Alcohol use and abuse: a cross-sectional study among Italian adolescents.

INTRODUCTION: Alcohol is recognized as one of four major risk factors for non-communicable diseases. Exposure to alcoholic beverages during the adolescence has been linked to increased heavier drinking habits: obviously, the age of alcohol initiation resulted an important determinant of alcohol dependence. The aim of this study is to analyze knowledge, attitudes and practices in alcohol habit of adolescent population. METHODS: 943 students from 13 schools (middle and upper secondary schools) of the Bari district were enrolled in the study: in each school one class for each age was randomly selected. The research was carried out by an anonymous, self-administered questionnaire which investigated alcohol consumption, knowledge of alcohol consumption of parents and knowledge of the law regulating alcohol consumption. RESULTS: 34.8% (328) have never consumed alcoholic drinks while 65.2% (615) declare the use of alcohol; the average age of alcohol initiation was 12.2 years. 35.7% (329/921) of mothers and 36.6% (335/915) of fathers drink alcohol only on special occasions. 17.9% (168/939) considered that alcohol could be free sale at all while 16.4% (154/939) reported that sale is forbidden for children under 14. CONCLUSIONS: The higher prevalence of alcohol habits and the poor knowledge on alcohol law seemed to indicated the need of improving public health efforts in the prevention of alcohol consumption among Italian adolescents.

National climate policies across Europe and their impacts on cities strategies.

Globally, efforts are underway to reduce anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions and to adapt to climate change impacts at the local level. However, there is a poor understanding of the relationship between city strategies on climate change mitigation and adaptation and the relevant policies at national and European level. This paper describes a comparative study and evaluation of cross-national policy. It reports the findings of studying the climate change strategies or plans from 200 European cities from Austria, Belgium, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Spain and the United Kingdom. The study highlights the shared responsibility of global, European, national, regional and city policies. An interpretation and illustration of the influences from international and national networks and policy makers in stimulating the development of local strategies and actions is proposed. It was found that there is no archetypical way of planning for climate change, and multiple interests and motivations are inevitable. Our research warrants the need for a multi-scale approach to climate policy in the future, mainly ensuring sufficient capacity and resource to enable local authorities to plan and respond to their specific climate change agenda for maximising the management potentials for translating environmental challenges into opportunities.

Potential benefit of dehydroepiandrosterone supplementation for infertile but not poor responder patients in a IVF program.

AIM: The aim of this paper was to evaluate the hypothesis that pretreatment with dehydroepiandrosterone (DEHA) may improve the result on in vitro fertilization (IVF) and the pregnancy outcome among infertile women with normal ovarian reserve. METHODS: Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study; 52 infertile patients received the long protocol IVF. Patients in Group 1, received 75 mg of DHEA once a day, 8 weeks before starting the IVF cycle and during treatment; control group (Group 2) received placebo. The primary endpoint was pregnancy, live birth and miscarriage rates, secondary endpoint was standard IVF parameters such us stimulation duration (hCG day), E2 on HCG-day, endometrial thickness, number of retrieved oocytes, metaphase II oocytes, embryos transferred and score of leading embryos transferred. RESULTS: Patients in the DHEA group had a significantly higher live birth rate compared with controls (P<0.05). Miscarriage rate was higher in control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: DHEA supplementation could have a beneficial effect on IVF outcome in infertile women with normal ovarian reserve.

Surface morphology and wettability of sandblasted PEEK and its composites.

PolyEtherEtherKetone (PEEK) is an advanced high-performance thermoplastic polymer, and its composites are used extensively in the aeronautical industry. This paper presents an experimental approach to determine the role of sandblasting treatment on surface morphology modifications of PEEK and its composites, with the aim of developing a topographic characterization in order to propose pertinent parameters that correlate with contact angles from wettability measurement. Sandblasting (fine abrasive particle projection) was selected as the surface treatment, in order to obtain various morphologically quasi-isotropic surfaces. Two surface metrological approaches to topographical characterization were used to correlate the wettability behavior with the surface roughness parameters, the first based on 2D profile analysis and the second on 3D topography analysis. Two different unreinforced grades of PEEK and four composites: discontinuous carbon fiber or glass fiber-reinforced, oriented, and unoriented, were studied. The experimental results indicated the sandblasting process duration necessary to reach a morphological steady state. It was stated that one of the pertinent parameters is the mean slope of roughness motif in 2D profile characterization, as confirmed by previous findings for anisotropic morphologies. However, for all cases, a new topographic parameter Sr , combining the surface amplitude and the summit density distribution, is proposed as a factor well-correlated with wettability characteristics.

