Photoanthropometric craniofacial parameters in individuals with osteogenesis imperfecta.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate facial photoanthropometric parameters in patients with OI. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We selected 20 Brazilian patients diagnosed with OI treated at the Extension Service for Minors in Need of Specialized Treatment of the Dentistry Course at the Federal University of Ceará (Fortaleza, Brazil), of both sexes, without age restriction, and able to understand and sign the informed consent form (ICF). As a control group, 38 non-syndromic Brazilian individuals, categorized as ASA I, able to understand and sign the ICF, matched by sex, age, and Legan and Burstone facial profile were selected. The exclusion criteria were: previous orthodontic treatment, craniofacial trauma and/or surgery, and the presence of any other systemic diseases. Photoanthropometric analysis of the 18 facial parameters proposed by Stengel-Rutkowski et al. (1984), previously established in the literature for craniofacial syndromes, were conducted. A single examiner digitally performed all effective and angular measurements with the CorelDRAWX7® software. RESULTS: Horizontally shortened ears (p<0.001) but larger in height in relation to the face (p=0.012) were shown to be alterations belonging to individuals with OI. CONCLUSIONS: OI patients present distinct photoanthropometric parameters inherent in this condition.

Efficacy of respiratory muscle training in weaning of mechanical ventilation in patients with mechanical ventilation for 48hours or more: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial. / Eficacia del entrenamiento muscular respiratorio en el destete de la ventilación mecánica en pacientes con ventilación mecánica por 48 o más horas: un ensayo clínico controlado.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of respiratory muscular training in the weaning of mechanical ventilation and respiratory muscle strength in patients on mechanical ventilation of 48hours or more. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial of parallel groups, double-blind. Ambit: Intensive Care Unit of a IV level clinic in the city of Cali. PATIENTS: 126 patients in mechanical ventilation for 48hours or more. INTERVENTIONS: The experimental group received daily a respiratory muscle training program with treshold, adjusted to 50% of maximal inspiratory pressure, additional to standard care, conventional received standard care of respiratory physiotherapy. MAIN INTEREST VARIABLES: weaning of mechanical ventilation. Other variables evaluated: respiratory muscle strength, requirement of non-invasive mechanical ventilation and frequency of reintubation. ANALYSIS: intention-to-treat analysis was performed with all variables evaluated and analysis stratified by sepsis condition. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in the median weaning time of the MV between the groups or in the probability of extubation between groups (HR: 0.82 95% CI: 0.55-1.20 P=.29). The maximum inspiratory pressure was increased in the experimental group on average 9.43 (17.48) cmsH20 and in the conventional 5.92 (11.90) cmsH20 (P=.48). The difference between the means of change in maximal inspiratory pressure was 0.46 (P=.83 95%CI -3.85 to -4.78). CONCLUSIONS: respiratory muscle training did not demonstrate efficacy in the reduction of the weaning period of mechanical ventilation nor in the increase of respiratory muscle strength in the study population. Registered study at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02469064).

Decreased event-related theta power and phase-synchrony in young binge drinkers during target detection: An anatomically-constrained MEG approach.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of binge drinking has risen in recent years. It is associated with a range of neurocognitive deficits among adolescents and young emerging adults who are especially vulnerable to alcohol use. Attention is an essential dimension of executive functioning and attentional disturbances may be associated with hazardous drinking. The aim of the study was to examine the oscillatory neural dynamics of attentional control during visual target detection in emerging young adults as a function of binge drinking. METHOD: In total, 51 first-year university students (18 ± 0.6 years) were assigned to light drinking ( n = 26), and binge drinking ( n = 25) groups based on their alcohol consumption patterns. A high-density magnetoencephalography signal was combined with structural magnetic resonance imaging in an anatomically constrained magnetoencephalography model to estimate event-related source power in a theta (4-7 Hz) frequency band. Phase-locked co-oscillations were further estimated between the principally activated regions during task performance. RESULTS: Overall, the greatest event-related theta power was elicited by targets in the right inferior frontal cortex and it correlated with performance accuracy and selective attention scores. Binge drinkers exhibited lower theta power and dysregulated oscillatory synchrony to targets in the right inferior frontal cortex, which correlated with higher levels of alcohol consumption. CONCLUSIONS: These results confirm that a highly interactive network in the right inferior frontal cortex subserves attentional control, revealing the importance of theta oscillations and neural synchrony for attentional capture and contextual maintenance. Attenuation of theta power and synchronous interactions in binge drinkers may indicate early stages of suboptimal integrative processing in young, highly functioning binge drinkers.

