Modulation of synaptic vesicle exocytosis in muscle-dependent long-term depression at the amphibian neuromuscular junction.

We have labeled recycling synaptic vesicles at the somatic Bufo marinus neuromuscular junction with the styryl dye FM2-10 and provide direct evidence for refractoriness of exocytosis associated with a muscle activity-dependent form of long-term depression (LTD) at this synapse. FM2-10 dye unloading experiments demonstrated that the rate of vesicle exocytosis from the release ready pool (RRP) of vesicles was more than halved in the LTD (induced by 20 min of low frequency stimulation). Recovery from LTD, observed as a partial recovery of nerve-evoked muscle twitch amplitude, was accompanied by partial recovery of the refractoriness of RRP exocytosis.

Self-reported risk factors for chlamydia: a survey of pharmacy-based emergency contraception consumers.

Objectives: To investigate the self-reported risk factors for Chlamydia trachomatis in pharmacy-based emergency contraception (EC) consumers, evaluate their pharmacy experience and determine whether they would be willing to accept a chlamydia test from the pharmacy.

Methods: A survey for women to complete after their EC consultation was developed from themes identified in a literature search. Nineteen pharmacies in the Perth metropolitan region and 13 pharmacies in rural, regional and remote Western Australia (WA) participated in this study.

A review of the information-gathering process for the provision of medicines for self-medication via community pharmacies in developing countries.

Background: Currently, no review has been completed regarding the information-gathering process for the provision of medicines for self-medication in community pharmacies in developing countries.

Objective: To review the rate of information gathering and the types of information gathered when patients present for self-medication requests.

Methods: Six databases were searched for studies that described the rate of information gathering and/or the types of information gathered in the provision of medicines for self-medication in community pharmacies in developing countries.

Provision of primary care to patients with chronic cough in the community pharmacy setting.

Background: Community pharmacies are at the forefront of primary care providers and have an important role in the referral of patients to a medical practitioner for review when necessary. Chronic cough is a common disorder in the community and requires medical assessment. The proficiency of community pharmacy staff to refer patients with chronic cough is currently unknown.

Intern pharmacists as change agents to improve the practice of nonprescription medication supply: provision of salbutamol to patients with asthma.

Background: Earlier work established an evidence practice gap during provision of nonprescription salbutamol (albuterol). Pharmacist interns are hypothesized to be in a position to improve professional practice in the community pharmacy setting.

Objective: To explore the potential of intern pharmacists to improve the professional practice of community pharmacy staff in the provision of nonprescription salbutamol.

Measuring the assessment and counseling provided with the supply of nonprescription asthma reliever medication: a simulated patient study.

Background: Over one quarter of asthma reliever medications are provided without prescription by community pharmacies in Australia. Evidence that community pharmacies provide these medications with sufficient patient assessment and medication counseling to ensure compliance with the government's Quality Use of Medicines principles is currently lacking.

Objective: To assess current practice when asthma reliever medication is provided in the community pharmacy setting and to identify factors that correlate with assessment of asthma control.

Role for the skeletal muscle action potential in non-Hebbian long-term depression at the amphibian (Bufo marinus) neuromuscular junction.

Retrograde signaling from skeletal muscle cells to motor nerve terminals is a recognized mechanism for modulating the strength of neuromuscular transmission. We recently described a form of long-term depression of transmitter release at the mature neuromuscular junction that is dependent on the production of nitric oxide, most likely by the muscle cell (Etherington and Everett 2004 J Physiol (Lond) 559:507-517). We now show that the depression is blocked by treating neuromuscular preparations with mu-conotoxin G111A, an antagonist of skeletal muscle voltage gated sodium channels, indicating that the depression requires postsynaptic action potential firing.

Cellular localization of voltage-gated calcium channels and synaptic vesicle-associated proteins in the guinea pig cochlea.

The cellular localization of voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs) and synaptic vesicle-associated proteins, SV2, synapsin I, and vesicle-associated membrane protein (VAMP) (synaptobrevin), was investigated in the guinea pig cochlea using immunocytochemistry and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Reactivity, in guinea pig, of antibodies to the alpha1 subunits of L-type, alpha1C [Cav1.2] and alpha 1D [Cav1.

Postsynaptic production of nitric oxide implicated in long-term depression at the mature amphibian (Bufo marinus) neuromuscular junction.

We report here evidence for endogenous NO signalling in long-term (>1 h) synaptic depression at the neuromuscular junction induced by 20 min of 1 Hz nerve stimulation. Synaptic depression was characterized by a 46% reduction in the end-plate potential (EPP) amplitude and a 21% decrease in miniature EPP (MEPP) frequency, but no change to MEPP amplitude, indicating a reduction in evoked quantal release. Both the membrane-impermeant NO scavenger cPTIO and the NOS inhibitor L-NAME blocked depression, suggesting that it is induced by NO originating from a source outside the terminal.

Development of neural tissue and airway smooth muscle in fetal mouse lung explants: a role for glial-derived neurotrophic factor in lung innervation.

We have characterized the distribution of neural tissue and its primary target tissue, airway smooth muscle (ASM), in an in vitro mouse model of early lung development comprising left lung lobes at embryonic Day 12, cultured for 2 or 5 d. Neural tissue was detected with antibodies to protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.