M1 and M3 muscarinic receptor subtypes in rat forebrain

At least three pharmacologically different muscarinic receptor subtypes (M1, M2 and M3) have been identified in rat brain. While M1 and M2 subtypes can be directly labelled by selective ligands (3H-pirenzepine and 3H-AF-DX 116, respectively), there are no truly selective ligands for the M3 subtype. In the present study, we have investigated a possible method of studying the pharmacological M3 subtype in rat forebrain using the non-selective labelled antagonist 3H-N-methyl-scopolamine (3H-NMS) in the presence of unlabelled pirenzepine to protect the M1 subtype. The results obtained in kinetic experiments using 3H-NMS in presence of 30.10(-9) M unlabelled pirenzepine (Kon 1.2.10(-8) M-1 m-1, Koff 4.7.10(-2) m-1 and Kd 0.4.10(-9) M) are compatible with the studies carried out in rat pancreatic islets and submaxillary gland which contain predominantly the M3 subtype. We have also performed inhibition experiments with the selective antagonist AF-DX 116. Due to the small proportion of M2 receptors present in rat forebrain, this drug is able to discriminate between M1 and non M1 non M2 receptor subtypes in competition experiments with 3H-NMS versus AF-DX 116 (Ki values 0.28.10(-6) M and 4.3.10(-6) M, respectively). When the competition experiments were performed using 3H-NMS in presence of 30.10(-9) M unlabelled pirenzepine, the Ki value obtained was 3.8.10(-6) M, very close to the value obtained for the non M1 non M2 receptor in competition experiments with 3H-NMS versus AF-DX 116 and in excellent agreement with the affinity of this drug for the glandular M3 subtype. All these data suggest that the approach using the non-selective antagonist 3H-N-methyl-scopolamine in presence of unlabelled pirenzepine allows the study of the pharmacological M3 subtype in rat forebrain.

[Active and inactive forms of cerebral cysticercosis. Study of 10 cases]

Ten cases of neuro-cysticercosis attended in our hospital over the last five years are presented. Six patients presented non-active parenchymatous calcifications of which four manifested epilepsy, one dementia caused by hydrocephalus and one other was asymptomatic. Two patients presented active intraparenchymatous cysts with a clinic of epilepsy. One patient presenting cisternal -ventricular-parenchymal involvement and another with ependymal -meningeal-parenchymal involvement, both suffered of psychiatric alterations. Ataxia and pyramidal deficits. The two patients with active parenchymal form were treated with Praziquantel obtaining a complete cyst remission (normal cranial Ot scan, in one case normal NMR) and neurological clinical symptoms. Two more patients treated with Praziquantel suffering ventricular and meningeal ependymal involvement presented little or no response to this treatment.

[Locoregional anesthesia in surgery with day hospitalization. Our experience with 240 cases]

Locoregional anaesthesia has become an excellent complement of conventional general anaesthesia, because it results in efficient postoperative pain relief and is easy to carry out. We have performed two types of anaesthetic blockade: of peripheral nerve (dorsal nerve of the penis and abdominogenital nerve) and caudal block. Both have been employed in pediatric day surgery with good results in postoperative pain relief and with no complications. Advantages such as early recovery of oral feeding and the normal activity of the child are possible when using these techniques of locoregional anaesthesia.

[Technique of simplified retropubic colpourethrocervicopexy in the treatment of genuine urinary stress incontinence in women]

A surgical technique is described for the treatment of genuine urinary exercise incontinence (U.E.I.) in the female, consisting in the performance of simplified retropubic colpouretrocerico- pexia which allows to obtain a 89.2% urinary incontinence recovery rate and 97% cystocele reduction (n=40 cases).

