Serum Concentrations Of Substances Research Articles

Serum level of substance P and stress in acne-vulgaris patients

ObjectiveThe aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between stress and serum concentration of substance P (SP) in acne-vulgaris patients.BackgroundAcne vulgaris is a multifactorial disorder of the pilosebaceous unit. The clinical picture can vary significantly, from mild comedonal acne to fulminant systemic disease. Although all age groups may be affected by its many variants, the peak incidence is during adolescence. Various studies have proved that neuropeptides affect the activity of the pilosebaceous unit by stimulating proliferation and differentiation of sebaceous glands, lipid synthesis, and induction of neutral endopeptidase expression in sebaceous cells, especially SP.Patients and methodsA case–control study included 40 patients with acne vulgaris and 40 age-matched and sex-matched controls. Emotional stress was analyzed with the use of Social Readjustment Rating Scale, whereas the methods of coping with stress were assessed with the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situation questionnaire, followed by taking blood samples to assess SP serum levels using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent-assay method.ResultsSP was significantly higher in the acne-patient group versus the control group (P < 0.05). A statistically significant difference was observed between acne patients and control groups regarding the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (P < 0.05).ConclusionThere was a statistically significant relation between stress scale and serum SP level in acne vulgaris.

Динаміка показників нейровегетативної регуляції в дітей із рекурентними захворюваннями респіраторного тракту і зниженим функціональним резервом міокарда після реабілітаційної програми

Актуальність. Останнім часом проблеми з рівнем дитячого здоров’я викликають побоювання з боку як медичної, так і педагогічної громадськості. Інтенсивна програма шкільної освіти, високе інфекційне навантаження на організм молодшого школяра і підвищений інтерес до засобів масової електронної комунікації — все це призводить до напруження функціонування вегетативної нервової системи (ВНС) і, як результат, зниження функціонального резерву міокарда. У зв’язку з цим було запропоновано проведення оздоровчих літніх заходів, метою яких було надати відновлюваний вплив на функціонування ВНС і стан функціонального резерву міокарда молодшого школяра. Мета роботи: проаналізувати клінічну ефективність реабілітаційної програми в дітей із рекурентними захворюваннями респіраторного тракту і зниженим функціональним резервом міокарда. Матеріали та методи. 30 дітям раннього шкільного віку проведена протягом 1 літнього місяця реабілітаційна програма. Здійснена оцінка клінічної ефективності реабілітаційної програми за даними стану ВНС, показників активності регуляторних систем (ПАРС), рівнів концентрації нейротрансмітерів у сироватці крові. Проведено оцінку функціонального резерву міокарда. Результати. За підсумками реабілітаційної програми отримані вірогідні результати поліпшення функціонування ВНС: знизилися прояви симпатикотонії і зменшилася реєстрація порушеного ПАРС і зривів процесів адаптації (p &lt; 0,05). Звертають на себе увагу статистично значуще зниження сироваткової концентрації субстанції Р і кінцевих стабільних метаболітів NO (KCM NO) і підвищення сироваткової концентрації вазоактивного інтестинального пептиду. Дана позитивна динаміка супроводжувалася значним зниженням реєстрації симпатикотонії, ригідного ритму, порушеного ПАРС, зриву процесів адаптації (p &lt; 0,05). Проведена річна реабілітаційна програма привела до поліпшення результатів проби Руф’є на 4 бали порівняно з показниками наприкінці навчального року. Висновки. Здійснення реабілітаційної програми в дітей із рекурентними захворюваннями респіраторного тракту і зниженим функціональним резервом міокарда поліпшило показники функціонального стану ВНС і ПАРС. Поліпшення функціонального стану ВНС і ПАРС супроводжувалося: зниженням рівня концентрації субстанції Р, КСМ NO в сироватці крові та підвищенням вазоактивного інтестинального пептиду. Проведення оздоровчого курсу в дітей із рекурентними гострими респіраторними захворюваннями та зниженим функціональним резервом міокарда дозволило знизити показник проби Руф’є на 4 бали, що свідчить про підвищення функціонального резерву міокарда.

Association of bovine uterine involution disturbances with serum neuropeptide concentrations.

Background and Aim:Puerperal diseases influence fertility and should be diagnosed as soon as possible. This study aimed to evaluate the applicability of serum concentrations of substance P (SP), vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), and interleukin (IL)1β in the early diagnosis of uterine involution disturbances.Materials and Methods:Blood serum samples of 86 dairy cows from six different farms were harvested within the first 20 days after calving from cows with uterine involution disturbances and healthy controls, respectively. Serum concentrations for SP, VIP, and IL-1β were determined using commercially available ELISA test kits. Statistical analyses included timely changes in blood serum levels and group comparisons of healthy cows and cows with uterine disease.Results:SP concentrations increased significantly within 20 days after calving (p<0.04) with no significant difference observed between the groups. Moreover, no significant differences were found between VIP and log IL-1β.Conclusion:Results showed that none of the examined serum parameters seems suitable as indicator of uterine involution disorders. Due to the timely changes in serum concentrations of SP after calving, a correlation to diseases might not be precluded. Further research is needed as regards the establishment of normative values concerning this parameter.