Listeriosis in pregnancy: a secular trend in a tertiary referral hospital in Barcelona.

The purpose of this study was to describe the variation in listeriosis infection incidence during pregnancy over a 25-year period based on salient clinical and laboratory features compiled in a tertiary referral hospital and to depict the clinical characteristics of these cases. A cohort was created of all cases of listeriosis in pregnant women or their neonates (early-onset form) diagnosed between 1985 and 2010. Forty-three cases of perinatal listeriosis were diagnosed among the 82,320 hospitalised pregnant women (incidence 0.5‰). Whereas the incidence remained almost constant at 0.24‰ until 2000, an increasing incidence was observed from then on, reaching 0.86‰ during the last years of the study period. A four-fold increase in listeriosis rate during pregnancy has occurred in recent years, with poorer outcome for those cases occurring before 28 weeks and for those in which early antibiotic treatment was not provided. These results should raise the awareness of the agencies and professionals involved in prenatal care.

Rosiglitazone reverses increased duodenal inhibitory response in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

BACKGROUND: Thiazolidinediones (TZDs) including rosiglitazone (ROSI) are insulin sensitizing agents with beneficial gastrointestinal effects. However, no studies are available on TZDs effect in gastrointestinal motility. We evaluated the effects of ROSI on gastrointestinal inhibitory neurotransmission focusing on the modulatory roles of nitric oxide synthase/nitric oxide (NOS/NO) and heme oxygenase/carbon monoxide (HO/CO) pathways. METHODS: Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were used as model of insulin resistance. Duodenal strips were obtained from vehicle-treated SHR, ROSI-treated SHR (5 mg kg(-1) by gavage daily per 6 weeks), and Wistar Kyoto (WKY). Inhibitory responses to electrical field stimulation (EFS) were evaluated in the presence of HO inhibitor zinc protoporphyrin IX (ZnPPIX, 10 µmol L(-1)) or NOS inhibitor N(G)-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA, 100 µmol L(-1)), alone and in combination. Protein levels of HO and NOS isoforms were evaluated by immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis. KEY RESULTS: Basal responses to EFS were significantly increased in duodenum strips from vehicle-treated SHR vs WKY. This effect was reversed in ROSI-treated SHR. The EFS-mediated relaxation was comparably reduced by ZnPPIX in WKY and SHR, but not in ROSI-treated SHR animals. The L-NNA reduced EFS response to a similar extent in WKY and ROSI -treated SHR, but its effect was significantly higher in vehicle-treated SHR. Expression of HO-1 protein was significantly lower, whereas HO-2 protein levels were unchanged in ROSI-treated SHR with respect to vehicle-treated SHR. Finally, increased levels of nNOS in vehicle-treated SHR were reduced in ROSI-treated SHR. CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES: Chronic ROSI treatment reverses increased SHR duodenal inhibitory response acting on CO and NO components.

Exploring the capacity of radar remote sensing to estimate wetland marshes water storage.

This paper focuses on the use of radar remote sensing for water storage estimation in wetland marshes of the Paraná River Delta in Argentina. The approach followed is based on the analysis of a temporal set of ENVISAT ASAR data which includes images acquired under different polarizations and incidence angles as well as different environmental conditions (water level, precipitation, and vegetation condition). Two marsh species, named junco and cortadera, were monitored. This overall data set gave us the possibility of studying and understanding the basic interactions between the radar, the soil under different flood conditions, and the vegetation structure. The comprehension of the observed features was addressed through electromagnetic models developed for these ecosystems. The procedure used in this work to estimate water level within marshes combines a direct electromagnetic model, field work data specifically obtained to feed the model, the actual ASAR measurements and a well known retrieval scheme based on a cost function. Results are validated with water level evaluations at specific points. A map showing an estimation of the water storage capacity and its error in junco and cortadera areas for the date where the investigation was done is also presented.

Modulation of heme oxygenase/carbon monoxide system affects the inhibitory neurotransmission involved in gastrointestinal motility of streptozotocin-treated diabetic rats.

