Gamma-decanolactone attenuates acute and chronic seizures in mice: a possible role of adenosine A1 receptors.

This study aimed to investigate the possible gamma-decanolactone mechanisms of action in the GABAergic and adenosine systems using the aminophylline-induced acute crisis model and the pentylenetetrazole-induced kindling model. In the acute model, male mice received administration of bicuculline (GABAA receptor antagonist), 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine (A1 receptor antagonist) or ZM241385 (A2A receptor antagonist), 15 min before the treatment with gamma-decanolactone (300 mg/kg). After a single dose of aminophylline was administered, the animals were observed for 60 min. In the chronic model of seizure, 30 min after the treatment with gamma-decanolactone, mice received pentylenetetrazole once every third day. On the last day of kindling, the animals received the same GABA and adenosine antagonists used in the acute model, 15 min before gamma-decanolactone administration. The protein expression of GABAA α1 receptor and adenosine A1 receptor was detected using western blotting technique in hippocampal samples. The results showed that gamma-decanolactone increased the latency to first seizure and decreased seizure occurrence in the acute and chronic models. The adenosine A2A receptor antagonist and GABAA receptor antagonist were not able to change gamma-decanolactone behavioral seizure induced by aminophylline or pentylenetetrazole. The administration of adenosine A1 receptor antagonist reversed the protective effect of gamma-decanolactone in both models. In addition, gamma-decanolactone promoted an increase in the expression GABAA α1 receptor, in the hippocampus. The results suggest that the neuroprotective effect of gamma-decanolactone observed during the investigation could have a straight connection to its action on A1 adenosine receptors.

Space Station Biological Research Project (SSBRP) Cell Culture Unit (CCU) and incubator for International Space Station (ISS) cell culture experiments.

The CCU and Incubator are habitats under development by SSBRP for gravitational biology research on ISS. They will accommodate multiple specimen types and reside in either Habitat Holding Racks, or the Centrifuge Rotor, which provides selectable gravity levels of up to 2 g. The CCU can support multiple Cell Specimen Chambers, CSCs (18, 9 or 6 CSCs; 3, 10 or 30 mL in volume, respectively). CSCs are temperature controlled from 4-39 degrees C, with heat shock to 45 degrees C. CCU provides automated nutrient supply, magnetic stirring, pH/O2 monitoring, gas supply, specimen lighting, and video microscopy. Sixty sample containers holding up to 2 mL each, stored at 4-39 degrees C, are available for automated cell sampling, subculture, and injection of additives and fixatives. CSCs, sample containers, and fresh/spent media bags are crew-replaceable for long-term experiments. The Incubator provides a 4-45 degrees C controlled environment for life science experiments or storage of experimental reagents. Specimen containers and experiment unique equipment are experimenter-provided. The Specimen Chamber exchanges air with ISS cabin and has 18.8 liters of usable volume that can accommodate six trays and the following instrumentation: five relocatable thermometers, two 60 W power outlets, four analog ports, and one each relative humidity sensor, video port, ethernet port and digital input/output port.

Predictive validity of the ASAM Patient Placement Criteria for hospital utilization.

We tested the validity of the ASAM Patient Placement Criteria (PPC) using the first complete and reliable computerized implementation of these criteria. Adult U.S. veterans (N = 95) seeking substance abuse treatment were blindly assessed for level of care need according to the PPC but were naturalistically assigned by counselors to residential rehabilitation (Level III) without knowledge of the PPC recommendation. Analyses compared subjects across three levels of recommended care, based on the algorithm, for utilization outcomes of VA hospital admissions and bed days of care. Subjects who were mismatched to lesser level of care than recommended utilized nearly twice as many hospital bed-days over the subsequent year (F (2;92) = 3.88; p < .05); this was unrelated to differential pre-assessment chronicity. The computerized algorithm is a promising new tool for facilitating field trials of the validity of the ASAM Criteria. A comprehensive implementation is an important methodologic requirement. These preliminary results support predictive validity for the ASAM Criteria, in that mismatching may be associated with excessive hospital utilization.