Studies on the mechanism of the contractile action of rat calcitonin gene-related peptide and of capsaicin on the guinea-pig ileum: effect of hCGRP (8-37) and CGRP tachyphylaxis.

Both the neuropeptide calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and the sensory stimulant drug capsaicin exert excitatory as well as inhibitory actions in the guinea-pig ileum. It has been known that their excitatory effects are due to activation of myenteric neurons. In the present study it has been established that a fairly high concentration (3 microM) of the CGRP antagonist human alpha CGRP (8-37) [hCGRP (8-37)], which has been known to reverse the inhibitory effects of rCGRP, failed to inhibit longitudinal contractions of ileal longitudinal muscle-myenteric plexus strips due to rat (r) CGRP. Instead, a slight enhancement of the contractions was observed, probably due to the inhibition of the relaxant effect. Tachyphylaxis to rCGRP was able to markedly reduce the contractile action of rCGRP but did not influence contractions due to capsaicin (1 microM). It is concluded that myenteric neuronal excitation due to rCGRP involves receptors not sensitive to hCGRP (8-37). Moreover, neuronal excitation by capsaicin does not seem to involve a CGRP-like mediator.

Blockade of nitric oxide synthase inhibits nerve-mediated contraction in the rat small intestine.

Inhibitors of nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibit nerve-mediated non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic (NANC) smooth muscle relaxation in the gastrointestinal tract. In this study, the effect of a NO synthase inhibitor, NG-nitro-L-arginine, was examined on the tetrodotoxin-sensitive NANC contractile response of the rat isolated ileal myenteric plexus-longitudinal muscle evoked by electrical field stimulation. This contraction was concentration-dependently inhibited by NG-nitro-L-arginine (1-3 x 10(-5) M). The inhibition was partly or entirely reversed by L-arginine. The NO synthase inhibitor did not exhibit any non-specific smooth-muscle depressant action or local anaesthetic effect. Sodium nitroprusside, a putative donor of NO also caused a transient contraction of the rat ileal strip. This response was resistant to tetrodotoxin. It is concluded that an NO synthase product is involved in the mechanism of the nerve-mediated NANC primary contraction due to field stimulation in the rat small intestine.

Antagonism of the effects of calcitonin gene-related peptide and of capsaicin on the guinea-pig isolated ileum by human alpha-calcitonin gene-related peptide(8-37).

The possible mediating role of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in the effects of capsaicin in the guinea-pig ileum has been investigated by means of the CGRP antagonist hCGRP(8-37). Submaximal longitudinal muscle relaxation of the histamine-precontracted ileum evoked by rat CGRP (3 nM) or capsaicin (1 microM) was reversed by hCGRP(8-37) (1.5 microM), while that due to adrenaline or neurotensin was not affected. Inhibition of spontaneous circular muscle movements by capsaicin (100 nM) was also reversed by hCGRP(8-37). The CGRP antagonist had no effect on electrical stimulation-evoked ileal contractions or on the longitudinal or circular muscle tone. It is concluded that (a) hCGRP(8-37) is a specific CGRP antagonist in the ileum, apparently devoid of intrinsic activity or any effect not related to CGRP; (b) the inhibitory actions of capsaicin on the longitudinal and circular muscles of the ileum are mediated, at least in part, by CGRP.

Opposite asymmetries in blind locomotor orientation of patients with panic agoraphobia compared to those with generalized anxiety.

Panic agoraphobic subjects constantly struggle with the accurate registration of everyday space-time dimension. They are hindered in the exploration of their surroundings by constant self-directed attention. In our investigations we examined whether during experimental goal-directed locomotion orientation insecurity would appear. The accuracy of target-directed motion, i.e. the degree of lateral deviation, was recorded in three diagnostic groups, panic agoraphobics (15 subjects), generalized anxiety patients (15 subjects), and normal controls (15 subjects), and normal controls (15 subjects). According to our results the approach vector of the panic agoraphobics deviated to the right, while in the case of generalized anxiety patients it deviated to the left, while normal controls did not deviate significantly from the middle line. Results are compatible with previous literature which associated panic with an overactivity of left-sided functions, and generalised anxiety with an overactivity of right-sided functions.

[The role of imitation in suicidal behavior]. / Az utánzás szerepe az öngyilkos magatartásban.

The authors analyse the modelling effect of the suicide of the first Hungarian beauty queen. After the publication of a book, a film and the newspapers about her suicide increased significantly the number of suicides committed by young females by the same method (Lidocain pill). During this period the consumption of Lidocain pills decreased in Hungary. The monthly and seasonal fluctuation of suicides committed by other methods is different from these changes. The suicide of celebrities mediated by the mass media can become modell through identification for a people in crisis situation.

[The diagnostic value of the EEG in multiple sclerosis (author's transl)]. / Der Wert der Elektroenzephalographie für Diagnose der multiplen Sklerose.

245 records of 178 multiple sclerotic patients were assessed from 110 EEG-parameters and 18 clinical points of view. According to the special code the data were stored on cards and later statistically evaluated. The following conclusions were made: 1. 64% of all records were abnormal. 2. The frequency of bilateral and generalized abnormalities was significantly higher with brain stem localization of clinical signs. 3. In the progressiv phase of the disease there was a significantly greater occurrance of bilateral slow EEG abnormalities and bilateral potentially epileptic signs (sharp waves, bilateral paroxysms). 4. Focal EEG abnormality is seldom found in multiple sclerosis.