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This study investigated factors that could be related to drinking water contamination in urban areas in order to obtain quality profiles that characterized presence of the glyphosate and nitrate contaminants. Thus, in a period of one year, 4,853 tap water samples from 89 cities in the northeastern region of the State of São Paulo, Brazil, were analyzed in 21 physicochemical and 2 microbiological parameters. Additionally, 4 demographic variables were also included in multivariate data analysis. Principal Component Analysis of physicochemical and microbiological data showed that glyphosate concentration is positively correlated with nitrate concentration, especially in cities that make exclusive use of groundwater, besides correlating with conductivity and with concentrations of calcium, magnesium, fluoride, chloride, phosphate and free residual chlorine. The inclusion of demographic variables in Principal Component Analysis did not significantly change waters physicochemical profiles, but in cities that exclusive use groundwater for public supply the number of hospitalizations for diarrhea correlated positively with glyphosate, nitrate and chloride concentrations, in addition to conductivity. Linear Discriminant Analysis models involving 5 variables (conductivity and concentrations of calcium, magnesium, chloride and nitrate) were able to predict the cities vulnerability to groundwater contamination by nitrate.

Introduction: Bromate is mutagenic and a probable carcinogen in humans. It usually does not occur in water for human consumption, but contamination can occur by industrial wastewater and in the disinfection process by ozonization (if bromide is present) or by the use of hypochlorite solution of unsatisfactory quality. Objective: Describe bromateconcentrations in the water supply of 89 municipalities in the state of São Paulo (Brazil), the physicochemical profiles of the waters in which the contaminant occurs, and a joint action between the Public Health Laboratory, the Sanitary Surveillance Regional Group and two Sanitary Surveillance of municipalities where important levels of bromate were found. Method: 4,853 samples were analyzed in 21 physicochemical parameters (including bromate concentration) and 2 microbiological parameters. For multivariate analysis, 4 demographic parameters were included. Results: Bromato was found in 224 samples (4.6% of the total) from 17 municipalities. The concentrations ranged between 3 and 199 μg L-1 and 56 samples (1.1% of the total) presented levels above the Maximum Allowed Value. Principal Component Analysis in these 17 municipalities indicated KBrO3 as the predominant form of contamination. The contamination rates of two municipalities decreased from the availability to the Sanitary Surveillance of reports that included bromate results. Conclusions: The data suggest that the monitoring of bromate concentrations should be included in the routine of the Water Surveillance Program for Human Consumption in the state of São Paulo. The notifications of the Sanitary Surveillance with those responsible for the water supply of two municipalities were important to improve the quality of the water supplied to the population in relation to contamination. Introdução: Bromato é mutagênico e um provável carcinogênico em seres humanos. Normalmente não ocorre em águas para consumo humano, mas a contaminação pode ocorrer por águas residuárias industriais e pela desinfecção por ozonização (se brometo estiver presente) ou pelo uso de solução de hipoclorito de qualidade insatisfatória. Objetivo:Descrever as concentrações de bromato nas águas de abastecimento de 89 municípios do estado de São Paulo (Brasil), os perfis físico-químicos das águas nas quais o contaminante ocorre e uma ação conjunta entre Laboratório de Saúde Pública, Grupo de Vigilância Sanitária e de duas Vigilâncias Sanitárias dos municípios onde foram encontrados níveisimportantes de bromato. Método: Foram analisadas 4.853 amostras em 21 parâmetros físico-químicos (incluindo concentração de bromato) e dois microbiológicos. Para análise multivariada foram incluídos quatro parâmetros demográficos. Resultados: O bromato foi encontrado em 224 amostras (4,6% do total) de 17 municípios. As concentrações variaram entre 3 e 199 μg L-1 e 56 amostras (1,1% do total) apresentaram teores acima do valor máximo permitido. A Análise de Componentes Principais nesses 17 municípios indicou KBrO3 como a forma predominante de contaminação. Os índices de contaminação de dois municípios diminuíram a partir da disponibilização para as Vigilâncias Sanitárias de laudos que incluíram os resultados de bromato. Conclusões: Os dados sugerem que o monitoramento das concentrações de bromato deveria ser incluído na rotina do Programa de Vigilância da Água para Consumo Humano do estado de São Paulo. As notificações das Vigilâncias Sanitárias junto aos responsáveis pelo abastecimento de água de dois municípios foram importantes para a melhoria da qualidade da água fornecida à população em relação à contaminação.

