Bidirectional Semiconductor Laser

A semiconductor laser capable of operating under both positive and negative bias voltage is reported. Its active region behaves functionally as two different laser materials, emitting different wavelengths, depending on the design, when biased with opposite polarities. This concept was used for the generation of two wavelengths (6.3 and 6.5 micrometers) in the midinfrared region of the spectrum from a single quantum cascade laser structure. The two wavelengths are excited independently of each other and separated in time. This may have considerable impact on various semiconductor laser applications including trace gas analysis in remote sensing applications with differential absorption spectroscopy.

Inhibitory effect of cannabinoid agonists on gastric emptying in the rat

We have studied the effect of WIN 55,212-2 (a psychoactive cannabinoid agonist), cannabinol (a nonpsychoactive cannabinoid agonist), SR141716A, a cannabinoid CB1 antagonist, and SR144528, a cannabinoid CB2 antagonist, on gastric emptying in the rat. WIN 55,212-2 (0.1-5 mg/kg, i.p.) and cannabinol (0.1-25 mg/kg, i.p.) dose-dependently delayed gastric emptying while SR141716A (1 mg/kg and 5 mg/kg) and SR144528 (1 mg/kg) were without effect. SR141716A (1 mg/kg), but not SR144528 (1 mg/kg), counteracted the inhibitory effect of the two cannabinoid agonists. These results suggest that cannabinoid agonists delay gastric emptying through activation of cannabinoid CB1 receptors, while the endogenous cannabinoid system does not seem to modulate gastric motility.

Flavonoids: old and new aspects of a class of natural therapeutic drugs

Flavonoids are natural products widely distributed in the vegetable kingdom and currently consumed in large amounts in the daily diet. Flavonoids are capable of modulating the activity of enzymes and affect the behaviour of many cell systems, suggesting that the compounds may possess significant antihepatotoxic, antiallergic, anti-inflammatory, antiosteoporotic and even antitumor activities. This review summarizes available data on these beneficial effects of flavonoids.

Contractile effect of (+)-glaucine in the isolated guinea-pig ileum

The intestinal effects of (+)-glaucine [(S)-1,2,9,10-tetramethoxyaporphine] were studied using the guinea-pig ileum. (+)-Glaucine (10-300 microM) induced ileal contractions. The contraction was not affected by tetrodotoxin, atropine, hexamethonium, propranolol, naloxone, methysergide, N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, SR141716A (a cannabinoid CB1 receptor antagonist) or SR140333 (a tackykinin NK1 receptor antagonist) plus SR48968 (a tackykinin NK2 antagonist). (+)-Glaucine-induced contraction was reduced by indomethacin, nordihydroguaiaretic acid or bisindolylmaleimide I and abolished by verapamil and nifedipine. These results suggest that (+)-glaucine-induced contraction involves activation of voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels and protein kinase C and could be mediated by the release of arachidonic acid metabolites.

Ascending neural pathways in the isolated guinea-pig ileum: effect of muscarinic M1, M2 and M3 cholinergic antagonists

The effect of muscarinic cholinoceptor antagonists was investigated on the ascending neural pathways activated by electrical stimulation in the guinea-pig ileum. For comparison, prejunctional and postjunctional effects of muscarinic cholinoceptor antagonists were also studied on circular smooth muscle. A two-compartment (oral and anal compartments) bath was used to study the ascending neural pathways. These were activated by electrical field stimulation in the anal compartment and the resulting contraction of the intestinal circular muscle in the oral compartment was recorded isotonically. Pirenzepine (10-300 nM), a muscarinic M1 cholinoceptor antagonist, reduced the ascending neural contractions in a concentration-dependent fashion when applied either to the oral or anal compartments (11-52% and 13-55% inhibition, respectively, P < 0.05). Pirenzepine inhibited (31+/-7%, P < 0.05) the acetylcholine (100 nM)-induced contractions at a higher non-selective concentration (300 nM), while its effect on the electrically-induced contractions was biphasic (10 and 30nM: 8-15% increase, P<0.05; 100 and 300 nM: 16-28% inhibition, P<0.05). The muscarinic M2 cholinoceptor antagonist methoctramine (3-100 nM) did not modify the contractions produced by 100 nM acetylcholine, electrically-induced contractions and the ascending neural contractions (when applied to either compartment). Parafluorohexahydrosiladifenidol (3-100 nM), a muscarinic M3 cholinoceptor antagonist, inhibited the contractions produced by 100 nM acetylcholine (19-81% and 15-69%), electrically-induced contractions (11-71% and 12-72%) and the ascending neural contractions (13-76% and 866%) when applied to the oral compartment, but it was without effect when applied to the anal compartment. These studies suggest that in the enteric ascending neural pathway, muscarinic M1 receptors are involved in neuroneuronal transmission, muscle contraction is mediated by muscarinic M3 cholinergic receptors, whereas muscarinic M2 receptors do not seem to participate.

