Effect of a blocking layer on the decrease in the leakage current in organic bistable devices.

The electrical bistabilities and the memory stabilities of organic bistable devices (OBDs) based on multi-core-shell CdSe/CdS/ZnS nanoparticles embedded in a polystyrene (PS) layer fabricated by using a spin-coating method were investigated. The current density-voltage (J-V) curves for the Al/multi-core-shell CdSe/CdS/ZnS nanoparticles embedded in PS layer/WO3/indium-tin-oxide (ITO) devices showed current bistability with a maximum ON/OFF ratio of 1 x 10(3), which was much larger than that of a device without a WO3 layer. The leakage current of the OBDs was decreased by insertion of the WO3 layer between the PS layer containing nanoparticles and the ITO electrode, resulting in a decrease in the current deviation between the experimental and the simulated currents in the low-voltage region.

Isoflurane cracks the polycarbonate connector of extra-corporeal circuit -A case report-.

Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is widely used for cardiac surgery by virtue of its proven safety over the course of its use during the past half century. Even though perfusion is safer, incidents still occur. During the repair of a ventricular-septal defect in an 11-month-old infant, we experienced a critical incident related to the potential hazardous effect of volatile anesthetics on the polycarbonate connector of extra-corporeal circuit.

A comparison of the consumption of inhaled anesthetics according to fresh gas flow and anesthetic circuits.

Background: In the Korean National Health Insurance Corporation (KNHIC), payment for inhaled anesthetics are made according to the simulated dose and not the consumed dose. We compare the consumption of inhaled anesthetics according to fresh gas flow (FGF) and anesthetic circuits to compare the consumption of anesthetics and the guidelines for KNHIC payments.

Methods: 161 patients were randomized into six groups who received isoflurane using a closed circuit (group I-C), a semi-closed circuit with FGF 3 L/min (group I-3), or 4 L/min (group I-4), as for the sevoflurane group (group S-C, S-3, and S-4).

A pharmacophore derived phenytoin analogue with increased affinity for slow inactivated sodium channels exhibits a desired anticonvulsant profile.

Phenytoin (DPH) is a clinically useful sodium (Na) channel blocker with efficacy against partial and generalized seizures. We have developed a novel hydantoin compound (HA) using comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) and evaluated its effects on hNa(v)1.2 channels.

Reversal of neuropathic pain by alpha-hydroxyphenylamide: a novel sodium channel antagonist.

Sodium (Na) channel blockers are known to possess antihyperalgesic properties. We have designed and synthesized a novel Na channel antagonist, alpha-hydroxyphenylamide, and determined its ability to inhibit both TTX-sensitive (TTX-s) and TTX-resistant (TTX-r) Na currents from small dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. alpha-Hydroxyphenylamide tonically inhibited both TTX-s and TTX-r Na currents yielding an IC(50) of 8.

Distinct domains of the sodium channel beta3-subunit modulate channel-gating kinetics and subcellular location.

Electrical excitability in neurons depends on the expression and activity of voltage-gated sodium channels in the neuronal plasma membrane. The ion-conducting alpha-subunit of the channel is associated with auxiliary beta-subunits of which there are four known types. In the present study, we describe the first detailed structure/function analysis of the beta3-subunit.

Direct block of cloned hKv1.5 channel by cytochalasins, actin-disrupting agents.

The action of cytochalasins, actin-disrupting agents on human Kv1.5 channel (hKv1.5) stably expressed in Ltk(-) cells was investigated using the whole cell patch-clamp technique.

Modulation of Na(v)1.5 by beta1-- and beta3-subunit co-expression in mammalian cells.

Cardiac sodium channels (Na(v)1.5) comprise a pore-forming alpha-subunit and auxiliary beta-subunits that modulate channel function. In the heart, beta1 is expressed throughout the atria and ventricles, whilst beta3 is present only in the ventricles and Purkinje fibers.

5beta-reduced neuroactive steroids are novel voltage-dependent blockers of T-type Ca2+ channels in rat sensory neurons in vitro and potent peripheral analgesics in vivo.

T-type Ca(2+) channels are believed to play an important role in pain perception, and anesthetic steroids such as alphaxalone and allopregnanolone, which have a 5alpha-configuration at the steroid A, B ring fusion, are known to inhibit T-type Ca(2+) channels and cause analgesia in a thermal nociceptive model (Soc Neurosci Abstr 29:657.9, 2003). To define further the structure-activity relationships for steroid analgesia, we synthesized and examined a series of 5beta-reduced steroids for their ability to induce thermal antinociception in rats when injected locally into the peripheral receptive fields of the nociceptors and studied their effects on T-type Ca(2+) channel function in vitro.

Block of human NaV1.5 sodium channels by novel alpha-hydroxyphenylamide analogues of phenytoin.

Voltage-gated sodium (Na) channels are a critical component of electrically excitable cells. Phenytoin (diphenylhydantoin, DPH) is an established sodium channel blocker and is a useful anticonvulsant and class 1b antiarrhythmic, and has been effectively used in the treatment of neuropathic pain. In this study, we have synthesized novel alpha-hydroxyphenylamide analogues of diphenylhydantoin and examined their ability to inhibit human Na(V)1.

Design, synthesis and evaluation of novel hydroxyamides as orally available anticonvulsants.

Themisone, also known as Atrolactamide, was found, in the 1950s, to be a very potent anticonvulsant. It was hypothesized that the -CF(3) substitution would maintain the anticonvulsant activity. Anticonvulsant testing of our novel compounds by the National Institute of Health's Anticonvulsant Screening Project of the Antiepileptic Drug Discovery Program identified analogue 1, 3,3,3-trifluoro-2-hydroxy-2-phenyl-propionamide, to have potent anticonvulsant activity (MES ED(50) of 9.

Papaverine blocks hKv1.5 channel current and human atrial ultrarapid delayed rectifier K+ currents.

Papaverine, 1-[(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)methyl]-6,-7-dimethoxyisoquinoline, has been used as a vasodilator agent and a therapeutic agent for cerebral vasospasm, renal colic, and penile impotence. We examined the effects of papaverine on a rapidly activating delayed rectifier K(+) channel (hKv1.5) cloned from human heart and stably expressed in Ltk(-) cells as well as a corresponding K(+) current (the ultrarapid delayed rectifier, I(Kur)) in human atrial myocytes.