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Clinical Trial 2003; 24(1-2): 50-53 PubMed PMID: 12743532 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Apomorphine:pharmacology, Disease Progression, Human Growth Hormone:blood, Humans, Hydrocortisone:blood, Male, Neoplasm Metastasis, Neoplasms:physiopathology, Neurosecretory Systems:drug effects, Prolactin:blood,.   

OBJECTIVES: The clinical approach of the Psychooncology is generally limited to the investigation of the only psychological status of cancer patients, without taking into consideration the well demonstrated cancer progression-related psychoneuroendocrine alterations, namely consisting of a progressive decline in the pineal endocrine function and an anomalous activity of brain opioid system. The endocrine response to apomorphine, a dopaminergic agent, has been proven to reflect the dopaminergic sensitivity, which would be involved at least in part in pleasure-related neurochemical mechanisms. The present study was performed to analyze the endocrine response to apomorphine in metastatic cancer patients, as a preliminary approach to the investigation of pleasure-related neuroendocrine mechanisms in human neoplasms.r />r /> MATERIALS & METHODS: The study included 10 metastatic cancer male patients and 6 male volunteers as a control group. Apomorphine was given orally at 0.01 mg/kg body weight in the morning, and venous blood samples were collected before, and at 20, 60 and 120 minutes after apomorphine administration. The endocrine analysis consisted of the measurement of serum levels of GH, PRL and cortisol.r />r /> RESULTS: All cancer patients presented alterations involving one or more endocrine responses to apomorphine. GH and cortisol mean levels after apomorphine were significantly higher in controls than in cancer patients, whereas no substantial difference occurred in those of PRL.r />r /> CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary study, by showing an altered endocrine response to apomorphine in metastatic cancer patients, would suggest that cancer progression may be associated with an altered dopaminergic sensitivity. Because of the involvement of the dopaminergic system in pleasure-related neurochemical mechanisms, this finding would demonstrated that the decline in the perception of pleasure with cancer progression may depend not only on psychological factors, but also, at least in part, on psychochemical alterations occurring during the clinical course of the neoplastic disease....

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Journal Article 2003; 24(1-2): 46-49 PubMed PMID: 12743531 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, Baclofen:pharmacology, Catecholamines:metabolism, Dopamine:metabolism, Female, GABA Agonists:pharmacology, Hypothalamus:growth & development, Muscimol:pharmacology, Norepinephrine:metabolism, Rats, Rats, Wistar, Receptors, GABA-A:drug effects, Re.   

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present investigation was to determine whether the catecholaminergic system is involved in gabaergic and serotoninergic effects on gonadotrophin secretion during sexual development. To this end, we studied the effect of GABAergic and serotoninergic systems on hypothalamic catecholamine content at different stages of sexual development.r />r /> METHODS: The effect of GABA A and GABA B agonists and 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan on hypothalamic noradrenaline and dopamine content were determined in prepubertal (16 days old) and peripubertal (30 days old) rats.r />r /> RESULTS: At 16 days of age GABA agonists did not modify hypothalamic noradrenaline content, whereas a significant decrease in catecholamine concentration was observed in peripubertal rats at 30 days of age. Similar changes were observed with GABA agonists administration on dopamine hypothalamic levels, i.e no effects at 15 days of age and a significant decrease at 30 days. The administration of 5-hydroxy-l-tryptophan (5-HTP) induced a decrease of hypothalamic concentration of noradrenaline and dopamine at both ages.r />r /> CONCLUSION: Results indicate that the GABAergic system modifies the hypothalamic catecholamine content in peripubertal but not in prepubertal rats while serotonin has an inhibitory effect at both stages of sexual maturation. Even though both systems induce similar ontogenic modifications on the gonadotrophin axis (stimulatory effect in prepubertal and inhibitory action in peripubertal and adult rats) the present results appear to indicate that GABAergic and serotoninergic systems regulate gonadotrophin secretion by different hypothalamic mechanisms....

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Journal Article 2003; 24(1-2): 39-45 PubMed PMID: 12743530 Citation  Keywords:  Amino Acid Sequence, Animals, Annelida:chemistry, Anti-Bacterial Agents, Bacteria:drug effects, Cloning, Molecular, DNA, Complementary:biosynthesis, Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, Escherichia coli:drug effects, Gra.   

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the immune defense of the annelid Nereis diversicolor and the key role of a oxygen-binding protein, the metalloprotein MPII animals were subjected to bacteria infection.r />r /> METHODS AND RESULTS: Using RACE-PCR, we have cloned the complete cDNA coding for the MPII related to the hemerythrin family in the sand worm Hediste diversicolor. This cDNA (883 pb) codes for a polypeptide of 119 amino acid residues with no signal peptide. Previous works have identified this protein as a cadmium scavenger. We here clearly demonstrated that this protein is also involved in the worm defence towards bacteria growth by its iron scavenger ability. This protein is expressed and produced in a haematopoietic center that floats freely in the coelomic fluid before stored in a particular hemocyte type: the granulocyte type 1. During bacterial challenge, this protein contained in these cells is discharged into the blood stream 3-4 hours after the infection and remains active for approximately 10 hours. This time period blocks progression of the pathogen and its attachment to tissues.r />r /> CONCLUSION: These results reflect that MPII in conjunction with others partners like lysozyme act as defence molecule for the sand worm....