Intracoronary shunt prevents left ventricular function impairment during beating heart coronary revascularization

OBJECTIVE

Beating heart coronary revascularization is becoming increasingly popular world-wide. Temporary occlusion of the coronary artery is often required in order to perform the anastomosis. An alternative method to maintain perfusion is to use an intracoronary shunt. In this study, we monitored global left ventricular function and regional wall motion in the presence or absence of a shunt using transesophageal echocardiography (TEE).

METHOD

Left ventricular wall motion score index (WMSI), wall motion score (WMS) in the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery territory, and ejection fraction (EF%) were measured by multiplane TEE during construction of the left internal mammary artery (LIMA)-LAD coronary artery anastomosis in 40 patients undergoing revascularization with or without the use of a shunt. WMSI was assessed preoperatively, 1, 3 and 6 min during the construction of the anastomosis and after 5 min of reperfusion. WMS was assessed at 6 min during anastomosis and after 5 min of reperfusion. EF% was calculated preoperatively, 5 min into the construction of the anastomosis, and 5 min after reperfusion.

RESULTS

During construction of the anastomosis, when the shunt was used, there were no changes in WMSI, WMS in the LAD territory or EF%. A significant decline in these parameters was seen in the group in which the shunt was not used, although on reperfusion all the values returned to baseline control.

CONCLUSION

(i) occlusion of the LAD to perform the anastomosis results in temporary impairment in left ventricular function with complete recovery on reperfusion; (ii) the use of an intracoronary shunt presumably by maintaining myocardial perfusion prevents deterioration in ventricular function; (iii) from this data it seems therefore advisable to use an intracoronary shunt in patients with unstable angina, poor left ventricular function, or in cases in which a longer time to perform the anastomosis is anticipated.

The role of nitric oxide in aloe-induced diarrhoea in the rat

The role of nitric oxide (NO) on aloe-induced diarrhoea was studied in the rat. Nine hours after oral administration, aloe produced diarrhoea at doses of 5 g kg(-1)(20% rats with diarrhoea) and 20 g kg(-1) (100% of rats with diarrhoea). Lower doses of aloe (0.1 and 1 g kg(-1) did not produce a diarrhoeal response. Pre-treatment (i.p.) of rats with the NO synthase inhibitor N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME 2.5-25 mg kg(-1) reduced the diarrhoea induced by aloe (20 g kg(-1) 9 h after its oral administration. L-NAME (25 mg kg(-1)) also reduced the increase in faecal water excretion produced by aloe (20 g kg(-1). L-arginine (1500 mg kg(-1), i.p.), administered to rats pre-treated with L-NAME (25 mg kg(-1), drastically reduced the effect of L-NAME on diarrhoea and increase in faecal water excretion induced by aloe (20 g kg(-1). Given alone, L-arginine did not modify aloe-induced diarrhoea. Basal Ca2+ -dependent NO synthase activity in the rat colon was dose-dependently inhibited by aloe (0.1-20 g kg(-1)) and by aloin (0.1-1 g kg(-1)), the active ingredient of aloe. These results suggest that endogenous NO modulates the diarrhoeal effect of aloe.

