Superoxide, an agent which attenuates the half-life of nitric oxide, is
metabolized and synthesized by superoxide dismutase (SOD) and xanthine
oxidase, respectively. Over the last few years much work has focused on the
role of nitric oxide in human parturition. The aim of this study was to
determine whether the onset of human parturition is associated with a
change in the expression of copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn SOD),
manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn SOD) or xanthine oxidase within the
uterus. Samples of myometrium, placenta, decidua and fetal membranes were
obtained from women before and after the onset of labour at term.
Immunocytochemistry was used to localize Cu/Zn SOD, Mn SOD and xanthine
oxidase and measure SOD enzyme activity. Cu/Zn and Mn SOD-like
immunoreactivity was detected in syncytiotrophoblast cells, villous stromal
cells and endothelial cells of blood vessels in the placenta. In the
myometrium Cu/Zn and Mn SOD were localized to myocytes and endothelial
cells and to some vascular smooth muscle cells. In the fetal membranes we
observed staining for Cu/Zn SOD and Mn SOD in the amnion, chorion,
extravillous trophoblast and decidua. There was no difference in SOD enzyme
activity or staining intensity for SOD between different cell types before
and during labour. Xanthine oxidase immunoreactivity was identified in each
of the tissues examined and again there was no difference in immunostaining
in tissues obtained from women delivered before or after the onset of
labour. These results show that the pregnant uterus is capable of both
synthesizing and degrading superoxide and suggest that superoxide dismutase
and xanthine oxidase may play a role in the maintenance of uterine
quiescence during pregnancy, but not in the initiation of parturition.
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Pre-eclampsia, one of the most significant health problems inhuman pregnancy, complicates 6-7% of all gestations and is theleading cause of fetal growth retardation, infant morbidityand mortality, premature birth and maternal death. Recent researchimplicates free radicals in the pathophysiology of pre-eclampsia.This review covers the biochemistry of nitric oxide (NO) andpossible interactions with other free radicals. Studies in therat show that pregnancy is associated with enhanced productionand responsiveness to NO in both reproductive tissues and bloodvessels. Rats infused with NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester(L-NAME, a NO synthase inhibitor) have been used as an animalmodel of pre-eclampsia, and the effects of steroid hormoneson blood pressure in this model have been tested. Results suggestthat pre-eclampsia may be a state of NO deficiency. However,in humans there seem to be contradictions regarding the involvementof NO in maternal adaptation to pregnancy. It is suggested thatNO may be one of several systems that act in concert to maintaina symbiotic relationship between mother and fetus. However,the input of each system may be genetically determined. 相似文献
Lung carcinoids occur sporadically and rarely in association with multiple
endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1). There are no well defined genetic
abnormalities known to occur in these tumors. We studied 11 sporadic lung
carcinoids for loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at the locus of the MEN1 gene
on chromosome 11q13, and for mutations of the MEN1 gene using dideoxy
fingerprinting. Additionally, a lung carcinoid from a MEN1 patient was
studied. In four of 11 (36%) sporadic tumors, both copies of the MEN1 gene
were inactivated. All four tumors showed the presence of a MEN1 gene
mutation and loss of the other allele. Observed mutations included a 1 bp
insertion, a 1 bp deletion, a 13 bp deletion and a single nucleotide
substitution affecting a donor splice site. Each mutation predicts
truncation or potentially complete loss of menin. The remaining seven
tumors showed neither the presence of a MEN1 gene mutation nor 11q13 LOH.
The tumor from the MEN1 patient showed LOH at chromosome 11q13 and a
complex germline MEN1 gene mutation. The data implicate the MEN1 gene in
the pathogenesis of sporadic lung carcinoids, representing the first
defined genetic alteration in these tumors.
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1 The concurrent administration of levodopa with a decarboxylase inhibitor produced a plasma concentration/time curve comparable with 1/4 to 1/5 of the dose of levodopa given alone.
2 There was no evidence to suggest that the decarboxylase inhibitor slowed the rate of elimination of levodopa from plasma.
3 Metoclopramide (Maxolon) increased the rate of levodopa absorption. Higher plasma concentrations of levodopa during the first 2 h after dosing were followed by lower plasma concentrations during the third and fourth hours. The amount of levodopa absorbed after Larodopa as indicated by the AUC was not altered by adding metoclopramide.
4 None of the current preparations of levodopa produced sustained plasma concentrations.
5In vitro testing confirmed that Brocadopa Temtabs tablets disintegrate and dissolve slowly. In vivo, Brocadopa Temtabs behaved as a slow release preparation but it did not produce sustained plasma concentrations of levodopa.