Co-localization of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, γ-aminobutyric acid and choline acetyltransferase in neocortical interneurons of the adult rat

Interneurons immunoreactive for vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) are integral elements of columnar organization patterns in the rat cerebral cortex. By application of the sensitive mirror technique, the co-localization of VIP with the classical inhibitory neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and the acetylcholine-synthesizing enzyme, choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), was investigated in neocortical neurons. Furthermore, the frequency of co-localization of ChAT with GABA was determined. In a sample of 118 VIP-immunoreactive neurons, mostly from the primary somatosensory cortex, it was demonstrated that virtually all of them reveal immunoreactivity for GABA and, therefore, are to be GABAergic. Moreover, 34% of mostly bipolar, VIP-positive neurons contained ChAT and are, thus, supposedly cholinergic as well. Co-localization of VIP and ChAT varied according to cortical laminae. Finally, 88% of a total of 60 ChAT-immunoreactive neurons were also immunostained for GABA. It is concluded that almost all VIP-immunoreactive neurons and most of the cholinergic neurons in rat neocortex represent partly overlapping subpopulations of inhibitory interneurons utilizing GABA.     

Discrete time optimal control of linear time-delay systems

A discrete time optimal control for linear time-delay systems is developed to ensure that all closed-loop eigenvalues will lie inside a circular region centred at (β;, 0) with radius α. It is shown that by suitable manipulations the problem can be reduced to a standard discrete time quadratic regulator problem. An illustrative example is included to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed method.     

Dorsal and ventral dopaminergic innervation of the spinal cord: Functional implications

Several studies have demonstrated that a descending dopaminergic pathway innervates the dorsal and the intermediate gray matter of the spinal cord and have suggested that this pathway is involved in pain modulation and in the control of autonomie functions. Other studies have also demonstrated the presence of dopamine (DA) and DA metabolites as well as of DA receptors in the ventral cord. There is also evidence for the implication of DA in the control of motor functions at the spinal level. The occurrence of a dopaminergic innervation in the ventral horn has been, however, disputed until recently. But recent work has demonstrated that the motoneural cell groups in the ventral horn (lamina IX) are a target for descending dopaminergic fibers. In addition, the possibility that DA is a mediator of primary afferent fibers has also been postulated. Finally, the occurrence of dopaminergic cell bodies has been suggested in the spinal cord. This indicates that DA is probably implicated in a complex manner in spinal functions. In the present paper the possible involvement of DA in sensory and in motor functions at spinal level will be discussed in view of neurochemical observations made in polyarthritic rats, in which pain-related behavior and reduction of locomotor activity associated with a marked decrease in mobility, are observed.     

Evaluation of bedside blood glucose monitoring by the phlebotomy team in an acute general care hospital

A feasibility study was undertaken to evaluate laboratory phlebotomists performing bedside glucose monitoring (BGM) over a 3-month period on a medical and surgical floor. Specific questions included: feasibility of providing testing on a 24-h basis, accuracy, appropriate utilization, effect on patient care, and an analysis of cost. In all, 1975 tests were performed on 114 patients. BGM results were within 15% of the laboratory's result 97% of the time. Patient and physician satisfaction was high. Although the cost of BGM is slightly higher than a laboratory glucose test, its use appeared to reduce the length of hospital stay by 0.47 days. Practical information on initiating a highly successful BGM program is provided.     

Alcohol controls and Aboriginal society: The effects of the Northern Territory restricted areas legislation

The “restricted areas” provisions of the Northern Territory Liquor Act constitute a preventative policy aimed at reducing the effects of alcohol abuse, particularly on Aboriginal communities. Under the provisions, communities can apply to be declared “dry” or semi-restricted with respect to liquor. Since their inception in 1979, the provisions have given rise to continuing controversy. This paper addresses some of the issues associated with the controversy. Patterns of alcohol consumption on “dry”, semi-restricted and unrestricted communities are compared, and the incidence of apprehension for public drunkenness before and after restricted area declarations is examined. The paper also discusses the provisions under which vehicles implicated in acts of illicit “grog-running” are forfeited to the NT Government. It is concluded that the restricted area provisions are associated with reduced levels of alcohol consumption and apprehensions for drunkenness, and are therefore beneficial in outcome. However, it is also argued that at present the provisions are flawed in that, while some aspects serve to promote community control over alcohol consumption, other elements have the effect of undermining community control and responsibility.     

