Retraction notice to "Cardiac-specific overexpression of catalase attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced myocardial contractile dysfunction: Role of autophagy" [Free Radic. Biol. Med. 53/6 (2012) 1327-1338].

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy).

17-β estradiol attenuates ovariectomy-induced changes in cardiomyocyte contractile function via activation of AMP-activated protein kinase.

Menopause increases the risk of cardiometabolic diseases in women. This circumstance is usually attributed to a deficiency in circulating estrogen levels although the underlying mechanism remains elusive. Given the pivotal role of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in the regulation of energy metabolism and cardiac function, this study was designed to examine the role of AMPK in estrogen deficiency and replacement-exerted cardiomyocyte responses.

Inhibition of AMPK accentuates prolonged caloric restriction-induced change in cardiac contractile function through disruption of compensatory autophagy.

Prolonged caloric restriction often results in alteration in heart geometry and function although the underlying mechanism remains poorly defined. Autophagy, a conserved pathway for bulk degradation of intracellular proteins and organelles, preserves energy and nutrient in the face of caloric insufficiency. This study was designed to examine the role of AMPK in prolonged caloric restriction-induced change in cardiac homeostasis and the underlying mechanism(s) involved with a focus on autophagy.

RETRACTED: Akt2 knockout alleviates prolonged caloric restriction-induced change in cardiac contractile function through regulation of autophagy.

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy).

RETRACTED: Cardiac-specific overexpression of catalase attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced myocardial contractile dysfunction: Role of autophagy.

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy).

Deficiency in AMP-activated protein kinase exaggerates high fat diet-induced cardiac hypertrophy and contractile dysfunction.

AMPK, a metabolic sensor, protects against ischemic injury and cardiac hypertrophy although its role in obesity is unclear. This study was designed to examine the impact of AMPK deficiency on cardiac dysfunction following high fat feeding. Adult WT and transgenic mice overexpressing a kinase dead (KD) α2 isoform (K45R mutation) of AMPK were fed a low or high fat diet for 20 weeks.

AMP-activated protein kinase deficiency exacerbates aging-induced myocardial contractile dysfunction.

Aging is associated with myocardial dysfunction although the underlying mechanism is unclear. AMPK, a key cellular fuel sensor for energy metabolism, is compromised with aging. This study examined the role of AMPK deficiency in aging-associated myocardial dysfunction.

Cardiomyocyte contractile dysfunction in the APPswe/PS1dE9 mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.

Objectives: Ample clinical and experimental evidence indicated that patients with Alzheimer's disease display a high incidence of cardiovascular events. This study was designed to examine myocardial histology, cardiomyocyte shortening, intracellular Ca(2+) homeostasis and regulatory proteins, electrocardiogram, adrenergic response, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and protein carbonyl formation in C57 wild-type (WT) mice and an APPswe/PS1dE9 transgenic (APP/PS1) model for Alzheimer's disease.

Methods: Cardiomyocyte mechanical properties were evaluated including peak shortening (PS), time-to-PS (TPS), time-to-relengthening (TR), maximal velocity of shortening and relengthening (+/-dL/dt), intracellular Ca(2+) transient rise and decay.

Aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 transgene ameliorates chronic alcohol ingestion-induced apoptosis in cerebral cortex.

Chronic intake of alcohol results in multiple organ damage including brain. This study was designed to examine the impact of facilitated acetaldehyde breakdown via transgenic overexpression of mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 (ALDH2) on alcohol-induced cerebral cortical injury. ALDH2 transgenic mice were produced using the chicken beta-actin promoter.