Prostaglandin E2 mediates acid-induced heartburn in healthy volunteers

2013 ◽  
Vol 304 (6) ◽  
pp. G568-G573 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takashi Kondo ◽  
Tadayuki Oshima ◽  
Toshihiko Tomita ◽  
Hirokazu Fukui ◽  
Jiro Watari ◽  
...  

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) plays a major role in pain processing and hypersensitivity. This study investigated whether PGE2 levels are increased in the esophageal mucosa after acid infusion and whether increases in PGE2 are associated with heartburn. Furthermore, expression of the PGE2 receptor EP1 was investigated in human esophageal mucosa. Fourteen healthy male volunteers were randomized to 30-min lower esophageal acid (1% HCl) or saline perfusion. Before and after acid perfusion, endoscopic biopsies were taken from the distal esophagus. PGE2 concentration (pg/mg protein) and EP1 mRNA and protein in biopsy samples were measured by ELISA, RT-PCR, and Western blotting. Symptom status of heartburn was evaluated with a validated categorical rating scale with a higher values corresponding to increasing intensity. PGE2 levels in the esophageal mucosa significantly increased after acid infusion (before vs. after acid infusion: 23.2 ± 8.6 vs. 68.6 ± 18.3, P < 0.05), but not after saline infusion (before vs. after saline infusion: 9.3 ± 2.5 vs. 9.0 ± 3.2, NS). Time to first sensation (min) after acid infusion was less than after saline (saline vs. acid infusion: 22.1 ± 4.1 vs. 5.4 ± 1.5, P < 0.05). Intensity of heartburn in the acid-infusion group was also significantly greater compared with saline (saline vs. acid infusion: 54.3 ± 13.1 vs. 178.5 ± 22.8, P < 0.01). Changes in PGE2 levels in the esophagus correlated with symptom intensity score ( r = 0.80, P = 0.029). EP1 mRNA and protein expression were observed in the normal human esophageal mucosa. Esophageal PGE2 expression is associated with mucosal acid exposure and heartburn.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie-Pierre Moisan ◽  
Aline Foury ◽  
Sandra Dexpert ◽  
Steve w Cole ◽  
Cedric Beau ◽  
...  

This study aimed at identifying molecular biomarkers of inflammation-related depression in order to improve diagnosis and treatment. We performed whole-genome expression profiling from peripheral blood in a naturalistic model of inflammation-associated major depressive disorder (MDD) represented by comorbid depression in obese patients. We took advantage of the marked reduction of depressive symptoms and inflammation following bariatric surgery to test the robustness of the identified biomarkers. Depression was assessed during a clinical interview using Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview and the 10-item, clinician administered, Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale. From a cohort of 100 massively obese patients we selected 33 of them for transcriptomic analysis. Twenty-four of them were again analyzed 4-12 months after bariatric surgery. We conducted differential gene expression analyses before and after surgery in unmedicated MDD and non-depressed obese subjects. We found that TP53 (Tumor Protein 53), GR (Glucocorticoid Receptor) and NFκB (Nuclear Factor kappa B) pathways were the most discriminating pathways associated with inflammation-related MDD. These signaling pathways were processed in composite z-scores of gene expression that were used as biomarkers in regression analyses. Results showed that these transcriptomic biomarkers highly predicted depressive symptom intensity at baseline and their remission after bariatric surgery. While inflammation was present in all patients, GR signaling overactivation was found only in depressed ones where it may further increase inflammatory and apoptosis pathways. In conclusion, using an original model of inflammation-related depression and its remission without antidepressants, we provide molecular predictors of inflammation-related MDD and new insights in the molecular pathways involved.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie-Pierre Moisan ◽  
Aline Foury ◽  
Sandra Dexpert ◽  
Steve W. Cole ◽  
Cédric Beau ◽  
...  

