The mechanisms governing maintenance of quiescence during pregnancy remain largely unknown. The current study characterizes a stretch-activated, tetraethylammonium-insensitive K(+) current in smooth muscle cells isolated from pregnant human myometrium. This study hypothesizes that these K(+) currents can be attributed to TREK-1 and that upregulation of this channel during pregnancy assists with...

Calcium stimulated the phosphorylation of several specific synaptosomal cytosolic proteins. The effects of calcium were both concentration and time dependent and were most apparent for proteins with molecular weights of 50,000, 55,000, and 60,000. Exogenous calcium (1.0-100 microM) enhanced the net incorporation of phosphate into protein by as much as 23-fold. In the absence of added calcium, t...

Purpose: To identify the prevalence of potential drug-drug interactions (pDDIs) in a psychiatric ward, their levels and association with risk factors. Methods: This study was conducted in the psychiatric ward of Ayub Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad, Pakistan. Medical records of 415 patients were retrospectively reviewed for pDDIs using Micromedex Drug-Reax software. Logistic regression was applie...

Introduction. We present the case of a patient who developed lithium toxicity with normal therapeutic levels, as a result of pharmacokinetic interaction with Valsartan, and probable Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome from the ensuing lithium toxicity. Case Presentation. A 59-year old black male with bipolar disorder maintained on lithium and fluphenazine therapy presented with a 2 week history of w...