Alterations in gastrointestinal motility of diabetic patients have been linked to degenerative changes induced by glucose abnormalities in the peripheral nervous system. The heme oxygenase/carbon monoxide (HO/CO) signalling represents one of the non-adrenergic/non-cholinergic (NANC) neurotransmission pathways involved in regulation of physiological peristalsis. To investigate the role of HO/CO system in intestinal motility under diabetic conditions, the response to electrical field stimulation (EFS) and western blot analysis of HO/CO pathway components were studied on duodenum longitudinal smooth muscle strips isolated from streptozotocin (STZ)-treated diabetic rats (65 mg kg(-1), i.p.) and respective controls (CTRL), 6 weeks after the onset of diabetes. When compared to CTRL, the ability of CO releasing molecule (CORM-3) (100-400 micromol L(-1)) to enhance NANC relaxation was significantly impaired in STZ-treated rats (P < 0.05). Conversely, in vitro incubation with the HO inhibitor ZnPPIX (10 micromol L(-1), 60 min) significantly reduced EFS-induced relaxation in CTRL (P < 0.05), but not in STZ-treated rats. Interestingly, the ability of ZnPPIX to inhibit EFS-induced relaxation was partially restored in STZ-treated rats co-administered in vivo with the HO-1 inducer cobalt protoporphyrin IX (CoPPIX) (0.5 mg per 100 g body weight weekly). Expression of inducible HO-1 protein was increased in homogenates from STZ-treated rats (vs CTRL, P < 0.01), and further increased in STZ-treated rats receiving CoPPIX (P < 0.05). Taken together, our data underline the essential role of HO/CO system in regulation of inhibitory NANC neurotransmission in the duodenum and suggest that dysregulation of HO/CO activity may represent one mechanism by which gastrointestinal motility is altered in diabetes.

Popliteal pterygium syndrome causing mutation in monochorionic twins

El síndrome de pterigión poplíteo (SPP) es una enfermedad poco frecuente de origen genético. En la mayoría de los casos el patrón de herencia es autosómico dominante, con penetrancia incompleta y expresividad variable, aunque pueden presentarse mutaciones de novo. Los defectos son típicos y generalmente afectan al área de ORL y las extremidades inferiores. El caso clínico presenta unos gemelos monocoriales con SPP y sus familiares no presentaban malformaciones similares. El estudio genético mostró una sustitución en el gen que codifica el interferón regulador del factor 6 (IRF6)(posición c.G251A) en uno de los lactantes

Popliteal pterygium syndrome (PPS) is a rare disorder of genetic origin. In most cases, it has an autosomal dominant in heritance pattern, with incomplete penetrance and variable expressivity, although de novo mutations can exist. The clinical features are typical and they generally affect the ear, nose and throat (ENT) region and the lower extremities. The case reported here involves monochorionic twins with PPS whose relatives had no similar malformations. The genetic study showed a substitution in the gene that encodes interferon regulatory factor-6 (IRF6) (at position c.G251A) in one of the infants

Opioid agonist/antagonist effect of naloxone in modulating rabbit jejunum contractility in vitro.

Opioid peptides are the most effective drugs in controlling pain; their action is elicited by binding to specific membrane receptors. The gastrointestinal tract represents, after the nervous system, the site in which the opioid receptors are expressed at high levels. The opioid agonist morphine has a significant inhibitory effect on intestinal motility, this action is blocked by naloxone an opioid antagonist mainly active at mu and kappa receptors. In this study the presence of mu opioid receptor on rabbit jejunum was investigated by western blot. The effects of beta-endorphin, the endogenous opioid peptide with the highest affinity to the mu opioid receptor and those of naloxone on spontaneous rabbit jejunum contractions were evaluated. Beta-endorphin (10(-6) M) showed a relaxant effect on jejunum contractility while naloxone showed a dual effect inducing an increase of spontaneous contractility at low concentrations (10(-6) M, 10(-7) M, 10(-8) M) and a decrease when high concentrations (10(-3) M, 10(-4) M, 10(-5) M) were utilized. The obtained results demonstrate that mu opioid receptor is expressed in rabbit jejunum and suggest that this receptor may be involved in mediating the effects of both opioid agonist and antagonist on jejunum contractions.

Indomethacin-induced ileitis is associated with tensiometric, vascular and oxidative changes in the experimental rat model.

