Cerebellar vermis H2 receptors mediate fear memory consolidation in mice.

Histaminergic fibers are present in the molecular and granular layers of the cerebellum and have a high density in the vermis and flocullus. Evidence supports that the cerebellar histaminergic system is involved in memory consolidation. Our recent study showed that histamine injections facilitate the retention of an inhibitory avoidance task, which was abolished by pretreatment with an H2 receptor antagonist. In the present study, we investigated the effects of intracerebellar post training injections of H1 and H2 receptor antagonists as well as the selective H2 receptor agonist on fear memory consolidation. The cerebellar vermi of male mice were implanted with guide cannulae, and after three days of recovery, the inhibitory avoidance test was performed. Immediately after a training session, animals received a microinjection of the following histaminergic drugs: experiment 1, saline or chlorpheniramine (0.016, 0.052 or 0.16 nmol); experiment 2, saline or ranitidine (0.57, 2.85 or 5.07 nmol); and experiment 3, saline or dimaprit (1, 2 or 4 nmol). Twenty-four hours later, a retention test was performed. The data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Duncan's tests. Animals microinjected with chlorpheniramine did not show any behavioral effects at the doses that we used. Intra-cerebellar injection of the H2 receptor antagonist ranitidine inhibited, while the selective H2 receptor agonist dimaprit facilitated, memory consolidation, suggesting that H2 receptors mediate memory consolidation in the inhibitory avoidance task in mice.

Cytotoxicity in vitro analysis of ceramic materials for ''metal free'' prosthetic substructures.

AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro cytotoxicity of 5 ceramic materials for metal-free fixed prosthodontics: In-Ceram, Cergo, IPS Empress II, Cercon ZrO2, Finesse All Ceram compared each other and to commercially pure Titanium (CpTi). METHODS: The materials, prepared directly from manufacturers as 10 mm diameter and 3 mm thickness disks, have been tested following the ISO 10993-l guidelines, performing the in vitro cytotoxicity test with the use of mouse's cells, fibroblasts L-929, isolated by muscular tissue and cultured in an appropriate medium. The MTT test has been used to evaluate the cell viability through the succinate dehydrogenase enzyme activity. The originality of this investigation is that all the materials examined have been tested under the same conditions: the cytotoxicity test has been performed on these materials at the same time, in the same period, under the same conditions of temperature and humidity and by the same operator. RESULTS: Not all tested materials were free from cytotoxicity. Cercon, within the limits of this in vitro study, showed the lower cytotoxicity. CONCLUSIONS: This in vitro study suggested that ceramic materials for metal free prosthetic substructures are in competition with the CpTi which is very used in implant prosthodontics.

The long-term efficacy and safety of two different corticosteroids in chronic sarcoidosis.

Deflazacort (DFZ) is claimed to have fewer adverse bone effects than prednisone (PDN) at doses with equivalent anti-inflammatory activity (5 mg PDN = 6 mg DFZ). However, its safety over the long-term has never been tested in a controlled trial. The aim of the present study was to assess prospectively the safety and efficacy of DFZ compared with PDN in previously untreated patients with chronic, histologically proven sarcoidosis needing long-term (> or = 2 yr) corticosteroid therapy. Thirty-six patients were treated with PDN for 32 +/- 18 months and 36 patients were treated with DFZ for 42 +/- 18 months, and followed-up with periodic chest X-ray, 67Gallium lung scan, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), serum and urinary calcium levels, spirometry, alveolar diffusion (DLCO) arterial oxygen tension (PaO2), bone mineral content (BMC) (by computed tomography), and a complete biochemical and haematological profile. The two groups were similar as regards sex, age, pulmonary and extrapulmonary involvement, parameters of activity and impairment, and initial BMC. Daily starting doses were 23.2 +/- 11.4 mg DFZ and 22.3 +/- 6.9 mg PDN. One year of trial was completed by 69 patients, 2 yr by 59 patients, 3 yr by 46 patients and 4 yr by 24 patients. Some patients were followed-up for 5-7 yr. The mean daily dose over the whole period was 15 +/- 10 mg DFZ and 10 +/- 6 PDN, starting from 21 +/- 9 and 15 +/- 8 mg in the first year, and progressively declining to a mean of 9 +/- 6 mg in both groups in the fourth year. Chest X-ray, 67Ga score, ACE and forced vital capacity improved significantly in both groups. Urine total calcium improved significantly in the PDN group (345 +/- 27 to 186 +/- 47; P < 0.05) with a similar but non-significant pattern in the DFZ group (270 +/- 28 to 207 +/- 39). Non-significant improvements were observed in DLCO, PaO2 and forced expiratory volume in 1 s in both groups. Drug-related adverse events were more frequent in the PDN group, causing discontinuation of the drug in four PDN patients. Body weight increased mainly in the PDN group [69.9 +/- 0.4 to 73.6 +/- 0.8 kg vs 70.1 +/- 0.4 to 70.0 +/- 0.6 kg in the DFZ group (P < 0.01)]. Bone mineral content dropped under the fracture threshold in most PDN patients, who thus appeared at higher risk for fractures. In fact, six atraumatic skeletal fractures were observed in this group but only one in the DFZ group. Two further patients in the DFZ group and eight in the PDN group were obliged to start corrective measures for bone loss and/or bone pain. At the end of the study, 21 patients (12 DFZ, nine PDN) no longer needed corticosteroids, and the others were taking a maintenance daily dose that controlled the disease adequately. In conclusion, DFZ appeared as effective as PDN in the long-term treatment of chronic sarcoidosis, and it may have fewer side-effects, especially on bone.

