Bios data analyzer.

The Bios Data Analyzer (BDA) is a set of computer programs (CD-ROM, in Sabelli et al., Bios. A Study of Creation, 2005) for new time series analyses that detects and measures creative phenomena, namely diversification, novelty, complexes, nonrandom complexity. We define a process as creative when its time series displays these properties. They are found in heartbeat interval series, the exemplar of bios .just as turbulence is the exemplar of chaos, in many other empirical series (galactic distributions, meteorological, economic and physiological series), in biotic series generated mathematically by the bipolar feedback, and in stochastic noise, but not in chaotic attractors. Differencing, consecutive recurrence and partial autocorrelation indicate nonrandom causation, thereby distinguishing chaos and bios from random and random walk. Embedding plots distinguish causal creative processes (e.g. bios) that include both simple and complex components of variation from stochastic processes (e.g. Brownian noise) that include only complex components, and from chaotic processes that decay from order to randomness as the number of dimensions is increased. Varying bin and dimensionality show that entropy measures symmetry and variety, and that complexity is associated with asymmetry. Trigonometric transformations measure coexisting opposites in time series and demonstrate bipolar, partial, and uncorrelated opposites in empirical processes and bios, supporting the hypothesis that bios is generated by bipolar feedback, a concept which is at variance with standard concepts of polar and complementary opposites.

Electrocardiographic findings in patients with diphenhydramine overdose.

QT interval prolongation and torsades de pointes ventricular tachycardia have been reported after therapeutic doses and overdosage of second generation antihistamines, such terfenadine and astemizol. Diphenhydramine (DPHM), a first generation H1 antagonist, is the most frequently used antihistaminic drug. Despite its widespread use, there are no data about cardiac action and electrocardiographic consequences of DPHM overdose. The 12-lead electrocardiograms of 126 patients (mean age 26 +/- 11 years) who had DPHM overdose were evaluated. The ingestion of large doses of DPHM (in majority of cases the dose was >500 mg) was primarily suicidal. Repolarization duration, dispersion, and morphology were evaluated in DPHM overdose patients and compared with those of healthy subjects. Mean heart rate of DPHM overdose patients was 103 +/- 25 beats/min. The QTc duration was significantly longer (453 +/- 43 vs 416 +/- 35 ms, respectively, p <0.001) and mean T-wave amplitude significantly lower (0.20 +/- 0.10 vs 0.33 +/- 0.15 mV, respectively, p <0.001) in DPHM-overdose patients than in control subjects. Dispersion of repolarization was significantly lower in DPHM-overdose patients than in control subjects (42 +/- 25 vs 52 +/- 21 ms, respectively; p = 0.003). None of the DPHM-overdose patients experienced torsades de pointes. In conclusion, DPHM overdose is associated with a significant increase in heart rate and a significant but moderate QTc prolongation. None of the studied patients, including those who had apparent QTc prolongation, experienced torsades de pointes ventricular tachycardia.

Brain protein synthesis in rats with portacaval shunts.

Effects of portacaval shunts on the brain protein synthesis were studied in rats 7, 10 and 13 weeks after the surgery. We evaluated the incorporation of [3H]-glycine with the usage of liquid scintillation. In comparison to the controls, the labelled amino acid was incorporated less effectively in all the examined brain regions throughout the experimental period. The lowest values were observed 10 weeks after the portacaval shunt and the drop was most distinct in the cerebellum (47%). The least profound changes occurred within 7 weeks after the surgery and the results were statistically significant only in the frontal cortex and the brain stem. Thirteen weeks after the shunting the incorporation of [3H]-glycine was moderately decreased (the drop ranged between 12% and 18%) but all the differences were statistically significant. It seems that the inhibition of the brain protein synthesis may contribute to the pathogenesis of the portal-systemic encephalopathy.

Expression of adhesion molecule CD44 in metastatic brain tumors.

Expression of CD44 (m.w. 80-95 kD) in 48 metastatic brain tumors was examined using monoclonal antibody on paraffin sections. The CD44 expression was found in 48% of studied tumors. The most constant expression of CD44 was observed in metastases from thyroid, skin and breast cancer. The brain metastases were characterized by quite heterogenous distribution of CD44 glycoprotein--the most pronounced expression was seen in individual neoplastic cells embedded in abundant stroma and in the vicinity of preserved neural tissue. Such a topographical distribution of CD44 supports its role in interactions of cancer cells with extracellular matrix components of the tumor stroma as well as of neural tissue.

Quantitative determination of acid phosphatase activity detected in tissue sections according to the Burstone method.

