This article reviews the production, metabolism, and clinical application of procalcitonin (PCT). PCT is a useful indicator to differentiate bacterial infection and virus infection. Also, it can be used to determine the infection severity and prognosis.
Animals ; Bacterial Infections ; immunology ; Calcitonin ; genetics ; metabolism ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; Humans ; Protein Precursors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Virus Diseases ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the biochemical characteristic of the neurons associated Zusanli (ST 36) in the rat by using Alexa Fluor 594 conjugated cholera toxin subunit B (AF594-CTB) neural tracing and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) fluorescent immunohistochemical techniques.

METHODSFour male Sprague Dawley rats were injected with AF594-CTB into the corresponding area of the Zusanli in the human body. After 3 surviving days, the rat's spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia (DRGs) at lumbar segments were dissected following perfusion with 4% paraformaldehyde, cut into sections, and then stained with CGRPfluorescent immunohistochemical method.

RESULTSAF594-CTB labeled sensory neurons were detected in the L3-L6 DRGs with high concentration in L4 DRG, and the labeled motor neurons located in the dorsolateral and intermediate regions of lamina IX from L3-L5 segments with high concentration at L4. Meanwhile, CGRPpositive neural labeling distributed symmetrically on both sides of DRGs, anterior and dorsal horns of spinal cord. In the AF594-CTB labeled neurons, 37% sensory neurons and 100% motor neurons expressed CGRPpositive.

CONCLUSIONThese findings present the morphological evidence to demonstrate that the sensory and motor neurons associated Zusanli in the rat distributed with segmental and regional patterns, and contained CGRP-expression.

Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; metabolism ; Male ; Neurons ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo investigate the nerve growth factor (NGF) regulating the expression of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in promoting the proliferation of osteoblast-like cell (MG-63) and thus illustrate the mechanism of the NGF in wound healing.

METHODSDifferent concentrations of NGF were used to stimulate MG-63. The expression of CGRP was detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-QPCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay after 1, 2, 3, and 4 days. The proliferation of MG-63 was detected by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8). The expression of CGRP mRNA and the proliferation of MG-63 were then detected by RT-QPCR and CCK-8 after adding the NGF receptor blocker.

RESULTSCompared with the blank control group, the expression of CGRP significantly increased by stimulating the NGF. The expression of CGRP was positively related to the concentration of NGF (P<0.05). Moreover, the expression of CGRP increased by prolonging the NGF stimulation time. The proliferation of MG-63 increased after stimulating the NGF (P<0.05). After adding the NGF receptor blocker, the expression of CGRP and the proliferation of MG-63 correspondingly decreased (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONNGF can up-regulate the expression of CGRP and increase the proliferation of MG-63. Therefore, NGF plays a significant role in wound healing.

Animals ; Calcitonin ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; metabolism ; Cell Line ; Ganglia, Spinal ; Humans ; Nerve Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptor, Nerve Growth Factor ; Signal Transduction ; Up-Regulation

To explore the role of intrapulmonary neuropeptides in the development of airway hyperresponsiveness, we established an animal model of airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) in rabbits by using ozone exposure. With the model, after test of the mechanics of respiration and bronchoalveolar lavage assay, the levels of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in the lungs were determined by radioimmunoassay, and the expression of mRNA coding receptors of these two neuropeptides was evaluated by reverse transcriptional-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). At the same time, the distribution of VIP receptor-1 (VIPR1) and CGRP receptor-1 (CGRPR1) in lung tissues and its time-course were examined by in situ hybridization. The results showed: (1) in ozone-stressing groups, airway resistance increased significantly and typical inflammatory pathological changes were observed in pulmonary tissue slides, including neutrophil and eosinophil infiltration, mucus exudation and bronchial epithelial cells (BECs) shedding; (2) with elongation of ozone exposure, the levels of VIP and CGRP in the lungs increased at first, reaching a peak on d 2 to 4, then decreased slowly, and CGRP peaked somewhat earlier than VIP; (3) mRNA expression of the two neuropeptide receptors in the lungs changed in a similar manner like VIP and CGRP, but the high level of mRNA expression of VIPR1 lasted longer than that of CGRPR1; and (4) in situ hybridization for neuropeptide receptors demonstrated that, in unstressed control, VIPR1 and CGRPR1 positive cells appeared in the airway epithelium, pulmonary interstitial and focal areas of airway and vascular smooth muscles. With the elongation of ozone exposure, hybridization stained deeper and the majority of positive cells were located around the vessels and bronchus except a few in the alveoli. At 8 d, only a small number of positive cells were seen in the lungs. From the results, it is concluded that ozone-stressing can induce the development of AHR, in which VIP and CGRP may play important roles. That implies, through binding to CGRPR1, CGRP stimulates an early inflammation response which contributes in cleaning up of irritants, while VIP exerts a later dampening of pulmonary inflammation response. These two neuropeptides may play sequential and complementary roles in the development of AHR.
Animals ; Bronchi ; pathology ; Bronchial Hyperreactivity ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; metabolism ; Epithelium ; metabolism ; Lung ; metabolism ; Ozone ; Rabbits ; Receptors, Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; metabolism ; Receptors, Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide ; metabolism ; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide ; metabolism

Osteoporosis is a common and significant health problem in more than 1/3 of postmenopausal women. Strategies for the medical treatment of osteoporosis are primarily based on decreasing the resorption component of bone turnover by estrogen, alendronate, risedronate, raloxifene, or calcitonine. Recently there are therapies that are focused on increasing bone formation by fluoride, parathyroid hormone, or strontium ranelate. This article reviews the medical treatment of osteoporosis focusing on the pharmacokinetic effects on the bone metabolism, anti-fracture effects, usage of the drugs and their side effects.
Alendronate ; Calcitonin ; Estrogens ; Female ; Fluorides ; Humans ; Metabolism ; Osteogenesis ; Osteoporosis* ; Parathyroid Hormone ; Raloxifene Hydrochloride ; Risedronate Sodium ; Strontium