Defaecation, intestinal fluid accumulation and motility in rodents: implications of cannabinoid CB1 receptors

We have studied the effect of SR141716A (0.1-5 mg/kg, i.p.), a cannabinoid CB, receptor antagonist, and WIN (0.1-5 mg/kg, i.p.), a cannabinoid receptor agonist, on acute defaecation and gastrointestinal transit in mice and on intraluminal fluid accumulation in the rat small intestine. SR141716A increased while WIN 55,212-2 decreased defaecation, gastrointestinal transit and fluid accumulation. A per se non-effective dose of SR141716A (0.3 mg/kg) counteracted the inhibitory effect of WIN 55,212-2 (1 mg/kg) on gastrointestinal functions studied. The effect of SR 141716 on both intestinal fluid accumulation in rats and gastrointestinal transit in mice was inhibited by atropine (1 mg/kg, i.p.), but not by hexamethonium (1 mg/kg, s.c.), SR140333 (20 microg/kg, i.p.) or SR48968 (20 microg/kg, i.p.), antagonists of NK1 and NK2 receptors, respectively. These results suggest that intestinal fluid accumulation and motility are inhibited by endogenous cannabinoid(s) acting at the cannabinoid CB1 receptors. This effect may be mediated by mechanisms involving muscarinic cholinoceptors.

The role of histamine H1, H2 and H3 receptors on enteric ascending synaptic transmission in the guinea pig ileum

The role of histamine H1-, H2- and H3-receptors was studied on neural transmission in ascending excitatory pathways of the guinea pig ileum. A two-compartment (oral and anal compartments) bath was used: ascending neural pathways were activated by electrical stimulation in the anal compartment and the resulting contraction of the circular muscle in the oral compartment was recorded. Drugs were applied in the anal compartment and each agonist was evaluated in the presence of the antagonists of the other two receptors. In the presence of cimetidine (10 microM) and thioperamide (1 microM), histamine (0.03-3 microM) depressed the nerve-mediated contractions (5-70% inhibition, P <.05-.01). The inhibitory effect of histamine was antagonized by mepyramine. At the higher concentrations (10 and 30 microM), histamine elicited contractions of the circular muscle in the oral compartment, and these were abolished by mepyramine (1 microM) and tetrodotoxin (0.6 microM). The H2 agonists dimaprit (30 and 100 microM) and amphamine (0.1-300 microM) produced small contractions of the circular muscle in the oral compartment. These contractile responses were abolished by tetrodotoxin (0.6 microM) and cimetidine (10 microM). The H3 agonist R-alpha-methylhistamine (0.001-1 microM) inhibited (2-58%, P <.05) the nerve-mediated contractions. This inhibitory effect was antagonized by the H3 antagonist thioperamide. These results indicate that 1) histamine, acting at H1 receptors, at lower concentrations depresses synaptic transmission, although at higher concentrations activates the enteric excitatory ascending pathway; 2) activation of H2 receptors by H2 agonists stimulates the enteric excitatory ascending pathways and 3) activation of H3 receptors inhibits synaptic transmission.

Recent findings on the mode of action of laxatives: the role of platelet activating factor and nitric oxide

Platelet activating factor (PAF) is a phospholipid mediator of inflammation and stimulates anion secretion in animals and in isolated preparations of human colon. Nitric oxide (NO), synthesized from the amino acid L-arginine, is an important enteric inhibitory neurotransmitter. In addition, NO-donating compounds stimulate anion secretion in rat and guinea-pig colon. In this article, Angelo A. Izzo and colleagues review the key pharmacological features of the involvement of NO and PAF in the action of laxatives and propose that the classification of laxatives should take into account the important implications of these endogenous mediators.

High-resolution (Doppler-limited) spectroscopy using quantum-cascade distributed-feedback lasers

Lasing characteristics were evaluated for distributed-feedback quantum-cascade (QC) lasers operating in a continuous mode at cryogenic temperatures. These tests were performed to determine the QC lasers' suitability for use in high-resolution spectroscopic applications, including Doppler-limited molecular absorption and pressure-limited lidar applications. By use of a rapid-scan technique, direct absorbance measurements of nitric oxide (NO) and ammonia (NH>(3)) were performed with several QC lasers, operating at either 5.2 or 8.5 microm. Results include time-averaged linewidths of better than 40 MHz and long-term laser frequency reproducibility, even after numerous temperature cycles, of 80 MHz or better. Tuning rates of 2.5 cm(-1) in 0.6 ms can be easily achieved. Noise-equivalent absorbance of 3 x 10(-6) was also obtained without optimizing the optical arrangement.