AbstractThis study aimed at identifying molecular biomarkers of inflammation-related depression in order to improve diagnosis and treatment. For this, we performed whole-genome expression profiling from peripheral blood in a naturalistic model of inflammation-associated major depressive disorder (MDD) represented by comorbid depression in obese patients. We took advantage of the marked reduction of depressive symptoms and inflammation following bariatric surgery to test the robustness of the identified biomarkers. Depression was assessed during a clinical interview using Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview and the 10-item, clinician-administered, Montgomery–Asberg Depression Rating Scale. From a cohort of 100 massively obese patients, we selected 33 of them for transcriptomic analysis. Twenty-four of them were again analyzed 4–12 months after bariatric surgery. We conducted differential gene expression analyses before and after surgery in unmedicated MDD and non-depressed obese subjects. We found that TP53 (Tumor Protein 53), GR (Glucocorticoid Receptor), and NFκB (Nuclear Factor kappa B) pathways were the most discriminating pathways associated with inflammation-related MDD. These signaling pathways were processed in composite z-scores of gene expression that were used as biomarkers in regression analyses. Results showed that these transcriptomic biomarkers highly predicted depressive symptom intensity at baseline and their remission after bariatric surgery. While inflammation was present in all patients, GR signaling over-activation was found only in depressed ones where it may further increase inflammatory and apoptosis pathways. In conclusion, using an original model of inflammation-related depression and its remission without antidepressants, we provide molecular predictors of inflammation-related MDD and new insights in the molecular pathways involved.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neta Tuvia ◽  
Olga Pivovarova-Ramich ◽  
Veronica Murahovschi ◽  
Sarah Lück ◽  
Astrid Grudziecki ◽  
...  

Adipose tissue (AT) is a key metabolic organ which functions are rhythmically regulated by an endogenous circadian clock. Feeding is a <i>zeitgeber</i> aligning the clock in AT with the external time but mechanisms of this regulation remain largely unclear. We tested the hypothesis that postprandial changes of the hormone insulin directly entrain circadian clocks in AT and investigated transcriptional-dependent mechanism of this regulation. We analysed gene expression in subcutaneous AT (SAT) of obese subjects collected before and after the hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp (EC) or control saline infusion (SC). The expression of core clock gene <i>PER2, PER3</i> and <i>NR1D1 </i>in SAT were differentially changed upon insulin and saline infusion suggesting insulin-dependent clock regulation. In human stem cell-derived adipocytes, mouse 3T3-L1 cells and AT explants from <i>mPer2<sup>Luc</sup></i> knockin mice, insulin induced a transient increase of the Per2 mRNA and protein expression leading to the phase shift of circadian oscillations and showing similar effects for <i>Per1</i>. Insulin effects were dependent on the region between the -64 and -43 in the <i>Per2</i> promoter, but not on CRE and E-box elements. Our results demonstrate that insulin directly regulates circadian clocks in AT and isolated adipocytes and thus represent a primary mechanism of feeding-induced AT clock entrainment.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neta Tuvia ◽  
Olga Pivovarova-Ramich ◽  
Veronica Murahovschi ◽  
Sarah Lück ◽  
Astrid Grudziecki ◽  
...  

Adipose tissue (AT) is a key metabolic organ which functions are rhythmically regulated by an endogenous circadian clock. Feeding is a <i>zeitgeber</i> aligning the clock in AT with the external time but mechanisms of this regulation remain largely unclear. We tested the hypothesis that postprandial changes of the hormone insulin directly entrain circadian clocks in AT and investigated transcriptional-dependent mechanism of this regulation. We analysed gene expression in subcutaneous AT (SAT) of obese subjects collected before and after the hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp (EC) or control saline infusion (SC). The expression of core clock gene <i>PER2, PER3</i> and <i>NR1D1 </i>in SAT were differentially changed upon insulin and saline infusion suggesting insulin-dependent clock regulation. In human stem cell-derived adipocytes, mouse 3T3-L1 cells and AT explants from <i>mPer2<sup>Luc</sup></i> knockin mice, insulin induced a transient increase of the Per2 mRNA and protein expression leading to the phase shift of circadian oscillations and showing similar effects for <i>Per1</i>. Insulin effects were dependent on the region between the -64 and -43 in the <i>Per2</i> promoter, but not on CRE and E-box elements. Our results demonstrate that insulin directly regulates circadian clocks in AT and isolated adipocytes and thus represent a primary mechanism of feeding-induced AT clock entrainment.


1994 ◽  
Vol 71 (01) ◽  
pp. 091-094 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Cattaneo ◽  
B Akkawat ◽  
R L Kinlough-Rathbone ◽  
M A Packham ◽  
C Cimminiello ◽  
...  