BACKGROUND: Indomethacin-induced enteritis is a model of inflammatory bowel disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To further characterize this model, rats received two injections of indomethacin (7.5 mg kg(-1)) 24 h apart and histological damage of intestinal mucosa, oxidative stress, alterations of intestinal motility and mesenteric vascular bed (MVB) reactivity were investigated after 5 days. RESULTS: The results show that indomethacin caused several histological and functional changes at the ileal level. In particular, response to carbachol as well as the nonadrenergic-noncholinergic inhibitory response to electrical field stimulation (EFS) was lower in the treated than control rats. Moreover, nitric oxide (NO)-component of the inhibitory response was higher in the treated than control rats. Mesenteric vessels preparations from the treated rats showed increased noradrenaline (NA)-induced perfusion pressure, whereas relaxant responses to acetylcholine, although not significantly reduced in the treated rats, had a higher nitrergic component. This finding suggests that vascular dysfunction may contribute to chronic inflammation. Indomethacin injection also determined acute and severe oxidative stress in ileum mucosa. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, our study contributes to further characterize the rat model of indomethacin-induced enteritis and suggests that it is suitable for drug screening in rats, as this model can be obtained in a very short period and is simple and reproducible.

Falsas hiperglucemias en las pruebas rápidas usadas en las unidades de neonatología / False-positive results for hyperglycemia with rapid tests used in Neonatology Units

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Functional alterations of mesenteric vascular bed, vas deferens and intestinal tracts in a rat hindlimb unloading model of microgravity.

1. Prolonged bed rest or exposure to microgravity may cause several alterations in autonomic nervous system response (ANSR). 2. Hindlimb unloading (HU) rats were used as an animal model of simulated microgravity to investigate ANSR changes. The experiments were carried out to investigate the effects of simulated microgravity on the autonomic nervous response of the perfused mesenteric vascular bed (MVB), vas deferens and the colon and duodenum from 2-week HU rats. 3. In MVB preparations of HU rats, the frequency-dependent increases in perfusion pressure with perivascular nerve stimulation (PNS; 8-40 Hz) were inhibited, whereas the noradrenaline (NA) concentration-dependent (1-100 microM) perfusion pressure increases were potentiated. The latter most probably reflected up-regulation of alpha-adrenergic receptor function. Relaxant responses of NA-precontracted MVB to PNS (4-30 Hz) or isoprenaline were not different between control and HU preparations, while vasodilation induced by the endothelial agonist ACh was reduced. 4. Transmural stimulation (2-40 Hz) induced frequency-dependent twitches of the vas deferens which were reduced in vas deferens of HU rats, while the sensitivity to NA-induced contraction was significantly increased. 5. In the gastroenteric system of HU rat, direct contractile responses to carbachol or tachykinin as well as relaxant or contractile responses to nervous stimulation appeared unchanged both in the proximal colon rings and in duodenal longitudinal strips. 6. In conclusion, HU treatment affects peripheral tissues in which the main contractile mediators are the adrenergic ones such as resistance vessels and vas deferens, probably by reducing the release of neuromediator. This study validates NA signalling impairment as a widespread process in microgravity, which may most dramatically result in the clinical phenotype of orthostatic intolerance.

Validación de la prueba nacional de pesquisa de trastornos de desarrollo psicomotor en niños menores de 6 años / Validation for screening test of detecting psychomotor development problems in children under six

Introducción. El uso de una prueba de pesquisa en los primeros años de vida permite la detección temprana de retrasos en el desarrollo psicomotor y su tratamiento oportuno. En la Argentina contamos con una Prueba Nacional de Pesquisa preparada en base a un estudio nacional. El objetivo del trabajo fue validar la prueba, comparando sus resultados con evaluaciones diagnósticas, realizadas en forma simultánea por varios servicios del Hospital Garrahan. Pacientes y métodos. Se seleccionó una muestra de 106 niños de 0 a 5,99 años que concurrían al área de bajo riesgo del Hospital. Se realizaron los siguientes estudios diagnósticos: evaluación del desarrollo psicomotor (Bayley II), examen neurológico, salud mental, coeficiente intelectual (Wechsler, Terman), conducta adaptativa (Vineland), lenguaje (prueba de Gardner receptiva y expresiva, ITPA), audición (emisiones otoacústicas, audiometría tonal, PEAT), examen visual. Se utilizó el DSM-IV como referencia de trastornos del desarrollo. Se evaluó la sensibilidad y especificidad obtenidas según la aplicación de diferentes puntos de corte (número de ítems fracasados). Resultados. El mejor punto de corte se estableció en un ítem tipo A o 2 tipo B, con una sensibilidad del 80%, especificidad: 93%, valor predictivo positivo: 94%, valor predictivo negativo: 77%, porcentaje de coincidencia: 85%. Fue inesperada la elevada prevalencia de problemas de desarrollo encontrada en la muestra: 57%. La prueba es capaz de detectar problemas en las cuatro áreas del desarrollo, incluidos trastornos del lenguaje. Conclusión. Los resultados confirman a la Prueba Nacional de Pesquisa como un instrumento válido para ser usado en el primer nivel de atención para el reconocimiento de niños con sospecha de sufrir trastornos del desarrollo. Asimismo, el trabajo de información permite establecer diferentes puntos de corte y constituye un instrumento útil para su aplicación en la práctica pediátrica.

