Normal hypocretin-1 (orexin A) levels in cerebrospinal fluid in patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension.

Aim: Low levels of hypocretin-1 (HC-1) have been associated with hypersomnia, obesity, depression, and chronic headaches. These conditions are frequently present in patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) and may be associated with abnormalities of the hypocretin system. The aim of this study was to determine HC-1 concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in a series of patients with IIH and to compare these concentrations with those in a control group with no neurological alterations.

Activation of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and increased plasma vasoconstrictors in vasospastic and nonvasospastic angina.

Background: The cause of coronary vasoconstriction in patients with angina at rest, nonsignificant coronary stenosis, and endothelial dysfunction remains unknown. Our objective was to investigate the association between enhanced coronary vasoconstriction and increased circulating levels of vasoconstrictor agents.

Methods: Plasma levels of big endothelin-1, serotonin, and superoxide produced by polymorphonuclear leukocytes were measured in 38 patients with stable angina at rest without significant coronary artery stenosis-23 with nonvasospastic angina and 15 with vasospastic angina-and were compared with 10 patients with stable coronary disease and 20 age-matched controls.

Lipoprotein lipase but not hormone-sensitive lipase activities achieve normality after surgically induced weight loss in morbidly obese patients.

Background: Although bariatric surgery is currently the most common practice for inducing weight loss in morbidly obese patients (BMI>40 kg/m2), its effect on the lipid content of adipose tissue and its lipases (lipoprotein lipase [LPL] and hormone-sensitive lipase [HSL]) are controversial.

Methods: We analyzed LPL and HSL activities and lipid content from plasma as well as subcutaneous (SAT) and visceral (VAT) adipose tissue of 34 morbidly obese patients (MO) before and after (6 and 12 months) Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery and compare the values with those of normal weight (control) patients.

Results: LPL activity was significantly higher in MO (SAT=32.

Lipoprotein lipase expression in livers of morbidly obese patients could be responsible for liver steatosis.

Background: Most patients with morbid obesity develop non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The origins of lipid deposition in the liver and the effects of bariatric surgery in the obese with NAFLD are controversial.

Methods: We analyzed lipids and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) in both plasma and liver biopsies performed before and 12-18 months after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery in 26 patients.

Ghrelin and apolipoprotein AIV levels show opposite trends to leptin levels during weight loss in morbidly obese patients.

Background: Although bariatric surgery is the most common procedure used to induce weight loss in morbidly obese patients, its effect on plasma satiety factors (leptin, ghrelin, and apolipoprotein (apo)-AIV) is controversial. The aim of this work was to analyze these parameters before and at different times after surgery.

Methods: Plasma was obtained from 34 patients before undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and during weight loss in the 12 months following surgery.

Increased expression and activity of hepatic lipase in the liver of morbidly obese adult patients in relation to lipid content.

Background: The types and sources of lipid deposition in the liver of most patients with morbid obesity, as well as the effects of bariatric surgery, are discussed.

Methods: In 26 patients with morbid obesity who underwent bariatric surgery, we analyzed different kinds of lipids and hepatic lipase (HL) from both plasma and liver biopsies performed 12-18 months after surgery.

Results: The HL activity and HL-mRNA in morbidly obese (MO) livers were high (258 +/- 17 mU/g, and 4.

Comparison of plasma serotonin levels in patients with variant angina pectoris versus healed myocardial infarction.

Patients with variant angina pectoris showed greater serotonin plasma levels than did control subjects and patients with healed myocardial infarction. The levels also tended to be greater in those with >1 episode/month than in those with fewer episodes. Moreover, patients with variant angina pectoris also had greater levels of nitrite and nitrate plasma levels than did control subjects or patients with healed myocardial infarction, partly, perhaps, as a compensatory mechanism.

Usefulness of homeostasis model assessment for identifying subjects at risk for hypoglycemia failure during the insulin hypoglycemia test.

One of the main problems of the insulin hypoglycemia test (IHT) is the failure to achieve an adequate hypoglycemia (blood glucose, <45 mg/dl) with the standard dose of insulin used. The aim of the study was to identify by means of homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) the subjects at risk for hypoglycemia failure during IHT. For this purpose 32 patients in whom an IHT was performed were prospectively included.

CSF galanin and cognition after shunt surgery in normal pressure hydrocephalus.

Background: "Normal" pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is associated with injury to neurotransmitter and neuropeptide systems that recovers after surgery. This could be linked to changes in galanin, a neuropeptide with inhibitory effects on basal forebrain cognitive function.

Objective: To examine changes in CSF galanin concentrations in patients with normal pressure hydrocephalus undergoing shunt surgery, and to investigate the relation between these changes and cognitive functioning.

V804M RET mutation and familial medullary thyroid carcinoma: report of a large family with expression of the disease only in the homozygous gene carriers.

Background: Only 9 families with familial medullary thyroid carcinoma due to V804M mutation have been reported until now. We describe a large kindred with not only heterozygous but also homozygous members with the V804M mutation. This is, to our knowledge, the first report of a homozygous RET mutation.

Plasma corticotropin-releasing factor in depressed patients before and after the dexamethasone suppression test.

Background: Plasma cortisol, beta-endorphin, corticotropin, corticotropin-releasing factor, and salivary cortisol concentrations, resting and after ingestion of 1 mg of dexamethasone, were investigated in depressed patients and controls.

