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Cardiovascular Research (cardiovascular + research)
Selected AbstractsSPECIES VARIABILITY IN CARDIOVASCULAR RESEARCH: THE EXAMPLE OF ADRENOCORTICOTROPHIN-INDUCED HYPERTENSIONCLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL PHARMACOLOGY AND PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 9 2006Judith A Whitworth SUMMARY 1Lawrie Beilin has contributed greatly to international hypertension research through both animal and human studies. 2Animals are used in biomedical research to gain insights that can be extrapolated ultimately to humans. 3A simple experimental manipulation, adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH) administration, has a range of different cardiovascular effects in different species. 4Caution should be exercised in extrapolating data from animals to humans. [source] Inhibitory effects of N -acetylcysteine on scavenger receptor class A expression in human macrophagesJOURNAL OF INTERNAL MEDICINE, Issue 5 2002L. SVENSSON Abstract.,Svensson L, Norén K, Wiklund O, Lindmark H, Ohlsson B, Mattsson Hultén L (Wallenberg Laboratory for Cardiovascular Research, The Sahlgrenska Academy at Göteborg University, Göteborg; and AstraZeneca, Mölndal, Sweden). Inhibitory effects of N -acetylcysteine on scavenger receptor class A expression in human macrophages. J Intern Med 2002; 251:. Objective.,The formation of foam cells from monocyte-derived macrophages involves the uptake of modified lipoproteins by scavenger receptors. Antioxidants inhibit lipoprotein oxidation and may also modulate gene expression. We investigated the effect of the antioxidant N -acetylcysteine on the expression of the class A scavenger receptor (SR-A) types I and II in human macrophages. Design.,Monocytes and macrophages from healthy blood donors and plaque-derived macrophages from patients undergoing carotid endartherectomy were used for experiments. SR-A mRNA was analysed with quantitative and semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, and ligand binding and uptake were assessed with 125I-labelled acetylated low-density lipoprotein (LDL). Results.,Incubation of monocytes and monocyte-derived macrophages with N -acetylcysteine decreased both SR-A I and II mRNA expression. N -Acetylcysteine also reduced SR-A mRNA in lesion-derived cells. Binding and uptake of 125I-acetylated LDL was decreased after brief incubation with N -acetylcysteine. After longer periods of incubation with N -acetylcysteine we observed an increased degradation of lipoproteins. Conclusions.,Our results imply that N -acetylcysteine leads to a decrease in SR-A mRNA and initially also to an attenuated uptake of modified lipoproteins. This adds more to the knowledge about the cellular actions of this drug. [source] Penn State Hershey,Center for Pediatric Cardiovascular ResearchARTIFICIAL ORGANS, Issue 11 2009Akif Ündar PhD First page of article [source] Vascular anatomy of the developing medaka, Oryzias latipes: A complementary fish model for cardiovascular research on vertebratesDEVELOPMENTAL DYNAMICS, Issue 3 2006Misato Fujita Abstract The zebrafish has become a very useful vertebrate model for cardiovascular research, but detailed morphogenetic studies have revealed that it differs from mammals in certain aspects of the primary circulatory system, in particular, the early vitelline circulation. We searched for another teleost species that might serve as a complementary model for the formation of these early primary vessels. Here (and online at http://www.shigen.nig.ac.jp/medaka/atlas/), we present a detailed characterization of the vascular anatomy of the developing medaka embryo from the stage 24 (1 day 20 hr) through stage 30 (3 days 10 hr). Three-dimensional images using confocal microangiography show that the medaka, Oryzias latipes, follows the common embryonic circulatory pattern consisting of ventral aorta, aortic arches, dorsal aorta, transverse vessels, vitelline capillary plexus, and marginal veins. The medaka, thus, may serve as a valuable model system for genetic analysis of the primary vasculature of vertebrates. Developmental Dynamics 235:734,746, 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA): the silent transition from an ,uraemic toxin' to a global cardiovascular risk moleculeEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION, Issue 2 2005D. Fliser Abstract Endothelial dysfunction as a result of reduced bioavailability of nitric oxide (NO) plays a central role in the process of atherosclerotic vascular disease. In endothelial cells NO is synthesized from the amino acid l -arginine by the action of the NO synthase (NOS), which can be blocked by endogenous inhibitors such as asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA). Acute systemic administration of ADMA to healthy subjects significantly reduces NO generation, and causes an increase in systemic vascular resistance and blood pressure. Increased plasma ADMA levels as a result of reduced renal excretion have been associated with atherosclerotic complications in patients with terminal renal failure. However, a significant relationship between ADMA and traditional cardiovascular risk factors such as advanced age, high blood pressure and serum LDL-cholesterol, has been documented even in individuals without manifest renal dysfunction. As a consequence, the metabolism of ADMA by the enzyme dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase (DDAH) has come into the focus of cardiovascular research. It has been proposed that dysregulation of DDAH with consecutive increase in plasma ADMA concentration and chronic NOS inhibition is a common pathophysiological pathway in numerous clinical conditions. Thus, ADMA has emerged as a potential mediator of atherosclerotic complications in patients with coronary heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, stroke, etc., being the culprit and not only an innocent biochemical marker of the atherosclerotic disease process. [source] In ovo non-invasive quantification of the myocardial function and mass of chick embryos using magnetic resonance imagingNMR IN BIOMEDICINE, Issue 7 2009William M. Holmes Abstract Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has evolved as one of the major non-invasive tools to study healthy and diseased hearts in animal models, especially rodent models. Even though, the chick embryo has long been used as a model for cardiovascular research, MRI has not yet been used for in vivo cardiac studies. Part of the reason for this is the difficulty in monitoring the ECG and respiration of the chick embryo in the magnet for gating purposes. To overcome this complication, this paper presents the use of retrospective Cine MRI to measure the cardiac function of chick embryos in ovo for the first time, without the need for respiratory or cardiac gating. The resulting left ventricular functional parameters, from six chick embryos at 20 days of incubation, were (mean,±,SD) EDV 69,±,15,µL, ESV 31,±,7,µL, SV 38,±,9,µL and EF 54.5,±,2%. The use of retrospective Cine MRI at earlier stages of development is also discussed and difficulties have been highlighted. