Search results for "HORMONES"
showing 10 items of 1169 documents
Upregulation of activin-B and follistatin in pulmonary fibrosis: a translational study using human biopsies and a specific inhibitor in mouse fibrosi…
2014
Background: Activins are members of the TGF-ß superfamily of growth factors. First, we identified by expression array screening that activin-B and follistatin are upregulated in human idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Next, we wanted to clarify their specific role in lung fibrosis formation. Methods: We used specific antibodies for activin-A and -B subunits and follistatin to measure and localize their levels in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and control lung biopsies. To inhibit activin signaling, we used soluble activin type IIB receptor fused to the Fc portion of human IgG1 (sActRIIB-Fc) in two different mouse models of pulmonary fibrosis. Results: Activin-B and follistatin mRNA levels…
An uncommon presentation of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis: a case report
2013
Introduction Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis is a rare and potentially fatal disease if not readily diagnosed. Cerebral involvement is extremely rare and clinical presentation as hemorrhagic stroke is even rarer. Case presentation A 58-year-old Caucasian man was admitted to our medical unit because of a computed tomography-diagnosed hemorrhagic stroke with right-sided hemiparesis and fever. A chest computed tomography scan also revealed multiple bilateral pulmonary infiltrates; coronary artery, and carotid and left vertebral artery calcifications were also observed. Empiric antimicrobial therapy with cephalosporins was promptly undertaken; low-molecular-weight heparin was intr…
Respiratory manifestations of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Churg-Strauss)
2016
The respiratory manifestations of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) have not been studied in detail.In this retrospective multicentre study, EGPA was defined by asthma, eosinophilia and at least one new onset extra-bronchopulmonary organ manifestation of disease.The study population included 157 patients (mean±sd age 49.4±14.1 years), with a mean±sd blood eosinophil count of 7.4±6.4×109 L−1 at diagnosis. There was a mean±sd of 11.8±18.2 years from the onset of asthma to the diagnosis of EGPA, of 1.4±8.4 years from the first onset of peripheral eosinophilia to the diagnosis of EGPA, and of 7.4±6.4 years from EGPA diagnosis to the final visit. Despite inhaled and oral corti…
A cross-sectional, multicentre study of the therapeutic management of multiple sclerosis relapses in Italy.
2013
Despite the existence of therapeutic guidelines, management of multiple sclerosis relapse remains heterogeneous. Optimisation of relapse outcome demands an improved understanding of the neurologist's therapeutic attitude towards relapse management, which is the aim of this study. Neurologists from 13 multiple sclerosis centres completed a questionnaire every time they assessed multiple sclerosis relapses. The questionnaire requested a guided description of the relapse's clinical characteristics and an indication of the prescribed therapy, supported with up to 3 out of 20 suggested reasons. Over 3 months, 368 questionnaires were collected. Median percentage (%) of 21 relapses resulting in a …
Characteristics and management of primary and other immune thrombocytopenias: Spanish registry study
2017
The natural history and its modulation by treatments administered for immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) in the clinical practice remains unknown. In addition, little information is available on the characteristics and management of ITP in Spain. We conducted an observational, multicenter, registry in 70 Hematology Services from Spain between 2009 and 2011, which included children from 2 months of age and adults with primary ITP or another ITP diagnosed within the last 6 months (platelet count [PC] 484 patients were included (median [Q1, Q3] age 52 [29,74] years, 87.6% adults), 56% women, 10.5% with secondary ITP. Median (Q1, Q3) PC at diagnosis was 12 × 109/l (4, 32); 72% of patients had bleed…
Photoperiod effects on bombesin- and cholecystokinin-like immunoreactivity in the suprachiasmatic nuclei of the Djungarian hamster (Phodopus sungorus)
1991
The immunocytochemical distribution of the putative satiety peptides bombesin (BBS) and cholecystokinin (CCK) were studied in the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) of male and female Djungarian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus) held under either long (light/dark, LD 16:8 h) or short (LD 8:16) photoperiod. The animals were killed by perfusion with a fixative at the middle of the light period and the tissue was processed by routine immunohistochemical methods. Perikarya exhibiting BBS- or CCK-like immunoreactivity (LI) were found in the SCN of animals of all groups. Sex-related differences were not observed. In contrast, long-term exposure to short days decreased the number of neurons exhi…
Growth hormone potentiates thyroid hormone effects on post-exercise phosphocreatine recovery in skeletal muscle.
2012
International audience; OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine the respective impact of thyroxine and growth hormone on in vivo skeletal mitochondrial function assessed via post exercise phosphocreatine recovery. DESIGN: The hind leg muscles of 32 hypophysectomized rats were investigated using (31)P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy at rest and during the recovery period following a non tetanic stimulation of the sciatic nerve. Each rat was supplemented with hydrocortisone and was randomly assigned to one of the 4 groups: the group Hx was maintained in hypopituitarism., the group HxT was treated with 1 μg/100g/day of thyroxine (T4), the group HxG with 0.2 IU/kg/day of recomb…
Toxicological Profile of Ultrapure 2,2´,3,4,4´,5,5´-Heptachlorbiphenyl (PCB 180) in Adult Rats
2014
PCB 180 is a persistent non-dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyl (NDL-PCB) abundantly present in food and the environment. Risk characterization of NDL-PCBs is confounded by the presence of highly potent dioxin-like impurities. We used ultrapure PCB 180 to characterize its toxicity profile in a 28-day repeat dose toxicity study in young adult rats extended to cover endocrine and behavioral effects. Using a loading dose/maintenance dose regimen, groups of 5 males and 5 females were given total doses of 0, 3, 10, 30, 100, 300, 1000 or 1700 mg PCB 180/kg body weight by gavage. Dose-responses were analyzed using benchmark dose modeling based on dose and adipose tissue PCB concentrations. Body w…
GDF-15 predicts cardiovascular events in acute chest pain patients
2017
Background Treatment of patients presenting with possible acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is based on timely diagnosis and proper risk stratification aided by biomarkers. We aimed at evaluating the predictive value of GDF-15 in patients presenting with symptoms suggestive of AMI. Methods Consecutive patients presenting with suspected AMI were enrolled in three study centers. Cardiovascular events were assessed during a follow-up period of 6 months with a combined endpoint of death or MI. Results From the 1818 enrolled patients (m/f = 1208/610), 413 (22.7%) had an acute MI and 63 patients reached the combined endpoint. Patients with MI and patients with adverse outcome had higher GDF-15 le…
Being moved by listening to unfamiliar sad music induces reward‐related hormonal changes in empathic listeners
2021
Many people enjoy sad music, and the appeal for tragedy is widespread among the consumers of film and literature. The underlying mechanisms of such aesthetic experiences are not well understood. We tested whether pleasure induced by sad, unfamiliar instrumental music is explained with a homeostatic or a reward theory, each of which is associated with opposite patterns of changes in the key hormones. Sixty-two women listened to sad music (or nothing) while serum was collected for subsequent measurement of prolactin (PRL) and oxytocin (OT) and stress marker (cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone) concentrations. Two groups of participants were recruited on the basis of low and high trait e…