Can laypersons be trained to effectively deliver osteopathic manual therapy to patients with HIV?: a pilot study.

Context: Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) may provide added benefits to standard human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and AIDS treatments. However, lack of access to trained OMT providers is a potential barrier to the widespread use of OMT in the management of HIV and AIDS.

Objectives: To determine the best time to measure the short-term impact of a brief OMT protocol on white blood cell counts in individuals with HIV and AIDS.

Tonic activity of Galpha-gustducin regulates taste cell responsivity.

The taste-selective G protein, alpha-gustducin (alpha-gus) is homologous to alpha-transducin and activates phosphodiesterase (PDE) in vitro. alpha-Gus-knockout mice are compromized to bitter, sweet and umami taste stimuli, suggesting a central role in taste transduction. Here, we suggest a different role for Galpha-gus.

Tastants evoke cAMP signal in taste buds that is independent of calcium signaling.

We previously showed that rat taste buds express several adenylyl cyclases (ACs) of which only AC8 is known to be stimulated by Ca2+. Here we demonstrate by direct measurements of cAMP levels that AC activity in taste buds is stimulated by treatments that elevate intracellular Ca2+. Specifically, 5 microM thapsigargin or 3 microM A-23187 (calcium ionophore), both of which increase intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i), lead to a significant elevation of cAMP levels.

Adenylyl cyclase expression and modulation of cAMP in rat taste cells.

cAMP is a second messenger implicated in sensory transduction for taste. The identity of adenylyl cyclase (AC) in taste cells has not been explored. We have employed RT-PCR to identify the AC isoforms present in taste cells and found that AC 4, 6, and 8 are expressed as mRNAs in taste tissue.