The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of inactivation of ventral tegmental area (VTA) projection neurons, while sparing fibers of passage, on maternal behavior in rats. Because VTA neurons contain GABA-A and GABA-B receptors, the effects of muscimol or baclofen were studied. Although bilateral injections of either drug into the VTA disrupted maternal behavior, it is likely that they did so through different underlying mechanisms. Muscimol disrupted both retrieval of pups and nursing behavior, while causing stereotyped motor activity. Baclofen disrupted retrieval behavior without affecting nursing behavior, and control injections of baclofen into the region dorsal to VTA were ineffective. The effects of VTA baclofen on maternal behavior are similar to the effects of interference with mesolimbic dopamine (DA) function. The case is made that muscimol probably caused a hyperexcitation of VTA DA neurons through a process of disinhibition. In contrast, baclofen may have depressed the activity of all VTA projection neurons, including VTA DA neurons. Baclofen is a promising tool to explore whether medial preoptic area neurons interact with VTA neurons to control active maternal responses.

A three-point strategy including performing procedures with therapeutic Warfarin, using a small gauge needle to obtain vascular access and eliminating femoral arterial access significantly reduced major vascular access complications and did not affect other major complications, during catheter ablation of AF. Implementation of this strategy may be useful to reduce groin complications resulting from AF ablation.

Our data confirm low use of sun protection among fifth-graders. Future research should explore how public health success in increasing prevalence of other preventive health behaviors may be applied to enhance sun protection messages. Identifying risk factors for poor adherence enables providers to target patients who need more education. Improving educational policies and content in schools may be an effective way to address sun safety.