Foramen magnum morphometry in children based on computed tomography examination.

BACKGROUND: The foramen magnum is the largest opening at the base of the skull. The dimensions of the foramen magnum are of significant clinical importance because of the vital structures that pass through it. The aim of the study was the morphometric analysis of the foramen magnum in children based on head computed tomography (CT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was carried out on 84 CTs of the head of children aged 0-18 years; seven age groups were distinguished. The sagittal and transverse dimensions were measured to determine the growth rate, changes between groups, and differences in the foramen size by sex. Statistical analysis of changes was performed. RESULTS: The entire group's mean transverse and sagittal dimensions were 29.08 mm (standard deviation [SD] 3.4 mm) and 35.63 (SD 4.23) mm. By sex, the mean transverse dimension in girls was 28.53 (SD 3.25) mm, and in boys, 29.6 (SD 3.49) mm. The mean sagittal dimension was 35.15 (SD 3.76) mm in girls and 36.09 (SD 4.64) mm in boys. Both dimensions were higher for the male sex. A statistically significant increase in the foramen magnum size was demonstrated up to the age of 36 months in the following age groups; above that age, the increase was statistically insignificant. CONCLUSIONS: The dimensions were similar to those described in adults a moderate dependence of the foramen magnum size on age was found.

[Using fixing devices "metost" in ostheosynthesis for prophylaxis of complications of the bones fractures].

The experience of developing, preclinical examinations and results of introduction to clinical practice of a new fixating device, owing original construction, of the "METOST" system was summarized.

Multiple opioid receptors mediate feeding elicited by mu and delta opioid receptor subtype agonists in the nucleus accumbens shell in rats.

The nucleus accumbens, and particularly its shell region, is a critical site at which feeding responses can be elicited following direct administration of opiate drugs as well as micro-selective and delta-selective, but not kappa-selective opioid receptor subtype agonists. In contrast to observations of selective and receptor-specific opioid antagonist effects upon corresponding agonist-induced actions in analgesic studies, ventricular administration of opioid receptor subtype antagonists blocks feeding induced by multiple opioid receptor subtype agonists. The present study examined whether feeding responses elicited by either putative mu ([D-Ala(2), NMe-Phe(4), Gly-ol(5)]-enkephalin (DAMGO)), delta(1) ([D-Pen(2), D-Pen(5)]-enkephalin (DPDPE)) or delta(2) ([D-Ala(2), Glu(4)]-deltorphin (Deltorphin)) opioid receptor subtype agonists administered into the nucleus accumbens shell were altered by accumbens pretreatment with either selective mu (beta-funaltrexamine), mu(1) (naloxonazine), delta(1) ([D-Ala(2), Leu(5), Cys(6)]-enkephalin (DALCE)), delta(2) (naltrindole isothiocyanate) or kappa(1) (nor-binaltorphamine) opioid receptor subtype antagonists. Similar magnitudes and durations of feeding responses were elicited by bilateral accumbens administration of either DAMGO (2.5 microg), DPDPE (5 microg) or Deltorphin (5 microg). DAMGO-induced feeding in the nucleus accumbens shell was significantly reduced by accumbens pretreatment of mu, delta(1), delta(2) and kappa(1), but not mu(1) opioid receptor subtype antagonists. DPDPE-induced feeding in the accumbens was significantly reduced by accumbens pretreatment of mu, delta(1), delta(2) and kappa(1), but not mu(1) opioid receptor subtype antagonists. Deltorphin-induced feeding in the accumbens was largely unaffected by accumbens delta(2) antagonist pretreatment, and was significantly enhanced by accumbens mu or kappa(1) antagonist pretreatment. These data indicate different opioid pharmacological profiles for feeding induced by putative mu, delta(1) and delta(2) opioid agonists in the nucleus accumbens shell, as well as the participation of multiple opioid receptor subtypes in the elicitation and maintenance of feeding by these agonists in the nucleus accumbens shell.

Actions of NMDA and cholinergic receptor antagonists in the rostral ventromedial medulla upon beta-endorphin analgesia elicited from the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray.

