Effects of methyl-eugenol administration on behavioral models related to depression and anxiety, in rats.

Croton zehntneri (Cz) is a popular plant in Brazilian folk medicine. Recently, the use of its essential oil showed depressive activity response in the central nervous system (CNS). Chemical studies show that the main compound of this oil is the methyl-eugenol (ME). This work seeks to evaluate the ME activity in behavioral models of depression and anxiety, in the rat. Male rats (60 days old) were divided into four groups (n = 10) and treated with doses of 1.0, 3.0 and 10.0 ml/100 g body wt., v.o., of ME (experimental) and saline (control). One hour after treatment, they were observed in the forced swimming test and 15 min later in the open-field test. A decrease was observed in the immobility time during the forced swimming test for all experimental groups, in comparison with control group (C = 168.8 +/- 27.3; 1.0 microl = 139.1 +/- 23.5; 3.0 microl = 137.2 +/- 18.7 and 10.0 microl = 139.8 +/- 23.6). The open-field results showed no differences in comparison to the control group. The same was observed for social interaction, plus-maze and holeboard tests, suggesting no alterations in anxiety behavior. These data suggest that ME administration induced antidepressive CNS alterations, expressed by the smallest immobility in the swimming model, and not of a level able to alter motor and exploratory activity in the open-field. The absence of effects observed in the open-field can be a result of the experimental contingency, taking low anxiety levels. These data are in contradiction to observations with Cz essential oil in these models.

Extracorporeal shock wave therapy for chronic calcific tendinitis of the shoulder: single blind study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical and radiological response of chronic calcific tendinitis of the shoulder to extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) in a single blind study. METHODS: 70 patients showing chronic, symptomatic, calcifying tendinitis of the shoulder were examined. A single blind randomised study was performed with 35 patients undergoing a regular treatment (group 1) and 35 a simulated one (group 2). Pain and functional assessment was carried out according to Constant and Murley. Variations in the dimension of the calcification were evaluated by anteroposterior x ray films. RESULTS: A significant decrease of pain and a significant increase in shoulder function was seen in group 1. Examination by x ray showed partial resorption of the calcium deposits in 40% of cases and complete resorption in 31% of cases in group 1. In the control group no significant decrease of pain and no significant increase in shoulder function was seen. No modifications were observed by x ray examination. CONCLUSION: Because of its good tolerance, safety, and clinical radiological response, ESWT can be considered as an alternative treatment for chronic calcific tendinitis of the shoulder.

Efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave treatment in calcaneal enthesophytosis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave treatment (ESWT) in calcaneal enthesophytosis. METHODS: 60 patients (43 women, 17 men) were examined who had talalgia associated with heel spur. A single blind randomised study was performed in which 30 patients underwent a regular treatment (group 1) and 30 a simulated one (shocks of 0 mJ/mm(2) energy were applied) (group 2). Variations in symptoms were evaluated by visual analogue scale (VAS). Variations in the dimension of enthesophytosis were evaluated by x ray examination. Variations in the grade of enthesitis were evaluated by sonography. RESULTS: A significant decrease of VAS was seen in group 1. Examination by x ray showed morphological modifications (reduction of the larger diameter >1 mm) of the enthesophytosis in nine (30%) patients. Sonography did not show significant changes in the grade of enthesitis just after the end of the treatment, but a significant reduction was seen after one month. In the control group no significant decrease of VAS was seen. No modification was observed by x ray examination or sonography. CONCLUSION: ESWT is safe and improves the symptoms of most patients with a painful heel, it can also structurally modify enthesophytosis, and reduce inflammatory oedema.

Microencapsulation of menadione sodium bisulphite with polydimethylsiloxane by the spray-drying process: characterization by thermal analysis.

Menadione sodium bisulphite was microencapsulated with a polydimethylsiloxane membrane using spray-drying technology. Tests were performed using laboratory equipment and a Niro Atomizer pilot plant to scale up the process. The products were characterized with differential thermal analysis (DTA) and chemical and physical methods. Many differences between raw material and microencapsulated powder result from DTA data. The thermal characterization confirms that the spray-drying microcoating could be used to protect powder from the oxidative actions of the atmosphere.

[A radiological study of movements of the normal lumbar spine (author's transl)]. / Etude radiologique de la mobilité du rachis dorso-lombaire.

Twenty normal individuals have been studied using 6 radiological views. They included 8 men and 12 women (6 of them classical dancers). In flexion and extension the 5th lumbar is the most mobile vertebra. All vertebrae from T10 to L5 participate in this movement. The flexion decreases from the first vertebra to the uppermost vertebra. In lateral bending, L3 was generally the most mobile and L5 the most immobile. Contrary to previous studies, it was shown that movement in flexion (75 p. cent) was greater than movement in extension (25 p. cent).

Optimized graphical analysis of Gaussian and lognormal assumptions for intraocular and vascular pressure distributions.

The design of optimized histogram and probability graphs needed to detect a lognormal distribution in surveys of intraocular pressure (IOP), mean ophthalmic arterial pressure (OAP) and mean ocular perfusion pressure (OPP) is described. Applications are demonstrated in a sample of 58 normal adult eyes. A lognormal distribution was found for IOP and for OAP and OPP estimates obtained with a noncontact noncompressive method. Conversely, the absence of an identifiable linear distribution for OAP and OPP estimates obtained with compression ophthalmodynamometry was noteworthy. The implications of lognormality for definitions of a normal range and for correlations involving IOP, OAP and OPP data are briefly discussed.

Pseudophakic cystoid maculopathy: a study of 50 cases.

The incidence of clinical cystoid macular edema (CME) in routine cataract surgery is about 2%. Clinically significant pseudophakic maculopathy has a higher incidence and is more severe. Fifty cases of CME following intracapsular cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation in a series of 821 consecutive cases were reviewed. The overall incidence of pseudophakic cystoid macular edema (PCME) was 6.1%. Several clinical observations were made: (1) Young patients, or those under 65, had a much higher incidence of PCME, approaching 20%; (2) chronic inflammation is responsible for pseudophakic cystoid maculopathy; (3) systemic steroid therapy of CME in the pseudophakic patient was beneficial in 80% of the cases, with a response within ten days; and (4) pseudophakic cystoid maculopathy is almost always recurrent and frequently requires maintenance suppression with daily steroid drops after recovery. Forty-four percent of these patients did not recover better than 20/40 visual acuity, suggesting that CME in the pseudophakic patient is not a benign, self-limited disease.