Odor discrimination of "IP 3-" and “cAMP-increasing” odorants in the turtle olfactory bulb

The ability of the turtle olfactory system to discriminate between various odorants that increase levels of adenosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) and inositol trisphosphate (IP ₃) in the olfactory bulb was examined by the cross-adaptation technique and analyzed by multidimensional scaling. The mean values of the degree of discrimination among the IP ₃-increasing odorants were higher than those among the cAMP-increasing odorants, and were similar to those between cAMP- and IP ₃-increasing odorants, suggesting that the features of the receptors of cAMP-increasing odorants are different from those which respond to IP ₃-increasing odorants. Analysis by multidimensional scaling suggested that differences in second messenger pathways are not related to detecting odor quality in the turtle olfactory system. Received: 21 July 1995/Received after revision: 20 October 1995/Accepted: 6 November 1995     

Heart rate dependent modification of the QTc cut-off values can improve accurate evaluation of QT prolongation

Significant amounts of over- and underestimation to detect QT prolongation were observed using Bazett's formula or Fridericia's formula for heart rate correction with any fixed QTc cut-off value. Heart rate dependent modification of the QTc cut-off values can improve accurate evaluation of QT prolongation.     

Gi-coupled γ-aminobutyric acid-B receptors cross-regulate phospholipase C and calcium in airway smooth muscle

γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system, and exerts its actions via both ionotropic (GABA(A)) and metabotropic (GABA(B)) receptors. Although the functional expression of GABA(B) receptors coupled to the G(i) protein was reported for airway smooth muscle, the role of GABA(B) receptors in airway responsiveness remains unclear. We investigated whether G(i)-coupled GABA(B) receptors cross-regulate phospholipase C (PLC), an enzyme classically regulated by G(q)-coupled receptors in human airway smooth muscle cells. Both the GABA(B)-selective agonist baclofen and the endogenous ligand GABA significantly increased the synthesis of inositol phosphate, whereas GABA(A) receptor agonists, muscimol, and 4,5,6,7-tetrahydroisoxazolo[5,4-c]pyridin-3-ol exerted no effect. The baclofen-induced synthesis of inositol phosphate and transient increases in [Ca(2+)](i) were blocked by CGP35348 and CGP55845 (selective GABA(B) antagonists), pertussis toxin (PTX, which inactivates the G(i) protein), gallein (a G(βγ) signaling inhibitor), U73122 (an inhibitor of PLC-β), and xestospongin C, an inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptor blocker. Baclofen also potentiated the bradykinin-induced synthesis of inositol phosphate and transient increases in [Ca(2+)](i), which were blocked by CGP35348 or PTX. Moreover, baclofen potentiated the substance P-induced contraction of airway smooth muscle in isolated guinea pig tracheal rings. In conclusion, the stimulation of GABA(B) receptors in human airway smooth muscle cells rapidly mobilizes intracellular Ca(2+) stores by the synthesis of inositol phosphate via the activation of PLC-β, which is stimulated by G(βγ) protein liberated from G(i) proteins coupled to GABA(B) receptors. Furthermore, crosstalk between GABA(B) receptors and G(q)-coupled receptors potentiates the synthesis of inositol phosphate, transient increases in [Ca(2+)](i), and smooth muscle contraction through G(i) proteins.     

Mobility rating scale for elderly people with dementia: preparation of a Japanese-language version of the Southampton Mobility Assessment

Objectives

Improving the mobility of elderly people with dementia appears to be of significant value in maintaining and enhancing their activities of daily living and quality of life. However, a literature search revealed no scales for rating the mobility of elderly people with dementia currently available in Japan. A Japanese-language version of a rating scale for the mobility of elderly people with dementia, the Southampton Mobility Assessment (SMA), was prepared and its reliability and validity were evaluated.

Participants

Eighty-five elderly people with dementia.

Methods

Reliability was assessed using limits of agreement based on the analysis by Bland and Altman. Validity was evaluated using Spearman's rank correlation coefficients to assess associations between the scores on the Japanese-language version of the SMA and the scores on the subscales of the Barthel Index.

Results

The limits of agreement between two raters were −1.2 and 1.2, and the evaluation of repeatability revealed that 98% of the differences were within two standard deviations (−0.3 and 0.3). A high correlation was found between the scores on the Japanese-language version of the SMA and the Barthel Index.

