Connexin-32 and Connexin-43 Immunoreactivity in Rodent Taste Buds

Studies indicate that ATP is one of the primary neurotransmitters in taste transduction. ATP release occurs from taste cells via specific hemichannels such as pannexin/connexin hemichannels (Huang et al., 2007; Romanov et al., 2007). We hypothesize that Type II (receptor) and possibly Type III (presynaptic) cells release ATP at sites containing pannexin/connexin hemichannels. In this study, we examine the presence of connexin–32–LIR (Like Immunoreactivity) and connexin–43–LIR in rodent taste buds through immunocytochemical analysis and DAB (Di–amino–benzidine) immunoelectron microscopy. We observed that connexin–32–LIR co–localizes with P2X2–LIR in nerve fibers and in a small subset of NCAM–LIR cells. Connexin–32–LIR does not co–localize with α–gustducin–LIR or PLCβ2–LIR. We observed that connexin–43–LIR is present in a subset of PLCβ2–LIR cells and in a subset of α–gustducin–LIR cells. Connexin–43–LIR does not co–localize with NCAM–LIR cells or P2X2–LIR nerve fibers. These results are consistent with our results observed using DAB immunoelectron microscopy. Thus, our results indicate that both connexin–32 is expressed in Type III cells and nerve fibers and connexin–43 is expressed in Type II cells in rodent circumvallate taste buds

Pharmacist-led management of chronic pain in primary care:results from a randomised controlled exploratory trial

To compare the effectiveness of pharmacist medication review, with or without pharmacist prescribing, with standard care, for patients with chronic pain

Use of SWATH mass spectrometry for quantitative proteomic investigation of Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 biofilms grown on graphite cloth electrodes

Quantitative proteomics from low biomass, biofilm samples is not well documented. In this study we show successful use of SWATH-MS for quantitative proteomic analysis of a microbial electrochemically active biofilm. Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 was grown on carbon cloth electrodes under continuous anodic electrochemical polarizations in a bioelectrochemical system (BES). Using lactate as the electron donor, anodes serving as terminal microbial electron acceptors were operated at three different electrode potentials (+0.71 V, +0.21 V & -0.19V vs. SHE) and the development of catalytic activity was monitored by measuring the current traces over time. Once maximum current was reached (usually within 21-29 h) the electrochemical systems were shut off and biofilm proteins were extracted from the electrodes for proteomic assessment. SWATH-MS analysis identified 704 proteins, and quantitative comparison was made of those associated with tricarboxcylic acid (TCA) cycle. Metabolic differences detected between the biofilms suggested a branching of the S. oneidensis TCA cycle when grown at the different electrode potentials. In addition, the higher abundance of enzymes involved in the TCA cycle at higher potential indicates an increase in metabolic activity, which is expected given the assumed higher energy gains. This study demonstrates high numbers of identifications on BES biofilm samples can be achieved in comparison to what is currently reported. This is most likely due to the minimal preparation steps required for SWATH-MS. (C) 2014 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved

Prevalence and causes of prescribing errors: the prescribing outcomes for trainee doctors engaged in clinical training (PROTECT) study

Objectives Study objectives were to investigate the prevalence and causes of prescribing errors amongst foundation doctors (i.e. junior doctors in their first (F1) or second (F2) year of post-graduate training), describe their knowledge and experience of prescribing errors, and explore their self-efficacy (i.e. confidence) in prescribing. Method A three-part mixed-methods design was used, comprising: prospective observational study; semi-structured interviews and cross-sectional survey. All doctors prescribing in eight purposively selected hospitals in Scotland participated. All foundation doctors throughout Scotland participated in the survey. The number of prescribing errors per patient, doctor, ward and hospital, perceived causes of errors and a measure of doctors' self-efficacy were established. Results 4710 patient charts and 44,726 prescribed medicines were reviewed. There were 3364 errors, affecting 1700 (36.1%) charts (overall error rate: 7.5%; F1:7.4%; F2:8.6%; consultants:6.3%). Higher error rates were associated with : teaching hospitals (p&#60;0.001), surgical (p = &#60;0.001) or mixed wards (0.008) rather thanmedical ward, higher patient turnover wards (p&#60;0.001), a greater number of prescribed medicines (p&#60;0.001) and the months December and June (p&#60;0.001). One hundred errors were discussed in 40 interviews. Error causation was multi-factorial; work environment and team factors were particularly noted. Of 548 completed questionnaires (national response rate of 35.4%), 508 (92.7% of respondents) reported errors, most of which (328 (64.6%) did not reach the patient. Pressure from other staff, workload and interruptions were cited as the main causes of errors. Foundation year 2 doctors reported greater confidence than year 1 doctors in deciding the most appropriate medication regimen. Conclusions Prescribing errors are frequent and of complex causation. Foundation doctors made more errors than other doctors, but undertook the majority of prescribing, making them a key target for intervention. Contributing causes included work environment, team, task, individual and patient factors. Further work is needed to develop and assess interventions that address these.</p

