Gastrodia Elata Bl Attenuates Cocaine-Induced Conditioned Place Preference and Convulsion, but not Behavioral Sensitization in Mice: Importance of GABA(A) Receptors.

It has been suggested that GABAergic neurotransmission can modulate cocaine dependence and seizure activity. Since Gastrodia elata Bl (GE), an oriental herb agent, has been shown to enhance GABAergic transmission, we examined whether GE affects cocaine-induced seizures, conditioned place preference (CPP), and behavioral sensitization in mice. Treatment with GE (500 or 1000 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly delayed seizure onset time and significantly shortened seizure duration induced by cocaine (90 mg/kg, i.p.). In addition, cocaine (15 mg/kg, i.p.)-induced CPP was significantly attenuated by GE in a dose-dependent manner. However, GE did not significantly alter behavioral sensitization induced by cocaine (15 mg/kg, i.p.). In order to understand whether GABAergic receptors are implicated in GE-mediated pharmacological action in response to cocaine, GABA(A) receptor antagonist bicuculline and GABA(B) receptor antagonist SCH 50911 were employed in the present study. GE-mediated attenuations on the cocaine-induced seizures and CPP were significantly reversed by bicuculline (0.25 or 0.5 mg/kg, i.p.), but not by SCH 50911 (1.5 or 3.0 mg/kg, i.p.). Therefore, our results suggest that GE attenuates cocaine-induced seizures and CPP via, at least in part, GABA(A) receptor activation.

Gastrodia elata bl attenuates methamphetamine-induced dopaminergic toxicity via inhibiting oxidative burdens.

It has been recognized that Gastrodia elata Bl (GE), an oriental herb medicine, ameliorates various neurological disorders, that GE modulates the monoaminergic and GABAergic systems, and that GE possess antioxidant activities. We examined whether GE affects methamphetamine (MA)-induced striatal dopaminergic toxicity in mice. Treatment with MA (7.5 mg/kg, i.p. × 4) resulted in significant decreases in behavioural activity (as shown by locomotor activity and rota rod performance), dopamine level, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) activity, and TH protein expression (as evaluated by immunocytochemistry and western blot analysis). In addition, MA treatment showed significant increases in lipid peroxidation [as evaluated by 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (4-HNE) expression and malondialdehyde formation], protein oxidation (as shown by protein carbonyl expression and its formation), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation. Treatment with GE significantly attenuates MA-induced behavioural and dopaminergic impairments, and oxidative stresses in a dose-dependent manner. Our results suggest that GE treatment shows anti-dopaminergic effects in response to MA insult via, at least in part, inhibiting oxidative stresses in the striatum of the mice.

A new stilbene diglycoside from Rheum undulatum.

A new stilbene diglycoside, piceatannol-3, 4'-O-beta-D-diglucopyranoside (I), together with desoxyrhaponticin (II), emodin-1-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (III), and physcion-8-O-b-D-glucopyranoside (IV), were isolated from the rhizomes of cultivated Korean rhubarb rhizomes (Rheum undulatum), Jong DaeWhang, and the structures of I-IV were identified on the basis of chemical and spectral evidences.

[State of the sympathoadrenal system and hemodynamics in children during congenital heart defect surgery with high thoracic epidural anesthesia using lidocaine-clofelin]. / Sostoianie simpatoadrenalovoi sistemy i gemodinamiki u detei pri korrektsii vrozhdennykh porokov serdtsa na fone vysokoi torakal'noi épidural'noi anestezii lidokain-klofelinom.

Effects of high thoracic epidural anesthesia (HTEA) on the hemodynamics and sympathoadrenal system were studied in patients during cardiopulmonary bypass surgery. In 55 patients aged 1-14 years, HTEA was used in combination with oxygen-air-halothane anesthesia. In one group lidocaine and fentanyl were used for HTEA and in another clonidine and lidocaine. In the control, standard intravenous fentanyl-diazepam anesthesia was combined with oxygen-air-halothane anesthesia. In the clonidine-lidocaine group the endocrine stress response was decreased in comparison with other groups even without narcotics; hemodynamics was stable even in patients with NYHA class III-IV.

[Experience in tube feeding of children in intensive care]. / Opyt primeneniia zondovogo pitaniia u detei v usloviiakh intensivnoi terapii.

Tube feeding was used in 97 children aged 0 to 8 years hospitalized in intensive care wards. Daily rations were calculated on the basis of daily requirements. The feeding was carried out continuously or intermittently. Algorithms of the methods are presented. If requirements to tube feeding are strictly adhered to, the incidence and severity of complications are minimal.

