Characterization of functional μ opioid receptor turnover in rat locus coeruleus: an electrophysiological and immunocytochemical study.

Background And Purpose: Regulation of μ receptor dynamics such as its trafficking is a possible mechanism underlying opioid tolerance that contributes to inefficient recycling of opioid responses. We aimed to characterize the functional turnover of μ receptors in the noradrenergic nucleus locus coeruleus (LC).

Experimental Approach: We measured opioid effect by single-unit extracellular recordings of LC neurons from rat brain slices.

Contribution of nitric oxide-dependent guanylate cyclase and reactive oxygen species signaling pathways to desensitization of μ-opioid receptors in the rat locus coeruleus.

Nitric oxide (NO) is involved in desensitization of μ-opioid receptors (MOR). We used extracellular recordings in vitro to unmask the NO-dependent pathways involved in MOR desensitization in the rat locus coeruleus (LC). Perfusion with ME (3 and 10 μM) concentration-dependently reduced subsequent ME effect, indicative of MOR desensitization.

Peripheral blood regulatory T cells in long-term kidney transplant recipients.

Regulatory T lymphocytes (Treg) suppress activation of the immune system and prevent pathological autoreactivity, giving them a relevant role in transplantation. In this study, we compared the proportion of Treg in a group of kidney transplant recipients with those in a control group. We used flow cytometry and labeling with monoclonal CD4, CD25, and FoxP3 antibodies to analyze the percentage of Treg lymphocytes in peripheral blood in a group of 68 patients at more than 12 years since transplantation and in 16 untransplanted healthy controls.

Longitudinal analysis of immune function in the first 3 years of life in thymectomized neonates during cardiac surgery.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of neonatal thymectomy in the functional capacity of the immune system. We selected a group of 23 subjects, who had undergone thymectomy in their first 30 days of life, during an intervention for congenital heart disease. Several parameters of the immune system were evaluated during their first 3 years of life.

Rapid molecular prenatal diagnosis of ataxia-telangiectasia by direct mutational analysis.

Mutations of the ataxia-telangiectasia-mutated (ATM) gene are responsible for the autosomal recessive disorder ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T). This study reports the first A-T prenatal diagnosis performed in Spain by direct molecular analysis. The pregnant woman had a previous child suffering from A-T due to a deletion in the ATM gene.

A novel RMRP mutation in a Spanish patient with cartilage-hair hypoplasia.

Cartilage-hair hypoplasia (CHH), or McKusick type metaphyseal chondrodysplasia, was first recognized as a distinct entity in the Old Order Amish in the USA, but was later identified in other groups, and found to be unusually frequent among Finns. CHH is highly pleiotropic with manifestations that include short stature, defective cellular immunity and predisposition to several cancers. CHH is caused by mutations in the RNA component of RNase MRP (RMRP, ribonuclease mitochondrial RNA processing) and is transmitted as an autosomal recessive trait.

Rapid molecular diagnosis of ataxia-telangiectasia by optimised RT-PCR and direct sequencing analysis.

Ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T) is a severe autosomal recessive disorder involving cerebellar degeneration, immunodeficiency, chromosomal instability, radiosensitivity, and cancer predisposition. A-T results from mutations in a single gene (ataxia-telangiectasia mutated, ATM) on chromosome 11 that encodes a 3056 amino acid protein (ATM). The purpose of this study is the design of an easy and rapid method for the molecular diagnosis of A-T which could be applied to clinical diagnosis, genetic counselling, carrier prediction, and prenatal diagnosis.

[Management of type 2 diabetic patients in primary care in Spain].

Background And Objective: We assess the metabolic control, complications, quality of life related to health (QLRH) and the type and amount of medical resource consumption (MRC) in type 2 diabetic patients (2DMp) followed by primary care physicians (PCP) in Spain.

Patients And Method: We studied 628 2DMp divided in 4 cohorts: 1. Either newly diagnosed 2DMp who required pharmacological treatment or failed to non-pharmacological measures; 2.

Epidemiology, clinical characteristics, outcome, morbidity and mortality in acromegaly based on the Spanish Acromegaly Registry (Registro Espanol de Acromegalia, REA).

Objective: To undertake a multicentre epidemiological study reflecting acromegaly in Spain.

Design: Voluntary reporting of data on patients with acromegaly to an online database, by the managing physician.

Methods: Data on demographics, diagnosis, estimated date of initial symptoms and diagnosis, pituitary imaging, visual fields, GH and IGF-I concentrations (requested locally), medical, radiotherapy and neurosurgical treatments, morbidity and mortality were collected.

Prevalence of micro- and macroalbuminuria in a Canarian population of type 2 diabetic patients. Relationship with blood pressure, lipid profile, obesity and metabolic control.

We performed a cross-sectional study on the prevalence of micro- and macroalbuminuria in a population of 288 Type 2 diabetic patients from Northern Gran Canaria Island (age 59 +/- 9.5, years; 48% male): 179 unselected patients referred by their family physicians, and 109 from our diabetes clinic. Sex, age, duration of diabetes and hypertension, blood pressure, body mass index, waist-hip ratio, HbA1c, creatinine, cholesterol (total and HDL), triglycerides, lipoprotein (a), and the presence of retinopathy, polyneuropathy, and coronary and cerebrovascular disease were assessed.

Bone mineral metabolism is normal in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Because of the previous controversial findings in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), we measured bone-mineral density (BMD) by two different methods, studied biochemical markers of bone remodeling and calciotropic hormones (parathyroid hormone and calcitonin) in women with NIDDM, and compared the results with age-matched controls. Forty-seven women with NIDDM and 252 healthy nondiabetic women as controls were recruited for this study. BMD was measured by dual X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) and by quantitative computed tomography (QCT).

Anaphylaxis to subcutaneous neutral protamine Hagedorn insulin with simultaneous sensitization to protamine and insulin.

We report an insulin-treated diabetic patient who suffered, in a 2-month period, three severe anaphylactic reactions immediately after self-administered subcutaneous injections of neutral protamine Hagedorn (NPH) human recombinant-DNA insulin. These reactions consisted of local and systemic symptoms, including dyspnea and hypotension. A simultaneous sensitization to human insulin and to protamine was demonstrated, both by skin tests and by the determination of serum specific IgE.

Dopaminergic modulation of aldosterone secretion in the normal menstrual cycle.

A group of eight normotensive female volunteers with regular menstrual cycles were studied during two menstrual cycles: a control cycle and one in which they received lisuride, a D1-D2 dopamine agonist (0.025 mg/8 hr). The following tests were performed in both halves of both cycles: 1) the response of prolactin (PRL) to thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) administration; 2) the response of plasma renin activity (PRA) and plasma aldosterone (PA) to furosemide for 2 hours in the upright posture; and 3) the response of PRL, PRA, PA, plasma potassium (K), and cortisol (F) to metoclopramide administration.

Brown tumor in the palate associated with primary hyperparathyroidism.

A case of brown tumor on the hard palate associated with primary hyperparathyroidism is reported. The diagnosis was suggested by the oral findings and clinical history and confirmed by biochemical determinations. Excision of a parathyroid adenoma normalized the metabolic situation and at a one-year follow-up the palatal tumor had diminished in size and lamina dura was partially regenerated.