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Journal Article 2003; 24(1-2): 33-38 PubMed PMID: 12743529 Citation  Keywords:  Actins:biosynthesis, Animals, Antisense Elements (Genetics), Autoradiography, DNA, Complementary:biosynthesis, Male, RNA, Messenger:biosynthesis, Rats, Rats, Wistar, Receptors, Cell Surface:biosynthesis, Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear:biosynthesis, Re.   

OBJECTIVES: The pineal gland transduces photoperiodic informations to the neuroendocrine axis through the nocturnally melatonin secretion. This hormonal message plays a major role in the biological rhythm regulation. By autoradiography, more than 130 melatonin putative targets have been reported in the central nervous system (CNS) and in peripheral tissues. However, cross-species consensus concern only a few of them like the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN), the master circadian clock, and the pars tuberalis of the pituitary. Recently, MT1 melatonin receptor cDNA have been cloned in several mammals providing us with new tools to investigate its tissular location at the gene level. In the present study, we report a screening for MT1 mRNA by RT-PCR amplification of numerous tissue mRNA.r />r /> METHOD: mRNA were extracted from a large variety of rat tissues. To semi-quantify the melatonin receptor mRNA expression level, each cDNA was amplified concomitantly with both beta-actin and MT1 specific primers.r />r /> RESULTS: In central and peripheral tissues previously reported to bind melatonin, strong PCR signals were logically observed. More surprisingly, a vast majority of studied tissues express MT1 mRNA and then might be responsive to melatonin.r />r /> CONCLUSION: Numerous biological functions express diurnal rhythmicity and internal-synchronization. As, most of them apparently do not receive any out-coming neuronal message from the SCN, endocrine communication was proposed to support biological rhythm synchronization. Our present data strengthen the idea that the nocturnally restricted melatonin secretion could be one internal zeitgeber that putatively distributes the endogenous circadian rhythmicity to all tissues expressing melatonin receptors....

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Journal Article 2003; 24(1-2): 28-32 PubMed PMID: 12743528 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Coloring Agents, Female, Fetus:anatomy & histology, Gestational Age, Humans, Portal Vein:anatomy & histology, Pregnancy, Reference Values, Umbilical Veins:anatomy & histology,.   

OBJECTIVES: The morphology of region umbilical vein, umbilical sinus and ductus venosus of human fetuses have been investigated.r />r /> MATERIAL AND METHODS: 26 human fetuses between 20 and 40 weeks' gestation were examined by morphological methods. The umbilical vein, DV and the portal vein were obtained after termination of gestation. Tissue samples have been fixed in phormaldehyde solution (pH 7,2) and were embedded in paraffin. The paraffin sections (5-7 micro k) were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, silver impregnation by Bilchovski, orcein, pikrofuchsin. Measurement of the angle between ductus venosus and the portal vein was obtained with alidade.r />r /> RESULTS: Anatomical scheme of the region of umbilical vein, umbilical sinus and DV indicating two different patterns. The first: DV has situated into line with umbilical vein (22 cases). The second: umbilical vein has rotated before umbilical sinus, forming the turn in right (4 cases). The double-layer wall of ductus venosus (DV) contained the elastic, collagen and argyrophilic fibers. Around isthmus region of DV vasa vasorum and nervi vasorum have been found. The specific anatomical finding of the ductal isthmus was an accumulation of smooth muscle cells as intimal pillow, which were protruded into the vascular lumen. The double-layer wall of portal sinus (intima and adventitia) have been as the internal elastic membrane. The smooth muscle cells have been revealed in the walls, were not formed the tunica media at term 20-40 weeks of gestation. By the contrast the umbilical vein showed multiple, circularly running smooth muscle bundles. In this study, the ductal thickness was consistently bigger in the inlet than in the outlet. The tunica adventitia was greatest in the junction with the portal sinus and the inferior vena cava compared with the part arranged in the liver parenchyma. The wall thickness of the portal sinus and of the umbilical vein was significantly higher than of the duclal wall.r />r /> CONCLUSION: The vascular muscle-elastic cells of intimal hyperplasia ("intimal pillow") in wall of DV, probably, executes the role of the fortification of resistant behaviours of vessel wall in connection with DV and portal sinus with high hemodynamics load in this area. The maximum thickness of adventicia in the field of joints also witnesses an hemodynamic in favour of particularities. The angle between DV and left branches of portal vein in dominate cases was sharp and right that reflects the general regularity of architectonics of the vascular riverbed....

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Journal Article 2003; 24(1-2): 21-27 PubMed PMID: 12743527 Citation  Keywords:  Acromegaly:drug therapy, Animals, Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal:therapeutic use, Endocrine Gland Neoplasms:drug therapy, Hormone Antagonists:therapeutic use, Humans, Receptors, Somatostatin:drug effects, Somatostatin:analogs & derivatives,.   

