Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a diagnostic method well established in neurology. As some effects of TMS are similar to those of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), we looked for an antidepressant efficacy of TMS in a semi-blinded monocentric pilot study. Fifteen patients with Major Depression (DSM-111-R) were included Ten patients were randomized into two groups and treated with 250 transcranial magnetic stimuli/session for five consecutive days. Stimulus intensity in the two groups was motoric threshold 0.3 tesla respectively. Five patients received placebo stimulation in a similar setting. As assessed by the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), the Clinical Global Impression (CGI), and the Adjective Mood Scale of von Zerssen (Bf-S/Bf-S'), there was an improvement of depressive symptoms in both verum groups, more pronounced in the 'stimulation below threshold' group. Patients in the placebo group did not benefit from stimulation. Our data suggest that TMS might indeed have a relevant antidepressive efficacy.

The diamagnetic susceptibilities of some 4,4'-disubstituted biphenyl cyclohexanes are reported as a function of temperature. The order parameters of the uniaxial nematic, smectic A and smectic B phases are calculated. The effect of the terminal substituents and the central groups on the magnetic anisotropy and the order parameter is discussed

Binding of the positively charged drug chlorpromazine to artificial and erythrocyte bilayer membranes was investigated by the filtration method called hygroscopic desorption [Conrad & Singer (1979) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 76, 5202-5206] and by the conventional centrifugation method. Only minor differences in the partition coefficients were observed using the two methods. Our finding is not consistent with the observation of Conrad & Singer that amphipaths are completely excluded from biological membranes. However, the partition coefficient is dependent on membrane composition, which means dependent on the physical properties of a membrane.

Die Synthesr von ( f )-Lycopodin (1) aus 2-Cyanethyl-5-methyl-1,3-cylohexandion (2 b) in sechs Stufen wird beschrieben. Ein wichtiger Syntheseschritt ist die stereoselektive 1,3-AneIliei-ung des ungesattigten lmins 4 b mit Acetondicarbonsaure zum tricyclischen Keton 5b.A Is'urther Synthesis of ( f )-LycopodinThe synthesis of ( +)-lycopodin from 2-cyanoethyl-5-mettiyl-l,3-cyclohcxanedione (2b) in six steps is described. An important step is the stcreoselective 1,3-annulation reaction of the unsaturated imine 4 b will1 acetone dicarboxylic acid yielding the tricyclic ketone 5b.Lycopodin (1) ist ein tetracyclisches Chinolizidinalkaloid, dessen verbruckte Struktur und Partialstruktur eines b-Arninoketons fur eine Synthese zahlreiche Problerne bietet. Die Mehrzahl der in der Literatur beschriebenen Synthesen sind entsprechend durch eine grone Zahl von Stufen und eine niedrige Gesamtausbeute gekennzeichnet Lediglich Heathcock und Mitarbeiter beschrieben 1978 eine Synthese des Lycopodins, die sich durch eine geringe Stufenzahl bei hoher Gesarntausbeute und Stereoselektivitat der gesamten Reaktionsfolge auszeichnet '). Diese Synthese wie auch die des Lycodolins" folgt dern Konzept der Uarstellung eines Cyclohexanons, das die C-Atorne 7 , 8, 12-15 enthalt und in dem nacheinander alle weiteren Strukturelemente in der gewunschten relativen Konfiguration verknupft werden (Schema 1). Schema 1Wir untersuchen ebenfalls seit Iangerer Zeit Moglichkeiten fur die Synthese des Lycopodins und verfolgten dabei den Plan, von einern Hexahydrochinolin wie 4b auszugehen. 4b bietet die Moglichkeit einer 1,3-Anellierung mit dern C,-Baustein Aceion zu einem tricyclischen Keton uber eine sukzessive nucleophile 1,4-und 1,2-Addition an die Enimin-Funktion. Auch in der Synthese von Heathcock stellt dieses Keton die entscheidende Zwischenstufe dar. In der Literatur fehlen ausfuhrliche Inforrnationen iiber die Stabilitat und Reaktivitat von Verbindungen mit einer Enimin-Funktion, urn eine Vor-0 Verlag Chemic GrnbH, D

The translational diffusion of pyrene, pyrene butyric acid and pyrene decanoic acid has been determined in phosphatidylcholine bilayers of different chain length and under pressure up to 200 bars. In the liquid crystalline phase and at a given temperature the diffusion decreases with increasing chain length. At a constant reduced temperature, Tred (about 10 K above the transition temperature), long chain lipids exhibit the fastest diffusion which is in disagreement with hydrodynamic models but favours free volume models for diffusion in lipid bilayers. The volume of activation, Vact, calculated from the decrease of the diffusion coefficient with pressure, delta lnD/delta P, depends on lipid chain length. Vact decreases with decreasing lipid chain length at a given temperature, T = 65 degrees C, and increases at the reduced temperature. These results are again in agreement with the dependence of the diffusion on lipid chain length and therefore with the free volume model.