Distinct roles of synaptic and extrasynaptic GABAAreceptors in striatal inhibition dynamics.

Striatonigral and striatopallidal projecting medium spiny neurons (MSNs) express dopamine D1 (D1+) and D2 receptors (D2+), respectively. Both classes receive extensive GABAergic input via expression of synaptic, perisynaptic, and extrasynaptic GABAA receptors. The activation patterns of different presynaptic GABAergic neurons produce transient and sustained GABAA receptor-mediated conductance that fulfill distinct physiological roles.

Seasonal influenza vaccine policies, recommendations and use in the World Health Organization's Western Pacific Region.

Objective: Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent seasonal influenza and its severe outcomes. The objective of our study was to synthesize information on seasonal influenza vaccination policies, recommendations and practices in place in 2011 for all countries and areas in the Western Pacific Region of the World Health Organization (WHO).

Methods: Data were collected via a questionnaire on seasonal influenza vaccination policies, recommendations and practices in place in 2011.

An investigation of motivational variables in CrossFit facilities.

CrossFit is a growing fitness trend in the United States; however, little systematic research has addressed specific motivational principles within this unique exercise environment. The purpose of the study was to explore the influence of gender and membership time on perceptions of motivational climate and goals within the CrossFit environment. Specifically, people may set goals related to self-improvement (i.

When life-sustaining treatment is withdrawn and the patient doesn't die.

One of the most difficult decisions that doctors and parents must make is the decision to withdraw life-sustaining treatment. Doctors find it easier to withdraw treatments in situations where withdrawal will be rapidly fatal rather than in situations in which treatment withdrawal will lead to a prolonged dying process. Mechanical ventilation is usually such a treatment.

Dopamine D2 receptors regulate collateral inhibition between striatal medium spiny neurons.

The principle neurons of the striatum are GABAergic medium spiny neurons (MSNs), whose collateral synapses onto neighboring neurons play critical roles in striatal function. MSNs can be divided by dopamine receptor expression into D1-class and D2-class MSNs, and alterations in D2 MSNs are associated with various pathological states. Despite overwhelming evidence for D2 receptors (D2Rs) in maintaining proper striatal function, it remains unclear how MSN collaterals are specifically altered by D2R activation.

A review of the evidence to support influenza vaccine introduction in countries and areas of WHO's Western Pacific Region.

Background: Immunization against influenza is considered an essential public health intervention to control both seasonal epidemics and pandemic influenza. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are five key policy and three key programmatic issues that decision-makers should consider before introducing a vaccine. These are (a) public health priority, (b) disease burden, (c) efficacy, quality and safety of the vaccine, (d) other inventions, (e) economic and financial issues, (f) vaccine presentation, (g) supply availability and (h) programmatic strength.

Soluble ICAM-5, a product of activity dependent proteolysis, increases mEPSC frequency and dendritic expression of GluA1.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are zinc dependent endopeptidases that can be released from neurons in an activity dependent manner to play a role in varied forms of learning and memory. MMP inhibitors impair hippocampal long term potentiation (LTP), spatial memory, and behavioral correlates of drug addiction. Since MMPs are thought to influence LTP through a β1 integrin dependent mechanism, it has been suggested that these enzymes cleave specific substrates to generate integrin binding ligands.

Distinct roles for somatically and dendritically synthesized brain-derived neurotrophic factor in morphogenesis of dendritic spines.

Dendritic spines undergo the processes of formation, maturation, and pruning during development. Molecular mechanisms controlling spine maturation and pruning remain largely unknown. The gene for brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) produces two pools of mRNA, with either a short or long 3' untranslated region (3' UTR).

Sir2 is required for Clr4 to initiate centromeric heterochromatin assembly in fission yeast.

Heterochromatin assembly in fission yeast depends on the Clr4 histone methyltransferase, which targets H3K9. We show that the histone deacetylase Sir2 is required for Clr4 activity at telomeres, but acts redundantly with Clr3 histone deacetylase to maintain centromeric heterochromatin. However, Sir2 is critical for Clr4 function during de novo centromeric heterochromatin assembly.

Anaemia in the older surgical patient: a review of prevalence, causes, implications and management.

This review provides the clinician with a summary of the causes, implications and potential treatments for the management of anaemia in the older surgical patient. The prevalence of anaemia increases with age and is frequently identified in older surgical patients. Anaemia is associated with increased postoperative morbidity and mortality.

