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Mild Increase (mild + increase)
Selected AbstractsElectrochemical Investigation of the Role of Reducing Agents in Copper-Catalyzed Nitric Oxide Release from S-NitrosoglutathioneELECTROANALYSIS, Issue 18 2006Monique David-Dufilho Abstract Studies of nitric oxide (NO) release from S -nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) decomposition by Cu2+ in the presence of reducing agents were performed using a nickel porphyrin and Nafion-coated microsensor in order to compare the efficiency of sodium hydrosulfite (Na2S2O4) and sodium borohydride (NaBH4) to that of the most abundant endogenous reducer, glutathione (GSH). When it was mixed to Cu(NO3)2 and added to equimolar concentration of GSNO, each reducing agent caused a NO release (measured in terms of oxidation current) but only NaBH4 induced a proportional rise if its concentration doubled and that of Cu2+ remained constant. For Na2S2O4, there was a mild increase and for GSH, no change. Furthermore, when Cu2+ concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 5,,M were mixed with 2,,M reducing agent and added to 2,,M GSNO, the NO oxidation current linearly increased with NaBH4 and was constant with Na2S2O4. Concerning GSH, Cu2+ dose-dependently increased the NO release from GSNO only if the Cu2+ -to-reducer ratio was ,1. However, GSH formed the catalytic species Cu+ even in excess of Cu2+ and GSNO as indicated by suppression of the Cu2+/GSH-induced NO release when the Cu+ chelator neocuproine was added to GSNO. This work shows that, among the 3 reducing agents, only NaBH4 allows Cu2+ to dose-dependently increase the NO release from GSNO for Cu2+ -to-reducer ratios ranging from 0.25 to 2.5. Despite this good effectiveness, excess of NaBH4 compared to both Cu2+ and GSNO seems to be required for optimal NO release. [source] Canine leishmaniasis with nephrotic syndrome and aortic and caudal vena cava thromboembolismJOURNAL OF VETERINARY EMERGENCY AND CRITICAL CARE, Issue 5 2008Nuno Félix DVM Abstract Objective , To describe a case of leishmaniasis associated with nephrotic syndrome and aortic and caudal vena cava thrombosis in a dog. Case Summary , A 3-year-old male Boxer was referred to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Lisbon, with vomiting, polyuria, polydipsia, lethargy, anorexia, and weight loss. On admission, the dog was thin, quiet, and dehydrated. Initial laboratory abnormalities were compatible with a diagnosis of leishmaniasis (confirmed by serology and bone marrow aspirate), and nephrotic syndrome. Three days later, the animal developed lumbar pain, paraparesis, and absent femoral pulses. Coagulation tests showed a marked reduction in antithrombin (AT) and a mild increase in serum fibrinogen concentration. A diagnosis of thromboembolism was made. In spite of treatment aimed at controlling the primary condition and decreasing further thrombus formation, necrosis developed in the distal right pelvic limb and the nail beds of the left pelvic limb. Against medical advice, medication was stopped and, 15 days later, the dog returned to the hospital, showing extensive necrosis of both pelvic limb extremities. Euthanasia was performed at the owner's request. Necropsy showed a thrombus localized at the distal aorta and extending into the right iliac artery, and an additional thrombus extending from both femoral veins onto the caudal vena cava. New or Unique Information Provided , Thromboembolic disease is rare in dogs with leishmaniasis with nephrotic syndrome. This case suggests that a marked decrease in AT and a mild increase in serum fibrinogen may elicit a hypercoagulable state in these patients. [source] The transcriptional response to alkaline pH in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: evidence for calcium-mediated signallingMOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 5 2002Raquel Serrano Summary The short-time transcriptional response of yeast cells to a mild increase in external pH (7.6) has been investigated using DNA microarrays. A total of 150 genes increased their mRNA level at least twofold within 45 min. Alkalinization resulted in the repression of 232 genes. The response of four upregulated genes, ENA1 (encoding a Na+ -ATPase also induced by saline stress) and