Search results for "HORMONES"

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 …

Postnatal Overfeeding in Rodents by Litter Size Reduction Induces Major Short- and Long-Term Pathophysiological Consequences

2013

Numerous studies have demonstrated that the early postnatal environment can influence body weight and energy homeostasis into adulthood. Rodents raised in small litters have been shown to be a useful experimental model to study the short- and long-term consequences of early overnutrition, which can lead to modifications not only in body weight but also of several metabolic features. Postnatal overfeeding (PNOF) induces early malprogramming of the hypothalamic system, inducing acquired persisting central leptin and insulin resistance and an increase in orexigenic signals. Visceral white adipose tissue, lipogenic activity, and inflammatory status are increased in PNOF rodents, while brown adi…

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…

A peek inside the neurosecretory brain throughOrthopedialenses

2008

The wealth of expression and functional data presented in this overview discloses the homeogene Orthopedia (Otp) as critical for the development of the hypothalamic neuroendocrine system of vertebrates. Specifically, the results depict the up-to-date portrait of the regulation and functions of Otp. The development of neuroendocrine nuclei relies on Otp from fish to mammals, as demonstrated for several peptide and hormone releasing neurons. Additionally, the activity of Otp is essential for the induction of the dopaminergic phenotype in the hypothalamus of vertebrates. Recent insights into the pathways required for Otp regulation have revealed the implication of the main extracellular signal…

Lack of binding of gestodene to estrogen receptor in human breast cancer tissue

1990

Competition studies with progesterone and estradiol receptors of human myometrial tissue as well as of mammary cancer tissue showed that gestodene bound with high affinity to the progesterone receptor, as did other synthetic and natural progestogens. However, gestodene did not bind to the estradiol receptor. The relative binding affinities of all tested synthetic and natural ligands showed no organ-specific differences and no differences between neoplastically transformed and normal tissues.

Current perspectives on parathyroid hormone (PTH) and PTH-related protein (PTHrP) as bone anabolic therapies.

2013

Osteoporosis is characterized by low bone mineral density and/or poor bone microarchitecture leading to an increased risk of fractures. The skeletal alterations in osteoporosis are a consequence of a relative deficit of bone formation compared to bone resorption. Osteoporosis therapies have mostly relied on antiresorptive drugs. An alternative therapeutic approach for osteoporosis is currently available, based on the intermittent administration of parathyroid hormone (PTH). Bone anabolism caused by PTH therapy is mainly accounted for by the ability of PTH to increase osteoblastogenesis and osteoblast survival. PTH and PTH-related protein (PTHrP)-an abundant local factor in bone- interact wi…

Pubertal maturation in girls treated for childhood acute leukaemia.

1991

Eleven girlds treated during childhood for acute leukaemia were followed up during their pubertal development. At each examination weight, height, pubertal stage, FSH, LH, oestradiol, testosterone, androstenedione and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate levels were evaluated. Clinical and endocrinological studies were performed according to age and pubertal stage and compared to those of healthy girls matched for age and pubertal stage. Results showed that pubertal maturation and gonadal function were not affected by oncotherapy; however menarche was attained earlier. Early menarche was explained by the overweight of treated girls during early puberty. No evidence of early hypothalamic activati…

Non-functioning parathyroid cystic tumour: malignant or not? Report of a case

2017

Parathyroid carcinoma (PC) is a very rare endocrine tumour, usually characterized by symptoms such as a neck mass, dysphonia, severe hypercalcemia exceeding 140 mg/L and elevated serum parathyroid hormone levels, even more than 5 times the upper limit of normal. Non-functioning parathyroid cancer is extremely rare and, in this case, its pre-operative diagnosis is often difficult. A 54-year old female patient, referring dysphagia and dysphonia, underwent neck ultrasound and neck CT. A left thyroid nodule, probably cystic, was found. It presented caudal extent on anterior mediastinum causing compression of the left lateral wall of the trachea. The preoperative calcemia was into the normal ran…