Functional and structural brain connectivity of young binge drinkers: a follow-up study.

Adolescence is a period of ongoing brain maturation characterized by hierarchical changes in the functional and structural networks. For this reason, the young brain is particularly vulnerable to the toxic effects of alcohol. Nowadays, binge drinking is a pattern of alcohol consumption increasingly prevalent among adolescents. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the evolution of the functional and anatomical connectivity of the Default Mode Network (DMN) in young binge drinkers along two years. Magnetoencephalography signal during eyes closed resting state as well as Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) were acquired twice within a 2-year interval from 39 undergraduate students (22 controls, 17 binge drinkers) with neither personal nor family history of alcoholism. The group comparison showed that, after maintaining a binge drinking pattern along at least two years, binge drinkers displayed an increased brain connectivity of the DMN in comparison with the control group. On the other hand, the structural connectivity did not show significant differences neither between groups nor over the time. These findings point out that a continued pattern of binge drinking leads to functional alterations in the normal brain maturation process, even before anatomical changes can be detected.

Exploratory Analysis of Power Spectrum and Functional Connectivity During Resting State in Young Binge Drinkers: A MEG Study.

Binge Drinking (BD) is a pattern of intermittent intensive alcohol intake which has spread among young adults over the last decades. Adolescence constitutes a critical neuromaturation period in which the brain is particularly sensitive to the effects of alcohol. However, little is known about how BD affects the brain activity. This study aimed to characterize the brain's functional organization in BD and non-BD young population by means of analyzing functional connectivity (FC) and relative power spectra (PS) profiles measured with magnetoencephalography (MEG) during eyes-closed resting state. Our sample composed 73 first-year university students (35 BDs and 38 controls). Results showed that the BD subjects displayed a decreased alpha FC in frontal-parietal regions, and conversely, an enhanced FC in the delta, theta and beta bands in fronto-temporal networks. Besides the FC differences, the BD group showed a decreased PS within alpha range and an increased PS within theta range in the brain's occipital region. These differences in FC and PS measurements provide new evidence of the neurophysiological alterations related to the alcohol neurotoxicity and could represent an initial sign of an anomalous neural activity caused by a BD pattern of alcohol consumption during youth.

The treatment of functional psychosis in Spain at the beginning of the XX century (1917-1931).

This paper studies the introduction of the new physical therapies in the years prior to the Second Spanish Republic. It concludes that the physical treatments in force in the international literature were introduced early in Spain and were put into practice by the most important psychiatrists, although in few cases. Given the generalized criticism on the efficacy of psychiatry as a specialty, there was a general bias towards a positive evaluation of the efficacy of the physical therapies by the new generation of Spanish psychiatrists that did not occur in other countries of our setting. The psychiatrists who disagreed professionally with the above-psychiatrists opposed this tendency, there not being sufficient empirical support for the opinion of any group.

MSX1 and orofacial clefting with and without tooth agenesis.

MSX1 has been considered a strong candidate for orofacial clefting, based on mouse expression studies and knockout models, as well as association and linkage studies in humans. MSX1 mutations are also causal for hereditary tooth agenesis. We tested the hypothesis that individuals with orofacial clefting with or without tooth agenesis have MSX1 coding mutations by screening 33 individuals with cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL/P) and 19 individuals with both orofacial clefting and tooth agenesis. Although no MSX1 coding mutations were identified, the known 101C > G variant occurred more often in subjects with both CL/P and tooth agenesis (p = 0.0008), while the *6C-T variant was found more often in CL/P subjects (p = 0.001). Coding mutations in MSX1 are not the cause of orofacial clefting with or without tooth agenesis in this study population. However, the significant association of MSX1 with both phenotypes implies that MSX1 regulatory elements may be mutated.

