Distribution of substance P in brain and periphery and its possible role as a co-transmitter

Substance P is widely distributed in the nervous system. In brain and spinal cord it may act as a transmitter, for example at the central branches of primary sensory neurons. It may also be released from the sensory nerve endings and is thought to be involved in antidromic vasodilatation and in synaptic transmission in autonomic ganglia. In some central neurons substance P is stored together with 5-hydroxytryptamine and thyrotropin-releasing hormone. These neurons project to the ventral horn of the spinal cord, amongst other places. In another system substance P coexists with a cholecystokinin-like peptide. These neurons are localized in the periaqueductal central grey matter and also project to the spinal cord. Finally, injection of a substance P antagonist into the ventral mesencephalon causes marked morphological changes in neurons that contain dopamine, substance P and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA).

Effect of enalapril on the in vitro and in vivo peptidyl cleavage of a potent VLA-4 antagonist

BIO1211 is a small peptidyl potent antagonist of the activated form of alpha4beta1 integrin. The effect of enalapril on the in vitro and in vivo cleavage of BIO1211 was investigated. In heparinized blood, plasma and rat liver, lung and intestinal homogenates, BIO1211 was converted rapidly to BIO1588 by hydrolytic cleavage of the terminal dipeptide moiety. This cleavage could be inhibited by EDTA and the ACE inhibitor, enalaprilat, the de-esterified acid derivative of enalapril. Enalaprilat inhibited the hydrolysis of BIO1211 in a concentration-dependent manner with IC(50) values of 2 nM in human and sheep plasma and 10 nM in rat plasma. In rat lung homogenate supernatant, the maximum inhibition of the conversion of BIO1211 to BIO1588 was approximately 80% at 1 microM with no further effect up to 100 microM of enalaprilat. Following a concomitant IV administration of enalapril and BIO1211 at 3 mg/kg each, the AUC and the half-life values of BIO1211 increased 18- and 10-fold, respectively. The AUC of BIO1588 decreased approximately 2-fold with no change in its plasma half-life. When rats were dosed intravenously with enalapril followed by an intratracheal dose of BIO1211, there was approximately 2.5-fold decrease in the AUC of BIO1588 and a 2.4-fold increase in its plasma half-life.

Nickel induced histopathological changes in the different tissues of freshwater fish, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix (Valenciennes)

Nickel chloride, heavy metal widely used in industries was investigated in the present study for histopathological studies in silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix). Fish were exposed for 10, 20 and 30 days in sublethal concentration of nickel 5.7 mg/l. The histopathological changes were studied in the gill, liver, intestine and kidney of the nickel treated freshwater fish H. molitrix. The nickel showed a tissue specific alteration in the tissues. Mucus proliferation, fusion of the gill lamellae and hypertrophy of gill tissues were observed. Lack of normal palisade arrangement was followed by necrosis in hepatocytes. Degeneration of blood vessels, vacuolation, hypertrophy, pyknotic nuclei and lesion were observed in liver tissues. Degeneration of tubular cells, hyperplasia was observed in kidney tissues.

Sedation with target-controlled propofol infusion during shoulder surgery under interscalene brachial plexus block in the sitting position

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to assess target-controlled propofol infusion as a technique of sedation for shoulder surgery under interscalene brachial plexus block in the sitting position and to evaluate the effect of sedation on hypotensive/bradycardic events during this procedure.

METHODS

One hundred and forty patients undergoing elective shoulder surgery in the sitting position under interscalene brachial plexus block (with 30 mL of ropivacaine 0.75%) were prospectively enrolled. All patients were premedicated with hydroxyzine 1 mg kg(-1), none received beta-blockers. No patients were given atropine except for the patients who experienced a vasovagal event either during the block procedure or intravenous catheter placement. The target-controlled propofol infusion was started immediately after positioning the patient on the operating table. The initial target concentration was 1 microg mL(-1). The infusion rate was adjusted every 15 min by increasing or decreasing the target concentration by 0.2 microg mL(-1) steps to maintain the patient rousable to verbal commands (score of 3 on Wilson sedation scale). The following parameters were assessed: minimal, maximal, optimal target concentration, respiratory and haemodynamic parameters, total propofol dose, additional alfentanil needs, occurrence of hypotensive/bradycardic events, complications. Results are mean +/- SD. Statistical analysis used t-test and chi2-tests.

