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“Apelin is a novel bioactive peptide as the endogenous ligand for the orphan G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR). APJ, a receptor distributed in various tissues such as the hypothalamus Compound C and the gastrointestinal tract. Recent reports showed that apelin regulated many biological functions, including blood pressure, neuroendocrine, drinking behavior and food intake. However, the role of apelin
in regulating gastrointestinal motility remains unknown. The present study aimed to investigate the actions of intracerebroventricularly administered apelin-13 on colonic transit as well as the actions of apelin-13 on the contraction of isolated distal colon in vitro. Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of apelin-13 (0.3, 0.5, 1 and 3 mu g/mouse) dose-dependently inhibited fecal pellet output and bead expulsion. This effect was significantly antagonized by the APJ receptor antagonist apelin-13( F13A), indicating an APJ receptor-mediated mechanism. Furthermore, naloxone could also reverse the inhibitory
effect of apelin-13 on fecal pellet GW4869 concentration output and bead expulsion, suggesting the involvement of opioid receptors in the suppressive effect of apelin-13 on distal colon transit. However, apelin-13 (10(-8)-10(-6) M) did not affect distal colonic contractions in vitro. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.”
“Mucormycosis is a rare opportunistic fungal infection. Rhinocerebral form of the disease mainly affects diabetic or immunocompromised patients. Mucormycosis have specific tropism for blood vessels leading to mucorthrombosis and less often to mycotic aneurysms. We report
on a patient initially presenting with a severe sphenoid sinusopathy, who progressively evolved to cavernous sinus syndrome, internal carotid aneurysm followed by spontaneous thrombosis, chronic meningitis LDK378 order and ultimately fatal hypertensive hydrocephalus. Necropsy revealed a purulent infiltrate containing thin-walled, aseptate, right-angle branching, hyphae consistent with mucormycosis. His only relevant previous medical history was a transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary macroadenoma 21 years before. We hypothesize that post-surgical mucosal changes in the sphenoid sinus have been a favoring factor for delayed and invasive mucor infection.”
“Background: Cancers of the sinonasal region are rare and its survival rate remains poor because most of the patients are asymptomatic and diagnosed in advanced stages with surrounding important structures.\n\nObjectives: This study attempted to analyze the clinical and histological features in addition to survival and prognostic factors of surgical treatment of sinonasal cancers.