Can adiponectin have an additional effect on the regulation of food intake by inducing gastric motor changes?

The regulation of food intake is a complex mechanism, and the hypothalamus is the main central structure implicated. In particular, the arcuate nucleus appears to be the most critical area in the integration of multiple peripheral signals.Among these signals, those originating from the white adipose tissue and the gastrointestinal tract are known to be involved in the regulation of food intake.The present paper focuses on adiponectin, an adipokine secreted by white adipose tissue, which is reported to have a role in the control of feeding by acting centrally. The recent observation that adiponectin is also able to influence gastric motility raises the question of whether this action represents an additional peripheral mechanism that concurs with the central effects of the hormone on food intake. This possibility, which represents an emerging aspect correlating the central and peripheral effects of adiponectin in the hunger-satiety cycle, is discussed in the present paper.     

Tuberculosis trends in Madrid, 1994-2003: impact of immigration and HIV infection.

SETTING: Tuberculosis (TB) cases reported from nine districts of Madrid, where the percentage of immigrant population varied from 1.9% in 1996 to 12.2% in 2003. OBJECTIVE: To describe the trends in TB incidence from 1994 to 2003. DESIGN: Observational study. RESULTS: Between 1994-1995 and 2002-2003, the TB rate decreased from 48.5 (95% CI 45.8-51.1) to 23.3 per 100000 population (95% CI 21.5-25.1) (P < 0.001). The percentage of TB cases co-infected with HIV decreased from 55.9% in 1994 to 14.3% in 2003 (P < 0.001), whereas TB cases in foreigners increased from 2.6% in 1994 to 33.7% in 2003 (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Although the TB rates showed a marked decrease in the study period, the increasing impact of immigration contributed to slowing down the trend.     

Clonidine pretreatment modifies the growth hormone secretory pattern induced by shortterm continuous GRF infusion in normal man

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a single dose of clonidine on the pattern of GH release in response to a 10-hour continuous GRF infusion in normal man. DESIGN: Plasma GH was analysed in samples withdrawn at 20-minute intervals, from 0900 to 1900 h, according to the following protocols: in a control study, a placebo was given at 1000 h; in other experiments, clonidine (300 micrograms, orally) was given at 1000 h, alone or together with a continuous intravenous infusion of GRF 1-29 (0.3 micrograms/kg/h) starting at this time. In another experiment, the continuous infusion of GRF 1-29 was preceded by placebo administration at 1000 h. PATIENTS: Eight normal volunteers (four women and four men), aged 19-24 years were studied. MEASUREMENTS: Plasma GH levels were measured by RIA. Analysis of the pattern of GH secretion was performed using cluster analysis. RESULTS: Clonidine induced a slight but significant increase in plasma GH values, peaking 60 to 120 minutes later; however, no significant changes were observed in indices of total and pulsatile GH release for the whole sampling period in this study. Continuous GRF administration led to increased episodic GH secretion, by augmenting GH peak amplitude, although peak frequency was not modified. An increase in interpulse GH values was also observed during GRF infusion. Pretreatment with clonidine clearly changed the pattern of GH release during GRF infusion: the amount of GH secreted was significantly higher, the number of GH peaks significantly increased, and almost all the GH was secreted within them. CONCLUSIONS: These data concord with our previous demonstration that clonidine disrupts the hypothalamic-somatotroph rhythm by inhibiting the hypothalamic release of somatostatin. Given that clonidine pretreatment induced a more physiological episodic pattern of GRF-induced GH release, the possibility of combining clonidine and GRF therapy for short stature in children is envisaged.     

Epidemiological study of myasthenia gravis in Sardinia, Italy (1958–1986)

From 1.1.1958 to 31.12.1986, 110 cases of MG were observed in Sardinia, with a mean annual incidence of 2.5 x 1,000,000 inhabitants and prevalence rates of 7.5, 17.6, 31.4 and 45.0 x 1,000,000 inhabitants respectively (prevalence days: 15.10.1961, 24.10.1971, 25.10.1981 and 31.12.1986). The disease was found to be more frequent in women. There were no differences in the distribution of MG in various areas of the island. The muscle group more frequently involved at onset was the ocular. In 6.4% of patients an association with thyroid disorders was observed. The mortality of MG patients was significantly higher than expected. Removal of the thymus, carried out in 58 patients, was shown to be useful in the treatment of the disease, particularly in patients without thymomas. No familial cases were observed.     

Characterization of cell death events induced by anti-neoplastic drugs cisplatin, paclitaxel and 5-fluorouracil on human hepatoma cell lines: Possible mechanisms of cell resistance.

