Prospective Memory, Sustained Attention and Response Inhibition in Poly-Substance Users Stable on Methadone Maintenance Treatment.

Background: Prospective memory and response inhibition are interrelated constructs, though studied separately in the drug addiction literature. Also, although sustained attention underlies response inhibition, its role in the relation between these functions has been largely neglected. The limited research on the cognitive effects of methadone-maintenance treatment (MMT) further stresses the importance of investigating these effects. Objective: Therefore, the current study focused on possible effects of MMT combined with long-term drug abuse on all these functions. Thirty five long term opiate/poly-substance users in MMT and thirty four drug-free controls were screened for socioeconomic status, anxiety, depression and general, non-verbal intelligence and then tested on a self-report measure of prospective memory and on the Go/No-Go task. Results: Compared to controls, the MMT group scored worse in all functions assessed. Prospective memory scores were also negatively related to Go/NoGo accuracy scores. Conclusion: As predicted, (a) the MMT participants show impairments in prospective memory, sustained attention and response inhibition and (b) prospective memory, response inhibition and sustained attention are related constructs. The results of this study could inform current rehabilitation and relapse prevention cognitive training practices.

Quantitative MRI in myositis patients: comparison with healthy volunteers and radiological visual assessment.

AIM: To assess whether magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based measurements of T2, fat fraction, diffusion tensor imaging, and muscle volume can detect differences between the muscles of myositis patients and healthy controls, and to identify how they compare with semi-quantitative MRI diagnosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixteen myositis patients and 16 age- and gender-matched healthy controls underwent MRI of their thigh. Quantitative MRI measurements and radiologists' semi-quantitative scores were assessed. Strength was assessed using an isokinetic dynamometer. RESULTS: Fat fraction and T2 values were higher in myositis patients whereas muscle volume was lower compared to healthy controls. There was no difference in diffusion. Muscle strength was lower in myositis patients compared to healthy controls. In a subgroup of eight patients, scored as unaffected by radiologists, T2 values were still significantly higher in myositis patients. CONCLUSIONS: Quantitative MRI measurements can detect differences between myositis patients and healthy controls. Changes in the muscles of myositis patients, undetected by visual, semi-quantitative scoring, can be detected using quantitative T2 measurements. This suggests that MRI T2 values may be useful for the management of myositis patients.

Callus formation and fixation rigidity: a fracture model in rats.

To produce different amounts of callus in rats, we devised a procedure to fix leg fractures using intramedullary nails that differ in bending rigidity. We inserted a silicone cannula into the intact diaphysis of the tibia of rats that had already been killed and then fractured the tibia by a three-point bending technique. The fracture was stabilised by insertion of either a stainless-steel or polypropylene nail into the silicone cannula. Biomechanical testing showed that the initial stiffness of the fractures differed between the two nail types by a factor of 16. In vivo, 16 Wistar rats were operated on by the same technique to study the formation of callus. Four weeks after fracture, the size of the callus differed significantly between the steel-nailed and polypropylene-nailed fractures. In conclusion, mechanically differing internal fixation devices led to different callus responses in rats when all other factors were kept equal.

Naltrexone-induced augmentation of sexual response in men.

BACKGROUND: To ascertain the role of endogenous opioids in sexual response, naltrexone, an opiate receptor antagonist, was administered to men, and its effect on selected self-report measures of sexual response to masturbation was recorded. METHODS: The data are based on results from 20 healthy, sexually active (alone or with a partner) men, aged 20-29 years, who ingested naltrexone (25 mg/day x 3) or placebo in a randomized, double-blind crossover design. There was at least a 14-day interval between drug and placebo treatment. Between 18 and 22 h after the most recent dose of drug or placebo, subjects viewed sexually explicit videos in privacy for 2 h. They were instructed to masturbate and have as many orgasms as desired. The following three different self-report measures of their responses were recorded: number of orgasms; intensity of sexual arousal, and orgasmic intensity. RESULTS: Under the naltrexone condition, the volunteers experienced a significantly greater mean number of orgasms (3.4 +/- 0.2 SEM) than under the placebo condition (2.6 +/- 0.3). The total number of orgasms was 67 under the naltrexone condition and 51 under the placebo condition. At the first orgasm, the measure of intensity of arousal was significantly greater in the naltrexone (3.9 +/- 0.2) than placebo (3.4 +/- 0.2) condition, and the measure of orgasmic intensity was significantly greater in the naltrexone (3.7 +/- 0.2) than in the placebo (3.0 +/- 0.3) condition. CONCLUSIONS: The present study provides evidence that endogenous opioids modulate orgasmic response and the perceived intensity of sexual arousal and orgasm in men. The findings suggest that naltrexone could be clinically useful in cases of inhibited sexual desire and erectile dysfunction.

Synthesis antimicrobial and antifungal activity of some new 3 substituted derivatives of 4-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-5-adamantyl-1H-1,2,4-triazole.