[High thoracic epidural analgesia in the postoperative period after correction of congenital heart defects in children]. / Vysokaia grudnaia épidural'naia analgeziia v posleoperatsionnom periode pri korrektsii vrozhdennykh porokov serdtsa u detei.

The effects and side effects of thoracic epidural analgesia on the respiratory response, awakening time, and cooperation with nurses were studied. Forty children received epidural analgesia after open-heart surgery. Lidocaine was injected in a dose of 1.5-2 mg/kg every 1.5-2 h. Controls (16 pts) received intravenous fentanyl + diazepam analgesia. Respiratory response and awakening were significantly earlier (p < 0.001) in the epidural group. Cooperation with nurses was much better in this group, too. No side effects were observed in the epidural group. Therefore, thoracic epidural analgesia is a safe and effective method of postoperative analgesia for children subjected to open-heart surgery.

Anti-platelet aggregation activity of stilbene derivatives from Rheum undulatum.

In continued studies on cultivated Korean rhubarb rhizomes (Rheum undulatum), three known stilbenes (desoxyrhapontigenin, rhapontigenin, piceatannol) have been screened for activity on blood platelet aggregation. Both rhapontigenin and desoxyrhapontigenin exhibited strong inhibition on the aggregation induced by arachidonic acid and collagen. However, piceatannol did not show inhibition. These inhibitory effects may partially contribute to anti-blood stagnancy activity of rhubarb.

[The treatment of appendicular peritonitis in children]. / Lechenie appendikuliarnogo peritonita u detei.

The experience of treatment of 513 children with an acute destructive appendicitis, complicated by peritonitis, was presented. The guided laparostomy conduction in patient in terminal state had promoted the frequency lowering of the postoperative complications occurrence and of the patients deaths. In 11 patients, whose state was estimated as extremely severe, laparostomy with double bottom according to classical method was performed. Of them 8 had recovered, 3 died, in 7 patients the complications occurred: the intestinal loops eventration--in 2 and postoperative infiltrate--in 5. The prolonged novocainic block of the terminal ileum mesentery and ileocecal valve with transcutaneous retroperitoneal introduction of catheter to mesentery according to Seldinger was applied for the treatment.

Lupane-glycoside of Acanthopanax trifoliatus forma tristigmatis leaves.

This report contains the first characterization of acanthodiolglycoside which belongs to pentacyclic lupane triterpene glycoside.

Testicular cycles in three species of Korean frogs: Rana nigromaculata, Rana rugosa, and Rana dybowskii.

Seasonal changes in testicular structure and function in three species of Korean frogs (Rana nigromaculata, R. rugosa, and R. dybowskii) having different breeding seasons and habitats were examined throughout the year. R. nigromaculata live in rice fields and breed in early May. Their gonadosomatic index (GSI) and testis weight decreased slightly from May until July, but increased markedly from August to high levels through December. The diameter (cross-sectional area) of seminiferous tubules changed little from January until August, increased sharply from September through October, and decreased thereafter. In seminiferous tubules, the number of primary spermatogonia (I SPG) was low from January-March, increased from April to maximum levels by May-June, and decreased subsequently. The number of spermatids (SPT) was highest from November to March, decreased to nondetectable levels in May, and increased markedly from September to November. Spermiation was most active during March and April. R. rugosa, which live in streams and breed during May-June, exhibited no changes in GSI, testis weight, or seminiferous tubule size throughout the year. The number of I SPG was high during May-August and that of secondary spermatogonia (II SPG) was highest in August. The number of SPT increased to high levels in November-December. Active spermiation occurred from January to April in this frog. In R. dybowskii, which live in the mountains and breed from late February to early March, the number of I SPG gradually increased from April through August; however, essentially no other spermatogenic cells were observed from January to July. A marked increase in early spermatogenic cells appeared during August-September and was followed by an increase in SPT from November to December. From December to March the number of spermatozoa increased and spermiation occurred. In general, testicular testosterone levels were high in the winter and low in summer in all three species, and positively correlated with the number of interstitial cells and the size of their nucleus.

[High epidural anesthesia in the correction of congenital heart defects with artificial circulation in children]. / Vysokaia épidural'naia anesteziia pri korrektsii vrozhdennykh porokov serdtsa s iskusstvennym krovoobrashcheniem u detei.

Effects of high thoracic epidural anesthesia (TEA) on hemodynamics were studied in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) surgery. In 7 patients aged 3-7 years, TEA was used as an adjunct to standard oxygen-air-isoflurane anesthesia. We prefer using a combination of lidocaine with fentanyl for epidural anesthesia. Usually we take a loading dose of 4.5 mg/kg of lidocaine and 1 microgram/kg of fentanyl, which is followed after 40-50 min by 3.5 mg/kg lidocaine and 1 microgram/kg fentanyl. TEA ensures good pain relief and hemodynamic stability and can be accepted as a safe and effective anesthetic technique in combination with inhalation anesthesia in children subjected to CPB.