Mejoras inmediatas de la fuerza isométrica máxima tras estimulación eléctrica neuromuscular unilateral del cuádriceps femoral / Immediate improvements of maximum isometric force after unilateral neuromuscular electrical stimulation of femoral quadriceps

Introducción. El entrenamiento cruzado explica la mejora producida en un miembro del cuerpo que permanece inactivo como consecuencia del entrenamiento de un miembro remoto. Este fenómeno, probado en múltiples ocasiones, no tiene hasta el momento una explicación satisfactoria. Al parecer el reflejo de extensión cruzado pudiera ser el responsable de las mejoras, siendo el objetivo del presente estudio cuantificar el posible efecto de este reflejo sobre la fuerza muscular, tras estimulación eléctrica neuromuscular (EENM). Material y métodos. Veinte hombres adultos fueron asignados de forma aleatoria al grupo experimental (E, n = 10) o al grupo control (C, n = 10). En el grupo E se midió la fuerza isométrica máxima (FIM) de la extremidad izquierda antes y después de realizar un programa de 1 minuto de EENM en la extremidad derecha. En el grupo C se midió la fuerza en dos ocasiones sin mediar ningún tipo de intervención. Resultados. El análisis de diferencias de medias realizado muestra un incremento de un 7,54 % (p < 0,05) de la fuerza del cuádriceps izquierdo en el grupo E. En el grupo C ninguna diferencia significativa fue hallada. Asimismo se observó que la intensidad soportada por los sujetos durante la EENM correlacionaba positivamente con la fuerza que ejercían tanto en el pretest (r = 0,81, p < 0,005) como en el postest (r = 0,73, p < 0,05). Discusión. Las ganancias producidas como consecuencia de la EENM remota mejoraron la fuerza del miembro no estimulado, planteando la utilización de los mecanismos reflejos del sistema nervioso periférico como coadyuvantes en la rehabilitación de lesiones unilaterales

Introduction. Cross training explains the improvement produced in a body limb that remains inactive as a result of training of a remote limb. This phenomenon, verified many times, has not had a satisfactory explanation up to now. Seemingly, the crossed extension reflect could be responsible for the improvements, the objective of this study being to quantify the possible effect of this reflect on muscular force, after neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMEE). Material and methods. Twenty adult men were randomly assigned to the experimental group (E, n = 10) or to the control group (C, n = 10). Maximum isometric force (MIF) of the left limb was measured in the E group before and after conducting a 1 minute program of NMEE in the right limb. Force was measured twice in the C group without mediating any type of intervention. Results. The analysis of differences of means made shows an increase of 7.54 % (p < 0.05) of the force of left quadriceps in group E. No significant difference was found in group C. Furthermore, it was observed that the intensity supported by the subjects during the NMEE positively correlated with the force the subjects exerted both in the pretest (r = 0.81, p < 0.005) and post-test (r = 0.73, p < 0.05). Discussion. The gains produced as a consequence of the remote NMEE improved the force of the unstimulated limb, proposing the use of the reflex mechanisms of the peripheral nervous system as coadjuvants in the rehabilitation of unilateral lesions

Hipertrofia muscular en sujetos hemofilicos tras estimulacion electrica muscular / Muscular hypertrophy in haemophilic subjects after muscular electrical stimulation

