Effect of therapist's active presence on EMG biofeedback training of headache patients

Sixteen patients suffering from tension or mixed headaches participated in a frontalis EMG treatment schedule of 15 sessions where the therapist was either actively present or almost completely absent. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the therapist's active presence on the subject's ability to lower the EMG level. The active presence of the therapist consistently led to higher frontalis EMG level than that during the therapist's absence. Data also show that the EMG feedback administered was apparently effective in reducing subjective headache intensity along with EMG levels. The findings raise the question of an optimal dosage of presence and activity of the therapist during EMG feedback training.     

The effects of membrane lipid order and cholesterol on the internal and external cationic sites of the Na+−K+ pump in erythrocytes

Cholesterol depletion alters the apparent affinity of the internal cationic sites and the maximal translocation rate but not the affinity of the external cationic sites of the $\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{?K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ pump in human erythrocytes. To test whether these effects were mediated by a direct cholesterol-internal site interaction or by a change in membrane lipid order, the effects of five fluidizing amphiphiles (chlorpromazine, imipramine, benzyl alcohol, sodium oleate and sodium benzenesulphonate) on the kinetic parameters of the $\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{?K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ pump were determined. The cholesterol removal and all the agents used induced dose-response decreases in membrane lipid order as measured by fluorescence polarization or ESR. Positive and neutral amphiphiles mimicked the effects of cholesterol removal on the affinity of the internal sites of the pump and to a lesser extent on the maximal translocation rate. Anionic amphiphiles had no effect on internal sites, probably because they distributed preferentially within the outer leaflet on the membrane. These results indicate that cholesterol controls the affinity of the internal sites of the $\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{?K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ pump by altering the membrane lipid order. In contrast, neither cholesterol depletion nor the agents used altered the affinity of the external sites of the $\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{?K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ pump. This difference in sensitivity to membrane lipid order suggests that internal and external cationic sites, although borne by the same protein, are in different lipid environments.     

Muscle and nerve in muscular dysgenesis in the mouse at birth: Sprouting and multiple innervation

Muscular dysgenesis (mdg) in the mouse is a recessive autosomal mutation affecting the striated musculature: during the whole gestation period, the muscles never show any sign of contractile activity. They are cytologically immature at birth, although the diaphragm is more mature than limb muscles, as confirmed by the levels of creatine phosphokinase. In both limb muscles and diaphragm the cytochemical localization of acetylcholinesterase demonstrates focal accumulations on the entire surface of $\text{mdg}\text{mdg}$ muscles, whereas such foci of acetylcholinesterase activity are restricted to a narrow end plate-rich region in $\text{+}\text{mdg}$? diaphragms. Teased single $\text{mdg}\text{mdg}$ myofiber preparations show that one myofiber can possess several foci of acetylcholinesterase, generally presenting aspects of very immature motor end plates. A study of the motor innervation, after silver nitrate impregnation, provides evidence for a spectacular overgrowth and a generalized sprouting of $\text{mdg}\text{mdg}$ nerves and axons. The $\text{mdg}\text{mdg}$ nerve terminals are generally very immature-looking, with an intense ultraterminal sprouting. Aspects suggesting a denser multiple innervation of $\text{mdg}\text{mdg}$ than $\text{+}\text{mdg}$? myofibers have been observed and choline acetyltransferase activity is increased in $\text{mdg}\text{mdg}$ tissues. Acetylcholinesterase specific activity and the number of α-bungarotoxin binding sites per milligram protein increased in $\text{mdg}\text{mdg}$ compared to $\text{+}\text{mdg}$? diaphragms. The very low amount of 16 S (and 12 S) acetylcholinesterase is probably related to $\text{mdg}\text{mdg}$ muscle inactivity. If the cytological and biochemical data are compared, it seems possible to propose that $\text{mdg}\text{mdg}$ myofibers and axons are in contact in several regions of the same myofiber, in variably mature appositions, and with a very dense multi-innervation.     

A lipopolysaccharide fromAspergillus flavus conidia

A lipopolysaccharide was isolated by extraction ofAspergillus flavus conidia with 45 % phenol at 68–70 °C. Quantitative analysis revealed 7 % nucleic acids, 5.5 % proteins, 46 % polysaccharides and 49 % lipids, of which 12 % were covalently bound. Glucose, mannose, galactose and fucose were detected as monosaccharide components of the polysaccharide moiety by gas chromatography; palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid and myristic acid were mainly present in the lipidic fraction. This material differs from the bacterial lipopolysaccharides, both in composition of the polysaccharide moiety and representation of fatty acids in the lipidic fraction.     

Nucleolar localization of ‘template-bound’ RNA polymerase I in nuclei of Xenopus laevis blastulae

This study shows, by means of autoradiography, that RNA polymerase I activity is present in some of the nuclei isolated from Xenopus blastulae. This activity is localized in one or two nucleoli which have a diameter of at least 1.5 μm. The ratio between nucleolar and total nuclear grain counts allows a quantitative estimation of RNA polymerase I activity relative to total RNA polymerase activity at the blastula stage.     

A fast and simple radiometric assay for adenosine deaminase using reversed-phase thin-layer chromatography

A new quantitative radiometric assay for adenosine deaminase is described. The reaction conditions are similar to those used in other radioassays and are shown to result in an activity which increases linearly with time and with enzyme concentration. An original feature of the technique resides in the use of reversed-phase thin-layer chromatography to separate adenosine from inosine. The separation is complete, fast, and reproducible. Both compounds can be recovered almost quantitatively from the plates. The assay is very simple and allows the determination of up to 36 samples in 3 h.     

Iron-porphyrin catalysis of the oxidative dealkylation of para-nitro-anisole and 7-ethoxycoumarin by cumylhydroperoxide: a possible model for the corresponding cytochrome P 450-dependent reactions

A biphasic system containing an iron porphyrin, Fe (TPP) (C1)¹ or [Fe(TPP)]₂O, efficiently catalyzes the cumyl-or tertiobutyl-hydroperoxide-supported dealkylation of p-nitroanisole and 7-ethoxycoumarin to the corresponding phenol and formaldehyde. Stoichiometric amounts of iron porphyrin and hydroperoxide give a quantitative reaction. Catalytic amounts of iron porphyrin give reaction rates and yields which are proportional to substrate concentration. With increasing hydroperoxide concentrations, the rates level offto limit values and the yield rapidly decreases. The maximum rates obtained approach those of the reactions mediated by cytochrome P 450-dependent monooxygenases.     

The palisade endings of cat extraocular muscles: a light and electron microscope study.

The palisade endings (PEs), a particular type of nerve ending found only in extraocular muscles of mammals, have been studied using both silver-stained teased preparations and electron microscope techniques. They have been found, in act, in both the proximal and distal muscle insertions of the four recti and the two oblique mucles. PEs are exclusively associated with some of the mitochondria-poor, multiply-innervated muscle fibres present in the globar layer os these muscles, and consist of a multitude of terminal branches embracing the extremity of the muscle fibre and penetrating the infoldings formed by the muscle fibre at its tendinous attachment. The whole formation is surrounded by a thin capsule. These nerve endings present striking similarities to the developing Golgi tendon organ; the terminal branches lying among the collagen fibrils and occasionally making 'sensory-like' close contacts with the muscle fibre are disposed in such a way that they could easily have a sensory role. It was concluded that PEs present sufficient morphological evidence to be considered as sensory, encapsulated, myotendinous receptors, each related to a single multiply-innervated muscle fibre.