Patterns of neural activity associated with differential acute locomotor stimulation to cocaine and methamphetamine in adolescent versus adult male C57BL/6J mice.

Adolescence is a time period when major changes occur in the brain with long-term consequences for behavior. One ramification is altered responses to drugs of abuse, but the specific brain mechanisms and implications for mental health are poorly understood. Here, we used a mouse model in which adolescents display dramatically reduced sensitivity to the acute locomotor stimulating effects of cocaine and methamphetamine. The goal was to identify key brain regions or circuits involved in the differential behavior. Male adolescent (postnatal day (PN), 30-35) and young adult (PN, 69-74) C57BL/6J mice were administered an i.p. injection of cocaine (0, 15, 30 mg/kg) or methamphetamine (0, 2, 4 mg/kg) and euthanized 90 min later. Locomotor activity was monitored continuously in the home cage by video tracking. Immunohistochemical detection of Fos protein was used to quantify neuronal activation in 16 different brain regions. As expected, adolescents were less sensitive to the locomotor stimulating effects of cocaine and methamphetamine as indicated by a rightward shift in the dose response relationship. After a saline injection, adolescents showed similar levels of Fos as adults in all regions except the dorsal caudate (CPuD) and lateral caudate (CPuL) where levels were lower in adolescents. Cocaine and methamphetamine dose dependently increased Fos in all brain regions sampled in both adolescents and adults, but Fos levels were similar in both age groups for a majority of regions and doses. Locomotor activity was correlated with Fos in several brain areas within adolescent and adult groups, and adolescents had a significantly greater induction of Fos for a given amount of locomotor activity in key brain regions including the caudate where they showed reduced Fos under baseline conditions. Future research will identify the molecular and cellular events that are responsible for the differential psychostimulant-induced patterns of brain activation and behavior observed in adolescent versus adult mice.

[Normalization of lipid metabolism disturbances and clinical course after percutaneous coronary angioplasty: 6 month observation]. / Normalizacja zaburzen gospodarki lipidowej a przebieg kliniczny po zabiegu przezskórnej angioplastyki wiencowej: 6-miesieczna obserwacja.

UNLABELLED: The recurrent stenosis of previously successfully dilated coronary arteries still remains a matter of concern despite of the improved short and long term results of percutaneous coronary angioplasty. The role of dyslipidaemia in the origin of restenosis after coronary angioplasty is still controversial. The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy of hypolipemic treatment in patients undergoing coronary angioplasty and to find out whether successful lowering of lipid parameters to normal limits is related to improvement exercise capacity and systolic function of left ventricle. The study group comprised 152 patients (17 women, 135 men), aged 52 +/- 8.8 years, who were reffered for percutaneous coronary angioplasty (PTCA). The patients were divided, according to the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol (CH/ch-HDL), into two subgroups: subgroup I with CH/ch-HDL > 5.0 and subgroup II with CH/ch-HDL < or = 5.0. In all patients following parameters: total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides and body mass index were measured before PTCA, 1 month and 6 months after the procedure. At the same times a treadmill test and echocardiography were performed. Baseline total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides were significantly higher in subgroup I. In subgroup I Ch/ch-HDL ratio was at baseline 7.4 +/- 2.0 and decreased 6 months after PTCA to 5.2 +/- 1.7, p < 0.001. The CH/ch-HDL ratio was 4.2 +/- 0.6 in subgroup II before PTCA and remained the same 4.1 +/- 1.2 after 6 months. Before PTCA, the exercise capacity did not differ between groups 9.1 +/- 2.5 vs 9.6 +/- 3.3 MET, p = ns. A significant improvement of exercise capacity was observed in subgroup I 1 month after PTCA 9.1 +/- 2.5 to 11.2 +/- 2.7 MET, p < 0.001, remaining at the same level after 6 months. The differences seen in group II did not reach the statistical significance. Echocardiography revealed improvement of left ventricle contractility in both subgroups, with statistically significant increase in group I (1.24 +/- 0.36 to 1.14 +/- 0.27, p < 0.001). The left ventricle systolic function was within normal limits in all patients before coronary angioplasty and increased significantly 1 month after PTCA in subgroup I (56.1 to 60.4%, p < 0.001). 6 months after PTCA no further significant changes were observed. CONCLUSIONS: The dyslipidaemic state recognised before PTCA does not influence clinical outcomes after the procedure. Lipid lowering therapy should be offered to every patient undergoing coronary angioplasty regardless of the baseline value of total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol ratio. Optimal treatment of dyslipidaemia leading to lower total cholesterol, triglycerides and total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol ratio, to normal limits, is associated with improved exercise capacity and systolic function of left ventricle six months after successful coronary angioplasty.

Pregnancy and delivery prognostic risk score for women with congenital heart disease and acquired valvular heart disease.