Osteoporosis is a common and significant health problem in more than 1/3 of postmenopausal women. Strategies for the medical treatment of osteoporosis are primarily based on decreasing the resorption component of bone turnover by estrogen, alendronate, risedronate, raloxifene, or calcitonine. Recently there are therapies that are focused on increasing bone formation by fluoride, parathyroid hormone, or strontium ranelate. This article reviews the medical treatment of osteoporosis focusing on the pharmacokinetic effects on the bone metabolism, anti-fracture effects, usage of the drugs and their side effects.
Alendronate ; Calcitonin ; Estrogens ; Female ; Fluorides ; Humans ; Metabolism ; Osteogenesis ; Osteoporosis* ; Parathyroid Hormone ; Raloxifene Hydrochloride ; Risedronate Sodium ; Strontium

Adult ; Altitude ; Arteries ; metabolism ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; blood ; Humans ; beta-Endorphin ; blood

BACKGROUND: Increased BMD after treatment means that the treatment regimen was effective to prevent fracture associated with osteoporosis. But changes of BMD reflected at least after 1 year. Now we use markers of bone turnover more easily, and they reflects bone metabolism faster than BMD within 3 4 months. Some data showed that changes of bone markers after 3 months could predict the changes of the BMD after 1 year. METHODS: 126 postmenopausal Korean women with osteoporosis were evaluated who visited Samsung Cheil hospital from Aug. 1997 to July 2000, with respect to markers of bone turnover and BMD at lumbar spine. Subjects were classified into 3 groups, HRT only group, HRT with alendronate group and HRT with calcitonin group. To evaluate the effectiveness of treatment regimen, we compared changes of markers after 3 months and changes of spinal BMD after 1 year treatment among 3 groups. And also evaluate the predictability of the changes of markers of bone turnover after 3 months about the changes of spinal BMD, multiple regression analysis were made. RESULTS: Our results showed those findings 1. Percent changes of markers of bone turnover decreased significantly compared with baseline(osteocalcin 30.4 53.4%, total alkaline phosphtase 26.7 20.0%, deoxypyridinoline 19.0 30.1%, and mean percent changes of markers among three groups showed no significant differences. 2. No significant relationships were noted between percent changes of spinal BMD and percent changes of markers of bone turnover. 3. Percent changes of BMD at lumbar spine were increased significantly after 1 year treatment(HRT only 5.6 3.6%, HRT with calcitonin 7.8 4.5%, HRT with alendronate 9.8% 4.7%). CONCLUSION: These results made conclusion that changes of markers of bone trunover after 3 months couldn't predict the changes of spinal BMD after 1 year treatment. But, HRT with antiresorptive agents may be effective in treating postmenopausal osteoporotic Korean women.
Alendronate ; Bone Density Conservation Agents ; Calcitonin ; Female ; Humans ; Metabolism ; Osteoporosis* ; Postmenopause ; Spine

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression and clinical significance of Ki67 and calcitonin in medullary thyroid carcinoma(MTC). METHOD: The expression level of Ki67 and calcitonin was studied in 44 cases of medullary thyroid carcinoma tissue and 20 cases of adjacent nontumor tissue by SP immunohistochemistry. RESULT: The positive expression of Ki67 and calcitonin in medullary thyroid carcinoma tissue were 86.36% (38/44) and 100.00% (44/44) respectively. There was a significant difference between carcinoma and normal thyroid tissue (P<0.01). The overexpression of Ki67 and calcitonin in medullary thyroid carcinoma had no relationship with gender and age of patients,but had relationship with size of tumor,clinical staging and lymph node metastasis (P<0.05). Meanwhile, Ki67 and calcitonon had no significant correlation with each other. CONCLUSION The overexpression of Ki67 and calcitonin may play important role in occurrence, development and metastasis of medullary thyroid carcinoma. It may be used as an important judgement for the biological behavior of medullary thyroid carcinoma.
Calcitonin ; biosynthesis ; Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine ; Humans ; Ki-67 Antigen ; biosynthesis ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe changes of cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8), calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP), substance P (SP), and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in each tissue of the digestive system of allergic asthma (AA) model rats.

METHODSThe pulmonary disease (AA) rat model was duplicated by 1% ovalbumin. Its effect on the pathological morphology of the six main parts of the digestive system (stomach, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, colon and rectum) and related regulating factors such as CCK8, CGRP, SP, and VIP were observed.

RESULTSThe pathological morphology of the lung was synchronously changed as that of the colon of model rats. But there was no obvious change in the stomach, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, or rectum. Significant changes occurred in CCK8 (79 961.4 +/- 12 577.9, 48 519.5 +/- 12 240.7), CGRP (41 950.1 +/- 12 600.1, 38 059.8 +/- 11 942.4), and SP (88 243.9 +/- 32 177.2, 47 417.8 +/- 16 462.4), and VIP (20 711.4 +/- 7 334.6, 43 208.1 +/- 13 433.8) of the lung tissue and the colon tissue of model rats (P < 0. 05, P < 0.01). But there was no significant change in the aforesaid substances of the stomach, duodenum, jejunum, ileum and rectum (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSPulmonary disease might affect the colon, inducing pathological changes of the colon tissue and changes of related regulating factors such as CCK8, CGRP, SP, and VIP. It showed no significant effect on the stomach, duodenum, jejunum, ileum and rectum.

Animals ; Asthma ; metabolism ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; metabolism ; Colon ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Lung ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Sincalide ; metabolism ; Substance P ; metabolism ; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide ; metabolism