The use of a screening test in the first years of life allows the early detection of delays of psychomotor development and its treatment, thus contributing to improve the prognosis of the child with special needs. In Argentina, a screening test for detecting developmental problems in children under 6, made with local children and data is available (PRUNAPE). A validation procedure for this test was carried out on 106 children attending at low risk outpatient clinic in Hospital Garrahan. The test was administered to the children together with a battery of diagnostic examinations and studies, performed by experienced specialists from different Hospital services: psychomotor development, neurology examination, mental health, intellectual quotient (Wechsler, Terman), adaptive behaviour (Vineland), language (Gardner expressive and receptive, ITPA), hearing (otoacustic emissions, audiometry, BERA), vision. The DSM ­IV was used as a reference for developmental problems. Using as a failure criterion to the PRUNAPE, the failure of performing correctly one type A item or two type B item, sensitivity of the test was 80%, specificity, 93%; positive predictive value, 95%; negative predictive value, 77%; overall agreement, 85%. A very high prevalence of developmental problems was found: 57%. PRUNAPE was found to be capable of detecting a wide range of problems. These results confirm PRUNAPE as a valuable instrument for early detection of developmental problems in paediatric practice at the primary care level.

El trasllat intraúter, una dada oblidada en la història neonatal / El traslado intraútero, un dato olvidado en el dossier neonatal / Intrauterine transport, a forgotten item in the neonatal records

Fonament. El transport intraúter és el transport d’elecció per al nadó. Objectiu. Analitzar el transport perinatal en infants amb pes de naixement 1.500 g i/o EG 32 setmanes. Mètode. Es van recollir les dades del transport intraúter per comparar-les amb els infants no transportats. Resultats. Es van incloure 445 nadons. Hi va haver 34 transportats intraúter (7.64%), 79 neonatals (17.75%) i 336 infants (75.51%) no transportats. La morbiditat moderada (destret respiratori, displàsia broncopulmonar, persistència de conducte arteriós, enterocolitis necrotitzant, retinopatia de la prematuritat, o hemorràgia intraperiventricular grau I-II) es va presentar de forma similar en el grup de transport intraúter i neonatal (53.1%), tot i ser més baixa en el grup d’infants no transportats (44.3%), i la morbiditat greu (leucomalàcia periventricular o hemorràgia periintraventricular grau III-IV) va ser més elevada en el transport intraúter (21.9% versus 14.3% en el neonatal i 10.1% en els infants no transportats). La mortalitat va disminuir en el transport intraúter (20% versus 22.45% en el neonatal), i es va fer més evident en els infants de < 28 setmanes (27.27% versus 44.44% en el neonatal i 42.86% en els infants no transportats). Conclusions. El 10.4% dels infants va néixer en un centre no adient a la seva patologia neonatal. Els infants amb transport intraúter van tenir una mortalitat més baixa que els infants amb transport neonatal. Cal tenir cura de les indicacions d’aquest tipus de transport, i és important registrar-ho en el dossier neonatal per a anàlisis posteriors (AU)

