Calcium influx is an absolute requirement for the physiological acrosome reaction in sperm from all sources examined, both invertebrate and mammalian. Pharmacological studies suggest that the major channel in the sperm head plasma membrane responsible for modulating calcium entry and intracellular ionized calcium levels could be either an L-type (a class of high voltage-activated) or a T-type (...

The lateral superior olive (LSO) is the primary auditory nucleus for processing of interaural sound level differences, which is one of the major cues for sound localization. During development, survival and maturation of LSO neurons critically depend on synaptic activity and intracellular calcium signaling. Before hearing onset, glutamatergic synaptic inputs from the cochlear nucleus (CN) to th...

Although calcium antagonists exert preferential vasodilation of renal afferent arterioles, we have recently demonstrated that nilvadipine and efonidipine, possessing both L-type and T-type calcium channel blocking action, reverse the angiotensin (Ang) II-induced afferent and efferent arteriolar constriction. In the present study, we investigated the role of T-type calcium channels in mediating ...

Although calcium antagonists are used as a first-line antihypertensive agent, controversy attends the renal microvascular effects of calcium antagonists. Since calcium antagonists elicit predominant vasodilation of the afferent arteriole, they might ostensibly aggravate glomerular hypertension. Recently, novel types of calcium antagonists have been developed, some of which are reported to dilat...

BACKGROUND Perioperative bronchospasm refractory to β agonists continues to challenge anesthesiologists and intensivists. The TMEM16A calcium-activated chloride channel modulates airway smooth muscle (ASM) contraction. The authors hypothesized that TMEM16A antagonists would relax ASM contraction by modulating membrane potential and calcium flux. METHODS Human ASM, guinea pig tracheal rings, o...

Pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas are catecholamine-producing neoplasms that can cause life-threatening hemodynamic instability, particularly intraoperatively, when the tumor is manipulated. Preoperative medical management reduces both preoperative morbidity and mortality. The current review discusses the latest literature on preoperative management. Preoperative strategies include a nonsele...

The American College of Cardiology-American Heart Association Committee recommends first line beta-adrenergic blocking agents for chronic stable effort angina. This article reassesses some critical evidence that is new or could have been neglected by the Committee. In particular, the putative role of calcium channel blocking agents (CCBs) is reexamined. Additional evidence is culled from articl...

OBJECTIVE To determine target blood pressure attainment and to evaluate blood pressure control relative to type of therapy among diabetic hypertensive patients. METHODOLOGY An observational retrospective study of all diabetic hypertensive patients visiting Al-Watani governmental medical center from August 01, 2006 until August 01, 2007. The blood pressure (BP) measurement made during the pati...

US Office-Based Physicians To the Editor: We read with great interest the article by Nelson and Knapp1 on the trends of antihypertensive therapy by US office-based physicians. Their findings are clearly significant, but some of their conclusions are not supported by the data presented. The authors state that “physician antihypertensive drug prescribing was generally consistent with the basic an...