Enhanced visuospatial memory following intracerebroventricular administration of nerve growth factor

The present work assessed the effects of intracerebroventricular injections of rh recombined human nerve growth factor (rh NGF) (5 micrograms/2.5 microl) at postnatal days 12 and 13 upon the development of spatial learning capacities. The treated rats were trained at the age of 22 days to escape onto an invisible platform at a fixed position in space in a Morris navigation task. For half of the subjects, the training position was also cued, a procedure aimed at facilitating escape and at reducing attention to the distant spatial cues. Later, at the age of 6 months, all the rats were trained in a radial-arm maze task. Treatment effects were found in both immature and adult rats. The injection of NGF improved the performance in the Morris navigation task in both training conditions. There was a significant reduction in the escape latency and an increased bias toward the training platform quadrant during probe trials. The most consistent effect was the precocious development of an adult-like spatial memory. In the radial-arm maze, the NGF-treated rats made significantly fewer reentries than vehicle rats and this effect was particularly marked in the treated female rats. Taken together, these experiments reveal that the development and the maintenance of an accurate spatial representation are tightly related to the development of brain structures facilitated by the action of NGF. Moreover, these experiments demonstrate that an acute pharmacological treatment that leads to a transient modification in the choline acetyltransferase activity can induce a behavioral change long after the treatment.

Factors associated with beliefs about adherence to non-pharmacological treatment of patients with heart failure

This study aimed at assessing beliefs about the benefits and barriers to adherence to daily self-monitoring of weight/edema in patients with heart failure, and the influence of demographic and clinical variables on those beliefs. 105 patients were interviewed. The mean of the subscales Benefits and Barriers were 20.2 (± 5.7) and 30.1 (±7.1), respectively. Patients perceived that adherence to daily self-monitoring of weight/edema could keep them healthy, improve their quality of life and decrease the chances of readmission. Approximately half of patients (46.7%) reported forgetting this measure. Those who controlled weight once a month were more likely to have barriers to adherence (OR= 6.6; IC 95% 1.9-13.8; p=0.01), showing this measure to be the main factor related to perceived barriers. Education in health can contribute with the development of strategies aimed at lowering barriers and increasing benefits of this control.

Lottery Action Newsletter, July 10-23, 2006, Vol. 13, no. 13

Iowa Lottery Authority Retailer Newsletter

Lottery Action Newsletter, July 24-Aug. 8, 2006, Vol 13, no. 14

Iowa Lottery Retailer Newsletter

Lottery Action Newsletter, Aug. 7-10, 2006, Vol. 13, no. 15

Iowa Lottery Retailer Newsletter

Lottery Action Newsletter, Aug. 21-Sept. 10, 2006, Vol. 13, no. 16

Iowa Lottery Retailer Newsletter

Lottery Action Newsletter, September 9-24, 2006, Vol. 13, no. 17

Iowa Lottery Retailer Newsletter

Lottery Action Newsletter, September 25-October 8, 2006, Vol. 13, no. 18

Iowa Lottery Retailer Newsletter

Lottery Action Newsletter, October 9-22, 2006, Vol. 13, no. 19

Iowa Lottery Retailer Newsletter

Lottery Action Newsletter, October 23-November 12, 2006, Vol. 13, no. 20

Iowa Lottery Retailer Newsletter

Pharmacological inhibition of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptor signaling ameliorates FGF23-mediated hypophosphatemic rickets.

Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) is a circulating factor secreted by osteocytes that is essential for phosphate homeostasis. In kidney proximal tubular cells FGF23 inhibits phosphate reabsorption and leads to decreased synthesis and enhanced catabolism of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25[OH]2 D3 ). Excess levels of FGF23 cause renal phosphate wasting and suppression of circulating 1,25(OH)2 D3 levels and are associated with several hereditary hypophosphatemic disorders with skeletal abnormalities, including X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets (XLH) and autosomal recessive hypophosphatemic rickets (ARHR). Currently, therapeutic approaches to these diseases are limited to treatment with activated vitamin D analogues and phosphate supplementation, often merely resulting in partial correction of the skeletal aberrations. In this study, we evaluate the use of FGFR inhibitors for the treatment of FGF23-mediated hypophosphatemic disorders using NVP-BGJ398, a novel selective, pan-specific FGFR inhibitor currently in Phase I clinical trials for cancer therapy. In two different hypophosphatemic mouse models, Hyp and Dmp1-null mice, resembling the human diseases XLH and ARHR, we find that pharmacological inhibition of FGFRs efficiently abrogates aberrant FGF23 signaling and normalizes the hypophosphatemic and hypocalcemic conditions of these mice. Correspondingly, long-term FGFR inhibition in Hyp mice leads to enhanced bone growth, increased mineralization, and reorganization of the disturbed growth plate structure. We therefore propose NVP-BGJ398 treatment as a novel approach for the therapy of FGF23-mediated hypophosphatemic diseases.

Community Action in Iowa, 2005

The Division of Community Action Agencies is located within the Iowa Department of Human Rights and is the focal point for Community Action Agency activities within Iowa government. The Division of Community Action Agencies exists to develop and expand the capacity at the community level to assist families and individuals to achieve economic and social self-sufficiency, and to ensure that the basic energy needs of Iowa’s low-income population are met. The Division is comprised of the Bureau of Community Services, the Bureau of Energy Assistance and the Bureau of Weatherization.

Community Action in Iowa, 1999

The Division of Community Action Agencies is located within the Iowa Department of Human Rights and is the focal point for Community Action Agency activities within Iowa government. The Division of Community Action Agencies exists to develop and expand the capacity at the community level to assist families and individuals to achieve economic and social self-sufficiency, and to ensure that the basic energy needs of Iowa’s low-income population are met. The Division is comprised of the Bureau of Community Services, the Bureau of Energy Assistance and the Bureau of Weatherization.

Community Action in Iowa, 2000

The Division of Community Action Agencies is located within the Iowa Department of Human Rights and is the focal point for Community Action Agency activities within Iowa government. The Division of Community Action Agencies exists to develop and expand the capacity at the community level to assist families and individuals to achieve economic and social self-sufficiency, and to ensure that the basic energy needs of Iowa’s low-income population are met. The Division is comprised of the Bureau of Community Services, the Bureau of Energy Assistance and the Bureau of Weatherization.