Showing papers by "University of Modena and Reggio Emilia published in 1985"

β‐Endorphin cerebrospinal fluid decrease in untreated parkinsonian patients

Abstract: We measured CSF and plasma contents of β-endorphin (β-EP), β-lipotropin (β-LPH), and ACTH in 24 patients with Parkinson9s disease; 14 had not been treated. CSF β-EP concentrations in untreated patients were lower than in 15 controls ( p

Sympathetic skin response.

Abstract: Sympathetic skin response (SSR), defined as the momentary change of the electrical potential of the skin, may be spontaneous or reflexively evoked by a variety of internal or by externally applied arousal stimuli Although the suprasegmental structures influencing the SSR in humans are not well known, SSR has been proposed as a non-invasive approach to investigate the function of the sympathetic system SSR is easy to apply but current procedures are not sufficiently reliable for diagnostic purposes, and show imperfect correlations both with clinical features and other measurements of autonomic, in particular, sudomotor dysfunction

Impairment of adrenergic-induced proopiomelanocortin-related peptide release in heroin addicts

Abstract: The effects of iv stimulation with clonidine on plasma levels of beta-lipotropin (beta-LPH), beta-endorphin (beta-EP), cortisol, growth hormone (GH) and adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) were tested in a group of 10 healthy volunteers and in 8 heroin abusers. Hormones were measured either by direct radioimmunoassay (RIA) (GH, cortisol) or after plasma extraction and Sephadex G-75 column chromatography (beta-LPH and beta-EP) or by immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) (ACTH). Plasma levels of GH increased in a similar fashion in the two groups. In the controls, clonidine induced release of beta-LPH and beta-EP after 30 min (from 8.9 +/- 1.0 to 19.1 +/- 4.6 fmol/ml, P less than 0.01 and from 8.1 +/- 0.6 to 17.9 +/- 4.6, P less than 0.01) and of ACTH after 60 min (from 12.1 +/- 1.8 to 18.1 +/- 1.8, P less than 0.05) while in addicts beta-EP but not beta-LPH showed a significant increase (from 8.5 +/- 0.7 to 19.8 +/- 4.2, P less than 0.05), 90 min after the injection. In heroin addicts, plasma cortisol levels decreased continuously after clonidine stimulation while in controls they showed a biphasic pattern, decreasing until the 60th min (from 135.2 +/- 30.4 ng/ml to 74.0 +/- 13.3, P less than 0.05) and regaining basal levels 1 h later (122.0 +/- 24.8, P less than 0.05 vs 60th min value). These data demonstrate the existence in human beings of noradrenergic control of proopiomelanocortin (POMC)-related peptides and indicate that chronic opiate abuse greatly interferes with this control. Clonidine-induced release of plasma beta-EP may be of importance with regard to its therapeutic effects in detoxification.

Advantages of collocation methods over finite differences in one-dimensional Monte Carlo simulations of submicron devices

Abstract: Collocation methods are very useful when one-dimensional Monte Carlo simulations of semiconductor submicron devices require a very accurate solution of Poisson's equation. Potential and electric field may be solved simultaneously with better accuracy than using finite differences. The extension to two dimensions is also outlined. We present the results obtained for Monte Carlo simulation of submicron W/Si and AuGaAs Schottky barrier diodes under forward bias conditions. The accurate solution for the electric field at the ohmic contact boundary allows us to model the injected current and to account for depletion of carriers. Tunnelling effects across the barrier are also included in the simulation.

Neuroendocrine effects of flunarizine treatment in postmenopausal women.

Abstract: Flunarizine (10 mg/day for 60 days) was given to eight postmenopausal women with common migraine. Plasma LH pulsatility fluctuation, peripheral concentrations of prolactin (PRL), cortisol, beta-endorphin (beta-EP), beta-lipotropin (beta-LPH) and Pain Total Index (PTI) were evaluated before and after treatment. PTI was significantly reduced by flunarizine, which did not affect beta-LPH, beta-EP and cortisol plasma levels. On the contrary, both PRL values and amplitude, and length of LH pulses had increased at the end of treatment. Flunarizine reduced head pain in postmenopausal women. However, the enhancement of both PRL and LH release indicates that this calcium antagonist might interfere with the dopaminergic tonus.