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] The implications of physical activity in patients with chronic heart failureNURSING IN CRITICAL CARE, Issue 1 2004Catherine T Mondoa Summary ,,The clinical syndrome of chronic heart failure is increasingly prevalent. It can be considered a multiorgan disorder that may exert a negative physical and psychological influence on a patient ,,Medication and surgical intervention have important roles to play and have certainly improved both morbidity and mortality in this field, but clearly these interventions alone are not enough ,,Excessive resource utilization for this group of patients has provided added impetus to research into non-pharmacological interventions. These encompass dietary and other lifestyle measures, including smoking cessation and exercise ,,Exercise has been shown to favourably affect the functional capacity and quality of life. There is also emerging evidence that it reduces mortality ,,In the absence of contraindications, regular endurance exercise coupled with strength training is undoubtedly beneficial ,,As with other cardiovascular research, there is a trend towards recruiting middle-aged males. This effectively means that practitioners need to be cautious when evaluating and/or implementing research evidence ,,By addressing the implications of physical activity for deconditioned patients with chronic heart failure, a holistic therapeutic regimen is fostered. This has been shown to improve the quality of life of patients and to enhance the quality of service delivered to this patient group [source] ORIGINAL RESEARCH,BASIC SCIENCE: Erectile Dysfunction in Hypercholesterolemic Atherosclerotic Apolipoprotein E Knockout MiceTHE JOURNAL OF SEXUAL MEDICINE, Issue 4 2006Delphine Behr-Roussel PharmD ABSTRACT Introduction., Erectile dysfunction (ED) and cardiovascular diseases share the same risk factors. Although the use of hypercholesterolemic rabbit models has proven to be useful to illustrate the link between ED and hypercholesterolemia, the cost of daily maintenance of the animals and necessity for important amounts of drug have limited their use. Aim., We aimed to develop a new model of atherosclerosis-associated ED in a well-known experimental model of atherosclerosis, the apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE KO) mouse. Methods., Erectile function was evaluated by recording frequency-dependent increases in intracavernous pressure following electrical stimulation of the cavernous nerve in 26-, 32-, and 38-week-old ApoE KO mice fed a Western-type diet and age-matched C57BL6/J anesthetized mice. Atherosclerotic lesions were evaluated by planimetry in oil red O-stained aortas. Results., We found that in contrast to C57BL6/J mice, ApoE mice displayed atherosclerotic lesions covering 22% of the aortic luminal surface at 26 weeks of age and increasing to 27% and 35% at 32 weeks and 38 weeks of age, respectively. The amplitude of erectile responses to electrical stimulation of the cavernous nerve was markedly impaired in 26-week-old ApoE KO mice as compared with age-matched C57BL6/J mice. Impairment in erectile function persisted in ApoE KO mice 32 and 38 weeks of age. Conclusions., The ApoE KO mouse, a well-characterized model to study disorders associated with hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis in cardiovascular research, could therefore be suitable for investigation of disease-modifying effects of new therapeutic strategies aiming to target both atherosclerosis and ED. Behr-Roussel D, Darblade B, Oudot A, Compagnie S, Bernabé J, Alexandre L, and Giuliano F. Erectile dysfunction in hypercholesterolemic atherosclerotic apolipoprotein E knockout mice. J Sex Med 2006;3:596,603. [source] Venous occlusion plethysmography in cardiovascular research: methodology and clinical applicationsBRITISH JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY, Issue 6 2001Ian B. Wilkinson First page of article [source] A new non-invasive ultrasonic method for simultaneous measurements of longitudinal and radial arterial wall movements: first in vivo trialCLINICAL PHYSIOLOGY AND FUNCTIONAL IMAGING, Issue 5 2003Magnus Persson Summary During recent years, the radial movement of the arterial wall has been extensively studied, and measurements of the radial movement are now an important tool in cardiovascular research for characterizing the mechanical properties of the arterial wall. In contrast, the longitudinal movement of vessels has gained little or no attention as it has been presumed that this movement is negligible. With modern high-resolution ultrasound, it can, however, be seen that the intima-media complex of the arterial wall moves not only in the radial direction, but also in the longitudinal direction during pulse-wave propagation. This paper describes a new non-invasive ultrasonic method that is able to measure simultaneously two dimensionally arterial vessel wall movements. The method is demonstrated in a limited in vivo trial. Results from the in vivo trial show that, apart from the well-known radial movement, there is a distinct longitudinal movement in the human common carotid artery with, in this case, the intima-media complex moving substantially as compared with the region of the tunica adventitia. Two-dimensional evaluation of the vessel-wall movements, taking not only the radial movement, but also the longitudinal movement into account, may provide novel information of importance in the evaluation of vessel-wall function. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||