Relationships between electromyographic ileal and colonic motility patterns in cats during fasting and feeding

The relationship between ileal and colonic electromyographic motility patterns were investigated in six awake cats chronically fitted with subserosal electrodes implanted in the smooth muscles of the ileum and colon. Smooth muscle electrical activity (electromyogram) was recorded in both fed and fasted conditions under a 12-12 hours dark-light schedule. It consisted of electrical long spike bursts having two different patterns for each condition. Short sequences of three to five long spike bursts were propagated either aborally or orally from any part of the colon; they were most frequent during the interdigestive or fasting period and no relationship was observed between these long spike bursts and the electrical activity of the ileum. During the digestive or feeding period, the colonic activity was organized in long sequences of 10-15 long spike bursts, termed migrating spike bursts, which started near the caecal junction and propagated aborally to the distal colon. These migrating spike bursts were correlated with the ileal motility. This relationship demonstrated between ileum and colon after feeding is dependent upon the amount of food intake.

[Association of thrombopenia due to platelet alloimmunization with galactosemia in the neonatal period]

The authors report on a newborn with two uncommon causes of bleeding. Platelet alloimmunization in PLA system was associated with galactosemia proved by the galacto uridyltransferase assay. The immediate outcome was favourable. The authors discuss the problem of diagnosis raised by this association.

[Electromyographic profile of the human jejunum after abdominal surgery]

The purpose of this work was to describe the electromyographical profile of the jejunum observed after various types of abdominal operations. The electromyogram of the first 140 centimeters of the small intestine was recorded on a continuous basis by an intraluminal tube between the 6th and 20th day after abdominal surgery in twenty patients. Results allow us to describe a profile of the patient's intestinal electromyogram after abdominal surgery. It was characterized by three consecutive periods: a) early reappearance of migrating myoelectric complexes occurring during the first period; b) a very short second period beginning immediately before the expulsion of gases; during this period the electrical activity fluctuated and appeared disorganised; c) finally, during the third period, after gas expulsion, peristaltic rushes were associated with normalized migrating myoelectrical complexes. Both early and permanent migrating myoelectrical complexes characterize the normal postoperative period. Continuous linear integration of the jejunal electromyogram might be a useful tool for the monitoring of postoperative intestinal motility as a routine procedure.

Juvenile periodontitis: healing following autogenous iliac marrow graft, long-term evaluation

A case of juvenile periodontitis treated by autogenous bone grafting is reported. The patient, an 18-year-old female, presented with periodontal lesions around the incisors and the first lower left molar. The first molar was severely affected with bone defects at the mesial aspect and in the furcation region and, for this reason, was selected for grafting. Minced fragments of bone with its marrow, obtained from the patient's iliac crest, were implanted into the diseased periodontium. 1 year after treatment, clinical and radiological inspection revealed the presence of bone. This bone completely filled the furcation area of the tooth but only partially the mesial aspect. There was, also, significant bone fill in the supracrestal region.

[Prevention of gas microemboli during cardiac surgery. Numerical control of cardiac cavity purging by an ultrasonic detector]

Despite all precautions taken by cardiac surgeons to eliminate air remaining in the cardiac cavities and pulmonary veins at the end of cardiopulmonary bypass, many micro bubbles probably remain and pass into the systemic circulation with a risk of deteriorations of cerebral or myocardial function. Over the last four years we have used ultrasound to try to prevent the risk of preoperative gas microemboli: the machine is equipped with a detector (a quartz oscillator coupled to a piezoelectric transducer emitting a continuous beam of ultrasound at a frequency of 5 Mhz) which allows the following variables to be determined: the time interval from the onset of detection, the total quantity of bubbles (arbitrary units) in the examined regions, the quantity of bubbles detected over a given time interval which can be adjusted from 15 to 120 seconds. The passage of bubbles is also indicated by light and sound alarms. The smallest diameter of bubbles which can be detected is about 10 mu. There are periaortic probes adaptable to the calibre of the ascending aorta, transcutaneous probes for carotid artery detection and a left ventricular probe. In a preliminary series of 74 valve replacements in adults, this apparatus was used immediately after terminating cardiopulmonary bypass after we had thought that the cardiac cavities had been satisfactorily purged of air, and whilst active aspiration was continued in the ascending aorta distal to the periaortic probe: the total quantity of bubbles detected varied from less than 50 to more than 2000 AU, over a variable period of time which may exceed 20 min after termination of cardiopulmonary bypass. The total quantity of bubbles recorded after mitral valve (582 +/- 154 AU) or combined mitral and aortic valve replacement (685 +/- 167 AU) was generally greater than after isolated aortic valve replacement (335 +/- 126 AU). Therefore, after cardiopulmonary bypass, and despite all efforts at purging the air, we showed that numbers of microbubbles were ejected into the ascending aorta for a variable period of time: only some of them were eliminated by active aspiration through a trocar placed distal to the periaortic probe. The right coronary ostium was poorly protected against microbubbles because of its anatomical situation (6 cases in this series). We therefore established a protocol for the use of this apparatus to aid the purging of the cardiac cavities and pulmonary veins before stopping cardiopulmonary bypass: the manoeuvres, guided by the ultrasound probes, are performed before the left ventricle is allowed to eject blood into the ascending aorta.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