Effects of p-chloro-phenylalanine on the behaviors induced by apomorphine and amphetamine in adult cats

1. The effects of serotonin depletion on the behaviors evoked by apomorphine or amphetamine are analyzed. Amphetamine (5 mg/kg, s.c.) or apomorphine (2 mg/kg, s.c.) were administered to fourteen adult mongrel cats. Inhibition of tryptophan hydroxylase was achieved by intraperitoneal injection of p-chlorophenylalanine (100 mg/kg daily for three consecutive days). Serotonin depleted animals were tested with either apomorphine or amphetamine (same doses as above). 2. Behaviors evoked by both drugs were recorded and quantified. The following behaviors were rated: motility (locomotion), alertness, fear, indifference, olfaction and lateral head movements. 3. Biochemical analysis of the raphe dorsalis and caudate nuclei of p-CPA treated animals showed an average drop in serotonin concentration of 77%. Serotonin depletion induced statistically significant changes in the following behaviors in amphetamine-treated cats: locomotion, fear, lateral head movements and alertness. Serotonin depleted cats tested with apomorphine showed significant changes only in olfaction and indifference behaviors. 4. Serotonin appears to play a significant modulatory role in some of the behaviors evoked by amphetamine, specially locomotion. Such role is less evident for the behaviors evoked by apomorphine.

Indium (III)-hematoxylin as a staining and contrasting agent for light and electron microscopy

A deeply violet indium (III)-hematoxylin complex is formed when indium trichloride is added to an aqueous solution of oxidized hematoxylin. Treatment of glutaraldehyde fixed and Araldite embedded sections of rat seminiferous tubules with indium-hematoxylin revealed a definite staining and contrasting pattern. Semithin sections showed chromatin and nucleoli in violet-blue. Under the electron microscope, chromatin, nucleoli, ribosomes, synaptonemal complexes, chromatoid bodies, membranous components, and microtubules from sperm tails presented high electron opacity, while the acrosome and basement membrane appeared with a lower contrast. This performed indium-hematoxylin complex, which shows an absorption peak at lambda = 560 nm with shoulders at about lambda = 440 and 400 nm, could be valuable as a new staining and electron contrasting agent.

201Tl myocardial perfusion in the management of the transplanted heart

A semi quantitative method with thallium has been applied in the management of cardiac transplants. In all, 142 scans were performed in 20 patients and were arranged in 3 groups that represent respectively all controls performed to the transplants (G1), and a selection of the scans obtained during the 1st rejection episode in each patient (G2) and the 2nd if present (G3). A heart/lung index was calculated through early and late images (IA, IB), obtained 5 min and 4 h post injection of thallium. A decrease in IA was detected during acute rejection in all groups. This fall was statistically significant from the mild to moderate rejection degree in G1 (P less than 0.01), and the mild rejection in G3 (P less than 0.001). IB was not modified with rejection. Comparing the biopsies with and without edema, in the absence of rejection, it has been proved that the intra myocardial edema can produce a decrease in IA (P less than 0.001). We conclude that IA is a simple and sensitive index to evaluate the graft, although intra myocardial edema can reduce its specificity.

New fluorescence reactions in DNA cytochemistry. 1. Microscopic and spectroscopic studies on nonrigid fluorochromes

Some nonrigid DNA-binding antibiotics and fluorochromes that recognize adenine-thymine (AT) sequences are widely applied in biomedical research, but the microscopic use, spectral characteristics and DNA binding modes of other similar compounds have been overlooked or scarcely explored. After treatment with thioflavine T, auramine O and G, curcumin, bis-aminophenyl-oxadiazol, berenil and distamycin A, a bright DNA-dependent fluorescence reaction was found in the chromatin of interphase nuclei, meiotic and polytene chromosomes, spermatozoa heads and kinetoplasts of Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes. Nucleoli and basophilic cytoplasm showed low or no fluorescence; the highest emission occurred in the AT-rich kinetoplast DNA. When bound to DNA or in the presence of alpha-cyclodextrin and viscous solvents or cosolutes, nonrigid compounds revealed a striking enhancement of fluorescence. The results indicate that these new or poorly known fluorochromes bind selectively to DNA-containing structures and that the minor groove from AT-rich DNA regions could represent the specific and highly fluorescent binding site.