Fundamento. El transporte intraútero es el transporte de elección para el recién nacido. Objetivo. Analizar el transporte perinatal en niños con un peso de nacimiento 1.500 g y/o EG 32 semanas. Método. Se recogieron los datos del transporte intraú- tero y neonatal, para compararlas con los niños no transportados. Resultados. Se incluyeron 445 recién nacidos. Se contabilizaron 34 (7.64%) transportes intraútero, 79 neonatales (17.75%) y 336 niños (75.51%) no transportados. La morbilidad moderada (distress respiratorio, displasia broncopulmonar, persistencia de conducto arterioso, enterecolitis necrotizante, retinopatía de la prematuridad, o hemorragia intraperiventricular grado I-II) se presentó de forma similar en el grupo de transporte intraútero y neonatal (53.1%) siendo más baja en el grupo de niños no transportados (44.3%) y la morbilidad grave (leucomalacia periventricular o hemorragia peri-intraventricular grado IIIIV) fue más elevada en el transporte intraútero (21.9% versus 14.3% en el neonatal y 10.1% en los niños no transportados). La mortalidad disminuyó en el transporte intra- útero (20% versus 22.45% en el neonatal), siendo más evidente en los niños de < 28 semanas (27.27% versus 44.44% en el neonatal y 42.86% en los niños no transportados). Conclusiones. El 10.4% de los niños nació en un centro no adecuado a su patología neonatal. Los niños con transporte intraútero tuvieron una mortalidad inferior a la de los niños con transporte neonatal. Es preciso cuidar las indicaciones de este tipo de transporte y registrarlo en el dossier neonatal para análisis posteriores (AU)

Background. Intrauterine transport is the perinatal transport of choice for the newborn. Objective. To analyze the type of perinatal transport in neonates with birthweight 1500 g and/or gestational age 32 weeks. Methods. Data regarding intrauterine and neonatal transport were collected and compared to not transported premature infants. Results. 445 neonates were included in the study. Distribution by type of transport was as follows: 34 (7.64%) intrauterine, 79 (17.75%) neonatal, and 336 (75.51%) not transported. Moderate morbidity (respiratory distress, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, patent ductus arteriosus, necrotizing enterocolitis, retinopathy of prematurity, or grade I-II intraventricular hemorrhage) was similar in both intrauterine and neonatal transported infants (53.1%), but lower in the not transported infants (44.3%). Severe morbidity (periventricular leukomalacia or grade III-IV intraventricular haemorrhage) was higher in the intrauterine transported group (21.9%) compared to neonatal (14.3%) and not transported (10.1%) infants. Mortality rate was lower in the intrauterine transported group (20% vs. 22.45% in the neonatal transported group); this difference was more evident for newborns < 28 weeks of gestational age (27.27% vs. 44.44% and 42.86% in the neonatal transport and not transported groups, respectively). Conclusions. Ten percent of infants were not born in a tertiary care center. Intrauterine transported infants had lower mortality rates than those infants transported after birth. It is important to consider the indications for intrauterine transport, and to document the type of transport in the neonatal records, so that further analysis will be possible in the future (AU)

Effects of in vivo treatment with interleukins 1beta and 6 on rat mesenteric vascular bed reactivity.

1. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a condition that involves proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukins 1beta and 6 (ILs). In this disease, it has been shown that an abnormal microcirculatory system is implicated. 2. Therefore, the effects of in vivo treatment for three days with interleukins 1beta and 6 were investigated on rat isolated mesenteric vascular bed (MVB). 3. A significant concentration-dependent increase in vascular response to noradrenaline (NA) was found, with a significant difference in Emax between control (93.01 +/- 16.78 mmHg) and treated preparations (137.91 +/- 5.20 mmHg). Endothelin-1(ET-1) induced a significantly greater increase of perfusion pressure in treated rats in comparison with control rats at the highest concentration used (0.1 microm). 4. The concentration-dependent decrease of perfusion pressure induced by acetylcholine (ACh) in MVB precontracted with NA was significantly reduced in specimens from treated rats in comparison with control rats, with a significant difference in Emax between control and treated preparations. 5. Perivascular nerve stimulation (PNS) evoked contractions with no difference between treatments. Similarly, no difference in relaxant effect was found after PNS in specimens precontracted with NA, in the presence of guanethidine. 6. These findings indicate that the precocious inflammation acts only at postsynaptic level, facilitating vascular contraction. These data seem to support the hypothesis that vascular dysfunction caused by overproduction of ILs may contribute, among other immunological factors, to vasculitis in IBD that leads to intestinal ischaemia through vasoconstriction.

Interleukins 1 beta and 6 induce functional alteration of rat colonic motility: an in vitro study.

