Spinal myoclonus following combined spinal-epidural anaesthesia for Caesarean section.

A nulliparous woman presented with pre-eclampsia at 39 weeks' gestation. A combined spinal-epidural anaesthesia was employed for Caesarean section but the spinal component produced no discernible block, so the epidural was topped up with 20 ml ropivacaine 0.75% without problem and surgery was uneventful. A week after delivery she developed twitching of her legs and opisthotonus, that was initially thought to be eclampsia but was subsequently diagnosed as spinal myoclonus. She was treated with oral carbamazepine and diazepam, with improvement over the next 4 days, and discharged home a week later taking oral carbidopa and levodopa. Her symptoms resolved completely 6 months after the initial event.

Inhibition of insulin release by Jatrophone.

In many countries, including Brazil, extracts of Jatrophona elliptica species are currently used for the treatment of several diseases. Recently it was shown that a purified compound from these plants inhibits contraction of smooth and cardiac muscle in the microM range, probably involving alterations in membrane Ca2+ permeability and/or internal Ca2+ distribution. In collagenase-isolated rat islets and in the absence of glucose, basal insulin secretion measured by radioimmunoassay averaged 122 +/- 13 microU/islet per 90 min (N = 25). At 16.7 mM glucose, the insulin output reached 445 +/- 32 microU/islet per 90 min (N = 27). Jatrophone (1-100 microM/l) caused a dose-related inhibition of glucose-induced insulin release, over basal secretion, with an ID50 close to 8 microM/l. Complete inhibition of insulin release was obtained with 100 microM/l Jatrophone. However, at 100 microM/l (but not at 10 microM/l) concentration, Jatrophone also provoked a reduction in glucose metabolism by the islets which could explain, at least in part, the reduction in insulin secretion. After 120-min incubation, the glucose metabolism, measured by the 14CO2 production, was reduced from 26.58 +/- 3.63 (N = 42) to 7.48 +/- 1.36 (N = 16) pmol/l per islet. In conclusion, at lower concentrations (10 microM/l) Jatrophone could be a valuable tool for the study of the mechanism of insulin release induced either by glucose or other secretagogues.

Inhibition of insulin release by jatrophone

In may countries, including Brazil, extracts of Jatrophona elliptica species are currently used for the treatment of several diseases. Recently it was shown that a purified compound from these plants inhibits contraction of smooth and cardiac muscle in the uM range, probably involving alterations membrane Ca2+ permeability and/or internal Ca2+ distribution. In the collagenase-isolated rat islets and in the absence of glucose, basal insulin secretion measured by radioimmunoassay averaged 122 ñ 13 uU/islet per 90 min (N=27). Jatrophone (1-100 uM/l) caused a dose-related inhibition of glucose-induced insulin release, over basal secretion, with an ID50 close to 8 uM/l. Complete inhibition of insulin release was obtained with 100 uM/l Jatrophone. However, at 100 uM/l (but not at 10 uM/l) concentration, Jatrophone also provoked a reduction in glucose metabolism by the islets which could explain, at least in part, the reduction in insulin secretion. After 120-min incubation,. the glucose metabolism, measured by the 14CO2 production, was reduced from 26.58 ñ 3.63 (N=42) to 7.48 ñ 1.36 (N=16) pmol/l per islet. In conclusion at lower concentrations (10 uM/l) Jatrophone could be a valuable tool for the study of the mechanism of insulin release induced either by glucose or other secretagogues

A time-course study of physiological indicators of handling stress in the tropical fish Piaractus mesopotamicus (pacu).

The response of juvenile cultivated Piaractus mesopotamicus to handling stress, without anesthesia, was determined over 3-5 min (T1), 1 h (T2) and 6 h (T3) after capture. Plasma cortisol, glucose and total cholesterol were measured. Hyperglycemia present at T2 continued to rise until T3 while plasma cortisol levels increased but were similar at T2 and T3. Total plasma cholesterol was altered only at T3. Hyperglycemic changes were greater in fish without than with stomach contents during the T2-T3 period. These differences in hyperglycemic changes may reflect the role of hormones other than cortisol in the regulation of glucose release in these fish.

A time-course study of physiological indicators of handling stress in the tropical fish Piaractus mesopotamicus (Pacu)

The response of hjuvenile cultivated piaractus mesopotamicus to handling stress, without anesthesia, was determined over 3-5 min (T1), 1H(T2) and 6h(T3) after capture. Plasma cortisol, glucose and total cholesterol were measured. Hyperglicemia present at T2 continued to rise until T3 while plasma cortisol levels increased but were similar at T2 and T3. Total plasma cholesterol was altered only at T3. Hyperglycemic changes were greater in fish without than with stomach contents during the T2-T3 period. these differences in hyperglycemic changes may reflect the role ogf hormones other than cortisol in the regulation of glucose release in these fish