Synchronized cortical potentials and wavelet packets: a potential mechanism for perceptual binding and conveying information.

Temporal synchronization in neuronal assemblies has been linked to the functional roles of perceptual binding, sensory-motor integration, attention, and information coding. We report new evidence for a common underlying mechanism that uses specific temporal patterns of synchronized neuronal activity as a basis for conveying information. The temporal patterns of stimulus-related synchronized neuronal discharges are structured to closely resemble specific members of the Symlet wavelet packet family employed in a computational framework. Together, these results suggest that temporal patterns of synchronized activity may act as a parallel, distributed code for information through a mechanism computationally equivalent to wavelet packet analysis.

Comparison of human erythrocyte insulin binding and adenosinetriphosphatase activity.

Twelve healthy, non-obese male volunteers were selected to measure cellular magnesium (Mg(++)), calcium (Ca(++)), sodium/potassium (Na(+)/K(+)), and adenosinetriphosphatase (ATPase) activities. Measurements were performed using a crude hemolysate as well as a membrane fraction representing cytosolic pump activity. Binding-site data were subjected to Scatchard analysis for determination of receptor number and affinity.There were 432 ± 1.87 insulin-binding sites per cell. ATPase activity was measured in units of moles of inorganic phosphate (Pi) released per gram of hemoglobin (Hgb) every two hours (µmol of Pi/g of Hgb/2 h). Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase activity in the hemolysate and membrane fractions was 18 ± 0.99 µmol of Pi/g of Hgb/2 h and 11.0 ± 0.88 µmol of Pi/g of Hgb/2 h, respectively. Calcium-ATPase activity was 136 ± 1.92 µmol of Pi/g of Hgb/2 h in the hemolysate, and 82 ± 2.07 µmol of Pi/g of Hgb/2 h in the membrane. Magnesium-ATPase activity in these fractions measured 24 ± 1.09 and 16 ± 0.91, respectively.Linear regression analysis of binding capability vs pump activity failed to disclose a significant relationship. Given the narrow range of values in this small study group, a much larger sample size will be required before a relationship can be established.

Imipenem/cilastatin for pediatric infections in hospitalized patients.

One hundred and four children who were hospitalized for documented or suspected non-CNS bacterial infections (56 males/48 females, 22 days to 15 years old) were treated with intravenous imipenem/cilastatin for 9.4 days (range 3 to 28 days). Children up to three years of age received 100 mg/kg/day and older children 60 mg/kg/day, administered in four divided doses. Bacterial pathogens were isolated before therapy in 85%. Diagnoses in the 74 evaluable patients included bronchopneumonia with or without empyema (20%), peritonitis complicating appendicitis (16%), skin/soft tissue abscesses (14%), septicemia (11%) and miscellaneous other infections (39%). Among evaluable patients, 95% were clinically cured or improved. One patients, a marasmic child with pneumonitis due to pseudomonas, died during therapy. One evaluable patient each with shigellosis, Klebsiella pneumoniae empyema and streptococcal pneumonia had bacteriologic eradication or suppression but, due partly to noninfectious complications, had no overall clinical improvement. Most bacterial isolates (101/108) were eradicated, including many gram-negative and gram-positive aerobes and anaerobes; three pathogens persisted (one Proteus mirabilis and one Salmonella typhi, one Staphylococcus aureus); and one Escherichia coli pyelonephritis recurred after therapy ended too early. Imipenem/cilastatin was well tolerated by 91% of children. Clinical adverse experiences (AEs), none serious except for the one death, occurred in 19%; 12% were judged possibly related to imipenem/cilastatin, but none probably or definitely related. No serious laboratory AEs occurred; the most common AEs were eosinophilia (11%), urine discoloration, and infusion site pain. Imipenem/cilastatin is well tolerated and has excellent clinical efficacy in a wide variety of pediatric infections.

'Osmosin': a multi-centre evaluation of a technological advance in the treatment of osteoarthritis.

A multi-centre, double-blind trial was carried out in 272 out-patients with osteoarthritis of the knee(s) to compare the efficacy and tolerability of 'Osmosin', the osmotic release system for indomethacin (7 mg per hour for approximately 10 hours), with that of conventional indomethacin capsules (25 mg 3-times daily) over a period of 12 weeks. The results, as assessed by the subjective and objective clinical variables and laboratory parameters studied, showed that 'Osmosin' provided not only comparable overall therapeutic response but also a preferable tolerability profile to the indomethacin capsule regimen. At completion of the study, 89% of patients treated with 'Osmosin' were being maintained on one dose daily, and 80% of these patients were rated as having a good or excellent response. The results indicate that 'Osmosin' given once daily is a well-tolerated and efficacious therapy for patients with osteoarthritis.

'Osmosin' (sodium indomethacin trihydrate) in the treatment of elderly patients with osteoarthritis.

A 12-week, double-blind, multi-centre trial was carried out in 402 out-patients with osteoarthritis to compare the efficacy and tolerability of the osmotic-release formulation of indomethacin ('Osmosin') with that of indomethacin capsules. Data from a sub-set of 178 patients aged 60 years or over were analyzed separately. The results indicated that 'Osmosin', releasing the equivalent of 7 mg indomethacin per hour over approximately 10 hours, provided efficacy comparable to or better than that of indomethacin capsules (25 mg 3-times daily) and had a better tolerance profile. Fewer patients treated with 'Osmosin' developed adverse experiences (p less than 0.05), especially central nervous system symptoms (p less than 0.05), and fewer were withdrawn from treatment because of adverse experiences (p less than 0.05). A reduction in the number of patients having gastro-intestinal symptoms was also identified. The majority of the patients maintained on one daily dose of 'Osmosin' had a good or excellent therapeutic response.

A double-blind trial comparing indomethacin sustained release capsules (Indocid-R) with indomethacin capsules in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

A double-blind, controlled and completely randomized trial was conducted in four European rheumatology clinics. Eighty-six patients with a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis and prior treatment of at least six months' duration with indomethacin 150 mg/day were studied. Comparisons of the clinical efficacy, tolerability and safety of a new, oral sustained-release formulation of indomethacin were made with a conventional formulation of indomethacin. In all clinical indices of response, the indomethacin sustained-release 75 mg capsule b.i.d. was found to provide relief of symptoms similar to the conventional 50 mg capsule t.i.d. The incidence of overall adverse clinical and laboratory effects was comparable for the two treatments.