PHO84, PHO89 and PHO12 (encoding genes upregulated by phosphate starvation), was characterized further. The alkaline response of ENA1 was not affected by mutation of relevant genes involved in osmotic or oxidative signalling, but was decreased in calcineurin and rim101 mutants. Mapping of the ENA1 promoter revealed two pH-responsive regions. The response of the upstream region was fully abolished by the drug FK506 or mutation of CRZ1 (a transcription factor activated by calcium/calcineurin), whereas the response of the downstream region was essentially calcium independent. PHO84 and PHO12 responses were unaffected in crz1 cells, but required the presence of Pho2 and Pho4. In contrast, part of the alkali-induced expression of PHO89 was maintained in pho4 or pho2 cells, but was fully abolished in a crz1 strain or in the presence of FK506. Heterologous promoters carrying the minimal calcineurin-dependent response elements found in ENA1 or FKS2 were able to drive alkaline pH-induced expression. These results demonstrate that the transcriptional response to alkaline pH involves different signalling mechanisms, and that calcium signalling is a relevant component of this response. [source] Relationship between hypersomnia and respiratory disorder during sleep in Prader,Willi syndromePSYCHIATRY AND CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCES, Issue 3 2000Yu Hiroe MD Abstract To assess whether hypersomnia in Prader,Willi syndrome (PWS) patients is related to the respiratory disorder during sleep (RDDS), we made a systematic evaluation regarding the relationship between the two disorders in three patients. All patients showed hypersomnia manifested as the long duration of night sleep and shortened sleep latencies of multiple sleep latency test. Although magnetic resonance imaging and laboratory studies revealed obstruction of the upper airway and mild increase of esophageal pressure during sleep, the number of other apneic episodes or awakenings was not as frequent. From the above results, we speculate that the mechanism of excessive daytime sleepiness in PWS is not caused by RDDS and quite resembles that of essential hypersomnia. [source] Risks and side-effects of intrathecal morphine combined with spinal anaesthesia: a meta-analysisANAESTHESIA, Issue 6 2009M. Gehling Summary Intrathecal morphine is often used for postoperative analgesia after surgery. We performed a meta-analysis to obtain more detailed information on the frequency of side-effects in patients receiving intrathecal morphine in combination with spinal anaesthesia compared with placebo treated patients. We clustered the analysis to patients receiving placebo, less than morphine 0.3 mg (M < 0.3), or equal to or more than morphine 0.3 mg (M , 0.3) and calculated the risk ratios of morphine vs placebo. Twenty-eight studies investigating 46 morphine groups vs placebo were included. A total of 790 patients with intrathecal morphine and 524 patients who received placebo were analysed. Compared with placebo the lower dose of morphine resulted in an increase of nausea (RR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1,1.7), vomiting (RR 3.1, 95% CI 1.5,6.4) and pruritus (RR 1.8, 95% CI 1.4,2.2). The higher dose resulted in an increased risk ratio for pruritus (RR 5.0, 95% CI 2.9,8.6), but not nausea (RR 1.2, 95% CI 0.9,1.6) or vomiting (RR 1.3, 95% CI 0.9,1.9). Overall, intrathecal morphine did not increase respiratory depression. However, the higher dose of intrathecal morphine was associated with more episodes of respiratory depression (7/80) compared with the lower dose (2/247). Intrathecal morphine is associated with a mild increase in side-effects. With a dose < 0.3 mg we found there were no more episodes of respiratory depression than in placebo patients who received systemic opioid analgesia. [source] Physiological responses of juvenile wedge sole Dicologoglossa cuneata (Moreau) to high stocking densityAQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 7 2009Marcelino Herrera Abstract Physiological responses to a high stocking density were tested in juvenile wedge sole Dicologoglossa cuneata (Moreau). Fish were kept at low (1 kg m,2), medium (3 kg m,2) and high (9 kg m,2) stocking densities for 22 days. No differences in the weight, length, survival and