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Background. Physical therapists frequently use joint mobilization therapy techniques to treat people with musculoskeletal dysfunction and pain. Several studies suggest that endogenous adenosine may act in an analgesic fashion in various pain states. Objective. The purpose of this study was to investigate the contribution of the adenosinergic system on the antihyperalgesic effect of ankle joint mobilization (AJM). Design. This was a experimental study. Methods. To test the hypothesis that the adrenosinergic system is involved in the antihyperalgesic effect of AJM, mice (25-35 g) submitted to plantar incision surgery were used as a model of acute postoperative pain. The mice were subjected to AJM for 9 minutes. Withdrawal frequency to mechanical stimuli was assessed 24 hours after plantar incision surgery and 30 minutes after AJM, adenosine, clonidine, or morphine treatments. The adenosinergic system was assessed by systemic (intraperitoneal), central (intrathecal), and peripheral (intraplantar) administration of caffeine. The participation of the A1 receptor was investigated using a selective adenosine A1 receptor subtype antagonist. In addition, previous data on the involvement of the serotonergic and noradrenergic systems in the antihyperalgesic effect of AJM were confirmed. Results. Ankle joint mobilization decreased mechanical hyperalgesia, and this effect was reversed by pretreatment of the animals with caffeine given by intraperitoneal, intraplantar, and intrathecal routes. In addition, intraplanar and intrathecal administrations of 1,3-dipropyl-8-cyclopentylxanthine (DPCPX, a selective adenosine A1 subtype receptor antagonist) or systemic administration of yohimbine or _-chlorophenylalanine methyl ester hydrochloride (PCPA) blocked the antihyperalgesia induced by AJM. Limitations. The results are limited to animal models and cannot be generalized to acute pain in humans. Conclusions. This study demonstrated the involvement of the adenosinergic system in the antihyperalgesic effect of AJM in a rodent model of pain and provides a possible mechanism basis for AJM-induced relief of acute pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents information on the Australian weed Polygala myrtifolia L. Its name came from the Greek word Polygala derived from polys meaning much and gala meaning milk. The family of Polygalaceae is divided into four tribes, including Xanthophylleae and Moutabeae. It is a popular garden ornamental in South Africa. Information is also presented on its distribution, naturalization and weed threats.

The invasive shrub Leycesteria formosa Wall. is problematic in natural ecosystems in south-east Australia. In 2009, a population at Bruarong in north-east Victoria was found to be in decline. A range of fungi were isolated from the foliage, stems and roots of L. formosa, but these were considered to be either endophytes, saprophytes or weak pathogens. There was no indication of bacterial infections and no viruses were detected. The mite Tetranychus urticae Koch. was found to damage foliage and reproductive structures and induce premature defoliation of plants in late summer and autumn. Tetranychus urticae may have a role in the biological suppression of L. formosa in natural ecosystems as an augmentative agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents information on the biology of the Australian weeds Sagittaria platyphylla (Engelmann) J.G. Smith and Sagittaria calycina Engelmann. Native to North America, Sagittaria platyphylla (Engelmann) J.G. Smith is a perennial, glabrous herb with phyllodial and petiolate leaves and carpellate flowers. Sagittaria calycina Engelmann occurs in permanent freshwater in the Murrumbidgee and Coleambally irrigation areas of New South Wales.

