Limited reciprocal surrogacy of bird and habitat diversity and inconsistencies in their representation in Romanian protected areas.

Because it is impossible to comprehensively characterize biodiversity at all levels of organization, conservation prioritization efforts need to rely on surrogates. As species distribution maps of relished groups as well as high-resolution remotely sensed data increasingly become available, both types of surrogates are commonly used. A good surrogate should represent as much of biodiversity as possible, but it often remains unclear to what extent this is the case. Here, we aimed to address this question by assessing how well bird species and habitat diversity represent one another. We conducted our study in Romania, a species-rich country with high landscape heterogeneity where bird species distribution data have only recently started to become available. First, we prioritized areas for conservation based on either 137 breeding bird species or 36 habitat classes, and then evaluated their reciprocal surrogacy performance. Second, we examined how well these features are represented in already existing protected areas. Finally, we identified target regions of high conservation value for the potential expansion of the current network of reserves (as planned under the new EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030). We found a limited reciprocal surrogacy performance, with bird species performing slightly better as a conservation surrogate for habitat diversity than vice versa. We could also show that areas with a high conservation value based on habitat diversity were represented better in already existing protected areas than areas based on bird species, which varied considerably between species. Our results highlight that taxonomic and environmental (i.e., habitat types) data may perform rather poorly as reciprocal surrogates, and multiple sources of data are required for a full evaluation of protected areas expansion.

Treatment of chronic pain syndromes with transcutaneous iontophoresis of vinca alkaloids, with special regard to post-herpetic neuralgia.

Successful treatment of 35 post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) patients by means of transcutaneous iontophoresis of Vincristine is reported. This technique, based on transganglionic regulation--a novel neurobiological principle discovered by Csillik and Knyihár-Csillik-, alleviated pain in both fresh and inveterated PHN cases. Statistical analysis of the results excludes a placebo-like action.

Lithium treatment of aggressive children and the EEG.

Electroencephalograms (EEG-s) of 44 children aged 6.3--15.4 years were examined at the baseline and 3 months later with two different doses of lithium. Lithium levels in serum in group I. ranged from 0.08 mmol/l to 0.33 mmol/l (mean: 0.23 mmol/l SD: 0.105), and in group II. ranged from 0.40 mmol/l to 0.84 mmol/l (mean: 0.555 mmol/l SD: 0.116). These children represent as Conduct Disorder. EEG-s were correlated across treatment groups with behavioural ratings, ratings of untoward effects, reaction time and different dosages of medication. In the group I. alpha-recovery time after-eye closing and percentage time of alpha activity in 60 s decreased at unchanged mean alpha frequency. In the group II. both alpha recovery time and alpha activity increased at unchanged mean alpha frequency. Paroxysmal focal abnormalities (spikes, spike-waves etc.) or increase in percentage time of delta activity were not found. Behavioural changes were assessed by using the Pictures Frustration Test for Children of Rosenzweig and the Hamburg Personality Inventory for Children. The group II. were found to be significantly superior to group I. in decreasing aggressive symptoms. No serious differences were found for the reaction time and side effects as well.

Differential effect of desglycinamide9-(Arg8)-vasopressin on cognitive functions of diabetes insipidus and alcoholic patients.

Intranasal treatment with desglycinamide9-(Arg8)-vasopressin (DGAVP) improved certain aspects of cognitive functions of patients with acquired and congenital diabetes insipidus and of alcoholic patients with mild cognitive impairments. Patients with Korsakoff's syndrome, presenting with severe cognitive impairments, were resistent to DGVP treatment. DGAVP treatment did not affect blood pressure and water metabolism. The action of DGAVP on cognitive functions is probably mediated by centrally located target sites and may be expressed only in patients in whom these target sites are unimpaired.

Therapeutic experience with lithium in childhood aggressivity.

An account is given of the therapeutic experience with lithium in childhood hyperaggressivity. In 13 cases of the hospitalized 17 children between 3 and 12 years of age significant rehabilitation was achieved. Their sociability and ability to adapt themselves to the environment improved to a tolerable level. During treatment, no irreversible side effects were observed. It is recommended that the treatment should be performed either at a child psychiatric unit or by a psychiatrist with adequate experiences in this field and preferably at a hospital.

Lack of effect of desglycinamide-arginine-vasopressin (DGAVP) on memory in patients with korsakoff's syndrome.

The effect of desglycinamide9-[Arg8]-vasopressin (DGAVP) on memory processes was studied in patients with Korsakoff's syndrome. Intranasal treatment with DGAVP for 7 days affected neither attention nor short- and long-term memories. It is suggested that treatment with DGAVP is not indicated for all types of memory disorders, and that the beneficial effect of this treatment may depend on the integrity of certain brain structures.

Effects of desglycinamide-arginine-vasopressin (DG-AVP) on memory processes in diabetes insipidus patients and non-diabetic subjects.

The effects of desglycinamide9-arginine8-vasopressin (DG-AVP) on memory processes have been studied in patients with central diabetes insipidus (DI) and in non-diabetic control patients. Acute im injection of DG-AVP improved some aspects of short-term memory. Subchronic intranasal administration of DG-AVP facilitated short-term memory more consistently and in addition improved long-term memory. DG-AVP increased the attention, but only in the non-diabetic subjects. The effects of DG-AVP on memory processes persisted after discontinuation of treatment. DG-AVP did not affect the parameters for water and electrolyte metabolism, blood pressure and pulse rate neither in DI nor in the control patients. Thus, the memory effects of DG-AVP are probably mediated by a direct action on the central nervous system.

Effects of lysine-vasopressin and 1-deamino-8-D-arginine-vasopressin on memory in healthy individuals and diabetes insipidus patients.

Central diabetes insipidus (DI) patients showed impairments in short- and long-term memory functions, but not in attention and concentration, as compared to healthy individuals. A single i.m. injection or sub-chronic intranasal administration of either lysine-vasopressin (LVP) or 1-deamino-8-D-arginine-vasopressin (DDAVP) normalized the disturbed memory functions in DI patients. These peptides also improved memory functions in healthy individuals.