The Saku Central Hospital classified muscular relaxants, potassium products and the like as “high-risk medicines”, but when it came to insulin, did not take any standardized measure against it to prevent accidents. Having organized a team of personnel from a wide variety of job, our hospital has recently carried out a campaign for improvements in medical care. With pharmacists playing a leading role, we grappled with measures for the prevention of errors in the administration of insulin using quality control (QC) methods. As a consequence, the campaign served to decrease the number of medical mistakes. As there still occur many incidents involving medication, the role played in risk management by pharmacists remains significant. In future, pharmacists will hopefully play a constructive role in risk management to prevent medical incidents involving medical supplies. That said, a campaign for improvements inmedical care through the practical use of QC methods seems likely to bring about favorable results.
Role ; Quality Control ; Analysis ; Avoidance ; ERROR

OBJECTIVES: Schizophrenia patients have deficits of prediction and learning related to dopaminergic dysfunction. It is hypothesized that there would be different characteristics in associative learning of reward approach and loss aversion between controls and patients. METHODS: Participants were 23 healthy participants and 20 out-patients fulfilling criteria for schizophrenia according DSM-IV-TR. Using a monetary incentive contingency reversal task, successful learning rates, numbers of trials and errors till learning, numbers of trials of maintaining learning, response times were measured. Characteristics of learning were compared between controls and patients. RESULTS: Physical anhedonia and PANSS negative symptom scores correlated with the number of trials while loss aversion was maintained. Overall correct response rates were decreased in patient group, particularly during reward approach learning. Patients required more trials and errors to learn reward approach than controls. There were no significant differences in learning performance and reaction times between groups during loss avoidance learning. CONCLUSION: These results support previous reports of deficits in reward-driven learning in schizophrenia. However, anhedonia and negative symptoms were associated with the preserved function of loss avoidance learning.
Anhedonia ; Avoidance Learning ; Humans ; Learning ; Motivation ; Outpatients ; Reaction Time ; Reinforcement (Psychology) ; Reward ; Schizophrenia

This study was performed to evaluate the effects of serotonin and choline on the memory function in rat model of depression. Chronic exposure to mild unpredictable stress was found to depress the consumption of sweet 1% sucrose solution in the Sprague-Dawley rats. We identified depressive behaviours in 27 Sprague-Dawley rats. Rats in experiments were stratified into 3 groups, ie, fluoxetine with choline, choline, and saline control. Memory function was evaluated by passive avoidance learning and retention tests. We evaluated how long memory retention would remain improved at training-testing intervals of 1 day, 1 week, 2 week, 3 week, and 4 week in depressive state of the Sprague-Dawley rats during 4 weeks of experimental drugs treatment. The results were as follows: 1) The fluoxetine with choline-treated group showed significant differences in the maintenance of retention from the saline control at 1, 2, 3, and 4 week training-testing interval. 2) The choline-treated group showed significant differences in the maintenance of retention from the saline control at 3 and 4 week training-testing interval. In summary, the combined treatment of fluoxetine with choline showed earlier effects on memory function compared with choline alone in the passive avoidance retention test in the animal model of depression. We suggest that there are synergistic interaction between serotonin and choline in the long term memory function in rat model of depression.
Animals ; Avoidance Learning* ; Choline* ; Depression ; Fluoxetine* ; Memory ; Models, Animal ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Serotonin ; Sucrose

Despite some innate limitations, animal models are a potent investigative tool when used to model specific symptoms of a disorder. For example, MK-801, an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist, is used as a pharmacological tool to induce symptoms found in some neuropsychiatric disorders. However, a close examination of literature suggests that the application window of MK-801 doses is relatively narrow between individual behavioral paradigms, necessitating careful characterization of the evoked behavioral aberrations and the doses used to induce them. Moreover, variation in behaviors depending on the animal strain, gender of the subject, and the timing of administration is observed, making it difficult to compare the behavioral characteristics reported in different studies. We aim to characterize the behavioral aberrations induced by different doses of MK-801 in CD-1 mice and create a ready reference for future studies. We used CD-1 mice to recapitulate behavioral impairments resulting from acute administration of MK-801. In 0.1 mg kg⁻¹, we observed diminished spontaneous alteration during the Y-maze test, while 0.12 mg kg⁻¹ resulted in hyperlocomotion and social deficit. Mice treated with 0.2 and 0.3 mg kg⁻¹ of MK-801 demonstrated a decreased self-grooming. Finally, all doses significantly impaired cliff avoidance behaviors suggesting increased impulsivity. These results affirm that MK-801 can effectively model various symptoms of different neuropsychiatric disorders in a dose-dependent manner. The observed sensitivity against spatial-memory impairment and impulsive behaviors at low concentration of MK-801 suggest that MK801 may modulate cognitive function and impulsivity in even lower concentration before it can modulate other behavioral domains.
Animals ; Avoidance Learning ; Cognition ; Dizocilpine Maleate ; Impulsive Behavior ; Mice ; Models, Animal ; N-Methylaspartate

