caa a22 4500 463157729 CHVBK 20180406164739.0 cr unu---uuuuu 170326e20070201xx s 000 0 eng 10.1007/s10286-007-0398-z doi (NATIONALLICENCE)springer-10.1007/s10286-007-0398-z Jordan Jens Franz Volhard Clinical Research Center, Max Delbrück Center, and HELIOS Klinikum Berlin, Charitü Campus Buch, Haus 129, Wiltbergstr. 50, 13125, Berlin, Germany aut Research highlights from the literature [Elektronische Daten] [Jens Jordan] Recent studies suggest that genetic variation of the catecholamine metabolizing enzyme catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) influences pain responsiveness in human subjects. Surprisingly, some genetic COMT variations do not change the amino acid sequence. Instead, the secondary messenger RNA is altered such that more or less protein is produced. Animal studies by the same group showed that pharmacological COMT inhibition increases pain responsiveness through beta-2 and beta-3 adrenoreceptor stimulation. Another publication sheds new light on the predictive value of autonomic testing in young patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Cardiovascular autonomic reflex testing did not predict occurrence of early nephropathy, retinopathy, or hypoglycemia unawareness over a twelve years period. Yet, impaired autonomic pupillary function was associated with a markedly increased risk for both nephropathy and retinopathy. The study might suggest that autonomic neuropathy precedes microvascular disease. Finally, another study investigated neural circuits contributing to central command responses that occur with arousal and physical exercise. Cholinergic projections from the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus appear to activate muscarinic cholinergic receptors on rostral ventrolateral medulla neurons. Sympathetic activation then ensues. Steinkopff Verlag Darmstadt, 2007 catechol-o-methyltransferase nationallicence COMT nationallicence diabetes mellitus nationallicence diabetic neuropathy nationallicence central command nationallicence pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus nationallicence rostral ventrolateral medulla nationallicence Clinical Autonomic Research Steinkopff-Verlag; www.steinkopff.springer.de 17/1(2007-02-01), 2-4 0959-9851 17:1<2 2007 17 10286 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10286-007-0398-z text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI 1 research-article jats NATIONALLICENCE 856 40 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10286-007-0398-z text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI NATIONALLICENCE 100 1- Jordan Jens Franz Volhard Clinical Research Center, Max Delbrück Center, and HELIOS Klinikum Berlin, Charitü Campus Buch, Haus 129, Wiltbergstr. 50, 13125, Berlin, Germany aut NATIONALLICENCE 773 0- Clinical Autonomic Research Steinkopff-Verlag; www.steinkopff.springer.de 17/1(2007-02-01), 2-4 0959-9851 17:1<2 2007 17 10286 Metadata rights reserved Springer special CC-BY-NC licence nationallicence SWISSBIB 458059609 BK010053 XK010053 XK010000 NATIONALLICENCE NATIONALLICENCE NL-springer