Rosiglitazone, a ligand of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma, reduces acute pancreatitis induced by cerulein.

Objective: In the present study, we investigated the effects of rosiglitazone (10 mg/kg, i.p.), a PPAR-gamma agonist, on the development of acute pancreatitis.

Determination of fluoride in wine by fluoride selective ion electrode, standard addition method: collaborative study.

The accuracy, precision, and reproducibility of a rapid method for determination of fluoride in wine, using a fluoride selective ion electrode, were established by a collaborative study involving 12 laboratories, 5 in Europe and 7 in the United States. The laboratories assayed 6 Youden pairs of fluoride-fortified, red and white wine samples with fluoride concentrations ranging from 0.2 to 3.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy prevents vascular derangement during zymosan-induced multiple-organ-failure syndrome.

Objective: This study investigated the effects of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy on the cardiovascular alteration (e.g. mean arterial pressure, vascular reactivity of thoracic aorta rings changes) caused by zymosan in rats.

Effects of GW274150, a novel and selective inhibitor of iNOS activity, in acute lung inflammation.

1. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of GW274150, a novel, potent and selective inhibitor of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) activity in a model of lung injury induced by carrageenan administration in the rats. 2.

Rosiglitazone, a ligand of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma, reduces the development of nonseptic shock induced by zymosan in mice.

Objective: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are members of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily of ligand-activated transcription factors that are related to retinoid, steroid, and thyroid hormone receptors. The PPAR-gamma receptor subtype appears to play a pivotal role in the regulation of cellular proliferation and inflammation. Rosiglitazone (Avandia) is a PPAR-gamma agonist (the most potent PPAR-gamma agonist of the thiazolidinedione antidiabetics).

Superoxide: a key player in hypertension.

Superoxide is increased in the vessel wall of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) where, if "blocked," potentiates endothelium-dependent vasodilation. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of superoxide anion in hypertension and its interaction with nitric oxide (NO). For this purpose we used a low molecular weight synthetic superoxide dismutase mimetic (M40403), known to remove selectively superoxide anion.

Rosiglitazone, a ligand of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma, reduces acute inflammation.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are members of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily of ligand-activated transcription factors that are related to retinoid, steroid and thyroid hormone receptors. The PPAR-gamma receptor subtype appears to play a pivotal role in the regulation of cellular proliferation and inflammation. The thiazolidinedione rosiglitazone (Avandia) is a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma) agonist, that was recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treatment of type II diabetes mellitus.

Protective effects of M40401, a selective superoxide dismutase mimetic, on zymosan-induced nonseptic shock.

Objective: Zymosan enhances formation of reactive oxygen species, which contributes to the pathophysiology of organ failure during nonseptic shock. Here we have investigated the effects of M40401, a new superoxide dismutase mimetic, on the organ failure associated with nonseptic shock caused by zymosan in rats.

Design: Experimental study.

Electrolocation and electrocommunication in pulse gymnotids: signal carriers, pre-receptor mechanisms and the electrosensory mosaic.

Constraints introduced by signal carriers, pre-receptor mechanisms and receptor transduction are fundamental for shaping the signals used by the brain to build up perceptual images. This review analyses some of these constraints in the electrosensory system of pulse Gymnotids. First, it describes the characteristics and differences of electrolocation and electrocommunication carriers.

The electric image in Gnathonemus petersii.

We review modelling and experimental work dealing with the mechanisms of generation of electric image. We discuss: (1) the concept of electric image in the context of the reafference principle; (2) how waveform codes an impedance related qualia of the object image, referred to as "electric colour"; (3) that some characteristics of the spatial profiles generated by pre-receptor mechanisms are suitable for edge detection; (4) which parameters of the spatial profiles provide information for distance discrimination; (5) that electric images are distributed representations of the scene.

Calpain inhibitor I reduces intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury in the rat.

In this study we evaluated the effect of calpain inhibitor I on splanchnic artery occlusion (SAO) shock-mediated injury. SAO shock was induced in rats by clamping both the superior mesenteric artery and the celiac trunk for 45 min. After 1 h of reperfusion, SAO-shocked rats developed a significant fall in mean arterial blood pressure.

Reduction in the evolution of murine type II collagen-induced arthritis by treatment with rosiglitazone, a ligand of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma.

Objective: The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) is a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily of ligand-dependent transcription factors related to retinoid, steroid, and thyroid hormone receptors. The thiazolidinedione rosiglitazone is a PPARgamma ligand that modulates the transcription of target genes. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of rosiglitazone on the inflammatory response in mice with collagen-induced arthritis (CIA).

[Subtotal splenectomy for large splenic cyst].

Fulminant sepsis described in childhood has long stimulated surgeons to attempt partial or total preservation of the spleen when possible. Persistence of splenic tissue ensures preservation of the immunological competence of the organ. Total splenectomy ought to be avoided in the first 10 years of life; in subsequent years an attempt to partially preserve the organ is to be recommended.

Prevalence estimates for chronic diseases in Italy: exploring the differences between self-report and primary care databases.

Background: The aim of this study was to describe population and primary care morbidity and to examine how the differences vary across the diseases and are influenced by patients' demographic characteristics.