El principal objetivo de este estudio fue cuantificar los cambios producidos en la sección transversal del rectus femoris del quadriceps femoris, en pacientes afectados de hemofilia A, tras un tratamiento de estimulación eléctrica muscular (EEM). Doce hombres afectados de hemofilia A clínicamente graves, tomaron parte en la presente investigación, sometiéndose a un protocolo unilateral sobre el muslo izquierdo de EEM (se utilizó una forma de onda rectangular bifásica simétrica compensada; frecuencia 45 Hz; impulso 300 ìs; ciclo de contracción y descanso de 12 s on y 8 s off; tiempo 30 min) durante 6 semanas a razón de 3 sesiones/semana. Los problemas musculoesqueléticos de todos los sujetos fueron evaluados de forma previa al tratamiento en las escalas de Pettersson y Gilbert. Se tomaron medidas del quadriceps femoris de ambos muslos, a través de una tomografía axial computerizada, antes y después del periodo de tratamiento. Durante el periodo de seis semanas que duró el tratamiento, ningún paciente tuvo sangrados debidos al protocolo de EEM. El análisis de diferencia de medias realizado muestra un incremento del diámetro muscular del rectus femoris del quadriceps femoris de 23,04 % (p < 0,05) tras el tratamiento de EEM. Ninguna diferencia significativa fue encontrada, en el muslo no tratado, tras las seis semanas de tratamiento. En conclusión, los resultados del presente estudio indican que el programa de EEM aplicado sobre el quadriceps femoris en sujetos afectados de hemofilia A tiene un impacto significativo sobre el trofismo muscular. Asimismo este tratamiento muestra una buena adaptación a las características clínicas de estos sujetos

The principal aim of this study was quantify the changes produced in the cross-sectional section of the rectus femoris of the quadriceps femoris, in patients affected of haemophilia A, after a treatment of muscular electrical stimulation (EEM). Twelve men affected of haemophilia A clinically serious, took part in the present investigation, being put under an unilateral protocol on the left thigh of EEM (a rectangular symmetrical biphasic compensated waveform was used; frequency 45 Hz; impulse of 300 ìs; and a duty cycle of 12 s on and 8 s off; time 30 min) during 6 weeks, 3 sessions/week. The musculoskeletal problems of all subjects were evaluated of previous form to the treatment in the scales of Pettersson and Gilbert. Measures were taken from the quadriceps femoris of both thighs, through a computerized axial tomography, before and after the period of treatment. During the period of six weeks that lasted the treatment, no patient had bled due to the EEM protocol. The analysis of difference of averages made shows to an increase of the muscular diameter of the previous rectus femoris of 23,04 % (p < 0,05) after the EEM treatment. No significant difference was found, in the thigh no treated, after the six weeks of treatment. In conclusion, the results of the present study indicate that the program of EEM applied on the quadriceps femoris in subjects affected of haemophilia A has a significant impact on the muscular trophism. Also this treatment shows a good adaptation to the clinical characteristics of these subjects

Cambios en el tiempo de ejecución y en la fuerza en el bíceps braquial tras el entrenamiento de fuerza unilateral / Changes in execution time and force after unilateral strength training of biceps brachial

El presente estudio pretende comparar dos métodos de entrenamiento de fuerza ejecutados unilateralmente y cuantificar su influencia sobre el brazo contralateral. Treinta hombres sanos fueron divididos de forma aleatoria en tres grupos, Fuerza Máxima (FM) (n = 10; cargas 95%), Hipertrofia (H) (n = 10; cargas 70%) y Control (C) (n =10; grupo control), todos ellos fueron testados antes y después de 8 semanas de entrenamiento/3 sesiones por semana. En cuanto a los resultados de fuerza hallados, ambos grupos FM y H obtuvieron en ambos brazos mejoras porcentuales comprendidas entre un 10,09 % y un 26% respecto al grupo control (p<0,05). La actividad electromiográfica arrojó una mayor amplitud entre picos para el grupo FM, el cual obtuvo aumentos porcentuales significativos respecto al grupo C en el brazo entrenado (46,43% p<0,05) y en el brazo no entrenado respecto al grupo H (33,60% p<0,05) y el grupo C (35,59% p<0,05). El tiempo de ejecución que fue medido en el brazo no entrenado, mejoró en ambos FM (- 26,69 % p<0,05) y H (-28,13% p <0,05), significativamente respecto al grupo C. Estas mejoras de fuerza y del tiempo de ejecución del gesto motor, tras entrenamiento unilateral con cargas altas o medias, pensamos que pueden ser debidas al aumento de la activación del sistema nervioso. Las potenciales aplicaciones que se derivan de esta forma de entrenamiento son de gran importancia para la población de sujetos con lesiones unilaterales

