Low dose pioglitazone does not affect bone formation and resorption markers or bone mineral density in streptozocin-induced diabetic rats.

Our study aims to investigate the effect of a low-dose pioglitazone regimen on bone mineral density and bone formation-resorption markers in control and diabetic rats. Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups: non-diabetic controls, control rats receiving pioglitazone (3 mg/kg), streptozocin-treated diabetic rats (50 mg/kg), diabetic rats treated with pioglitazone (3 mg/kg). The duration of the experiment was 8 weeks.

Evidence for the contribution of tumour necrosis factor in oedema formation induced by histamine in the hind paw of the rat.

There is mounting evidence that tumour necrosis factor (TNF) is involved in the early phase of inflammatory response, but its relation to histamine action is unclear. In this study we examined the effect of drugs interfering with TNF expression (thalidomide) and activity (infliximab) and compared it to that of a H(1)R histamine receptor antagonist (loratadine) in a model of histamine-induced rat hind-paw oedema formation. Systemic administration of all three drugs effectively reduced the oedema formed by the subsequent transplantar administration of histamine into the rat paw, in a dose-dependent manner.

Slowing growth and histology changes in Lewis lung carcinoma implanted in a partly denervated muscle.

The purpose of this study is to test the effect of partial muscle denervation on a tumor inocculated on the same muscle. Experiments were performed on male C57BL mice divided into two numerically equal A and B groups, each of which was subdivided into three subgroups AA, AB, Ac and BA, BB, BC, respectively. The right sciatic nerve of each mice of the A group was incised and partly dissected (day 0).

Atrial natriuretic peptide contributes to the antihypertensive action of many drugs.

Data derived from a 10 years research program of our team demonstrate that many categories of antihypertensive drugs like beta-adrenergic blockers, alpha1-adrenergic blockers, ACE inhibitors, AT1-receptor antagonists and calcium-entry blockers increase plasma atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) levels after a medium-term treatment of patients suffering from moderate essential hypertension. ANP always increases despite the drop of the arterial pressure and the fact that the left atrial and ventricular diameters remain unchanged or slightly reduced. These findings indicate that the increase of ANP plasma levels is not the result of a mechanical overload in the left cardiac chambers but the result of a pharmacological action.

Plasma atrial natriuretic peptide in essential hypertension after treatment with terazocin.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the medium term effects of the selective alpha1-adrenenergic- blocker terazocin on atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) levels in patients with moderate essential hypertension. The drug was given orally for 30 days. The daily dose was 1 mg for the first 7 days, 2 mg for the next 7 days and 5 mg for the remaining period of this clinical trial.

Comparison of felodipine and nitroglycerin actions on vasomotion physiology.

Felodipine is a Calcium blocker and nitroglycerin, a nitrate vasodilating agent, were compared. Two parameters were studied in vitro on bovine aortic media. Calcium uptake and vascular tone.

Myasthenia gravis: correlation of age with clinical course and anti-AChr antibody levels.

We studied the significance of age as a factor affecting prognosis and anti-AChR antibody levels in myasthenia gravis, comparing patients with symptom onset before 50 (37 patients) and at or after 50 (33 patients). More of the older patients, compared to younger ones (69.9% versus 32.

Beta-blockers and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in hypertension.

Several studies (including ours) in patients with moderate hypertension indicate that beta-adrenergic blockers exert their antihypertensive action in part by increasing ANP secretion. There is also strong evidence that (beta 1- adrenergic receptors are mainly involved in this action. In this article we provide an overview on some of these studies.

The effect of losartan on calcium uptake by bovine aortic media in vitro.

The action of losartan, an AT1-angiotensin II receptor antagonist, on Ca2+ uptake by bovine aortic media in vitro was studied. This action was compared with that of nifedipine, a Ca2+ entry blocker. Ca2+ uptake values were obtained by measuring small slices of thoracic aorta tissue incubated in Kreb's solution in the presence of 45Ca.

Plasma atrial natriuretic peptide in essential hypertension after treatment with irbesartan.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the medium-term effects of the selective AT1-blocker irbesartan on atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) levels in patients with moderate essential hypertension. The drug was given orally in a daily dose of 300 mg for 30 days. Plasma ANP levels increased by 15.

Plasma atrial natriuretic peptide levels in essential hypertension after treatment with verapamil.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the long term effects of the selective Ca2+-blocker verapamil on atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) levels in patients with moderate essential hypertension. The drug was given orally in a daily dose of 300 mg for 30 days. At the end of this clinical trial, plasma ANP levels increased by 16.

Losartan inhibits the angiotensin II-induced modifications on fibrinolysis and matrix deposition by primary human vascular smooth muscle cells.

