Gastric lesser curve superficial seromyotomy: an experimental study in dogs

Lesser curve superficial myotomy has been investigated in the dog. The anatomical basis for the operation is discussed. The operation has the advantage of being easily performed and the risk of damage to the nerve of Latarjet or ischemic necrosis of the lesser curvature is obviated. Acid studies in the dogs confirmed that the operation was capable of producing secretory inhibition in keeping with vagotomy of the parietal cell area. The experiment needs further investigation in animals and in man, for assessment of the potential of the operation to replace other forms of vagotomy in patients with duodenal ulcer.

Asthma as a cause for, rather than a result of, gastroesophageal reflux

Five patients who had nocturnal asthma attacks associated with clinical symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux were studied to determine if antiasthma therapy could also benefit the reflux symptoms. The patients were treated in a randomized double blind fashion with either ephedrine or identical appearing placebo. During the treatment periods, the subjects maintained a daily record of asthma and reflux symptoms. Both asthma and reflux symptoms improved with active therapy. These results suggest that treatment of asthma may lessen the occurrence of gastroesophageal reflux.

Antiepileptic potential of cannabidiol analogs

In audiogenic seizure (AGS) susceptible rats, the acute (intraperitoneal and intravenous) dose-response effects of (--)-cannabidiol (CBD) for preventing AGS and for causing rototod neurotoxicity (ROT) were determined. Also, the anti-AGS and ROT effects of 10 CBD analogs, given in intravenous doses equivalent to the AGS-ED50 (15 mg/kg) and ROT-ID50 (31 mg/kg) of CBD, were ascertained. Compared to CBD, (--)-CBD diacetate and (--)-4-(2'-olivetyl)-alpha-pinene were equally effective whereas (--)-CBD monomethyl ether, (--)-CBD dimethyl ether, (--)-3'-acetyl-CBD monoacetate, (+)-4-(2'-olivetyl)-alpha-pinene, (--)-and (+)-4-(6'-olivetyl)-alpha-pinene, (+/-)-AF-11, and olivetol were less effective anticonvulsants. Except for (--)- and (+)-4-(2'-olivetyl)-alpha-pinene and olivetol, all analogs showed less ROT than CBD. Also, CBD and all analogs were not active in tetrahydrocannabinol seizure-susceptible rabbits, the latter a putative model of cannabinoid psychoactivity in humans. These data suggest anticonvulsant requirements of 2 free phenolic hydroxyl groups, exact positioning of the terpinoid moiety in the resorcinol system and correct stereochemistry. Moreover, findings of separation of anticonvulsant from neurotoxic and psychoactive activities, notably with CBD diacetate, suggest that additional structural modifications of CBD may yield novel antiepileptic drugs.

Floral organogenesis of Limnocharis flava

Besides a trimerous calyx and corolla, the mature flower exhibits a polyandric androecium and an apocarpous gynoecium consisting of a whorl of carpels. Yet the primary pattern of the flower is completely trimerous and tetracyclic. After the inception of three sepals and three petals, three antesepalous primary androecial primordia are initiated each of which forms three stamens (i.e. secondary androecial primordia). Opposite these three groups of three stamen primordia, three groups of three carpels are initiated, possibly on three extremely inconspicuous primary gynoecial primordia. Additional carpel primordia are formed in varying numbers between the original three groups. Even before carpel inception, the three primary androecial primordia merge laterally thus forming an androecial ring. Additional stamen primordia arise on this ring first between the three groups of three stamen primordia and then in centrifugal direction as the androecial ring broadens basally. Eventually four whorls of stamens and two to three whorls of staminodia are formed secondarily on the androecial ring which arose from the primary primordia. Morphogenesis and construction of the flowers of Limnocharis flava differs in two major respects from those of all other taxa of the Alismatales studied thus far: (1) there are no stamen pairs primarily associated with the petals, and (2) the first-formed carpel primordia do not alternate with the stamen primordia of the preceding whorl, thus violating Hofmeister's rule of alternation.