Two different hepatoma cell lines were incubated for 48h with chemotherapeutic drugs cisplatin, paclitaxel and 5-FU to determine their ability to induce cytotoxicity and DNA fragmentation as well as to modify the expression of some cell death-related genes that could be involved in the resistance to therapy. We observed that cisplatin and paclitaxel induced cytotoxicity, but significant differences between both cell lines, were found only in the case of paclitaxel. At 48h, apoptosis was clearly present in Hep3B cells treated with cisplatin and HepG2 cells treated with paclitaxel. 5-FU induced cytotoxicity in both cell lines but only at higher concentrations than the other two drugs, triggering apoptosis and necrosis in HepG2 cells and only necrosis in Hep3B. When a time course was performed for the first 8h of treatment to elucidate the initial mechanism of cell death responsible for DNA fragmentation, we observed that 5-FU in Hep3B, and cisplatin in both cell lines, induces primary necrosis, whereas at the concentration tested here, paclitaxel clearly triggers apoptosis in both cell lines. HepG2 cells were weakly sensitive to 5-FU in the first 8h of treatment, so the primary mechanism of cell death was not clear, but results seem to indicate that it could be apoptosis. At 48h, Bax was not up-regulated with any of the treatments, whereas cisplatin was able to induce Bcl-xL down-regulation in both cell lines. Treatment with 5-FU also down-regulated Bcl-xL in HepG2 cells. We also measured variations in the expression of survivin, an inhibitor of apoptosis that has also been involved in mitototic catastrophe. Hep3B cells seem to show an increase in protein levels with all treatments. Exposure to paclitaxel resulted in the highest effect. In the case of HepG2 cells, there was a decrease in survivin expression when cells were treated with 5FU and paclitaxel, both treatments showing complete loss of the protein. Using an antibody that recognizes unprocessed caspase-3, we observed that the enzyme was assumingly activated in HepG2 cells treated with 5FU and paclitaxel, but only weakly after treatment with cisplatin. Hep3B cells did not show activation since the levels of the pro-enzyme remained the same as that in the control. In conclusion, the three drugs tested in this study could induce cell death, with paclitaxel being more effective inducing apoptosis. 5FU was only effective at high doses and its mechanism seems to be primarily related to necrosis in Hep3B and probably apoptosis in HepG2. Cisplatin mechanism of cell death is probably mediated by the decrease in anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-xL whereas paclitaxel and 5FU are decreasing the apoptosis inhibitor survivin. According to pro-enzyme levels, caspase-3 was only activated in HepG2 cells, whereas in the case of Hep3B cells the mechanisms of toxicity appear to be caspase-3-independent at the time and concentrations tested in this study. The resistance of Hep3B cells to death induced by chemotherapy could be related to an increase in the expression of IAP survivin, which can decrease cell response to the treatment or even switch the type of death from apoptosis to another kind, making therapy less efficient.     

Fahr's disease in postthyroidectomy hypoparathyroidism. A case report

The onset of Fahr's disease in a patient with postoperative hypoparathyroidism is described. The genesis of this rare pathological occurrence could be ascribed, in our opinion, to the combined action of "local" (precedent encephalic circulation disorders) and "general" factors (Ca and P metabolism disorders following postoperative hypoparathyroidism).     

Patient and partner perceptions about preventing genital herpes transmission

Research over the past decade has provided a new understanding of genital herpes transmission and measures that can reduce transmission risk. It is unclear, however, how those affected by genital herpes access and interpret this information to make decisions about risk behaviours. This study measured how people with genital herpes and their partners perceived prevention methods, barriers and facilitating factors, and information sources. Formative evaluation was conducted, and survey data were collected from visitors to four websites (n=1849). Results suggest that the prevention messages of refraining from sex during disease outbreaks and condom use have had the greatest reach. Misconceptions about the potential role of suppressive antiviral therapy for genital herpes prevention persist among a substantial percentage of respondents. Accurate information concerning transmission between outbreaks, the effectiveness of condoms and the role of antiviral medication is critical in preventing the spread of genital herpes.     

Characterization of chimpanzee-hamster hybrids by chromosome painting

A panel of chimpanzee-human somatic cell hybrids was characterized by dual Alu-PCR of the chimpanzee DNA in the hybrid and subsequent hybridization of the labeled PCR products to human and chimpanzee chromosomes. In addition to the identification of the intact chimpanzee chromosomes retained in each hybrid, chromosome fragments were identified that will be useful in regional mapping. This technique also revealed the presence of centric inversions.