Comparative actions of gaba and acetylcholine on the Xenopus laevis lateral line

1. The effects of GABA, acetylcholine and carbachol on the spontaneous activity of afferent nerve fibers in the lateral line of Xenopus laevis are characterized.2. Atropine and bicuculline were also tested on drug- and water motion-evoked activity.3. GABA (0.019-1.25 mM) suppressed and both acetylcholine (1.25-80 [mu]M) and carbachol (1.25-40 [mu]M) increased spontaneous activity. These actions were blocked by bicuculline (100 [mu]M) and atropine (4 [mu]M) respectively.4. Atropine (20 [mu]M) and bicuculline (100 [mu]M) had no effect on water motion-evoked activity.5. The results characterize actions of GABA and acetylcholine not previously described and provide evidence that does not support the hypothesis that GABA or acetylcholine are the afferent transmitter.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/25886/1/0000449.pd

How to Use the American Geriatrics Society 2015 Beers Criteria-A Guide for Patients, Clinicians, Health Systems, and Payors

The Beers Criteria are a valuable tool for clinical care and quality improvement but may be misinterpreted and implemented in ways that cause unintended harms. This article describes the intended role of the 2015 American Geriatrics Society (AGS) Beers Criteria and provides guidance on how patients, clinicians, health systems, and payors should use them. A key theme underlying these recommendations is to use common sense and clinical judgment in applying the 2015 AGS Beers Criteria and to remain mindful of nuances in the criteria. The criteria serve as a "warning light" to identify medications that have an unfavorable balance of benefits and harms in many older adults, particularly when compared with pharmacological and nonpharmacological alternatives. However, there are situations in which use of medications included in the criteria can be appropriate. As such, the 2015 AGS Beers Criteria work best not only when they identify potentially inappropriate medications, but also when they educate clinicians and patients about the reasons those medications are included and the situations in which their use may be more or less problematic. The criteria are designed to support, rather than supplant, good clinical judgment