[Depopulation of rural districts and mental health: the Sassim study (author's transl)].

The present investigation is a study of mental diseases in Sassim, a little rural district near Pavia (Italy), in which there has been an intensive process of depopulation during the last 20 years. In this communication the A.A.

[Inhibitory effect of scopolamine on recent memory of mice].

In this research the Authors have studied the action of scopolamine on the memorization of the explorative behavior of the mice. They gave scopolamine before each of the 2 explorations made at an interval of 24 h one from the other. The results obtained show that in these experimental conditions, scopolamine cancels the short-time memory in a more complete fashion compared to the only administration before the second exploration.

[Short-term memory. An experimental model].

In the present work we aimed to elaborate an experimental model to evaluate and quantify the short-term memory in experimental animals, in this case in mice. It seemed ideal to us the employment of a spontaneous behaviour, i.e.

[Effect of scopolamine on the memory of exploratory behavior in the mouse].

In the present work it has been evaluated the action of scopolamine on the extent of exploration in mice, whose exploring behaviour had been already earlier examined. Such behaviour has been evaluated using a hole-board. The goal has been to detect the influence of the substance on the short-term memory of mice.

[Effect of LSD-25 on cholinesterases of the rat brain].

The indications for investigation on the LSD-25 "in vivo" activity on brain cholinesterases of the rat, have been considered. Indications of materials and method used have been supplied too. From the results obtained it emerged no clear evidence of a statistically significant inhibition of cholinesterases due to LSD-25.

[Effect of mescaline on cerebral cholinesterases and on exploratory behavior in rats].

In this study the Authors had the purpose to evaluate the action of a psychotomimetic substance (mescaline) on behavior (exploring behaviour and spontaneous motility) and on cerebral biochemistry (cholinesterase activity) of rat. The mescaline has shown to be active both on behaviour (increasing the spontaneous motility) and on biochemistry (decreasing the total cholinesterase activity). From the examination of the results of this work it could be cautiously assumed the hypothesis that the behavioural effects of mescaline are related (at least partially) to modifications of the cholinergic system at the cerebral level.

[Effect of tranylcypromine on glycogenolysis in the rat brain].

In rat brain the tranylcypromine administration induces after two hours a 151% increase of serotonin levels and a 50% fall of glycogen concentration. The activity of phosphorylase a and b and the glycolytic flow rate are unchanged.

Hematoma of the quadrigeminal plate. Case report.

The authors report a case in which a hematoma of the quadrigeminal plate resulted from the rupture of a "cryptic" arteriovascular malformation (AVM) fed by the artery of the quadrigeminal plate. The AVM was symptomatic before rupturing and this clinical feature, associated with the lack of angiographic demonstration, led to the erroneous preoperative diagnosis of a tumor. In retrospect, the only finding that might have suggested the correct diagnosis was the beaded appearance on the ventriculogram of the aqueduct due to blood clots into this fluid space.

Heterogeneity of hereditary methaemoglobinaemia: a study of 4 Cuban families with NADH-Methaemoglobin reductase deficiency including a new variant (Santiago de Cuba variant).

NADH-methaemoglobin reductase deficiency has been found in 4 Cuban families; 3 subjects carried the mild form of the deficiency while in 2 sibs of the fourth family the deficiency was associated with neurological involvement. The parents in this family were consanguinous and the sibs were shown to be homozygous for a new fast electrophoretic variant. It was named Diaphorase Santiago de Cuba.