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The article investigates the arousal levels and therapeutic effects of diazepam-assisted flooding among agoraphobic patients. Four treatment conditions were prepared wherein two contained a tranquilizing drug and the other two comprised of an indistinguishable dummy syrup. These conditions were drug with placebo, drug with no placebo, placebo with no drug and no placebo and drug. Patients were treated with a combination of imaginal flooding and exposure to phobic situations in practice. There was no indication that the therapeutic changes induced were smaller or more transient if the patient attributed them to the drug rather than to the behavioral treatment. Instead, there appeared to be a placebo-like effect as well as the drug effect.

The cation selectivity and its relation to the inward-going rectification of the immature egg cell membrane of a starfish, Nordora punctiformis, were studied and the following results were obtained. (1) When the external saline contains usual ion species the cell membrane at rest is predominantly permeable to K ions. The K chord conductance g depends on the electrochemical potential of K ions, Δ V=V−E and the external K concentration [K] by $$(\Delta V_h \underset{\raise0.3em\hbox{$\smash{\scriptscriptstyle\cdot}$}}{ \doteq } - 15mV,\upsilon \underset{\raise0.3em\hbox{$\smash{\scriptscriptstyle\cdot}$}}{ \doteq } 7mV)$$ . (2) The permeability sequence of monovalent cations and the permeability ratios P/P of the cell membrane at rest obtained with membrane tpotential measurements are, T1 (1.5)>K(1.0)>Rb(0.3 to 0.4)>NH(0.03 to 0.04)>Na, Cs. (3) Current-voltage relations obtained when the external solution contains Rb, Cs or T1 in addition to K show: (a) Rb and Cs decrease the K conductance and the rate of decrease becomes greater with an increasing hyperpolarization, thereby the inward-going rectification is reduced; (b) the membrane conductance shows an 'anomalous mole fraction dependence' in Tl-K media, i.e., the conductance becomes minimum at a certain mole fraction; and (c) the current-voltage relation often shows a transitiontype behavior suggesting that the membrane undergoes metastable states during an ncrease of hyperpolarization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The operation of a seven-compartment model is described with respect to flows of Na within and across this system, simulating published results obtained on frog skin. The seven compartments represent: one outside and one inside solution compartment; the subcorneal space; the first reacting cell layer (1. RCL); the remaining cell compartment; the non-, or slowly exchangeable Na compartment; the extracellular space. Assuming reasonable volumes for the epidermal compartments and further chosing, by trial and error, appropriate rate constants, a set of seven simultaneous linear differential equations was solved by the application of the Continuous System Modeling Program (CSMP), using an IBM 1130 computer. Initial conditions for influx, backflux and net flux were taken which correspond to [Na]; [Na]=115 mm. Print-out data were obtained at 0.5-min intervals for 30 min, when steady states were obtained in 13 models studied, varying certain k's thus simulating actions of chemical agents (hormones; drugs). Simulation was achieved with regard to rate of influx, backflux and net flux, steady-state time (30 min), and electrical potentials. In addition, this approach gave detailed information on Na pool sizes and their variations with changes in k's. These results are compared to published data on frog skin and good agreement between operation of skin epidermis and model was found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on a study that examined the tubular-reticular structures in lymphocytes of patients with discoid lupus erythematosus. Patients and methods; Results; Discussion.

A double-blind controlled clinical trial of crossover design was conducted in 26 volunteers suffering from migraine. Of 20 subjects who completed the trial, 16 had fewer attacks on amitriptyline than on placebo. Amitriptyline was found to have the greatest effect in reducing attacks with a short warning and in which no specific cause could be recognized. It had least effect in attacks with a long warning and recognized as due to fatigue. The drug was effective only in reducing those attacks with shorter duration and its effect was irrespective of severity. A dosage of between 10 and 60 mg, usually taken at night, was found to be adequate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a study regarding the plant growth and distribution in relation to waterlogging. It explores the relationship between transpiration and the uptake of iron in Erica cinerea and Erica tetralix. It discusses that Erica tetralix can survive for long periods in submerged soils without apparent harm, but the concentrations were much lower than those in Erica cinerea. The study also defines a physiological basis for this difference between such morphologically similar species of plant.

The article presents a comparative account of structure, physiognomy and floristic of montane and lowland rain forest in Ecuador. It mentions that there is a cooler, wetter season at both montane and lowland rainforest in Ecuador lasting approximately from April to July. It discusses the factors that control the distribution of the Lowland, Lower Montane and Upper Montane rain forest formation-types on tropical mountains and the effects of the Massenerhebung. It implies that the greater profusion of epiphytes in the montane than in the lowland rain forest is connected to the more frequent wetting with liquid water coming from fog rather than to a constantly higher humidity.

