Pretreatment with varenicline, a partial agonist selective for beta 2* nAChRs, blocked the sensitizing effect of nicotine on AMPH-stimulated locomotor behavior. Nicotine pretreatment sensitized AMPH-induced DA overflow in
slices from ventral (nucleus accumbens, NAc), but not dorsal striatum as compared to saline-pretreated rats. Nicotine sensitization of the DA overflow was blocked by DH beta E. Pretreatment with the glutamate N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist (+)-MK-801 (0.1 mg/kg, s.c.) 30 min before nicotine blocked sensitization of both locomotion and DA overflow in response to AMPH challenge. These results demonstrate Apoptosis inhibitor that activation of the beta 2* nAChRs and NMDA receptors are required for the rapid sensitizing effect of nicotine on AMPH actions.
This article is part of a Special Issue entitled
‘Trends in Neuropharmacology: In Memory of Erminio Costa’. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Objective: This study aimed to elucidate dynamic effects of the Nuss procedure on the spine in the treatment of patients with pectus excavatum with asymmetric thoraces.
Methods: Twenty-five patients with pectus Z-DEVD-FMK cost excavatum who underwent the Nuss procedure were categorized into 4 groups by preoperative morphology of the spine and thoracic asymmetry. In group 1 (n = 8), the right side of the thorax was concave and the spine bowed to the right. In group 2 (n = 4), the right side of the thorax was concave and the spine bowed to the left. In group 3 (n = 5), the left side of the thorax was concave and the spine bowed to the right.
In group 4 (n = 8), the left side of the thorax was concave and the spine bowed to the left. With computed tomographic Cisplatin data, finite-element models were produced to simulate each patient’s thorax. Thereafter, dynamic response patterns of the spine to the Nuss procedure were examined. Validity of these biomechanical findings was verified by referring to clinical outcomes.
Results: In group 1 and group 4 models, deformed spines were straightened; in group 2 and group 3 models, spinal bowing increased. These biomechanical findings were compatible with clinical evaluations.
Conclusions: Performance of the Nuss procedure for asymmetric pectus excavatum exerts dynamic influence on the spine. Response patterns of the spine are predictable from morphologic relationships between the asymmetric patterns of the anterior thoracic wall and the spine. (J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2010;140:1294-9)”
“Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) functions as one of the major mediators of the mammalian stress response and appears to play a key role in the pathophysiology of mood and anxiety disorders. Small molecule CRF1 receptor antagonists may represent a novel form of pharmacotherapy for these disorders.