The present study tries to compare two methods of strength training unilaterally executed and to measure the changes produced on the contralateral arm. Thirty healthy men, were divided in three training groups, Maximal Strength (FM) (n = 10; loads 95%), Hypertrophy (H) (n = 10; loads 70%) and Control (C) (n = 10; control group). The three groups were tested before and after 8 weeks of training/tree times per week. The results found in strength, showed that both, group FM and group H in both arms obtained percentage improvements ranging between 10.09% and 26% compared to the control group (p<0.05). The electromyographic activity threw a greater amplitude between peaks for the FM group, which obtained significant percentage increases compared to C group in the trained arm (46.43% p<0.05) and in the nontrained arm with respect to group H (33.60% p<0.05) and C group (35.59% p<0.05). The time of execution that was measured in the nontrained arm, showed significant improvements in FM (-26.69 % p<0.05) and in H (-28.13% p < 0.05) groups, compared to group C. These improvements of strength and time of execution, after unilateral training with high or medium loads, can be due to the increase of the activation of the nervous system. The potential applications that are derived from this way of training are of great importance for subjects with unilateral lesions

Evaluation of two experimental models of hepatic encephalopathy in rats.

The serious neuropsychological repercussions of hepatic encephalopathy have led to the creation of several experimental models in order to better understand the pathogenesis of the disease. In the present investigation, two possible causes of hepatic encephalopathy, cholestasis and portal hypertension, were chosen to study the behavioral impairments caused by the disease using an object recognition task. This working memory test is based on a paradigm of spontaneous delayed non-matching to sample and was performed 60 days after surgery. Male Wistar rats (225-250 g) were divided into three groups: two experimental groups, microsurgical cholestasis (N = 20) and extrahepatic portal hypertension (N = 20), and a control group (N = 20). A mild alteration of the recognition memory occurred in rats with cholestasis compared to control rats and portal hypertensive rats. The latter group showed the poorest performance on the basis of the behavioral indexes tested. In particular, only the control group spent significantly more time exploring novel objects compared to familiar ones (P < 0.001). In addition, the portal hypertension group spent the shortest time exploring both the novel and familiar objects (P < 0.001). These results suggest that the existence of portosystemic collateral circulation per se may be responsible for subclinical encephalopathy.

Evaluation of two experimental models of hepatic encephalopathy in rats

The serious neuropsychological repercussions of hepatic encephalopathy have led to the creation of several experimental models in order to better understand the pathogenesis of the disease. In the present investigation, two possible causes of hepatic encephalopathy, cholestasis and portal hypertension, were chosen to study the behavioral impairments caused by the disease using an object recognition task. This working memory test is based on a paradigm of spontaneous delayed non-matching to sample and was performed 60 days after surgery. Male Wistar rats (225-250 g) were divided into three groups: two experimental groups, microsurgical cholestasis (N = 20) and extrahepatic portal hypertension (N = 20), and a control group (N = 20). A mild alteration of the recognition memory occurred in rats with cholestasis compared to control rats and portal hypertensive rats. The latter group showed the poorest performance on the basis of the behavioral indexes tested. In particular, only the control group spent significantly more time exploring novel objects compared to familiar ones (P < 0.001). In addition, the portal hypertension group spent the shortest time exploring both the novel and familiar objects (P < 0.001). These results suggest that the existence of portosystemic collateral circulation per se may be responsible for subclinical encephalopathy.

Presentación de un caso de carcinoma metoplásico heterólogo de mama con estudio histoquímico, molecular y oncogenético / Case report of a heterologic and metoplastic breast carcinoma with histochemical, molecular and oncogenetic study

