DE LIMA EG; DA COSTA PI; LAURE CJ
South American rattlesnake venom: its hemolytic power.
Rev Soc Bras Med Trop. 1989 Oct Dec; 22(4): 171-5
The hemolytic power of rattlesnake venom (Crotalus durissus terrificus) was studied. A high percentage of sample with negative hemolytic power was detected when sheep red blood cells were used. A large number of venoms with hemolytic power, though with a low hemolysis percentage, were detected when liquid, recently extracted venom was used. When crystallized venom was used under the same experimental conditions, a higher percentage of positivity for hemolysis was obtained. When the results obtained on agar plates were compared to those obtained in test tubes, a large number of animals with a higher percentage of hemolysis were detected, though this value was not proportional to the number of animals showing positive plate hemolysis. When the hemolytic power of these venoms was tested on human red blood cells, a large percentage of animals with venoms having a low hemolytic power was also detected. Hemolytic power was much greater when human red blood cells were tested with crystallized venom. The preparation of red blood cells also had an important effect and the use of red blood cells from defibrinated blood is recommended. We conclude that rattlesnake venom has hemolytic power that increases when the venom is crystallized. Red blood cells should be properly prepared for the lysis reactions. We suggest that the lytic power of the venom is related to venom concentration and to the purity of its fractions.
PAGE, J BRYAN; FLETCHER, JACK M; TRUE, WILLIAM R
Psychosociocultural perspectives on chronic cannabis use: The Costa Rican follow-up. Special Issue: Marijuana--an update.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs; 1988 Jan-Mar Vol 20(1) 57-65
Conducted a 4-yr follow-up of Costa Rican marihuana users and matched nonusers previously studied by W. E. Carter et al (1980). 57 of 82 Ss were available at follow-up. They completed a test battery including the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS); measures of lateralized motor and tactile performance, learning and memory, sustained attention and concentration, and speeded motor planning; the Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire (16PF); and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI). Results indicate that users were slower in processing and on self-paced measures requiring sustained attention than nonusers. Anthropological findings are discussed with reference to cognitive function testing.
PERSINGER MA
Striking EEG profiles from single episodes of glossolalia and transcendental meditation.
Percept Mot Skills. 1984 Feb. 58(1). P 127-33.
Transient, focal, epileptic-like electrical changes in the temporal lobe, without convulsions, have been hypothesized to be primary correlates of religious experiences. Given these properties, direct measurement of these phenomena within the laboratory should be rare. However, two illustrated instances have been recorded. The first case involved the occurrence of a delta-wave-dominant electrical seizure for about 10 sec. from the temporal lobe only of a Transcendental Meditation teacher during a peak experience within a routine TM episode. The second case involved the occurrence of spikes within the temporal lobe only during protracted intermittent episodes of glossolalia by a member of a pentecostal sect . Neither subject had any psychiatric history. These observations are commensurate with the hypothesis that religious experiences are natural correlates of temporal lobe transients that can be detected by routine EEG measures.
Saenz JA. Macaya-Lizano AV. Nassar M.
[Edible, poisonous and hallucinatory fungi of Costa Rica] Hongos comestibles, venenosos y alucinatorios de Costa Rica.
Rev Biol Trop. 1983 Nov. 31(2). P 201-7.
This is the first comprehensive report on hallucinatory, edible and poisonous mushrooms of Costa Rica. A total of 67 species is reported of which 4 are hallucinatory, 55 are edible and 8 are poisonous. A search based on information obtained from national health centers between 1972 and 1977, includes total number of intoxications per year, number of cases by age, sex and geographic distribution.