The role of rat medial frontal cortex in effort-based decision making.

We conducted a series of experiments to elucidate the role of rat medial frontal cortex (MFC) (including prelimbic, infralimbic, and cingulate cortices) in effort-based decision making. Rats were trained on a cost-benefit T-maze task in which they could either choose to climb a barrier to obtain a high reward in one arm (HR arm) or could obtain a small reward in the other with no barrier present (LR arm). Before surgery, all animals were selecting the HR arm on almost every trial.

Clinical evaluation of the efficacy of three nitrous oxide scavenging units during dental treatment.

There are environmental health concerns for dental health care providers chronically exposed to trace amounts of waste nitrous oxide (N2O). This study compared the effectiveness of three N2O scavenging systems, the Porter/Brown, the Accutron, and the Matrx, in actual time during use in a standardized mock dental treatment protocol that reflected clinical practice while minimizing the influence of confounding variables. At every occasion during the procedure, the Porter/Brown scavenger system left the operatory with significantly less N2O than any of the other scavengers tested.

Post-suspension hypotension is attenuated in Sprague-Dawley rats by prostacyclin synthase inhibition.

Cardiovascular deconditioning, sometimes manifested in astronauts during standing postflight, may be related to the impairment of autonomic function and/or excessive production of endothelium-dependent relaxing factors. In the present study, we examined the cardiovascular responses to 7-day 30 degrees tail-suspension and a subsequent 6-h post-suspension period in conscious male Sprague-Dawley rats to determine the role of prostacyclin in the observed post-suspension reduction in mean arterial pressure (MAP). The specific prostacyclin synthase inhibitor U-51605 (0.

A rationale for the clinical development of the thymidylate synthase inhibitor ZD9331 in ovarian and other solid tumours.

ZD9331 is an antifolate drug that potently and specifically inhibits thymidylate synthase (TS). In contrast with TS inhibitors such as raltitrexed, it cannot be polyglutamated, leading to antitumour activity independent of folylpolyglutamyl synthetase (FPGS) activity. The growth inhibition IC50 values for ZD9331 and raltitrexed were determined for a panel of 18 human tumour cell lines, that included six colon and six ovarian.

Correlates of received and expressed violence persistence following substance abuse treatment.

This study examined different types of violence (i.e. 'expressed' towards others and 'received' from others) across different relationship types (i.

Medical harm and the consequences of error for doctors.

Mistakes in medicine, particularly when patients have suffered harm as a result, are of ethical concern as breaching a fundamental injunction in medicine: "first do not harm". To minimise the chances of a recurrence, an effective response to harm must take into account both the concerns of patients who have been harmed and the concerns of doctors who may fear extreme outcomes if a mistake is admitted. There is an apparent conflict between a need to respond to errors non-punitively, on the one hand, and ethical and legal requirements for accountability and compensation for anyone harmed, on the other.

Dominant negative knockout of p53 abolishes ErbB2-dependent apoptosis and permits growth acceleration in human breast cancer cells.

We previously reported that the ErbB2 oncoprotein prolongs and amplifies growth factor signalling by impairing ligand-dependent downregulation of hetero-oligomerised epidermal growth factor receptors. Here we show that treatment of A431 cells with different epidermal growth factor receptor ligands can cause growth inhibition to an extent paralleling ErbB2 tyrosine phosphorylation. To determine whether such growth inhibition signifies an interaction between the cell cycle machinery and ErbB2-dependent alterations of cell signalling kinetics, we used MCF7 breast cancer cells (which express wild-type p53) to create transient and stable ErbB2 transfectants (MCF7-B2).

Advocacy and leadership when parental rights and child welfare collide: the role of the advanced practice nurse.

This article describes the experience of an advanced practice nurse in a challenging clinical situation. A mother with mental illness and mental retardation seeks to retain parental rights and care for her newborn with cystic fibrosis. The nurse provides leadership to the hospital team and serves as an advocate throughout legal proceedings.

Fat embolism and acute hypotension during vertebroplasty: an experimental study in sheep.

Study Design: An experimental study of cardiovascular complications that arise during vertebroplasty was conducted.

Objective: To investigate the sequential occurrence of fat embolism and hypotension during vertebroplasty.

Summary Of Background Data: Vertebroplasty, the augmentation of vertebrae with polymethylmethacrylate, is a technique for treating osteoporotic compression fractures and achieving prophylactic stabilization of osteoporotic vertebral bodies at risk of fracture.

Assessing the diversity of personal beliefs about addiction: development of the addiction belief inventory.

Previous work in the field of substance use/misuse has suggested that client beliefs about addiction are quite diverse, and may influence the effectiveness of various treatment approaches. This paper presents an Addiction Belief Inventory (ABI) that was developed and evaluated to assess personal beliefs about addiction and substance use problems. The ABI is a 40-item instrument developed using two clinical samples: an alcohol user treatment group (N = 134) and a dual diagnosis treatment group (N = 536).

1A-779 attenuates angiotensin-(1-7) depressor response in salt-induced hypertensive rats.

Chronic infusion of angiotensin-(1-7) [Ang-(1-7)] lowers blood pressure in salt-induced and spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) rats. In the present study, we have examined the acute effect of Ang-(1-7) in salt-induced hypertension using Dahl salt-sensitive rats placed on low (0.3%) or high (8.

