Growth hormone (GH)-releasing activity of chicken GH-releasing hormone (GHRH) in chickens.

Two peptides with sequence similarities to growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) have been identified by analysis of the chicken genome. One of these peptides, chicken (c) GHRH-LP (like peptide) was previously found to poorly bind to chicken pituitary membranes or to cloned and expressed chicken GHRH receptors and had little, if any, growth hormone (GH)-releasing activity in vivo or in vitro. In contrast, a second more recently discovered peptide, cGHRH, does bind to cloned and expressed cGHRH receptors and increases cAMP activity in transfected cells. The possibility that this peptide may have in vivo GH-releasing activity was therefore assessed. The intravenous (i.v.) administration of cGHRH to immature chickens, at doses of 3-100 µg/kg, significantly increased circulating GH concentrations within 10 min of injection and the plasma GH levels remained elevated for at least 30 min after the injection of maximally effective doses. The plasma GH responses to cGHRH were comparable with those induced by human (h) or porcine (p) GHRH preparations and to that induced by thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH). In marked contrast, the i.v. injection of cGHRH-LP had no significant effect on circulating GH concentrations in immature chicks. GH release was also increased from slaughterhouse chicken pituitary glands perifused for 5 min with cGHRH at doses of 0.1 µg/ml or 1.0 µg/ml, comparable with GH responses to hGHRH1-44. In contrast, the perifusion of chicken pituitary glands with cGHRH-LP had no significant effect on GH release. In summary, these results demonstrate that cGHRH has GH-releasing activity in chickens and support the possibility that it is the endogenous ligand of the cGHRH receptor.

In vivo and in vitro investigations of heterozygous nebulin knock-out mice disclose a mild skeletal muscle phenotype.

Nemaline myopathy is the most common congenital skeletal muscle disease, and mutations in the nebulin gene account for 50% of all cases. Recent studies suggest that the disease severity might be related to the nebulin expression levels. Considering that mutations in the nebulin gene are typically recessive, one would expect that a single functional nebulin allele would maintain nebulin protein expression which would result in preserved skeletal muscle function. We investigated skeletal muscle function of heterozygous nebulin knock-out (i.e., nebulin(+/-)) mice using a multidisciplinary approach including protein and gene expression analysis and combined in vivo and in vitro force measurements. Skeletal muscle anatomy and energy metabolism were studied strictly non-invasively using magnetic resonance imaging and 31P-magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Maximal force production was reduced by around 16% in isolated muscle of nebulin(+/-) mice while in vivo force generating capacity was preserved. Muscle weakness was associated with a shift toward a slower proteomic phenotype, but was not related to nebulin protein deficiency or to an impaired energy metabolism. Further studies would be warranted in order to determine the mechanisms leading to a mild skeletal muscle phenotype resulting from the expression of a single nebulin allele.

Laparoscopic approach in surgical treatment of rectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: High rates of conversion to open operation and morbidity have been reported after laparoscopic total mesorectal excision (TME) with sphincter preservation for rectal cancer. This study examined risk factors for conversion and morbidity to determine which patients with rectal cancer could benefit from a laparoscopic resection. METHODS: Two hundred patients (117 men) with mid and low rectal cancer treated by laparoscopic TME were studied. The impact of clinical and pathological characteristics on conversion and complications was assessed by multivariable analysis. RESULTS: Reconstruction after TME included 79 low colorectal and 121 coloanal anastomoses. Conversion was necessary in 31 patients (15.5 per cent), and was independently associated with sex, type of anastomosis and intraoperative rectal fixity. Postoperative morbidity in 50 patients (25.0 per cent) was independently associated with sex and type of anastomosis. Men with a stapled anastomosis had a threefold higher rate of conversion (13 (34 per cent) of 38 versus 18 (11.1 per cent) of 162; P < 0.001) and morbidity (22 (58 per cent) versus 28 (17.3 per cent); P < 0.001) than other patients. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic TME is a good option for women and for men treated by coloanal anastomosis. Technical improvement of laparoscopic stapling is needed before the laparoscopic approach can be offered to all patients.

High-throughput proteomics and protein biomarker discovery in an experimental model of inflammatory hyperalgesia: effects of nimesulide.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to derive a systematic approach for the identification of protein species profiles that selectively identify subgroups of similar but distinct pain models and correlate with the therapeutic efficacy (or lack thereof) of drug intervention. METHODS: Using high-throughput surface-enhanced laser desorption ionization (SELDI) mass spectrometry proteomic technology based on ProteinChip arrays, we conducted a comparative analysis of the profile of protein expression in cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) from rats exposed to either injection of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) [a model of inflammatory pain] or chronic constriction injury (CCI) [a model of neuropathic pain]. The CFA model was then further studied for the effects of treatment with the NSAID, nimesulide (a preferential cyclo-oxygenase [COX]-2 inhibitor). RESULTS: Among other observations, we found that the content of two metal (copper) binding protein species (2.9 and 3.2kDa) and three anionic protein species (4.0, 6.9 and 8.2kDa) were increased in the CSF of rats with inflammatory pain in a time-dependent fashion, at 7 and 14 days after CFA injection. These changes were highly selective for the CFA model, as no detectable increase in these protein biomarkers was found in the CCI neuropathic pain model. Further, we found that most of the changes in the biomarker protein species induced by the inflammatory pain were prevented by treatment with nimesulide and correlated with the antihyperalgesic effect of this drug. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that CSF biomarker profiles, as detected by SELDI technology, can consistently and reproducibly differentiate inflammatory from neuropathic pain, and reflect the analgesic action produced by the preferential COX-2 inhibitor, nimesulide. The characterisation and identification of these biomarkers will provide invaluable insight into the pathophysiology of pain mechanisms, in addition to further understanding of the value of nimesulide in the treatment of inflammatory pain.