Pharmacological inhibition of type 4 cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-specific phosphodiesterase (PDE4) produces antidepressant-like effects in animals; however, it is not known which of the ...four PDE4 subtypes mediates these actions. In the present study, immunoblot analysis showed loss of phosphodiesterase 4D (PDE4D) expression in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of PDE4D knockout (PDE4D-/-) mice, but unchanged PDE4A and PDE4B expression, relative to the wild type (PDE4D+/+) and heterozygous knockout (PDE4D+/-) mice. This reduced expression was accompanied by a reduction in PDE4 activity, while non-PDE4 activity was unchanged. PDE4D-/- mice exhibited decreased immobility in tail-suspension and forced-swim tests, which is indicative of an antidepressant-like effect on behavior. Desipramine and fluoxetine produced similar antidepressant-like effects in all three genotypes, even though their behavioral baselines differed markedly. By contrast, the PDE4 inhibitor rolipram only produced antidepressant-like effects in PDE4D+/+ mice. Consistent with this, rolipram potentiated isoproterenol-induced cyclic AMP formation only in the PDE4D+/+ mice. These results suggest that PDE4D is an essential mediator of the antidepressant-like effects of rolipram, and that PDE4D-regulated cyclic adenosine monophosphate signaling may play a role in the pathophysiology and pharmacotherapy of depression.
In a mixed sample of community‐living adults, this study examined the construct validity of five neuropsychological tests: Category Test (CAT), Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), Paced Auditory ...Serial Addition Task (PASAT), Visual Search and Attention Test (VSAT) and Trail Making Test: Part B (TMT‐B). Principal components analyses showed that PASAT, VSAT, and TMT‐B defined an attention factor and that CAT and WCST defined a conceptual factor. The results were discussed in terms of common interpretations of these procedures as well as in terms of Mirsky's (1989) components of attention.
Albania's extreme isolation under communism allowed the secret police total control over Albanian society because it produced extensive dossiers on each citizen. Now debate rages over the ...consequences of opening these files.
Many bright young people want to rush into investment banking. Why? Because they have heard that unbelievable amounts of money can be made this way in short periods of time. But for far too many, ...that career would be a vast misuse of talent, time and human potential. What is more, many people heading down the "I-just-gotta-make-a-million-dollars-a-year" road will be very unhappy, even if they do get to make that journey.
Information nurses need to know about anticipating, recognizing and minimizing the potentially serious consequences of adverse drug reactions in patients is presented. Nurses should be aware of the ...complete drug history of a patient and know whom to contact and what to do if a patient suffers a reaction.
THE YEAR IS 2000. A NEW, EXPENSIVE nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) has been ordered for your patient. But according t mandatory drug guidelines, ibuprofen is a recommended alternative to ...this new NSAID—at one-tenth the cost. You take the computer-coded card attached to your patientʼs chart and run it through a scanner at the nursesʼ station. The patientʼs history, which appears instantly on a monitor, reveals no contraindications to ibuprofen for this patient.With a few strokes of your keyboard, you suggest changing his drug order to ibuprofen—a recommendation that will be reviewed by your supervisor, the patientʼs doctor, the hospital pharmacist, and other professionals involved in your patientʼs care.Later, after your recommendation has been approved, you slip a disk into your patientʼs beside computer. The program explains to him how ibuprofen works and what he needs to consider while taking it. You then punch his new drug order up on the computer and get his first dose from an automatic drug disperiser.Health care reform, cost control, and technology are only a few factors to consider. Let our experts explain why.
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