Beyond the search: Maximising the Quality of Systematic Reviews

Edoardo Aromatari

Endogenous opioid peptides in parasympathetic, sympathetic and sensory nerves in the guinea-pig heart.

Research has suggested that exogenous opioid substances can have direct effects on cardiac muscle or influence neurotransmitter release via presynaptic modulation of neuronal inputs to the heart. In the present study, multiple-labelling immunohistochemistry was employed to determine the distribution of endogenous opioid peptides within the guinea-pig heart. Approximately 40% of cardiac ganglion cells contained immunoreactivity for dynorphin A (1-8), dynorphin A (1-17) and dynorphin B whilst 20% displayed leu-enkephalin immunoreactivity. Different populations of opioid-containing ganglion cells were identified according to the co-existence of opioid immunoreactivity with immunoreactivity for somatostatin and neuropeptide Y. Immunoreactivity for prodynorphin-derived peptides was observed in many sympathetic axons in the heart and was also observed, though to a lesser extent, in sensory axons. Leu-enkephalin immunoreactivity was observed in occasional sympathetic and sensory axons. No immunoreactivity was observed for met-enkephalin-arg-gly-leu or for beta-endorphin. These results demonstrate that prodynorphin-derived peptides are present in parasympathetic, sympathetic and sensory nerves within the heart, but suggest that only the prodynorphin gene is expressed in guinea-pig cardiac nerves. This study has shown that endogenous opioid peptides are well placed to regulate cardiac function via both autonomic and sensory pathways

Does point of care INR measurement improve outcomes in Australian patients with atrial fibrillation receiving warfarin?

Evidence Appraisal and Summary Tables - Atrial Fibrillation Question 3A.L McArthur, M.M. Dias, E.C. Aromatari

Bile acids modulate store-operated CA2+ channels and stromal interaction molecule1 (STIM1) distribution in liver cells

E.C. Aromataris, J. Castro, G.Y. Rychkov, G.J. Barrit

Providing care for families who have experienced stillbirth: a comprehensive systematic review

Micah Peters, Dagmara Riitano, Karolina Lisy, Zoe Jordan, Edoardo Aromatari