Search results for "STAR"
showing 10 items of 4285 documents
Intra-operative locally injected pharmacotherapy as a novel strategy for adhesion prophylaxis.
2012
Abstract Background Pharmacotherapy for peritoneal adhesion prophylaxis has been a focus for intensive research. Previous strategies included intravenous and intraperitoneal application of suitable pharmaceutical agents. However, success of these strategies in humans has been limited. Here we describe intra-operative local injection of pharmaceuticals as a novel strategy for adhesion prophylaxis. Methods N = 208 peritoneal lesions were created in 26 adult Wistar rats. In each animal, lesions on one flank were randomly chosen for treatment with locally injected prednisolone whereas the contralateral side was injected with normal saline. Half of the animals were randomly selected for early a…
Postembryonic development of Zophobas atratus Fab. (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) under crowded or isolated conditions and effects of juvenile hormone a…
1995
Abstract Pupation in Zophobas atratus is dependent on isolation and this provides a model for study of the onset of metamorphosis in beetles. We have analyzed the effects of isolation vs grouping on certain developmental parameters; the number of larval instars; their duration and weight. Sex differences were detected, such as the occurrence of regressive moults in females. Moreover, the development of Z. atratus is discussed in relation to Tenebrio molitor , the physiological timing of which appeared in part extendable to Z. atratus . Experiments show that 4–6 days of isolation are required for commencement of metamorphosis, as indicated by an immobile crooked posture observed at the end o…
Field application of the juvenile hormone analogue fenoxycarb against hopper bands of Locusta migratoria capito in Madagascar
1997
Summary Field trials have been carried out to examine the suitability of the JHA fenoxycarb in locust control. Laboratory tests have shown that a variety of JHAs, including fenoxycarb, applied to last instar larvae increased mortality, induced morphogenetic defects during metamorphosis, reduced fertility and provoked solitarisation of gregarious hoppers. The phase shift was indicated by green coloration and the acquisition of morphological and behavioural characteristics typical for solitary locusts. The present field experiments should clarify whether or not the effects observed in the laboratory are also observed with hopper bands in their natural habitat and if swarm formation and emigra…
Islet beta-cell apoptosis triggered in vivo by interleukin-1beta is not related to the inducible nitric oxide synthase pathway: evidence for mitochon…
2003
IL-1beta is recognized as an effector cytokine contributing to islet beta-cell destruction during diabetes. We have previously shown in vitro that IL-1beta induces nitric oxide (NO) and beta-cell damage. Here, we show that IL-1beta administration in vivo to Wistar rats transiently increases manganese superoxide dismutase activity, whereas inducible NO synthase is not detected, and the levels of nitrate+nitrate do not change. Moreover, a significant decrease of mitochondrial aconitase, leading to a rise of hydroperoxides, and islet beta-cell apoptosis, involving caspase-3 and -8, is observed. Analysis of adhesion molecules in beta-cells showed that intercellular adhesion molecule-1 is highly…
Elevated Expression of Liver γ-Cystathionase Is Required for the Maintenance of Lactation in Rats
1999
Liver gamma-cystathionase activity increases in rats during lactation; its inhibition due to propargylglycine is followed by a significant decrease in lactation. This is reversible by N-acetylcysteine administration. To study the role of liver gamma-cystathionase and the intertissue flux of glutathione during lactation, we used lactating and virgin rats fed liquid diets. Virgin rats were divided into two groups as follows: one group was fed daily a diet containing the same amount of protein that was consumed the previous day by lactating rats (high protein diet-fed rats); the other virgin group was fed the normal liquid diet (control). The expression and activity of liver gamma-cystathionas…
Effects of chronic alcohol consumption on enzyme activities and active methionine absorption in the small intestine of pregnant rats.
1996
The present study evaluates the effect of chronic alcohol intake on the intestinal transport of methionine during pregnancy. For this purpose, we have used an in vitro technique that allows measurement of the unidirectional influx of the amino acids across the brush-border membrane of the rat mid-jejunum, and the basolateral membrane enzyme Na+, K+-ATPase was also evaluated in the duodenum and jejunum. For chronic alcohol treatment, the rats were fed a liquid diet containing ethanol (36% of calories) or an isocaloric diet-(pair-fed control) for 5 weeks before and during pregnancy. Animals were killed at 21 days of gestation. Results from the kinetic analysis revealed that chronic ethanol tr…
Applicability of the STOPP/START criteria to older polypathological patients in a long-term care hospital
2017
Objectives To analyse the applicability of the STOPP/START criteria as a tool to identify patients with potentially inappropriate medications (PIM) during pharmaceutical validation of prescriptions in a long-term care hospital, to identify risk factors for PIM and to characterise the physiological systems and drugs more frequently associated with these PIM. Methods An interventional, prospective and longitudinal study was conducted in polypathological patients aged >65 years. Usual pharmaceutical care and the STOPP/START criteria were used to identify PIM and to plan pharmaceutical interventions at admission. At discharge, the discharge summaries were reviewed using the STOPP/START criteria…
Cytoskeleton mediates negative inotropism and lusitropism of chromogranin A-derived peptides (human vasostatin1-78 and rat CgA(1-64)) in the rat heart
2010
Cytoskeleton scaffold in cardiac myocytes provides structural support and compartmentalization of intracellular components. It is implicated in cardiac pathologies including hypertrophy and failure, playing a key role in the determinism of contractile and diastolic dysfunctions. Chromogranin A (CgA) and its derived peptides have revealed themselves as novel cardiovascular modulators. In humans, normal CgA levels considerably increase in several pathologies, including heart failure. Recent data have shown on the unstimulated rat heart that human recombinant Vasostatin-1 (hrVS-1) and rat chromogranin A 1-64 (rCgA(1-64)) induce negative inotropic and lusitropic effects counteracting the beta-a…
Weaning induces NOS-2 expression through NF-κB modulation in the lactating mammary gland: importance of GSH
2005
Zaragozá, R; Miralles, VJ; Rus, AD; García, C; Carmena, R; García-Trevijano, ER; Barber, T; Pallardó, FV; Torres, L; Viña, JR. At the end of lactation the mammary gland undergoes involution, a process characterized by apoptosis of secretory cells and tissue remodelling. To gain insight into this process, we analysed the gene expression profile by oligonucleotide microarrays during lactation and after forced weaning. Up-regulation of inflammatory mediators and acute-phase response genes during weaning was found. Expression of IκBα (inhibitory κBα), a protein known to modulate NF-κB (nuclear factor-κB) nuclear translocation, was significantly up-regulated. On the other hand, there was a time-…
Nanocapsules generated out of a polymeric dexamethasone shell suppress the inflammatory response of liver macrophages.
2012
Abstract Dexamethasone (DXM) is a synthetic glucocorticoid with anti-inflammatory properties. Targeted delivery of dexamethasone to inflammatory cells, e.g. macrophages and Kupffer cells represents a promising approach to minimize side effects. The aim of the present study was to induce a targeted transport of novel DXM-based biodegradable nanocapsules to phagocytic cells. Nanocapsules (NCs) consisting of a hydroxyethylated glucose polymer (hydroxyethyl starch, HES) shell with encapsulated DXM and NCs synthesized exclusively in inverse miniemulsion out of DXM were investigated. Non-parenchymal murine liver cells served as target cells. HES-DXM NCs were predominantly incorporated by Kupffer …