Sexual dimorphism in vasopressin-induced contraction of rat aorta.

Previously, we reported that, in the rat, pressor responsiveness to vasopressin (VP) is higher in males than in females during most phases of the estrous cycle. To explore the role of the vasculature in this phenomenon, we examined vascular reactivity to VP in thoracic aortas of male rats and female rats during each phase of the estrous cycle. Aortic rings were prepared from age-matched male and female Sprague-Dawley rats and mounted for isometric tension recording.

Redecompression and fusion in failed back syndrome patients.

Between 1979-1985, 45 patients underwent redecompression, neural exploration, and lateral mass fusion for failed back syndrome. Average follow-up was 29.2 months.

Enhanced encoding of nonverbal cues in bipolar illness in males.

Twenty-five affectively bipolar males were found to possess an enhanced ability to encode nonverbal cues when compared to matched controls. This ability was present during both manic and euthymic phases.

Influence of substance P on carotid sinus nerve baro- and chemoreceptor activity in rabbits.

Substance P (SP) is abundant in the carotid sinus nerve (CSN) and has been implicated in baro- and chemoreceptor reflexes. We examined the effect of SP on blood pressure, heart rate, phrenic nerve activity, hindlimb perfusion pressure, and cardiac contractile strength in urethane-anesthetized rabbits with bilaterally cut cervical sympathetic, vagus, and aortic depressor nerves. Retrograde simultaneous injection of SP (0.

The role of the emergency physician in the management of Jehovah's Witnesses.

Patients presenting to the emergency department who refuse recommended treatment present substantial management and medicolegal problems for the emergency physician. Members of the Jehovah's Witness religion, who number approximately 700,000 in the United States, create specific medical, ethical, and legal challenges when they require but refuse necessary blood component therapy. Appropriate management involves timely medical intervention, an awareness of the religious rights and beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses and a sound understanding of the ramifications of their emergency care.

Basilar crescentic osteotomy. A three-dimensional computer simulation.

A three-dimensional computer simulation of the basilar crescentic osteotomy has been presented. The bunion deformity consists of hallux valgus, an increased first and second intermetatarsal angle, pronation of the great toe, and elevation of the first metatarsal head. Every foot is different and some may have more or less of each of the above noted components.

Ganglioneuroma of the sacrum.

Ganglioneuromas (GNs) are benign, slow-growing, rare soft-tissue tumors that arise from the sympathetic nervous system and comprise less than 1% of all soft-tissue neoplasms. Although GNs are slow-growing, they can and will invade bone and pressure local adjacent structures by their continued growth. In a 20-year-old woman, GN produced a large presacral mass.

Bromocriptine and amantadine in cocaine detoxification.

The effects of bromocriptine and amantadine in treating cocaine withdrawal were compared. Withdrawal symptoms are thought to be due to central dopamine depletion. Both bromocriptine and amantadine are dopamine agonists previously reported to diminish withdrawal symptoms.

On the antiquity of treponemal infection.

Documentation of the treponemal etiology of reactive bone formation in a pleistocene bear supports unprecedented antiquity of treponemal bone infections. The spectrum and implications of osseous treponemal disease in the New and Old World are reviewed in light of past perspectives and contemporary investigative techniques.

A critical period for long-term potentiation in the developing rat visual cortex.

The in vitro rodent visual cortical slice preparation demonstrates a critical period for long-term potentiation (LTP). Current source density (CSD) analysis reveals peak potentiation of both supra-(layers II-III) and infragranular (layers V) layers of visual cortex during the second postnatal week following stimulation of the subadjacent white matter. By day 30 both the supra- and infragranular CSD sinks show only minimal potentiation.

774 carotid endarterectomies for strokes and transient ischaemic attacks: comparison of results of early vs. late surgery.

A total of 774 carotid endarterectomies were done; 363 (47%) for completed strokes and strokes with unstable neurological status and 411 (53%) for transient ischaemic attacks. One hundred eight emergency carotid endarterectomies were done in the stroke group for either recurrent strokes or where the lumen of the internal carotid was less than 0.5 mm.

The modulation of long-term potentiation by delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol in the rat hippocampus, in vitro.

The duration of long-term potentiation (LTP) of the CA1 evoked field potential in rat hippocampal slices was significantly modulated by pre-treatment of slices with delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) added to the incubation media. The three THC doses tested: 10 picomolar (pM), 100 pM, and 1000 pM, resulted in a biphasic change in population spike amplitude, such that 10 pM resulted in an increase, while 100 and 1000 pM resulted in dose-related decreases as compared to the control treatment. Upon subsequent induction of LTP by tetanizing stimulation, the THC treatments resulted in significant changes in the duration but not magnitude of potentiation.