Some Little Songs of Color

Happy Li’l Sal Dar’s a lettle colored gal An’dey calls her Happy Sal, Case she sings and laughs fum mornin’ until night; But no wonder she’s gay, She ain’t got no time to play, Fer she got work an’ scrub’ith all her might. Happy lil Sal, happy lil Sal, She’s the bestest, she’s the blackest lil colored gal; Happy lil Sal, happy lil Sal, Case she’s got to work an’ scrub’ith all her might. Yas, she gits up wif de sun An’ den her work’s begun,Fust, she got ter cook de breakfas’ fer her Pa; Den dar’s lettle Joe an’ Bess Dat she have to wash an’ dress, Den she’s got to wash de dishes fer her Ma. Happy lil Sal, happy lil Sal, She’s the bestest, she’s the blackest lil gal; Happy lil Sal, happy lil Sal, Case she’s got to wash de dishes fer her Ma. So it’s wash an’ iron an’ bake Some bread or pie an’ cake, An’ make de beds an’ put tings on de shelf. Does yo’ wonder dat she’s glad, An’ ain’t never feelin’ sad? She ain’t got no time to bother’bout herself. Happy lil Sal, happy lil Sal, She’s the bestest, she’s the blackest lil colored gal; Happy lil Sal, happy lil Sal, She ain’t got time to bother’bout herself. To my son Trouble Honey, ef you looks fo’ trouble, You can fin’ him sho’! Ef you looks, you’ll fin’ him double, Sneakin’ roun’ yo’ do’! He’s so glad to hab yo know him, Up he’ll hang his hat, Stay fereber, ‘less you show him You’ll hab none o’ dat! Now I gwine to tell you sutten (Larnt it ye’rs ago), Ef you drap yo’ winnow cutten, An’ shut tight yo’ do’, He sune tire o’ payin’ ‘tention Whar he am despised! He’s just trouble y’ear me mention? When he’s reconized

Assessment of Pharmacist Attitudes Regarding Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience Hours

Introductory pharmacy practice experience (IPPE) hours are a means of integrating experiential education as a key role early on in pharmacy education. The Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) has offered little guidance on mandatory and specific objectives to accomplish during IPPE hours, thus it is possible that preceptors do not feel adequately prepared, nor do they have a full understanding of what is required of them when they agree to precept an IPPE student. Given the lack of previous research conducted, the objective of this study was to obtain an understanding of the general attitude that preceptors have toward IPPE hours. A self-administered Internet-based questionnaire was completed by 100 respondents. The survey included multiple choice, Likert-type scale (1 =strongly disagree to 7 =strongly agree), sliding scale, and open-ended questions assessing preceptor\u27s knowledge of academic IPPE hour requirements, college of pharmacy expectations, time commitment and work site issues, expectations of the student, formality of IPPE hours, personal experience as a preceptor, an open-ended response and demographic information. Upon analyzing the data, researchers found that respondents presented with a generally positive attitude regarding IPPE hours (5.79 ± 1.03). Respondents expressed a desire to receive a zero to two hour online preceptor training (5.17 ± 1.25). In general, pharmacists indicated sufficient staffing to accommodate IPPE students (3.92 ± 1.38) and were undecided regarding monetary reimbursement (4.39 ± 1.53). Survey participants preferred receiving a guided checklist of activities for completion (S.45 ± 1.27), student resume (5.19 ± 1.30) and previous didactic course work (S.33 ± 1.41); however, survey participants expressed a desire for flexibility in determining the specifics of the experience (5.41 ± 1.11) while having students complete hours in a more concentrated time frame (5.19 ± 1.44). This exploratory research project was conducted to serve as baseline data to stimulate further investigation regarding IPPE hours

Tillage Intensity in a Long-Term Wheat-Sorghum-Fallow Rotation

This study was initiated in 1991 at the Kansas State University Southwest Research-Extension Center near Tribune, KS. The purpose of the study was to identify the effects of tillage intensity on precipitation capture, soil water storage, and grain yield in a wheat-sorghum-fallow rotation. Grain yields of wheat and grain sorghum increased with decreased tillage intensity in a wheat-sorghumfallow (WSF) rotation. In 2022, available soil water at sorghum planting was greater for no-tillage (NT) than reduced tillage (RT), which was greater than conventional tillage (CT). For wheat there was a similar pattern as sorghum, with available soil water at wheat planting being in the order of NT\u3eRT\u3eCT. Averaged across the most recent 22 years of the study, available soil water at wheat planting was 0.60 inch greater for NT than RT and approximately 1.7 inches greater than CT. Average available soil water at sorghum planting was greater in the order RT=NT\u3eCT averaging 7.9 inches for RT and NT and 5.9 inches for CT. Averaged across the past 22 years, NT wheat yields were 6 bu/a greater than RT and 10 bu/a greater than CT. Averaged across the past 22 years, sorghum yields with long-term NT have been 57% greater than with RT (82 vs. 52 bu/a)

Wheat and Grain Sorghum Sequencing for Three Crops in Four-Year Rotations

In 1996, an effort began to quantify soil water storage, crop water use, and crop productivity on dryland systems in western Kansas. Research on 4-year crop rotations with wheat and grain sorghum was initiated at the Southwest Research-Extension Center near Tribune, KS. Rotations were wheatwheat- sorghum-fallow (WWSF), wheat-sorghum-sorghum-fallow (WSSF), and continuous wheat (WW). Soil water at wheat planting averaged about 9.1 in. following sorghum, which is about 3.8 in. more than the average for the second wheat crop in a WWSF rotation. Soil water at sorghum planting was only about 1.5 in. less for the second sorghum crop compared with sorghum following wheat. Sorghum grain yield in 2022 was near average for first crop sorghum after wheat, above average for recrop sorghum, and below average for sorghum after recrop wheat. Wheat yields in 2022 were near zero due to hail. Wheat yields, when averaged across years, have been 2 bu/a greater following two sorghum crops than following one sorghum crop. Average sorghum yields were the same following one or two wheat crops. Yield of the second sorghum crop in a WSSF rotation averages ~66% of the yield of the first sorghum crop