Long-wavelength (lambda approximately 8-11.5 microm) semiconductor lasers with waveguides based on surface plasmons

Laser waveguides based on surface plasmons at a metal-semiconductor interface have been demonstrated by use of quantum cascade (QC) lasers emitting in the 8-11.5-microm wavelength range. The guided modes are transverse magnetic polarized surface waves that propagate at the metal (Pd or Ti-Au)-semiconductor interface between the laser top contact and the active region without the necessity for waveguide cladding layers. The resultant structure has the advantages of a strong decrease in the total layer thickness and a higher confinement factor of the laser-active region compared with those of a conventional layered semiconductor waveguide, and strong coupling to the active material, which could be used in devices such as distributed-feedback lasers. These advantages have to be traded against the disadvantage of increased absorption losses. A peak output power exceeding 25 mW at 90 K and a maximum operating temperature of 150 K were measured for a QC laser with an emission wavelength lambda approximately 8 microm . At lambda approximately 11.5 microm the peak power levels are several milliwatts and the maximum operating temperature is 110 K.

Nitric oxide as a modulator of intestinal water and electrolyte transport

The role of nitric oxide in intestinal fluid and electrolyte secretion depends upon whether the conditions under study are physiological or pathophysiological. In physiological conditions, endogenous nitric oxide seems to be a proabsorptive molecule, based on the findings that nitric oxide synthase inhibitors reverse net fluid absorption to net secretion in mice, rats, guinea pigs, rabbits, and dogs. This proabsorptive mode involves the enteric nervous system, the suppression of prostaglandin formation, and the opening of basolateral K+ channels. However, in some pathophysiological states nitric oxide synthase may be produced at higher concentrations that are capable of evoking net secretion. Thus nitric oxide synthase contributes to the diarrheal response in trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid-induced ileitis in guinea pigs and is the mediator of the laxative action of several intestinal secretagogues including castor oil, phenolphthalein, bisacodyl, magnesium sulfate, bile salts, senna, and cascara in the rat. Corresponding with the in vivo results, nitric oxide-donating compounds or nitric oxide itself stimulate chloride secretion in the guinea pig and rat intestine in vitro. Exceptions are the diarrhea produced by bacterial enterotoxins in the rat, in which nitric oxide seems to have a proabsorptive role, and the mouse ileum in vitro, in which nitric oxide-donating compounds produce a net proabsorptive effect on basal ion transport. Several endogenous secretagogues (substance P, 5-hydroxytryptamine, interleukin-1beta), which are important mediators of the inflammatory bowel diseases, act, at least in part, through the liberation of nitric oxide. Clinical studies have shown that nitric oxide is elevated in several inflammatory bowel diseases and other secretory conditions including ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, toxic megacolon, diverticulitis, infectious gastroenteritis, and infantile methemoglobinemia. However, the determination of nitric oxide in secretory diarrhea per se does not give conclusive information on the nitric oxide contribution to clinical secretory diarrhea.

Excitatory transmission to the circular muscle of the guinea-pig ileum: evidence for the involvement of cannabinoid CB1 receptors

