Search results for "Agoni"

Gastrin: an acid-releasing, proliferative and immunomodulatory peptide?

2010

Gastrin release is affected by gastric inflammatory conditions. Antral G cells respond to inflammatory mediators by increasing gastrin secretion. Accumulating experimental evidence suggests that gastrin exerts immunomodulatory and proinflammatory effects. Gastrin could be a contributing factor to these pathologies, which may constitute a new justification for pharmacological blockade of gastrin action.

Appetite and Obesity

2011

Orexin (hypocretin) plays an important role in promoting wakefulness [1]. It stimulates wakefulness when injected in the cerebral ventricles, in the periventricular nucleus, dorsomedial hypothalamus, or lateral hypothalamus [2, 3]. Orexinergic neurons originate from the lateral hypothalamus and have projections to most parts of the central nervous system including the brain stem. The lack of orexin and/or orexin receptors is linked to narcolepsy [4–6].

Leptin and Leptin Receptor Are Expressed in the Human Endometrium and Endometrial Leptin Secretion Is Regulated by the Human Blastocyst1

2000

Embryonic implantation is a crucial event for the human reproductive function. Cytokines and paracrine molecules have been proposed as putative local regulators of this process. The leptin or the OB protein has been linked to the reproductive function and inflammatory response. In the present study, we describe for the first time the expression of leptin and leptin receptor (long form) in the secretory endometrium and that endometrial leptin secretion is regulated in vitro by the human blastocyst. Leptin and leptin receptor messenger RNA and protein were identified in secretory endometrium and in cultured endometrial epithelial cells (EECs) by RT-PCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry.…

Impairment of leptin/leptin receptor pathway in nasal epithelium from allergic turbinates

2016

BACKGROUND: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is characterized by a remodeling of nasal epithelium. Leptin adipokine has been already identified as a marker of homeostasis in human bronchial epithelial of asthmatics. TGF-β is a multi-functional cytokine and conflicting findings exist regarding its role in the remodeling responses of the upper airways in allergic rhinitis. OBJECTIVE: We sought to investigate ex-vivo the expression of leptin/leptin receptor pathway and TGF-β in human nasal epithelium. METHODS: 41 biopsies of inferior turbinates obtained from allergic patients with AR (A, n = 20) and from healthy control subjects (C, n = 21) were analyzed for leptin/leptin receptor and for TGF-β 1, 2, 3 …

The phototransduction cascade in the isolated chick pineal gland revisited.

2003

It is well established that the isolated chick pineal gland is directly light sensitive and that melatonin synthesis of the gland can be inhibited by exposing the gland to light during scotophase. Since not all the steps of the phototransduction cascade have been clarified to the same extent as in the retina, we have treated isolated chick pineal glands with 90 min of light during scotophase and with drugs that affect key-components of vertebrate phototransduction, i.e., cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) phosphodiesterase 6 (PDE6), cGMP levels and cGMP-gated calcium channels. The endpoint measured was the activity of the rate-limiting enzyme of melatonin synthesis, arylalkylamine N-acet…

Refractory Death Rattle: Deep Aspiration Facilitates the Effects of Antisecretory Agents

2011

Anticholinergic drugs, including atropine, hyoscine butylbromide, and scopolamine, have been shown to be equally effective in the treatment of death rattle. However, anticholinergic drugs may only be effective in reducing the production of further secretions, rather than eliminating the existing ones. A case is described in which a preventive procedure was undertaken to carefully eliminate secretions before starting anticholinergic drugs. Airway aspiration under light anesthesia removed secretions before starting anticholinergic drugs. Low doses of propofol were given intravenously to make a laryngoscopy feasible, allowing the complete aspiration of large amounts of tracheal secretions. No …

Exploring gastric emptying rate in minipigs: Effect of food type and pre-dosing of metoclopramide.

2018

The present study investigated the gastric emptying rate in Gottingen minipigs pre- and post-prandial and evaluated the effect of metoclopramide on the same parameter, using paracetamol as an absorption marker. The pharmacokinetic evaluation of the obtained plasma concentration data for paracetamol demonstrated that the fastest gastric emptying rate was observed in the animals that were allowed access to normal pig food. There was no significant difference in the stomach emptying rate observed between fasted and fed minipigs, when fed either with a FDA standard breakfast or a nutritional energy drink. Pre-dosing minipigs with metoclopramide (0.2 or 0.4 mg/kg) did not demonstrate any effect …

Chronical haloperidol and clozapine treatment in rats: Differential RNA display analysis, behavioral studies and serum level determination

1998

1. Adult, female rats were treated orally for 23 days with 1.6 mg/kg haloperidol or 36 mg/kg clozapine per day, to study chronic effects of the two neuroleptics. 2. At five time points during the neuroleptic treatment, animal behavior was recorded in an open field and locomotive activity was analysed. At the end of the experiment, rats were decapitated, blood samples were collected and serum concentrations of haloperidol and clozapine were determined by a radioreceptor or HPLC assay, respectively. RNA was isolated from each brain, without cerebellum, and subjected to differential RNA display. 3. Mean serum concentrations were 8 ng/ml for haloperidol and 21 ng/ml for clozapine. Analysis of o…

2012

Background and Purpose Diagnosis of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) can be challenging, but it is highly relevant in patients presenting with sinus rhythm and acute cerebral ischemia. We aimed to evaluate prospectively whether natriuretic peptide levels and kinetics identify patients with paroxysmal AF. Methods Patients with acute cerebral ischemia were included into the prospective observational Find-AF study. N-terminal pro brain-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), brain-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and N-terminal pro atrial-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proANP) plasma levels were measured on admission, after 6 and 24 hours. Patients free from AF at presentation received 7 day Holt…

Migraine and cluster headache – the common link

2018

Abstract Although clinically distinguishable, migraine and cluster headache share prominent features such as unilateral pain, common pharmacological triggers such glyceryl trinitrate, histamine, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and response to triptans and neuromodulation. Recent data also suggest efficacy of anti CGRP monoclonal antibodies in both migraine and cluster headache. While exact mechanisms behind both disorders remain to be fully understood, the trigeminovascular system represents one possible common pathophysiological pathway and network of both disorders. Here, we review past and current literature shedding light on similarities and differences in phenotype, heritability…