ABSTRACT
A report of three cases of spontaneous rectus sheath haematoma within a 1-month period in a single hospital. The common feature was the recent treatment with low molecular weight heparin. In contrast to the perceived benign nature of the classically-described haematoma, the cases described were life-threatening and required aggressive intervention.
Subject(s)
Anticoagulants/adverse effects , Hematoma/chemically induced , Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight/adverse effects , Rectus Abdominis/blood supply , Abdominal Pain/etiology , Aged , Female , Humans , Middle Aged , Tomography, X-Ray ComputedABSTRACT
La adolescencia tradicionalmente ha sido relegada a un segundo término tanto en el terreno de la investigación como de la atención sanitaria por sus bajas cifras de morbi-mortalidad; sin embargo, reúne unas peculiaridades que la hacen merecedora de una mayor dedicación en este sentido: alta prevalencia de patología no consultada, uso y abuso de substancias, alteraciones psíquicas potencialmente graves, fracaso escolar en relación con problemas sanitarios, los accidentes como primera causa de morbi-mortalidad en esta edad y el incremento de la agresividad en ciertas sociedades. De entre las alteraciones psíquiátricas, merece una especial consideración la sintomatología depresiva, tan prevalente en esta edad y que, sin embargo, no se ha considerado en Pediatría hasta fecha reciente. La depresión suele asociarse a otras alteraciones psíquicas, de entre las cuales la más temida es el suicidio. En España, los suicidios se han duplicado últimamente a partir de los 15 años de edad, mientras que en EE.UU. este incremento comienza ya a partir del grupo de 10 a 14. Las principales conductas de riesgo son: el consumo de substancias, la conducta sexual, los accidentes (de tráfico o no) y las conductas agresivas. Deben ser resultado de la interacción entre el medio y factores endógenos. (AU)
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Female , Male , Humans , Depressive Disorder/epidemiology , Adolescent Behavior , Risk Factors , Sexual Behavior , Substance-Related Disorders/epidemiology , Accidents, Traffic , Dangerous Behavior , Suicide/trends , Risk-TakingABSTRACT
Some neuroblastoma cell lines change their neurotransmitter phenotype from noradrenergic to cholinergic under retinoic acid treatment. Such "neurotransmitter switch" seems to be a consequence of changes in the expression and activity of the biosynthetic machinery for both neurotransmitters. In this study, we have characterized this "neurotransmitter switch" induced by retinoic acid in a human neuroblastoma cell line (NB69) showing catecholaminergic characteristics. Retinoic acid treatment reduced tyrosine hydroxylase activity and noradrenaline levels in NB69 cells but did not modify the expression of this enzyme. Moreover, the calcium-dependent release of [(3)H]noradrenaline in control cells was highly reduced by retinoic acid treatment. On the other hand, NB69 cells treated with retinoic acid enhanced the expression of choline acetyltransferase and acquired the capability to release [(3)H]acetylcholine in a calcium-dependent way. In addition, we found that the expression of the vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) and the vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT) was increased in those cells treated with retinoic acid. Immunostaining revealed that retinoic acid treatment changed the cellular distribution of both vesicular monoamine transporter 2 and vesicular acetylcholine transporter. In conclusion, retinoic acid induces a noradrenergic to cholinergic switch in NB69 cells by acting at several levels of the neurotransmitter phenotypic expression.
Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology , Brain Neoplasms/physiopathology , Membrane Transport Proteins , Neuroblastoma/physiopathology , Neuropeptides , Norepinephrine/physiology , Parasympathetic Nervous System/physiology , Sympathetic Nervous System/physiology , Tretinoin/pharmacology , Vesicular Transport Proteins , Acetylcholine/metabolism , Brain Neoplasms/metabolism , Carrier Proteins/biosynthesis , Cell Differentiation/drug effects , Cell Differentiation/physiology , Cell Line , Humans , Immunohistochemistry , Membrane Glycoproteins/biosynthesis , Nerve Tissue Proteins/metabolism , Neuroblastoma/metabolism , Norepinephrine/metabolism , Parasympathetic Nervous System/drug effects , Phenotype , Potassium/pharmacology , Sympathetic Nervous System/drug effects , Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase/metabolism , Vesicular Acetylcholine Transport Proteins , Vesicular Biogenic Amine Transport Proteins , Vesicular Monoamine Transport ProteinsABSTRACT
The relaxant action of (1S, 1'S) tetrandrine and its isomer (1R, 1'S) isotetrandrine were examined in rat aortic strips, in presence or absence of extracellular calcium. Both alkaloids relax, concentration dependently, the contractile response elicited by depolarizing solution (KCl 80 mM) or noradrenaline (1 microM). Tetrandrine, however, showed a selectivity of action towards the KCl-induced contraction while isotetrandrine did not. In Ca(2+)-free solution, both alkaloids inhibited the contraction induced by noradrenaline, but they did not affect the transient contraction due to caffeine then this effect is not attributable to direct inhibition of the smooth muscle contractile elements. The refilling of intracellular calcium stores sensitive to noradrenaline or caffeine was significantly inhibited by both alkaloids.