Background Sleep disturbance is a common psychiatric disorder in patients with cancer. However, many patients with incurable cancer have difficulty receiving oral administrations, which limits treatment options during disease progression. The aim of the present study was to assess the efficacy and safety of intravenous chlorpromazine treatment for sleep disturbances in patients with incurable cancer, with oral administration difficulty. Methods A prospective observational study was conducted among 52 patients with incurable cancer, with oral administration difficulty received daily intravenous chlorpromazine treatment for sleep disturbance from 2018 to 2020 at a single-unit university hospital. St. Mary's Hospital Sleep Questionnaire (SMHSQ) compared sleep before and after intravenous chlorpromazine administration. The primary endpoint was the efficacy rate of sleep quality [defined as a score of ≥4 (range: 1-6)] 7 days after receiving chlorpromazine. Results Beginning the day after receiving chlorpromazine, sleep quality significantly improved from a mean score of 1.6±0.7 to 4.3±1.2, and 80.8% [95% confidence interval (CI): 66.5-89.1%] and 69.2% (95% CI: 53.8-79.6%) of patients reported good sleep quality 3 and 7 days after receiving chlorpromazine, respectively. The patients reported increased total sleep time and fewer awakenings during sleep, and satisfaction with sleep and difficulty falling asleep improved. Some adverse events occurred [akathisia (n=2), dry mouth (n=2), and somnolence (n=3)]; all were Grade 1 (CTCAE ver5.0) and improved with chlorpromazine discontinuation. Systolic blood pressure and heart rate displayed no clinically problematic changes. Conclusions Intravenous chlorpromazine has a high tolerability and effectively treats sleep disturbances in patients with incurable cancer with oral administration difficulties.

Activation of the Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1)/nuclear factor E2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) system plays a role in repression of xenobiotic toxicity. The Coriandrum sativum L. leaf extract (CSLE) contains various aliphatic electrophiles such as (E)-2-decenal and (E)-2-dodecenal. In the present study, we examined the activation of Nrf2 coupled to chemical modification of Keap1 mediated by (E)-2-alkenals in CSLE, and the protective role of CSLE and (E)-2-alkenals against inorganic arsenite (iAsIII) cytotoxicity. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-elevated collision energy mass spectrometry analysis revealed that (E)-2-decenal modified recombinant Keap1 at Cys241, Cys249, Cys257 and His274. Exposure of HepG2 cells to CSLE, (E)-2-decenal, or (E)-2-dodecenal upregulated Nrf2-related downstream signaling such as expression of phase-II xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes and phase-III transporters involved in cytoprotection against iAsIII. Pretreatment with CSLE or (E)-2-butenal, a prototype of (E)-2-alkenal, prior to iAsIII exposure suppressed accumulation of iAsIII significantly and reduced iAsIII-induced cytotoxicity in cells. Oral administration of CSLE to C57BL/6 mice upregulated downstream proteins of Nrf2 and reduced accumulation of arsenic in liver tissue. The present study indicates that CSLE containing (E)-2-alkenals activates Nrf2, leading to a reduction in arsenic accumulation in vivo.