Lay persons ('care guides') without previous clinical experience were hired by a primary care clinic, trained for 2 weeks, and assigned to help 332 patients and their providers manage their diabetes, hypertension, and congestive heart failure. One year later, failure by these patients to meet nationally recommended guidelines was reduced by 28%, P < .001. Improvement was seen in tobacco usage, blood pressure control, pneumonia vaccination, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, annual eye examinations, aspirin use, and microalbuminuria testing. Care guides served an average of 111 patients at an annual per patient cost of $392. Further testing of this model is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Baccharis illinita DC (Compositae) is used in folk medicine to treat gastric disturbances. Preliminary studies with other extracts of B. Illinita showed gastric protection against ethanol-, indometacin- and stress-induced ulcers and the inhibition of gastric secretion. Based on these data, the aim of this study was to verify the pathways involved in the inhibition of gastric secretion. The chloroform extract (CE) of flowers from B. illinita (3, 10, 30 and 100 mg kg–1 i.p.) tested on rats with pylorus ligature reduced the volume and the total acidity of gastric content by approximately 50% (ED50 = 69 mg kg–1). Treatment with CE (100 mg kg–1 i.p.) reduced the gastric total acidity stimulated by histamine, bethanechol and pentagastrin to 42%, 27% and 57% of that in the stimulated control group, respectively. The CE (10, 30 and 100 μM) inhibited H+/K+ ATPase activity in-vitro, with an IC50 of 37 μM. The isolated flavonoid luteolin (1, 3, 10 and 30 μM) also inhibited H+/K+ ATPase activity by 50%, at a dose of 30 μM. Our results suggest that the reduction in gastric secretion occurs through inhibition of H+/K+ ATPase, which is the final step in acid secretion and therefore one of the most important steps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The possible gastroprotective effects of the hydroalcoholic extract of Polygala paniculata in rats have been evaluated. We have investigated the effects of this hydroalcoholic extract on acute lesions induced by ethanol (70%, p.o.) and indometacin (20 mg kg–1, s.c.). Its influence on mucus secretion was investigated, measured as the amount of Alcian blue dye estimated by colorimetry, and antisecretory effects were assessed in the pylorus ligature model. The treatment of rats with a crude hydroalcoholic extract of P. paniculata (HEPP; 30, 100, 300 mg kg–1, p.o., or 3, 10 and 30 mg kg–1, i.p.) decreased the ulcer index, and maintained the gastric mucus production in acute gastric lesions caused by ethanol 70%. In addition, the extract partially protected the mucosa against indometacin-induced lesions. The extract did not change the volume and acidity of gastric secretion in the pylorus-ligated rat. An additional antioxidant activity of the extract and its isolated flavonoid compound rutin, in the DPPH free radical scavenging assay, was observed. In conclusion, HEPP exhibited marked gastroprotection; these effects may have involved prostaglandins and be related to cytoprotective factors, such as antioxidant activity and maintenance of mucus production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stems of Kielmeyera coriacea Mart. (Clusiaceae) (syn. "pau-santo") are a therapeutic herbal in Brazilian folk medicine. This study investigates the effects of a hydroethanoli extract (HE) from Kielmeyera coriacea stems on the central nervous system (CNS) of rats. Chronic administration by gavage of the extract (60.0 mg/kg) revealed decreased immobility time in the forced swimming test (FST). This effect of the extract was compared with chronic treatment by gavage of fluoxetine (10.0 mg/kg) and nortriptyline (15.0 mg/kg). The anti-immobility effect of the HE from Kielmeyera coriacea in the FST was also investiged in association with the intra-dorsal raphe nucleus microinjection of 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin; 5-HT) or R(+)-8-hydroxyl-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin (8-OHDPAT), a 5-HT1A specific agonist receptor. The ligands, 5-HT (5.0 nmol) and 8-OHDPAT (0.6 and 1.0 nmol), significantly increased immobility time per se and blocked the anti-immobility effect of the extract. Biochemical investigations employing an in vitro synaptosomal assay showed uptake inhibition by the extract of [3H]5-HT, [3H]noradrenaline (NA), and [3H]dopamine (DA) in the rat brain. These results suggest that serotonergic neurotransmission is involved in the antidepressant-like activity of the extract, as shown by the interaction with microinjected 5-HT and 8-OHDPAT, and that 5-HT, NA, and DA uptake inhibition may contribute to this effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study examined laparoscopic skill acquisition on a simulator for different sequences of open and closed loop tasks. Sixteen medical students were divided into four groups distinguished by their initial training task and subsequent transfer task. Group 1 practiced instrument navigation, an open loop task, and then transferred to grasping, a closed loop task. Group 2 practiced grasping, and then transferred to the instrument navigation task. Group 3 practiced instrument navigation and then transferred to a complex cutting task that involved both open and closed loop components. Group 4 practiced grasping and then transferred to the cutting task. The results showed distinct task sequencing effects in favor of initial practice on a closed loop task. Specifically, task completion times declined significantly when participants practiced the closed loop task followed by the open loop task. The benefits of initial practice on a closed loop task, however, were limited primarily to accuracy measures when participants transferred to the complex cutting task. The findings indicate that task order is important and that training on one task can either facilitate or impede skill acquisition on a subsequent task and that these differences reflect fundamental psychomotor characteristics of the tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analyzes the possible antidepressant-like effects of the Brazilian medicinal plant, Trichilia catigua, in rodents. Evidence for dopaminergic-mediated mechanisms; Potential efficiency in the treatment of depressive disorders; Procedure for T. catigua hydroalcoholic extract preparation.

Explains the role of mentoring in professional career development. Historical origin of mentor and mentoring; Qualities of a mentor; Methods and strategies used by a mentor; Factors to consider in the mentoring process.

Background:Although other blood dyscrasias are known to cause sudden sensorineural hearing loss, macrocytosis has not previously been implicated in the absence of another causative agent.Case report:We present a case of bilateral sequential sudden sensorineural hearing loss in a patient with significant macrocytosis (mean corpuscular volume at presentation 124 fl) secondary to alcohol-induced liver dysfunction.Conclusion:A possible pathophysiological mechanism linking macrocytosis and sudden sensorineural hearing loss was identified, suggesting areas for further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article presents a study of medical case notes of patients who underwent endoscopic nasal surgery (ENS) over a period of 12 months for nasal polyposis and biopsy data from endoscopic sinus surgeries (ESS). Article captures that study to find a correlation between polyps and malignancy, balancing need of further histopathological and other analysis with morbidity and cost effectiveness, makes observations, and recommends stratification of patients to reduce unnecessary investigation load.

Objective: To identify barriers to health care access perceived by a group of refugees from Somalia and by the doctors and nurses providing care for them. Methods: A survey of patients seen during a 7-month period at a primary care clinic in Minneapolis, and estimates by clinic staff of patient responses to the survey. Results: Patients reported fewer problems with transportation, payment, language, and being examined than their caregivers expected. Conclusion: Asking the opinion of their caregivers may not provide accurate information about problems experienced by refugees. Interviewing patients directly is more useful, although not without problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the development and validation of an occlusal site-specific plaque index to measure plaque removal by brushing or chewing gum. Assessment on inter-examiner reproducibility and intra-examiner repeatability; Evaluation of occlusal plaque before and after brushing; Determination of mechanical and chemical plaque control agents.

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Simultaneous measurements of ocean-bottom infrasonic and ocean-bottom and sub-bottom seismic noise in the frequency band 0.1-20 Hz are presented. The data were obtained in 5.5 km deep water in the South Central Pacific with a triaxial borehole seismograph and six triaxial ocean-bottom seismographs having externally mounted hydrophones. The borehole sensors were emplaced 54 m within basement rock overlain by 70 m of pelagic clay. In the band 0.1-1Hz, noise propagation as seismic modes trapped in the seafloor is supported by observed spectral coherences, cross phases, and ratios between ocean-bottom pressure and vertical ground motion, and by the relatively lower noise levels in the borehole. Noise variations in this band are clearly correlated with changes in local wind direction and speed, presumably through ocean-bottom pressure fluctuations caused by nonlinear wind wave-wind wave and wind wave-swell interaction.