The role of protein kinase C in thromboxane A2-induced pulmonary artery vasoconstriction.

In order to determine if protein kinase C (PKC) plays a significant role in the stimulant action of thromboxane A2 (TxA2) on pulmonary vascular smooth muscle, TxA(2)-induced contractile responses were measured following inhibition of PKC. Rabbits were sacrificed and segments of the main trunk of the pulmonary artery were removed and placed within a temperature-controlled (37 degrees C) organ bath. Contractile responses that were evoked by a TxA2 mimetic (U46,619, 0.5 microM) decreased by 27 and 35% following treatment with the PKC inhibitors, calphostin C (2 microM) and staurosporine (200 nM), respectively. These results account for the effect of the vehicle, DMSO, which was also found to have a concentration-dependent inhibitory effect on the U46,619-induced contractions. The effects of DMSO alone was subsequently subtracted from the previously measured responses to PKC inhibitors that were dissolved in DMSO to obtain effects attributable to the PKC inhibitor alone. It can therefore be concluded that inhibition of PKC results in partial attenuation of U46,619-induced responses supporting the hypothesis that activation of PKC plays a partial role in TxA2-induced contraction of pulmonary arterial smooth muscle.

A case study in planning staff development. What do teachers really need?

Through individual interviews and small focus groups, teachers, support staff, parents, students and administrators participated in a training needs assessment (TNA). The purpose of the TNA was to seek information about actual or current performance of teachers signing skills, the optimal performance desired, feelings, causes of performance problems and possible solutions from a variety of perspectives. All TNA participants provided information about how the program may help to motivate, facilitate and enhance teachers' communication skills in the classroom. The use of the TNA was an effort to collaborate with teachers rather than criticize them for their level of signing skills. The case study demonstrated that staff development alone was not the remedy for performance problems and that other factors contributed to teacher performance.

Managing codependent behaviors--a key to empowerment.

Managers may unwittingly hamper employee empowerment when their own work styles encourage codependent behaviors among staff. Identifying and understanding the different ways in which people respond to others in the workplace can enhance management and employee growth.

Ulcerative cholecystitis produced by 3-nitro-4-hydroxy-phenylarsonic acid toxicosis in turkey poults.

Naturally occurring ulcerative cholecystitis was present in a flock of 21-day-old turkey hens that were accidentally given at least 0.004% 3-nitro-4-hydroxy-phenylarsonic acid (3-NITRO) in their water for 2 days. Similar lesions were reproduced by administering 0.002% 3-NITRO to 2-day-old turkey poults for 6 days. Turkeys 31 days old were given up to 0.004% 3-NITRO in their water for 6 days, but no gall bladder ulcers were present in these poults. The toxicity to turkeys of 3-NITRO in the water appears to be age-dependent.