Articles: human.
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Electrical signals can be recorded using long-term implanted nerve cuff electrodes in human peripheral nerves. Reliable detection of sensory nerve signals is essential if such signals are to be of use in sensory-based functional electrical stimulation neural prosthetics as a replacement for artificial sensors (switches, strain gauges, etc.). In this review, the signal characteristics of the sensors, the nerve interface, signal processing, and an example of human application to restore motor functions are described.
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Despite recent advances in technology, the mortality rate for patients suffering from adult respiratory distress syndrome remains in the range of 40-50%. This high mortality rate may be in part related to complications from ventilator management, such as ventilator-induced lung injury. In these patients, adjunct therapies aiming at ameliorating ventilator-induced lung injury are being developed. This article discusses the rationale for use of pharmacologic adjunct therapies, including inhaled nitric oxide, surfactant replacement therapy, antioxidants, prostaglandins, and corticosteroids, in patients with acute lung injury, and reviews the effectiveness of these agents in human clinical trials to date.
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Neuroendocrinol Lett · Jan 2000
Oncostatic activity of pineal neuroendocrine treatment with the pineal indoles melatonin and 5-methoxytryptamine in untreatable metastatic cancer patients progressing on melatonin alone.
The recent advances in psycho-neuro-endocrino-immunology have demonstrated the existence of several endogenous neuroendocrine substances, capable of affecting both tumor growth and host anticancer immune defenses. The pineal gland would represent one of the most important organs releasing antiproliferative and immunostimulating substances, the most known of them is melatonin (MLT). However, MLT would not be the only pineal indole provided by antitumor activity. Other pineal indoles, namely 5-methoxytryptamine (5-MTT), would play antitumor effects, by either inhibiting cancer cell proliferation or stimulating the anticancer immunity. Preliminary data have shown that MLT may deserve antitumor activity in the treatment of human neoplasms, whereas at present there are no clear data about 5-MTT. In an attempt to obtain some preliminary data about the anticancer properties of 5-MTT in humans, we have evaluated the efficacy of MLT plus 5-MTT in untreatable advanced cancer patients progressing on MLT alone. ⋯ A partial response (PR) occurred in two patients treated with MLT + 5-MTT and in none of the patients receiving MLT alone. A stable disease (SD) was achieved in only 2/37 patients on MLT therapy alone, and in 8/36 patients receiving MLT plus 5-MTT. Therefore, the percent of non-progressing patients (SD + PR) obtained with MLT plus 5-MTT was significantly higher than that obtained with MLT alone. Moreover, the relief of asthenia and depressant symptoms was significantly higher in patients concomitantly treated with 5-MTT. DISCUSSION: This preliminary study would suggest that the concomitant administration of the less known pineal indole 5-MTT, also provided by antiproliferative and immunomodulating effects, may further amplify the oncostatic activity of the pineal hormone MLT in the palliative and curative therapy of advanced untreatable human solid neoplasms.
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Carboplatin, a second-generation antineoplastic drug, is much less ototoxic than cisplatin in humans and many laboratory animals. However, when a moderate dose of carboplatin is administered to chinchillas, it can selectively destroy inner hair cells (IHCs) and type-I ganglion neurons without damaging the outer hair cells (OHCs). One of the earliest signs of injury from carboplatin is damage to type I, spiral ganglion neurons. ⋯ IHC loss leads to a reduction in neural input (i.e., sensory deprivation) to the central auditory system. Surprisingly, although the neural input to the central auditory system is reduced, evoked response amplitudes recorded from the auditory cortex are often enhanced. These results indicate that when the neural input to the central auditory brain is reduced, the central auditory system compensates for the reduced input by increasing its gain.
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Natl Toxicol Program Tech Rep Ser · Nov 1999
NTP Toxicology and Carcinogenesis Studies of Triethanolamine (CAS No. 102-71-6) in F344 Rats and B6C3F1 Mice (Dermal Studies).
Triethanolamine is widely used as an ingredient in emulsifiers, thickeners, wetting agents, detergents, and alkalinizing agents in cosmetic products; as a chemical intermediate for anionic and nonionic surfactants and surface active agents in household cleaning agents, textiles, herbicides, pharmaceutical ointments, and other products; as a vulcanization accelerator in the manufacture of rubber; and in many other industrial applications. The National Cancer Institute nominated triethanolamine for study because of its widespread use in cosmetics and other consumer products, its high potential for worker exposure due to its many industrial uses, and its potential for conversion to the carcinogen N -nitrosodiethanolamine. Dermal application was chosen as the route of exposure to mimic the principal means of human exposure to triethanolamine and because considerable systemic exposure is achieved with this route. ⋯ The study in male and female B6C3F1 mice was considered inadequate, because the presence of a Helicobacter hepaticus infection complicated inter pretation of the relationship between triethanolamine administration and liver neoplasms in these animals. Dosed rats and mice had varying degrees of acanthosis and inflammation, dosed rats had ulceration, and dosed female rats had epidermal erosion at the site of skin application. Synonyms: Nitrilo-2,2',2"-triethanol; 2,2',2"-nitrilotriethanol; 2,2',2"-nitrilotrisethanol; TEA; triaethanolamin-NG; triethanolamin; triethylolamine; tri(hydroxyethyl)amine; 2,2',2"-trihydroxytriethylamine; trihydroxytriethylamine; tris(hydroxyethyl)amine; tris(2-hydroxyethyl)amine; triethylolamine; trolamine Trade Names: Daltogen; Sterolamide; Thiofaco T-35