Based on the results of independent studies the involvement of norepinephrine in REM sleep regulation was known. Isolated studies showed that the effect could be mediated through either one or more ...subtypes of adrenoceptors. Earlier we have reported that REM-OFF neurons continue firing during REM sleep deprivation and mild but continuous stimulation of locus coeruleus (LC) or picrotoxin injection into the LC, that did not allow the REM-OFF neurons in the LC to stop firing, reduced REM sleep. However, the mechanism of action and type of adrenoreceptors involved in REM sleep regulation were unknown. The possible mechanism of action has been investigated in this study. It was proposed that if LC stimulation-induced decrease in REM sleep was due to norepinephrine, adrenergic antagonist must prevent the effect. Therefore, in this study, the effects of α
1, α
2 and β-antagonists, viz. prazosin, yohimbine and propranolol, respectively, and α
2 agonist, clonidine, on LC stimulation-induced reduction in REM sleep were investigated. The results showed that stimulation of LC inhibited REM sleep by reducing the frequency of generation of REM sleep, although the duration per episode remained unaffected. This decrease in the frequency of REM sleep was blocked by β-antagonist propranolol while the duration of REM sleep per episode was blocked by α
1-antagonist, prazosin. Also, a critical level of norepinephrine in the system was required for the generation of REM sleep, however, a higher level may be inhibitory. Based on the results of this study and our earlier studies, an interaction between neurons, containing different neurotransmitters and their subtypes of receptors for LC-mediated regulation of REM sleep has been proposed.
Beginning Spring 2020, a global pandemic dictated the rapid integration of advanced practice registered nurse graduate simulation education as clinical practicums were unexpectedly limited. Using an ...established computer-based platform, family nurse practitioner, adult gerontology clinical nurse specialist, and adult gerontology acute care nurse practitioner students participated in simulation experiences with complex patients and interprofessional health care teams. This experience was purposefully designed to align with the International Nursing Association of Clinical Simulation Learning Standards of Best Practice. After each simulation, students completed a worksheet and participated in an intraprofessional debriefing session. A survey was administered to solicit student feedback about the experience.
•A computer-based virtual stimulation was used as an alternative to traditional clinical experiences.•Computer-based virtual simulation provided a meaningful clinical scenario for advanced practice registered nurse students to learn application of knowledge.•Virtual simulation was a useful addition to in-person clinical experiences at our academic institution.
Lithium mixed sodium trititanates with 0.3, 0.5 and 1.0 M percentage of Li
2
CO
3
(general formula Na
2−
X
Li
X
Ti
3
O
7
) have prepared by a high temperature solid-state reaction route. EPR ...analysis, high temperature range (473–773 K) and variable frequency range (100 Hz–1 MHz) ac conductivity measurements were carried out on prepared sample. The lithium ions are accommodated with the sodium ions in the interlayer space. The EPR specta of lithium mixed sodium Trititanates confirm the partial reduction of Ti
4+
ions to Ti
3+
. Four distinct regions have identified in the Lnσ
T
versus 1,000/
T
plots. Various conduction mechanisms which dependence on concentration, frequency and temperature are reported in this paper for lithium mixed layered sodium Trititanates. The dilation of interlayer space has further been proposed to occur due to inclusion of lithium ions in the interlayer space. The conductivity increases as the concentration of lithium increases. The increase of ionic conductivity in these compounds is due to accommodation of lithium ions with sodium ions in interlayer space.
With changes in livestock management practices and food processing industry, along with changes in people's food habits, many diseases have emerged. Infection with verotoxin-producing Escherichia ...coli (VTEC) is one such illness. In the present study an attempt was made to isolate, identify and characterize VTEC strains with reference to the 0157:H7 serotype from animal, human sources and some food products with the aid of the available modern methods. A total of 876 samples (330 animal, 184 human, 362 food samples) were screened for the presence of VTEC by conventional as well as PCR technique. Seventeen VTEC strains (12 animal, one human and four food samples) were isolated. The isolation rate was higher in diarrhoeic animals (6.02%), followed by diarrhoeic handler (3.12%) and raw beef (1.78%) samples. All strains showed the presence of the VT gene by PCR tests and were uniformly sensitive to common antibiotics except tetracycline, cephalexin, dicloxacillin, erythromycin and lincomycin. Since all strains were isolated from various sources of animal and human origin and all strains showed the presence of the VT gene and uniform antibiogram, a zoonotic association is suggested. This study marks the first report of isolation of VTEC strains from animal sources in India.
The authors present a new way of deriving Gohberg-Semencul-type inversion formulas for Hermitian Toeplitz and quasi-Toeplitz matrices. The approach is based on a certain Sigma -lossless embedding of ...Lyapunov equations. It has been shown that if a nonsingular matrix R has Toeplitz displacement inertia (p, q), then R/sup -1/ does not have the same Toeplitz displacement inertia. However, a para-Hermitian conjugate of R/sup -1/ will have this property. It is also shown that the Gohberg-Semencul-type inversion formulas can be formed directly in terms of certain parameters of the embedding.< >
Background Increased expression of the human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) was previously described in lung biopsy samples from patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). It remains unknown, however, whether ...serum HE4 concentrations are elevated in CF. Methods Seventy-seven children with CF from six Hungarian CF centers and 57 adult patients with CF from a Czech center were enrolled. In addition, 94 individuals with non-CF lung diseases and 117 normal control subjects with no pulmonary disorders were analyzed. Serum HE4 levels were measured by using an immunoassay, and their expression was further investigated via the quantification of HE4 messenger RNA by using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction in CF vs non-CF respiratory epithelium biopsy specimens. The expression of the potential regulator miR-140-5p was analyzed by using an UPL-based quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay. HE4 was measured in the supernatants from unpolarized and polarized cystic fibrosis bronchial epithelial cells expressing wild-type or F508del-CFTR. Results Median serum HE4 levels were significantly elevated in children with CF (99.5 73.1-128.9 pmol/L) compared with control subjects (36.3 31.1-43.4 pmol/L; P < .0001). This observation was replicated in adults with CF (115.7 77.8-148.7 pmol/L; P < .0001). In contrast, abnormal but lower HE4 concentrations were found in cases of severe bronchitis, asthma, pneumonia, and bronchiectasis. In patients with CF, the concentrations of HE4 were positively correlated with overall disease severity and C-reactive protein concentrations, whereas a significant inverse relationship was found between HE4 and the spirometric FEV1 value. Relative HE4 mRNA levels were significantly upregulated ( P = .011) with a decreased miR-140-5p expression ( P = .020) in the CF vs non-CF airway biopsy specimens. Twofold higher HE4 concentrations were recorded in the supernatant of polarized F508del-CF transmembrane conductance regulator/bronchial epithelial cells compared with wild-type cells. Conclusions HE4 serum levels positively correlate with the overall severity of CF and the degree of pulmonary dysfunction. HE4 may thus be used as a novel inflammatory biomarker and possibly also as a measure of treatment efficacy in CF lung disease.
PDF
