A theoretical model is presented for voltage clamp of a bundle of cylindrical excitable cells in a double sucrose gap. The preparation in the test node is represented by a single one-dimensional cable (length/diameter ratio approximately) with standard Hodgkin-Huxley kinetics for transmembrane Na current. Imperfections of voltage control due to internal (longitudinal) resistivity and external (...

Voltage clamp responses of a single excitable fiber were simulated using a core conductor model including a high external resistance (Rs) in series to the fiber membrane to allow for intercellular clefts in a multifiber preparation. In terms of specific resistance, Rs was between 68 and 264 omega cm2. Internal resistivity (Ri) was taken to be zero or 200 omega cm. The aim of the study was to qu...

STUDY QUESTION Is there a pharmacodynamic interaction between ulipristal acetate (UPA) 30 mg for emergency contraception and a daily progestin-only contraceptive pill, desogestrel (DSG) 0.75 mg, when initiated the next day? SUMMARY ANSWER In this study, DSG impaired the ability of UPA to delay ovulation, but UPA had little impact on the onset of contraceptive effects due to DSG. WHAT IS KNO...

The present study was designed to evaluate the therapeutic activity of a novel immunosuppressive agent, deoxyspergualin (DSG, NKT-01) in male MRL/MpJ-lpr/lpr (MRL/lpr) mice suffering advanced systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)-like lesions. Treatment with DSG in the early phase of the disease at doses of 1.5 and 3 mg/kg strongly suppressed the development of SLE-like lesions. When DSG was admin...

Detection of anti-desmoglein-1 (anti-DSG-1) and anti-DSG-3 autoantibodies is widely used in the diagnosis of pemphigus. Two validated scoring systems, Pemphigus Disease Area Index (PDAI) and Autoimmune Bullous Skin Disorder Intensity Score (ABSIS), are used for the evaluation of clinical severity. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to interpret the titres of pemphigus autoantibodies in c...

A method similar to the sucrose-gap technique introduced be Stäpfli is described for measuring membrane potential and current in singly lobster giant axons (diameter about 100 micra). The isotonic sucrose solution used to perfuse the gaps raises the external leakage resistance so that the recorded potential is only about 5 per cent less than the actual membrane potential. However, the resting p...

AIMS To examine if sucrose has an analgesic effect on infant colic. METHODS Nineteen infants with typical infant colic were given 2 ml of 12% sucrose or distilled water when crying, in a double blind double crossover study. The effect was measured by parents' score. RESULTS Twelve improved specifically on sucrose and one on placebo (p < 0.01). Five showed a non-specific improvement. CONCL...