In the absence of any acute otological symptoms including pain and temperature, a middle ear effusion in association with hearing loss has been designated by various names, i.e. catarrhal otitis, exudation otitis, serous otitis, nonsuppurative otitis, glue ear, and currently the most fashionable terms, otitis media with effusion and secretory otitis media. A middle ear effusion without inflamma...

BACKGROUND Pancreatic beta-cell ATP-sensitive potassium (K ATP) channels are critical links between nutrient metabolism and insulin secretion. In humans, reduced or absent beta-cell K ATP channel activity resulting from loss-of-function K ATP mutations induces insulin hypersecretion. Mice with reduced K ATP channel activity also demonstrate hyperinsulinism, but mice with complete loss of K ATP ...

Recent evidence suggests that secretory vesicle formation from the TGN is regulated by cytosolic signaling pathways involving small GTP-binding proteins, heterotrimeric G proteins, inositol phospholipid metabolism, and protein serine/threonine phosphorylation. At the cell surface, protein phosphorylation and dephosphorylation on tyrosine residues can rapidly modulate cytosolic signaling pathway...

To ascertain the mechanisms of bromocriptine in lowering serum prolactin (PRL) levels and reducing the cell size of human prolactinomas, stereological analysis at electron microscope level was performed on six adenomas treated with bromocriptine (10 mg/day for 2 weeks) and four untreated adenomas. The bromocriptine treatment significantly decreased all the major organelles involved in PRL synth...

Structural differences between alpha m (ther heavy chain of membrane IgA) and alpha s (the heavy chain of secretory IgA) were investigated. Messenger RNA from the human B lymphoblastoid line 32a.1, expressing both membrane and secretory IgA, was translated in a wheat germ cell-free system, resulting in the synthesis of two primary translation products for the alpha chain, that differed in molec...

To ascertain the mechanisms of bromocriptine in lowering serum prolactin (PRL) levels and reducing the cell size of human prolactinomas, Stereological analysis at electron microscope level was performed on six adenomas treated with bromocriptine (10 mg/day for 2 weeks) and four untreated adenomas. The bromocriptine treatment significantly decreased all the major organelles involved in PRL synth...

The functional expression of P-glycoprotein has been studied in confluent epithelial layers of human Caco-2 cells, a polarized, highly differentiated cell line demonstrating an intestinal absorptive cell phenotype. Expression of P-glycoprotein was localized, by indirect immunofluorescence with monoclonal antibody MRK16, to the apical brush-border, approximately 20 microns above the base of the ...

Adipocyte is not only a central player involved in storage and release of energy, but also in regulation of energy metabolism in other organs via secretion of peptides and proteins. During the pathogenesis of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, adipocytes are subjected to the increased levels of insulin, which may have a major impact on the secretion of adipokines. We have undertaken cleava...

Alcoholics are often associated with fertility disturbances with low sperm count and impaired sperm motility. Spermatozoa attains forward motility and fertilizing capacity during their transit through the epididymis. Epididymal secretory products form a suitable microenvironment, which favors sperm maturation. To study the effects of ethanol on epididymal sperm maturation, ethanol (3 g/kg body ...