Excitatory synaptic potentials in spastic human motoneurons have a short rise-time.

This study assessed whether changes in size or time-course of excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) in motoneurons innervating spastic muscle could induce a greater synaptic response, and thereby contribute to reflex hyperexcitability. We compared motor unit (MU) firing patterns elicited by tendon taps applied to both spastic and contralateral (nonspastic) biceps brachii muscle in hemiparetic stroke subjects. Based on recordings of 115 MUs, significantly shortened EPSP rise times were present on the spastic side, but with no significant differences in estimated EPSP amplitude.

Active dendritic integration of inhibitory synaptic inputs in vivo.

Synaptic integration in vivo often involves activation of many afferent inputs whose firing patterns modulate over time. In spinal motoneurons, sustained excitatory inputs undergo enormous enhancement due to persistent inward currents (PICs) that are generated primarily in the dendrites and are dependent on monoaminergic neuromodulatory input from the brain stem to the spinal cord. We measured the interaction between dendritic PICs and inhibition generated by tonic electrical stimulation of nerves to antagonist muscles during voltage clamp in motoneurons in the lumbar spinal cord of the cat.

Dexamethasone decreases blood flow in normal nerves and dorsal root ganglia.

Study Design: An experimental physiologic and histologic study of dexamethasone effects on peripheral nerves.

Objective: To characterize the effect of topically applied 0.4% dexamethasone on acute changes in nerve blood flow and subsequent histologic changes in rat sciatic nerve fibers.

Defining characteristics of financially successful orthodontists.

Financially successful personality profiles in most of the business world have been reported to be the choleric (powerful) and the melancholy (perfect) types. In 1996, Hughes proposed that the same relationship possibly exists in the profession of orthodontics. The purpose of this study was to explore whether a dominant personality profile exists for the most financially successful orthodontists.