Nitric oxide synthase and VEGF expression in full-term placentas of obese women.

An adequate placental vascularization allows the proper development of the fetus and it is crucial for the gestational success. A number of factors regulate angiogenesis, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which induces the synthesis of nitric oxide (NO), a potent vasodilator produced by three different nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isoforms. NO is essential to maintain a low vascular resistance in the fetoplacental circulation, although at high concentrations, it may combine with excess superoxide to produce peroxynitrite, which reacts with proteins giving rise to nitrotyrosine.

Anorexia nervosa: a role for L-arginine supplementation in cardiovascular risk factors?

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of a short-term oral L-arginine treatment on platelet NO production, intracellular calcium concentration, iNOS and eNOS expression, in AN patients.

Method: Forty outpatients belonging to restricting subtype and 40 normal participants age and sex matched were enrolled in the study.

Results: NO production was significantly elevated in the platelets from AN patients compared with controls while [Ca(2+)](i) was significantly decreased in patients with respect to controls.

Lipoproteins obtained from anorexia nervosa patients induce higher oxidative stress in U373MG astrocytes through nitric oxide production.

Eating disorders (ED) are a group of important psychiatric disorders that affect young men and women, and can have serious consequences. Among all ED, anorexia nervosa (AN) is the most typical but also the most severe. The pathogenesis of AN is multifactorial and a great variety of cognitive deficits may contribute to its pathogenesis.