of morphine increased brain tryptophan in mice. This effect was not prevented by naloxone nor was it produced by other narcotic analgesics. Dextrorphan, but not levorphanol, had a similar effect to morphine.

The effects of a permanent and selective depletion of brain catecholamines on the antinociceptive action of morphine.

6-Hydroxydopamine was given to newborn mice. After 60 days their brains were deficient in noradrenaline and dopamine while morphine's antinociceptive action was reduced. 6-Hydroxydopa was administered to adult mice.