Automatic preprocessing of EEG signals in long time scale.

Electroencephalography (EEG) signals are highly affected by physiological artifacts. Establishing a robust and repeatable EEG pre-processing is fundamental to overcome this issue and be able to use fully EEG data especially in long time scale experiments. In this work, starting from the Independent Component Analysis (ICA) of the EEG data, a control feedback scheme aiming to manage the cleaning of the independent component signals in an automatic way avoiding cut-bind solutions is presented, both with and without co-registrations. The method implemented combines different approaches based on the residual artifact contents check, identification and cleaning. The results of this procedure are shown on a test dataset. This analysis tool is embedded as core module, in a platform that can manage the automatic clearing of EEG recordings for multiple-subjects studies.

Lymphangiogenesis and hemangiogenesis: potential targets for therapy.

This review updates historical background from century-old observations on embryonic lymphatic system development through current understanding of the molecular basis of lymphvasculogenesis/lymphangiogenesis ("molecular lymphology"), highlighting similarities and differences with analogous blood vasculature processes. Topics covered include molecular mechanisms in lymphatic development, structural adaptations of the lymphatic vasculature to particulate and cellular transport and trafficking, lymphogenous route of clinical cancer spread, preservation of delineated lymphatic pathways during cancer operations, and anti-lymphangiogenesis in cancer therapy.

Review of pharmacological data on benzydamine.

Pharmacological results are reviewed supporting the use of benzydamine in so-called "primary inflammations" rather than in rheumatic diseases. In experimental studies, benzydamine shares with aspirin-like drugs their activity in acute inflammatory responses but not in Freund's adjuvant arthritis. The efficacy of benzydamine is mainly manifested against phenomena such as pain and oedema which depend on local mechanisms in the inflammatory focus. Other manifestations such as hyperthermia which are indicative of systemic functional involvement, are poorly affected by the drug. Benzydamine also lacks some of the typical side-effects of aspirin-like drugs which are thought to reflect their generalized activity. Finally topical application increases the analgesic and antiinflammatory activities of benzydamine much more than those of other antiinflammatory drugs. The data reported demonstrate that benzydamine specifically acts on the local mechanisms of inflammation. In order to explain this feature the chemical, pharmacokinetic and biochemical properties of benzydamine are discussed.

A comparative pharmacological study of trazodone, etoperidone and 1-(m-chlorophenyl)piperazine.

Since 1-(m-chlorophenyl)piperazine (mCPP) is a metabolite of trazodone (TRZ) and etoperidone (ETO), two atypical antidepressants, a pharmacological study was undertaken to establish the possible contribution of mCPP to the effects of the parent compounds. Behavioral effects of mCPP in rats consist in head shakes and other signs of serotoninergic stimulation; subtoxic doses also produce clonic convulsions and prostration. TRZ and ETO produce sedation and signs of alpha-adrenergic blockade; subtoxic doses produce tremors, clonic convulsions and prostration. Peripheral effects of norepinephrine (NE) and serotonin (5-HT) in rats are potentiated by mCPP and inhibited by TRZ and ETO. 5-hydroxytriptophan (5-HTP)-induced head twitches in mice are inhibited by TRZ and ETO and unaffected by mCPP. At similar doses mCPP, TRZ and ETO inhibit some nociceptive responses in rats and mice.

Pharmacological investigations on lonidamine.

The results of a broad pharmacological screening on 1-[(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-methyl] -1H-indazole-3-carboxylic acid ( lonidamine ) a new antitumour agent which also possesses antispermatogenic and embryotoxic effects, are reported. Lonidamine does not affect general behaviour and autonomic functions and is devoid of anticonvulsant, anti-reserpine, anti-apomorphine, anti-amphetamine, antitremor , antipyretic, antiinflammatory and analgesic effects. It also lacks those side effects which are considered characteristic of different antitumour agents, such as thymus and spleen atrophy, delay in skin wound healing and damage to the gastrointestinal mucosa. At doses 40 times higher than that of hydrochlorothiazide, lonidamine produces diuretic effects. The practical importance of these findings in the current therapeutic use of lonidamine appears to be limited. The most typical signs of acute intoxication produced by high doses of lonidamine are salivation, lacrimation, diarrhea, ataxia, muscle rigidity and prostration with superimposed convulsions.

A comparative study of acute toxicity of drugs used during anticancer therapy in healthy and tumor-bearing mice.

A comparative study was performed, in healthy and Ehrlich ascites bearing mice, to ascertain if the acute toxicity of drugs can change in disease conditions. Adriamycin, cis-platinum, cyclophosphamide, 5-fluorouracil, vinblastine, morphine and cefoxitin were administered intravenously; prochlorperazine and acetylsalicylic acid were given orally, and dexamethasone and lonidamine were given by both routes. With the exception of morphine, the LD50's significantly decreased in tumor bearing animals. The highest potency ratios (about 4-6) were observed with prochlorperazine and cyclophosphamide and the lowest (1.3-1.4) with lonidamine given intravenously, adriamycin and acetylsalicylic acid. These results confirm that the toxic response may be strongly influenced by pathological states.