Cannabinoid and Serotonergic Systems: Unraveling the Pathogenetic Mechanisms of Stress-Induced Analgesia.

The perception of "stress" triggers many physiological and behavioral responses, collectively called the stress response. Such a complex process allows for coping with stress and also triggers severe pathology. Because of the multidirectional effect of stress on the body, multiple systems participate in its pathogenesis, with the endogenous cannabinoid and the serotoninergic ones among them.

A Rare Case of Thyroidea Ima Arising From the Internal Thoracic Artery and Reaching Up to the Parathyroid Gland.

The thyroidea ima artery (TIA), also known as the Neubauer artery, is a variable artery that takes part in the blood supply of the thyroid gland. The overall prevalence rate of the thyroidea ima artery is 3.3%.

Tissue changes and tissue reactivity following osteotomy by a conventional rotary device, an ultrasonic unit, and an Er: YAG laser - A comparative study in humans.

Introduction: Innovative technologies from other fields of science are constantly being introduced in medicine. Research works on animals strongly confirm the belief in better results following ultrasound and laser surgery. The main conclusions are based on observations from different animal species, whose biological characteristics differ from those of humans.

Acquisition of Freezing Tolerance of Resurrection Species from Gesneriaceae, a Comparative Study.

Resurrection plants have the unique ability to restore normal physiological activity after desiccation to an air-dry state. In addition to their desiccation tolerance, some of them, such as and , are also freezing-tolerant species, as they survive subzero temperatures during winter. Here, we compared the response of the photosynthetic apparatus of two other Gesneriaceae species, and , together with , to cold and freezing temperatures.

The Endogenous Cannabinoid and the Nitricoxidergic Systems in the Modulation of Stress Responses.

The effects on stress-induced analgesia (SIA) from endogenous cannabinoid system (ECS) and nitric oxide (NO) interaction after 1 h of restraint stress were evaluated in male Wistar rats. The animals were subjected to 1 h of restraint and then injected with different combinations of cannabinoid receptor type 1 agonist anandamide (AEA) or antagonist AM251 along with an NO donor, NO precursor, or inhibitor of NO synthase. Nociception was evaluated using paw pressure (PP) or hot plate (HP) tests.

Effect of Quercetin and Fingolimod, Alone or in Combination, on the Sphingolipid Metabolism in HepG2 Cells.

Combinations of anti-cancer drugs can overcome resistance to therapy and provide new more effective treatments. In this work we have analyzed the effect of the polyphenol quercetin and the anti-cancer sphingosine analog fingolimod on the sphingolipid metabolism in HepG2 cells, since sphingolipids are recognized as mediators of cell proliferation and apoptosis in cancer cells. Treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells with quercetin and fingolimod, alone or in combination, induced different degrees of sphingomyelin (SM) reduction and a corresponding activation of neutral sphingomyelinase (nSMase).

Resveratrol Affects Sphingolipid Metabolism in A549 Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells.

Resveratrol is a naturally occurring polyphenol which has various beneficial effects, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-aging, antioxidant, and neuroprotective effects, among others. The anti-cancer activity of resveratrol has been related to alterations in sphingolipid metabolism. We analyzed the effect of resveratrol on the enzymes responsible for accumulation of the two sphingolipids with highest functional activity-apoptosis promoting ceramide (CER) and proliferation-stimulating sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P)-in human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells.

Sphingolipid Catabolism and Glycerophospholipid Levels Are Altered in Erythrocytes and Plasma from Multiple Sclerosis Patients.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune, inflammatory, degenerative disease of the central nervous system. Changes in lipid metabolism have been suggested to play important roles in MS pathophysiology and progression. In this work we analyzed the lipid composition and sphingolipid-catabolizing enzymes in erythrocytes and plasma from MS patients and healthy controls.

Diagnosis of spontaneous and secondary bacterial peritonitis in patients with hepatic cirrhosis and ascites.

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is an infection that is not caused by intra-abdominal source requiring surgery. Nowadays SBP is the main cause of death in patients with cirrhosis. Treatment is carried out with third generation cephalosporins and albumin infusions.

A rare variation of the digastric muscle.

The digastric muscle is composed by two muscle bellies: an anterior and a posterior, joined by an intermediate tendon. This muscle is situated in the anterior region of the neck. The region between the hyoid bone and the mandible is divided by an anterior belly into two triangles: the submandibular situated laterally and the submental triangle which is located medially.

Abnormal attachments between a plantar aponeurosis and calcaneus.

Background And Aims: The plantar aponeurosis or fascia is a thick fascial seal located on the lower surface of the sole. It consists of three parts central, lateral, and medial. The central portion is the thickest.

Intraperitoneal perfusion chemotherapy with hyperthermia in some malignant ascites.

Intraperitoneal administration of chemotherapeutic drugs with hyperthermia (HIPEC) increases their local effect on malignant peritoneal diseases and reduces systemic cytotoxicity. The most commonly used are cisplatin, doxorubicin, and mitomycin C. A major disadvantage of intraperitoneal chemotherapy is limited penetration of the drug in the tumor lesion depth (1-3 mm).

Disease and treatment outcome in chronic active hepatitis C with occult HBV infection.

Background/aims: To evaluate the clinical course and effect of antiviral treatment in chronic active hepatitis C with coexisting occult hepatitis B infection.

Methodology: Basic liver enzymes, histological activity of hepatitis (Ishak score), biochemical and virological response rate at the end of treatment and 6 months later of 30 patients (15 of them positive for hepatitis B core antibody in serum) with chronic active hepatitis C are compared. All patients were treated with Interferon alpha-2b 3ME three times weekly and oral Ribavirin 1000/1200 mg daily for six months.

[The role of laparoscopy and laparoscopic ultrasonography in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of nodular hepatocellular lesions].

The diagnostic relevance of laparoscopy (LS) and laparoscopic echography (LE) in nodular hepatocellular lesions is studied. LS is done using a R. Wolf laparoscope, and LE--with a 7.