Conclusions

These results demonstrate that the Japanese-language version of the SMA possesses high reliability and validity, suggesting its suitability in the assessment of mobility when developing physiotherapy approaches intended to enhance the mobility and quality of life of elderly people with dementia.     

Observation on the effects of Chinese medicine zhenxuanyin for improving cerebral blood flow in rats with cerebral ischemia.

Zhenxuanyin [symbol: see text] is composed of pure Chinese medicinal herbs, such as gastrodia tuber, poria cocos, ligusticum wallichii etc. 4-verssel occlusion (4VO) model rats were reperfused after 30 minutes' complete occlusion, and Zhenxuanyin was administered 3 times a day. 24 hours later, 123I-IMP uptake in the brain was evaluated as an index of cerebral blood flow (CBF). The results show that Zhenxuanyin (0.03 g/kg, 0.3 g/kg, 1 g/kg, or 3 g/kg a day) can greatly improve the blood flow in the main cerebral regions, and 0.3 g/kg can increase cerebral blood flow (CBF) to the normal level.     

Extraction of Potential Difficult-to-Manage Psychiatric Cases among Criminal Offenders: 5-Year Data from the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office

Abstract: In order to examine the characteristics of potential difficult-to-manage psychiatric cases, seven potential subgroups were extracted from the criminal offenders who were sent to the division of psychiatric diagnosis, Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office for Pre-Prosecution Psychiatric Justice (PPPJ). The following criteria were used to select the potential subgroups: offenders who had experienced compulsory discharge from a mental hospital, those who had experienced Involuntary Admission to the mental hospital by the Prefectural Governor at least twice, those who had experienced admission to mental hospitals on more than 5 occasions, those who had been put on PPPJ previously for other criminal matters at least 3 times, those who had previously attempted suicide, and those who had committed homicide or arson. From the results of this study, it could be concluded that at least two types of "difficult-to-manage" psychiatric cases exist in the criminal offenders.     

ENDOSCOPIC MANIPULATION OF GASTRIC PROLAPSE IN MORGAGNI HERNIA

Laparoscopic treatment has been recommended for gastric prolapse in Morgagni hernia. We describe a 92‐year‐old woman diagnosed with gastric prolapse in Morgagni hernia. Endoscopic treatment was chosen because surgical or laparoscopic treatment was not tolerable for her. We successfully replaced gastric prolapse by aspirating air and fluid in the prolapsed antrum and subsequently advanced the endoscope to the duodenum. This new endoscopic technique is relatively simple, non‐invasive and useful as an alternative method of surgical or laparoscopic treatment, especially in patients with high risk for these invasive treatments.     

Effect of apolipoprotein E4 allele on plasma LDL cholesterol response to diet therapy in type 2 diabetic patients

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of apolipoprotein (apo)E4 allele on plasma LDL cholesterol response to calorie-restricted diet therapy in type 2 diabetic patients. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Twenty-four diabetic patients with the apoE3/3 genotype and 11 diabetic patients with the apoE4/3 genotype were recruited. Participants were hospitalized for calorie-restricted diet therapy (25.0 kcal. kg body wt(-1). day(-1)) for 14 days. Body weight, fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels, and plasma lipid levels on hospital days 1 and 14 were compared between the two apoE genotype groups. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in baseline FPG levels, HbA(1c) levels, BMI, and plasma levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride, and HDL cholesterol between the two apoE genotype groups, but baseline plasma levels of LDL cholesterol were significantly higher in the apoE4/3 group than in the apoE3/3 group. Body weight decreased slightly and FPG levels decreased significantly after diet therapy in both apoE genotype groups. In the apoE3/3 group, only plasma levels of triglyceride decreased significantly after diet therapy, whereas in the apoE4/3 group, plasma levels of triglyceride, total cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol decreased significantly after diet therapy. The decrease (percentage of change) in total cholesterol (-16.3 vs. -6.6%) and LDL cholesterol (-15.6 vs. -0.7%) after diet therapy was significantly greater in the apoE4/3 group than in the apoE3/3 group. CONCLUSIONS: Calorie-restricted diet therapy is more effective in reducing plasma LDL cholesterol in type 2 diabetic patients with the apoE4 allele.