63 research outputs found
The role of Insulin-like Growth Factors (IGFs) and IGF-binding proteins in the nervous system
The insulin-like growth factors (IGF-I and IGF-II) and their receptors are widely expressed in nervous tissue from early embryonic life. They also cross the blood brain barriers by active transport, and their regulation as endocrine factors therefore differs from other tissues. In brain, IGFs have paracrine and autocrine actions that are modulated by IGF-binding proteins and interact with other growth factor signalling pathways. The IGF system has roles in nervous system development and maintenance. There is substantial evidence for a specific role for this system in some neurodegenerative diseases, and neuroprotective actions make this system an attractive target for new therapeutic approaches. In developing new therapies, interaction with IGF-binding proteins and other growth factor signalling pathways should be considered. This evidence is reviewed, gaps in knowledge are highlighted, and recommendations are made for future research
Sources of Cardiovascular Health Information and Channels of Health Communication Among Urban Population in Nigeria
This study employed mixed methods to investigate the preferred sources of health information and later explored the views of community healthcare workers on the enablers, barriers and ways of overcoming barriers to health communication. The study found that majority of the participants preferred their source of CV (cardiovascular) health information from the healthcare workers including the medical doctors, nurses, and pharmacists. On the other hand, the least preferred source of health information was from friends, family members, and community leaders. Some of the identified enablers to community health communication include awareness programme via Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), community-based organisations such as faith-based organisations and healthcare facilities. Others are traditional media and social media. The identified barriers to community-based health communication include lack of knowledge and poverty, language barriers, and other miscellaneous issues including misuse of internet, lack of basic amenities and religious beliefs. The community-based healthcare providers articulated ways to overcome the identified barriers, including enlightenment programmes, using the language of the target audience, funding health awareness programmes, and monitoring of health education interventions. This study concludes that dissemination of health information using numerous channels is essential in ensuring population-wide primary prevention of diseases
Sources of Cardiovascular Health Information and Channels of Health Communication among Urban Population in Nigeria
This study employed mixed methods to investigate the preferred sources of health information and later explored the views of community healthcare workers on the enablers, barriers and ways of overcoming barriers to health communication. The study found that majority of the participants preferred their source of CV (cardiovascular) health information from the healthcare workers including the medical doctors, nurses, and pharmacists. On the other hand, the least preferred source of health information was from friends, family members, and community leaders. Some of the identified enablers to community health communication include awareness programme via Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), community-based organisations such as faith-based organisations and healthcare facilities. Others are traditional media and social media. The identified barriers to community-based health communication include lack of knowledge and poverty, language barriers, and other miscellaneous issues including misuse of internet, lack of basic amenities and religious beliefs. The community-based healthcare providers articulated ways to overcome the identified barriers, including enlightenment programmes, using the language of the target audience, funding health awareness programmes, and monitoring of health education interventions. This study concludes that dissemination of health information using numerous channels is essential in ensuring population-wide primary prevention of diseases
Development of a parallel reaction monitoring-MS method to quantify IGF proteins in dogs and a case of nonislet cell tumor hypoglycemia
Nonislet-cell tumor
hypoglycemia (NICTH) is a rare paraneoplastic
phenomenon well described in dogs and humans. Tumors associated with
NICTH secrete incompletely processed forms of insulin-like growth
factor-II (IGF-II), commonly named big IGF-II. These forms have increased
bioavailability and interact with the insulin and IGF-I receptor causing
hypoglycemia and growth-promoting effects. Immunoassays designed for
human samples have been used to measure canine IGF-I and -II, but
they possess some limitations. In addition, there are no validated
methods for measurement of big IGF-II in dogs. In the present study,
a targeted parallel reaction monitoring MS-based method previously
developed for cats has been optimized and applied to simultaneously
quantify the serum levels of IGF-I, IGF-II, and IGFBP-3, and for the
first time, the levels of big IGF-II in dogs. This method allows the
absolute quantification of IGF proteins using a mixture of QPrEST
proteins previously designed for humans. The method possesses good
linearity and repeatability and has been used to evaluate the IGF-system
in a dog with NICTH syndrome. In this dog, the levels of big IGF-II
decreased by 80% and the levels of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 increased approximately
20- and 4-times, respectively, after removal of the tumor
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