To clarify the supraspinal and spinal actions of a cholinergic agonist, carbachol, and an opioid, oxycodone, we studied their antinociceptive and behavioral effects when administered into brainstem ...medial pontine reticular formation (mPRF) or spinal subarachnoid space with or without pretreatment of muscarinic receptor subtype antagonist. Sprague-Dawley rats were implanted with a 24-gauge stainless steel guide cannula into the mPRF and chronically implanted with a lumbar intrathecal catheter. Antinociception was tested using tail flick latency, motor coordination was evaluated by the rotarod test, and overt sedation was assessed using a behavioral checklist. Carbachol (0.5-4.0 microg) administered into the mPRF produced significant dose- and time-dependent antinociception, sedation, and motor dysfunction. These were completely blocked by pretreatment with atropine and the M(2) muscarinic antagonist, methoctramine, and partially blocked by pretreatment with M(1) pirenzepine but not with M(3) p-fHHSID: Oxycodone administered into the mPRF did not produce such effects. Spinal carbachol and oxycodone produced antinociception without any behavioral effects; their antinociceptive effects were completely blocked by pretreatment with atropine and M(2) antagonist. These results suggest that the antinociceptive action of carbachol is mediated by muscarinic cholinergic receptor activation, especially by M(2) receptor subtype in mPRF and spinal cord, and that although oxycodone seems unlikely to affect the cholinergic transmission of mPRF, spinal oxycodone-induced analgesia is at least partly mediated via the activation of M(2) receptor subtype at the spinal cord.
Carbachol-induced antinociception and sedation is mediated with the activation of M(2) muscarinic receptors. Oxycodone administered into brainstem medial pontine reticular formation did not cause any antinociceptive or behavioral effects, but its spinal administration produced a significant antinociception via M(2) muscarinic receptor activation
Non-gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA)-mediated effects of benzodiazepines (BZs) have not been widely investigated. However, there is significant evidence in the literature to suggest that several ...experimental and clinical observations are inconsistent with the commonly accepted GABAergic mechanisms of action for these drugs. The purpose of the present study was to explore electrophysiological effects of midazolam, diazepam and a specific BZ antagonist, flumazenil, using patch-clamp techniques in NG108-15 cells which do not express the GABAA receptor. Midazolam and diazepam decreased Na+, K+ and Ca2+ currents in a dose-related manner. Ca2+ currents were reduced more significantly by diazepam than by midazolam. Flumazenil showed no effects on voltage-dependent ion currents. GABA by itself showed neither effects on the membrane potential nor these ion currents. Midazolam and diazepam, but not flumazenil, exhibited effects on voltage-dependent ion currents in cultured neurons.
We have evaluated a variation in the temperature dependence of an erbium-doped fiber gain spectrum by a pump wavelength in the 980-nm band for the first time. By optimizing both the pump wavelength ...in the 980-nm band and a temperature-sensitive gain flattening filter, the gain change of an erbium-doped fiber amplifier was successfully suppressed to 0.18 dB/sub pp/ in the temperature range between 0/spl deg/C and 65/spl deg/C and the wavelength range of 37.0 nm.
Molten metal flux growth and properties of CrSi2 Shishido, T.; Okada, S.; Ishizawa, Y. ...
Journal of alloys and compounds,
11/2004, Letnik:
383, Številka:
1-2
Journal Article, Conference Proceeding
Recenzirano
Single crystals of CrSi2 were obtained in the form of hexagonal prisms by the solution growth method using molten tin as a flux. The maximum size of the crystal is about 0.3mm in diameter and 25mm in ...length. The crystal structure of CrSi2 has hexagonal symmetry with space group P6222 and the lattice parameters are a=0.425(2)nm and c=0.6375(1)nm, respectively. The crystals are semiconducting. The value of the micro-Vickers hardness for the {11̄00} face with hexagonal symmetry is 11.2±0.4GPa. Weight gain of the crystals heated up to 1473K in air is negligible.
A New Yttrium Boride: YB25 Tanaka, T.; Okada, S.; Yu, Y. ...
Journal of solid state chemistry,
10/1997, Letnik:
133, Številka:
1
Journal Article, Conference Proceeding
Recenzirano
A new yttrium boride has been found to exist between YB12and YB50. A single phase was established at a nominal composition of B/Y=25.5–26.0. X ray powder diffraction and electron diffraction analyses ...showed that the new YB25phase has a monoclinic system witha=0.82842(3) nm,b=1.03203(3) nm,c=0.58570(2) nm,β=90.402(3)°, and space groupI121(No. 5),I1m1 (No. 8), orI12/m1 (No. 12). Rare earth elements from Gd to Ho can also form compounds isostructural to YB25.
Corticosteroids have been considered the mainstay of immunosuppressive therapy after liver transplantation. However, the side effects of long-term steroid use such as diabetes, infections, and bone ...disease, including growth retardation in children, are serious problems. Our immunosuppression regimen includes FK506 and steroid withdrawal by 30 days after transplantation. The aim of this study was to determine the outcomes of liver transplant, using this immunosuppressive regimen.
Fifteen primary liver transplant recipients were performed between January 1994 and May 2003 and data were reviewed retrospectively. Eight pediatric and four adult recipients, who had survived more than 3 months after transplantation, were included in this sample. The immunosuppressive regimen consisted of FK 506 (Prograf), initially at doses of 0.03 mg/kg, with dose adjustments to achieve daily trough levels of approximately 10 to 12 ng/mL, and predonisone, initially at 4 mg/kg/d, with a taper and cessation by 30 days when the graft was stable.
