Search results for "Steroids"
showing 10 items of 203 documents
Inhibition of phospholipase A2 activities and some inflammatory responses by the marine product ircinin
1996
The marine product ircinin has been tested for its effects on secretory and cytosolic phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activities in vitro as well as for inhibition of cellular functions in human neutrophils and inflammatory responses in mice. Ircinin inhibited Naja naja venom, human synovial recombinant, bee venom and zymosan-injected rat air pouch PLA2 with IC50 values in the microM range, similar to those of the known inhibitor scalaradial. On the other hand, ircinin was less active on cytosolic PLA2 from human monocytes and decreased potently the release of LTB4 in human neutrophils. This marine product affected weakly human neutrophil functions like superoxide generation and degranulation. In t…
Sudden sensorineural hearing loss: is there a relationship between routine haematological parameters and audiogram shapes?
2016
Objective: To investigate the relationship between haematological routine parameters and audiogram shapes in patients affected by sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). Design: A retrospective study. All patients were divided into four groups according to the audiometric curve and mean values of haematological parameters (haemoglobin, white blood cell, neutrophils and lymphocytes relative count, platelet count, haematocrit, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, fibrinogen and neutrophil-to-lymphocite ratio) of each group were statistically compared. The prognostic role of blood profile and coagulation test was also examined. Study sample: A cohort of 183 SSNHL patient…
Glyphosate-based herbicides are toxic and endocrine disruptors in human cell lines.
2009
International audience; Glyphosate-based herbicides are the most widely used across the world; they are commercialized in different formulations. Their residues are frequent pollutants in the environment. In addition, these herbicides are spread on most eaten transgenic plants, modified to tolerate high levels of these compounds in their cells. Up to 400 ppm of their residues are accepted in some feed. We exposed human liver HepG2 cells, a well-known model to study xenobiotic toxicity, to four different formulations and to glyphosate, which is usually tested alone in chronic in vivo regulatory studies. We measured cytotoxicity with three assays (Alamar Blue (R), MTT ToxiLight (R)), plus gen…
The hypertension of Cushing's syndrome: Controversies in the pathophysiology and focus on cardiovascular complications
2014
Cushing's syndrome is associated with increased mortality, mainly due to cardiovascular complications, which are sustained by the common development of systemic arterial hypertension and metabolic syndrome, which partially persist after the disease remission. Cardiovascular diseases and hypertension associated with endogenous hypercortisolism reveal underexplored peculiarities. The use of exogenous corticosteroids also impacts on hypertension and cardiovascular system, especially after prolonged treatment. The mechanisms involved in the development of hypertension differ, whether glucocorticoid excess is acute or chronic, and the source endogenous or exogenous, introducing inconsistencies a…
Serious Asthma Events with Fluticasone plus Salmeterol versus Fluticasone Alone
2016
BACKGROUND The safe and appropriate use of long-acting beta-agonists (LABAs) for the treatment of asthma has been widely debated. In two large clinical trials, investigators found a potential risk of serious asthma-related events associated with LABAs. This study was designed to evaluate the risk of administering the LABA salmeterol in combination with an inhaled glucocorticoid, fluticasone propionate. METHODS In this multicenter, randomized, double-blind trial, adolescent and adult patients (age, ≥12 years) with persistent asthma were assigned to receive either fluticasone with salmeterol or fluticasone alone for 26 weeks. All the patients had a history of a severe asthma exacerbation in t…
Attraction to male pheromones and sexual behaviour show different regulatory mechanisms in female mice.
2004
In rodents, female sexual behaviour is under hormonal control. The attraction females show for male-derived nonvolatile chemicals (pheromones) can be regarded as the first step of this behaviour, but it is unknown whether this attraction is also modulated by sexual steroids. To test this possibility, ovariectomized adult female mice with no experience of chemical signals from adult males were randomly assigned to four groups that received oil (control), progesterone, estradiol (E) or estradiol+progesterone (E+P) injections, respectively. Females were then tested for their attraction to male-soiled bedding and, subsequently, for their proceptive behaviour when confronted to adult males. Fema…
Chancre of the eyelid as manifestation of primary syphilis, and precocious chorioretinitis and uveitis in an HIV-infected patient: a case report
2012
Abstract Background Ocular syphilis is often difficult to diagnose because of the wide variation in clinical features. HIV co-infection may further complicate the picture. Case presentation Herein the authors report an unusual primary syphilitic ocular lesion in a 45-year-old Italian HIV-infected bisexual man who presented with a unilateral eyelid lesion. Associated precocious signs and symptoms in the posterior segment of both eyes, bilateral chorioretinitis and uveitis, are described. Intravenous penicillin and steroid treatment produced a rapid improvement in clinical status and complete resolution. Conclusions Careful questioning about sexual behavior is crucial for unmasking unusual fe…
Factors involved in gastrointestinal bleeding in advanced cancer patients followed at home
2003
Abstract There is a lack of information on the frequency of symptomatic gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with advanced cancer. This group of patients presents several risk factors for developing gastrointestinal bleeding. The aim of this multicenter longitudinal survey was to assess the frequency of gastrointestinal bleeding and possible factors implicated in advanced cancer patients followed at home. A consecutive sample of 439 patients who referred to home palliative care program entered the study. Age, gender, primary cancer and known metastases, possible associated pathologies, history of peptic disease, use of previous or actual nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and st…
gamma-Aminobutyric acid type A/benzodiazepine receptors regulate rat retina neurosteroidogenesis.
1995
Abstract It has been previously shown that retinal ganglion cells have the ability to synthesize steroids including neuroactive steroids such as pregnenolone sulfate. Since ganglion cells possess GABAA/benzodiazepine (BZ) receptors and neurosteroids modulate retinal GABAA receptor function, we investigated the role of these receptors in isolated rat retina neurosteroidogenesis. Ligands for central-type BZ receptors stimulated retinal pregnenolone synthesis. Clonazepam was the most potent ligand examined acting at nanomolar concentrations. Moreover, the effective steroidogenesis stimulatory dose (ED50) for these ligands and theKi to inhibit [3-H]flunitrazepam binding showed a coefficient of …
Oxytocin Regulates Neurosteroid Modulation of GABAAReceptors in Supraoptic Nucleus around Parturition
2003
In this study, we investigate how neurosteroid sensitivity of GABAAreceptors (GABAARs) is regulated. We examined this issue in neurons of the supraoptic nucleus (SON) of the rat and found that, during parturition, the GABAARs become insensitive to the neurosteroid allopregnanolone attributable to a shift in the balance between the activities of endogenous Ser/Thr phosphatase and PKC. In particular, a constitutive endogenous tone of oxytocin within the SON after parturition suppressed neurosteroid sensitivity of GABAARs via activation of PKC. Vice versa before parturition, during late pregnancy, application of exogenous oxytocin brings the GABAARs from a neurosteroid-sensitive mode toward a …