Microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) associates with the NMDA receptor and is spatially redistributed within rat hippocampal neurons after oxygen-glucose deprivation.

MAP2 (microtubule-associated protein 2) is a cytoskeletal phosphoprotein that regulates the dynamic assembly characteristics of microtubules and appears to provide scaffolding for organelle distribution into the dendrites and for the localization of signal transduction apparatus in dendrites, particularly near spines. MAP2 is degraded after ischemia and other metabolic insults, but the time course and initial triggers of that breakdown are not fully understood. This study determined that MAP2 resides in a complex with the NMDA receptor, suggesting that spatially localized changes may be important in the mechanism of MAP2 redistribution and breakdown after oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD).

Efficacy and safety of nifedipine tablets for the acute treatment of severe hypertension in pregnancy.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine whether the slower- and longer-acting nifedipine tablets were as effective and safe as the rapid onset and short-acting nifedipine capsules for the treatment of acute severe hypertension in pregnancy.

Study Design: Sixty-four women in the second half of pregnancy who were not in labor randomly received 10 mg nifedipine tablets (n = 55 studies) or 10 mg nifedipine capsules (n = 74 studies) if blood pressure was > or =170/110 mm Hg. Blood pressure, heart rate, and cardiotocography were monitored over the subsequent 90 minutes.

Is resistant hypertension really resistant?

Background: Managing resistant hypertension is difficult and mostly involves expensive testing seeking an underlying secondary cause. This study was undertaken to determine 1) the extent of the white-coat phenomenon in patients with resistant hypertension, and 2) whether 24-h ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring (ABPM) or having BP recorded by a nurse instead of the referring doctor could clarify how many apparently resistant hypertensives actually have controlled BP.

Methods: This study involved 611 patients with BP > or = 140/90 mm Hg who were referred for 24-h ABPM by their specialist or general practitioner, including 277 patients who were taking no antihypertensives (group 1), 216 taking one or two antihypertensive drugs (group 2), and 118 taking at least three antihypertensives in combination (group 3).

Stanniocalcin 2: characterization of the protein and its localization to human pancreatic alpha cells.

Stanniocalcin (STC) is a hormone that was originally identified in fish, where it inhibits calcium uptake by the gills and gut and stimulates phosphate adsorption by the kidney. Recently, two mammalian homologues of stanniocalcin were identified. The first (STC1) shows 61% identity to the fish stanniocalcins and appears to have a function similar to that of the fish stanniocalcins.

Does gestational hypertension become pre-eclampsia?

Objective: To determine the likelihood of progression from gestational hypertension (GH) to pre-eclampsia (PE) in hypertensive pregnant women and whether this change can be identified in advance by available clinical and laboratory measures.

Design: A retrospective analysis and a prospective study.

Setting: St George Hospital, Sydney, a teaching hospital of the University of New South Wales delivering 2500 women per year.