GABA receptors-mediated tonic inhibition of glutamate release from Aβ fibers in rat laminae III/IV of the spinal cord dorsal horn.

Presynaptic GABA receptors (GABARs) are highly expressed in dorsal root ganglion neurons and spinal cord dorsal horn. GABARs located in superficial dorsal horn play an important antinociceptive role, by acting at both pre- and postsynaptic sites. GABARs expressed in deep dorsal horn could be involved in the processing of touch sensation and possibly in the generation of tactile allodynia in chronic pain.

Myeloperoxidase-positive cell infiltration of normal colorectal mucosa is related to body fatness and is predictive of adenoma occurrence.

Body fatness is a risk factor for colorectal cancer, and promotes an inflammatory environment. Indeed, inflammation in normal colorectal mucosa may be a factor linking body fatness to colorectal carcinogenesis. In this study, we evaluated myeloperoxidase (MPO)-positive cells infiltration of normal colorectal mucosa as a marker of cancer-promoting inflammation in overweight and obese subjects.

The A3 adenosine receptor: history and perspectives.

By general consensus, the omnipresent purine nucleoside adenosine is considered a major regulator of local tissue function, especially when energy supply fails to meet cellular energy demand. Adenosine mediation involves activation of a family of four G protein-coupled adenosine receptors (ARs): A(1), A(2)A, A(2)B, and A(3). The A(3) adenosine receptor (A(3)AR) is the only adenosine subtype to be overexpressed in inflammatory and cancer cells, thus making it a potential target for therapy.

Pyrazolotriazolopyrimidine derivatives sensitize melanoma cells to the chemotherapic drugs: taxol and vindesine.

In this study, we have evaluated the "in vitro" modulatory activity of a series of pyrazolotriazolopyrimidine derivatives (PTP-d) in sensitizing malignant melanoma cells to the chemotherapic drugs: taxol and vindesine. To that end, we have described the impact of chemotherapeutic agents on the cell cycle and on the induction of apoptosis when used alone or in combination with PTP-d. We have demonstrated that four PTP-d reduced chemotherapic drugs EC(50) doses of the G(2)/M accumulation with an average of 1.

Bioluminescent flow sensor for L-phenylalanine determination in serum.

A highly sensitive and rapid bioluminescent flow sensor was developed for the determination of the content of L-phenylalanine (Phe) in serum by monitoring the reduced form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH), produced by immobilized phenylalanine dehydrogenase (PheDH), with bacterial bioluminescent enzymes immobilized on a separate nylon coil. The L-PheDHs extracted from Bacillus badius, Bacillus sphaericus and Rhodococcus sp. M 4 were investigated and the performances of the three immobilized L-PheDH's were analysed.

Oxytocinergic innervation of the rat spinal cord. An electron microscopic study.

Pre- and postembedding immunocytochemical procedures were used, together with antisera raised against oxytocin or its neurophysin, to characterize oxytocinergic pathways in the rat spinal cord, at the electron microscopic level. Pre-embedding immunoperoxidase staining performed on vibratome sections revealed oxytocin- and neurophysin-positive axonal profiles and terminals scattered predominantly in laminae I and II of the dorsal horn and in the central gray (lamina X). They were also visible, but to a lesser extent, in the intermediolateral columns, at thoracic and lumbar levels.