Search results for "DISCOVERY"

COVID-19 Vaccine: A Survey of Hesitancy in Patients with Celiac Disease

2021

(1) Background: COVID-19 vaccination campaigns offer the best hope of controlling the pandemic. However, the fast production of COVID-19 vaccines has caused concern among the general public regarding their safety and efficacy. In particular, patients with chronic illnesses, such as celiac disease (CD), may be more fearful. Information on vaccine hesitancy plays a pivotal role in the development of an efficient vaccination campaign. In our study, we aimed to evaluate COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among Italian CD patients. (2) Methods: an anonymous questionnaire was sent to CD patients followed at our tertiary referral center for CD in Milan, Italy. Patients were defined as willing, hesitant an…

Effects of nicotine receptor agonists on acetylcholine release from the isolated motor nerve, small intestine and trachea of rats and guinea-pigs

1992

The effects of nicotine receptor agonists on the release of [3H]acetylcholine from the phrenic nerve, the small intestine and the trachea were investigated to characterize neuronal nicotine receptors within the peripheral nervous system. Contraction of the indirectly-stimulated hemidiaphragm was recorded to investigate desensitization of the postsynaptic muscular nicotine receptors. Nicotine, cytisine, 1,1-dimethyl-4-phenylpiperazinium and 2-(4-aminophenyl)-ethyl-trimethyl-ammoniumiodide caused a concentration-dependent (0.1-30 microM) increase in evoked [3H]acetylcholine release from the phrenic nerve, whereby bell-shaped concentration-response curves were obtained. The rank order of decre…

Models for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a link with vascular risk.

2008

Non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is often part of the metabolic syndrome which includes central obesity, dyslipidaemia, insulin resistance/type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension. In turn, NAFLD may be associated with an increased vascular risk. Several experimental models which express histological steatosis or steatohepatitis with fibrosis have been described. This review identifies those models of NAFLD with features of vascular risk.

Unpredictable Performance of pH-Dependent Coatings Accentuates the Need for Improved Predictive in Vitro Test Systems.

2017

First introduced in the second half of the 19th century, enteric coatings are commonly used to protect acid-labile drugs, reduce the risk of gastric side effects due to irritating drugs, or for local drug delivery to the lower gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The currently available enteric-coatings are based on pH-sensitive weakly acidic polymers. Despite the long history of their use, the causes behind their performance often being unpredictable have not been properly investigated with most of the attention being focused only on the gastric emptying. However, little attention has been given to the postgastric emptying disintegration and dissolution of these dosage forms. This lack of attentio…

Cocaine and MDMA Induce Cellular and Molecular Changes in Adult Neurogenic Systems: Functional Implications

2011

The capacity of the brain to generate new adult neurons is a recent discovery that challenges the old theory of an immutable adult brain. A new and fascinating field of research now focuses on this regenerative process. The two brain systems that constantly produce new adult neurons, known as the adult neurogenic systems, are the dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus and the lateral ventricules/olfactory bulb system. Both systems are involved in memory and learning processes. Different drugs of abuse, such as cocaine and MDMA, have been shown to produce cellular and molecular changes that affect adult neurogenesis. This review summarizes the effects that these drugs have on the adult neurog…

Endothelial dysfunction in morbid obesity.

2013

Morbid obesity is a chronic multifunctional disease characterized by an accumulation of fat. Epidemiological studies have shown that obesity is associated with cardiovascular and metabolic disorders. Endothelial dysfunction, as defined by an imbalance between relaxing and contractile endothelial factors, plays a central role in the pathogenesis of these cardiometabolic diseases. Diminished bioavailability of nitric oxide (NO) contributes to endothelial dysfunction and impairs endothelium- dependent vasodilatation. But this is not the only mechanism that drives to endothelial dysfunction. Obesity has been associated with a chronic inflammatory process, atherosclerosis, and oxidative stress. …

Splenic respiratory gas exchange and glucose uptake in patients with splenomegaly in hypersplenism and Hodgkin's disease.

1977

Blood samples are taken from the splenic artery, vein and pulp of patients suffering from Hodgkin's disease (n=10) or hypersplenism (n=7) and undergoing splenectomy. In these samples, the relevant parameters of the respiratory gas exchange as well as glucose and lactate concentrations are determined. In hypersplenism (mean splenic wet weight: 543 g) the mean oxygen consumption of the splenic tissue amounts to 0.9 ml O2/100 g/min taking into account a mean splenic blood flow of 80 ml/100 g/min. The glucose uptake and the lactate release are 9 mg/100 g/min and 5.5 mg/100 g/min, respectively. These values are in close agreement with the results obtained in the normal and undisturbed spleen in …

�ber die unterschiedliche Wirkung von Follikelhormon und Stilbenen auf die Gonadotropinaussch�ttung der Rattenhypophyse

1955

Microbial technologies for the discovery of novel bioactive metabolites

2002

Soil microbes represent an important source of biologically active compounds. These molecules present original and unexpected structure and are selective inhibitors of their molecular targets. At Biosearch Italia, discovery of new bioactive molecules is mostly carried out through the exploitation of a proprietary strain collection of over 50000 strains, mostly unusual genera of actinomycetes and uncommon filamentous fungi. A critical element in a drug discovery based on microbial extracts is the isolation of unexploited groups of microorganisms that are at the same time good producers of secondary metabolites. Molecular genetics can assist in these efforts. We will review the development an…

Die Bildung von Leber- und Muskelglykogen aus Xylit, Sorbit und Glucose bei gesunden und alloxandiabetischen Ratten

1963

Xylit, Sorbit und Glucose konnen bei Infusion an hungernde Ratten in gleichem Umfang zur Synthese von Leberglykogen verwendet werden. Dies gilt sowohl fur gesunde als auch fur alloxandiabetische Ratten. Auch bei alloxandiabetischen Ratten wird bei dieser Versuchsanordnung Glucose unvermindert zur Synthese von Leberglykogen verwendet. Weder bei gesunden noch alloxandiabetischen Ratten findet man eine signifikante Bildung von Muskelglykogen aus Sorbit oder Xylit. Aus Glucose kann Muskelglykogen nur bei gesunden Tieren, nicht aber bei diabetischen gebildet werden.