SummaryNormal human platelets aggregated by thrombin undergo the release reaction and are not readily deaggregated by the combination of inhibitors hirudin, prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) and chymotrypsin. Released adenosine diphosphate (ADP) plays an important role in the stabilization of thrombin-induced human platelet aggregates. Since ticlopidine inhibits the platelet responses to ADP, we studied thrombin-induced aggregation and deaggregation of 14C-serotonin-labeled platelets from 12 patients with cardiovascular disease before and 7 days after the oral administration of ticlopidine, 250 mg b.i.d. Before and after ticlopidine, platelets stimulated with 1 U/ml thrombin aggregated, released about 80–90% 14C-serotinin and did not deaggregate spontaneously within 5 min from stimulation. Before ticlopidine, hirudin (5× the activity of thrombin) and PGE1 (10 μmol/1) plus chymotrypsin (10 U/ml) or plasmin (0.06 U/ml), added at the peak of platelet aggregation, caused slight or no platelet deaggregation. After ticlopidine, the extent of platelet deaggregation caused by the same inhibitors was significantly greater than before ticlopidine. The addition of ADP (10 μmol/1) to platelet suspensions 5 s after thrombin did not prevent the deaggregation of ticlopidine-treated platelets. Thus, ticlopidine facilitates the deaggregation of thrombin-induced human platelet aggregates, most probably because it inhibits the effects of ADP on platelets.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Paul Park ◽  
Victor Chang ◽  
Hsueh-Han Yeh ◽  
Jason M. Schwalb ◽  
David R. Nerenz ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVEIn 2017, Michigan passed new legislation designed to reduce opioid abuse. This study evaluated the impact of these new restrictive laws on preoperative narcotic use, short-term outcomes, and readmission rates after spinal surgery.METHODSPatient data from 1 year before and 1 year after initiation of the new opioid laws (beginning July 1, 2018) were queried from the Michigan Spine Surgery Improvement Collaborative database. Before and after implementation of the major elements of the new laws, 12,325 and 11,988 patients, respectively, were treated.RESULTSPatients before and after passage of the opioid laws had generally similar demographic and surgical characteristics. Notably, after passage of the opioid laws, the number of patients taking daily narcotics preoperatively decreased from 3783 (48.7%) to 2698 (39.7%; p < 0.0001). Three months postoperatively, there were no differences in minimum clinically important difference (56.0% vs 58.0%, p = 0.1068), numeric rating scale (NRS) score of back pain (3.5 vs 3.4, p = 0.1156), NRS score of leg pain (2.7 vs 2.7, p = 0.3595), satisfaction (84.4% vs 84.7%, p = 0.6852), or 90-day readmission rate (5.8% vs 6.2%, p = 0.3202) between groups. Although there was no difference in readmission rates, pain as a reason for readmission was marginally more common (0.86% vs 1.22%, p = 0.0323).CONCLUSIONSThere was a meaningful decrease in preoperative narcotic use, but notably there was no apparent negative impact on postoperative recovery, patient satisfaction, or short-term outcomes after spinal surgery despite more restrictive opioid prescribing. Although the readmission rate did not significantly increase, pain as a reason for readmission was marginally more frequently observed.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela Sanna ◽  
Paolo Follesa ◽  
Paolo Tacconi ◽  
Mariangela Serra ◽  
Maria Giuseppina Pisu ◽  
...  

AbstractSpinocerebellar ataxia 38 (SCA 38) is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by conventional mutations in the ELOVL5 gene which encodes an enzyme involved in the synthesis of very long fatty acids, with a specific expression in cerebellar Purkinje cells. Three Italian families carrying the mutation, one of which is of Sardinian descent, have been identified and characterized. One session of cerebellar intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) was applied to 6 affected members of the Sardinian family to probe motor cortex excitability measured by motor-evoked potentials (MEPs). Afterwards, patients were exposed to ten sessions of cerebellar real and sham iTBS in a cross-over study and clinical symptoms were evaluated before and after treatment by Modified International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale (MICARS). Moreover, serum BDNF levels were evaluated before and after real and sham cerebellar iTBS and the role of BDNF Val66Met polymorphism in influencing iTBS effect was explored. Present data show that one session of cerebellar iTBS was able to increase MEPs in all tested patients, suggesting an enhancement of the cerebello-thalamo-cortical pathway in SCA 38. MICARS scores were reduced after ten sessions of real cerebellar iTBS showing an improvement in clinical symptoms. Finally, although serum BDNF levels were not affected by cerebellar iTBS when considering all samples, segregating for genotype a difference was found between Val66Val and Val66Met carriers. These preliminary data suggest a potential therapeutic use of cerebellar iTBS in improving motor symptoms of SCA38.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maxime Fieux ◽  
Antoine Gavoille ◽  
Fabien Subtil ◽  
Sophie Bartier ◽  
Stéphane Tringali

