M2, M3 and M4, but not M1, muscarinic receptor subtypes are present in rat spinal cord

Muscarinic receptors in the spinal cord have been shown to mediate antinociception and alter blood pressure. Currently, there is much interest in identifying which muscarinic receptor subtypes regulate these functions. Toward that end, this study aimed to identify and localize the muscarinic receptor subtypes present in spinal cord using in vitro receptor autoradiography with [3H]-pirenzepine and [3H]-N-methylscopolamine. The results showed that M2 binding sites were distributed throughout the dorsal and ventral horns, whereas M3 binding sites were localized to laminae I to III of the dorsal horn. Only background levels of M1 binding sites were detected. Saturation binding assays using [3H]-pirenzepine in spinal cord homogenates confirmed the absence of M1 receptors. Competition membrane receptor assays using [3H]-N-methylscopolamine and the unlabeled antagonists pirenzepine, 11-2[(-[(diethylamino)methyl]-1-piperidinyl)-acetyl]-5, 11-dihydro 6H-pyrido(2, 3-b)(1, 4) benzodiazepine-one, methoctramine, and methoctramine in combination with atropine corroborated the autoradiographic findings and also revealed the presence of M4 binding sites. The finding that M2 and M3 binding sites were localized to the superficial laminae of the dorsal horn where nociceptive A delta and C fibers terminate suggests the possibility that either or both of these muscarinic receptor subtypes modulate antinociception. The present demonstration of M4 binding sites in spinal cord is consistent with the possibility that M2 and/or M4 receptors are involved in the regulation of blood pressure at the spinal level.     

Auditory and somatosensory evoked potentials in coma following spontaneous cerebral hemorrhage: early prognosis and outcome

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), or Rendu-Osler-Weber disease, is an autosomal dominant disorder of localized angiodysplasia, although it is sometimes mistakenly identified as a hemostatic disorder due to its associated characteristic bleeding. The vascular lesions that develop consist of direct arteriovenous connections without an intervening capillary bed. Germline mutations in one of two different genes, endoglin or ALK-1, can cause HHT. Both are members of the transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta receptor family of proteins, and are expressed primarily on the surface of endothelial cells. They are associated together in a receptor complex on the cell surface. Biochemical studies suggest that endoglin modulates TGF-beta signaling through ALK-1 and the type I TGF-beta receptor. Most mutations identified in endoglin and ALK-1 create null alleles, which lead to reduced message or protein levels. A model of haploinsufficiency is proposed, in which inheritance of a mutation predisposes an individual to develop HHT-associated vascular lesions. The factors that initiate lesion formation are unknown, but disruption of these genes in mice should provide animal models to address these and other important questions about the pathogenesis of HHT.     

Community care for Canadian seniors: an exercise in educational planning

In the present study the Top Ten NSAIDs are investigated with the aid of molecular modelling methods. Conformational analyses are performed, electronic and lipophilic properties are examined and correlated with the antiinflammatory effectivity of the respective compounds.     

Adenine nucleotides modulate epithelial wound healing in vitro

BACKGROUND: Adenine nucleotides have been demonstrated to enhance structural and functional regeneration in experimental renal injury in rats. The mechanism of adenine nucleotide action have not been elucidated. The aim of this study was to characterize the effects of adenine nucleotides on intestinal epithelial wound healing in vitro. METHODS: The effects of adenine nucleotides on cell migration, cell proliferation and cell adhesion were studied in the non-transformed small intestinal epithelial cell line IEC-6 using an in vitro wounding model, a colorimetric BrdU assay and a hexosaminidase adhesion assay. RESULTS: The adenine nucleotides ADP and ATP were found to significantly stimulate epithelial cell restitution (migration) in vitro. Stimulation of epithelial restitution averaged 42% for ADP and 57% for ATP. In addition, adenine nucleotides inhibited the proliferation of rat small intestinal epithelial cells, averaging 56% for ADP and 74% for ATP. Enhancement of intestinal epithelial restitution and inhibition of epithelial cell proliferation by adenine nucleotides were mediated through transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta-independent pathways. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that adenine nucleotides exert functional effects on intestinal epithelial cell populations and may play a role in the morphogenesis of the gastrointestinal tract and its remodeling after injury.     