[Effects of lidocaine at the plasma concentrations obtained by peridural injection on atrioventricular conduction disorders]

The aim of this study was to measure plasma concentrations obtained during lidocaine extradural blocks, and to determine whether these concentrations were able to induce high degree AV blocks in patients with impaired AV conduction. In a preliminary study, 12 patients were given an extradural block with an initial bolus of 3.4 mg . kg-1 lidocaine. After repeat injections, the mean total dose was 4.7 mg . kg-1. Plasma lidocaine concentrations were determined over an 8 h period after the first injection. The study itself was carried out in 14 patients with conduction disturbances undergoing His-bundle exploration. After informed consent had been obtained, the patients received an intravenous bolus of lidocaine (1.6 mg . kg-1 over 30 s). After baseline values had been measured. His conduction and lidocaine plasma concentrations were recorded 2, 5, 10, 30 and 60 min after lidocaine injection. In the preliminary study, the peak plasma lidocaine concentration was obtained at the 15th min (1.22 +/- 0.81 microgram . ml-1). In the second series, no clinical disturbance was seen after the i.v. injection of lidocaine. The peak plasma lidocaine concentration was obtained at the 2nd min (3.05 +/- 1.44 micrograms . ml-1). No significant alteration of conduction occurred after intravenous lidocaine. It is therefore possible to conclude that bifascicular AV disturbances do not constitute a contraindication to extradural anaesthesia with lidocaine.

Functional orthopedics: the "four pieces" and Class II treatment

The authors describe a new functional appliance called the Chateau four pieces, which is designed for the orthopedic treatment of Class II problems during growth. The versatility of the use of the four pieces simultaneously or separately, enables the practitioner to control treatment in three dimensions. The indications and the prescription are discussed, and the results are shown.

[Acute polyvisceral lupus erythematosus in a young 12-year-old girl. The value of plasma exchange]

The authors report on the case of a 12 year old girl, presenting with severe systemic lupus erythematosus. Skin, joints and kidney were involved. The treatment associated steroids, plasma exchanges and cyclophosphamide. Remission has been obtained and remains one year later.

Patterns of electrical activity in the digestive tract of the conscious cat

1. Bipolar electrodes were permanently implanted on the gastric antrum, and on the different portions of the small intestine of each of eleven healthy adult cats receiving one meal daily. All parts of the feline gut exhibited, as in several other species, regular slow waves and alternate periods of quiescence and electrical spiking activity during the recording sessions lasting from 10 to 30 d. 2. Patterns of electrical activity characteristic of this species were identified. Both the amplitude and frequency of the antral slow-wave were related to the presence of superimposed spike bursts during fasting. A decrease in the antral slow-wave frequency and increase in the length of the duodenal plateau of slow waves after the daily meal were related to its nature. 3. In fasted state, the electrical spiking activity of the small intestine occurred as fused spike bursts of large amplitude potentials migrating slowly over short distances only 24 h after feeding. They are interspersed with short periods of irregular spiking activity. 4. These findings suggested that, except the distal part of the small intestine which showed an activity which resembled partially the migrating myoelectric complex observed in other species during the fasting state, the motility patterns of the digestive tract in the cat were not comparable to those observed in the dog or sheep. In the cat, mixing of the contents seemed to result from more or less regular spiking activity allowing their propulsion distally. The propagation over distances varying from 200 to 1000 mm of nine to eighteen daily fused spike bursts in the fasting state remains unclear but they are related to the digestive function in accordance with the displacement aborally of their origin in a prolonged fasting condition.

