Poecillastrosides, Steroidal Saponins from the Mediterranean Deep-Sea Sponge Poecillastra compressa (Bowerbank, 1866).

The first chemical investigation of the Mediterranean deep-sea sponge (Bowerbank, 1866) led to the identification of seven new steroidal saponins named poecillastrosides A-G (-). All saponins feature an oxidized methyl at C-18 into a primary alcohol or a carboxylic acid. While poecillastrosides A-D (-) all contain an double bond at C-24 of the side-chain and two osidic residues connected at O-2', poecillastrosides E-G (-) are characterized by a cyclopropane on the side-chain and a connection at O-3' between both sugar units.

Characterization of carrageenan extracted from Hypnea bryoides in Oman.

Carrageenophyte red seaweed from Oman, Hypnea bryoides, extracted using three different processes: an aqueous, a mild alkaline, and a more vigorous alkaline extraction was investigated. The resulting extract precipitated by alcohol was subject to chemical and rheological measurements. The total carbohydrate [ranged from 36.

Aqueous fish extract increases survival in the mouse model of cytostatic toxicity.

Background: Treatment of cancer patients with anthracycline antibiotic doxorubicin (DOX) may be complicated by development of acute and chronic congestive heart failure (CHF), malignant arrhythmias and death. The aim of this study was to test whether an aqueous low molecular weight (LMW) extract from cod muscle decreases acute mortality in the mouse model of acute CHF caused by DOX.

Methods: A LMW fraction (<500 Da) of the aqueous phase of cod light muscle (AOX) was used for treatment of male BALB/c mice (approximately 25 g, n = 70).

In vivo effects of myocardial creatine depletion on left ventricular function, morphology, and energy metabolism--consequences in acute myocardial infarction.

Background: The failing heart is characterized by disturbed myocardial energy metabolism and creatine (Cr) depletion. The aims of this study were to in vivo evaluate the effects of Cr depletion on: a) left ventricular (LV) function and morphology during rest and stress, b) LV energy metabolism, c) catecholamine in LV and plasma content, and d) incidence of malignant ventricular arrhythmias (MVA) during acute myocardial infarction (MI).

Methods And Results: Male rats weighing approximately 200 g were used.

Irradiation at 634 nm releases nitric oxide from human monocytes.

Previous studies have shown that irradiation at 634 nm decreases the release of extracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) without affecting viability in human monocytes. Here, we examined the effect of irradiation at 634 nm on the release of nitric oxide (NO), activation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and endothelial NOS (eNOS), and release of intracellular ROS. Chemiluminescence assays were used to measure NO release, intracellular ROS, and adenosine triphosphate levels (to assess cell viability).

Inhibitory effect of known antioxidants and of press juice from herring (Clupea harengus) light muscle on the generation of free radicals in human monocytes.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) can cause oxidative stress, which has been linked to various diseases. It has been suggested that antioxidant-rich foods can reduce such oxidative stress. However, the lack of suitable model systems to screen for in vivo effects of food-derived antioxidants has prevented a clear consensus in this area.

Enhanced post-ischaemic recovery in rabbit kidney after pretreatment with an indeno-indole compound and ascorbate monitored in vivo by 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Objective: To investigate whether combined pretreatment with lipid- and water-soluble antioxidants gave better restoration of energy phosphates after ischaemia-reperfusion of rabbit kidneys than single pretreatment with a lipid-soluble antioxidant.

Material And Methods: Thirteen New Zealand white rabbits were used for the study. Changes in energy phosphates were measured in vivo using volume-selective 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Early onset of rejection in concordant hamster xeno hearts display signs of necrosis, but not apoptosis, correlating to the phosphocreatine concentration.

Background: The importance of apoptosis contra necrosis for ischemia/reperfusion (RP) and acute rejection in concordant rodent xenotransplantation is largely unknown. We explored this question by comparing rodent allo and concordant xenotransplants with different morphological methods to detect apoptosis and biochemical data on the levels of high-energy phosphates obtained with in vitro 31Phosphorous Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (31P MRS). More specifically, we applied a hitherto unused method in transplantation research, apoptosis specific biotin labeled oligonucleotides designed with a 10 base pair stem region and a 20 nucleotides large loop that form a hairpin like shape.

Preservation of rat skeletal muscle energy metabolism by illumination.

Skeletal muscle viability is crucially dependent on the tissue levels of its high energy phosphates. In this study we investigated the effect of the preservation medium Perfadex and illumination with Singlet Oxygen Energy (SOE). Singlet oxygen can be produced photochemically by energy transfer from an excited photosensitizer.

Energy metabolism during microsurgical transfer of human skeletal muscle assessed by high-pressure liquid chromatography and by 31P-nuclear magnetic resonance.

The effect of ischaemia and reperfusion on human skeletal muscle was studied during free vascularised muscle transfer. Muscle biopsy specimens were taken from patients having microsurgical muscle transfer, 18 cases (17 patients; 12 men, 5 women). The biopsies were taken three times: before transfer of the muscle (control), at maximum ischaemic time, and one hour after revascularisation.

Improved energetic recovery of skeletal muscle in response to ischemia and reperfusion injury followed by in vivo 31P-magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

It is of great clinical interest to improve postischemic tissue recovery during microsurgical transfers. The effect of singlet oxygen energy (SOE) as photon illumination at 634 nm on rat skeletal muscle during ischemia and postischemic reperfusion was investigated noninvasively and continuously by in vivo (31)P-magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((31)P-MRS). A model of pedicled rat rectus femoris muscle was used, where phosphorous metabolites were followed before onset of ischemia (control), after 4 h of ischemia, and after 1 h of reperfusion.