The role of the clinical nurse specialist in creating a healthy work environment.

The clinical nurse specialist (CNS) contributes to a healthy work environment through partnerships with the nursing staff, nurse manager, physicians, and other colleagues across the health system. Examples of these partnerships are described in this article, highlighting how the work of the CNS influences the care that patients and families receive, shapes the practice environment, and fosters collegial and respectful relationships among caregivers. The CNS is a pivotal figure in creating an environment where nurses can provide the care that is needed and feel valued for their work.

Involvement of MAPK activation in bacterial endotoxin-inducible tissue factor upregulation in human monocytic THP-1 cells.

Background: Monocytic tissue factor (mTF) hypercoagulation leading to thrombotic complications is commonly observed following sepsis.

Objective: We herein study the intracellular mechanism of mTF upregulation in human model monocytic THP-1 cells in response to bacterial endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide, LPS; Escherichia coli O111:B04), determining if mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation is involved in the signaling.

Methods: We assessed mTF upregulation by its cell surface expression, protein synthesis, and functional activity based on flow cytometry, Western blotting analysis, and a single-stage clotting assay, respectively.

An ethics core curriculum for Australasian medical Schools.

Teaching ethics incorporates teaching of knowledge as well as skills and attitudes. Each of these requires different teaching and assessment methods. A core curriculum of ethics knowledge must address both the foundations of ethics and specific ethical topics.

Liquid chromatography electrospray-mass spectrometry of urinary aflatoxin biomarkers: characterization and application to dosimetry and chemoprevention in rats.

A liquid chromatography electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) method for the measurement of aflatoxin biomarkers in urine has been developed and validated. The two major aflatoxin-DNA adducts formed in rat tissues, aflatoxin N(7)-guanine and its imidazole ring opened derivative, 8,9-dihydro-8-(2,6-diamino-4-oxo-3,4-dihydropyrimid-5-yl formamido)-9-hydroxy-aflatoxin B(1), were detected and quantified in urine by the LC-ESI-MS/MS technique. Other metabolites derived from the conjugation and/or oxidation of aflatoxin B(1) measured in the urine of dosed rats included aflatoxin P(1), aflatoxin P(1)-glucuronide, aflatoxin Q(1), aflatoxin M(1), 8,9-dihydro-8,9-dihydroxy aflatoxin B(1), aflatoxin B(1)-mercapturic acid, the aflatoxin-cysteine glycine adduct derived from the aflatoxin-glutathione conjugate, aflatoxin M(1)P(1) and the aflatoxin B(1)-dialcohol.

Use of selective inhibitors and chromogenic substrates to differentiate bacteria based on toluene oxygenase activity.

In whole-cell studies, two alkynes, 1-pentyne and phenylacetylene, were selective, irreversible inhibitors of monooxygenase enzymes in catabolic pathways that permit growth of bacteria on toluene. 1-Pentyne selectively inhibited growth of Burkholderia cepacia G4 (toluene 2-monooxygenase [T2MO] pathway) and B. pickettii PKO1 (toluene 3-monooxygenase [T3MO] pathway) on toluene, but did not inhibit growth of bacteria expressing other pathways.

The use of evoked EMG in detecting misplaced thoracolumbar pedicle screws.

Study Design: Experimental study performed using an animal model.

Objectives: To determine if EMG responses generated by the electrical stimulation of thoracolumbar pedicle screws could be used to predict the screw position.

Summary Of Background Data: Evoked EMG has been used successfully to predict pedicle screw position in the lumbar spine.

Correlates of expressed and received violence across relationship types among men and women substance abusers.

This study examined expressed and received violence among men and women in substance abuse treatment. Rates of past-year partner violence (PV) did not differ by gender, although men reported markedly higher rates of nonpartner violence (NPV). Compared with PV, NPV was associated with more demographic and background factors (e.

Diversity in relapse prevention needs: gender and race comparisons among substance abuse treatment patients.

Attempts to address high relapse rates following substance abuse treatment have focused on identifying relapse prevention needs and development of subsequent relapse prevention programs. Few studies have examined whether women and African-Americans have unique relapse prevention needs. Research in this area could provide an initial basis for the development of alternative relapse prevention approaches that could be more appropriate for this pop ulation.

Cocaine and methamphetamine: differential addiction rates.

Clients admitted to treatment centers for stimulant addiction were categorized as either regular users of cocaine or of methamphetamine based on an algorithm involving 5 specific criteria. A subsample consisting of 90 regular users of cocaine and nonusers of methamphetamine, and 39 regular users of methamphetamine and nonusers of cocaine, was selected for comparison. Analyses showed that, when compared with cocaine users, the methamphetamine users exhibited a shorter period of time from 1st use to regular use (period of initial use) and from 1st use to treatment entry (period of pretreatment use).

c-Jun promotes neurite outgrowth and survival in PC12 cells.

We investigated the function of c-Jun in PC12 cells by transfecting them with a plasmid containing a c-Jun cDNA transcription cassette. Transfected cells expressed high levels of c-Jun mRNA and protein and demonstrated an increase in both AP-1 DNA binding and gene activation. The c-Jun over-expressing cells showed marked neurite outgrowth but no evidence of spontaneous cell death.