Search results for "Ones"

FokI Polymorphism of the Vitamin D Receptor Gene Correlates with Parameters of Bone Mass and Turnover in a Female Population of the Italian Island of…

2005

One of the most promising genetic approaches to dissecting a multifactorial disease is represented by genetically isolated population studies. We studied a genetic marker in a cohort of women living on the Mediterranean island of Lampedusa, a geographically isolated population. Lampedusa, located between the African coast and Sicily, consists of a young genetic isolate (<20 generations) with an exponential growth in the last generations. We analyzed the association between the FokI vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphism, previously proposed as a predictor of bone mass, with parameters of bone mass and turnover in a cohort of pre- and postmenopausal women living on Lampedusa. In 424 wome…

The COMT val158met Polymorphism Is Associated with Early Pubertal Development, Height and Cortical Bone Mass in Girls

2005

Estrogens are involved in accretion of bone mass during puberty. Catechol-O-Methyltransferase (COMT) is involved in the degradation of estrogens. In this cross-sectional study we investigated associations between the COMT val158met polymorphism, which results in a 60-75% difference in enzyme activity between the val (high activity = H) and the met (low activity = L) variant, and skeletal phenotypes in 246 healthy pre/early pubertal girls. Girls with COMT(LL) were 5.4 cm taller than COMT(HH) girls. Dual x-ray absorptiometry showed higher values of bone mineral content (BMC), and larger areas of total body, femur and spine in COMT(LL). Cortical BMC, measured by peripheral quantitative compute…

Association between CCK-AR gene and schizophrenia with auditory hallucinations

2007

[Objective]: Previous studies on a possible association between CCK-AR polymorphisms and schizophrenia have been controversial. The aim of the present study was to assess a potential association between schizophrenic patients with auditory hallucinations and polymorphisms of the CCK-AR gene.

Cloning of two melanocortin (MC) receptors in spiny dogfish

2004

We report the cloning and characterization of two melanocortin receptors (MCRs) from the spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias) (Sac). Phylogenetic analysis shows that these shark receptors are orthologues of the MC3R and MC5R subtypes, sharing 65% and 70% overall amino acid identity with the human counterparts, respectively. The SacMC3R was expressed and pharmacologically characterized in HEK293 cells. The radioligand binding results show that this receptor has high affinity for adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-derived peptides while it has comparable affinity for alpha- and beta-melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH), and slightly lower affinity for gamma-MSH when compared with the human ortho…

New Melanocortin 1 Receptor Binding Motif Based on the C-Terminal Sequence of ?-Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormone

2006

The C-terminal tripeptide of the alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH11-13) possesses strong antiinflammatory activity without known cellular target. In order to better understand the structural requirements for function of such motif, we designed, synthesized and tested out Trp- and Tyr-containing analogues of the alpha-MSH11-13. Seven alpha-MSH11-13 analogues were synthesized and characterized for their binding to the melanocortin receptors recombinantly expressed in insect (Sf9) cells, infected with baculovirus carrying corresponding MC receptor DNA. We also tested these analogues on B16-F1 mouse melanoma cells endogenously expressing the MC1 receptor for binding and for abili…

Two types of neuronal muscarine receptors modulating acetylcholine release from guinea-pig myenteric plexus

1985

Longitudinal muscle strips of the guinea-pig ileum were incubated with [3H]choline and the effects of muscarinic agonists on smooth muscle contraction and on spontaneous and electrically-evoked outflow of tritium were studied. Muscarine and pilocarpine concentration-dependently increased both muscle contraction and spontaneous outflow of [3H]ACh, and inhibited the electrically-evoked outflow of [3H]ACh. The increase in spontaneous outflow was prevented by tetrodotoxin and scopolamine, but not by hexamethonium. Oxotremorine (1-100 microM) did not increase the spontaneous outflow of tritium. Pirenzepine in concentrations of 10 and 100 nM hardly affected the muscle contractions induced by pilo…

Add-On Effect of Postural Instructions to Abdominopelvic Exercise on Urinary Symptoms and Quality of Life in Climacteric Women with Stress Urinary In…

2021

The aim of this study was to investigate the add-on effect of postural instructions to an abdominopelvic exercise program on incontinence urinary symptoms (UI symptoms) and quality of life (QoL) in climacteric women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI). A randomized controlled trial was performed with a total of 40 climacteric women with SUI aged between 46 and 75 years old. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups: a group performing an abdominopelvic exercise program (AEP) (n = 20) and a group performing abdominopelvic exercise with the addition of postural instructions (AEPPI) (n = 20). Primary outcome measures were UI symptoms, UI impact and QoL related to UI (UI-QoL), measur…

A human hepatocellular in vitro model to investigate steatosis

2006

The present study was designed to define an experimental model of hepatocellular steatosis with a fat overaccumulation profile in which the metabolic and cytotoxic/apoptotic effects could be separated. This was accomplished by defining the experimental conditions of lipid exposure that lead to significant intracellular fat accumulation in the absence of overt cytotoxicity, therefore allowing to differentiate between cytotoxic and apoptotic effects. Palmitic (C16:0) and oleic (Cl 8: 1) acids are the most abundant fatty acids (FFAs) in liver triglycerides in both normal subjects and patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Therefore, human hepatocytes and HepG2 cells were incub…

Gallstones and Colon Cancer: A Result of a Wrong Study Revived

2017

A double-blind, randomized, dose response study testing the pharmacological efficacy of synthetic porcine secretin

2000

Background: Biologically derived porcine secretin has been used as a diagnostic agent in clinical gastrointestinal practice for many years. Pure synthetic porcine secretin is now available for investigational clinical use. Aim: To compare the pharmacology of synthetic porcine secretin and biologically derived porcine secretin in healthy volunteers. Methods: Secretin stimulation tests were performed in 12 volunteer subjects in a double-blind, randomized, Latin square crossover design study comparing three doses of synthetic porcine secretin (0.05, 0.2, and 0.4 μg/kg) with a standard dose of biologically derived porcine secretin (1 CU/kg). Duodenal aspirates were analysed for total volume and…