RESULTS

The optimal propofol target concentration was 0.8 mug mL(-1). No respiratory complications or conversion to general anaesthesia was reported. Two patients experienced transient and inconsequential intraoperative agitation. The incidence of hypotensive/bradycardic events during the procedure was 5.7% (eight patients).

CONCLUSION

Target-controlled propofol infusion (0.8-0.9 microg mL(-1)) following hydroxyzine premedication is a safe and effective technique for sedation when combined with interscalene brachial plexus block during shoulder surgery in the sitting position.

Lipoprotein profile and prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in urban Moroccan women

OBJECTIVE

The study aimed to characterize the lipid and apolipoprotein profile and the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in a population of urban adult women of Morocco.

DESIGN

A total of 213 women 25-55 y old were sampled from an agricultural province of Morocco: El Jadida. The following parameters of lipid and apolipoprotein profile were measured: plasma triglycerides (TG), plasma cholesterol (TC), triglyceride-rich lipoprotein triglycerides (TRL-TG), TRL-cholesterol (TRL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and apolipoproteins A1, B, B48, CIII and E. Waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure (BP) were also determined.

RESULTS

The women studied showed the following pattern: elevated TC, LDL-C levels and TC/HDL-C in 10, 19.4 and in 43.8%, respectively; low HDL-C levels in 45.3% (<0.9 mmol/l) or in 95% (when the cutoff <1.3 mmol/l is used), elevated TG levels in 11.8%. Elevated TRL-C (>0.6 mmol/l) and TRL-TG (>0.8 mmol/l) were observed in 13.4%. Obesity and hypertension were highly prevalent in 23.9 and 16.5%, respectively. Plasma triglyceride concentrations were closely correlated with plasma concentrations of TRL-TG (R = 0.86, P = 0.0001), apoB (R = 0.50, P = 0.0001) and apoCIII (R = 0.52, P = 0.0001) and moderately correlated with HDL-C levels (R = -0.3, P = 0.0001) and BMI (R = 0.4, P = 0.0001). The association between BMI and systolic blood pressure was statistically significant (R = 0.3, P = 0.0001). Obesity, BP, TRL-C, TRL-TG, TG, apoB and apoCIII increased with age.

CONCLUSION

There is a high prevalence of some risk factors for cardiovascular disease including altered lipid and lipoprotein profiles in the Moroccan urban women studied, some of these risk factors are associated with age.

A rapid identification system for metallothionein proteins using expert system

Metallothioneins (MT) are low molecular weight proteins mostly rich in cysteine residues with high metal content. Generally, MT proteins are responsible for regulating the intracellular supply of biologically essential metal ions and they protect cells from the deleterious effects of non-essential polarizable transition and post-transition metal ions. Due to their biological importance, proper characterization of MT is necessary. Here we describe a computer program (ID3 algorithm, a part of Artificial Intelligence) developed using available data for the rapid identification of MT. Tissue samples contains several low molecular weight proteins with different physical, chemical and biological characteristics. The described software solution proposes to categorize MT proteins without aromatic amino acids and high metal content. The proposed solution can be expanded to other types of proteins with specific known characteristics.

Cytopathology in France

In France, organization of the cytopathology seems to be quite different from that specifically regulated in the USA and in some other European countries. The aim of this article is to underline these specificities and to describe the solutions we advocate concerning new technologies, teaching, quality assurance, national guidelines em leader, to make our current practice compatible with the international recommendations. Moreover, we highlight the peculiar status of French cytotechnologists' and comment on the recent dramatic decrease of the medical demography in France, the consequence of which may promote a controlled transfer of competence.