The synthesis of a series of substituted hydrazones and thiazolidinones is described, starting from N-[4-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-5-adamantyl-1H-1,2,4-triazol-3-ylmercaptoacetyl]hydrazine. The new compounds were tested for antimicrobial and antifungal activity and some of them exhibited moderate activity against Candida albicans.

Synthesis, lipophilicity and antimicrobial properties of some O-(5-aryl-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl-ethyl)benzaldoximes and O-(5-aryl-1,3,4-oxydiazol-2-yl-ethyl)benzaldoximes.

The synthesis of benzaldehyde oximethers with suitably substituted 1,2,4-triazoles and 1,3,4-oxadiazoles from the corresponding benzaldoximes is described. The lipophilicity of the compounds was measured as well as their antimicrobial and antifungal activity in vitro. Certain compounds showed relatively significant activity against Bacillus subtilis.

[Prognosis of malignant melanoma following dissection regional lymph node metastases]. / Prognose beim malignen Melanom nach Dissektion regionärer Lymphknotenmetastasen.

BACKGROUND: Malignant melanomas usually metastasize in the regional lymph nodes. This generally leads to a worsening of prognosis. Survival probability after extirpation of the tumorous regions is conditioned by various factors. Until now, the basis for differentiated therapy has been the precise understanding of the TNM classification. Clinical parameters are also relevant to therapy and of decisive importance to the further course of disease. QUESTION: Which clinical parameters are important to the prognosis of patients with regional melanoma and lymph node disease? PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study is a retrospective analysis of patients at the Clinic and Polyclinic of General Surgery of the University Hospital in Münster,Germany, together with a review of the literature. Included were 137 patients who received curative resection of lymph node metastases from malignant melanomas between 1974 and 1996. From the literature, 6,694 cases were found which allowed the establishment of 13 different prognosis parameters following lymph node metastasis resection These parameters were compared with our own results concerning established, relevant parameters. RESULTS: The cumulative 5-year survival rate for patients studied was 50.7%. The 5-year survival rates relating to characteristics varied between 12.9% and 80.0%. Of the 13 variables from the literature relevant to prognosis that were included in this analysis, four were found to be significant: Breslow penetration depth, standardized age and age at primary tumor diagnosis, recurrence, and location of the primary tumor. Considering these significant characteristics, one can arrive at a detailed prognostic classification of patient and history. This is indispensable for correctly tailoring therapy to disease stage.

[Functional complaints--healthy or ill? A study of 780 working men]. / Funktionelle Beschwerden--gesund oder krank? Untersuchungen an 780 berufstätigen Männern.

The frequency of functional complaints was examined in a group of 780 health men, employees of an industrial firm, who had no evidence of organic disease, were not under medical treatment and thought of themselves as healthy. As part of a standardised examination, questions were asked about 11 possible functional complaints, in addition to ten characteristics of their work. The presence of at least one functional symptom was affirmed by 48.3%, with a mean of two symptoms per person. Headaches and sweating were most frequent. In addition to an autonomic fatigue syndrome, a headache syndrome was the most characteristic. Some functional complaints were related to work stress, with factorial analysis distinguishing between time-limited overwork and emotional strain. These findings and corresponding one in the literature suggest that functional complaints frequently occur also in healthy persons.

[Sodium, potassium and magnesium in plasma and erythrocytes during haemodialysis of children (author's transl)]. / Verhalten von Natrium, Kalium und Magnesium im Plasma und in Erythrozyten bei Hämodialyse von Kindern.

In 19 children with chronic renal insufficiency sodium, potassium and magnesium in plasma and erythrocytes were measured before and after haemodialysis. Creatinine and the acid-base status were also determined. The mean predialysis values of sodium in plasma were within normal limits, in erythrocytes in the lower normal range. Potassium was elevated in plasma, and in erythrocytes within the normal linits. Magnesium was elevated in both plasma and erythrocytes. The changes during dialysis are described. Statistically significant relations of investigated variables are also described. The results are discussed.

Structure of tandem RNA recognition motifs from polypyrimidine tract binding protein reveals novel features of the RRM fold.

Polypyrimidine tract binding protein (PTB), an RNA binding protein containing four RNA recognition motifs (RRMs), is involved in both pre-mRNA splicing and translation initiation directed by picornaviral internal ribosome entry sites. Sequence comparisons previously indicated that PTB is a non-canonical RRM protein. The solution structure of a PTB fragment containing RRMs 3 and 4 shows that the protein consists of two domains connected by a long, flexible linker. The two domains tumble independently in solution, having no fixed relative orientation. In addition to the betaalphabetabetaalphabeta topology, which is characteristic of RRM domains, the C-terminal extension of PTB RRM-3 incorporates an unanticipated fifth beta-strand, which extends the RNA binding surface. The long, disordered polypeptide connecting beta4 and beta5 in RRM-3 is poised above the RNA binding surface and is likely to contribute to RNA recognition. Mutational analyses show that both RRM-3 and RRM-4 contribute to RNA binding specificity and that, despite its unusual sequence, PTB binds RNA in a manner akin to that of other RRM proteins.