Search results for "Techniques"
showing 10 items of 4426 documents
The Sources of Ca2+ for Muscarinic Receptor-induced Contraction in the Rat Ileum
1996
Abstract The contractile responses obtained by activation of different muscarinic receptor subtypes in the longitudinal muscle of the rat ileum and especially the responses of this muscle to acetylcholine in a Ca2+-free medium have been investigated. In Ca2+-containing solution, acetylcholine elicited similar concentration-dependent contractile responses in the duodenum, jejunum and ileum strips of the rat intestine. The response to a maximal concentration of the agonist (1 μM) consisted of a rapid phasic response followed by a slower tonic one. Nifedipine completely relaxes or inhibits the sustained response and only partially diminishes the phasic one, which suggests that the phasic contr…
Isolated human chorionic vascular reactivity: Technical considerations for fresh preparations
1998
1. 1. Sixty chorionic vascular rings from normal term placentas were immersed in an organ bath for isometric tension recording to study (A) the contractile response to 120 mM of potassium chloride (KCI) after adjustment and equilibration to 1–5 g of passive tension; and (B) the concentration-response curve to KCI after adjustment and equilibration to the optimal passive tension. 2. 2. Adjustment to 4 g of passive tension elicited the maximal (P<0.007) and the latest (P<0.006) KCl-induced contraction among arterial rings. Venous rings showed the greatest contraction when adjusted to 3 g, but the differences were not significant except when compared to 1 g of passive tension (P<0.03). 3. 3. T…
Effect of inhibition of the electrogenic Na+/K+ pump on the mechanical activity in the rat uterus.
1996
The effects of ouabain and K(+)-free solution were studied in estrogen-primed rat uterine strips under resting tone or repeatedly stimulated with KCl, acetylcholine or oxytocin applied for 20 minutes at 60 minute intervals. These effects were compared with those of the K+ channel opener cromakalim. In preparations under resting tone, ouabain (0.1 mM and 0.3 mM) induced rhythmic contractions which disappeared after 20-30 minutes whereas at a higher concentration (1 mM) it evoked a rapid, phasic response followed by a small tonic contraction. Exposure of the strip to a K(+)-free solution induced either rhythmic waves, which ceased after 8-10 minutes, or a single phasic contraction which was f…
Cromakalim inhibits electrically-evoked [3H]acetylcholine release from a tube-preparation of the rat isolated trachea by an epithelium-dependent mech…
1993
Rat isolated tracheae were labelled by incubation with [3H]choline to measure the tritium efflux elicited by electrical stimulation of the extrinsic parasympathetic nerves in vitro. Stimulated tritium efflux reflects the neuronal release of newly synthesized acetylcholine; the effects of potassium channel openers on the stimulated tritium efflux were investigated. In tracheae opened longitudinally neither cromakalim nor its 3S,4R-enantiomer, BRL 38227, reduced the stimulated tritium efflux, whereas in intact tube-preparations cromakalim (0.01-1 mumol/l) mediated a concentration-dependent inhibition. The inhibitory effect of 1 mumol/l cromakalim was prevented by 0.1 mumol/l glibenclamide. Li…
Facilitatory and inhibitory muscarine receptors on the rat phrenic nerve: effects of pirenzepine and dicyclomine
1988
Neuronal transmitter stores of the rat phrenic nerve were labelled by an incubation with [3H]choline. Release of [3H]acetylcholine was elicited either by a short (100 pulses, 5 Hz) or by a long (1500 pulses, 5 or 25 Hz) period of electrical nerve stimulation. Pirenzepine and dicyclomine enhanced transmitter release evoked by the short stimulation period. Both antagonists reduced transmitter release evoked by the long stimulation period. Pirenzepine reduced transmitter release at low concentrations (1 nmol/l) whereas a higher concentration was necessary for the enhancing effect; the opposite pattern was found for dicyclomine. A low concentration of oxotremorine (10 nmol/l) enhanced and a hig…
Radiomics and radiogenomics in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: Potential contribution to patient management and challenges
2021
Abstract The application of imaging biomarkers in oncology is still in its infancy, but with the expansion of radiomics and radiogenomics a revolution is expected in this field. This may be of special interest in head and neck cancer, since it can promote precision medicine and personalization of treatment by overcoming several intrinsic obstacles in this pathology. Our goal is to provide the medical oncologist with the basis to approach these disciplines and appreciate their main uses in clinical research and clinical practice in the medium term. Aligned with this objective we analyzed the most relevant studies in the field, also highlighting novel opportunities and current challenges.
Therapeutic use of hyaluronic acid fillers in the treatment of corticosteroid-induced skin and subcutaneous atrophy
2016
Corticosteroid injection–related tissue atrophy might cause permanent skin and soft tissue deformities1 due to several factors, most importantly fibroblast inhibition and decreased Type I collagen synthesis. Correction of these deformities is challenging and is mostly based on volume replacement with lipofilling or other methods. Clinical observations and research have shown that injection of stabilized hyaluronic acid (HA) induces collagen synthesis, partially restoring dermal matrix components, and eventually producing a permanent effect.2–5 Based on these data, we hypothesize that HA injections might successfully treat atrophic tissue changes caused by corticosteroid injection. We descri…
Endoscopic treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease.
2005
Gastroesophageal reflux disease is a common chronic disorder which has a severe effect on the patient's quality of life. In view of the high cost of medical therapy and the limitations of surgery, a variety of endoscopic techniques have been developed for the treatment of this condition, and these have shown apparently encouraging results, at least in the short term. However, promising results have been obtained in only around two-thirds of patients over a short-term follow-up period of about 6 months. Moreover, several inconsistencies have emerged between the efficacy of this form of treatment in improving symptoms and quality of life and a lack of improvement of objective parameters, such…
D1 receptors play a major role in the dopamine modulation of mouse ileum contractility
2010
Since the role of dopamine in the bowel motility is far from being clear, our aim was to analyse pharmacologically the effects of dopamine on mouse ileum contractility. Contractile activity of mouse ileum was examined in vitro as changes in isometric tension. Dopamine caused a concentration-dependent reduction of the spontaneous contraction amplitude of ileal muscle up to their complete disappearance. SCH-23390, D1 receptor antagonist, which per se increased basal tone and amplitude of spontaneous contractions, antagonized the responses to dopamine, whilst sulpiride or domperidone, D2 receptor antagonists, were without effects. The application of both D1 and D2 antagonists had additive effe…
Unpredictable Performance of pH-Dependent Coatings Accentuates the Need for Improved Predictive in Vitro Test Systems.
2017
First introduced in the second half of the 19th century, enteric coatings are commonly used to protect acid-labile drugs, reduce the risk of gastric side effects due to irritating drugs, or for local drug delivery to the lower gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The currently available enteric-coatings are based on pH-sensitive weakly acidic polymers. Despite the long history of their use, the causes behind their performance often being unpredictable have not been properly investigated with most of the attention being focused only on the gastric emptying. However, little attention has been given to the postgastric emptying disintegration and dissolution of these dosage forms. This lack of attentio…