1. The effect of cannabinoid drugs has been investigated on cholinergic and non-adrenergic non-cholinergic (NANC) contractile responses to the circular smooth muscle of guinea-pig ileum elicited by electrical field stimulation (EFS). 2. The cannabinoid receptor agonist WIN 55,212-2 (1-1000 nM) and the putative endogenous ligand anandamide (0.1-100 microM) both produced a concentration-dependent inhibition of the cholinergic (9-57% and 1-51% inhibition) and NANC (9 55% and 2-57% inhibition) contractile responses. WIN 55,212-2 and anandamide did not modify the contractions produced by exogenous acetylcholine or substance P. 3. Apamin (30 nM), a blocker of Ca2+-activated K+ channels, reduced the inhibitory effect of WIN 55,212-2 on cholinergic, but not NANC, contractile response. NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (100 microM), an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, or naloxone (1 microM), an opioid receptors antagonist, did not modify the inhibitory effect of WIN 55,212-2 on both cholinergic and NANC contractions. 4. The inhibitory effects of WIN 55,212-2 and anandamide on both cholinergic and NANC contractile response was competitively antagonized by the cannabinoid CB1 receptor antagonist SR 141716A (10-1000 nM). 5. In absence of other drugs, SR 141716A (1-1000 nM) enhanced cholinergic (1-45% increase) and NANC (2-38% increase) contractile responses elicited by electrical stimulation, but did not modify the contractions produced by acetylcholine or substance P. 6. It is concluded that activation of prejunctional cannabinoid CB1 receptors produces inhibition of cholinergic and NANC excitatory responses in the guinea-pig circular muscle. The inhibition of cholinergic (but not NANC) transmission involves activation of apamin-sensitive K+ channels. In addition, an endogenous cannabinoid ligand could inhibit cholinergic and NANC transmission in the guinea-pig ileal circular muscle.

High-power directional emission from microlasers with chaotic resonators

High-power and highly directional semiconductor microcylinder lasers based on an optical resonator with deformed cross section are reported. In the favorable directions of the far-field, a power increase of up to three orders of magnitude over the conventional circularly symmetric lasers was obtained. A "bow-tie"-shaped resonance is responsible for the improved performance of the lasers in the higher range of deformations, in contrast to "whispering-gallery"-type modes of circular and weakly deformed lasers. This resonator design, although demonstrated here in midinfrared quantum-cascade lasers, should be applicable to any laser based on semiconductors or other high-refractive index materials.

Effect of selective phosphodiesterase inhibitors on synaptic transmission in the guinea-pig ileum

The effect of selective phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors was studied on neural transmission within the enteric nervous system employing a two-compartment bath (containing the oral and the anal end of a segment of guinea-pig ileum, respectively). Ascending excitatory enteric nerve pathways were activated by electrical field stimulation (10 Hz for 2 s, 45 mA, 0.5 pulse duration) in the anal compartment and the resulting contraction of the intestinal circular muscle in the oral compartment was recorded. The partitioned bath enables PDE inhibitors and other drugs to be applied to enteric nerve pathways (in the anal compartment) without interfering with the recording of the smooth muscle contraction in the oral compartment. The PDE 4 inhibitors rolipram (0.01-10 microM) and Ro-20-1724 (0.01-10 microM) significantly (P<0.01) inhibited (10-91% and 9-83%, respectively) the nerve-mediated contractions. When both rolipram and Ro-20-1724 were tested after phentolamine (1 microM) or yohimbine (0.1 microM), they were significantly (P<0.01) less effective. By contrast prazosin (1 microM) was ineffective. Vinpocetine (50 microM), milrinone (30 microM) and zaprinast (100 microM), which inhibit PDE 1, 3 and 5, respectively, did not modify the nerve-mediated contractions. 8-Bromoadenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (8-Br-cyclic AMP) or N6,2'-O-dibutyryladenosine 3',5' cyclic monophosphate (dibutyryl cyclic AMP), two analogues of cyclic AMP, at lower concentrations (0.1-1 microM) significantly (P<0.01) inhibited (15-73% and 5-49%, respectively) the nerve-mediated contractions, while at higher concentrations (10-100 microM) they caused a significant (P<0.01) potentiating (48-68% and 77-78%, respectively) effect. These results indicate that inhibition of PDE 4 (but not PDE 1, PDE 3 or PDE 5) produces a depression of neural transmission within the enteric nervous system, possibly by releasing noradrenaline acting at alpha2-adrenoceptors on enteric neurons.