Distribution of median nerve to muscles of the anterior compartment of the arm

Distribution of the median nerve in the arm is not normally subjected to variation. This report represents a case of complete absence of the musculocutaneous nerve from the lateral cord of the brachial plexus. The innervation of the muscles of the anterior (flexor) compartment of the arm was by direct branches from the median nerve. This variation was present in both the right and left limbs.     

Acute respiratory distress syndrome: CT abnormalities at long-term follow-up

Photochemical thrombotic ischemia model was used to study the possible roles of excision repair cross-complementing group 6 (ERCC6), a DNA repair gene, in the neuroprotection of dextromethorphan (DM), a NMDA antagonist, in ischemic brain injury. The results showed that no obvious ERCC6 mRNA expression was found in the perifocal area of irradiated cerebral cortex before 24 h postischemia. Then, the number of ERCC6 mRNA positive cells gradually enhanced, and attained a peak value at 72 h after light irradiation, which followed a declined tendency at 7-day postlesion. These results suggest that DNA repair gene ERCC6 mRNA expression in the perifocal area may be involved in the pathophysiological processes following the photochemical thrombotic cerebral ischemia. By the administration of DM, we observed that it can significantly upregulate the expression of ERCC6 mRNA in the perifocal area at 48 h after ischemic event. The neuroprotective mechanisms of DM may be related to the upregulation of DNA repair gene ERCC6 mRNA.     

A mini review on chemical fixation of CO 2 : Absorption and catalytic conversion into cyclic carbonates

In this article, we present our research results on chemical fixation of CO₂ using organobismuth compounds. We fabricated bismuth biphenoate complex, Zn-Mg-Al composite oxides, and SBA-15 or Al-SBA-15 immobilized hydroxyl ionic liquid for CO₂ cycloaddition onto epoxides. The hypervalent bismuth compounds show good ability for association and dissociation with CO₂. The bismuth biphenolate complexes are catalytically effective for the cycloaddition reaction. The heterogeneous catalysts, viz. Zn-Mg-Al oxides and SBA-15 or Al-SBA-15 immobilized ionic liquid, are efficient for the synthesis of cyclic carbonate from CO₂ and epoxide. It is found that the presence of a trace amount of water can improve the catalytic activity of the immobilized ionic liquid.     

Gene-Expression Programming for the Development of a Stage-Discharge Curve of the Pahang River

This study presents Gene-Expression Programming (GEP), an extension of Genetic Programming (GP), as an alternative approach to modeling the stage-discharge relationship for the Pahang River. The results are compared to those obtained by more conventional methods, i.e., the stage rating curve (SRC) and regression techniques. Additionally, the explicit formulations of the developed GEP models are presented. The performance of the GEP model was found to be substantially superior to both GP and the conventional models.     

活性炭工艺去除水中典型药品的效能与机理

药品和个人护理品（PPCPs）因其潜在的环境和健康风险受到了广泛关注。实验选取8种典型药品为对象,采用中试规模的活性炭工艺研究了其去除效果和影响因素。结果表明,活性炭工艺对安替比林、达舒平、舒必利、磺胺甲口恶唑、泰妙菌素和氧苄胺嘧啶等的去除率为50%～90%,对林肯霉素和氨糖美辛的去除率均小于35%。典型药品的去除率受到滤速、有机物和pH等因素的影响,其中,氨糖美辛、林肯霉素和泰妙菌素等的去除率受滤速影响较大;磺胺甲口恶唑的去除率受pH影响较大。有机物对典型药品去除率的影响既有促进作用,又有抑制作用。典型药品的物化性质对其去除行为有重要影响,这有利于从分子水平上认识活性炭工艺对典型药品的去除机理。