BACKGROUND: In rodents, interleukins administration induces intestinal changes similar to those found in inflammatory bowel disease. We investigated the effects of in vivo subchronic treatment with IL-1 beta and IL-6 on rat colonic mucosa and circular smooth muscle. MATERIALS AND METHOD: We evaluated transmucosal electrical parameters (Ussing chambers) and early changes of in vitro direct contractility induced by carbachol and tachykinins. Alterations in excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission were studied with electrical field stimulation (EFS). RESULTS: Treatment with interleukins induces inflammation proved by fever, early signs of colonic histological damage and changes in mucosal ion transport. Concentration response-curve to carbachol was significantly lower in treated rats (P<0.02) with significant difference in Emax between control (1.67+/-0.17 g) and treated preparations (1.20+/-0.13 g) (P<0.05). Concentration response-curve to NK2 agonist was significantly lower in the treated rats (P<0.005) with a significant difference in Emax between the control (0.26+/-0.04 g) and treated preparations (0.12+/-0.02 g) (P<0.02). None of the drugs used induces changes in EC50. The contractile reflex response to electrically induced distension was significantly higher in the treated rats and more reduced after administration of atropine. Adding NK2 receptor antagonist resulted in a further reduction being observed in the treated and control rats (P=NS). Relaxation by EFS on cholinergic tone was not different between treatments, although pretreatment with L-NNA resulted in greater relaxation in the treated (-21.7%) than in the control rats (-14.8%). CONCLUSION: Early inflammation induced by a subchronic treatment with ILs causes changes in mucosal ionic transport parameters, a reduction in the direct contractile response, and an alteration in the neurotransmission (by an enhancing cholinergic component) that may affect the physiological pattern of colonic motility and the sensory reflex.

Plasma nitrite/nitrate and endothelin-1 concentrations in neonatal sepsis.

AIM: To determine the changes in plasma nitrite/nitrate (NOx) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) concentrations during neonatal sepsis. METHODS: In a prospective study, 60 consecutive newborns meeting the criteria for sepsis and without receiving exogenous nitric oxide (25 haemoculture-positive [HC+] and 35 haemoculture-negative [HC-]) were compared with 68 healthy newborns (46 full-term and 22 preterm). NOx and ET-1 concentrations were measured in each newborn within 48 h of diagnosis of sepsis and then every third day up to three determinations. SNAP-II and SNAPPE-II severity scores were performed at the moment of highest clinical severity. RESULTS: At the beginning of the sepsis period, controls and septicaemic newborns had similar NOx and ET-1 levels, with the exception of infants with severe HC+ sepsis. Throughout the sepsis period, NOx increased in moderate HC+ sepsis and decreased in HC--sepsis, reaching a significant difference at the end of the study period (59.9 +/- 72.7 vs 33.9 15.3 micromol/L; p = 0.036). Meanwhile, ET-1 in newborns with severe HC+ sepsis remained higher than that in the moderate HC+ sepsis group and HC--group, reaching significant differences in all the periods. The highest ET-1 value was positively correlated with SNAP-II and SNAPPE-II scores. CONCLUSION: NOx concentrations increased throughout the neonatal HC+ sepsis period, reaching significant differences after 7-9 d. The highest ET-1 levels in neonatal HC+ sepsis emerged before the NOx peak, at 3-5 d, and later decreased. Only newborns with severe HC+ sepsis presented a significant increase in ET-1 concentrations from the beginning of the septicaemic process.

Endothelial COX-1 and -2 differentially affect reactivity of MVB in portal hypertensive rats.

Expression of constitutive and inducible cyclooxygenase (COX-1 and COX-2, respectively) and the role of prostanoids were investigated in the aorta and mesenteric vascular bed (MVB) from the portal vein-ligated rat (PVL) as a model of portal hypertension. Functional experiments were carried out in MVB from PVL and sham-operated rats in the absence or presence of the nonselective COX inhibitor indomethacin or the selective inhibitors of COX-1 (SC-560) or COX-2 (NS-398). Western blots of COX-1 and COX-2 proteins were evaluated in aorta and MVB, and PGI(2) production by enzyme immunoassay of 6-keto-PGF(1alpha) was evaluated in the aorta. In the presence of functional endothelium, decreased contraction to norepinephrine (NE) and increased vasodilatation to ACh were observed in MVB from PVL. Exposure of MVB to indomethacin, SC-560, or NS-398 reversed the hyporeactivity to NE and the increased endothelial vasodilatation to ACh in PVL, with NS-398 being more potent than the other two inhibitors. Upregulation of COX-1 and COX-2 expressions was detected in aorta and MVB from PVL portal hypertensive rats, and increased production of 6-keto-PGF(1alpha) was observed in aorta from portal hypertensive rats. These results suggest that generation of endothelial vasodilator prostanoids, from COX-1 and COX-2 isoforms, accounts for the increased mesenteric blood flow in portal hypertension.