Disorders in the fibrinolytic and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone systems and excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition are determinant factors in several pathologic manifestations of vascular and cardiac tissue. We used primary human vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) and studied the effects of losartan on angiotensin II (Ang II)-mediated (a) DNA synthesis, (b) secretion of tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), (c) secretion of matrix metalloprotease-2 (MMP-2) activity and tissue inhibitors of MMPs (TIMPs), and (d) synthesis of glycosaminoglycans. VSMC cultures, established from human pulmonary arteries, were treated with Ang II (0.

Iohexol does not influence the levels of blood serum cation electrolytes during intravenous pyelography.

Purpose: The influence of the nonionic contrast agent iohexol on blood pH and the cation electrolytes Ca, Na, K and Mg was studied in vivo in humans during the intravenous pyelography.

Material And Methods: A population of 28 patients without renal function impairment or electrolyte imbalance was divided into two equal groups. The first group received an intravenous injection of 0.

Effects in vivo of iohexol and diatrizoate on human plasma acetyl- and butyryl-cholinesterase activity.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of two iodinate contrast agents (CA), iohexol and diatrizoate, on human plasma acetyl-(AC) and butyrylcholinesterase(BC) activity.

Material And Methods: Forty-eight patients (24 males and 24 females) scheduled for intravenous pyelography were randomly divided into four groups of 6 males and 6 females each, receiving as CA, respectively: iohexol (Omnipaque, Schering) 0.6 ml/kg body weight (G1); iohexol 1.

Effect of the beta 1-blocker/beta 2-agonist celiprolol on atrial natriuretic peptide plasma levels in hypertensive patients.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term effects of the selective beta 1-blocker/beta 2-agonist celiprolol on atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) levels in patients with moderate essential hypertension. The drug was given orally in a daily dose of 200 mg for 30 days. Plasma ANP levels increased by 187% despite the drop in blood pressure, while left atrial and ventricular diameters remained unchanged.

Clonidine and vasomotion physiology.

It is known that clonidine exerts a hyperpolarizing action and alpha 2-adrenergic activity. The experimental work investigates the conditions under which each action of clonidine is developed on vascular smooth muscle. Two parameters were studied in vitro on bovine aortic media, Ca2+ uptake and vascular tone.

The effect of some iodinated contrast media on human plasma butyrylcholinesterase activity.

The effect of three iodinated contrast media (CM) on human plasma butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) activity was studied during the intravenous pyelography (i.v.P).

ANP concentrations during interchanging DDD-VVI pacing modes in patients with retrograde ventriculoatrial conduction.

The main reason for the pacemaker syndrome during VVI pacing is the existence of ventriculoatrial conduction (V-AC). Twenty-five patients with a permanent DDD pacemaker and ventriculoatrial conduction were included in the study. IN those patients the hemodynamic changes were evaluated in relation to ANP plasma concentration changes during different modes of pacing.

Pituitary-testicular axis in men with beta-thalassaemia major.

Delayed puberty and hypogonadism are frequently observed in patients with homozygous beta-thalassaemia. We evaluated the pituitary-testicular axis in 30 thalassaemic men, aged from 17 to 35 years who were regularly transfused and underwent chelation therapy, while emphasis was given to pituitary reserves of gonadotrophins and the correlation of hormones with serum ferritin (SF). The investigation included endocrinological examination, evaluation of serum basal levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), free testosterone and gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) test and also spermiograms.

Felodipine and vasomotion physiology.

This study concerns the investigation of felodipine's influence on some parameters of vasomotion physiology. Felodipine is a new generation 1,4 dihydropyridine (1,4 DHP) Ca(2+)-entrance blocker with marked vascular selectivity. It was found that felodipine 1-10 microM presents a Ca2+ entrance-blocking activity when the bovine aortic smooth muscle is normal or stimulated by K+ 65.

Interactions between digitoxin and some antiarrhythmic drugs.

In the present study the pharmacokinetic interactions between digitoxin and the antiarrhythmic drugs amiodarone, mexiletine and propafenone have been examined. Experiments were performed on rabbits in which serum digitoxin concentration was used as indicator to detect drug interactions. The radioimmunoassay "Coat-A-Count" procedure of DPC was used for the quantitative measurement of digitoxin.

The influence of methionine-5-enkephalin on calcium uptake by the bovine aortic media.

The influence of methionine-5-enkephalin (M-5-E), an endogenous opioid receptor agonist, on calcium uptake by bovine aortic media was investigated in vitro. 45Ca was used and radioactivity was counted in a beta scintillation counter. M-5-E increases Ca2+ uptake by the preparation.

The influence of amikacin on digoxin uptake by certain rabbit tissues in vitro.

The influence of amikacin on digoxin uptake by various rabbit tissues was investigated in vitro. 125J-digoxin was used and radioactivity was counted in a gamma scintillation counter. Amikacin decreases digoxin uptake by the renal tissue and this action is probably due to a displacing effect.