Introducción: La diferenciación metaplásica en el cáncer mamario es un fenómeno infrecuente, que corresponde a patrones de expresión génica que no histogenéticos, ocasionantes de un fenotipo no glandular e incluso no epitelial. Presentamos un caso de carcinoma metaplásico, heterólogo de mama, así mismo, realizamos una búsqueda en Medline, para orientación sobre su frecuencia, revisando la literatura reciente al respecto. Caso clínico: Paciente de 36 años, con un carcinoma mamario en estadio clínico T2N0M0, sometida a mastectomía y reconstrucción inmediata con un colgajo dermo graso, dependiente del músculo recto abdominal, y que muestra en el estudio histológico, zonas de patrón mixoide, diferenciación cartilaginosa y ocasionalmente, patrón storiforme. El estudio histoquímico, demuestra su inequívoco origen epitelial. Discusión: El carcinoma metaplásico, es una entidad poco frecuente (entre 1976 y 2000, se describen 48 series con más de 10 pacientes). Típicamente se describe, en mujeres jóvenes, como masas polinodulares grandes, con menor frecuencia que el carcinoma ductal de extensión linfática y mayor de extensión hematógena, diríase, que presenta no sólo un cuadro histológico sarcomatoso, sino un comportamiento sarcomatoide. Conclusiones: El carcinoma metaplásico de mama, es un tumor, fenotípicamente diferente, pero histogenéticamente igual al carcinoma glandular. Su comportamiento biológico recuerda al del sarcoma, lo que implica peculiaridades terapéuticas, sobre todo en lo que respecta a la cirugía (AU)

Hippocampal AgNOR activity after chronic alcohol consumption and alcohol deprivation in rats.

Chronic alcohol consumption induces morphological changes in the central nervous system and withdrawal does not reverse these changes. It is well known that the hippocampal formation is one of the brain regions most sensitive to prolonged alcohol ingestion. The aim of our study was to evaluate the transcriptional neuronal activity by measuring the argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) in the dentate gyrus, CA3, and CA1 hippocampal areas from adult male rats receiving chronic administration of ethanol (ALC) and after withdrawal (WDL). The parameters evaluated were the number and area of AgNORs, together with the area of nucleus and the proportion between AgNOR and nuclear areas (ratio). The animals from ALC and WDL groups showed a reduction in the number of AgNOR per cell as compared to the control group. CA3 was the hippocampal area most affected by chronic alcohol intake. No improvement was observed in animals after withdrawal. Our data support the idea that the chronic intake of alcohol decreases protein synthesis in hippocampal neurons at an early age. This decrease may explain the memory impairment showed by rats receiving chronic treatment with alcohol because, both in humans and rats, it is associated with a reduction in the number of cholinergic neurons in the basal forebrain that would in turn affect the hippocampal function.

Reflexión crítica sobre el manejo de las lesiones mamarias no palpables sospechosas de malignidad. Exposición de nuestra experiencia de dos años / Critical reflection on the managing of non palpable mammary lesions suspicious of malignancy. Report of our two-year experience

Propósito: Revisar la literatura sobre estrategias y control de calidad en el manejo de lesiones mamarias no palpables sospechosas de malignidad y presentar nuestra experiencia de dos años al objeto de ocasionar una reflexión crítica. Material y métodos: 53 Pacientes fueron tratadas por los autores, procedentes de una campaña de detección de cáncer mamario no palpable y de la consulta externa hospitalaria; Efectuando biopsia radioguiada en todos los casos como primera intervención. Después del estudio histológico de estas biopsias, existió una relación entre lesiones malignas y benignas de 2,1. El tratamiento definitivo de los carcinomas fue: tumorectomía con linfadenectomía oxilar, tumorectomía con mamoreducción y linfadenectomía, mastectomía a lo PateyMerola y mastectomia con reconstrucción mamaria inmediata. Resultados: Es imprescindible un optimo nivel de coordinación entre cirujano, patólogo y radiólogo para obtener un adecuado nivel de calidad diagnóstica en el manejo de esta entidad; el tratamiento exige una actuación multidisciplinaria que busque la curación consiguiendo en la medida de lo posible la rehabilitación morfológica, social y psicológica de la paciente, haciéndola participar en las decisiones después de una información adecuada (AU)

[An adrenaline-induced vasospasm as the form of presentation of variant angina]. / Vasoespasmo inducido por adrenalina como forma de presentación de una angina variante.