Non-isoflavones Diet Incurred Metabolic Modifications Induced by Constipation in Rats via Targeting Gut Microbiota.

Isoflavones, presenting in leguminous plants and the normal chow diet, are known to alter intestinal microbiota, yet their deficiency has not been widely studied for its effect on constipation in biochemical state of rats. Our previous study discovered the differences in pharmacokinetic traits of isoflavones from Semen sojae praeparatum fed with normal chow diet (ISO) and non-isoflavones diet (NISO). To gain insight into the key role of intestinal microbiota in constipation and metabolic differences caused by isoflavones deficiency, we observed a significant decrease in fecal pellet numbers, fecal water content, intestinal transit rate together with the serum concentrations of substance P (SP) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in NISO group, compared with those in the ISO group. Following 16S rRNA compositional sequencing, results excluded the changes in intestinal microbiota over time and highlighted that a total of 5 phyla and 21 genera changed significantly, among which Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Blautia, Prevotella, Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium were closely related to constipation. In addition, Lactobacillus, produceing β-glucosidase which contribute to biotransform glycosides into aglycons and exert the bioactivities consequently, was decreased after non-isoflavones diet intake. Meanwhile, predicted metagenomics indicated that the pathway of glycan biosynthesis and metabolism was markedly down-regulated after non-isoflavones diet intake. Taken together, the findings suggested that the changes in the dietary components could alter the biochemical state of rats, which may be triggered by the abnormal modifications facilitated by β-glucosidase-producing bacteria. Our study shed a new strategy to explore the relationship among disease phenotypes (D), intestinal microbiota (I), enzymes (E) and traits of metabolism (T) named as “DIET,” which can provide a reference for further study of the mechanism in regulation of intestinal bacteria-mediated diet on diseases.

Stressful Events and Serum Concentration of Substance P in Acne Patients.

BackgroundPsychological stress is an important factor of acne pathogenesis. Stress related production of hormones, cytokines and neuropeptides may result in the chronic course and exacerbations of the disease.ObjectiveThe aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between acne severity, intensity of emotional stress and serum concentration of substance P (scSP), to compare the intensity of adversities, psychological stress and scSP in acne patients with healthy controls and to compare coping techniques for stress.MethodsThe study consisted of 80 patients. Emotional stress was analyzed with the use of social readjustment rating scale, whereas the methods of coping with stress were assessed with the coping inventory for stressful situation questionnaire. The blood concentration of substance P was analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method in a group of 40 patients with acne vulgaris and in control subjects.ResultsThere was no statistically significant difference between the severity of acne and the intensity of stress. Acne patients presented a higher average scSP than the controls. No statistically significant correlation was observed between the severity of acne and scSP; however, the intensity of stress correlated with scSP in the control group. The evaluation of methods of coping with stress showed significantly higher rate for the avoidance-oriented coping among acne patients.ConclusionThe number of stressful events is not a factor that determines the severity of acne. The course of the disease may depend on tolerance to stress and methods of coping with stress.

Psychogenic urticaria: The issues of diagnosis and optimization of therapy

Objective: to reveal clinical and immunological criteria for psychogenic urticaria (PU) and to determine the therapeutic efficacy of alimemazine in this abnormality. Patients and methods. Ninety-three patients with PU, 46 apparently healthy individuals, and 90 patients with chronic autoimmune urticaria (CAU) were examined. The methods included clinical examination; use of the Goldberg anxiety rating scale; enzyme immunoassay of serum substance P levels. The efficacy of alimemazine was evaluated in an open-label comparative randomized trial for 4 weeks. Results and discussion. Patients with PU significantly more frequently showed a predominance of manifestations of itching over skin rashes and higher levels of anxiety disorders than those with CAU. The mean serum concentration of substance P was 0.006±0.005 ng/ml in the patients with CAU, 0.026±0.02 ng/ml in healthy individuals, and 8.46±0.95 ng/ml in the patients with PU (p<0.0001). Addition of standard therapy (second-generation antihistamines, disintoxication) with alimemazine 15–30 mg/day ensured statistically significant advantages over the control (standard therapy) in the following indicators: reductions in the severity of the disease, the degree of anxiety disorders, and the serum levels of substance P. Alimemazine was noted to be satisfactorily tolerated. Thus, the authors established the following diagnostic criteria for PU: a psychotraumatic situation; dermal manifestations after psychogeny; high anxiety; a predominance of the manifestations of itching over the dermal symptoms of urticaria; and elevated serum substance P concentrations. Standard therapy added by alimemazine versus that without the drug was found to be effective. There were reductions in the symptoms of urticaria, the degree of anxiety disorders, and the levels of substance P.

