Attitudes Toward Osteopathic Recognition Under the Single GME Accreditation System: A Survey of Deans at Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine and Chairs of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine Departments.

Objective: To assess the attitudes of academic deans at colleges of osteopathic medicine (COMs) and chairs of COMs' osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) departments toward osteopathic recognition under the single graduate medical education (GME) accreditation system.

Methods: An 11-item Likert-type survey with additional demographic questions was distributed via email to deans and OMM department chairs at 51 COMs and additional locations in September 2017. Items were formulated to assess survey participants' understanding and beliefs regarding the value and support of the establishment of osteopathic recognition within the single GME accreditation system.

Nonmedical use of stimulants among medical students.

Context: Proliferation of the use of psychopharmacologic drugs for the treatment of individuals with attention and behavior disorders has promoted discussion of the illicit use of such drugs to enhance academic performance. Previous research has focused on the use of such drugs by undergraduate students; however, inquiry into the nonmedical use of prescription stimulants by medical students is warranted because of the unique qualities of the medical school environment (including academic pressure, stress, and competition with peers) and the demographic characteristics common to many medical students.

Objective: To examine the nonmedical use of prescription stimulants among osteopathic medical students, focusing on such key associated variables as academic stress, social network connections, and use of other substances.

Establishing the content validity of palpatory examination for the assessment of the lumbar spine using ultrasonography: a pilot study.

Context: Practitioners of manipulative medicine have long sought to prove the intra- and interexaminer reliability of palpatory examinations in assessing somatic dysfunction. However, decades of research have yet to achieve the level of reproducibility needed to satisfy evidence-based criteria.

Objectives: To examine the content validity of segmental motion evaluations using ultrasonographic measurements and to investigate the implication of these results for understanding the effects of an osteopathic manipulative treatment technique--high-velocity, low-amplitude (HVLA)--applied to somatic dysfunction in the lumbar spine.

Teaching of anterior cruciate ligament function in osteopathic medical education.

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) of the knee and the function of its anteromedial (AM) and posterolateral (PL) bundles are a focus of orthopedic research. Because of the probability that third-year and fourth-year osteopathic medical students will encounter ACL injuries during clinical rotations, it is of paramount importance that students fully understand the functions of the AM and PL bundles as 2 distinct functional components of the ACL. The authors assess the degree to which the AM and PL bundles are discussed within basic science curricula at colleges of osteopathic medicine (COMs).

Cross-regulation between colocalized nicotinic acetylcholine and 5-HT3 serotonin receptors on presynaptic nerve terminals.

Aim: Substantial colocalization of functionally independent alpha4 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and 5-HT(3) serotonin receptors on presynaptic terminals has been observed in brain. The present study was aimed at addressing whether nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and 5-HT(3) serotonin receptors interact on the same presynaptic terminal, suggesting a convergence of cholinergic and serotonergic regulation.

Methods: Ca(2+) responses in individual, isolated nerve endings purified from rat striatum were measured using confocal imaging.

Defining pre-synaptic nicotinic receptors regulated by beta amyloid in mouse cortex and hippocampus with receptor null mutants.

Disruption of neuronal signaling by soluble beta-amyloid has been implicated in deficits in short-term recall in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease. One potential target for beta-amyloid is the synapse, with evidence for differential interaction with both pre- and post-synaptic elements. Our previous work revealed an agonist-like action of soluble beta-amyloid (pM to nM) on isolated pre-synaptic terminals to increase [Ca(2+)]i, with apparent involvement of pre-synaptic nicotinic receptors.

Chronic nicotine alters nicotinic receptor-induced presynaptic Ca2+ responses in isolated nerve terminals.

Brain nicotinic receptors display pronounced permeability for Ca2+ and localize to presynaptic nerve terminals, in addition to postsynaptic sites. Chronic exposure to nicotine has been shown to alter brain nicotinic receptor expression, but the functional consequences for presynaptic Ca2+ have not been directly examined. Here, we used confocal imaging to assess Ca2+ responses in individual nerve terminals from cortices of mice treated up to 14 days with nicotine as compared to vehicle-treated controls.

Dopamine receptor regulation of Ca2+ levels in individual isolated nerve terminals from rat striatum: comparison of presynaptic D1-like and D2-like receptors.

We have directly observed the effects of activating presynaptic D1-like and D2-like dopamine receptors on Ca2+ levels in isolated nerve terminals (synaptosomes) from rat striatum. R-(+)-SKF81297, a selective D1-like receptor agonist, and (-)-quinpirole, a selective D2-like receptor agonist, induced increases in Ca2+ levels in different subsets of individual striatal synaptosomes. The SKF81297- and quinpirole-induced effects were blocked by R-(+)-SCH23390, a D1-like receptor antagonist, and (-)-sulpiride, a D2-like receptor antagonist, respectively.

Beta-amyloid regulation of presynaptic nicotinic receptors in rat hippocampus and neocortex.

Alteration by beta-amyloid (Abeta) of signaling via nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) has been implicated in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease. nAChRs function both post- and presynaptically in the nervous system; however, little is known about the functional consequence of the interaction of Abeta with these receptors, particularly those on presynaptic nerve terminals. In view of the strong correlation between loss of synaptic terminals and dementia, together with the reduction in nAChRs in Alzheimer's disease, the possibility exists that presynaptic nAChRs may be targets for Abeta.

Gabapentin inhibits presynaptic Ca(2+) influx and synaptic transmission in rat hippocampus and neocortex.

Gabapentin is a widely used drug with anticonvulsant, antinociceptive and anxiolytic properties. Although it has been previously shown that Gabapentin binds with high affinity to the alpha(2)delta subunit of voltage-operated Ca(2+) channels (VOCC), little is known about the functional consequences of this interaction. Here, we investigated the effect of Gabapentin on VOCCs and synaptic transmission in rat hippocampus and neocortex using whole-cell patch clamp and confocal imaging techniques.