Differential involvement of hippocampal angiotensin 1 receptors in learning and memory processes in bulbectomized rats

There is conflicting evidence regarding the effect of AT1 receptor antagonists on learning and memory processes. The effects of angiotensin II and losartan administration into CA1 hippocampal area on the avoidance performance in olfactory bulbectomized (OBX) rats using active avoidance (shuttle box) test and passive avoidance (step through) test were investigated. Rats were microinjected unilaterally through implanted guide cannulas into the CA1 area of the dorsal hippocampus and the drugs were administered separately, 5 minutes before each training session. The microinjections of losartan into the left, but not the right CA1 hippocampal area improved the acquisition and retention of active and passive avoidance learning, thus suggesting dependence on the side of injection. The unilateral (left or right) administration of angiotensin II did not significantly affect the performance of OBX rats in the avoidance tasks. A differential distribution of the AT1 receptors in the left and right hemisphere could contribute for the asymmetry in the behavioral effects of the AT receptor antagonist

Management of a taxi services company through use of GPS positioning and GPRS data transfer

The article describes methods of management and use of the GPS systems in taxi companies through application of advanced information technologies, such as GPS positioning and GPRS data transfer. All these systems are united in an integrated solution – taxi information system (TIS), which includes all aspects of the activities of the taxi companies

Locomotor responses to vasoactive intestinal peptide in bulbectomized rats

PURPOSE: The present study aimed at studying the effects of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) microinjected unilaterally into the hippocampal CA1 area on the locomotor activity of rats with olfactory bulbectomy. Hippocampus has been chosen as it is a region with high VIP receptor density as well as a brain structure implicated in many types of disorders, including depression.MATERIAL AND METHODS: Olfactory bulbectomy (OBX) rat is among the well-validated animal models of depression. The changes in locomotor activity of OBX rats were registered in an Opto Varimex apparatus.RESULTS: VIP injected into the left CA1 area at doses of 10 ng and 100 ng aggravated OBX rat hyperactivity by increasing the locomotor activity. VIP (in a dose of 100 ng) microinjected into the right CA1 area produced an opposite effect by decreasing the number of both horizontal and vertical movements in OBX rats as compared to saline-treated OBX controls.CONCLUSION: Our data reveal a pronounced lateralized VIP effect on the locomotor activity of OBX rats and point to a possible VIP involvement in the mechanisms of the olfactory bulbectomy syndrome in rats.Scripta Scientifica Medica 2013; 45(4): 31-35

COMPETENCE OF THE STUDENTS FROM THE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF VARNA FOR PRESCRIBING A RATIONAL PHARMACOTHERAPY

The skills of the students from the iMedical University of Varna for choosing and prescribing of a rational pharmacotherapy were tested. This took place within the framework of a comparative study of the competence in the therapeutic skills of final year medical students from 19 Universities of 10 European countries. From the Bulgarian Medical Universities those of Varna and Sofia were included in the study. The number of students who took part in the study was 1234, from which 37 were from Varna and 109 -from Sofia. Within 30 minutes the students had to determine a non-medical and/or medical treatment (prescription) for four written patient cases. Four diseases from the general practice were included (essential hypertension, acute bronchitis, gastroenteritis and osteo-arthritis). They were presented by four patient cases with an increasing degree of complexity. The skills were scored according to the 5 World Health Organization (WHO) prescribing indicators of therapeutic competence: 1) the number of drugs per prescription; 2) the number of generic names; 3) the number of non-antibiotics; 4) the number of non-drug treatments; 5) the number of completeness of the prescriptions. The scores of the test forms were descriptively analyzed. The skills of the Varna students are similar to the average European students' skills: indicator (1) -1.4 drugs for Europe and 1.8 - for Varna; indicator (2) - 73.7% and 80.8%, respectively; indicator (3) - 82.7% and 80.5%; indicator (4) -16.1 and 6.6; indicator (5) - 64% and 78.1 %. There is not a significant difference in the competence of Varna and Sofia students. The students from the University of Varna use more often generic names in comparison with the students from the University of Sofia (80.8% vs. 73.2%) and more often prefer the non-drug treatment (6.6% vs. 5.2%). This similarity might be due to the problem-based teaching that is carried out in both departments

BLOOD HISTAMINE LEVELS IN PATIENTS WITH LYMPHOPROLIFERATIVE DISORDERS

Blood histamine levels (BHL) in patients with malignant lymphomas - Hodgkin's disease (HD) and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) as well as with chronic lymphocytic leukenia (CLL) were studied in the active phase of the diseases and during remission after treatment. BHL were significantly decreased by 2,5-fold in HD patients in the active phase as compared to the controls. After treatment and during remission BHL normalized. It was found out that according to the calculated correlation R and determination (D) coefficients of BHL with the obligatory indices for biological activity in HD (ESR, fibrinogen, serum iron, al-protein fraction), the most informative criterion for the active phase was ESR (R=0,99, D=98 %)followedbyBHL(R=-0,89, D=79%), andBHLduring remission (R=0,87, D=75 %). In NHL patients, no significant differences in BHL in comparison to clinically healthy persons were established independently of the process activity and grade of malignancy. In patients with CLL, however, BHL were statistically significantly (p < 0,01) elevated by 45,8 % during the active stage compared with the control group. A significant correlation was found between the BHL and leukocyte counts in the active phase of the disease (rs = 0,71, p < 0,001). BHL normalized during remission. Therefore, BHL can be used as an additional criterion for the evaluation of the biological activity and remission in HD patients