[The dream as mind's "organizer": neuropsychological contribution into the function and significance of the oneiric activity]. / Il sogno come "regista" della mente: contributo neuropsicologico sulla funzione e sul significato dell'attività onirica.

The author examines the oneiric activity in a neuropsychologic prospect, as he considers this approach as valid and capable of giving good results for the understanding of psychic phenomena. After explaining synthetically the principles of the psychophysiologic school of Chicago, of the neuro-physiologic school of professor M. Jouvet in Lyon, and the theoretic hypotheses derived from clinical knowledge like that of the neurologist O. Sacks, the author develops Jouvet's principle of the dream as "endogenous phylogenetic learning". The author is of the opinion that the dream, from a psycho-biological standpoint, has such features that it can be considered as a process that is very similar to the creative one, as intended by S. Arieti, and that has its roots in the "homo naturalis". The oneiric activity seems to be able to implement a creative synthesis between nature and culture, between soma and psyche, between rational world and archetypalinstinctive world, in compliance with the fundamental creative process on which the evolution is based, as explained by K. Lorenz and Teilhard de Chardin with the expressions "unity from diversity" and "créer c'est unir". Therefore, it can be an instrument capable of helping the contemporary man, whose identity is threatened by the excessive discrepancy between the rational conscious process, that is conditioned by the extremely quick cultural transformation (mainly due to technology) and the unconscious archetypal-instinctive process, which is connected with the slow phylogenetic evolution.

Prevention of corticosteroid-induced osteoporosis with salmon calcitonin in sarcoid patients.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of salmon calcitonin (sCT) in preventing corticosteroid-induced osteoporosis. Three groups of patients with sarcoidosis requiring long-term steroid therapy were followed for 2 years with yearly evaluations of vertebral cancellous mineral content (VCMC) by quantitative computed tomography. The first group (n = 18) was treated with intramuscular (i.m.) sCT for the 2-year study period; the second (n = 11) with i.m. sCT for the first 4 months and then with sCT nasal spray for 20 months; the third (n = 35) received no sCT. We observed a large mineral loss in the third group but a very slight drop of VCMC in the two groups receiving sCT. SCT nasal spray was better tolerated and as effective as i.m. injections. The action of sCT appeared extremely useful, especially in the first year of steroid therapy when corticosteroid-induced mineral loss was maximal. We conclude that sCT nasal spray is a good tool for preventing corticosteroid-induced osteoporosis.

Bone loss in prednisone treated sarcoidosis: a two-year follow-up.

We followed up 35 sarcoid patients treated with prednisone for two years in order to evaluate bone mineral loss over time. Vertebral cancellous mineral content was detected by quantitative computed tomography and calibration phantom before beginning prednisone therapy and monitored two more times at yearly intervals. The percent mineral loss (ML%) averaged -13.9 +/- 2.1 at the end of the first year and -15.3 +/- 2.6 at the end of second year. We conclude first, that the time course of mineral loss in prednisone treated sarcoidosis is similar to that of other diseases such as asthma and rheumatoid arthritis. In a separate group of 10 early postmenopausal females, we observed a greater ML% averaging -21.9 +/- 16.6 and -26.2 +/- 18.5, at the end of the first and second year respectively. Our second conclusion was thus that the synergic effect of postmenopausal status and prednisone therapy results in an ML% far more significant than expected from the two single conditions.

Skin pathology in industrial workers exposed to synthetic corticosteroids.

Systemic and cutaneous side effects observed in some workers of a company producing synthetic corticosteroids are described. The production process and the results of clinical and laboratory investigations are shown. A high incidence of skin and internal disorders (erythema, telangiectasia, acne, purpuric lesions and inhibition of the pituitary-adrenal axis) were found.

[Combination of arthrography and computerized tomography in the study of the femoro-patellar joint]. / Associazione di artrografia e tomografia computerizzata nello studio della articolazione femoro-rotulea.

90 patients affected by knee pains underwent CT study of the femoropatellar joint as an adjunct to double contrast arthrography. CT findings proved to be useful for optimal evaluation of patellar malpositions and especially in the diagnosis of chondromalacia patellae.

Fixed drug eruption to erythromycin.

A case of repeated eruption after administration of erythromycin is described. It is the first report of erythromycin as proven agent of such an allergic reaction.