Effect of sodium rhein on electrically-evoked and agonist-induced contractions of the guinea-pig isolated ileal circular muscle

1. This study examined the effects of sodium rhein (0.03-30 microM) on the contractions of the isolated circular muscle of guinea-pig ileum induced by acetylcholine (100 nM), substance P (3 nM) and electrical stimulation (10 Hz for 0.3 s, 100 mA, 0.5 ms pulse duration). The effect of sodium rhein was also evaluated on the ascending excitatory reflex using a partitioned bath (oral and anal compartments). Ascending excitatory enteric nerve pathways were activated by electrical field stimulation (10 Hz for 2 s, 20 mA, 0.5 pulse duration) in the anal compartment and the resulting contraction of the guinea-pig intestinal circular muscle in the oral compartment was recorded. 2. Sodium rhein (0.3, 3 and 30 microM) significantly potentiated (52+/-11% at 30 microM) acetylcholine-induced contractions. In the presence of tetrodotoxin (0.6 microM) or omega-conotoxin GVIA (10 nM) sodium rhein (3 and 30 microM) did not enhance, but significantly reduced (49+/-10% and 44+/-8%, respectively, at 30 microM) acetylcholine-induced contractions. 3. Sodium rhein (0.3, 3 and 30 microM) significantly increased (65+/-11% at 30 microM) substance P-induced contractions. In the presence of tetrodotoxin (0.6 microM), omega-conotoxin GVIA (10 nM) or atropine (0.1 microM), sodium rhein (3 and 30 microM) significantly reduced (50+/-10%, 55+/-8% and 46+/-10%, respectively, at 30 microM) substance P-induced contractions. 4. NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 100 microM) abolished the potentiating effect of sodium rhein on acetylcholine and substance P-induced contractions. At the highest concentration (30 microM), sodium rhein, in presence of L-NAME, reduced the acetylcholine (30+/-6%)- or substance P (36+/-6%)-induced contractions. 5. Sodium rhein (30 microM) significantly potentiated (29+/-9%) the electrically-evoked contractions. L-NAME (100 microM), but not phentolamine, enhanced the effect of sodium rhein. Sodium rhein (30 microM) significantly increased (32+/-9%) the ascending excitatory reflex when applied in the oral, but not in the anal compartment. 6. These results indicate that sodium rhein (i) activates excitatory cholinergic nerves on circular smooth muscle presumably through a facilitation of Ca2+ entry through the N-type Ca2+ channel, (ii) has a direct inhibitory effect on circular smooth muscle and (iii) does not affect enteric ascending neuroneural transmission. Nitric oxide could have a modulatory excitatory role on sodium rhein-induced changes of agonist-induced contractions and an inhibitory modulator role on sodium rhein-induced changes of electrically-induced contractions.

Dual-wavelength emission from optically cascaded intersubband transitions

Dual-wavelength intersubband emission at 8 and 10 microm is reported in a three-level quantum-well system in which one electronic state is at the same time the lower level of the first optical transition and the upper level of the second. Results are presented for two different AlInAs/GaInAs quantum cascade structures featuring single-well active regions with two vertical transitions or double-well active regions with one diagonal and one vertical transition. Laser action has been achieved between the excited states of the single-well device and on the diagonal transition of the double-well structure. In the latter case the wavelength can be electric-field tuned by means of the Stark effect also above threshold.

Sensitive absorption spectroscopy with a room-temperature distributed-feedback quantum-cascade laser

We report what we believe are the first spectroscopic measurements to be made with a room-temperature quantum-cascade distributed-feedback laser. Using wavelength modulation spectroscopy, we detected N(2)O and CH(4) in the chemical fingerprint wavelength range near 8microm . The noise equivalent absorbance for our measurement was 5 parts in 10(5), limited by excess amplitude modulation on the laser output, which corresponds to a 1-Hz bandwidth detection limit of 250 parts N(2)O in 10(9) parts N(2) in a 1-m path length.

Pharmacological investigation of Cassia italica

In the present study, the ethanolic extract of the whole plant parts (root, stem leaves and pods) of Cassia italica (Mill.) Lam. ex F.W. Ander (Leguminosae) was investigated for bioactivities: namely anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, analgesic and prostaglandin (PG) release by rat peritoneal leucocytes, antineoplastic and antiviral. In rats, the extracts reduced carrageenin-induced paw swelling (100 mg/kg bw-31%) and fever (100 mg/kg bw-37%). The extract showed weak effect on writhing induced by acetic acid. A dose-dependent inhibition of PG release effect was observed using rat peritoneal leucocytes.