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Previous studies have indicated that membrane structure and function may be abnormal in cluster headache. This has been further investigated by analysis of membrane phosphatidylcholine, total phospholipids, and cholesterol in erythrocytes and by assay of receptor-mediated transduction. The stimulation of lymphocyte adenylate cyclase with isoprenaline and prostacyclin was used as the test system. A significant increase in the ratio of membrane phosphatidylcholine to cholesterol without change in cholesterol was found in cluster headache patients as compared with control subjects. This indicated a reduced turnover of phosphatidylcholine, since erythrocyte choline is significantly reduced in this condition. Abnormal membrane function was also indicated from the significant depression of high-affinity prostaglandin receptor stimulation of lymphocyte adenylate cyclase and the similar trend in the β-adrenoceptor response. Since no change in agonist affinity and β-adrenoceptor density occurred, this depression indicates a generalized defect in coupling of receptors to adenylate cyclase. It is hypothesized that the impaired function that would result might contribute to the aetiology of cluster headache.

A collection of folklore and local history stories from Grange (school) (Grange, Co. Sligo), collected as part of the Schools' Folklore Scheme, 1937-1938 under the supervision of teacher Tomás de Búrca., Tom the Amadán / Healy, Anne -- Paddy and the Haunted House / Gowan, Kathleen Mc -- Riddles -- Feidhlim with the Fairies / Gilmartin, Aggie -- Weather-Lore / Gowan, Kathleen Mc / Rooney, Mollie -- Fight between a Catholic and a Protestant / Feeney, Mary -- Shipwreck at Streedagh Bay, Co. Sligo / Gowan, Kathleen Mc -- Fishing Disaster at Procklis, Co. Donegal / Gowan, Kathleen Mc -- Old Crafts - Forge Work / Gilroy, Patricia -- Old Crafts - Thatching / Gowan, Michael Mc -- Local Place Names / Gowan, Michael Mc -- Father Rynn / Gilroy, Patricia -- Hidden Gold / Gowan, Michael Mc -- Dream of Gold / Gilroy, Patricia -- Cure for Cancer and How it Was Got / Gowan, Kathleen Mc -- Story - The Skin and the Price of it / Kilfeather, Kathleen -- Homemade Toys / Gowan, Mr Michael Mc -- Local Cures -- Local Cures / Rooney, Mollie -- Local Cures / Rooney, Mollie / Feeney, Mary -- Local Lore of Certain Days / Leydon, John / Gowan, Michael Mc -- Travelling Folk / Gowan, Michael Mc -- Clocha Breaca / Gowan, Kathleen Mc -- Fairy Forts / Rooney, Mollie -- Fairy Forts / Kilfeather, Kathleen -- Fairy Forts / Gilroy, Patricia -- Fairy Forts / Gowan, Kathleen Mc -- Games I Play / Gowan, Kathleen Mc -- Our Holy Wells / Gowan, Kathleen Mc -- Herbs / Gowan, Kathleen Mc -- Potato Crop / Gowan, Kathleen Mc -- Festival Customs / Feeney, Mary -- Care of Farm Animals / Gowan, Michael Mc -- Churning / Gowan, Michael Mc -- Care of the Feet / Gowan, Michael Mc -- Local Forge / Feeney, Mary -- Clothes Made Locally / Feeney, Mary -- St Molaise / Gown, Michael Mc -- Local Landlord / Gown, Michael Mc -- Local Landlord / Kilfeather, Kathleen -- Food in Olden Times / Kilfeather, Kathleen -- Story of Fionn Mac Cool / Govern, Joe Mac -- Paddy's Halloween / Govern, Joe Mc -- Bread in Olden Times / Govern, Joe Mac -- Extravagant Wife / Gilmartin, Patricia -- Protestant Fall / Finnegan, Mary -- Old Woman and Her Cow / Gilmartin, Aggie -- Dealings and Adventures of an Old Man / Leydon, John -- Inver Bay (South Donegal) / Cunningham, John -- Old Houses / Feeney, Mary -- Disused Burial Places / Feeney, Patrick -- Maugherow Graveyard / Kilfeather, Eileen -- The Three Advices / Kilfeaher, Kathleen -- Traditional Prayers / Gilmartin, Aggie -- St Patrick and the Snakes / Kilfeather, Kathleen -- Lucky Days / Gilmartin, Aggie, Supported by funding from the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Ireland), University College Dublin, and the National Folklore Foundation (Fondúireacht Bhéaloideas Éireann), 2014-2016.