All recipients were successfully withdrawn by 30 days. Acute rejection episodes occurred in three patients, no patient was diagnosed with chronic rejection. The acute rejection-free rate at 5 year was 74.1%. No recipient had diabetes, serious infections or bone disease.
Our primary immunosuppressive regimen of rapid steroid withdrawal is safe with regard to acute and chronic rejection with benefits upon steroid-related side effects.
The use of bioartificial liver devices requires. A sufficient liver cell mass to provide adequate metabolic support, reduction of xenogeneic immune reactions, and avoidance of viral transmission. We ...have developed a plasmapheresis system using a semipermeable membrane combined with canine whole liver perfusion (PMCWLP). In this study, we investigated the efficacy of our system in a porcine fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) model.
The porcine FHF model was established by intraportal administration of alpha-amanitin (0.1 mg/kg) and lipopolysaccharide (1 μg/kg). Nine hours after drug injection, xenogenic perfusion treatment was performed twice within 6 hours (
n = 5). As the plasmapheresis device, we used a hollow-fiber module with cellulose diacetate porous fibers (pore size, 0.05 μm, surface area, 2 m
2). The canine whole liver was perfused with modified Krebs solution, which is commonly used in many laboratories, containing albumin (2 g/dL) and glucose (300 mg/dL). Control pigs (
n = 10), had the circuit not connected to the whole canine liver.
The survival of FHF pigs was significantly increased by the treatment (58.9 ± 21.8 hour) compared with the controls (22.3 ± 8.1 hour). Mean blood ammonia levels and intracranial pressure during treatment were significantly lower compared with control groups.
Treatment of FHF pigs with the system significantly increased survival time, suggesting that this method may have applications as a clinical liver assist device.
Infrared beamline BL43IR at SPring-8:: design and commissioning Kimura, H.; Moriwaki, T.; Takahashi, S. ...
Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment,
07/2001, Letnik:
467
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
The beamline BL43IR at SPring-8 has been constructed as a beamline exclusively dedicated to the infrared spectroscopy. The beamline was designed to make use of infrared synchrotron radiation emitted ...from a bending magnet of 39.3
m bending radius with the acceptance angle of 36.5(
H)×12.6(
V)
mrad
2 and to cover a very wide wavelength range from 500
nm (20,000
cm
−1, 2.5
eV) to 100
μm (100
cm
−1, 12.5
meV). A Fourier transform interferometer and four experimental stations were installed to utilize the infrared synchrotron radiation at SPring-8.
Many types of isolated hepatocytes-based bioartificial liver have been developed. However, to maintain hepatocyte-specific functions for a long period is still a significant challenge. The ...possibilities of rejection or viral transmission still remain as untackled obstacles. We developed a cross-circulation system, using a semipermeable membrane combined with whole liver perfusion. Detoxifying functions of the extracorporeal porcine liver and molecular movements across the membrane were evaluated in vitro.
The hollow-fiber module has a molecular cutoff of 100 kD. A spiked solution containing 500 mL low molecular dextran solution spiked with 12 mg ammonium chloride, 500 mg D-galactose, and 300 mg lidocaine, which mimicked a patient, was recirculated through the inner fiber space. The extracorporeal liver perfusion circuit consisted of an extra-fiber spaces. A reservoir containing 1000 mL healthy pig plasma, a membrane oxygenator, and a porcine whole liver. Both circuits circulated in the opposite direction for 6 hours.
In 6 hours, 47.3% ± 10.2% of ammonia, 89.5% ± 1.7% of D-galactose, and 95.5% ± 1.0% of lidocaine were eliminated from the circuits; 66.5 ± 11.1 mg of urea were produced at the same time. Oxygen consumption was maintained between 0.248 and 0.259 mL/100 g liver/min for 6 hours. Movement of IgM was completely blocked by the 100-kD membrane, whereas albumin was freely transferred from the reservoir to the intrafiber space.
The perfusion experiments showed the possibility of using a whole liver with oxygenated plasma perfusion in a bioartificial liver system in vitro.
FGF23 plays an important role in calcium-phosphorus metabolism. Other roles of FGF23 have recently been reported, such as commitment to myocardium enlargement and immunological roles in the spleen. ...In this study, we aimed to identify the roles of FGF23 in the kidneys other than calcium-phosphorus metabolism.
DNA microarrays and bioinformatics tools were used to analyze gene expression in mIMCD3 mouse renal tubule cells following treatment with FGF23, erythropoietin and/or an inhibitor of ERK.
Three protein-coding genes were upregulated and 12 were downregulated in response to FGF23. Following bioinformatics analysis of these genes, PPARγ and STAT3 were identified as candidate transcript factors for mediating their upregulation, and STAT1 as a candidate for mediating their downregulation. Because STAT1 and STAT3 also mediate erythropoietin signaling, we investigated whether FGF23 and erythropoietin might show interactive effects in these cells. Of the 15 genes regulated by FGF23, 11 were upregulated by erythropoietin; 10 of these were downregulated following cotreatment with FGF23. Inhibition of ERK, an intracellular mediator of FGF23, reversed the effects of FGF23. However, FGF23 did not influence STAT1 phosphorylation, suggesting that it impinges on erythropoietin signaling through other mechanisms.
Our results suggest cross talk between erythropoietin and FGF23 signaling in the regulation of renal epithelial cells.
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