Introdução: Durante um ano, o Núcleo de Ciências Químicas e Bromatológicas do Centro de Laboratório Regional do Instituto Adolfo Lutz de Ribeirão Preto (SP, Brasil) aumentou o número de amostras de águas de abastecimento público analisadas para concentração de fluoreto em relação ao que é normalmente solicitado por 88 Vigilâncias Sanitárias Municipais do Nordeste do estado de São Paulo (Brasil). Objetivo: Verificar se os valores dos Indicadores de Fluoretação variam quando se aumenta o número de amostras analisadas e avaliar a qualidade da fluoretação na região. Método: Fluoreto foi determinado por cromatografia de íons em amostras coletadas pelas Vigilâncias Sanitárias. Resultados: Os valores dos Indicadores de Fluoretação obtidos nas duas amostragens (das Vigilâncias e as ampliadas) foram similares para a maioria dos casos. O mapeamento indicou um maior número de municípios com indicadores maiores que 80% nos Departamentos Regionais de Saúde de Barretos e Franca, enquanto nos de Araraquara e Ribeirão Preto prevalecem indicadores menores que 40%. Conclusões: Investimento e assessoria técnica são insuficientes para elevar os indicadores a valores acima de 80% em municípios com populações pequenas. Para os casos em que os valores são menores que 40% sugere-se uma abordagem baseada na similaridade entre municípios para se aumentar esses valores. ========================================== Introduction: During 1 year, the Núcleo de Ciências Químicas e Bromatológicas do Centro de Laboratório Regional do Instituto Adolfo Lutz de Ribeirão Preto (SP, Brasil) has increased the number of public water supply samples analyzed for fluoride concentration in relation to what is usually requested by 88 Municipal Sanitary Surveillance of Northeast State of São Paulo (Brazil). Objective: To verify if fluoridation indicators values will vary when increasing the number of samples analyzed and to assess the quality of fluoridation in the region. Method: Fluoride was determined by ion chromatography in samples collected by Sanitary Surveillances. Results: Indicators values of fluoridation obtained in the two sampling (Sanitary Surveillances and expanded) were similar for most cases. The mapping indicated a greater number of municipalities with values greater than 80% in Regional Departments of Health of Barretos and Franca, while in Araraquara and Ribeirão Preto prevail indicator values lower than 40%. Conclusions: Investment and technical assistance are insufficient to increase the values above 80% in municipalities with small populations. For the cases in which the values are smaller than 40% an approach based on the similarity between municipalities is suggested to increase these values.

Esse trabalho apresenta dados obtidos em análises microbiológicas e físico-químicas de 4.347 amostras de águas de abastecimento público de 88 municípios da região nordeste do Estado de São Paulo, realizadas no período de um ano. Nos ensaios microbiológicos, 288 amostras apresentaram resultado positivo para microrganismos indicadores, ocorrendo um acréscimo de 80% no período de chuvas em comparação com o período de seca. Nos ensaios físico-químicos: em 1.514 amostras, a concentração de lítio foi igual ou superior ao limite de detecção do método; a concentração de nitrato foi superior ao valor máximo permitido em 17 amostras; 1.730 amostras apresentaram teor de fluoreto fora da faixa do padrão de potabilidade; a concentração de bromato foi superior ao valor máximo permitido em 16 amostras; o valor de pH situou-se fora do intervalo recomendado em 161 amostras; 292 amostras apresentaram teores de cloro residual livre fora da faixa recomendada; 17 amostras apresentaram valores de cor aparente acima do máximo permitido; 13 amostras apresentaram valores de turbidez acima do máximo permitido. Através da análise de componentes principais foi possível discriminar as águas de abastecimento da região, com a formação de grupos de municípios com águas de perfis físico-químicos similares, gerando um mapeamento baseado em variáveis proeminentes. ================================================== This paper presents data obtained on microbiological and physico-chemical analysis of 4347 public water supply samples from 88 municipalities in the Northeast region of the state of São Paulo, carried out within a year. In microbiological analysis, 288 samples showed positive results for indicator microorganisms, occurring an increase of 80% in the rainy season compared with the dry period. Physico-chemical analysis: in 1514 samples, lithium concentration was equal to or higher than the detection limit of the method; the nitrate concentration was greater than the maximum value allowed in 17 samples; 1730 samples showed fluoride content out-of-range of drinking pattern; bromate concentration was greater than the maximum value allowed in 16 samples; the pH value was outside the range recommended in 161 samples; 292 samples showed levels of free residual chlorine (FRC) outside the recommended range; 17 samples showed apparent color values above the maximum allowed; 13 samples showed turbidity values above the maximum allowed. By means of principal components analysis, it was possible to discriminate the waters of the region, with the formation of groups of municipalities with similar physico-chemical profiles, generating a mapping based on prominent variables.

