Role of infection in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease: implications for treatment.

While our understanding of the neuropathology of Alzheimer's disease continues to grow, its pathogenesis remains a subject of intense debate. Genetic mutations contribute to a minority of early-onset autosomal dominant cases, but most cases are of either late-onset familial or sporadic form. CNS infections, most notably herpes simplex virus type 1, Chlamydophila pneumoniae and several types of spirochetes, have been previously suggested as possible aetiological agents in the development of sporadic Alzheimer's disease but with little consistent evidence.

Parents' perspectives of health-care delivery to their chronically ill children during school.

This study sought to identify parents' perspectives about issues relating to the provision of health care to their chronically ill children while they are at school. A survey of parents with school-aged children attending the paediatric subspecialty outpatients clinic in a large teaching hospital was designed to collect both qualitative and quantitative data about this topic. Findings included that 48% (n =161) of parents participating in the study said their child required some form of care or attention while at school.

Cholinergic antagonism of beta-adrenergic stimulated action potentials and adenylate cyclase activity in rabbit ventricular cardiomyocytes.

The cholinergic antagonism of beta-adrenergic stimulation was examined by measuring adenylate cyclase activity and calcium-mediated action potentials in isolated ventricular cardiomyocytes of adult rabbits. The beta-adrenoceptor agonist isoproterenol and the direct adenylate cyclase activator forskolin increased adenylate cyclase activity in homogenates of the myocytes. The cholinergic agonist carbachol (10 nM-100 microM) inhibited in a concentration dependent manner basal, isoproterenol-stimulated and forskolin-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity.

Pharmacological and biochemical characterization of the D-1 dopamine receptor mediating acetylcholine release in rabbit retina.

Superfusion with dopamine (0.1 microM-10 mM) evokes calcium-dependent [3H]acetylcholine release from rabbit retina labeled in vitro with [3H]choline. This effect is antagonized by the D-1 dopamine receptor antagonist SCH 23390.