Oxidative stress as a pathophysiological mechanism

The toxic effect of oxygen molecules on the human organism was first described in 1774 by J. Priestley, who compared it to the effect of a `burning candle`. Years later, superoxide dismutasis was discovered (1969) and this gave rise to the theory of the oxidative cell injury, a result of the aggressive impact of oxygen-containing forms.Contemporary literature contains an increasing amount of data on oxidative tissue and organ injury in various socially significant diseases. It is well known that the brain is vulnerable to oxidation due to its high lipid content, intensive oxygen consumption and, at the same time, relatively low antioxidant levels. Oxidative imbalance is a key mechanism of cell injury in acute (cerebral ischemia-reperfusion, epileptic seizures) as well as in chronic neurological conditions (Parkinson`s, Alzheimer, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, etc.). Studies of patients with autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, vitiligo, psoriasis, etc., as well as of patients with neoplastic diseases, demonstrate a decreased potential of the antioxidant defense of the organism. The increased production of superoxide anion radicals in the mitochondria plays a role in the development of microand macrovascular complications of diabetes mellitus. The oxidative imbalance is also of great importance in regard to the pathophysiology of many cardiovascular diseases.At present, the data concerning the role of oxidative imbalance as a mechanism of burn-induced gastric mucosal injury are few in number. Therefore, the article by Hristova, et al. `Apoptosis as a Mechanism for Burn-Induced Gastric Mucosal Injury` is very interesting. The results from the study confirm the high degree of apoptosis in the gastric mucosa due to changes in the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio in favor of the proapoptotic Bax protein. As a whole, the results from the biochemical study of the oxidative stress markers, the established microscopic changes in the gastric mucosa, and the results from the immunohistochemical tests support the hypothesis of the role of oxidative stress as an important pathophysiological mechanism of apoptosis and gastric mucosal injury in the acute period after thermal trauma

BLOOD HISTAMINE LEVELS AS A POSSIBLE CLINICOPHARMACOLOGICAL CRITERION IN CERTAIN BLOOD DISEASES

The possible significance of blood histamine levels for diagnosing and treatment evaluation in patients with blood disorders such as malignant lymphomas - Hodgkin's disease (HD) and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL), and Schonlein-Henoch purpura (SHP) was studied. Histamine was established spectrofluorimetrically in the active phase of the disease as well as during remission after treatment. Blood levels of histamine were significantly decreased about 2,5-fold in patients with HD in the active phase as compared to healthy controls (0,030 ± 0,002 μg/ml versus 0,073 ± 0,002 μg/ml) and by 31,5 % in patients with active SHP (0,050 ± 0,004 pig/ml versus 0,073 ± 0,002 μg/ml). After treatment and during remission the histamine levels recovered to normal. Such a correlation between blood levels of histamine, on the one hand, and process activity and treatment efficiency, on the other, was not observed for NHL. These results indicated that blood levels of histamine could serve as an additional criterion for the process activity evaluation and for the therapeutic effectiveness in patients with HD or SHP but not NHL. Furthermore, blood histamine levels might be considered as a possible clinicopharmacological criterion for the evaluation of new drugs anticipated for the treatment of HD or SHP

Who should consult patients about medicines according to the information provided in leaflets?

Materials and methods: Information was extracted from the patient leaflets of 2500 medicines with marketing authorization and available on the Bulgarian market, representing all anatomical groups of the ATS classification. The analysis in the present study focused on one criterion, namely which medical specialist is indicated in the leaflet in the field "consult (ask questions to) if you need with...".Results: In 63.4% of the leaflets, it is written that if more information is needed, the patient should consult a doctor or pharmacist. In 19.4% of leaflets, patients are referred for consultation with a pharmacist only. In 7.7% of leaflets, several options are listed, namely: doctor, pharmacist or nurse. Only 3.3% of the drugs studied gave a recommendation to seek information only from a doctor.Conclusion: The pharmacist was the most frequently cited healthcare professional for medication consultation, listed in 90% of patient leaflets. In this regard, he should be prepared to give advice on the correct way of taking the medicines and rational medicinal use

ESSENTIAL DRUGS AND THEIR ROLE IN THE HOSPITAL DRUG CONSUMPTION IN THE UNITED REGIONAL CLINICAL HOSPITAL-VARNA IN 1997

The consumption of the drugs included in the Model List of Essential Drugs (ED) of WHO was studied in the United Regional Clinical Hospital of Varna for the first time. The purpose of the study was to estimate the consumption of these drugs in the hospital as a whole as well as in every hospital division. The monthly variations of the consumption were analyzed according to the specific activity of these divisions. The mean ED consumption by the patients in all the divisions was calculated. Those of them with the highest frequency of ED usage recommended in the Model List were presented. Certain conclusions about the benefit of the introduction of this Model List of ED and its importance for some hospital pharmaco-economic factors were drawn

COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE INFLUENCE OF MONO-AND DITHIOL ANTIDOTES UPON RENAL STRUCTURAL CHANGES AND UREA LEVEL IN ACUTE MERCURY INTOXICATION

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