Amostras de águas de abastecimento público (n = 4347) de 88 municípios do nordeste do Estado de São Paulo (Brasil) foram analisadas em 21 parâmetros físico-químicos: temperatura, condutividade (por condutimetria), cloro residual livre (colorimetria com N,N-dietil-p-fenilenodiamina), pH (potenciometria), cor aparente (espectrofotometria), turbidez (nefelometria), e concentrações de Li+, Na+, NH4+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, F-, ClO2-, BrO3-, Cl-, Br-, ClO3-, NO3-, PO43- e SO42- (cromatografia de íons). Os resultados foram submetidos à análise multivariada de dados. A análise de componentes principais das medianas de 12 variáveis (pH, condutividade, Li+, Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Cl-, ClO3-, NO3-, PO43-, SO42-) dos 88 municípios indicou Ibitinga como local com água de características físico-químicas únicas, caracterizada pelas concentrações relativas mais altas de sulfato, cloreto, lítio e sódio, e aos valores maiores de pH e condutividade. Em adição, Ibitinga foi o único município que apresentou sistematicamente brometo na composição da água. Uma segunda análise de componentes principais envolvendo as amostras de Ibitinga indicou uma amostra com concentrações mais altas de cloreto e sulfato, e quatro amostras nas quais a presença de nitrato foi característica. Análises de agrupamento hierárquico exibiram a formação dos mesmos grupos produzidos nas duas análises de componentes. A validação dos métodos cromatográficos também é apresentada. ================================================ Public water supply samples (n = 4347) from 88 municipalities in the northeast of the State of São Paulo (Brazil) were analysed in 21 physico-chemical parameters: temperature, conductivity (by conductimetry), free residual chlorine (colorimetry with N,N-diethyl-p-phenylenediamine), pH (potentiometry), apparent color (spectrophotometry), turbidity (nephelometry), and concentrations of Li+, Na+, NH4+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, F-, ClO2-, BrO3-, Cl-, Br-, ClO3-, NO3-, PO43-, SO42- (ion chromatography). The results were submitted to multivariate data analysis. The principal component analysis of 12 variable medians (pH, conductivity, Li+, Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Cl-, ClO3-, NO3-, PO43-, SO42-) from 88 municipalities indicated Ibitinga as the locality with the public water supply having physicochemical characteristics unique in the region, characterized by higher relative concentrations of sulphate, chloride, lithium, and sodium, and higher values of pH and conductivity. Additionally, Ibitinga was the only municipality that systematically presented bromide in the water composition. A second principal component analysis on 79 samples of Ibitinga has indicated a sample with higher concentrations of chloride and sulphate, and 4 samples where the presence of nitrate was characteristic. Hierarchical cluster analysis exhibited the clustering of these groups produced in two component analysis. Validation of methods based on ion chromatography is also presented.

Introdução: Durante um ano, o Núcleo de Ciências Químicas e Bromatológicas do Centro de Laboratório Regional do Instituto Adolfo Lutz de Ribeirão Preto (SP, Brasil) aumentou o número de amostras de águas de abastecimento público analisadas para concentração de fluoreto em relação ao que é normalmente solicitado por 88 Vigilâncias Sanitárias Municipais do Nordeste do estado de São Paulo (Brasil). Objetivo: Verificar se os valores dos Indicadores de Fluoretação variam quando se aumenta o número de amostras analisadas e avaliar a qualidade da fluoretação na região. Método: Fluoreto foi determinado por cromatografia de íons em amostras coletadas pelas Vigilâncias Sanitárias. Resultados: Os valores dos Indicadores de Fluoretação obtidos nas duas amostragens (das Vigilâncias e as ampliadas) foram similares para a maioria dos casos. O mapeamento indicou um maior número de municípios com indicadores maiores que 80% nos Departamentos Regionais de Saúde de Barretos e Franca, enquanto nos de Araraquara e Ribeirão Preto prevalecem indicadores menores que 40%. Conclusões: Investimento e assessoria técnica são insuficientes para elevar os indicadores a valores acima de 80% em municípios com populações pequenas. Para os casos em que os valores são menores que 40% sugere-se uma abordagem baseada na similaridade entre municípios para se aumentar esses valores.