The processing of N-linked glycans in yeast. Mutually exclusive steps in the processing of a Man6 derivative by yeast membrane preparations

When a derivatized oligosaccharide isolated from ovalbumin and containing 6 mannose residues was incubated with yeast membranes and GDP-mannose, two sets of products were obtained, a high molecular weight one containing about 25 mannose residues and a low molecular weight one consisting of compounds with 7, 8, and 9 mannose residues, respectively. When the low molecular weight products were reincubated with the yeast membranes and GDP-mannose, no further mannose incorporation was observed, showing that these compounds must be of the wrong structure as substrates for yeast glycan processing enzymes. The structures were investigated by 1H NMR spectroscopy. The high molecular weight products contained an outer chain of an average length of 18 1----6-linked mannose residues attached to a core structure made up of the original 6 mannose residues with one additional 1----2-linked mannose added. The low molecular weight product with 8 mannose residues was deduced to contain a terminal 1----6-linked mannose (on the 1----6 arm) substituted by mannose at the 2-position, and the ones with 7 and 9 mannose residues were identified as having an additional 1----3-linked mannose on the starting Man6 substrate and on the Man8 product, respectively. The results lend further support to the picture that the processing steps must occur in proper sequence for specific products to form.

Chromatin fluorescence after carmine staining

After staining with dilute solutions (0.1 mg/ml in distilled water) of commercial carmine, a strong reddish orange fluorescence was observed in nuclei from cell smears and frozen and paraffin tissue sections. Optimal exciting light was 436 nm (violet-blue) or 450-490 nm (blue). Compact chromatin from interphase nuclei, mitotic and meiotic chromosomes and the kinetoplast of Trypanosoma cruzi showed the highest fluorescence, while the basophilic cytoplasm appeared weakly fluorescent. No emission was observed in cartilage matrix, mast cell granules or goblet cell mucin. This selective method could be valuable in microscopic and cytochemical studies on chromatin because the carmine fluorescence is stable and preparations can be dehydrated and mounted permanently without changes in the fluorescence pattern.

[Reye's syndrome in adults. Presentation of a new case and review of the literature]

This is the case of a 29 year-old woman, admitted because of diarrhea and incoercible vomiting; later in the course of the disease she developed signs and symptoms of encephalopathy. The diagnosis of Reye's syndrome was made after death.

[Peritoneal hydatidosis with fistulization into the sigmoid colon]

A case is presented of peritoneal hydatidosis with fistulization into the sigmoid in a patient who had previously undergone surgery for hepatic hydatidosis. The clinical picture made its debut as an alteration in intestinal habit followed by the appearance of diarrheic syndrome and expulsion of hydatid membranes. The natural history of peritoneal hydatidosis, its complications and therapeutic guidelines are discussed.

Fluorescence reaction of chromatin by curcumin

Treatment of cell smears, paraffin, and Epon tissue sections with aqueous solutions of curcumin results in a green fluorescence reaction in chromatin under violet-blue excitation which is abolished after extraction procedures with DNase and TCA. The selective fluorescence characteristics of curcumin support the possibility of employing this dye as a new fluorochrome.

[Pulmonary blood volume in patients with interstitial pneumopathy and pulmonary heart disease. Its study at rest and during exercise]

Pulmonary blood volume (PBV) measurements have been reported in chronic lung disease that do not include diffuse interstitial lung disease (ILD) and cor pulmonale (CP). In this study, PBV was measured using the double injection single sampling method, at rest and at exercise in ten patients with ILD due to extrinsic allergic alveolitis (n = 6) or usual interstitial pneumonia (n = 4). Lung biopsies were obtained in 8 patients, and in none of them the stage of fibrosis was predominant over inflammation. The degree of vascular lesions was in four patients grade I and in four grade II (Heath-Edwards classification). At rest, most of the patients had elevated mean pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) and vascular resistance (PVR), (mean PAP 30 +/- 4 mmHg and 336 +/- 171 d.s. cm.-5, respectively), hypoxemia (paO2 = 48 +/- 2 mmHg) and a severely reduced PBV (53.6 +/- 11 ml.s.qm.). At exercise, pulmonary arterial hypertension worsened and, although PBV value increased significantly (rest = 53.6 +/- 11.6 ml.m2, s.qm. exercise 132 +/- 28 ml.s.qm.p less than 0.01) it remained abnormally low with respect to normal value. Comparison of the mean intravascular pressure-PBV measurements relationship in different lung diseases showed that ILD patients with CP have the greatest abnormality. Possible explanations for the severe reduction in PBV include restriction of extra-alveolar vessels as a consequence of lung volume loss, restriction of intra-alveolar vessels due to structural and functional changes imposed by the inflammation-fibrosis process and vascular restriction due to vasoactive factors (alveolar hipoxia).