Inotropic effects of potassium rich solutions of frog cardiac muscles

1. Inotropic effects of potassium rich solutions on frog cardiac muscle have been studied bith in current clamp and voltage clamp conditions, using a double sucrose gap apparatus. 2. Potassium rich solutions cause either a positive or a negative inotropic effect, together with an increase or a decrease in the duration of the action potential, according to the preparation. 3. The phasic phase of contraction and the slow inward current are decreased in amplitude; the reversal potential of the slow inward current is shifted towards more negative values. 4. The tonic phase of contraction is first decreased, the increased; the effects are correlated with modifications of the background current, initially in the inward, then in an outward direction. 5. The tension level obtained in contracture experiments is increased or decreased, according to the direction of the changes in the background current. 6. The effects of potassium rich solutions are still observed in he presence of ouabain, suggesting that they are independent of any effect on the sodium-potassium pump. 7. The effects of potassium rich solutions are still observed when external sodium is replaced by sucrose; they disappear (except the effect on the background current) when external sodium is replaced by lithium. 8. The results, which indicate that potassium ions play a role in the regulation of the intracellular concentration of calcium ions, are discussed in relation to a possible K/Ca exchange mechanism, to the Na/Ca exchange and to the role of intracellular calcium stores.

[S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine: 2. An anticonvulsant]

S-Adenosyl-L-homocysteine (SAH) decreases the epileptiform discharges induced by hippocampic stimulation. SAH reduces the pentetrazol convulsions, does not modify picrotoxine convulsions, and increases strychnine toxicity. These effects are not linked to gamma-aminobutyric acid metabolism perturbation or to the concentration of some amino acids known for their action in synaptic transmission.

[S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine: 1. Influence on sleep]

S-Adenosylhomocysteine, 0.1-20 mg/kg, influences the sleep patterns of rat, cat and rabbit by increasing the slow-wave and fast-wave sleep for 6 h. The SAH effects are increased by p-chlorophenylalanine and iproniazid and unchanged by reserpine. SAH effects are correlated with modification of norepinephrine and serotonin metabolism.

Effect of cholecystokinin and pentagastrin on motility and gastric secretion in the cat

The effects of cholecystokinin (CCK; 0.25-16 IDU kg-1h-1), synthetic octapeptide of CCK (OP-CCK; 0.5-2 microgram kg-1h-1) and pentagastrin (0.5-8 microgram kg-1 h-1) on pepsin secretion and antral motility were compared in conscious cats with reference to acid secretion. The results confirmed that the 3 peptides are full agonists for acid secretion and showed that they also displayed the same action on antral motor activity in increasing the frequency and decreasing the force of the contractions. Their effects on pepsin secretion were of different efficacy, decreasing from pentagastrin to CCK and to OP-CCK which showed a very weak action.

In vitro and in vivo myocardial effects of a cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase inhibitor structurally related to natural cardenolides

The myocardial effects of the lactonic deoxybenzoin glucoside, AP 10, an ATPases and cyclic AMP phosphodiesterases inhibitor, were investigated in vitro and in vivo. AP 10 showed marked positive inotropic effects on spontaneously beating frog and mammal isolated hearts. This drug induced a substantial increase in cyclic AMP atrial level comparable to that observed with papaverine in the rat. Its inotropic effects on stimulated rat left atria were moderate and suppressed by reserpine pretreatment, in contrast with papaverine inotropic effects which were not significantly modified. As papaverine (10(-5) M), AP 10 (10(-4) M) shifted to the left the atrial dose-response curve for isoproterenol. The positive inotropic effects of AP 10 were more pronounced at low calcium concentrations. Furthermore, AP 10 prolonged the time course of tension decline in stimulated rat left atria exposed to Ca++ free medium. AP 10 (1 mg/kg) did not induce any in vivo hemodynamic disturbance in both anaesthetized and conscious dogs and significantly improved ventricular automaticity in anaesthetized dogs (0.5 mg/kg). This drug was also compared to quinidine in two in vivo experimental arrhythmias. AP 10 was more effective than quinidine in preventing ouabain-induced arrhythmias in conscious rabbits and electrically-induced atrial fibrillation in conscious dogs. Despite its ATPases inhibiting properties and some structural similarities with cardiac glycosides, AP 10 did not show a typical "digitalis-like" pharmacological profile. It exhibited some of the myocardial features which characterize phosphodiesterase inhibitors as caffeine, papaverine or Ro 7-2956. An interesting particularity of AP 10 action was its capacity to prevent experimental arrhythmias.