The purpose of the present study is to explore the relationship of spatial learning ability and specific electrical activities of neural oscillations in the rat. The fast and general avoidance response groups were selected on the basis of the animals' responses to the electric shock in Y type maze, and their local field potentials (LFPs) of hippocampal CA3 area were recorded by wireless telemetry before and after shock avoidance training, respectively. The components of neural oscillations related to spatial identifying and learning ability were analyzed. The results showed that, compared with the general avoidance response group, the fast avoidance response group did not show any differences of LFPs in hippocampal CA3 area before electric shock avoidance trial, but showed significantly increased percentages of 0-10 Hz and 30-40 Hz rhythm in right hippocampal CA3 area after the shock avoidance training (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). Fast Fourier transform showed that percentage increase of 0-10 Hz band occurred mainly in θ (3-7 Hz) frequency, and 30-40 Hz frequency change was equivalent to the γ1 band. Furthermore, compared with those before training, only the percentages of β, β2 (20-30 Hz) and γ1 rhythm increased (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05) in fast avoidance response rats after training, while the θ rhythm percentage remained unchanged. In contrast, θ rhythm percentage and the large amplitude (intensity: +2.5 - -2.5 db) θ waves in right CA3 area of general avoidance response rats were significantly reduced after training (P < 0.01). These results suggest that the increased percentages of β2 and γ1 rhythm and high-level (unchanged) percentage of θ rhythm in the right hippocampus CA3 area might be related to strong spatial cognition ability of fast avoidance response rats.
Animals ; Avoidance Learning ; Beta Rhythm ; CA3 Region, Hippocampal ; physiology ; Electroshock ; Gamma Rhythm ; Rats ; Spatial Learning ; Theta Rhythm

Chronic stress leads to many psychiatric disorders, including social and anxiety disorders that are associated with over-activation of neurons in the basolateral amygdala (BLA). However, not all individuals develop psychiatric diseases, many showing considerable resilience against stress exposure. Whether BLA neuronal activity is involved in regulating an individual's vulnerability to stress remains elusive. In this study, using a mouse model of chronic social defeat stress (CSDS), we divided the mice into susceptible and resilient subgroups based on their social interaction behavior. Using in vivo fiber photometry and in vitro patch-clamp recording, we showed that CSDS persistently (after 20 days of recovery from stress) increased BLA neuronal activity in all the mice regardless of their susceptible or resilient nature, although impaired social interaction behavior was only observed in susceptible mice. Increased anxiety-like behavior, on the other hand, was evident in both groups. Notably, the CSDS-induced increase of BLA neuronal activity correlated well with the heightened anxiety-like but not the social avoidance behavior in mice. These findings provide new insight to our understanding of the role of neuronal activity in the amygdala in mediating stress-related psychiatric disorders.
Amygdala ; Animals ; Anxiety/etiology* ; Anxiety Disorders ; Avoidance Learning ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Social Behavior ; Stress, Psychological/complications*

Animals ; Avoidance Learning ; physiology ; Cues ; Extinction, Psychological ; physiology ; Fear ; physiology ; Male ; Mental Recall ; physiology ; Rats ; Sleep Deprivation ; physiopathology ; Sleep, REM ; physiology

AIMTo study the effects of yi-zhi II (a compond of Chinese Traditional Medicine) on the alteration of synaptic structure in hippocampal CA3 and maintenance of memoy.

METHODSBy using the method of oral administration of yi-zhi II, the step-through test and electron microscopy, the latency of step-through and synaptic structure in hippocamal CA3 were tested.

RESULTS(1) The mice which had been given yi-zhi II prolong significantly the latency of step through (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) on the 1st, 6th and 12th day after learning. (2) On the 6th and 12th day after learning, the length of synaptic active zone were markly improved in yi-zhi II and control, but that of yi-zhi II was better than that of control. (On the 6th day after learning, the number of perforated synapses and axo-dendrite synapses were significantly improved by the yi-zhi II (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe yi-zhi II could improve the learning and memory in mice. It migth improve the memory by increasing the length of synaptic active zone and the number of perforated synapses and axo-dendrite synapses in hippocampal CA3.

Animals ; Avoidance Learning ; drug effects ; CA3 Region, Hippocampal ; drug effects ; physiology ; Chromosome Pairing ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Male ; Memory ; drug effects ; Mice ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of amygdala kindled seizures on memory retention of passive-avoidance test in rats.

METHODSChronic kindled seizures were achieved by daily application of electric stimulations on amygdala until the occurrence of 3 consecutive convulsive seizures. Then a passive-avoidance test was performed to measure memory retention ability in rats; another group of rats received an electric stimulation on amygdala 5 min before the training trail to observe the effects of acute seizure attack on memory retention ability.

RESULTIn the training trail and the 1st day of the test trail, there was no difference in the latency to enter dark compartment between chronic kindled seizure group and its corresponding control group. However, the latency significantly increased at the 5 th day of test trail. In addition, the latency of acute seizure attack group rats significantly decreased at the 1 st day and 5 th day of test trail.

CONCLUSIONChronic amygdala kindled seizures increase memory retention of passive-avoidance test in rats, and acute seizure attack impairs this action.

Amygdala ; physiology ; Animals ; Avoidance Learning ; Electric Stimulation ; Kindling, Neurologic ; physiology ; Male ; Memory ; physiology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Seizures ; physiopathology

Progress of studies concerning the protective effect of ginsenoside on central nerve system (CNS) in animals and its mechanism published in recent decade were reviewed in this paper. It showed that ginsenosides could improve the learning capacity and memory in normal, aged animals, as well as in model animals with impaired memory. The mechanism of the protective effect on CNS involves the effects on calcium channel blockade, glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid, antiperoxidation, estrogen-like action, nitric oxide and its synthase, also the inhibition on cerebral nerve cell apoptosis and amelioration on mitochondrial dysfunction, etc.
Aging ; drug effects ; Animals ; Avoidance Learning ; drug effects ; Ginsenosides ; pharmacology ; Memory ; drug effects ; Memory Disorders ; drug therapy ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; metabolism