Multi-Scale Entrainment of Coupled Neuronal Oscillations in Primary Auditory Cortex.

Earlier studies demonstrate that when the frequency of rhythmic tone sequences or streams is task relevant, ongoing excitability fluctuations (oscillations) of neuronal ensembles in primary auditory cortex (A1) entrain to stimulation in a frequency dependent way that sharpens frequency tuning. The phase distribution across A1 neuronal ensembles at time points when attended stimuli are predicted to occur reflects the focus of attention along the spectral attribute of auditory stimuli. This study examined how neuronal activity is modulated if only the temporal features of rhythmic stimulus streams are relevant. We presented macaques with auditory clicks arranged in 33 Hz (gamma timescale) quintets, repeated at a 1.6 Hz (delta timescale) rate. Such multi-scale, hierarchically organized temporal structure is characteristic of vocalizations and other natural stimuli. Monkeys were required to detect and respond to deviations in the temporal pattern of gamma quintets. As expected, engagement in the auditory task resulted in the multi-scale entrainment of delta- and gamma-band neuronal oscillations across all of A1. Surprisingly, however, the phase-alignment, and thus, the physiological impact of entrainment differed across the tonotopic map in A1. In the region of 11-16 kHz representation, entrainment most often aligned high excitability oscillatory phases with task-relevant events in the input stream and thus resulted in response enhancement. In the remainder of the A1 sites, entrainment generally resulted in response suppression. Our data indicate that the suppressive effects were due to low excitability phase delta oscillatory entrainment and the phase amplitude coupling of delta and gamma oscillations. Regardless of the phase or frequency, entrainment appeared stronger in left A1, indicative of the hemispheric lateralization of auditory function.

The role of the US Food and Drug Administration's patient information initiative in cost-effective drug therapy.

The use of drug and biological products often entails complex risk-benefit deliberations by prescribers. Yet, there is often little or no information shared by prescribers or dispensers with patients about the potential risks and benefits of taking a prescription drug as part of the patient's therapeutic regimen. In 1994, drug-related morbidity and mortality has been estimated to cost $US76.6 billion. The largest component of this cost was associated with patient misadventures with their prescription medications. Industry experts, practitioners, and consumers agree that patients must have some basic information about prescription drugs to adhere successfully to their prescribed drug therapy. Patients today are discharged from hospitals more quickly than in the past and are expected to assume greater responsibility for their own care on discharge. Recently, there has been new and encouraging evidence that a greater percentage of patients are now receiving written information with their prescriptions. Developments in computer technology have made it relatively easy for pharmacies and physicians' offices to store and generate written information for patients. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) believes written information should be used to support, enhance and reinforce oral counselling. The FDA also believes that improved patient education will improve adherence to prescribed regimens and will give patients the information they need to make truly informed decisions about the drugs they take, thereby decreasing costly and unnecessary physician visits and hospitalisations.

Standard electromotive force of the H2-AgCl;Ag cell in 30, 40, and 50 mass% glycerol/water from -20 to 25 degrees C: pK2 and pH values for a standard "mops" buffer in 50 mass% glycerol/water.

Data are presented regarding the establishment of the pH (designated pH*) of a standard buffer solution suitable as a pH reference in 50 mass% glycerol/water mixtures at temperatures ranging from -20 to 25 degrees C. The buffer material selected was the ampholyte Mops [(3-N-morpholino)-propane sulfonic acid], and the reference standard consists of equal molal amounts of Mops and its sodium salt. The assignment of pH* values is based on measurements of the electromotive force (emf) of cells without liquid junction of the type: Pt;H2(g, 1 atm) / Mops, Na Mopsate, NaCl / AgCl;Ag and the pH* was derived from a determination of K2, the equilibrium constant for the dissociation process (Mops) +/- in equilibrium with (Mopsate)- + H+. The standard emf of the silver-silver chloride electrode in 30, 40, and 50 mass% glycerol/water mixtures was determined from emf measurements of the cell at subzero temperatures with HCl solutions replacing the buffer-chloride mixtures.

Management of neoplasms in vesical diverticula.

Two cases of neoplasms occurring in vesical diverticula are presented, and the pertinent literature is reviewed. It is suggested that a patient with a neoplasm in a vesical diverticulum be staged by surgical exploration and be accorded the same aggressive management as any patient with an infiltrating vesical neoplasm.

Unsuspected duplex ureters.

Three cases of unsuspected duplex ureters are presented. It is suggested that nonvisualizing upper pole segments should be suspected whenever a duplication occurs on the contralateral side regardless of the radiographic appearance.