Inhibition of prejunctional parasympathetic pathways by β-adrenoceptor agonists in the isolated pig detrusor: comparison with human detrusor studies.

Adrenergic receptors of the β-subtype (β-ADRs) seem to represent a new target for a more effective pharmacological treatment of overactive bladder (OAB), a wide spread urinary disorder. A promising opportunity for OAB therapy might rely on the development of selective β-ADR agonists, but an appropriate preclinical screening, as well as investigation of their pharmacological mechanism(s), is limited by poor availability of human bladder samples and of translational animal models. In this study, we used the porcine urinary bladder as experimental tool to ascertain the functions of β-ADRs in the control the parasympathetic motor drive.

Mini Nutritional Assessment May Identify a Dual Pattern of Perturbed Plasma Amino Acids in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease: A Window to Metabolic and Physical Rehabilitation?

Conflicting results about alterations of plasma amino acid (AA) levels are reported in subjects with Alzheimer's disease (AD). The current study aimed to provide more homogeneous AA profiles and correlations between AAs and cognitive tests. Venous plasma AAs were measured in 54 fasting patients with AD (37 males, 17 females; 74.

Inflammation, pressure ulcers and poor functional status predict negative rehabilitation outcomes in postacute geriatric patients.

The purposes of this retrospective study were to document the prevalence of serum C-reactive protein (CRP), a biomarker of inflammation, and its potential predictive value for Rehabilitation outcomes in post-acute elderly inpatients. The medical records of 304 elderly subjects admitted to our Rehabilitation Institute for any disease following an acute event were examined. High levels of CRP (> 0.

Oxaliplatin-Fluoropyrimidine Combination (XELOX) Therapy Does Not Affect Plasma Amino Acid Levels and Plasma Markers of Oxidative Stress in Colorectal Cancer Surgery Patients: A Pilot Study.

Chemotherapy for colorectal cancer may lower muscle protein synthesis and increase oxidative stress. We hypothesize that chemotherapy may worsen plasma amino acids (AAs) and markers of oxidative stress (MOS). Therefore, this study aimed to document plasma AAs and MOS before, during and after chemotherapy in colorectal cancer (CRC) surgery patients.

Inflammation and rehabilitation outcomes in patients with nontraumatic intracranial haemorrhage.

Background: Systemic inflammation and its impact on rehabilitation for patients with non-traumatic haemorrhagic injury (HBI) sequelae has not yet been adequately documented.

Objective And Methods: We therefore considered 31 patients with HBI, to determine the serum levels of inflammatory markers (C-Reactive Protein, CRP and or interleukine-6, IL-6) to establish their impact on functional status (Functional Independence Measure, FIM: 18 indicating the worst performance and 126, a normal score).

Results: The results showed an inflammation prevalence (CRP >0.

Plasma Amino Acid Abnormalities in Chronic Heart Failure. Mechanisms, Potential Risks and Targets in Human Myocardium Metabolism.

The goal of this study was to measure arterial amino acid levels in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF), and relate them to left ventricular function and disease severity. Amino acids (AAs) play a crucial role for heart protein-energy metabolism. In heart failure, arterial AAs, which are the major determinant of AA uptake by the myocardium, are rarely measured.

Despite Inflammation, Supplemented Essential Amino Acids May Improve Circulating Levels of Albumin and Haemoglobin in Patients after Hip Fractures.

Essential amino acids (EAAs) are nutritional substrates that promote body protein synthesis; thus we hypothesised that their supplementation may improve circulating albumin (Alb) and haemoglobin (Hb) in rehabilitative elderly patients following hip fractures (HF). Out of the 145 HF patients originally enrolled in our study, 112 completed the protocol. These subjects were divided into two randomised groups, each containing 56 patients.

Plasma kinetics of essential amino acids following their ingestion as free formula or as dietary protein components.

This investigation compares the levels of plasma kinetics of plasma essential amino acids (EAAs) after ingestion as free-form EAAs (FEAAs) or EAAs as components of dietary protein (DPEAAs), in eighteen healthy individuals, nine elderly (85 ± 6.7 years; 4 male) and nine young (28.7 ± 7 years; 3 males).

Myofibrillar protein overdegradation in overweight patients with chronic heart failure: the relationship to serum potassium levels.

Objectives: Muscle release of the amino acid 3-methyl-histidine (3MH) is a sensitive index of myofibrillar protein overdegradation (MPO). We hypothesized that patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) could have increased muscle release of 3MH, which in turn reflects MPO, and that serum electrolyte sodium (Na(+)) and potassium (K(+)) levels may be associated with this 3MH muscle release.

Methods: Thirty-one overweight outpatients (body mass index, 27 ± 4.

Plasma kinetic of ingested essential amino acids in healthy elderly people.

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the documented difficulties of physiological amounts of essential amino acids (EAAs) (7 g) to induce protein synthesis could be reflected in a simple method adaptable to a clinical setting. Sixteen healthy individuals, nine elderly (75.3 ± 3.

Characterization of prejunctional serotonin receptors modulating [3H]acetylcholine release in the human detrusor.

Bladder overactivity (OAB) is a chronic and debilitating lower urinary tract (LUT) disorder that affects millions of individuals worldwide. LUT symptoms associated with OAB, such as urgency and urinary incontinence, cause a hygienic and social concern to patients, but their current pharmacological treatment is largely inadequate due to the lack of uroselectivity. Although OAB etiology remains multifactorial and poorly understood, increasing evidence indicates that serotonin [5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)] is an endogenous substance involved in the control of micturition at central and peripheral sites.