Modulation of morphine-induced Fos-immunoreactivity by the cannabinoid receptor antagonist SR 141716

A growing body of evidence suggests the existence of a functional interaction between opioid and cannabinoid systems. The present study further investigated this functional interaction by examining the combined effects of morphine and the cannabinoid receptor antagonist SR 141716 on Fos-immunoreactivity (Fos-IR), a marker for neural activation. Male albino Wistar rats were treated with SR 141716 (3 mg/kg, intraperitoneally), morphine HCl (10 mg/kg, subcutaneously), vehicle, or SR 141716 and morphine combined (n = 6 per group). Rats were injected with morphine or its vehicle 30-min after administration of SR 141716 or its vehicle and perfused 3 h later. Locomotor activity and body temperature were both increased in the morphine-treated group and SR 141716 significantly inhibited these effects. Morphine increased Fos-IR in several brain regions including the caudate-putamen (CPu), cortex (cingulate, insular and piriform), nucleus accumbens (NAS) shell, lateral septum (LS), bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), median preoptic nucleus (MnPO), medial preoptic nucleus (MPO), hypothalamus (paraventricular, dorsomedial and ventromedial), paraventricular thalamic nucleus (PV), amygdala (central and basolateral nuclei), dorsolateral periaqueductal gray, ventral tegmental area (VTA), and Edinger-Westphal nucleus. SR 141716 alone increased Fos-IR in the cortex (cingulate, insular and piriform), NAS (shell), LS, BNST, hypothalamus (paraventricular, dorsomedial and ventromedial), PV, amygdala (central, basolateral and medial nuclei), VTA, and Edinger-Westphal nucleus. SR 141716 attenuated morphine-induced Fos-IR in several regions including the CPu, cortex, NAS (shell), LS, MnPO, MPO, paraventricular and dorsomedial hypothalamus, PV, basolateral amygdala, VTA, and Edinger-Westphal nucleus (EW). These results provide further support for functional interplay between the cannabinoid and opioid systems. Possible behavioural and physiological implications of the interactive effects of SR 141716 on morphine-induced Fos-IR are discussed.

A measurement of the cosmological mass density from clustering in the 2dF Galaxy Redshift Survey

The large-scale structure in the distribution of galaxies is thought to arise from the gravitational instability of small fluctuations in the initial density field of the Universe. A key test of this hypothesis is that forming superclusters of galaxies should generate a systematic infall of other galaxies. This would be evident in the pattern of recessional velocities, causing an anisotropy in the inferred spatial clustering of galaxies. Here we report a precise measurement of this clustering, using the redshifts of more than 141,000 galaxies from the two-degree-field (2dF) galaxy redshift survey. We determine the parameter beta = Omega0.6/b = 0.43 +/- 0.07, where Omega is the total mass-density parameter of the Universe and b is a measure of the 'bias' of the luminous galaxies in the survey. (Bias is the difference between the clustering of visible galaxies and of the total mass, most of which is dark.) Combined with the anisotropy of the cosmic microwave background, our results favour a low-density Universe with Omega approximately 0.3.

Effectiveness of training in negative thought reduction and positive thought increment in reducing thought-produced distress

Subjects (N = 86) completed scales designed to measure distress caused by thoughts, distress caused by day-to-day experiences, positive affect caused by thoughts, positive affect caused by day-to-day experiences, anxiety, stress, depressive cognitions, well-being, and psychological health. Subjects who reported high distress as a result of one or more items on the Thought-Related Distress subscale were asked to nominate three specific thoughts related to one of the distress-producing thought categories. These subjects were randomly placed in one of the five training groups. One group was trained to reduce negative thoughts (NTR), the second group was trained to replace negative thoughts with positive thoughts (PTI), the third group was given training in both procedures, the fourth group was given a placebo treatment, and the fifth group was not given any treatment. NTR, PTI, and the combination of both were effective in reducing the distress caused by the specific thoughts. There was a significant reduction in the distress caused by specific thoughts in the NTR and combined-treatment groups. Training produced no significant changes in overall negative and positive affect caused by thoughts and day-to-day experiences or in anxiety, stress, depressive cognitions, well-being, and general health.

Optical properties of low vision telescopes

Angular magnification, resolving power, astigmatism, field of view, eye relief, and light transmittance of 157 low power telescopes comprising 25 models from seven manufacturers were measured. Roof-prism Keplerian telescopes provided about one-half the resolution, 30% lower transmittance, and more objectionable image flare than Galilean designs. The roof-prism was responsible for producing overlapping doubled images that appeared astigmatic-like. The prism further compromised rotational symmetry by deviating the image in a direction along the roof edge. The Keplerian telescopes, however, had about twice the field of view of the Galilean telescopes. Notably, several Keplerian telescope models from different suppliers were found to be optically identical, although they varied 50-100% in price.

Managing change in health care institutions. The Austin experience 1973-1983

This article is written by Ian Price who was engaged as a consultant by the Austin Hospital in 1973 to conduct an organisation study. The result of his work was to establish a divisional organisation which integrated the University of Melbourne into the hospital management structure. His work set in train an extensive organisational development program which has become widely known and regarded in the hospital field. After an absence of nine years Ian Price has taken up an appointment with the Austin an Executive Assistant to the General Manager. This article summarises the process which he adopted and the rationale for the changes which were implemented. The article also presents a brief resume of these changes ten years on.