Neuroprotective effect of gamma-hydroxybutyrate in transient global cerebral ischemia in the rat

The effect of g-hydroxybutyrate on the histological and behavioral consequences of transient brain ischemia was studied in the four vessel occlusion rat model. In saline-treated animals, 30 min ischemia caused a massive loss of neurons in the hippocampal CA1 subfield normal neurons: 14%, 5%, 23% and 30% on the 3rd, 10th, 15th and 65th day after ischemia, respectively.. g-Hydroxybutyrate — 300 mgrkg intraperitoneallyi.p..30 min before or 10 min after arteries occlusion, followed by 100 mgrkg i.p. twice daily for the following 10 days — afforded a highly significant protection normal neurons on the 3rd, 10th, 15th and 65th day after ischemia: 88% and 91%, 80% and 80%, 91% and 90%, 72% and 71% in rats receiving the first dose before or after arteries occlusion, respectively.. The ischemia-induced sensory–motor impairment was significantly attenuated in rats receiving the first dose of g-hydroxybutyrate before arteries occlusion. Finally, the ischemia-induced impairment in spatial learning and memory, evaluated starting 27 days after the ischemic episode, was significantly attenuated by g-hydroxybutyrate, either injected first at 30 min before or 10 min after arteries occlusion. Lower doses of g-hydroxybutyrate had no significant effect. In conclusion, these results indicate that g-hydroxybutyrate provides significant protection against both histological and behavioral consequences of transient global cerebral ischemia in rats

Evaluation of Safety, Tolerability and immunogenicity of 6 licensed Influenza vaccines.

The European Community Guidelines 89/342 and 89/381 1 , define the procedures for production and control of influenza vaccines. These include tolerability and immunogenicity clinical studies to be conducted before marketing distribution. Three of these studies, carried out in Siena, Genoa and Chieti (Italy), are reported here. Six hundred and fourteen volunteers completed the study. Vaccines were randomly divided into four groups. Adults aged 18 to 60 years and elderly over 60 years old received either whole virus vaccine or subunit vaccine. All medical events were monitored for evidence of adverse reactions, especially during the first 7 days after immunization. Antibody assay was performed through single radial haemolysis (SRH). On the basis of our results we can conclude that: – the incidence of reactions was significantly lower in subjects over 60 years old than in subjects aged 18 to 60 for the whole virus vaccine; – subunit vaccine was well tolerated in both age groups and is significantly better tolerated than the whole virus one, in subjects aged 18 to 60, particularly for local reactions; – whole and subunit vaccines are both well tolerated by subjects over 60; – no significant differences were noted in the immunogenicity of subunit vaccine and whole virus vaccine except for H1N1 strain in the younger age group where the subunit vaccine was significantly more immunogenic; – the antibody response was significantly better in young adults (i.e., < 30 years of age)