A 41-year-old-man without previous ischemic heart disease, developed a severe anaphylactic reaction. After administration of epinephrine (0.5 mg) the patient complained of chest pain. The electrocardiogram showed an elevation of ST segment in inferior leads. Myocardial necrosis was ruled out. Coronary arteriography disclosed normal coronary arteries. Eight months later, the patient developed severe chest pain during physical activity. ST elevation was again seen in inferior leads. ECG changes disappeared, when sublingual nitroglycerin was administered. A diagnosis of vasospastic angina was made. Exercise test was negative, during treatment with calcium-blocking agents. The patient subsequently remain free of symptoms taking medication. The physiological mechanisms of vasospastic angina and precipitating factors are discussed.

Sex-related differences in spatial learning during the early postnatal development of the rat.

Some authors have reported that male rats younger than 21 days old are unable to perform spatial learning correctly because they have still not developed the ability to use extra-maze cues. In experiment 1, we analyzed spatial learning in 14-, 21-, 30- and 42-day-old rats using the Morris water maze (MWM). According to our results, a good performance was observed in 30-day-old male rats whereas this was not observed in female rats until they were 42 days old. In experiment 2 we studied the role of sex hormones in this kind of learning using the MWM and 30-day-old rats (castrated male rats and female rats treated with testosterone propionate (TP) after birth). The latter group, the male control group and the castrated males all solved the task correctly. The objective of experiment 3 was to determine possible differences between the sexes in the use of taxon strategies in the T water maze. To summarize, sexual dimorphism was only observed in spatial learning during development.

[Hepatic alterations in a model of alcoholism in the rat]. / Alteraciones hepáticas en un modelo de alcoholismo en ratas.

Today, there are a great number of investigations about alcoholism. The effects of alcohol had been studied in Medicine, Psychology, Biology, Biochemistry, Physiology or Pharmacology. Many investigations are carried out with humans, however, in most experiments is necessary to use animal models. Many experimental models of alcoholism in animals are usually used in the laboratories and they present several differences among them. In our investigation we have studied the hepatic alterations in an experimental model of alcoholism in the rat because the liver is a very sensitive organ which suffers the effects of alcohol and its metabolites. We try to demonstrate that there are hepatic lesions which allows the use of this experimental in the study of the behavioral and neural parameters in the rat. The experimental model of alcoholism that we propose has been considered appropriate to study the behavioral effects of alcohol, not only because the animals show the characteristic hepatic lesions, but also because they do not suffer manipulations that could alter them and as a consequence bias the behavioral data.

NOR activity in hippocampal areas during the postnatal development and ageing.

The silver staining of the nucleolar organizer regions (Ag-NORs) was used in order to estimate the biosynthetic activity of three hippocampal areas (dentate gyrus, CA1 and CA3) during postnatal development and ageing. 32 Wistar rats were used and 4 groups were formed according to the age of the animals (14, 21, 90 days and 23 months). Several Ag-NOR parameters such as mean Ag-NOR area and the ratio between Ag-NOR and nuclear areas per neuronal cell were quantified using an image analysis system. High values of these parameters are associated with a high rate of rRNA transcription. In this way, the neural biosynthetic activity in all regions studied decreased as the older ages are reached. Differences between areas are shown with the dentate gyrus and CA1 areas decreasing faster. The different activity among these areas is discussed, taking into account the particular affect on these areas of some injuries and the ageing process. Our results support the hypothesis of NOR loss as a main cause of ageing as reported by other authors.

Glial and neuronal cell numbers and cytochrome oxidase activity in CA1 and CA3 during postnatal development and aging of the rat.

Stereological methods (neuron and glial cell numbers) and histochemical methods (cytochrome c oxidase) were used to study postnatal development and aging of the CA1 and CA3 hippocampal areas in male rats. No changes were observed in 10 microns sections in the neuronal population of areas CA1 and CA3 in any of the groups (14 days, 21 days, adult-90 days and elderly-22 months). Statistical differences were found in the number of glial cells in both the CA1 and CA3 areas. An increase was observed in cytochrome oxidase (CO) activity in the CA1 area in the 14 day old rats compared to the other groups while in area CA3 this parameter increased in the 14 and 21 day old groups and the group of adult rats. No significant changes in CO activity were found in the elderly rats in both areas. These results are discussed in the light of those recorded in other areas of the limbic system.