Suppression of charge movement by calcium antagonists is not related to calcium channel block

The calcium channel-inhibiting drugs nitrendipine and diltiazem represent two important classes of organic calcium antagonists. In the present study, the effect of these drugs on calcium currents and charge displacement currents in bullfrog semitendinosus muscle fibers was examined using a vaseline gap voltage clamp. Nitrendipine (10 M) reduced the quantity of charge that moved both during the ON phase (Q_ON) and the OFF phase (Q_OFF) of charge movement. This action appeared to be most selective for Q_ON. However, at this same concentration, nitrendipine had no blocking action on inward calcium currents. In contrast to these findings, diltiazem blocked calcium currents in a concentration-dependent manner, while slightly increasing the quantity of charge moved during Q_ON and Q_OFF. The enhancement of charge movement by diltiazem resulted from two actions. First, diltiazem shifted the voltage-dependence of charge movement to more negative potentials. Second, diltiazem increased the maximum amount of charge moved. (Supported by NIH NS 03178 and HL 07382.)     

The avian bursa-independent humoral immune system: serologic and morphologic studies

Chickens injected variously with Mycoplasma gallisepticum organisms or sheep erythrocytes and assayed for specific serum agglutinins were individually evaluated with respect to lymphoid development in spleen, thymus, cecal tonsils, cloaca, and bursa of Fabricius. The examinations were carried out during the period of normal maximal bursa size on chickens which had been chemically bursectomized (CBx) at the 7-day-embryo stage and on intact controls. The embryonic genesis of bursal epithelium was completely prevented in 41 of 43 CBx birds. These bursaless birds nonetheless collectively formed agglutinins in 1 of 30 cases at 10 – 12 days after primary stimulation, in 6 of 26 cases at 22 – 23 days after primary stimulation, and in 15 of 32 cases after secondary stimulation. The titers compared favorably with controls. Agglutinin responsive bursaless birds had secondary follicles in spleen and cecal tonsils and an impressive, if variably subnormal, development of lymphoepithelial tissue. By contrast, agglutinin negative bursaless birds lacked germinal centers and had only moderately to sparsely populated lymphoepithelia. This lymphocyte deficit was especially marked in the proctodeal and urodeal roofs and cecal tonsils. Plasmacytes in bursaless birds were rarely found in spleen but were always found in gut lymphoepithelia in numbers correlating with regional lymphoid cell content.     

Introduction: The Quest for Birth Equity and Justice—Now is the Time

Maternal and Child Health Journal -     

Behavioral Health Screening and Care Coordination for Rural Veterans in a Federally Qualified Health Center

Many rural veterans receive care in community settings but could benefit from VA services for certain needs, presenting an opportunity for coordination across systems. This article details the Collaborative Systems of Care (CSC) program, a novel, nurse-led care coordination program identifying and connecting veterans presenting for care in a Federally Qualified Health Center to VA behavioral health and other services based upon the veteran’s preferences and eligibility. The CSC program systematically identifies veteran patients, screens for common behavioral health issues, explores VA eligibility for interested veterans, and facilitates coordination with VA to improve healthcare access. While the present program focuses on behavioral health, there is a unique emphasis on assisting veterans with the eligibility and enrollment process and coordinating additional care tailored to the patient. As VA expands its presence in community care, opportunities for VA-community care coordination will increase, making the development and implementation of such interventions important.

     

The Development of a Multilevel Intervention to Optimise Participant Engagement with an Obesity Prevention Programme Delivered in UK children’s Centres

Prevention Science - Poor participant engagement threatens the potential impact and cost-effectiveness of public health programmes preventing meaningful evaluation and wider application. Although...     

An analysis of decision making in discharge planning

A repeated-measures design was used to examine medical professionals' discharge planning strategies. Physicians, residents, nurses, and social workers were presented with 16 hypothetical case scenarios and asked to: (1) rate the appropriateness of four discharge options (nursing home, community nursing, adult day, and outpatient clinic care), and (2) select the most appropriate discharge plan for each case. Four within-group variables were included in the scenarios: physical impairment, caregiver availability, follow-up required, and patient compliance. Decisions were greatly influenced by caregiver availability. When a caregiver was available, respondents preferred community-based options (i.e., community nursing care or outpatient clinic); if the case involved complications (i.e., severe physical impairment, heavy follow-up, noncompliant patient), they considered community nursing care more appropriate than outpatient clinic. When a caregiver was unavailable, respondents preferred institution-based options (i.e., nursing home or adult daycare); if there were complications, they considered nursing home more appropriate than adult daycare.