Activation by S-adenosylhomocysteine of norepinephrine and serotonin in vitro uptake in synaptosomal preparations from rat brain

S-Adenosylhomocysteine (10(-7)-10(-5) M) activated norepinephrine (NE) and serotonin (5HT) in vitro uptake in synaptosomal preparations from rat brain, but did not affect dopamine (DA) uptake. When administered to rats (7 mg/kg i.p.), it has the same effect on in vitro NE and 5HT uptake. It did not affect NE and 5HT release.

Action of S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine on the metabolism of dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin in rat brain

S-Adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) (0.1 to 30 mg/kg/i.p.) increased 3H-norepinephrine synthesis from 3H-tyrosine in the rat brain stem and mid brain, but did not alter its tissular level. It decreased both the serotonin level and the formation of 3H-serotonin from 3H-tryptophan and increased the formation of 3H-5hydroxyindolacetic acid. Its effects began 1 hr after administration and was still present 6 hr later. It did not alter dopamine metabolism. A correlation between the hynotic effect of SAH and the modification of the metabolism of cerebral monoamines was pointed out.

[Effects of S-adenosylmethionine and S-adenosylhomocysteine on in vivo synthesis of noradrenaline and serotonin in different parts of the rat brain]

S-adenosylmethionine (0,1 mg/kg/ip) decreases in vivo, norepinephrine (NE) synthesis and does not affect 5-hydroxytryptamine (5 HT) synthesis in the Rat brain. S-adenosylhomocysteine (7 mg/kg/ip) increases NE synthesis and decreases 5 HT synthesis. Neither nucleoside affects dopamine synthesis.

A basic relationship between gastric and duodenal motilities in chickens

Chickens were chronically fitted with a duodenal cannula and pairs of electrodes implanted in the wall of the muscular stomach, duodenum and ileum. Smooth muscle electrical activity was recorded in both fed and fasted conditions under a 12--12 h dark-light schedule. Two major patterns of activity were identified. The first consisted of spike bursts that propagated rapidly either aborally from the stomach or orally from the ileum. Aborad-propagated spike bursts were most frequent during the daytime; this circadian variation was abolished by vagotomy, which also increased the frequency of orad-propagated spike bursts. The second pattern was characterized by periods of repetitive spike bursts lasting 3--10 min and spreading aborally at a slower rate. In the fasted chicken, the daily frequency was increased and the period of repetitive spike bursts resembled the prolonged bursts of spike potentials recorded in the feline small intestine. The results suggest that the propulsion of digesta might depend on the ratio of spike bursts moving aborally from the stomach to those moving orally from the ileum. Both factors were influenced by the level of stomach activity.

Study of the motility of the avian oviduct with chronically implanted electrodes

Electrical activity was recorded in conscious hens from chronically implanted electrodes in the smooth muscle layers of the oviduct. Transport of the egg through the magnum resulted from an inhibition of the electrical activity in the oviduct cranial to the egg and an increased spiking activity caudally. During an ovulatory cycle the progression of the egg was related to four different patterns of the uterine motility: within a sequence, the ovulatory cycles varied according to the duration of Phases 3 and 4.

Optic neuritis in the Landry-Guillain-Barré-Strohl syndrome

A patient with typical Landry-Guillain-Barré-Strohl syndrome (LG-BS) developed bilateral optic neuritis. Laboratory studies showed hypersensitivity to both central and peripheral nervous tissue myelin. The occurrence of optic neuritis is presumably due to autohypersensitivity to central nervous tissue myelin. The initial lesions of the LG-BS syndrome in the peripheral nerves might have liberated sequestered antigens that cross-reacted with central nervous system myelin.

Influence of male and female Nippostrongylus brasiliensis on each other's distribution in the intestine of the rat

Nippostrongylus brasiliensisof either sex, 216 h old, were injected directly in the intestinal lumen of 10-week-old laparotomized male rats in the duodenum or near the ileocaecal valve and their position ascertained 24 h later. Males migrated anteriad farther when females were placed in the duodenum than when they were alone or when 32P tagged males were in the duodenum. Females migrated anteriad similarly when they were alone or when males were in the duodenum or when 32 P tagged females were injected in the duodenum. The findings are consistent with the idea that females attract males anteriad at a distance.