Plasma B-endorphin in preeclamptic and eclamptic toxaemias

B-endorphin [B-EP] appears to play an important role in central nervous system as well as cardiovascular regulatory functions. B-EP levels were reported to increase progressively in normal gestation with marked increase in cases of pregnancy induced hypertension. This work studied the changes in plasma B-EP in preeclamptic and eclamptic patients. Sixty pregnant females were classified into three groups. Group I included 25 normal pregnant females. Group II included 25 pregnant women with preeclamptic toxemia. Group III comprised 10 pregnant women presented by or had a history of recent eclamptic fits or coma. B-EP was estimated using I125 plasma B-EP radioimmunoassay. Plasma B-EP showed a significant increase [P <0.01] in preeclamptic cases [12.6 +/- 8.5 pmol/l] and [P <0.001] in eclamptic cases [20.7 +/- 16.5 pmol/l] over that level reported in normal pregnancy [6.8 +/- 3.1 pmol/l]. Plasma B-EP levels in eclamptic patients were higher than in preeclamptic ones, but the increase was not statistically significant [P >0.05]. These data indicated that B-EP system is markedly activated in these stressful conditions as a physiological mechanism that might guard against more rise in blood pressure and occurrence of fits

Plasma B-Endorphin Levels in patient with chronic low back pain treated with needle acupuncture

This study is carried out to evaluate the therapeutic role of needle acupuncture in chronic low back pain and to find out its effect on plasma B-endorphin. Thirty patients with chronic low back pain with and without sciatica and ten apparently healthy subjects were included. Patients were divided into two groups. In the first group [20] patients were treated with needle acupuncture for one month, while patients in the second group [10] were treated by placebo. Clinical evaluation was carried out before and after treatment. Plasma B-endorphin immunoreactivity level was determined by radioimmunoassay. The plasma B-endorphin level was significantly [P<0.001] higher in normal subject than in the chronic low back pain patients. However, there was a significant [P<0.001] increase in plasma B-endorphin in chronic low back pain patients after one month treatment with needle acupuncture. There was a statistically significant reduction [P<0.001] of low back pain after one month of acupuncture treatment. There was a significant increase [P<0.001] in the range of movement of the lumbar spine. Also there was a significant improvement in straight leg raising [SLR] [P<0.001].From these results we could conclude that needle acupuncture is effective in management of patients with chronic low back pain and this therapeutic effect is accompanied by a significant increase in plasma -endorphin level

Efecto del halotano y enfluorano sobre las beta endorfinas plasmáticas en pacientes sometidos a cirugía de urgencia y electiva / Effect of halothane and enflurane in plasma beta-endorphins, in patients undergoing emergency and elective surgery

Se diseñó este estudio, con objeto de determinar la concentración de beta endorfinas plasmáticas en pacientes sometidos a cirugía de urgencia y electiva. De un grupo de 6 pacientes, tres recibieron anestesia con halotano y tres con enfluorano, empléandose concentraciones equipotentes, con una mezcla de N20-O2 al 50%. La relajación muscular se llevó a cabo con bromuro de pancuronio. No se utilizarón narcóticos en el estudio. Se tomaron muestras de sangre a cada paciente durante los periodos pre, trans y postoperatorios para la determinación de beta endorfinas mediante radioinmunoanálisis. Los pacientes que recibieron anestesia con halotano mostraron elevación en los niveles plasmáticos de betaendorfina, en tanto que el grupo que recibió enfluorano presentó disminución (p < 0.05) en los niveles plasmáticos de beta endorfina. No encontramos correlación significativa entre los niveles de beta endorfina y estabilidad cardiovascular. Estos resultados sugieren que el enfluorano probablemente inhibe el sistema endorfínico, mientras que el halotano parece no impedir la respuesta neuroendócrina betaendorfínica durante el stress quirúrgico

Involvement of a serotonergic control in the regulation of plasma levels of immunoreactive beta-endorphin

Se midió la concentración de beta-endorfina inmunoreactiva (B-E i.r.) en plasma e hipotálamo de ratas tratadas con alfa-metil-p-tirosina ( alfa -MT) (dos dosis de 200 mg/kg) o p-cloro-fenil-alanina (PCPA) (dos dosis de 150 mg/kg). Se determinó además la concentración de B-E i.r. en plasma después de una única dosis (5 mg/kg) de anfetamina o luego de la estimulación eléctrica del núcleo mediano del rafe (NMR). Los niveles plasmáticos de B-E i.r. disminuyeron por la administración de PCPA o aumentaron por la estimulación eléctrica del NMR. Tanto la adminsitración de alfa -MT como la de anfetamina fue inefectiva en modificar la concentración plasmática de B-E i.r. Los resultados sugieren un papel para la serotonina en la regulación del nivel plasmático de B-E i.r.