The association of lumbar disc disease with vitamin-D receptor gene polymorphism.

Background: Although the etiology of lumbar disc disease is unknown, it has been suggested that a genetic factor contributes to its development. Recently, some genetic polymorphisms have been found to be related to clinical disorders. We investigated the association between vitamin-D receptor gene and estrogen receptor gene polymorphisms and lumbar disc disease in young adults.

Postsynaptic nicotinic ACh receptor-operated Ca2+ transients with neostigmine in phrenic nerve-diaphragm muscles of mice.

The second phase of Ca2+ transients (aequorin luminescence) which was not accompanied by twitch tensions were generated by 0.3 microM neostigmine in indirectly-stimulated diaphragm muscles of mice. This phase was dependent on external [Ca2+]o, was inhibited by a low concentration of (+)-tubocurarine (+)-TC; 0.