Methods: A comparison of the prevalence of four chronic conditions for 432747 patients from the Health Search Database (HSD) and 119799 individuals from a Health Interview Survey was carried out. A linear regression was performed to study the associations between age and difference in morbidity.

Electric images of two low resistance objects in weakly electric fish.

Electroreceptive fish detect nearby objects by processing the information contained in the pattern of electric currents through their skin. In weakly electric fish, these currents arise from a self-generated field (the electric organ discharge), depending on the electrical properties of the surrounding medium. The electric image can be defined as the pattern of transepidermal voltage distributed over the receptive surface.

Protective effects of anthocyanins from blackberry in a rat model of acute lung inflammation.

Anthocyanins are a group of naturally occuring phenolic compounds related to the coloring of plants, flowers and fruits. These pigments are important as quality indicators, as chemotaxonomic markers and for their antioxidant activities. Here, we have investigated the therapeutic efficacy of anthocyanins contained in blackberry extract (cyanidin-3-O-glucoside represents about 80% of the total anthocyanin contents) in an experimental model of lung inflammation induced by carrageenan in rats.

Exploring patient- and doctor-related variables associated with antibiotic prescribing for respiratory infections in primary care.

Objective: To assess patient- and doctor-related variables leading physicians to prescribe antibiotics or parenteral antibiotics for acute respiratory infections (ARIs) and to describe the variability as well as the appropriateness of antibiotic use and its predictive factors in general practice.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study among patients aged 15-85 years with a diagnosis of ARIs, using information from 469 GPs from the Health Search Database. Diagnoses were linked with antibiotic prescriptions and other patients and doctor-related variables.

Targeted whole-cell recordings in the mammalian brain in vivo.

While electrophysiological recordings from visually identified cell bodies or dendrites are routinely performed in cell culture and acute brain slice preparations, targeted recordings from the mammalian nervous system are currently not possible in vivo. The "blind" approach that is used instead is somewhat random and largely limited to common neuronal cell types. This approach prohibits recordings from, for example, molecularly defined and/or disrupted populations of neurons.

Rosiglitazone and 15-deoxy-Delta12,14-prostaglandin J2, ligands of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma), reduce ischaemia/reperfusion injury of the gut.

1. The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma) is a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily of ligand-dependent transcription factors related to retinoid, steroid and thyroid hormone receptors. The thiazolidinedione rosiglitazone and the endogenous cyclopentenone prostaglandin (PG)D2 metabolite, 15-deoxy-Delta12,14-PGJ2 (15d-PGJ2), are two PPAR-gamma ligands, which modulate the transcription of target genes.

5-lipoxygenase knockout mice exhibit a resistance to acute pancreatitis induced by cerulein.

Here we compare the degree of pancreatitis caused by cerulein in mice lacking 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) and in the corresponding wild-type mice. Intraperitoneal injection of cerulein in mice resulted in severe, acute pancreatitis characterized by oedema, neutrophil infiltration and necrosis and elevated serum levels of amylase and lipase. Infiltration of pancreatic and lung tissue with neutrophils (measured as increase in myeloperoxidase activity) was associated with enhanced lipid peroxidation (increased tissue levels of malondialdehyde).

5-lipoxygenase knockout mice exhibit a resistance to splanchnic artery occlusion shock.

In the present study, we used 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) knockout (KO) mice to evaluate the possible role of 5-LO on the pathogenesis of splanchnic artery occlusion (SAO) shock. SAO shock was induced in mice by clamping both the superior mesenteric artery and the celiac artery for 30 min, followed thereafter by release of the clamp (reperfusion). At 120 min after reperfusion, animals were sacrificed for histological examination and biochemical studies.

Pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate attenuates the development of organ failure induced by zymosan in mice.

Objective: Nuclear factor (NF) kappaB is a transcription factor which plays a pivotal role in the induction of genes involved in physiological processes as well as in the response to injury and inflammation. Dithiocarbamates are anti-oxidants which are potent inhibitors of NF-kappaB. We postulated that pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) would attenuate multiple-organ failure (MOF).

Enhancement of expression of vascular endothelial growth factor after adeno-associated virus gene transfer is associated with improvement of brain ischemia injury in the gerbil.

Angiogenesis induced by growth factors may represent a rational therapy for patients with stroke. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a pivotal role in angiogenesis and VEGF expression is enhanced in the post-ischemic brain. VEGF induced by brain hypoxia can lead to the growth of new vessels and may represent a natural protective mechanism improving survival after stroke.

Protective effects of cyanidin-3-O-glucoside from blackberry extract against peroxynitrite-induced endothelial dysfunction and vascular failure.

Anthocyanins are a group of naturally occurring phenolic compounds as colorants in several plants, flowers and fruits. These pigments have a great importance as quality indicators, as chemotaxonomic markers and antioxidants. The content of blackberry (Rubus species) juice was investigated by HPLC/ESI/MS using narrow bore HPLC columns.

A novel network of multipolar bursting interneurons generates theta frequency oscillations in neocortex.

GABAergic interneurons can phase the output of principal cells, giving rise to oscillatory activity in different frequency bands. Here we describe a new subtype of GABAergic interneuron, the multipolar bursting (MB) cell in the mouse neocortex. MB cells are parvalbumin positive but differ from fast-spiking multipolar (FS) cells in their morphological, neurochemical, and physiological properties.