: At the present time only two long-acting somatostatin (SS) analogs, octreotide and lanreotide, are commonly used in the routine therapy. Both analogs have a high affinity mainly to a somatostatin receptor subtype 2 (SSTR2). The established indications for SS analogs treatment include acromegaly, neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreas and gastrointestinal tract, and some gastro-enterologic diseases (pancreatitis, gastrointestinal bleedings, refractory diarrheas, pancreatic and intestinal fistulas). The recent investigations allow to predict the enlargement of therapeutic applications of SS analogs. It concerns pituitary tumors other than somatotropinoma, tumors of other endocrine glands like thyroid and adrenal gland, as well as some non-endocrine tumors. The progress depends on the introduction of new SS analogs with high affinity for SS receptor subtypes other than SSTR2, because some tumors present the high expression of SSTR1 (e.g. prostatic cancers) or SSTR5 (e.g. colonic cancers). Great hopes are connected with the coupling of SS analogs with the radioactive isotopes or non-radioactive cytotoxic agents to destruct the neoplastic cells highly expressing the specific subtypes of SS receptors. The pre- or postoperative in vivo imaging of SS receptors by means of the receptor scintigraphy, as well as the post-operative identification of SS receptor subtypes in the excised tumor tissues using immunohistochemistry, should play an important role in the prediction of the effects of SS analog treatment. Beside oncology, new therapeutic applications of SS analogs could be presumed among others in ophthalmology; it concerns the treatment of progressive Graves-Basedow ophtalmopathy, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and corneal diseases connected with corneal vascularization....

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Clinical Trial 2003; 24(1-2): 15-20 PubMed PMID: 12743526 Citation  Keywords:  Abdominal Wall:anatomy & histology, Adult, Algorithms, Biomechanical Phenomena, Elasticity, Female, Humans, Models, Biological, Myometrium:physiology, Pregnancy:physiology, Vibration,.   

THE AIM OF THE STUDY: Selected parameters of mechanical characteristics of the gravid abdomen under impact load.r />r /> TYPE OF THE STUDY: Experimental biomechanical study carried out in a human in vivo.r />r /> METHOD: Damped vibration of the gravid abdomen was detected after a defined impact load using speed cinematographic recording of 103 pictures/sec. A women in 32nd week of gestation, performing toe stand and fall down to the heel, the drop was 0.08 m. The recording was digitalized and the values mathematically analysed. The method used was PAM (polynomial approximation method) of approximation of discrete coordinates. The umbilikus' trajectory in reaction to the impact load was described analytically and interpreted graphically. Parameters of abdomen vibration were detected in horizontal profile by tensometric belt. Impact in interaction of soles with the underlay was detected with the help of tensometric platform Kistler. Ultimate strength point of myometrium was set by tearing experiment in 12 samples.r />r /> RESULTS: Calculation of characteristics of damped, aperiodic vibration of hydro-viscous elastic system as the outside behaviour of the gravid abdomen. Parameters in vertical direction of umbilicus: impulse in abdominal area - 2,72 Ns, T-period - 0.1299 s, amplitude - 0,009 m, frequency - 7,7 Hz, functional damping - from -6 to +12 Nsm-1. In horizontal direction: frequency 5,4 Hz, damping 123 Nsm-1. Impact in soles' sphere 40 Ns with maximum value 1511 N, which represents level 2,2 G. Ultimate strength point of myometrium is 0,1 - 1,1 MPa.r />r /> CONCLUSION: The results show one of the possible critical, risky frequencies of the gravid abdomen, that is, in this concrete case, the frequency of the vibrating system of cca 7,7 Hz in vertical direction and cca 5,4 Hz horizontally. This implies that e.g. this frequency is dangerous (possible abruptio placentae) and is necessary to be avoided e.g. when travelling by means of public transportation. The applied analytic methods and presented parameters will be used for e.g. modelling the examined gravid system under impact load of a general character--locomotion, work-load, car accidents, etc....

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Comparative Study 2003; 24(1-2): 9-14 PubMed PMID: 12743525 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, Brain Chemistry:drug effects, Female, Lipopolysaccharides:pharmacology, Neuropeptides:analysis, Putamen:chemistry, Rats, Rats, Wistar, Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization:methods, Supraoptic Nucleus:chemistry, Vasopres.   

: The measure of neuropeptides is an important tool in biology to better define endocrine and neuroendocrine function. Traditionally most methods have relied on the development of specific antibodies. Newer molecular methodologies have used measures of gene expression of neuropeptide precursors, such as Northern blot, PCR or in situ hybridization analysis. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass analysis is a novel powerful technique for investigation of neuropeptides. Multiple peptides and peptide forms can be detected simultaneously and with great sensitivity in tissue extracts or partially purified samples. We have now adapted a MALDI methodology for the direct measurement of neuropeptides on fresh tissue sections of rat brains. We have validated the method by examining peptidergic mass profiles of the supraoptic nucleus (SON) and caudate putamen hypothalamic regions. Interestingly, mass profiles showed that vasopressin, which is specifically present in the SON, is modulated when animals are treated with lipopolysaccharides. MALDI-MS on brain slides is a novel complementary technique for neurobiologists and endocrinologists in order to investigate the dynamic and regional distribution of neuropeptides during physiological events....

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