Amostras de águas de abastecimento público (n = 4347) de 88 municípios do nordeste do Estado de São Paulo (Brasil) foram analisadas em 21 parâmetros físico-químicos: temperatura, condutividade (por condutimetria), cloro residual livre (colorimetria com N,N-dietil-p-fenilenodiamina), pH (potenciometria), cor aparente (espectrofotometria), turbidez (nefelometria), e concentrações de Li+, Na+, NH4+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, F-, ClO2-, BrO3-, Cl-, Br-, ClO3-, NO3-, PO43- e SO42- (cromatografia de íons). Os resultados foram submetidos à análise multivariada de dados. A análise de componentes principais das medianas de 12 variáveis (pH, condutividade, Li+, Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Cl-, ClO3-, NO3-, PO43-, SO42-) dos 88 municípios indicou Ibitinga como local com água de características físico-químicas únicas, caracterizada pelas concentrações relativas mais altas de sulfato, cloreto, lítio e sódio, e aos valores maiores de pH e condutividade. Em adição, Ibitinga foi o único município que apresentou sistematicamente brometo na composição da água. Uma segunda análise de componentes principais envolvendo as amostras de Ibitinga indicou uma amostra com concentrações mais altas de cloreto e sulfato, e quatro amostras nas quais a presença de nitrato foi característica. Análises de agrupamento hierárquico exibiram a formação dos mesmos grupos produzidos nas duas análises de componentes. A validação dos métodos cromatográficos também é apresentada.

A new programme of general family and consumer science for all high school students that can contribute to career education was proposed. The programme had three sessions: ‘single life’, ‘family life’ and ‘retired life’ from the typical three main life stages. Students were challenged to think about their future with regard to real life issues such as housing, location, budgeting time and finances, and family issues. Students were able to consider their future life concretely and specifically from various viewpoints after taking part in this programme. Students also found value in home economics education in developing life skills and knowledge, in considering their actual life and in considering their future life.

The children's perception of dinner and dinner conversation with their parents was surveyed for sixth-grade students of elementary school in Japan. The data were analysed from the gender of children and attending parents. The children had dinner and dinner conversation more frequently with their mother than with their father. With father attendance, girls and boys had the same frequency of dinner and dinner conversation, although, with mother attendance, girls had dinner conversation more frequently than boys. Most of the children felt happy when they had dinner with their parents. However, a lower percentage of children felt happy when having dinner conversation with their parents, thought that they were important to their parents and thought dinner conversation was useful. More children felt happy during dinner and dinner conversation with their mother than with their father. However, there was no perceived difference in the usefulness of the conversation based on the father or the mother attending. The contents of conversation were greatly affected by which parent was attending. Subjects concerning children's manners were talked about more frequently in conversation with mothers than with fathers. Children had more frequent conversations with their father about ‘social issues’ and the ‘parents’ surroundings’ than with their mother. Girls had more frequent conversations on a wider variety of subjects with their mothers than boys. Girls could more easily share in their mothers’ knowledge or sense of values through dinner conversation. Boys were, for the most part, excluded from this process in conversation with either parent.

