Zolpidem reduces hippocampal neuronal activity in freely behaving mice: a large scale calcium imaging study with miniaturized fluorescence microscope.

Therapeutic drugs for cognitive and psychiatric disorders are often characterized by their molecular mechanism of action. Here we demonstrate a new approach to elucidate drug action on large-scale neuronal activity by tracking somatic calcium dynamics in hundreds of CA1 hippocampal neurons of pharmacologically manipulated behaving mice. We used an adeno-associated viral vector to express the calcium sensor GCaMP3 in CA1 pyramidal cells under control of the CaMKII promoter and a miniaturized microscope to observe cellular dynamics.

Long-term dynamics of CA1 hippocampal place codes.

Using Ca(2+) imaging in freely behaving mice that repeatedly explored a familiar environment, we tracked thousands of CA1 pyramidal cells' place fields over weeks. Place coding was dynamic, as each day the ensemble representation of this environment involved a unique subset of cells. However, cells in the ∼15-25% overlap between any two of these subsets retained the same place fields, which sufficed to preserve an accurate spatial representation across weeks.

Usability research study of a specially engineered sonic powered toothbrush with unique sensing and control technologies.

Objective: This paper summarizes the results of a longitudinal usability research study of a specially engineered sonic powered toothbrush with unique sensing and control technologies.

Methods: The usability test was conducted with fourteen (14) consumers from the St. Louis, MO, USA area who use manual toothbrushes.

Ergonomic audit of a specially engineered sonic powered toothbrush with unique sensing and control technologies, the Sonicare Flexcare, and the Oral-B Smart Series 5000.

Objective: The presence of ergonomic features can impact the marketplace success of a new product. Metaphase Design Group, Inc., in partnership with the Colgate-Palmolive Company, conducted an ergonomic audit on three electric toothbrushes: a specially engineered sonic powered toothbrush with unique sensing and control technologies, the Sonicare FlexCare, and the Oral-B Smart Series 5000.

Miniaturized integration of a fluorescence microscope.

The light microscope is traditionally an instrument of substantial size and expense. Its miniaturized integration would enable many new applications based on mass-producible, tiny microscopes. Key prospective usages include brain imaging in behaving animals for relating cellular dynamics to animal behavior.

In vivo brain imaging using a portable 2.9 g two-photon microscope based on a microelectromechanical systems scanning mirror.

We present a two-photon microscope that is approximately 2.9 g in mass and 2.0 x 1.

Advances in light microscopy for neuroscience.

Since the work of Golgi and Cajal, light microscopy has remained a key tool for neuroscientists to observe cellular properties. Ongoing advances have enabled new experimental capabilities using light to inspect the nervous system across multiple spatial scales, including ultrastructural scales finer than the optical diffraction limit. Other progress permits functional imaging at faster speeds, at greater depths in brain tissue, and over larger tissue volumes than previously possible.

High-speed, miniaturized fluorescence microscopy in freely moving mice.

A central goal in biomedicine is to explain organismic behavior in terms of causal cellular processes. However, concurrent observation of mammalian behavior and underlying cellular dynamics has been a longstanding challenge. We describe a miniaturized (1.

Physician perspectives of nurse care management located in primary care clinics.

Care management has been suggested as a method to improve management of chronic disease, but its success can depend on the involvement of primary care physicians, especially with referral to care management. Our objective was to identify and characterize physicians' perspectives of care management in order to gain insight into the rationale for referral to care management. The study took place in primary care clinics within an integrated delivery system.

Care management dosage.

Background: The care of patients with complex illnesses requires careful management, but systems of care management (CM) vary in their structure and effectiveness.

Objective: To create a framework identifying components of broad-based CM interventions and validate the framework, including using this framework to evaluate the contribution of varying components on outcomes of patients with chronic illness.

Design: We create the framework using retrospective information about CM activities and services over 12 months and categorize it using cluster and factor analysis.

Productivity enhancement for primary care providers using multicondition care management.

Objective: To assess the impact of a multicondition care management system on primary care physician efficiency and productivity.

Study Design: Retrospective controlled repeated-measures design comparing physician productivity with the proportion of patients in the care management system.

Methods: The setting was primary care clinics in Intermountain Healthcare, a large integrated delivery network.

Use and impact of a computer-generated patient summary worksheet for primary care.

Advanced clinical information systems have been proposed to improve patient care in terms of safety, effectiveness, and efficiency. In order to be effective, such systems require detailed patient-specific clinical information in a form easily reviewed by clinicians. We have developed a patient summary worksheet for use in outpatient clinics, which presents a structured overview of patient health information.

Use of health-related, quality-of-life metrics to predict mortality and hospitalizations in community-dwelling seniors.

Objectives: To investigate whether health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) scores in a primary care population can be used as a predictor of future hospital utilization and mortality.

Design: Prospective cohort study measuring Short Form 12 (SF-12) scores obtained using a mailed survey. SF-12 scores, age, and a comorbidity score were used to predict hospitalization and mortality rate using multivariable logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards during the ensuing 28-month period for elderly patients.

Implementing a multidisease chronic care model in primary care using people and technology.

Management of chronic disease is performed inadequately in the United States in spite of the availability of beneficial, effective therapies. Successful programs to manage patients with these diseases must overcome multiple challenges, including the recognized fragmentation and complexity of the healthcare system, misaligned incentives, a focus on acute problems, and a lack of team-based care. In many successful programs, care is provided in settings or episodes that focus on a single disease.

Impact of generalist care managers on patients with diabetes.

Objective: To determine how the addition of generalist care managers and collaborative information technology to an ambulatory team affects the care of patients with diabetes.

Study Setting: Multiple ambulatory clinics within Intermountain Health Care (IHC), a large integrated delivery network.

Study Design: A retrospective cohort study comparing diabetic patients treated by generalist care managers with matched controls was completed.