Hemodynamic changes related to pregnancy in women with Congenital Heart Disease (ConHD) or Acquired Valvular Heart Disease (AVHD) require special medical care during pregnancy and especially immediately prior to, and after delivery. Following a five year retrospective study (1978-1982), the authors monitored prospectively over a period of 12 years (1983-1994), 378 pregnancies in 252 women with ConHD and AVHD. Based on the results of the initial clinical examination and monthly follow-up visits, a numerical risk score was assigned for each patient. The study showed good conformity between the predictive risk score values and the patient's condition in the course of pregnancy and delivery. Thus, this method represents a novel and potentially very useful clinical tool for management of pregnancy in patients with ConHD and AVHD.

[Silent myocardial ischemia before and after revascularization]. / Nieme niedokrwienie miesnia serca przed i po rewaskularyzacji.

In 82 patients with unstable ischemic heart disease (IHD) before and after revascularisation (percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty-PTCA-in 11 patients and coronary artery bypass graft-CABG-in 71 patients) silent ischemia incidence was observed. In these patients before and after operation election fraction (EF) and wall motion score index (IK) were compared echocardiographically as well as physical ability according to Bruce protocol in treadmill exercise test. Data (EF and IK and exercise test) before and after operation didn't change significantly. Silent ischemia was directed before operation in 17 patients (21.8%) and in 15 patients (19.4%) one month after those procedures.

[Qualifying patients with unstable angina for invasive tests based on electrocardiographic examinations]. / Kwalifikacja chorych z niestabilna choroba wiencowa do badan inwazyjnych na podstawie badan elektrokardiograficznych.

In 40 patients with unstable angina pectoris a variety of electrocardiographic parameters were analysed. In all patients routine ECG, signal averaged high resolution ECG. 24 hour ECG recordings and heart rate variability analysis were performed at admission and repeated at 7 day of hospitalization. During second week patients underwent also exercise treadmill test. On basis of clinical presentation each patient was qualified to invasive investigation, 31 patients had need for urgent cardiac catherization (group I-urgent indications) and in the remaining 9 patients cardiac catherization was performed 3 months after the relief of acute symptoms (group II-non-urgent indications). The most impressive implications were draw from repeated 24 hour Holter ECG monitoring. In patients with urgent indications (gr. I) more frequent and severe ischemic episodes, as well as more frequent ventricular arrhythmias were observed. Patients from group I were unable to achieve higher grades on exercise treadmill test, while ST segment depression was comparable in both groups. Heart rate variability analysis showed greater disturbances of cardiac vagal control in group I. The number of critically stenosed vessels was similar in both groups, however left ventricular systolic dysfunction was observed mainly in patients with urgent indications for cardiac catherization.

Sex differences in rank attainment among radiology and internal medicine faculty.

Overall, the percentage of women attaining the ranks of associate professor and professor remains well below the percentage of men in those ranks. Few studies of women in academic medicine have been conducted that might guide the leaders of medical schools and specialty societies in addressing the reasons for this disparity. The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Faculty Roster System allows comparison of a cohort of faculty at any selected time following their first faculty appointments. This study examined men and women faculty who received their first appointments in the departments of radiology and internal medicine in 1976 and who were still active in 1986. Disparities between men and women in rank attained were apparent in both specialties but were greater in radiology than in internal medicine. Other variables examined include ethnic-racial self-description and teaching, research, patient care, and administrative responsibilities. The authors pose additional research questions requiring information that the Faculty Roster System is not designed to provide.

Comparative image quality of 105 mm and conventional spot films.

The image qualities of 105 mm film (Cronex MRF-21) and a conventional screen-film (Hi-Plus/Cronex 4) were compared for gastrointestinal studies, a high-contrast-resolution procedure, using a General Electric MPX 100/Fluoricon 300 x-ray system. The high contrast resolution was determined at a location approximating the midplane of an average-sized patient (20 cm). Films were made for each image-intensifier mode (9, 6, and 4.5 inch [22.9, 15.2, and 11.4 cm]) and compared with the conventional screen-film for contrast transfer (modulation-transfer function) and maximum cutoff frequency. The effects of unsharpness caused by patient motion were included in the analysis. The patient entrance exposure was measured for each technique. In the absence of patient motion, the cutoff frequencies for the spot films in the 9, 6, and 4.5 inch (22.9, 15.2, and 11.4 cm) modes were 2.1, 2.3, and 2.4 line pairs/mm, respectively. The cutoff frequency for the conventional spot-film was 2.0 line pairs/mm. The modulation-transfer functions for the 105 mm films in the 9, 6, and 4.5 inch (22.9, 15.2, and 11.4 cm) modes were found to be equal to or superior to those of the conventional screen-film for all degrees of patient motion. The 6 inch (15.2 cm), 105 mm films were found to have the best overall performance. These results were achieved with a reduction in radiation dose of 55%.