Analgesia elicited by morphine in the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray is mediated in part by NMDA and cholinergic receptors in the rostral ventromedial medulla because selective receptor antagonists applied to the latter structure reduced morphine analgesia elicited from the former structure. Previous studies have demonstrated that morphine and beta-endorphin employ different anatomical and neurochemical pathways in exerting their supraspinal analgesic effects. The present study evaluated whether pretreatment with either competitive (AP7, 3-10 microg) or non-competitive (MK-801, 3-10 microg) NMDA antagonists, or muscarinic (scopolamine, 5 microg) or nicotinic (mecamylamine, 1 microg) cholinergic antagonists administered into the rostral ventromedial medulla altered beta-endorphin (15 microg) analgesia elicited from the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray as measured by the tail-flick and jump tests in rats. Whereas AP7 produced minimal (11%) and transient (30 min) reductions in beta-endorphin analgesia on the jump test, MK-801 produced minimal (9%) and transient (30 min) reductions in beta-endorphin analgesia on the tail-flick test. Whereas mecamylamine failed to reduce beta-endorphin analgesia on either measure, scopolamine produced small (23%) and transient (30 min) reductions in beta-endorphin analgesia on the tail-flick test. Each of these antagonists administered into the rostral ventromedial medulla at comparable or lower doses virtually eliminated morphine analgesia elicited from the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray. The opioid mediation of beta-endorphin analgesia in the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray was confirmed by its sensitivity to naltrexone (1-20 microg) pretreatment into the same structure. These data provide further evidence for dissociations between the descending neuroanatomical and neurochemical circuitry mediating the supraspinal analgesic responses induced by morphine and beta-endorphin, and indicate that the latter response is mediated by either non-cholinergic and non-NMDA synapses within the rostral ventromedial medulla, and/or by brainstem sites outside of the rostral ventromedial medulla.

Analysis of dopamine receptor antagonism upon feeding elicited by mu and delta opioid agonists in the shell region of the nucleus accumbens.

The nucleus accumbens (NAcc) has been implicated as an important reward site for the mediation of unconditioned reinforcers such as food. Although both mu-selective and delta-selective opioid agonists in the NAcc induce spontaneous and palatable feeding, these effects are mediated by multiple opioid receptor subtypes within the nucleus. A role for dopaminergic mediation of feeding in the NAcc is based upon selective antagonist-induced suppression of feeding induced by systemic amphetamine. The present study investigated whether feeding elicited by infusion of either mu ([D-Ala(2), NMe-Phe(4), Gly-ol(5)]-enkephalin) or delta(2) ([D-Ala(2), Glu(4)]-deltorphin) opioid receptor subtype agonists in the shell region of the NAcc would be modified by intra-accumbens pretreatment with equimolar (12-100 nmol) doses of either D(1)-selective (SCH23390) or D(2)-selective (raclopride) antagonists. Both opioid agonists displayed comparable magnitudes and durations of feeding responses in the NAcc. SCH23390 significantly and dose-dependently reduced mu agonist-induced feeding in the NAcc with significant reductions noted following the two higher, but not two lower doses. In contrast, raclopride pretreatment produced inconsistent effects upon mu agonist-induced feeding with limited actions across doses and test times. Further, neither SCH23390 nor raclopride pretreatment in the NAcc affected feeding elicited by the delta(2) opioid agonist. These data indicate that the role of dopamine receptors in mediating opioid-induced feeding within the shell region of the NAcc is both dependent upon the dopamine receptor subtype that was blocked (D(1) vs. D(2)) as well as the opioid receptor subtype which was being stimulated mu vs. delta(2)).

Antisense mapping of opioid receptor clones: effects upon 2-deoxy-D-glucose-induced hyperphagia.

Antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (AS ODNs) directed against exons 1 and 2 of the MOR-1 clone significantly and markedly reduced (81-93%) hyperphagia induced by the anti-metabolic glucose analogue, 2-deoxy-d-glucose (2DG) across a 4 h time course. AS ODNs directed against exons 3 or 4 of the MOR-1 clone had a more limited (1-2 h) duration of action upon 2DG-induced hyperphagia. 2DG-induced hyperphagia was significantly reduced by AS ODNs directed against exon 2 (44-51%), but not exons 1 or 3 of the KOR-1 clone across a 4 h time course. Whereas an AS ODN probe directed against the KOR3/ORL-1 clone produced small (36%), but significant reductions in 2DG-induced hyperphagia, an AS ODN probe directed against the DOR-1 clone was ineffective. These data provide further converging evidence for the roles of primarily mu, but also kappa1 and kappa3 opioid receptors in mediating the hyperphagic effects of glucoprivation.

