Anti-inflammatory effects of heat-killed Lactobacillus plantarum L-137 on cardiac and adipose tissue in rats with metabolic syndrome.

The effects of heat-killed Lactobacillus plantarum L-137 (HK L-137) on chronic inflammation associated with metabolic disorders have remained unknown. We examined the effects of HK L-137 on cardiac and adipose tissue pathophysiology in DahlS.Z-Lepr /Lepr (DS/obese) rats as a model of metabolic syndrome.

Overexpression of collagen type III in injured myocardium prevents cardiac systolic dysfunction by changing the balance of collagen distribution.

Objective: Left ventricular (LV) remodeling alters the contractile and relaxation properties and induces myocardial stiffness. As LV remodeling progresses, the amount of collagen type III (Col3) is gradually decreased, being replaced by collagen type I (Col1). We evaluated whether Col3 overexpression improved cardiac function and remodeling in a rat with ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM).

Effects of ramelteon on cardiac injury and adipose tissue pathology in rats with metabolic syndrome.

Melatonin regulates circadian rhythms but also has antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects that ameliorate metabolic disorders. We investigated the effects of the selective melatonin agonist ramelteon on cardiac and adipose tissue pathology in the DahlS.Z-Lepr /Lepr (DS/obese) rat, a model of metabolic syndrome (MetS).

Effects of mTOR inhibition on cardiac and adipose tissue pathology and glucose metabolism in rats with metabolic syndrome.

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a regulator of metabolism and is implicated in pathological conditions such as obesity and diabetes. We aimed to investigate the role of mTOR in obesity. A new animal model of metabolic syndrome (MetS), named DahlS.

Evaluation of dermal wound healing activity of synthetic peptide SVVYGLR.

SVVYGLR peptide (SV peptide) is a 7-amino-acid sequence with angiogenic properties that is derived from osteopontin in the extracellular matrix and promotes differentiation of fibroblasts to myofibroblast-like cells and the production of collagen type Ⅲ by cardiac fibroblasts. However, the effects of SV peptide on dermal cells and tissue are unknown. In this study, we evaluated the effects of this peptide in a rat model of dermal wound healing.

Atorvastatin reduces cardiac and adipose tissue inflammation in rats with metabolic syndrome.

Background: Statins are strong inhibitors of cholesterol biosynthesis and help to prevent cardiovascular disease. They also exert additional pleiotropic effects that include an anti-inflammatory action and are independent of cholesterol, but the molecular mechanisms underlying these additional effects have remained unclear. We have now examined the effects of atorvastatin on cardiac and adipose tissue inflammation in DahlS.

Effects of various types of anesthesia on hemodynamics, cardiac function, and glucose and lipid metabolism in rats.

Anesthesia can affect respiratory, circulatory, and endocrine systems but is necessary for certain experimental procedures such as echocardiography and blood sampling in small animals. We have now investigated the effects of four types of anesthesia [pentobarbital sodium (PENT), ketamine-xylazine (K/X), and low- or high-dose isoflurane (ISO)] on hemodynamics, cardiac function, and glucose and lipid metabolism in Sprague-Dawley rats. Aortic pressure, heart rate, and echocardiographic parameters were measured at various time points up to 45 min after the induction of anesthesia, and blood was then collected for measurement of parameters of glucose and lipid metabolism.

Laminin α2-secreting fibroblasts enhance the therapeutic effect of skeletal myoblast sheets.

Objectives: Skeletal myoblast sheet (SMB) transplantation, a method used for treating failing hearts, results in the secretion of cytokines that improve heart function. Enhancing the survival rate of implanted myoblasts should yield more continuous and effective therapies. We hypothesized that laminin-211 (merosin), a major component of skeletal muscle extracellular matrix (ECM), which mediates cell-to-ECM adhesion by binding to α -dystroglycan ( α DG) on muscle cells, could inhibit detachment of implanted myoblasts from host myocardia.

Improvement of cardiac function after implanting the osteopontin-derived peptide SVVYGLR in a hamster model of dilated cardiomyopathy.

Objectives: Osteopontin is a multifunctional cytokine that can modulate a variety of cellular activities, such as fibrotic response and inflammation. Osteopontin-derived peptide Ser-Val-Val-Tyr-Gly-Leu-Arg (SVVYGLR; SV) induces angiogenesis and the expression of smooth muscle actin (SMA) in fibroblasts. In this study, we determined the effects of SV peptide on dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).

Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 and -3 improves cardiac function in an ischemic cardiomyopathy model rat.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and a family of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) may contribute to myocardial remodeling in heart failure. TIMPs are the main inhibitors of MMPs and have other MMP-independent functions. Because little is known of the role of TIMPs in the heart, we examined the effects of TIMPs on cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) and cardiomyocytes.

Transplantation of myoblast sheets that secrete the novel peptide SVVYGLR improves cardiac function in failing hearts.

Aims: Transplantation of myoblast sheets is a promising therapy for enhancing cardiac function after heart failure. We have previously demonstrated that a 7-amino-acid sequence (Ser-Val-Val-Tyr-Gly-Leu-Arg) derived from osteopontin (SV peptide) induces angiogenesis. In this study, we evaluated the long-term therapeutic effects of myoblast sheets secreting SV in a rat infarction model.

[A novel diagnostic method for detection of lymph node metastases].

In order to improve the sensitivity of diagnosis of regional lymph node metastases in cancer patients, the novel molecular method called the one-step nucleic acid amplification (OSNA) assay using cytokeratin 19 mRNA as a molecular marker was developed. In this method, the supernatant of a homogenized lymph node solution is directly analyzed without the mRNA purification process that is usually required in RT-PCR. Therefore the results are available within 30 min via a simple procedure, and the results correlate well with the number of cancer cells in the lymph node.

The preparation of PLLA/calcium phosphate hybrid composite and its evaluation of biocompatibility.

In tissue engineering, biodegradable polymer materials with both high biocompatibility and high strength are very important as scaffolds for long term use. Therefore, in this research, we tried to prepare the three types of poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA)/calcium phosphate (CP) hybrid composite for a scaffold biomaterial. The effects of addition of different CP on both biocompatibility and mechanical properties were evaluated.

Transplantation of elastin-secreting myoblast sheets improves cardiac function in infarcted rat heart.

Myoblast sheet transplantation for cardiac failure is a promising therapy to enhance cardiac function via paracrine mechanism. However, their efficacies of treatment showed a gradual decline. The gene modification of the implanted myoblast is important in improving the long-term results of the treatment.