Capsaicin-Induced Changes in LTP in the Lateral Amygdala Are Mediated by TRPV1

The transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) channel is a well recognized polymodal signal detector that is activated by painful stimuli such as capsaicin. Here, we show that TRPV1 is expressed in the lateral nucleus of the amygdala (LA). Despite the fact that the central amygdala displays the highest neuronal density, the highest density of TRPV1 labeled neurons was found within the nuclei of the basolateral complex of the amygdala. Capsaicin specifically changed the magnitude of long-term potentiation (LTP) in the LA in brain slices of mice depending on the anesthetic (ether, isoflurane) used before euthanasia. After ether anesthesia, capsaicin had a suppressive effect on LA-LTP both in patch clamp and in extracellular recordings. The capsaicin-induced reduction of LTP was completely blocked by the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor L-NAME and was absent in neuronal NOS as well as in TRPV1 deficient mice. The specific antagonist of cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1), AM 251, was also able to reduce the inhibitory effect of capsaicin on LA-LTP, suggesting that stimulation of TRPV1 provokes the generation of anandamide in the brain which seems to inhibit NO synthesis. After isoflurane anesthesia before euthanasia capsaicin caused a TRPV1-mediated increase in the magnitude of LA-LTP. Therefore, our results also indicate that the appropriate choice of the anesthetics used is an important consideration when brain plasticity and the action of endovanilloids will be evaluated. In summary, our results demonstrate that TRPV1 may be involved in the amygdala control of learning mechanisms

EQ-5D in Central and Eastern Europe : 2000-2015

Objective: Cost per quality-adjusted life year data are required for reimbursement decisions in many Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries. EQ-5D is by far the most commonly used instrument to generate utility values in CEE. This study aims to systematically review the literature on EQ-5D from eight CEE countries. Methods: An electronic database search was performed up to July 1, 2015 to identify original EQ-5D studies from the countries of interest. We analysed the use of EQ-5D with respect to clinical areas, methodological rigor, population norms and value sets. Results: We identified 143 studies providing 152 country-specific results with a total sample size of 81,619: Austria (n=11), Bulgaria (n=6), Czech Republic (n=18), Hungary (n=47), Poland (n=51), Romania (n=2), Slovakia (n=3) and Slovenia (n=14). Cardiovascular (20%), neurologic (16%), musculoskeletal (15%) and endocrine/nutritional/metabolic diseases (14%) were the most frequently studied clinical areas. Overall 112 (78%) of the studies reported EQ VAS results and 86 (60%) EQ-5D index scores, of which 27 (31%) did not specify the applied tariff. Hungary, Poland and Slovenia have population norms. Poland and Slovenia also have a national value set. Conclusions: Increasing use of EQ-5D is observed throughout CEE. The spread of health technology assessment activities in countries seems to be reflected in the number of EQ-5D studies. However, improvement in informed use and methodological quality of reporting is needed. In jurisdictions where no national value set is available, in order to ensure comparability we recommend to apply the most frequently used UK tariff. Regional collaboration between CEE countries should be strengthened

Nanocrystalline Diamond Growth on Different Substrates

Thin nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) films were grown by microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition (MWCVD) on silicon wafers coated with polycrystalline diamond (PCD), cubic boron nitride and titanium nitride layers. A methane/ nitrogen mixture with a methane concentration of 17% was used as precursor, the substrate temperature was kept at 600oC, the working pressure was 38 mbar and the MW input power 1 kW. In the case of PCD and c-BN no pretreatment of the substrates was applied in order to deposit NCD, while no growth was observed on the TiN substrates without pretreatment in suspension of diamond powder (average grain size of 250 nm) in n-pentane which enhanced the diamond nucleation. The morphology of the films was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) which revealed closed and uniform layers. The results from X-ray diffraction (XRD) showed that all films were composed of diamond crystallites with grain sizes of 3-5 nm. The Raman spectra of NCD were similar indicating that the substrate has no substantial influence of the bonding structure of the films. The mechanical properties of the films were also investigated. It was found that the hardness and the Young's modulus of NCD on PCD and c-BN determined by nanoindentations were higher than those of NCD on TiN due to the influence of the nature of the substrate. In contrary, the best adhesion was observed for the latter films most probably as a result of the better adhesion between the silicon substrate and the intermediate layers.JRC.I.4-Nanotechnology and Molecular Imagin

Content of the technogenic radionuclides accumulation in small mammals from the exclusion zone of Chornobyl in remote period after the accident

The data of the researches of radioactive contamination territory and the levels of the radionuclides’ accumulation in the body of the small rodents from the exclusion zone of Chornobyl are presented in this work. Interspecies differences in the levels of the accumulation of the radionuclide’s 137Cs and 90Sr were found. Transition coefficients radionuclide 137Cs and 90Sr in one of the links of the trophic chain - «soil - animal» were calculated

Influence of the radiation on cytogenetic parameters mouselike rodents from the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant exclusion zone

Results of radioecological and cytogenetic studies are presented. The soil contamination on the testing exper-imental sites of Chornobyl exclusion zone was studied. The correlation between the concentrations of 137Cs and 90Sr in the carcasses of animals and the level of soil contamination was revealed. The chronic exposure to radio-ecological conditions of the exclusion zone is shown to increase the pathological changes in bone marrow cells, which is determinates micronucleus test using

ICP Assisted Sputter Deposition of TiC/CaO Nanocomposite Films.

Abstract not availableJRC.I-Institute for Health and Consumer Protection (Ispra

Off-Shell Bethe Ansatz Equation and N-point Correlators in the SU(2) WZNW Theory

We prove that the wave vectors of the off-shell Bethe Ansatz equation for the inhomogeneous SU(2) lattice vertex model render in the quasiclassical limit the solution of the Knizhnik-Zamolodchikov equation.Comment: LaTeX, 15 page