Precision absolute measurements of strong and highly inhomogeneous magnetic fields.

The low-temperature ([similar or less than]4 K) dependence of the photoconductance in n-type silicon on the conduction electron and bound donor electron spin state serves as the basis of a high-precision, wide-range magnetic field measuring probe, which by virtue of its very small dimensions is well suited for spatial mapping of highly inhomogeneous fields produced by superconducting magnets. The probe may also be adapted to power and frequency measurement of microwave sources operating at approximately mW power levels and frequencies up to approximately 500 GHz.

[The prognosis of the adaptational potentials in servicemen of different constitutional types]. / Prognozirovanie adaptatsionnykh vozmozhnostei voennosluzhashchikh s razlichnym konstitutsional'nym tipom.

The authors study the influence of tropical and high-mountain climate upon the process of one-month adaptation for two groups of servicemen. It was ascertained that there were statistic differences in many cardiovascular indexes of servicemen with various constitution type after measured physical load, although none of that changes were detected in ordinary conditions. This prognostication gives the possibility to make a more precise estimate of professional capability of man, determine the individuals with increased tendency towards dysadaptational disorders, and carry out a proper complex of prophylactic measures.

[The assessment of body functional systems by the indices of their nonspecific reactions]. / Otsenka funktsional'nykh sistem organizma po pokazateliam ego nespetsificheskikh reaktsii.

The analysis of long standing researches in the military operators' procedure has shown some regularities in the changes of indices which were examined. Varying in time and magnitude the non-specific reactions at first manifest itself in unstable vegetative regulations, then proliferate its influence upon visual and motor coordination, and finally cause negative shifts in professional activities (worsening of accuracy and precision, appearance of errors, etc). It is obvious, that specific reactions impose their own features on the development of this program without changing its basic trend.

The circulating role: who is the most appropriate care provider?

This article describes the long and arduous journey to the development of the Nursing Position Statement-Appropriate Care Provider for the Operating Room in Hamilton and Burlington, Ontario. From the first meeting to the final presentation of the Position Statement to management, it took over a year of intense review. The entire process was done in consultation with the College of Nurses of Ontario, Operating Room Management, educators and staff nurses.

[The effect of pulsed noise on acquired behavior in rats and cats]. / Vliianie impul'snogo shuma na priobretennoe povedenie krys i koshek.

Low-frequency pulsing noise exerted an adverse effect upon acquired behaviour in rats and cats. The cerebral function of behavioural integration seems to suffer under the effect.

[Variational chronoreflexometric evaluation of the central nervous system functions in elementary school children with mental retardation]. / Otsenka funktsional'nogo sostoianiia tsentral'noi nervnoi sistemy detei mladshego shkol'nogo vozrasta s zaderzhkoi psikhicheskogo razvitiia s pomoshch'iu variatsionnoi khronorefleksometrii.

Parameters of variational chronoreflexometry variation curve of distribution were shown to correlate with the level of mental development in mentally retarded children. The borderline values of the CNS function condition's criteria were determined for both normal children and those mentally retarded. A feasibility of assessing the interhemisphere functional asymmetry by means o this particular method, was shown.

[Use of maxaquin in the treatment of progressive pulmonary tuberculosis occurring with standard chemotherapy regimens]. / Primenenie maksakvina v lechenii progressiruiushchego tuberkuleza legkikh, voznikshego na fone standartnykh rezhimov khimioterapii.

To study the efficacy of the fluoroquinolone maxaquin (lomefloxacin), the latter was used in 27 patients with destructive bacillary pulmonary tuberculosis which progressed with routine drug regimens. After monthly therapy, positive clinical changes were achieved in 85.6% of patients, abacillation was obtained in 33.2%, a X-ray decrease in infiltrative and focal changes was recorded in 81.5% and decay cavitary closure occurred in 22.2% of patients at month 3 of maxaquin therapy. The positive clinical, laboratory, and X-ray changes occurring after the use of maxaquin necessitates the supplementation of this agent to the drug regimen for patients with progressive pulmonary tuberculosis. Mycobacterial resistance to the major drugs is an indication for the use of maxaquin.