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Purpose: To study the coronary arteries and their main branches showing the aspects of source, trajectory and anastomoses of these vessels at the subepicardial level., Methods: The study was carried out on 110 adult human hearts, of both sexes, fixed in 10% formaldehyde solution. The pericardium was removed to expose the coronary arteries and their branches at the subepicardial level., Results: In 38.18% of the cases the left coronary artery presented a trifurcation into anterior interventricular, circunflex and left marginal branches (35.70%) and into anterior interventricular, circunflex and lateral branches (64.30%). In 60% of the hearts examined, the left coronary artery presented a bifurcation into anterior interventricular and circunflex branches. In 1.82% of the cases these two branches arise directly from the aorta. An anastomosis, at the subepicardial level, between the anterior and posterior interventricular branches was observed in 56.36% of the hearts. In 88.18% the posterior interventricular branch arised from the right coronary artery, whereas in 11.82% this vessel arises from the circunflex branch. Anastomoses between the right coronary artery and the circunflex branch were found in 10% of the hearts (crux cordis). The dominance of the right coronary artery was present in 69.09% of the cases, of the left coronary artery in 11.82% and in 19.09% of the hearts had balanced distribution., Conclusion: The coronary arteries and their main branches present a great quantity of variations with regard to source, trajectory and anastomoses. This knowledge is important for the interpretation of coronary angiography and surgical myocardial revascularization.

1. The effects of restraint stress on c-fos mRNA expression in the dentate gyrus were investigated by in situ hybridization. 2. Confirming previous findings, c-fos mRNA expression increased after 30 min of forced restraint. 3. This effect was attenuated by a previous i.c.v. injection of the anxiolytic benzodiazepine midazolam (20 nmol/2 microliters) or the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist 2-amino-7-phosphonoheptanoic acid (AP-7; 5 nmol/2 microliters). 4. These results suggest that the dentate gyrus is activated during restraint stress and that this activation may be modulated by benzodiazepine gamma-aminobutyric acidA (GABAA) or NMDA receptors.

Alpinia speciosa Schum or A. nutans is a plant of the Zingiberaceae family, known popularly as "colony" (colônia) and used as a diuretic and to control hypertension. We have determined the concentration of Na+ and K+ found in the alcoholic extract and in the tea concoction. They contained 51.0 mEq Na+, and 132 mEq K+ in the extract, and 0.0 mEq of Na+ and 26 mEq K+ in the tea. Phytochemical analysis of the leaves demonstrated the presence of catecquic tanins, phenols and alkaloids, and also some essential oils. When injected intra-peritoneally the hydroalcoholic extract, in a dose range of 100 to 1400 mg/kg, (or 2500-18000 mg/kg orally) produced in mice: writhing, psychomotor excitation, hypokinesis and pruritus. The LD50 by ip was 0.760 +/- 0.126 g/kg and 10.0 +/- 2.5 g/kg by oral administration for the hydroalcoholic extract. Subacute toxicity made by injecting daily for 30 days the LD10 in rats caused an increase in transaminases and lactate dehydrogenase, whereas other parameters such as blood glucose, urea and creatinine were normal. A histopathological analysis of liver, spleen, gut, lung and heart showed no alterations. The drug also produced a prolongation of the sleeping time. The hydroalcoholic extract induced in the rat and in the dog a dose-dependent fall in blood pressure in doses of 10 to 30 mg/kg. In isolated atria the extract induced a reduction of the frequency and in the inotropic responses. Neither the extract nor the tea had an effect on the diuresis of the rat.