This study has investigated the ability of the vasoconstrictor peptide angiotensin II to activate human peripheral blood monocytes. Activation was monitored by measuring both the release of tumor necrosis factor a from monocytes and their adhesion to monolayers of human endothelial cells. Angiotensin II-elicited activation of monocytes was dose-dependent (half-maximally effective concentration =0.2 nM), saturable (maximally effective concentration =5 nM), and sensitive to inhibition by the angiotensin type 1 receptor antagonist ZD 7155. Such direct actions imply that angiotensin II is an important candidate stimulus for the subendothelial infiltration of monocytes observed in atherogenesis and hypertension.

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Micr~tllia which are consistenlly associatad with Al~hoimer's disease {AD) );chile plaques ~tre part of the monontJcle:tr phailocyte system, ln.vltro mmured human monocyte.d©rived m;~crophaltcs rc~t,rc many immunological characteristics of microlilia. We found stronll conslJtutive ©xpr0ss~on of' Atxheimcr's//A4.mnyioid precursor protein (APP) in human mononuc|ear pim$ocytes after terminal in.vitro maturation from monoc2ctes to macrophalleS, Amyloid has previously been found to b0 ~s~i.nted wilh microgli~t in AD brains, however, it remained unclear whctl~er the material was synthesized in or had been phagocytoscd by the ceils, The flndinlts presented here support the ~|ssumption that brain mlcroglia may contribute to APP synthesis in AD brain, Macrophage: Micr<)lilia; Arnyloid pr~:ursor protein; AIzheinner'~ disease

Despite its popularity as a medication in various European countries or as a nutritional supplement in the United States, the role of plant extracts for the treatment of LUTS due to BPH remains controversial. Only a few randomized clinical trials that meet standard criteria of evidence-based medicine but with relatively short follow-up times and some meta-analyses mainly regarding Serenoa repens and Pygeum Africanum as well as more recent studies on pumpkin seeds have shown clinical effects and good tolerability. To better judge the therapeutic potential of these plant extracts, additional randomized placebo-controlled clinical trials with sufficient follow-up are needed.