A mathematical model of the mechanical link between shortening of the cardiomyocytes and systolic deformation of the left ventricular myocardium.

Background: Left ventricular myocytes are arranged in a complex three-dimensional mesh. Since all myocytes contract approximately to the same degree, mechanisms must exist to enable force transfer from each of these onto the framework as a whole, despite the transmural differences in deformation strain. This process has hitherto not been clarified in detail.

Swarming: flexible roaming plans.

Movement over an agar surface via swarming motility is subject to formidable challenges not encountered during swimming. Bacteria display a great deal of flexibility in coping with these challenges, which include attracting water to the surface, overcoming frictional forces, and reducing surface tension. Bacteria that swarm on "hard" agar surfaces (robust swarmers) display a hyperflagellated and hyperelongated morphology.

More than motility: Salmonella flagella contribute to overriding friction and facilitating colony hydration during swarming.

We show in this study that Salmonella cells, which do not upregulate flagellar gene expression during swarming, also do not increase flagellar numbers per μm of cell length as determined by systematic counting of both flagellar filaments and hooks. Instead, doubling of the average length of a swarmer cell by suppression of cell division effectively doubles the number of flagella per cell. The highest agar concentration at which Salmonella cells swarmed increased from the normal 0.

Non-polarizing broadband multilayer reflectors in fish.

Dielectric multilayer reflectors that are non-polarizing are an important class of optical device and have numerous applications within optical fibres [1], dielectric waveguides [2] and LEDs [3]. Here we report analyses of a biological non-polarizing optical mechanism found in the broadband guanine-cytoplasm "silver" multilayer reflectors of three species of fish. Present in the fish stratum argenteum are two populations of birefringent guanine crystal, each with their optic axes either parallel to the long axis of the crystal or perpendicular to the plane of the crystal.

Global production capacity of seasonal influenza vaccine in 2011.

The effectiveness of vaccines to mitigate the impact of annual seasonal influenza epidemics and influenza pandemics has been well documented. However, the steady increase in global capacity to produce annual seasonal influenza vaccine has not been matched with increased demand, and thus actual vaccine production. Currently, without a significant increase in demand for seasonal influenza vaccine, global capacity will be far from able to meet even the essential needs for a monovalent vaccine in the event of a severe influenza pandemic.

The delirium experience: what is the effect on patients, relatives and staff and what can be done to modify this?

Background: Delirium is a common clinical syndrome with significant associated mortality, morbidity and financial cost. Less is understood about the experience of delirium for the patient, their family and staff involved in their care.

Objective: This synthesis draws on qualitative and quantitative literature examining different populations (patients, relatives and staff) in different clinical settings (intensive care units, surgery and hospice care) to provide a clinical summary of the delirium experience from the perspective of patients, relatives and staff.

Direct and GABA-mediated indirect effects of nicotinic ACh receptor agonists on striatal neurones.

Choline acetyltransferase-expressing interneurones (ChAT)(+) of the striatum influence the activity of medium spiny projecting neurones (MSNs) and striatal output via a disynaptic mechanism that involves GABAergic neurotransmission. Using transgenic mice that allow visual identification of MSNs and distinct populations of GABAergic interneurones expressing neuropeptide Y (NPY)(+), parvalbumin (PV)(+) and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)(+), we further elucidate this mechanism by studying nicotinic ACh receptor (nAChR)-mediated responses. First, we determined whether striatal neurones exhibit pharmacologically induced nicotinic responses by performing patch-clamp recordings.

Targeting Notch, a key pathway for ovarian cancer stem cells, sensitizes tumors to platinum therapy.

Chemoresistance to platinum therapy is a major obstacle that needs to be overcome in the treatment of ovarian cancer patients. The high rates and patterns of therapeutic failure seen in patients are consistent with a steady accumulation of drug-resistant cancer stem cells (CSCs). This study demonstrates that the Notch signaling pathway and Notch3 in particular are critical for the regulation of CSCs and tumor resistance to platinum.

Barriers to neonatal care in developing countries: parents' and providers' perceptions.

Aim: Hospital care and advanced medical technologies for sick neonates are increasingly available, but not always readily accessible, in many countries. We characterised parents' and providers' perceptions of barriers to neonatal care in developing countries.

Methods: We interviewed parents whose infant was hospitalised within the first month of life in Cambodia, Malaysia, Laos and Vietnam, asking about perceived barriers to obtaining newborn care.