Search results for " ADR"

Role of α1-adrenoceptor subtypes on corneal epithelial thickness and cell proliferation in mice

2018

Adrenergic stimuli are important for corneal epithelial structure and healing. The purpose of the present study was to examine the hypothesis that the lack of a single α1-adrenoceptor (α1-AR) subtype affects corneal epithelial thickness and cell proliferation. Expression levels of α1-AR mRNA were determined in mouse cornea using real-time PCR. In mice devoid of one of the three α1-AR subtypes (α1A-AR−/−, α1B-AR−/−, α1D-AR−/−) and in wild-type controls, thickness of individual corneal layers, the number of epithelial cell layers, and average epithelial cell size were determined in cryosections. Endothelial cell density and morphology were calculated in corneal explants, and epithelial cell p…

Iron-loaded transferrin (Tf) is detrimental whereas iron-free Tf confers protection against brain ischemia by modifying blood Tf saturation and subse…

2018

Despite transferrin being the main circulating carrier of iron in body fluids, and iron overload conditions being known to worsen stroke outcome through reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced damage, the contribution of blood transferrin saturation (TSAT) to stroke brain damage is unknown. The objective of this study was to obtain evidence on whether TSAT determines the impact of experimental ischemic stroke on brain damage and whether iron-free transferrin (apotransferrin, ATf)-induced reduction of TSAT is neuroprotective. We found that experimental ischemic stroke promoted an early extravasation of circulating iron-loaded transferrin (holotransferrin, HTf) to the ischemic brain parenchyma.…

Glycometabolic Alterations in Secondary Adrenal Insufficiency: Does Replacement Therapy Play a Role?

2018

Secondary adrenal insufficiency (SAI) is a potentially life-threatening endocrine disorder due to an impairment of corticotropin (ACTH) secretion from any process affecting the hypothalamus or pituitary gland. ACTH deficit can be isolated or associated with other pituitary failures (hypopituitarism). An increased mortality due to cardiovascular, metabolic, and infectious diseases has been described in both primary and secondary adrenal insufficiency. However, few studies have provided compelling evidences on the underlying mechanism in SAI, because of the heterogeneity of the condition. Recently, some studies suggested that inappropriate glucocorticoid (GCs) replacement therapy, as for dose…

Cardiac and vascular alpha(1)-adrenoceptors in congestive heart failure: a systematic review

2020

As heart failure (HF) is a devastating health problem worldwide, a better understanding and the development of more effective therapeutic approaches are required. HF is characterized by sympathetic system activation which stimulates α- and β-adrenoceptors (ARs). The exposure of the cardiovascular system to the increased locally released and circulating levels of catecholamines leads to a well-described downregulation and desensitization of β-ARs. However, information on the role of α-AR is limited. We have performed a systematic literature review examining the role of both cardiac and vascular α1-ARs in HF using 5 databases for our search. All three α1-AR subtypes (α1A, α1B and α1D) are exp…

The Role of Adrenoceptors in the Retina

2020

The retina is a part of the central nervous system, a thin multilayer with neuronal lamination, responsible for detecting, preprocessing, and sending visual information to the brain. Many retinal diseases are characterized by hemodynamic perturbations and neurodegeneration leading to vision loss and reduced quality of life. Since catecholamines and respective bindings sites have been characterized in the retina, we systematically reviewed the literature with regard to retinal expression, distribution and function of alpha1 (α1)-, alpha2 (α2)-, and beta (β)-adrenoceptors (ARs). Moreover, we discuss the role of the individual adrenoceptors as targets for the treatment of retinal diseases.

Neuropeptide Y effects on pineal melatonin synthesis in the rat

1987

Neuropeptide Y (NPY)-like immunoreactivity is present in the rodent pineal gland. To elucidate possible effects on pineal melatonin synthesis NPY (5 nmol/kg body wt.) was injected into the common carotid artery of male rats. Activities of the melatonin biosynthetic enzymes, serotonin N-acetyltransferase (NAT) and hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase (HIOMT) were determined by means of radioenzymatic methods. Intact light-exposed animal showed increased NAT activity at day- and at nighttime. Blinded animals showed a more than 10-fold reduction of NAT activity after nocturnal NPY injections. HIOMT activity was only slightly influenced at either time. These results are discussed in terms of the p…

Symptom variability and control in COPD: Advantages of dual bronchodilation therapy

2017

Abstract Background Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a heterogeneous disorder characterized by usually progressive development of airflow obstruction that is not fully reversible. While most patients will experience symptoms throughout the day or in the morning upon awakening, many patients do not experience their symptoms as constant but report variability in symptoms during the course of the day or over time. Symptom variability adversely affects patients' health status and increases the risk of COPD exacerbations. Methods We examined data from the literature on symptom variability and control in patients with COPD, with focus on the use of inhaled bronchodilator therapy wi…

Role of Adrenomedullin in LSP-mediated lung injury

2014

‘La chiamiamo con entrambi i nomi’: eponimia ed eteronimia tra Nemesis e Adrasteia

2020

Prendendo le mosse da un passo di Ammiano Marcellino (XIV 11,25), che lascia emergere un’evidente sovrapposizione tra la figura di Adrasteia e quella Nemesis, il contributo si propone di esaminare le ragioni che hanno condotto le due potenze ad essere indicate l’una come l’eteronimo dell’altra. A partire dalle fonti di V secolo fino alla paremiografia e alla lessicografia di età imperiale si ricostruisce un percorso che si propone di mostrare gli accidenti e le molteplici variabili cui le logiche di denominazione del divino, nel mondo greco, possono essere soggette. Starting from a passage by Ammiano Marcellino (XIV 11,25), which reveals an evident overlap between the figure of Adrasteia an…

Trattamento laparoscopico del Mielolipoma surrenalico: caso clinico e revisione della letteratura.

2006

Adrenal myelolipoma is a rare benign, non-functioning tumor consisting of fat and hematopoietic tissues. In January 2005 we had observed an adrenal myelolipoma in 70 year old man. During the follow-up for bladder urothelioma, an abdominal CT revaled a well delineated 4x4 cm homogeneous fatty mass in the right suprarenal area with negative attenuation values. The functional study of adrenal gland was normal. The patient underwent videolaparoscopic right adrenalectomy (Gagner technique). Postoperative course was uneventful. The istological diagnosis showed adrenal myelolipoma. We conclude that videolaparoscopic adrenalectomy should be considered the gold standard treatment for benign adrenal …