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This study aimed to evaluate the effect of riluzole on the activity of excitatory amino acid transporter type 3 (EAAT3), a neuronal glutamate transporter, and to investigate the role of protein kinase C (PKC) in this effect. EAAT3 expression was induced in Xenopus oocytes by injecting EAAT3 mRNA. Using the two-electrode voltage clamping method, membrane currents were recorded before, during, and after applying l-glutamate (30 μM) in the absence and presence of prior incubation with riluzole (0.3-100 μM). To study the effect of PKC on the riluzole-induced change in EAAT3 activity, oocytes were preincubated with 100 μM phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA), a PKC activator, or PKC inhibitors (2 µM staurosporine and 100 µM chelerythrine) before the recording. Responses were quantified by integrating current traces and are reported in microCoulombs (μC). Riluzole reduced EAAT3 activity in a concentration-dependent manner (0.3-100 μM). Treatment of oocytes with PMA significantly increased the baseline and riluzole-reduced EAAT activity (P0.05). In addition, treatment of oocytes with PKC inhibitors reduced basal transporter currents, but did not show a further significant decrease in the riluzole-reduced EAAT3 activity. These results suggest that riluzole reduces EAAT3 activity through PKC inhibition.

Purpose When patients are moved from the supine to the lateral decubitus position, the double-lumen endobronchial tube (DLT) is often displaced. The aim of this study was to determine whether a DLT is displaced when there are no movements of the head and neck.

The effects of structural relaxation and partial crystallization on the mechanical property of the Ti40Zr29Cu9Ni8Be14 bulk metallic glass (BMG) have been investigated. The atomic structure of the as-cast Ti40Zr29Cu9Ni8Be14 metallic glass transforms into a more relaxed state at the temperature region of 452 –585 K, below the crystallization onset temperature of 631 K. Stable icosahedral phase forms in the amorphous matrix by growth of the pre-existing nuclei in the amorphous matrix during first crystallization step. The compressive plastic strain of the as-cast Ti40Zr29Cu9Ni8Be14 BMG is 6.7 %, and decreases when the structural relaxation occurs. However, the plastic strain increases when a few nanometer size icosahedral phase particles form in the amorphous matrix by the partial crystallization treatment.