Identifying the Brain Circuits that Regulate Pain-Induced Sleep Disturbances.

Unlabelled: Pain therapies that alleviate both pain and sleep disturbances may be the most effective for pain relief, as both chronic pain and sleep loss render the opioidergic system, targeted by opioids, less sensitive and effective for analgesia. Therefore, we first studied the link between sleep disturbances and the activation of nociceptors in two acute pain models. Activation of nociceptors in both acute inflammatory (AIP) and opto-pain models led to sleep loss, decreased sleep spindle density, and increased sleep fragmentation that lasted 3 to 6 hours.

Lateral parabrachial FoxP2 neurons regulate respiratory responses to hypercapnia.

About half of the neurons in the parabrachial nucleus (PB) that are activated by CO are located in the external lateral (el) subnucleus, express calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), and cause forebrain arousal. We report here, in male mice, that most of the remaining CO-responsive neurons in the adjacent central lateral (PBcl) and Kölliker-Fuse (KF) PB subnuclei express the transcription factor FoxP2 and many of these neurons project to respiratory sites in the medulla. PBcl neurons show increased intracellular calcium during wakefulness and REM sleep and in response to elevated CO during NREM sleep.

Lateral parabrachial FoxP2 neurons regulate respiratory responses to hypercapnia.

Although CGRP neurons in the external lateral parabrachial nucleus (PBel neurons) are critical for cortical arousal in response to hypercapnia, activating them has little effect on respiration. However, deletion of all Vglut2 expressing neurons in the PBel region suppresses both the respiratory and arousal response to high CO2. We identified a second population of non-CGRP neurons adjacent to the PBel group in the central lateral, lateral crescent and Kölliker-Fuse parabrachial subnuclei that are also activated by CO2 and project to the motor and premotor neurons that innvervate respiratory sites in the medulla and spinal cord.

Role of serotonergic dorsal raphe neurons in hypercapnia-induced arousals.

During obstructive sleep apnea, elevation of CO during apneas contributes to awakening and restoring airway patency. We previously found that glutamatergic neurons in the external lateral parabrachial nucleus (PBel) containing calcitonin gene related peptide (PBel neurons) are critical for causing arousal during hypercapnia. However, others found that genetic deletion of serotonin (5HT) neurons in the brainstem also prevented arousal from hypercapnia.

New opportunities for cutting with lasers.

Laser microcutting is a leading technology for the manufacture of surgical instruments and medical implants. This article assesses its capabilities for stents and surgical-needle manufacture and for other tube-cutting applications that require microscaled designs.

Nutrition, antioxidants, and risk factor profile of nonsmokers, passive smokers and smokers of the Prevention Education Program (PEP) in Nuremberg, Germany.

Background: An elevated risk for coronary artery disease and lung cancer was reported for smokers and nonsmokers exposed to environmental tobacco smoke. Particularly in nonsmokers, in addition to the adverse effects of tobacco smoke, other factors which are associated with the exposure to environmental tobacco smoke may contribute to the health risks. We investigated both by questionnaires and biochemical analyses whether smokers influence the dietary habits of nonsmokers living in the same household.