Thromboxane and Stable Prostaglandin Endoperoxide Analogs Stimulate Water Permeability in the Toad Urinary Bladder

The effects of thromboxane B2 and the stable prostaglandin endoperoxide analogs (15Z)-hydroxy - 9α - 1 lα - (epoxymethano)prosta - 5Z,13E – dienoic acid (U44069) and (15Z)-hydroxy-1 lα,9α-(epoxymethano) prosta-5Z,13E-dienoic acid (U46619) were tested on water flow across the toad urinary bladder. In the presence of indomethacin or meclofenamic acid, inhibitors of prostaglandin and thromboxane A2 synthesis, thromboxane B2 stimulated water flow in a dose-dependent manner. U44069 (1 µM) stimulated water flow from 3.6±0.8 to 12.4±1.2 mg/min per 10 cm2 hemibladder surface area, while U46619 (1 µM) stimulated water flow from 2.8± 1.0 to 21.8±2.0 mg/min per 10 cm2. The prostaglandin endoperoxide/thromboxane A2 antagonist trans-13-azaprostanoic acid, an inhibitor of vasopressin-stimulated water flow, inhibited thromboxane B2- and U46619-stimulated water flow in a dose-dependent manner. The inactive cis-13-azaprostanoic acid did not inhibit vasopressin-stimulated water flow in untreated hemibladders and had no effect on U46619-stimulated water flow in indomethacin or meclofenamic acid pretreated hemibladders. U46619 (1 µM) enhanced vasopressin-stimulated water flow in indomethacin pretreated hemibladders, producing a significant parallel shift (P \u3c 0.001) in the dose-response relationship to submaximal concentrations of vasopressin (0.1-0.6 mU/ml), while not affecting water flow stimulated by supramaximal concentrations of vasopressin (10 mU/ml). trans-13-Azaprostanoic acid abolished the potentiating effects of U46619 on vasopressin-stimulated water flow. These results show that thromboxane A2-like compounds stimulate water flow in the toad urinary bladder

Achieving Universal Coverage Through Comprehensive Health Reform: The Vermont Experience -- Report of Findings

Presents findings on the role of Vermont's health reform programs in increasing insurance coverage between 2005 and 2009. Examines changes by insurance type, contributing factors such as outreach campaigns, financial sustainability, and implications

Science-based restoration monitoring of coastal habitats, Volume Two: Tools for monitoring coastal habitats

Healthy coastal habitats are not only important ecologically; they also support healthy coastal communities and improve the quality of people’s lives. Despite their many benefits and values, coastal habitats have been systematically modified, degraded, and destroyed throughout the United States and its protectorates beginning with European colonization in the 1600’s (Dahl 1990). As a result, many coastal habitats around the United States are in desperate need of restoration. The monitoring of restoration projects, the focus of this document, is necessary to ensure that restoration efforts are successful, to further the science, and to increase the efficiency of future restoration efforts

Some Bryozoans from the Beil Limestone Member of the Lecompton Limestone (Virgilian) of Kansas

A profusely fossiliferous limestone bed in the Beil Member of the Lecompton Limestone near Grover Station, Douglas County, Kansas, contains essentially in situ remains of an ancient community of organisms. The extremely diversified faunal assemblage, rock texture, and cyclothemic position of the bed suggest offshore deposition in relatively warm, quiet marine water of normal salinity. The Beil bryozoan fauna, as evaluated on collections from the Grover Station locality and three other exposures, is dominated by fenestrate cryptostomes, Fistulipora decora (Moore and Dudley), and Rhombopora lepidodendroides Meek; the latter species is probably the more abundant. Other bryozoan faunal elements described herein include two new species of Tabulipora Young and three new species distributed among the genera Fistulipora M\u27Coy, Eridopora Ulrich, and Stenopora Lonsdale. The collections include a single specimen that is assigned to the genus Meekopora Ulrich. Fenestrate bryozoans are not described