hepatosomatic index were observed among treatments. Basal plasma cortisol and osmolality were found to be directly and positively related to stocking density. A mild increase in plasma glucose was seen at medium density, and plasma protein was elevated at medium and high densities. The liver glucose and glycogen content was inversely related to stocking density. The liver triglyceride level was significantly elevated at the highest density, and the ,-amino acid content decreased at the highest density. In muscle, glucose levels were significantly higher in fish kept at the lowest density; the ,-amino acid content was elevated in fish kept at high density. In conclusion, plasma cortisol levels indicated an increasing stress level depending on the culture density, but significant changes in energy reserves did not occur in tissue (mainly liver and muscle glycogen and glucose reserves were significantly affected). [source] Comparisons of cutaneous blood flow reactivity to norepinephrine and sodium nitroprusside between patients with heart transplantation and healthy subjectsCLINICAL TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 1 2001Ying-Tai Wu Heart transplant patients are reported to have impaired regulation of the microvasculature. The purpose of this study was to investigate the cutaneous blood flow and its reactivity to sodium nitroprusside (vasodilator, Nipride 0.1%) and norepinephrine (vasoconstrictor, Levophed 0.1%) in patients after heart transplantation in comparison to normal healthy individuals. Eighteen patients after heart transplantation and 16 healthy, nonsmoking individuals served as subjects of the study. Sodium nitroprusside and norepinephrine were introduced by iontophoresis to the skin of the right and left forearms, respectively. After measuring cutaneous blood flow reactivity in the pre-exercise state by laser Doppler flowmetry, subjects were then asked to close and open their fists for 2 min. The same measurements were repeated after exercise. Comparisons between the groups were carried out by the Wilcoxan signed rank test. The Mann,Whitney U -test was used for comparison between pre-exercise and post-exercise states. The results demonstrated that sodium nitroprusside significantly increased forearm cutaneous perfusion at rest but produced only a mild increase after exercise. This reactivity was significantly lower after exercise with no significant differences between groups. Norepinephrine decreased cutaneous blood flow at rest. The transplant patients were significantly less sensitive to norepinephrine before but not after exercise. The changes in norepinephrine reactivity with exercise were significantly different between groups (p<0.05). [source] Dietary Steatotic Liver Attenuates Acetaminophen Hepatotoxicity in MiceMICROCIRCULATION, Issue 1 2006YOSHIYA ITO ABSTRACT Objective: To determine whether hepatic steatosis is susceptible to acetaminophen (APAP) hepatotoxicity. Methods: Male C57Bl/6 mice were fed a "Western-style" diet (high fat and high carbohydrate) for 4 months to develop severe hepatic steatosis with mild increases in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels. These were compared to mice fed a standard chow diet. Results: Treatment with APAP (300 mg/kg, orally) to mice fed a regular chow increased ALT levels (519-fold) and caused hepatic centrilobular injury at 6 h. APAP increased hepatic cytochrome-P (CYP)-2E1 mRNA levels (17-fold). In vivo microscopic studies showed that APAP caused a 30% decrease in sinusoidal perfusion and the infiltration of red blood cells into the space of Disse. Electron microscopy demonstrated that numerous gaps were formed in sinusoidal endothelial cells. Mice fed the "Western-style" diet were protected from APAP hepatotoxicity as evidenced by 89% decrease in ALT levels and less centrilobular injury, which was associated with 42% decrease in CYP2E1 mRNA levels. The APAP-induced liver microcirculatory dysfunction was minimized in mice fed the "Western-style" diet. Conclusions: These results suggest that hepatic steatosis elicited by the "Western-style" diet attenuated APAP-induced hepatotoxicity by inhibiting CYP2E1 induction and by minimizing sinusoidal endothelial cell injury, leading to protection of liver microcirculation. [source] | ||||||||||