Methods: Fourteen outpatients from the psychiatric department diagnosed with depressive disorder (ICD-10 Classification) participated in the study. The comparison group consisted of 12 healthy volunteers from the hospital staff.

Shunt related changes in somatostatin, neuropeptide Y, and corticotropin releasing factor concentrations in patients with normal pressure hydrocephalus.

Objectives: Recent data indicate that alterations in brain neuropeptides may play a pathogenic role in dementia. Neuropeptide Y (NPY), somastostatin (SOM), and corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) are neuropeptides involved in cognitive performance. Decreased SOM and NPY concentrations have been found in patients with normal pressure hydrocephalus and are probably the result of neuronal dysfunction, which could potentially be restored by shunting.

[Subarachnoid hemorrhage, cerebral ischemia and endothelin-1].

Introduction: Cerebral vasospasm is involved in the development of delayed ischemic lesions in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage. We developed an integral theoretical model to explain the pathophysiology of cerebral vasospasm, in which endothelin-1 has a pivotal role in the development of both cerebral vasospasm and delayed ischemic neurological deficits (DIND).

Objective: The objective of this study is to analyze the relationship between temporal profile of plasma endothelin-1 levels and the development of cerebral vasospasm and DIND.

Plasma corticotropin-releasing factor in depressive disorders.

Background: The aim of this work was to investigate alterations of plasma corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) levels in depressive states. We have also measured plasma cortisol and corticotropin (ACTH) concentrations and examined their correlation with the peripheral CRF values.

Methods: Thirty-six outpatients from the psychiatric department of a Barcelona hospital who were diagnosed as having major depressive disorder (n = 26) and dysthymic depressive disorder (n = 10) were studied.

Decreased cholecystokinin levels in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with adult chronic hydrocephalus syndrome.

Cholecystokinin (CCK) levels were measured in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with adult chronic hydrocephalus syndrome (ACHS) (n = 16) and compared with levels from a control group (n = 11). The CSF concentration of CCK in the ACHS group (0.79 +/- 0.

Epidermal growth factor excretion in burned rats.

Evidence for epidermal growth factor (EGF) involvement in the physiological response to burns was sought from urinary levels of EGF, urea and creatinine in male rats using a standardized thermal skin injury model (25 per cent body surface) and treated with fluid resuscitation. Postmortem, the skin lesions were studied by microscopy to guarantee the absence of inflammatory complications. Statistically significant differences were observed in body weight, urea and creatinine excretion when compared to the basal values.

Neurokinin concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid. A preliminary study in Parkinson's disease.

Immunoreactive neurokinin A was measured in the cerebrospinal fluid of twelve patients with Parkinson's disease and eleven normal subjects, using a sensitive and precise extraction/concentration radioimmunoassay method. The mean value obtained in Parkinson's disease patients (13.2 +/- 4.

Somatostatin cerebrospinal fluid levels in dementia.

Somatostatin levels were measured in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with Alzheimer's disease, multi-infarct dementia and normal pressure hydrocephalus and compared with levels from a normal control group. All pathological groups showed a statistically significant decrease of somatostatin with respect to the control group, but no significant differences were found amongst them. A negative correlation was found between the Mini Mental State Test and the somatostatin levels in Alzheimer's disease patients but not in the other groups.

Salivary cortisol levels and their correlation with plasma ACTH levels in depressed patients before and after the DST.

Objective: The aim of this work was to study the clinical utility of salivary cortisol concentrations in a group of depressed patients undergoing the dexamethasone suppression test (DST) and the correlation of these concentrations with plasma ACTH levels.

Method: Twenty outpatients from the psychiatric department of a Barcelona hospital who were diagnosed as having nonendogenous (N = 9) or endogenous (N = 11) depression according to DSM-III criteria and the Newcastle scale participated in the study. The comparison group consisted of 12 healthy volunteers.

Stability of somatostatin in total parenteral nutrition.

The stability of somatostatin, added to a total parenteral nutrition formula, in glass containers and in plastic ethylene vinyl acetate containers was investigated. The somatostatin concentration decreased immediately from 3 micrograms/ml to 0.3-0.

Cerebrospinal fluid neuropeptide Y in Alzheimer's disease.

The cerebrospinal fluid neuropeptide Y level was measured by radioimmunoassay in 20 patients with probable Alzheimer's disease and in 19 controls. The mean level was lower in patients (69.5 +/- 36.

Correlation between plasma estradiol and estrone-3-glucuronide in urine during the monitoring of ovarian induction therapy.

An improved radioimmunoassay was developed to determine estrone-3-glucuronide in daily urine. Resulting levels were compared with those of estradiol in plasma of 10 healthy women and 14 undergoing ovulation induction therapy with human menopausal gonadotropin and human chorionic gonadotropin. A highly significant correlation between plasma estradiol and urinary estrone-3-glucuronide in normal (r = .

Plasma levels of beta-endorphin, cortisol, prolactin and growth hormone in depressed patients.

Basal serum cortisol, growth hormone, prolactin and immunoreactive (IR) plasma beta-endorphin levels were measured in 31 depressed patients (14 endogenous, 17 nonendogenous) undergoing the dexamethasone suppression test. The endogenously depressed patients had significantly higher (22.55 +/- 1.