Seven morphologic traits of the mandibular second premnolars were compared in 32 pairs of like-sexed twins to determine their value in diagnosing twin zygosity. Homolateral comparisons of the mandibular second premolars were accurate enough to be used as an aid in the diagnosis of monozygosity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study on the psychological and physiological effects of intravenous diazepam. A control group experiment to the fifteen anxious psychiatric in-patients at the Atkinson Morley's Hospital in London, England was performed. To evaluate the effects of the drug, 10 mg. of intravenous diazepam was slowly infused to the fifteen subjects over ten minutes. The procedure had been preceded by a placebo procedure in which the solution had been injected. At the end of the procedure, the patients rated themselves by the use of Clyde Mood Scale as less unhappy and less dizzy. This effect was accompanied by a significant decrease in physiological arousal. It is believed that the changes were probably due to diazepam.

The article focuses on the nature of the disease called Schizophrenias and how it is being classified as nervous types. Although intensive studies have been conducted on the behavior of the schizophrenic, yet, there is still not a specific science that explains such disordered behavior. Explanations can either be based in the biochemistry of the organism, in the interpersonal relationships or psychophysiology or neurophysiology. However, psychophysiology stresses on the data collected at the interface between the brain and behavior of which such techniques include the study of autonomic response and electroencephalograph. In addition, it is concluded that there is little support for the traditional view of the schizophrenias as distinct diseases.

The effects of levodopa on tests measuring auditory and visual perception, auditory, and visual short-term memory, verbal learning, and on attention and concentration were studied in 29 patients with Parkinsonism. Thirty-two control subjects matched with the Parkinsonism patients on age, educational level, and verbal IQ were administered the same tests to control for practice effects. Significant improvement occurred for the Parkinsonism patients in verbal learning (an intermediate memory test) and in auditory perception. These improvements were unrelated to changes in anticholinergic medications, increases in alertness or concentration, lessening of depression, or improved motor ability or control. There was no test evidence of levodopa improving visual perception, short-term auditory or visual memory, alertness or concentration. Thus, there is no objective test evidence for levodopa producing a generalized awakening or an alerting effect in Parkinsonism patients who are intellectually alert and well-orientated. Interpretation of the test findings suggests a specific awakening effect, that of improvement in intermediate memory but not in short-term memory. Overall, the Parkinsonism group scored below the control group on all tests, suggesting that cognitive impairment accompanies Parkinson's disease even in patients who are intellectually intact and well oriented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses a comparative study of hydrochlorothiazide and chlorothiazide on blood ammonia and electrolyte balance in cirrhotic patients. Materials and methods used in the study; Comparative excretion patterns following hydrochlorothiazide and chlorothiazide as a single dose; Information on comparative studies in cirrhotic patients.

The article cites a comparative trial on amitriptyline and dibenzepin drugs in the treatment of depression. The trial involves 79 patients that present symptom of acute depression. Subjects were allocated randomly to treatment groups A (amitriptyline) or D (dibenzepin). Results showed that majority of patients in both groups responded to the lower dosage level, and the onset of response and the total response was similar for both compounds. It also showed that incidence and severity of side-effects did not reflect the dosage level of the drugs used.

The article presents a study on the validity of fenfluramine for the treatment of obese psychiatric out-patients. It was conducted under double-blind cross-over controlled trial conditions of fenfluramine that strongly support previous studies, which indicated that fenfluramine was a useful weight loss preparation. Fenfluramine showed to assist obese psychiatric out-patients to lose a significant amount of weight, as the patients is more resistant to simple dietary treatment than psychiatrically normal patients. The study concludes that fenfluramine appears to be an effective appetite suppressant among obese patients attending a psychiatric clinic and obese patients who are tense and anxious.

The respiration rate was investigated in leaves of bearing and non-bearing spurs of biennially fruiting apple trees, Landsberger Reinette cultivar, with a Warburg apparatus. Trees in "off year" were sprayed with gibberellic acid (GA) and those in "on year" with succinic acid-2,2-dimethylhydrazide (SADH) and naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), Two-year results showed that the respiration rate of leaves of bearing spurs was 10 to 25 per cent higher than that of the non-bearing spur leaves. GA increased the respiration of leaves of non-bearing spurs about 25 per cent, on an average. SADH and NAA greatly decreased the respiration of bearing spur leaves; the latter about 30 per cent of that of the controls. At the same time SADH and NAA caused a marked reduction of growth in terminal shoots of trees in "on year" while GA increased the growth in "off year" trees about 50 per cent. The surface of the spur leaves was inversely correlated with the respiration rates. it is suggested that the low respiration rate of spur leaves may be a condition for flower bud formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]