Summary Beta-adrenoceptor blocking drugs are of prophylactic value in some patients with migraine. Beta-adrenoceptor responsiveness as measured by lymphocyte cAMP responsiveness to isoprenaline has, therefore, been compared in ten untreated classical migraine patients and ten matched non-migraine control subjects. Lymphocyte responsiveness to epoprostenol (prostacyclin, PGI2) was also compared. No difference in response to either agent was found between the two groups. A generalized abnormality of beta-adrenoceptor function does not appear to be present in classical migraine, but a defect localized to specific vascular regions cannot be excluded.

The potencies of caffeine, theophylline, lysine-theophylline and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX) in stimulating sperm motility have been compared, and we have found IBMX to be significantly more potent than the other three compounds, which did not exhibit significant differences in potency from each other.

Recent pharmacological studies on patients with essential tremor (ET) and physiological tremor have largely centred on the tremolytic action of the beta-adrenoceptor antagonists (β-blockers) and the tremor-enhancing action of the betaagonists (β-agonists). These studies have indicated possible ‘tremogenic’ areas vulnerable to β-blockade and involvement of peripheral beta-adrenoceptors (β-adrenoceptors) in the production of augmented physiological tremor (APT) (Bowman, 1980). β-Blockers have become the drugs of choice in the management of ET (Wilson et al., this volume, chapter 17) and the tremor associated with other clinical conditions, such as hyperthyroidism (Turner, 1974). The mode of action of β-blockers in treatment of ET has not been established, but loci of activity in the central nervous system (CNS), in the periphery and at both β 1-and β 2-adrenoceptor subtypes could be involved.

1. Ageing and hypertension are associated with changes in the way in which the body handles sodium. This may involve changes in plasma atrial natriuretic peptide concentration, since atrial natriuretic peptide is a regulator of sodium handling by the kidney and the plasma atrial natriuretic peptide concentration is increased in both ageing and hypertension. An increase in the plasma atrial natriuretic peptide concentration could also be associated with a change in atrial natriuretic peptide receptor density, possibly involving down-regulation. 2. To investigate these possibilities plasma atrial natriuretic peptide concentration and platelet atrial natriuretic peptide binding site density were measured in 18 young, 11 middle-aged and 12 elderly healthy subjects and in 23 patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension. 3. In normotensive subjects, the plasma atrial natriuretic peptide concentration increased with age (r = 0.49, P < 0.01) and was significantly higher in elderly than young subjects (mean ± sem, 31.9 ± 4.5 versus 18.3 ± 2.0 pmol/l, P < 0.05). The plasma atrial natriuretic peptide concentration increased with the mean arterial pressure in normotensive subjects (r = 0.47, P < 0.01). Multiple regression analysis did not show independent relationships between the plasma atrial natriuretic peptide concentration and either age or mean arterial pressure in normotensive subjects alone. However, when normotensive subjects and hypertensive patients were considered together, multiple regression revealed both age and mean arterial pressure as independent predictors of the plasma atrial natriuretic peptide concentration (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, respectively). In normotensive subjects, the platelet atrial natriuretic peptide binding site density did not change with age (r = 0.19, P = 0.27). 4. The plasma atrial natriuretic peptide concentration was elevated in hypertensive patients (37.6 ± 2.5 versus 30.4 ± 3.1 pmol/l, P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the platelet atrial natriuretic peptide binding site density between hypertensive patients and normotensive subjects. 5. It is concluded that the plasma atrial natriuretic peptide concentration increases with age. The exact mechanism is uncertain, but it may play a role in the altered renal sodium handling seen with age. The elevation in the plasma atrial natriuretic peptide concentration with age is insufficient to induce a secondary reduction in atrial natriuretic peptide binding site density. Similarly, the elevation of the plasma atrial natriuretic peptide concentration in patients with mild to moderate hypertension does not lead to down-regulation of platelet atrial natriuretic peptide binding site density. It appears that increases in circulating atrial natriuretic peptide, greater than those observed in ageing and moderate hypertension, are required to induce down-regulation of platelet atrial natriuretic peptide binding site density.