Previously, we established for the first time an in vivo monitoring assay system conjugated with random mutagenesis in order to study the structure-function relationship of the antimicrobial peptide, apidaecin [Taguchi et al. (1996) Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 62, 4652-4655]. In the present study, this methodology was used to carry out the functional mapping of a second target, thanatin, a 21-residue peptide that exhibits the broadest antimicrobial spectrum so far observed among insect defense peptides [Fehlbaum et al. (1996) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 93, 1221-1225]. First, a synthetic gene encoding thanatin was expressed in a fused form with Streptomyces protease inhibitor protein, SSI, under the control of tac promoter in Escherichia coli JM109. Expression of the thanatin-fused protein was found to depend on the concentration of the transcriptional inducer, isopropyl-beta-D-thio-galactopyranoside (IPTG), and to parallel the degree of growth inhibition of the transformant cells. When a PCR random mutation was introduced into the structural gene for thanatin, diminished growth inhibition of the IPTG-induced transformed cells was mostly observed in variants as measured by colony size (plate assay) or optical density (liquid assay) in comparison with the wild-type peptide, possibly depending on the decreased antimicrobial activity of each variant. Next, wild-type thanatin and three variants screened by the in vivo assay, two singly mutated proteins (C11Y and M21R) and one doubly mutated protein (K17R/R20G), were stably overproduced with a fusion partner protein resulting in the efficient formation of inclusion bodies in E. coli BL21(DE3). The products were isolated in large amounts (yield 30%) from the fused protein by successive chemical and enzymatic digestions at the protein fusion linker site. Anti-E. coli JM109 activities, judged by minimum inhibitory concentration, of the purified peptides were in good agreement with those estimated semi-quantitatively by the in vivo assay. Based on the NMR solution structure and molecular dynamics, the structure-function relationship of thanatin is discussed by comparing the functional mapping data obtained here with the previous biochemical data. The functional mapping newly suggests the importance of a hydrogen bonding network formed within the C-terminal loop joining the beta-strands arranged antiparallel to one another that are supposed to be crutial for exhibiting anti-E. coli activity.

Glaucoma is a major cause of blindness characterized by progressive degeneration of the optic nerve and elevated intraocular pressure. Recent studies have revealed a genetic basis for a substantial proportion of cases of familial primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and the gene causing the abnormality has been identified. Sequence variations that meet the criteria for a probable disease-causing mutation have been found in the American and European populations. In this study, we examined 58 cases of sporadic glaucoma from Japan to clarify the relationship between the mutations of the GLC1A gene and sporadic glaucoma in Japan. We have examined 33 POAG, 17 primary closed-angle glaucomas, 6 normal-tension glaucomas and 2 steroid-induced glaucomas for mutation of the GLC1A gene using polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) analysis and direct DNA sequencing studies. We identified a previously unreported GGT right curved arrow GAT transition at codon 451 in exon 3, resulting in a glycine to asparagine substitution in one POAG patient. No other mutations of the GLC1A gene were found in other types of glaucoma. These findings further emphasize the importance of GLC1A mutation in the development of POAG.

Background: Recent studies have revealed that administration of nitric oxide (NO) donors increases the release of neurotransmitters in various brain regions. In the retina, NO synthetase (NOS) is found in retinal amacrine and ganglion cells, and it is evident that NO is involved in encoding visual information. In the present study, therefore, NO donors were used to study the effect of exogenous NO on the high K+-evoked release of endogenous acetylcholine (ACh) in the rat retina. Methods: Isolated rat retinal preparations were superfused with modified Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate buffer solution. In each experiment, stimulation for 10 min with 30 mM KCl was done twice. The amounts of ACh released by the first or second KCl stimulation were termed S1 and S2 respectively. Test agents were applied just before the second KCl stimulation. The effects of test agents were evaluated as S2 divided by S1. ACh was converted to hydrogen peroxide and electrochemically assayed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Results: S-Nitro-N-acetyl-DL-penicillamine (SNAP), an NO donor, dose-dependently inhibited the high K+-evoked release of endogenous ACh. Such inhibition by NO was confirmed also by another NO donor, (±)-(E)-4-ethyl-2-[(E)-hydroxy imino]-5-nitro-3-hexenamide (NOR3). The inhibitory effect of SNAP was abolished by both carboxy-PTIO, an NO scavenger, and bicuculline, an antagonist of GABAA receptors. Conclusions: The NO-induced decrease of ACh release is probably due to an NO-induced increase of GABAergic system inhibition.