Steroidogenic shift by cultured ovarian follicles of Rana dybowskii at breeding season.

The steroid secretory activity of cultured ovarian follicles of Rana dybowskii and the activities of relevant steroidogenic enzymes were examined during the natural hibernation period (October-February). Enzyme activities were measured indirectly by monitoring the conversion of exogenous substrates to products by isolated follicles. Follicles were incubated for 6 h in amphibian Ringer in the presence or absence of frog pituitary homogenate (FPH, 0.1 pituitary/2 ml) and/or various steroid precursors. Progesterone (P4), 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone (17 alpha-OHP) or testosterone (T) secreted by the follicles into the medium were measured by RIA. In the presence of FPH, high levels of P4 were produced by follicles at the early and mid-hibernation period (695 and 898 pg/follicle, respectively) whereas markedly elevated levels of P4 were produced during late hibernation (1,393 pg/follicle) (just prior to or breeding season, February). In contrast, high levels of T were produced by the follicles early in hibernation (1,206 pg/follicle) while negligible levels were produced in late hibernation (69 pg/follicle). Higher levels of 17 alpha-OHP were produced by follicles at early and mid hibernation (594 and 705 pg/follicle, respectively) than in later hibernation (221 pg/follicle). Addition of exogenous pregnenolone markedly increased P4 levels in a dose-dependent manner when added to follicles at early and late stages of hibernation: FPH addition further enhanced conversion of pregnenolone. Similarly, addition of androstenedione (AD) increased T levels in a dose-dependent manner by these follicles. However, following addition of exogenous P4, less 17 alpha-OHP was produced by follicles collected in late hibernation as compared to those collected earlier.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Cryosurgical method of therapy for congenital vascular lesions in children]. / Kriokhirurgicheskii metod lecheniia vrozhdënnykh sosudistykh obrazovanii u detei.

The experience with the use of a cryosurgical method in the out-patient treatment of 3112 children of different age with congenital vascular formations was summarized. In the total structure of neoplasms, capillary hemangioma was predominant. The original apparatus was used with exposure of from 10 to 45 sec. The results of follow-up of the patients for 2 to 5 years are presented. A good cosmetic and functional result was noted in 96.2% of patients.

Changes of cardiac output during treadmill exercise by impedance cardiography.

Nine athletes and ten nonathletes were selected randomly to study the changes of cardiac function during exercise by impedance cardiography. The speed of the treadmill was maintained at 3.4 mph, and its grade was increased by 1% (Balke protocol). The exercise was continued until the target heart rate (THR), 85% of maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max). The measured parameters for pre- and post-exercise were stroke volume (SV), heart rate (HR), and cardiac output (CO). Average stroke volume of athletes at pre-exercise, 71.1 ml, was higher than that of nonathletes, 64.6 ml, and stroke volume of the former at post-exercise, 97.0 ml, was also higher than that of the latter, 85.2 ml. Therefore, despite the lower heart rate, cardiac outputs of athletes at pre- and post-exercise, 4.98 and 16.3 L/min, were higher than those of nonathletes, 4.87 and 14.2 L/min. For the second phase of the study, cardiac outputs of three subjects were measured during the continuous treadmill exercise with newly developed electrodes and shoes for minimizing motion artifact. Though there were several studies measuring cardiac output during continuous bicycle exercise, this is thought to be the first study in the world measuring cardiac output during continuous treadmill exercise without aid of ensemble averaging.

[The immune system in children with acute appendicitis]. / Immunnaia sistema u detei s ostrym appenditsitom.

Cellular and humoral immunity was studied in 300 patients with acute appendicitis at the age of from 1 to 14 years. In all the patients, the secondary immunodeficient state was documented, which was the most pronounced at day 3 after the operation. In children after appendectomy, the inclusion into the complex of measures of the preparations increasing the immunologic reactivity of an organism is indicated.

Epidemiologic study of 600 villagers of oral precancerous lesions in Bilugyun: preliminary report.

A house-to-house survey of 11 villages selected by random sampling was carried out in Bilugyun. Chaung-zone township. Mon State of South Eastern Burma to study the prevalence of oral precancerous lesions and smoking and chewing. A total of 6000 villagers who were above 15 years at the time of this study were examined. The prevalence of preleukoplakia was 0.3%, leukoplakia 1.7%, lichen planus 0.4%, leukokeratosis nicotina palati 2.3, erythroplakia 0.1%, submucous fibrosis 0.1%, and cancer 0.03%. A correlation was done between habits and lesions.