Low cyclic-AMP levels within lymphocytes from five patients with systemic sclerosis showed a striking increase in response to isoprenaline after intravenous infusion of prostacyclin.

One o f the aims o f this research was to explore NoS conceptions amongst pre-service and novice teachers and to establish the extent to which their pupils developed more contemporary Nose conceptions, when taught about NoS through explicit means. The study also considered the effects of explicitly teaching NoS on beginning teachers' approaches to and perceptions o f teaching science and on their pupil's reflections o f school science. A mixture of qualitative and quantitative methodologies, which included questionnaires, group interviews and written reflections, was utilised to explore the research questions. There were four phases in the research. Phase one aimed at developing nineteen preservice primary teachers' NoS conceptions. The extent to which these nineteen preservice teachers planned and explicitly taught aspects o f NoS over the course of their final teaching practice was addressed in the second phase. The third phase compared the extent to which four beginning teachers planned for and explicitly addressed NoS in their initial teaching year. Two o f these teachers had taken the NoS elective course (test) the previous year and two had not (control). The third phase also explored the effect that explicitly teaching NoS had on these beginning teachers' approaches to and perceptions o f teaching science. The development o f N oS conceptions o f the pupils o f these four beginning teachers (9-11 years) was also explored in the third phase. The extent to which explicitly teaching NoS affected these primary children's reflections on school science was also established in this phase. A preliminary content analysis o f seven international curriculum documents and two international assessment tools was conducted in the fourth phase to ascertain the extent to which these docum ents explicitly assessed NoS. The findings o f this study corroborated international research in that it indicated that explicit methods of teaching about NoS resulted in the developm ent o f more elaborate conceptions of NoS amongst pre-service prim ary teachers. However, the findings also revealed that beginning primary teachers' contemporary NoS conceptions could be transferred to their pupils utilising explicit hands-on reflective approaches to teaching about NoS. The study also revealed new insights that are relevant to the teaching of primary science on a national and international basis. It was established that primary teachers who em ployed explicit approaches to teaching NoS as part of the Science Curriculum (DES, 1999a) utilised more hands-on, reflective constructivist approaches to teaching science and appeared to be more enthusiastic and confident about teaching science. In addition to developing more elaborate NoS conceptions amongst prim ary children, this study also revealed that explicit approaches to NoS resulted in an increased interest in and enjoyment o f school science amongst Irish primary school children. The primary children in this study w ho experienced explicit methods in NoS appeared to have been given more opportunities to employ and develop their science skills than their peers who did not experience explicit instruction in NoS. Other benefits of explicit approaches to teaching about NoS apparent in the findings were improved language developm ent and an increase in the children's ability to formulate and present argum ents for discussion. Opportunities afforded to children when explicitly addressing NoS issues appear to have facilitated them in the employment and development o f their reflective and thinking skills. The research indicates that the development of contemporary conceptions of science is an important aspect of primary science in that, amongst other benefits, it helps the learning o f scientific concepts and skills and helps humanise science for children, thus making it more interesting for them to learn. Pre-service and in-service courses that provide teachers with the opportunity to develop their conceptual and pedagogical knowledge o f NoS could facilitate Irish primary teachers in explicitly teaching about NoS as part of the Science Curriculum (DES, 1999a). There are concerns in Ireland regarding the decline in the num ber o f students taking science at secondary and tertiary level (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), 2002b). The report o f the Task Force on the Physical Sciences (2002) included a number of recommendations in relation to science at primary level, which included improving the quality o f science teaching, in-career developm ent for teachers and the establishment o f an integrated national science awareness programme. This study revealed that incorporating explicit approaches to NoS as part o f the Science Curriculum increased teachers' and pupils' interest in and enjoyment o f science. If the development o f NoS was included as a core aim in the Primary Science Curriculum, primary children could become more interested in science, which may in turn lead to an increase in the uptake o f science beyond the point o f choice.