GABAergic neurons in the embryonic olfactory pit/vomeronasal organ: maintenance of functional GABAergic synapses in olfactory explants

In previous work, we showed a robust gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABAergic) synaptic input onto embryonic luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) neurons maintained in olfactory explants. In this study, we identify GABAergic neurons in olfactory pit (OP) of embryonic mice in vivo and study, using patch-pipet whole-cell current and voltage clamp techniques, synaptic interactions of these neurons in explant cultures. In vivo, glutamate decarboxylase (GAD, the enzyme which synthesizes GABA) mRNA was first detected in nasal regions on Embryonic Day (E) 11.5. From E12.5 to E13.5, robust GAD expression was localized to cells primarily in the ventral aspect of the OP. GAD mRNA was not detected over dorsally located cells in olfactory sensory or respiratory epithelium. In addition, GAD mRNA was not observed in cells along olfactory axons. GAD mRNA was dramatically reduced in the OP/vomeronasal organ by E16.5. Using antibodies against both GABA and GAD, immunopositive axonal-like tracts were detected in the nasal septum on E12.5. GABAergic staining decreased by E13.5. To examine synaptic interactions of these GABAergic cells, embryonic olfactory explants were generated and maintained in serum-free media. As explants spread, neuron-like cells migrated into the periphery, sometimes forming ganglion-like clusters. Cells were recorded, marked intracellularly with Lucifer Yellow and post-fixation, immunocytochemically examined. Forty-six cells, typically multipolar, were GABAergic, had resting potentials around -50 mV, and exhibited spontaneous action potentials which were generated by spontaneous depolarizing GABAergic (GABAA) synaptic activity. OP neurons depolarized in response to GABA by increasing Cl- conductance. The biophysical properties of OP-derived GABAergic neurons were distinct from those reported for olfactory receptor neurons but similar to embryonic LHRH neurons. However, unlike LHRH neurons, GABAergic neurons did not migrate large distances in olfactory explants or appear to leave the olfactory pit in vivo.     

Monitoring for intraoperative awareness

Despite advances in anesthetic technique and technology, intraoperative awareness continues to occur with alarming regularity. The psychological effects on patients and the medicolegal consequences to providers have created the need for a reliable monitor of the hypnotic component of anesthesia. A new technology known as bispectral analysis (BIS) has the potential to put an end to the devastating occurrence of intraoperative awareness, as well as improve the overall effectiveness of anesthetic delivery and the surgical experience. Applicable to almost any situation requiring sedation or general anesthesia, BIS's reliability is a real-time measure of hypnosis levels.     

Reverse adaptation studied by recording short-latency auditory evoked potentials

Difficulties of diagnosis of pleural neoplasms in biopsies are discussed. The short history of serous tumors as entity, their classification, methodological approaches to their morphological diagnosis are outlined. It is concluded that the problem of neoplastic pleural diseases verification can be solved by clinical and morphological correlations. Histochemistry, immunomorphology, and electron microscopy should be combined with conventional morphologic methods used in biopsy investigations.     

Toward optimal health: the experts discuss tamoxifen and breast cancer prevention. Interview by Jodi Godfrey Meisler

Retinoids are commonly used for the treatment of nonmalignant skin disorders and occasionally for the treatment of various neoplasms including epidemic Kaposi sarcoma (KS). Dry skin and mucus membranes, muscle and joint aches, alopecia, headaches, and liver and lipid abnormalities are the most frequent medication-related side effects. Very rarely, this class of drugs is associated with the development of hypercalcemia. The authors report the case of a man with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-associated KS who, while participating in a phase II clinical trial of LGD 1057 (9-cis-retinoic acid) for treatment of epidemic KS, developed hypercalcemia, mental status changes, and renal insufficiency. The etiologic factors of retinoid-induced hypercalcemia are imperfectly understood, but with drug withdrawal his serum calcium, mental acuity, and renal function quickly normalized. Hypercalcemia occurs infrequently in the setting of AIDS and when present, is usually mediated by opportunistic infections. Clinicians should be alert to this potentially life-threatening iatrogenic complication that responds favorably to drug withdrawal.     

Glow discharge beam techniques

The cathode fall region of the glow discharge contains fast electrons and fast ions which are accelerated in the electric field between the cathode and a plasma at near anode potential. When operated at low pressure and high voltage (i.e. on the left-hand branch of the Paschen breakdown curve), the fast electrons tend to form a mono-energetic group, although the ions, owing to relatively large cross-sections for interaction with the gas, have their energies spread over a wide range and also give rise to fast neutrals by charge exchange. Both types of particle can be efficiently brought out of the discharge through orifices placed in the electrodes. Thin or broad beams or sheets of particles, converging or diverging, can be designed over a wide range of current and voltage. At lower voltages, electron beams may be applied to a target placed within the discharge. As the voltage is increased, extracted electron beams become penetrating and can be manipulated magnetically outside the discharge. The gas pressure required for operation depends on the gas, the anode to cathode distance, and voltage and current. By appropriate design, operation at a pressure of about 100 m or more can usually be arranged thus demanding only the simplest vacuum techniques.Both electron and ion beams may be applied to insulating materials as well as conducting materials. This is possible because electrical charging difficulties are avoided owing to the associated presence of ionised gas. A number of different types of glow discharge gun of novel design have been constructed and their characteristics investigated. This paper discusses the design principles employed and illustrates applications in the fields of crystal growing, vapour deposition, welding, thermal milling and etching and milling by sputtering.     

L-Shell Ionization in Proton and Alpha Particle Collisions with Argon

We report results of coupled-state calculations of argon L-shell ionization by proton and alpha particle collisions in the 100 to 500 kev/amu energy range. Our target-centered basis includes up through f-states. We have explored the angular momentum convergence and ability of our pseudostates to describe the ionization continuum by comparing to the Born calculations of Choi; excellent agreement is obtained. In the Born we have shown the effect of using different independent-particle target potentials; these effects are large, particularly at low energy. We propose a modification of the Hartree-Fock potential that leaves all the wavefunctions and the bound orbital energies unaltered, but that lowers the continuum by an amount that brings the L-shell ionization potentials roughly into agreement with experiment. Our coupled-states calculations show deviations from the 1st Born approximation, and are in fair agreement with experiment. A complete comparison to experiment will require the calculation of the charge transfer channel contribution to the vacancy production.