Quantitative determination of the activity of acid phosphatase detected in tissue sections using Burstone's method. The experiment was performed on inbred rats. A reaction for AcP according to Burstone was made in liver sections, incubation time was fixed experimentally. The material obtained from each animal was divided into 3 parts. One of them was used for enzymatic estimations, the 2nd for planimetry of sections, and the 3rd was eluted by N,N-dimethylformanid, and the obtained coloured product was subjected to spectrophotometric analysis at the Spectrophotometer Unicam SP 8000 B. Homogeneity of the coloured product eluted from the sections as well as its identity with the coloured product obtained during the reaction with a preparation of crystalline acid phosphatase was found. Repeatability of the obtained activity for the inbred animals was shown. The obtained results were subjected to statistical analysis. The method of quantitative estimation of AcP activity may be useful in histoenzymatic works.

The behaviour of some enzymes in the mouse liver due to chronic benzene intoxication.

1. Long trem benzene action brings about a permanent decrease in oxidoreductive enzymes and active transport as well as an inactivation of the lysosomal apparatus in liver-cells. 2. Particular liver lobule zones show different sensitivity to toxic action of benzene which might result from their different role in the processes of benzene biotransformation.

Histochemical and histoenzymatic changes in mouse liver in subacute benzene intoxication.

The investigations were performed on mice. They were divided into a control group and 4 experimental groups. The experimental animals were administered intraperitoneally benzene 6 X every 24 h. The animals were decapitated 30 min. 4, 12 and 24 h after the last benzene administration. During the experiment, dyeing for neutral lipids and glycogen was carried out, and the activity of NADH2-r.t., SDH, G-6-Pase, ATP-ase and ACP was estimated. A decrease of glycogen content in liver cells, deviations in the amount of neutral lipids, reversible decrease of mitochondrial enzymes activity, and intensification of the processes of intracellular catabolism were found.

Free amino acids in cytosol of rat brain after intraventricular administration of 5,6-dihydroxytryptamine and 6-hydroxydopamine.

Levels of 24 free amino acids were estimated in the brain after administration of 5,6-dihydroxytryptamine and 6-hydroxydopamine into the lateral brain ventricles of male Wistar rats. These neurotransmitters caused serotoninectomy and sympathectomy in the diencephalon, striatum, brain stem and medulla, thalamus and hypothalamus, cerebral cortex and cerebellum. The most abundant amino acids in these brain structures were: glutamic acid, serine, aspartic acid, cystine, gamma-aminobutyric acid, glycine, tryptophan and alanine. We detected and quantified changes in the levels of these and other amino acids in the investigated regions of the rat central nervous system, under the influence of these two neurotransmitters.

[Effect of sulfuric acid vapors on the respiratory system]. / Wplyw par kwasu siarkowego na uklad oddechowy.

The influence of a mixture of sulphuric acid vapour and SO2 mist upon the respiratory tract of animals was investigated during on exposure lasting 8 and 12 hours. Marked inflammatory changes in the upper respiratory tract, bronchioli and lung parenchyma were found. These changes were manifested by inflammatory infiltrations and abundant production of mucous in the bronchial tree. A significant increase in the number of dust cells in the lumen of bronchioli was also observed. A decrease of mitotic index was found in the epithelium of oral cavity after inhalator intoxication with sulphuric acid. This may lead to disturbances in the repair of epithelium. The authors emphasize the intensity of changes in proportion to H2SO4 dosage.

[Chronic hepatic encephalopathy--clinical features and diagnosis]. / Przewlekla encefalopatia watrobowa--objawy i rozpoznanie.

Neuropsychiatric abnormalities affecting patients with chronic liver disease are termed chronic hepatic encephalopathy. The spectrum of hepatic encephalopathy varies from mild intellectual impairment to deep coma. The diagnosis is based on clinical findings, and psychometric and electroencephalographic testing.

[Neurological picture and selected diagnostic indices of vitamin b12 malabsorption syndrome]. / Obraz neurologiczny oraz niektóre wskazniki diagnostyczne w zespole uposledzonego wchlaniania witaminy B12.

Funicular myelosis is considered to be the main neurological syndrome in vitamin B12 deficiency. However, many authors tend to think that sensory neuropathy is the most common neurological manifestation of vitamin B12 deficiency. The aim of this paper was to assess neurological condition of patients with vitamin B12 malabsorption. The absorption of vitamin B-12 was assessed by Schilling's test. Patients with abnormal results of this test underwent neurological and medical examinations as well as series of accessory investigations. 16 cases of deficient vitamin B12 absorption accompanied by neurological symptoms were presented. The results of the investigation showed that the most common clinical manifestation of vitamin B12 deficiency was sensory neuropathy. In over 93% of described cases pathologic changes in gastric mucous membrane were found.