Abstract Background The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the surgical training of residents. There is a real concern that trainees will not be able to meet their training requirements. Low-fidelity surgical simulation appears to be an alternative for surgical training. The educational benefits of repeating ossiculoplasty simulations under a microscope have never been evaluated. With this study we aimed to evaluate the differences in performance scores and on a global rating scale before and after training on an ossiculoplasty simulator. Methods In this quasi-experimental, prospective, single-centre, before-after study with blinded rater evaluation, residents performed five microscopic ossiculoplasty tasks with a difficulty gradient (sliding beads onto rods, the insertion of a partial prosthesis, the insertion of a total prosthesis, and the insertion of a stapedotomy piston under microscopic or endoscopic surgery) before and after training on the same simulator. Performance scores were defined for each task, and total performance scores (score/min) were calculated. All data were collected prospectively. Results Six out of seven intermediate residents and 8/9 novices strongly agreed that the simulator was an effective training device and should be included in the ENT residency program. The mean effect of training was a significant increase in the total performance score (+ 0.52 points/min, [95 % CI, 0.40–0.64], p < 0.001), without a significant difference between novice and intermediate residents. Conclusions This preliminary study shows that techniques for middle-ear surgery can be acquired using a simulator, avoiding any risk for patients, even under lockdown measures.


2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao-yi Kuai ◽  
Xiao-han Yao ◽  
Li-juan Xu ◽  
Yu-qing Zhou ◽  
Li-ping Zhang ◽  
...  

AbstractParkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder and 70–80% of PD patients suffer from gastrointestinal dysfunction such as constipation. We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) for treating PD related to gastrointestinal dysfunction. We conducted a prospective, single- study. Eleven patients with PD received FMT. Fecal samples were collected before and after FMT and subjected to 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) gene sequencing. Hoehn-Yahr (H-Y) grade, Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) score, and the Non-Motion Symptom Questionnaire (NMSS) were used to assess improvements in motor and non-motor symptoms. PAC-QOL score and Wexner constipation score were used to assess the patient's constipation symptoms. All patients were tested by the small intestine breath hydrogen test, performed before and after FMT. Community richness (chao) and microbial structure in before-FMT PD patients were significantly different from the after-FMT. We observed an increased abundance of Blautia and Prevotella in PD patients after FMT, while the abundance of Bacteroidetes decreased dramatically. After FMT, the H-Y grade, UPDRS, and NMSS of PD patients decreased significantly. Through the lactulose H2 breath test, the intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) in PD patients returned to normal. The PAC-QOL score and Wexner constipation score in after-FMT patients decreased significantly. Our study profiles specific characteristics and microbial dysbiosis in the gut of PD patients. FMT might be a therapeutic potential for reconstructing the gut microbiota of PD patients and improving their motor and non-motor symptoms.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 582
Author(s):  
Monika Dominiak ◽  
Anna Z. Antosik-Wójcińska ◽  
Marcin Wojnar ◽  
Paweł Mierzejewski

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) remains the most effective therapy in treatment-resistant depression. However, the safety of ECT has been consistently questioned, particularly among elderly patients. We assessed the efficacy and safety of ECT in patients before and after 65 years old. The study was conducted between 2015 and 2018 and included 91 patients (61 under and 29 over 65 years old) with major depression undergoing ECT. The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale was used to evaluate efficacy. Cognitive functions were assessed using: MMSE, RAVLT, Trail Making Test, Stroop Test and Autobiographical Memory Interview-Short Form. ECT was more effective in older patients as compared to younger (p < 0.001). No serious adverse events were observed in either group. Increased blood pressure and arrhythmias were more common in the older compared to the younger group (p = 0.044 and p = 0.047, respectively), while disturbances of consciousness did not differ between groups (p = 0.820). Most of the cognitive functions remained unchanged compared to baseline, whereas the outcomes of MMSE, RAVLT and Stroop tests showed greater improvements in the older compared to the younger group (all p < 0.05). The decline in the retrieval consistency of autobiographical memory was more pronounced in the younger group (p = 0.024). ECT is a highly effective, safe and well-tolerated method of treating depression regardless of age.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document