Pattern of neurobehaviour in albino rats in the open field following oral artesunate administration.

The neurobehavioural patterns in the open field following oral artesunate administration was studied using 40 albino rats randomly assigned to three Groups, namely A, B and C. Prior to the test, all the animals were acclimatized for 5 minutes in the open field maze. Group A (8 males and 8 females) received therapeutic doses of artesunate (1.42 mg/kg per oral (p.o.)--using oro-gastric tubes while Group B (8 males and 8 females) received pharmacological doses of 4.26 mg/kg (p.o.). Group C served as the control and were administered only distilled water (p.o.). Gross behavioural changes were noted following the therapeutic and pharmacological administration of artesunate for five days. Rats in Groups A and B showed marked decrease in loco motor activity (line crossing) and exploratory (rearing and walling) activities in comparison with the control (P<0.05). The centre square activity was significantly decreased in Groups A and B in comparison with the control (P<0.01). The number of faecal boli and urine puddles did not change significantly in Groups A and B when compared with the control (P>0.05). However, the frequency of grooming was significantly lower in Groups A and B rats than in the control (P<0.01). The frequency and duration of freezing were significantly higher in Groups A and B rats than in the control rats (P<0.01). There were no significant differences between the values for the male and female rats. There was also no dose dependent effect of artesunate on the activities studied. Oral administration of artesunate significantly decreases loco motor and exploratory behaviours in the albino rat.

PACAP mediates the neural proliferative pathway of Mastomys enterochromaffin-like cell transformation.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Pituitary adenylate-cyclase activating peptide (PACAP) is a more potent proliferative agent than gastrin for rat enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cell proliferation in vitro. The role of this neurotransmitter during gastrin-mediated ECL cell tumor formation and gastrin-autonomous ECL cell neoplasia is unknown. METHODS AND RESULTS: ECL cell transformation was induced in the Mastomys using 16 wk H2 receptor blockade of acid inhibition. Examination of the epithelial fundic mucosa demonstrated that PACAP-immunoreactivity significantly increased in the tumor mucosa compared to the naïve stomach, and was associated with ECL cells. Naïve and tumor ECL cells were then purified (approximately 95%) from Mastomys and the presence of all three PACAP/VPAC receptor subtypes was demonstrated by polymerase chain-reaction amplification. Thereafter, cells were maintained in short-term (48 h) primary cultures. PACAP significantly (p<0.05) increased 24 h bromo-deoxyuridine uptake (approximately 4-fold) in both cell types with estimated EC(50) values of approximately 4x10(-16) M and approximately 2x10(-16) M, respectively. Specific receptor antagonists (PAC1/VPAC1) of PACAP competitively inhibited these proliferative effects in naïve cells. Oligonucleotide antisense directed against PAC1 significantly inhibited PACAP-stimulated DNA synthesis by approximately 85% (p<0.05) in tumor cells. CONCLUSION: PACAP is a potent and effective modulator of ECL cell proliferation. The expression of this neuropeptide and its receptors, particularly PAC1, suggest the existence of a neural regulatory pathway of ECL cell proliferation and transformation.

Liporeduction by endocoagulation.

BACKGROUND: Plastic surgery and dermatologic techniques are constantly being improved, but clinical expression of the aging process and its surgical management remains a challenge. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate an alternative surgical approach for submandibular, mental, and periorbital loose tissue treatment. METHODS: We present a modified transcutaneous bipolar diathermy microprobe using the coaxial principle for the treatment of mental, submandibular, and periorbital loose tissue. RESULTS: The outcome was evaluated as satisfactory for the following reasons: lower morbidity, it is a simple time-saving surgical technique, no healing difficulties, less dehiscence, no wound exposure, minimal incisions, and a faster postoperative recovery with a simple wound care. CONCLUSION: We suggest that this procedure is a simple surgical approach that delays extensive plastic surgery.

Imunofluorescencia direta em biopsia de pele no penfigo foliaceo brasileiro. / Direct immunofluorescence in skin biopsy in Brazilian pemphigus foliaceus

Os autores estudaram, pela tecnica de imunofluorescencia direta, a presenta de anticorpos in vitro no material de biopsia de 47 doentes com penfigo foliaceo brasileiro. Obtiveram resultados positivos em 45 doentes, com padrao de fluorescencia intercelular na epiderme; destes, na quase totalidade (44 casos) foi encontrado deposito de IgG. Em seis casos houve presenca tambem de complemento e, em um caso, a concomitancia de IgM. Em um caso esteve presente apenas o complemento. Em 36 doentes foi simultaneamente feito exame histopatologico; destes, em 28 ele foi caracteristico para penfigo foliaceo brasileiro e, em oito, o diagnostico foi "dermoepidermite cronica inespecifica". Em 28 doentes foi tambem realizada imunofluorescencia indireta: 23 apresentaram titulos positivos entre 1:50 e 1:3.200. Houve negatividade em cinco casos, provavelmente pela natureza do substrato (Esofago de cobaio). Os autores concluem ser de utilidade fazer imunofluorescencia direta paralelamente a histopatologia, dividindo o fragmento de biopsia em dois