F. Neural networks in pharmacology: Models of mental disorders and the effect of drug treatments. Nord J Psychiatry 1993;47 Suppl28: 17-26, Oslo. ISSN 080S9496.In psychopharmacology and psychiatry we attempt to describe the biological basis of mental disorders and drug treatments, and an important tool in this process can be theoretical models of the neural basis of behaviour in normal, healthy animals. Models of neural networks are first presented, and different levels of information processing and integration in the CNS are described. Subsequently, the models are related to issues relevant to psychopharmacology and psychiatry, and models of mental disorders and effects of drug treatments are developed. Placing the emphasis on neural networks as the basis of information processing has implications for how we study the nervous system. The information flow in the CNS is determined by the anatomical pathways and their connections, and the neurotransmitter systems must necessarily operate within these boundaries. In addition, the models indicate that behaviour is the result of complex information processing involving many brain regions and will therefore be susceptible to manipulation by different neurotransmitter systems. The cholinergic hypothesis of dementia explains the clinical symptoms as a result of improper function of the cholinergic neurotransmitter systems, but this network analysis questions if simple receptoddeficit models are adequate. 0 Dementia, Hopfield model, Information processing, Neuroethology, Plasticiiy.
SummaryAn empty 500-ml infusion bag was used as the cuff for a Lifestat 100 oscillotonometer. The systolic and mean blood pressures obtained in 40 subjects were not significantly different from those measured with a standard cuff. The diastolic pressure was unrelated between the two cuffs. The empty bag is a cheap and hygienic option in patients who present a high infection risk. Key wordsEquipment; sphygmomanometer cuff. Monitoring; blood pressure.Much anxiety exists about the potential for transfer of infection between patients from contamination of reusable equipment, especially since the advent of HIV. There is often gross soiling of the sphygmomanometer cuff in the operating theatre and our routine cleaning procedure for this is to remove the bladder and wash it and its fabric in hot soapy water. However, even this rather inadequate decontamination procedure is not possible with most automatic oscillotonometer cuffs because the bladder is not removable.We were concerned at the prospect of discarding expensive cuffs when following procedures on HIV-positive patients and sought a suitable alternative. A disposable cuff was made from components that are readily available in operating theatres. We confirmed that the system worked in practice and compared the results obtained with those of the standard cuff supplied with the oscillotonometer. Materials and methodsEmpty 500-ml bags of Steriflex infusion fluids that measured 12 x 14 cm were connected to Avon A60 wide bore extension tubing using the port for the administration set. It was important to ensure that the plastic diaphragm was pierced adequately because otherwise it could act as a flap valve. A male-to-male Luer connector was required at the other end of the extension tubing to fit to the oscillotonometer. The 'cuff was wrapped around the subject's arm and secured with 7.5-cm wide noncompliant adhesive tape which completely encircled the arm. A Physio Control Lifestat 100 automatic oscillotonometer was used in this study. ' Forty subjects, a mixture of staff and patients in a cardiac ward, took part in the trial (16 male, 24 female) with an age range of 22-68 years. No subject was known to be hypertensive. Two patients were sedated with papaveretum and midazolam infusions to allow controlled ventilation of the lungs after cardiac surgery. No other subject was receiving any other form of medication. Subjects had their blood pressure taken twice on the same arm, once with the standard cuff and once with the disposable cuff. One investigator attached the cuff while the second, blinded to which cuff was attached, activated the machine and recorded systolic, mean and diastolic pressures. The arm circumference of each subject was recorded. Analysis of dataThese were examined using the method of Altman and Bland.* A scatter diagram was plotted between the two cuffs for systolic, mean and diastolic blood pressure measurements to examine the relationship between the two. The correlation coefficient was calculated for all the combined pressures and then separat...
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