ABSTRACT
Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) with stenting is widely used in the treatment of vascular disorders, but restenosis remains a significant problem. Drug-eluting stents (DES) have been developed as an attempt to reduce the intimal response leading to restenosis. Drugs used in DES include mainly immunosuppressive and anti-proliferative compounds. Glucocorticoids are also an interesting possibility for those purposes because they have anti-proliferative effects in vascular smooth muscle cells and down-regulate the production of cytokines and growth factors driving inflammation and fibrosis. In this MiniReview, feasibility and safety of drug-eluting metal and biodegradable vascular stents are discussed with special emphasis on dexamethasone-eluting stents.
Subject(s)
Coronary Restenosis/prevention & control , Dexamethasone/administration & dosage , Drug-Eluting Stents/adverse effects , Absorbable Implants , Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary/adverse effects , Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary/methods , Clinical Trials as Topic , Coronary Restenosis/etiology , Coronary Vessels/drug effects , Feasibility Studies , Humans , Percutaneous Coronary Intervention/adverse effects , Percutaneous Coronary Intervention/methods , Postoperative Complications/prevention & controlABSTRACT
The effect of ageing on brain serotonin transporters was evaluated in 19 healthy female volunteers (age range 22-74 years) using single-photon emission tomography and [123I]nor-beta-CIT. The study subjects were scanned 0.3, 3, 6 and 23 h after injection of 185 MBq of [123I]nor-beta-CIT. The ratio of the distribution volume for tracer in the midbrain to that in the cerebellum minus 1 was used as an index for serotonin transporter binding. An age-related decline of 2% per decade (r=-0.47; P<0.05) was found in the midbrain. The decline in [123I]nor-beta-CIT binding in the serotonin transporter-rich area is much less than that in dopamine transporters in the striatum (6% per decade).
Subject(s)
Aging/metabolism , Brain/metabolism , Carrier Proteins/analysis , Cocaine/analogs & derivatives , Membrane Glycoproteins/analysis , Membrane Transport Proteins , Nerve Tissue Proteins , Serotonin/analysis , Sex Characteristics , Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon , Adult , Aged , Cerebellum/metabolism , Female , Humans , Iodine Radioisotopes , Mesencephalon/metabolism , Middle Aged , Radiopharmaceuticals , Reference Values , Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport ProteinsABSTRACT
RATIONALE: There is evidence that abnormalities in brain dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin metabolism may play an important role in binge eating. Serotonin-active antidepressant drugs have also been found to decrease binge eating. OBJECTIVE: We investigated serotonin transporter binding in obese binge-eating women. Eleven obese binge-eating and seven obese control women participated in the study. The subjects were not taking any medication known to affect serotonin (5-HT) transporters. METHODS: We used single-photon emission tomography (SPECT) with the radioligand 123I-labelled nor-beta-CIT, which specifically labels 5-HT transporters. RESULTS: Obese binge-eating women showed significantly decreased 5-HT transporter binding in the mid-brain compared with obese controls (2.1 +/- 0.5 versus 2.9 +/- 0.5, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: SPECT imaging with a ligand specific for 5-HT transporters can be used to assess altered serotonin transporter binding in the living human brain. The results tentatively suggest that 5-HT transporter binding is decreased in binge-eating women.
Subject(s)
Bulimia/metabolism , Carrier Proteins/metabolism , Cocaine/analogs & derivatives , Membrane Glycoproteins/metabolism , Membrane Transport Proteins , Nerve Tissue Proteins , Obesity/metabolism , Adult , Bulimia/diagnostic imaging , Bulimia/psychology , Female , Humans , Obesity/diagnostic imaging , Obesity/psychology , Protein Binding , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales , Radiopharmaceuticals , Receptors, Serotonin/metabolism , Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins , Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-PhotonABSTRACT
Short-bowel syndrome refers to the clinical consequences that follow extensive resection of the small bowel. As a result of resection, malabsorption of macro- and micronutrients occurs. The prognosis after resection depends on the extent and location of resection, the presence of a colon, the function of the residual intestinal mucosa, and the extent of intestinal adaptation. Intestinal adaptation is influenced by the presence of intraluminal nutrients and various trophic peptides and hormones. This article discusses the dietary management of the patient with short-bowel syndrome and the recent literature on growth factors (ie, growth hormone and glutamine) and small-bowel transplantation.
Subject(s)
Diet , Nutritional Support , Short Bowel Syndrome/therapy , Adaptation, Physiological , Clinical Trials as Topic , Female , Glutamine/administration & dosage , Growth Hormone/administration & dosage , Humans , Male , Nutritional Requirements , PrognosisABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The subjective and physiological cephalic phase reactivity to food was investigated in obese binge-eating women. METHOD: Eleven obese binge-eating women and 10 obese nonbinge-eating women participated in a cephalic phase response test consisting of baseline, anticipation, food exposure, and free eating periods. Serum insulin, free fatty acids, and plasma glucose concentrations as well as salivation, feeling of hunger, and desire to eat were repeatedly measured during the test. RESULTS: During the food exposure, the binge eaters reported more desire to eat than did the nonbinge eaters. No differences were found between the groups in the physiological cephalic phase responses except for the lower salivation in the binge eaters during the food exposure. The amount of food eaten after the food exposure was similar in both groups. DISCUSSION: Binge-eating women are characterized by stronger subjective but not stronger physiological cephalic phase reactivity to food.