Background: Retinitis pigmentosa is a hereditary disease characterized by gradually developing degeneration of photoreceptors. The Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rat is an experimental model of retinitis pigmentosa. However, there is a paucity of information concerning neurotransmitter contents in the retina of RCS rats. Thus, we determined the retinal contents of neurotransmitters in RCS rats at 4 and 23 weeks postnatally and in age-matched congenic control rats. Methods: Dopamine (DA) and acetylcholine (ACh) were electrochemically measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Neuroactive amino acids, including γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and taurine, were determined by means of an HPLC-precolumn derivatization method. Results: Contents of DA, ACh, glutamate, aspartate and GABA in the retina of RCS rats 4 weeks postnatally were within normal ranges. At 23 weeks, the retinal contents of DA, glutamate and aspartate in the RCS rats were significantly lower than in the age-matched control rats, while the contents of ACh and GABA were unaffected even at this later stage. On the other hand, the retinal content of glycine in the RCS rats at 23 weeks was significantly higher than that in the age-matched control rats. It is interesting to note that the content of taurine in the RCS rats had already decreased at 4 weeks postnatally and the decrease was more marked at 23 weeks. Conclusion: The decrease in taurine content is probably the first sign of degeneration revealed by the retinal neurotransmitters of RCS rats.

In this paper the electronic spreadsheets built in Microsoft ExcelR software are presented, and these parameters enable to estimate the decision limit (CCα) and the detection capability (CCβ) at the detection limit and of the maximum permitted value (MVP) regions. The estimates are evaluated from linear and homoscedastic analytical curves obtained in calibration procedures based on ISO standards and IUPAC guidelines. After validating by means of manual data processing, the electronic spreadsheets were used for determining the nitrite in bottled waters (MVP = 0.02 mg/L) and the fluoride contents in public supply waters (compliance interval = 0.6 to 0.8 mg/L). For fluoride analysis there are the minimum required value (0.6 mg/L) and the maximum acceptable value (0.8 mg/L) for its concentration; therefore, the spreadsheet computes the critical concentration at both limits with a probability of a type I error equal to 0.05. On that account, the electronic spreadsheets provide the rapid decision between compliant and non-compliant data in the interpretation of results.

We examined the properties of voltage-gated calcium channels mediating endogenous dopamine (DA) and acetylcholine (ACh) release in the isolated rat retina. Application of 30 mM KCl elicited the release of DA and ACh, and these releases were abolished in Ca(2+)-free medium. The high K(+)-evoked DA release was largely blocked by both of omega-agatoxin IVA and omega-conotoxin MVIIC, P- and Q-type calcium channel antagonists, and partly blocked by isradipine, and L-type calcium channel antagonist, and omega-conotoxin GVIA, an N-type calcium channel antagonist. omega-Agatoxin IVA at a small dose, sufficient to block P-type channels alone, was however without effect. On the other hand, the high K(+)-evoked ACh release was partly blocked by omega-agatoxin IVA and omega-conotoxin MVIIC, but was resistant to isradipine and omega-conotoxin GVIA. Flunarizine, a non-selective T-type calcium channel antagonist, did not inhibit the release of DA and ACh. Cd2+ markedly blocked the release of both DA and ACh, Co2+ and Ni2+ slightly blocked the release of DA, and the release of ACh was not blocked by these two divalent cations. These results suggest that the high K(+)-evoked release of retinal DA is largely mediated by omega-agatoxin IVA and omega-conotoxin MVIIC sensitive calcium channels (probably Q-type channels), while the release of retinal ACh is largely mediated by as yet uncharacterized Cd2+ sensitive calcium channels. The properties of voltage-gated calcium channels involved in the release of ACh in the rat retina differ from those of DA.