Normalisation de la sécrétion de rénine par le neuropeptide Y chez les rats surrénalectomisés avec hypertension induite par les glucocorticoïdes [Normalization of renin secretion by neuropeptide Y in adrenalectomized rats with glucocorticoid-induced hypertension]

In the periphery, neuropeptide Y is present in the circulation, in the adrenal medulla as well as at the level of nerve endings and of the juxtaglomerular apparatus. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of this neuropeptide on renin secretion. Normotensive rats were biadrenalectomized or sham-operated and made hypertensive with methylprednisolone acetate (20 mg/kg s.c. once weekly). Deoxycorticosterone pivalate (10 mg/kg s.c. once weekly) was also given to prevent mineralocorticoid deficiency. Two weeks after that initial surgery 12 adrenalectomized rats and 8 sham-operated rats were infused for 30 min with neuropeptide Y (0.1 microgram/min) whereas 8 adrenalectomized rats and 9 sham-operated rats received in similar conditions the vehicle of neuropeptide Y (10 microliters/min). At that time, the rats were conscious and there was no significant difference in blood pressure and heart rate between the 4 groups of rats. At the end of the experiment, adrenalectomized rats exhibited a markedly stimulated renin-angiotensin system. Neuropeptide Y made it possible to normalize plasma renin activity in these rats, thus suggesting that neuropeptide Y plays an important role in regulating renin secretion

Phaenotypische Charakterisierung einer DFNA6-Familie mit Tieftonschwerhoerigkeit [Phenotypic characterization of a DFNA6 family with low-frequency hearing loss]

Background. Hereditary hearing impairment is a heterogeneous sensory defect with approximately two-thirds of all cases being nonsyndromic. Only two loci (DFNA1 and DFNA6/14/38) are associated with low frequency sensorineural nonsyndromic hearing impairment. DFNA6 was mapped to chromosome 4p16. Recessive mutations in the WFS1 gene are responsible for Wolfram syndrome; missense mutations inherited as an autosomal dominant result in low frequency sensorineural hearing impairment (LFSNHI). Patients and methods. In this study we analyzed the phenotype of a large Hungarian family with LFSNHI and linkage to DFNA6. The family contains 14 affected persons. Results and conclusion. In general, these patients show a postlingual, sensorineural, bilateral, symmetric, nonsyndromic low frequency hearing impairment with a slow progression. This impairment is accompanied by normal vision and normal vestibular responses

CSCL, Anywhere and Anytime

Abstract. The FernUniversität in Hagen uses the web-based collaborative learning platform CURE to implement different collaborative learning scenarios such as seminars or lab courses. In these scenarios, students form groups and collaboratively solve tasks given by the teachers. Interviews with students that have used CURE showed major interest in using CURE nomadically without the need for permanent internet access. Nomadic use would allow students to work with CURE content at any time and place while maintaining the advantages of a shared, synchronized CSCL environment once they are online again. In this article, we describe which requirements we have identified for a nomadic use and how we extended CURE to fulfill these requirements.