婴儿母乳喂养与学龄前肥胖症关系的病例对照研究

①目的　探讨婴儿期母乳喂养行为与学龄前期单纯性肥胖症发生之间的关系。②方法　对 180 0名4～ 5岁儿童的婴儿期母乳喂养情况及其体质指数 (BMI)、发育情况等进行调查 ,分析母乳喂养类型和持续时间与学龄前肥胖症发生之间的关系。③结果　单因素分析发现 ,4个月内只喂母乳、主要喂母乳、母乳与配方奶量基本相同、主要喂配方奶、只喂配方奶者 4～ 5岁时肥胖发生率分别为 12 .6 3% ,13.0 4 % ,16 .98% ,18.18% ,30 .0 0 % ;儿童母乳喂养持续时间 0 ,<1,1～ 3,4～ 6 ,7～ 9,>9个月者 4～ 5岁时肥胖发生率分别为 2 9.4 1% ,30 .0 0 % ,33.33% ,17.2 4 % ,13.92 % ,12 .2 2 % .母乳喂养类型和持续时间不同的儿童学龄前期单纯性肥胖症发生率不同 ,差异有显著性 (χ2 =10 .4 0 7,P <0 .0 5 ;χ2 =2 0 .90 3,P <0 .0 0 1)。多因素Logistic回归分析发现 ,4个月内喂配方奶量越多 ,肥胖发生率越高 (OR =1.12 0 ) ;母乳喂养持续时间越长 ,肥胖发生率越低 (OR =0 .782 )。④结论　婴儿母乳喂养对学龄前期肥胖症的发生有预防作用 ;婴儿期应提倡母乳喂养 ,并尽可能延长母乳喂养时间至 9个月以上。     

调整给药时间减轻顺铂肾毒性的研究

目的　观察不同给药时间对顺铂肾毒性的影响。　方法　 1 6例癌症患者分为两组各 8例 ,分别在上午 1 0时或下午 8时静滴 6 0mg m2 顺铂 ,3～ 4周后作第 2周期化疗时交换给药时间 ,以尿 β2 微球蛋白浓度作为肾小管功能改变的指标。　结果　治疗前两组的尿 β2 微球蛋白浓度均在 2 0 0 μg L以下。治疗后 ,上午 1 0时给药组的尿β2 微球蛋白浓度在第 1周期为 4 96± 6 6 μg L ,第 2周期为 5 0 4± 74 μg L ,下午 8时给药组分别为 2 77± 4 3μg L(t=3.6 6 ,P <0 .0 1 )和 2 83± 39μg L(t=3.6 3,P <0 .0 1 )。 　结论　不同时间给药对顺铂的肾毒性有显著影响 ,下午 8时给药可明显减轻顺铂的肾毒性。     

一种有效去除脂血对血清多种生化指标测定干扰的方法

目的 :探讨一种去除脂血对血清生化项目测定干扰的方法。方法 :沉淀、离心沉淀去除血清中过量的乳糜微粒。结果 :该法简便去脂效果彻底 ,不影响测定结果。结论 :获得了一种满意的去脂方法     

Caring for the Involuntarily Hospitalized Adolescent: The Issue of Power in the Nurse-Patient Relationship

TOPIC: The power relations between involuntarily hospitalized adolescents and their caregivers from the viewpoint of theory development in nursing and the concept of medicalization. PURPOSE: To contribute to the development of nursing theories that can guide nursing care of involuntarily hospitalized adolescents by examining the power relations between the adolescents and their caregivers. SOURCES: Published literature in medical sociology, and nursing and psychiatric ethics. Nursing and psychiatric literature, in which Michel Foucault's theories are used to explicate the disciplinary power of psychiatry. CONCLUSIONS: To empower involuntarily hospitalized adolescents nurses must both recognize the inevitable power imbalance and seek guidance from the egalitarian ideals of nursing. Nurses can draw from postmodern thinkers who dismiss the idea that one theory can explain human relationships.