Parkinson's disease and gastrointestinal dysfunctions: morphological, neurochemical and functional modifications of the enteric nervous system associated with central dopaminergic impairment

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is frequently associated with gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, mostly represented by abdominal distension, constipation and defecatory dysfunctions. Despite GI dysfunctions have a major impact on the clinical picture of PD, there is currently a lack of information on the neurochemical, pathological and functional correlates of GI dysmotility associated with PD. Moreover, there is a need of effective and safe pharmacological therapies for managing GI disturbances in PD patients. The present research project has been undertaken to investigate the relationships between PD and related GI dysfunctions by means of investigations in an animal model of PD induced by intranigral injection of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). The use of the 6-OHDA experimental model of PD in the present program has allowed to pursue the following goals: 1) to examine the impact of central dopaminergic denervation on colonic excitatory cholinergic and tachykininergic neuromotility by means of molecular, histomorphologic and functional approaches; 2) to elucidate the role of gut inflammation in the onset and progression of colonic dysmotility associated with PD, characterizing the degree of inflammation and oxidative damage in colonic tissues, as well as identifying the immune cells involved in the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the gut; 3) to evaluate the impact of chronic treatment with L-DOPA plus benserazide on colonic neuromuscular activity both in control and PD animals. The results suggest that central nigrostriatal dopaminergic denervation is associated with an impaired excitatory cholinergic neurotransmission and an enhanced tachykininergic control, resulting in a dysregulated smooth muscle motor activity, which likely contributes to the concomitant decrease in colonic transit rate. These motor alterations might result from the occurrence of a condition of gut inflammation associated with central intranigral denervation. The treatment with L-DOPA/BE following central dopaminergic neurodegeneration can restore colonic motility, likely through a normalization of the cholinergic enteric neurotransmission, and it can also improve the colonic inflammation associated with central dopaminergic denervation.

Chemical Sensor Based on a Long-Period Fibre Grating Modified by a Functionalized Polydimethylsiloxane Coating

A chemical sensor based on a coated long-period grating has been prepared and characterized. Designer coatings based on polydimethylsiloxane were prepared by the incorporation of diphenylsiloxane and titanium cross-linker in order to provide enhanced sensitivity for a variety of key environmental pollutants and optimal refractive index of the coating. Upon microextraction of the analyte into the polymer matrix, an increase in the refractive index of the coating resulted in a change in the attenuation spectrum of the long-period grating. The grating was interrogated using ring-down detection as a means to amplify the optical loss and to gain stability against misalignment and power fluctuations. Chemical differentiation of cyclohexane and xylene was achieved and a detection limit of 300 ppm of xylene vapour was realized.

Economic impact report for proposed regulations, coil coating segment of machinery and mechanical products point source category /

"December 10, 1980."

Powder coating for highway safety appurtenances. Final report.

Federal Highway Administration, Washington, D.C.

Glossary for air pollution control of industrial coating operations : (with graphical aids for rapid estimation of acceptable compliance alternatives) /

Mode of access: Internet.

Fluidized-Bed Characteristics in the Coating of Nuclear Fuel Particles [electronic resource]

Mode of access: Internet.

Effect of chlorination on human enteric viruses in partially treated water from the Potomac River estuary : study report /

At head of cover title: Northeastern United States Water Supply Study.

Eleventh-year evaluation of experimental test coating in Shasta Dam penstock -- interim progress report /

Mode of access: Internet.

Coating beryllium with electroless nickel /

"U.S. Atomic Energy Commission Contract AT(29-1)-1106."

Coating and corrosion costs of highway structural steel report /

Mode of access: Internet.

Guide to cleaner technologies : organic coating removal.

"February 1994."

Specifications for making and laying 54" wrought iron pipe, asphaltum coating for pipes, & for the manufacture of flange boiler iron.

Mode of access: Internet.

Relative value of different weights of tin coating on canned food containers : Report of an investigation by a Technical committee representing the National canners association, the American sheet and tin plate company, and the American can company.

Mode of access: Internet.

Metal cleaning and coating pollution prevention and recycling /

Project manager: Roger L. Price.

Zinc coating (hot galvanizing); a bibliography

"United States patents": numb. leaves 74-90. "British patents": numb. leaves 91-110.