Search results for "cyclic"
showing 10 items of 2439 documents
Prophylaxis of early bacterial infections after autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT): a matched-pair study comparing oral fl…
2005
The safety and efficacy of early bacterial prophylaxis with piperacillin-tazobactam were prospectively evaluated in 51 autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) recipients. The results were compared with those obtained in 51 control patients receiving oral fluoroquinolones in a retrospective matched-pair control study. Overall, 76% of the study group and 98% of the control group developed at least one febrile episode during neutropenia (P=0.002). Time from neutropenia to the first febrile episode (FFE) was significantly longer in the study group than in the control group (P=0.04). Once a febrile episode appeared, the duration of fever was significantly longer in cases th…
Inverse correlation between plasma oxysterol and LDL-cholesterol levels in hepatitis C virus-infected patients
2012
Background: Hepatitis C virus infection is characterised by enhanced oxidative stress, which can be measured quantitatively by plasma oxysterol concentration. These molecules may affect lipid metabolism through the activation of Liver X Receptors. Hepatitis C virus exploits host lipid metabolism to facilitate its replication and diffusion. In our study we aimed to evaluate and highlight the potential pathogenetic role of oxysterols, 7-ketocholesterol and 7-β-hydroxycholesterol, in hepatitis C virus-related lipid dysmetabolism. Methods: The study was performed in 42 patients with chronic hepatitis C (93% genotype 1b) and 38 non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patients. Plasma oxysterols 7-keto…
Investigation into the role of phosphodiesterase IV in bronchorelaxation, including studies with human bronchus.
1993
1. We have investigated the role of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase IV (PDE IV) in the relaxation of human bronchus and guinea-pig trachea in vitro and in guinea-pigs in vivo. 2. Functional studies showed that the selective PDE IV inhibitors, rolipram and denbufylline, relaxed human and guinea-pig preparations in vitro. 3. Two clinically used xanthine non-selective PDE inhibitors, theophylline and pentoxifylline, were also effective in these preparations, but were much less potent than the selective agents used. 4. The rank order of potency for the four PDE inhibitors in both species was similar. 5. Biochemical studies indicated that PDE IV was the major PDE isoform present in the human…
Effects of REM sleep awakenings and related wakening paradigms on the ultradian sleep cycle and the symptoms in depression.
2002
In 1975 Vogel and coworkers published their classical study where they compared selective rapid eye movement (REM) sleep deprivation by brief awakenings to a control intervention paradigm in depressed patients. The superior antidepressive impact of the first procedure was attributed to the REM pressure accumulating during the treatment period. The laborious procedure and the considerable effort necessary to evaluate the sleep profiles in real time have prevented similar experiments so far. Based on artificial neural networks we developed a software for the real time detection of REM sleep. In combination with an alarm system the algorithm allowed us to wake up subjects automatically and to …
Relaxation of the isolated human internal anal sphincter by sildenafil.
2007
Abstract Background Hypertonicity of the internal anal sphincter (IAS) appears to be involved in the pathogenesis of anal fissure. The relaxant effects of sildenafil, a selective phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitor, on isolated human IAS were investigated. Methods The efficacy (maximal effect, Emax) and potency (−log IC50, where IC50 is half-maximal inhibitory concentration) of the PDE5 inhibitors, sildenafil and zaprinast, and of nitric oxide donors, sodium nitroprusside and glyceryl trinitrate, as relaxants of histamine (0·1 mmol/l)-induced tone were examined in IAS strips under isometric contraction. The presence of PDE5 isoenzymes and changes in intracellular calcium and cyclic nucleot…
Prostaglandin E2 activates the ciliary beat frequency of cultured human nasal mucosa via the second messenger cyclic adenosine monophosphate.
2001
Prostaglandins influence the ciliary beat frequency (CBF) of ciliated nasal epithelial cells and a stimulatory effect has been described for prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Until now, it is not known whether PGE2 has direct ciliostimulatory properties or acts through a second messenger. In this study we investigated whether cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) is implicated in the signal transduction pathway of PGE2-induced activation of CBF. Ciliated cells of the nasal mucosa were cultured for up to 5 days whereafter the culture medium was removed and the cells were incubated with different concentrations of test solutions. The ciliated cells were recorded under a phase-contrast microscope and v…
Loss of the Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase type IV in dopaminoceptive neurons enhances behavioral effects of cocaine.
2008
The persistent nature of addiction has been associated with activity-induced plasticity of neurons within the striatum and nucleus accumbens (NAc). To identify the molecular processes leading to these adaptations, we performed Cre/loxP-mediated genetic ablations of two key regulators of gene expression in response to activity, the Ca 2+ /calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IV (CaMKIV) and its postulated main target, the cAMP-responsive element binding protein (CREB). We found that acute cocaine-induced gene expression in the striatum was largely unaffected by the loss of CaMKIV. On the behavioral level, mice lacking CaMKIV in dopaminoceptive neurons displayed increased sensitivity to cocai…
Ciclosporin and thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulins in endocrine orbitopathy.
1989
The study investigated whether ciclosporin (C) affected the thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulins (TSI) in serum of patients with endocrine orbitopathy (EO). The effect of C was compared with that of prednisone (P). Fifteen patients with EO classes III-V received C (n = 7) or P (n = 8). In addition to the immunosuppressants, five patients with Graves' disease in each group received methimazole (MMI). The stimulation of the cAMP levels in the medium of thyrocyte cultures was determined as a parameter of TSI. The TSI levels were markedly lowered in both groups during and after therapy. C group: before therapy 6.2 pmol/ml +/- 1.63 (100%, mean +/- SEM), during treatment 4.6 pmol/ml +/- 2.28 (74%)…
Transdermal nortriptyline hydrocloride patch formulated within a chitosan matrix intended to be used for smoking cessation.
2010
The aim of this study was to prepare and characterize both physically and biopharmaceutically, a nortriptyline hydrochloride (NTP-HCl) patch formulated in chitosan.16 g of each chitosan patch formulation (I, II and III, see Table 1 ) was poured onto rectangular glass plates (64 cm²) at a height of 1 mm and dried for 24 h at room temperature. In order to characterize the chitosan patches, polarized microscopy, in vitro skin permeation studies by passive diffusion and iontophoresis and rheological and bioadhesion studies were performed.Polarized microscopy revealed the absence of aggregates and crystal forms of NTP-HCl in all transdermal patches after 30 days of storage. The rheological behav…
Transfer of aciclovir from plasma to human breast milk.
2011
Aciclovir (CAS 59277-89-3) is frequently used in herpes simplex virus diseases, but administration to lactating women occurs only rarely. Therefore, information about the pharmacokinetics of aciclovir in human breast milk is limited. The concentration in breast milk is 2 to 3 fold increased compared to plasma. The reason for this increase is unknown until now. An active transport mechanism has been assumed. The aim of this study was to prove whether the higher concentration of aciclovir in human breast milk is due to only a passive transfer. Two chambers separated by a semipermeable membrane were used. The first chamber contained plasma with aciclovir, the second chamber breast milk without…