Identification of C1 presympathetic neurons in rat rostral ventrolateral medulla by juxtacellular labeling in vivo

The rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) contains barosensitive, bulbospinal neurons that provide the main supraspinal excitatory input to sympathetic vasomotor preganglionic neurons. However, the phenotype of the critical RVLM cells has not been conclusively determined. The goal of the current study was to identify the proportion of electrophysiologically defined, putative, presympathetic RVLM neurons that are C1 cells. We used a juxtacellular labeling technique to individually fill spontaneously active, barosensitive, bulbospinal RVLM neurons with biotinamide following electrophysiological characterization in chloralose-anesthetized rats. To determine whether these neurons could be classified as C1 cells, the biotinamide-labeled cells were processed for detection of tyrosine hydroxylase. The majority of barosensitive bulbospinal RVLM neurons were tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactive (TH-ir; 28 of 39). All of the barosensitive bulbospinal RVLM neurons with axonal conduction velocities in the C fiber range (<1 m/second) were TH-ir (n = 16), whereas faster conducting cells (1 to 7 m/second) were either lightly TH-ir (n = 12) or not detectably TH-ir (n = 11). Adjacent respiratory-related RVLM units labeled with biotinamide were not detectably TH-ir (n = 10). To verify that TH-ir cells were indeed adrenergic, a subset of barosensitive bulbospinal cells labeled with biotinamide were examined for phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase immunoreactivity (PNMT-ir). Three slowly conducting cells had detectable PNMT-ir, and two fast-conducting cells had no detectable PNMT-ir. These results indicate that the majority of bulbospinal RVLM neurons with putative sympathoexcitatory function are C1 cells.     

Hemostasis in patients operated on for abdominal hemorrhage. 3. Boundary deviations of hemostasis

The fibrinolytic process in the plasma of patients operated for abdominal haemorrhages have been investigated. The results allowed to conclude that the blockade of fibrinolysis did not effect on the course of the disease. The high level of the inhibitors and of the platelets hypoaggregation can be considered as a cause increased of the recurring gastrointestinal haemorrhages. It was demonstrated that the probability of DIC-syndrome development increased at the aggravation of the patient's state after the operation.     

Tryptase mediates hyperresponsiveness in isolated guinea pig bronchi

Hyperresponsiveness of airway smooth muscle to allergens and environmental factors has long been associated with the pathophysiology of asthma. Tryptase, a serine protease of lung mast cells, has been implicated as one of the mediators involved in the induction of hyperresponsiveness. As a consequence, tryptase inhibitors have become the subject of study as potential novel therapeutic agents for asthma. Secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) is a naturally occurring protein of human airways which exhibits anti-tryptase activity. To assess the potential therapeutic utility of SLPI in asthma, its effects were evaluated using in vitro and ex vivo models of airway hyperresponsiveness and compared with the effects of the small molecule tryptase inhibitor APC-366. Our results demonstrate that SLPI inhibits tryptase-mediated hyperresponsiveness in vitro and attenuates the hyperresponsiveness observed in airway smooth muscle from antigen-sensitized animals subjected to antigen exposure. The small molecule tryptase inhibitor APC-366 has a similar inhibitory effect. Thus, tryptase appears to be a significant contributor to the development of hyperresponsiveness in these models. To the extent that tryptase contributes to the development and progression of asthma, SLPI may possess therapeutic potential in this disease setting.     

Polarization of Th-cell responses: a phylogenetic consequence of nonspecific immune defence?

CD4+ T helper (Th)-cell responses are polarized into Th1 and Th2 types. Here, Paul Garside and Allan McI. Mowat propose that this is an evolutionary consequence of the relationship between specific adaptive immunity, individual components of the nonspecific inflammatory response and different types of infection. This concept has important implications both for understanding protective immunity and for vaccine design and delivery.     

Peripheral benzodiazepine receptor expression on leukocytes and neutrophil function during anticonvulsant monotherapy

AIM: To gain a full understanding of the concept of equity and means of promoting and monitoring a more equitable healthservice. BACKGROUND: With previous policy decisions having sidelined equity, a new government is likely to wish to reverse this trend. ORIGINS OF INFORMATION: Government and expert opinion. DATA ANALYSIS: A critical approach to previous literature. KEY ISSUES: Equity is not a unitary concept and so it is explored and dissected using the framework of: Distribution of Resources, Access and Uptake of Healthcare, Standards and Outcomes of Healthcare, Health Status. Means of improving and monitoring equity in these four areas are suggested. CONCLUSIONS: There are a number of ways of considering the concept of equity and for any fruitful discussion to occur there needs to be an agreed working definition. Specific topics are discussed where equity is lacking and a plan of action is suggested which is likely to improve equity in the areas identified.