The influence of UVB 311 nm irradiation on serum concentration of substance P and CGRP in psoriasis patients

The influence of UVB 311 nm irradiation on serum concentration of substance P and CGRP in psoriasis patients

Improvement of sulphur mustard-induced chronic pruritus, quality of life and antioxidant status by curcumin: results of a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Skin is among the first and most heavily damaged organs upon sulphur mustard (SM) exposure. Pruritus is the most common chronic skin complication of SM, which adversely affects the quality of life (QoL). However, current therapies for the management of SM-induced pruritus are very limited and associated with side effects. The present trial investigated the efficacy of curcumin in the alleviation of SM-induced chronic pruritic symptoms. A total of ninety-six male Iranian veterans (age 37-59 years) were randomised to receive either curcumin (1 g/d, n 46) or placebo (n 50) for 4 weeks. Serum concentrations of substance P and activities of antioxidant enzymes were measured at baseline and at the end of the trial. Assessment of pruritus severity was performed using the pruritus score, visual analogue scale (VAS) and scoring atopic dermatitis (SCORAD) index. QoL was evaluated using the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) questionnaire. Serum concentrations of substance P (P<0·001) as well as activities of superoxide dismutase (P=0·02), glutathione peroxidase (P=0·006) and catalase (P<0·001) were significantly reduced in the curcumin group, while no significant change was observed in the placebo group. Curcumin supplementation was also associated with significant reductions in measures of pruritus severity including the pruritus score (P<0·001), VAS score (P<0·001), overall (P<0·001) and objective SCORAD (P=0·009), and DLQI's first question (P<0·001). None of these measures was significantly changed in the placebo group. As for the QoL, although DLQI scores decreased in both groups (P<0·001 and P=0·003 in the curcumin and placebo groups, respectively), the magnitude of reduction was significantly greater in the curcumin group (P<0·001). In conclusion, curcumin may be regarded as a natural, safe, widely available and inexpensive treatment for the management of SM-induced chronic pruritus.

Serum concentrations of substance P in cholestasis

Substance P (SP) is an excitatory neuropeptide that acts via the neurokinin-I receptor (NK-1) in the nervous system. Pruritus, a complication of cholestasis, is a nociceptive stimulus; thus, we hypothesized that cholestasis would be associated with increased neurotransmission via SP as evidenced, in part, by increased serum concentrations of this neuropeptide. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to determine the serum concentration of SP in patients with pruritus secondary to cholestasis and in the serum of rats with cholestasis secondary to bile duct resection (BDR). The mean serum SP concentration of patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) and pruritus was 9.09 pg/mL SD ± 6.5, significantly higher than 0.74 pg/mL SD ± 0.77, the mean serum concentration of SP from patients with CLD without pruritus (p = 0.0001), and from that of the control group, which was 0.65 pg/mL SD ± 0.37 (p = 0.0001). The mean serum SP concentration from six rats with cholestasis secondary to BDR six and fourteen days after surgery was 57.9 pg/mL, SD ± 17.3, and 56.3 pg/mL, SD ± 21.4, respectively, as compared to the concentration from the sham resected control group, which was 3.5 pg/mL SD ± 0.59 (p = 0.002) at six days post surgery. In conclusion, in choles-tasis, there is increased availability of SP. These data provide a rationale for the study of SP release and metabolism in cholestasis, and in the mediation of the pruritus.

Nicergoline Increases Serum Substance P Levels in Patients with an Ischaemic Stroke

Background: Aspiration pneumonia is one of the most important complications following ischaemic stroke, and a leading cause of mortality in stroke patients. This is particularly prevalent in patients with involvement of the basal ganglia, which may be due to impaired neurotransmission through lack of production of substance P. Methods: Consecutive patients in the chronic stage, 1–3 months after cerebral ischaemic infarction, were assessed for basal ganglia involvement by magnetic resonance imaging. The patients were randomised to 4 weeks of treatment with (n = 25) or without (n = 25) nicergoline (15 mg t.i.d.). Serum concentration of substance P was measured by radioimmunoassay. Results: At entry to the study, mean concentration of substance P was significantly (p < 0.001) lower in patients with bilateral basal ganglia lesions than in patients with no or unilateral basal ganglia involvement. Nicergoline administration caused a significant (p = 0.021) increase from baseline in mean substance P concentration. No significant change was seen in the nicergoline-untreated patients (p = 0.626). Among the patients who received nicergoline, 11 patients had bilateral basal ganglia involvement and there was no significant mean change in substance P in these patients, whereas there was a significant increase (p = 0.032) in the 14 nicergoline-treated patients with no or unilateral basal ganglia involvement. Conclusions: The present study suggests a possible effect of nicergoline to increase substance P level in ischaemic stroke patients with partial damage to basal ganglia, who have a decreased swallowing response and consequent risk of aspiration pneumonia. Further trials of nicergoline treatment in patients at risk for aspiration pneumonia are warranted.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition, cough and the serum concentration of substance P

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition, cough and the serum concentration of substance P

Ultrafiltration of circulating blood in vivo. A method for continuous measurements of serum concentrations.

A method of continuous ultrafiltration of circulating blood in the intact rat is described. Thus, the serum concentrations of substances can be continuously followed, whose measurement in whole blood is made impossible by the corpuscular and macromolecular elements. As an example, conductivity curves in portal venous blood of the conscious rat after intraduodenal hydration are presented.