ABSTRACT
Hepcidin (hepatic bactericidal protein) is a protein synthesised by the hepatocyte belonging to the family of endogenous peptide antimicrobes. It is produced in large quantities by the liver, heart and spinal cord and then is excreted in the urine. This protein, sequenced on human chromosoma 19, can be found in 2 main forms: Hepc 20 and Hepc 25 aminoacids respectively with 8 cystein residues connected by disulphine bridges. Evidence of lipopolysaccharide hepatocyte and the high concentrations of iron tied to fransferrin are elements which stimulate the production and release of Hepcidin. The latter, interacting with beta-2microglobulin-HFE-TfR1 complex determines an iron retention within the macrophages of the entherocyte in the duodenal pit. Hepcidin is therefore an important molecule which is able to regulate iron homeostasis and play a most significant role in the etiopathogenesis of the hemochromatosis system and, as recently shown, of anemia in chronic inflammatory diseases.
Subject(s)
Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/physiology , Iron/metabolism , Hepcidins , HumansABSTRACT
Met-enkephalin plasma levels were evaluated in 20 cardioischemic diabetic patients. All the patients had ECG ischemic signs. Ten patients with diabetic autonomic neuropathy, experienced no pain during myocarial ischemia. Met-enkephalin levels in the diabetic patients with silent myiocardial ischemia were significantly lower compared to those in the symptomatic patients. This demonstrates that the absence of myocardial ischemic pain in neuropathic diabetic patients is not accounted for by met-enkephalin action.
Subject(s)
Diabetic Angiopathies/physiopathology , Enkephalin, Methionine/physiology , Myocardial Ischemia/physiopathology , Adult , Autonomic Nervous System Diseases/physiopathology , Diabetic Angiopathies/blood , Diabetic Neuropathies/physiopathology , Enkephalin, Methionine/blood , Humans , Middle Aged , Myocardial Ischemia/bloodABSTRACT
Our radiation therapy department has acquired a tissue compensator system for construction of patient-specific Lipowitz-metal tissue compensators. Since the arrival of this apparatus its use has been limited due to the observance of marked skin reactions located directly beneath the area of the compensator. Although there has been extensive literature on the dose distribution of these metal compensators, there is little data on the effects to the skin for energies greater than 10 MV. Determination of the relative surface dose from Lipowitz-metal tissue compensators is herein investigated for 24- and 6-MV x-ray beams. Effects of field size, source-to-skin distance and thickness of compensator are evaluated as well as the effect of the Lexan tray which supports the compensator during treatment.
