Ramón y Cajal and the cartilaginous growth plate.

Santiago Ramón y Cajal (1852-1934), a distinguished histologist and Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine in 1906, is considered the father of Neuroscience. However, his legacy also extended to the study of various tissues, including hyaline cartilage, an area in which he was a pioneer. Throughout his work Elements of Normal Histology and Micrographic Technique, Cajal developed fundamental concepts that, when reviewed in light of molecular biology, resonate with current ideas about cellular communication and macromolecular interactions.

Early reversal cardiac with esmolol in hypertensive rats: The role of subcellular organelle phenotype.

Background: Our group has previously shown that short-term treatment (48 h) with esmolol reduces left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). However, we do not know the mechanism that explain this effect. The aim of this study was to assess the role that the subcellular organelle phenotype plays in early cardiac reverse after short-term treatment with esmolol.

Impact of a Multichannel Blocker in Attenuating Intramyocardial Artery Remodeling in Hypertensive Rats through Increased Nitric Oxide Bioavailability.

Dronedarone is recommended for the treatment of atrial fibrillation. However, we do not know its effect on vascular remodeling. This study was designed to assess whether dronedarone has the potential to improve the intramyocardial artery remodeling induced by chronic hypertension.

The protective effect of dronedarone on the structure and mechanical properties of the aorta in hypertensive rats by decreasing the concentration of symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA).

Background And Aims: Dronedarone is a new multichannel-blocking antiarrhythmic for the treatment of patients with atrial fibrillation. Our group has demonstrated that dronedarone produces regression of cardiac remodeling; however, its effect on the remodeling of the elastic arteries has not yet been reported. We aim to assess the effects of dronedarone on the regression of thoracic aortic remodeling in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs).

Plasma protein thiolation index (PTI) as a potential biomarker for left ventricular hypertrophy in humans.

Background: Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) has been associated with oxidative stress, although not with the protein thiolation index (PTI). This study explored the potential use of PTI as a biomarker of oxidative stress in patients with LVH.

Methods: We recruited 70 consecutive patients (n = 35 LVH and n = 35 non-LVH) based on an echocardiography study in our institution (left ventricular mass indexed to body surface area).

Dronedarone induces regression of coronary artery remodeling related to better global antioxidant status.

Our group previously demonstrated that dronedarone induces regression of left ventricular hypertrophy in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). We assessed changes in vascular remodeling and oxidative stress following short-term use of this agent. The coronary artery was isolated from 10-month-old male SHRs treated with 100 mg kg dronedarone once daily for 14 days (SHR-D group), and age-matched untreated SHRs were used as hypertensive controls.

Short-Term Treatment with Esmolol Reverses Left Ventricular Hypertrophy in Adult Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats via Inhibition of Akt/NF-B and NFATc4.

Our group has previously demonstrated that short-term treatment with esmolol reduces left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). The present study aimed to assess the molecular mechanisms related to this effect. Fourteen-month-old male SHR were treated intravenously with saline as vehicle (SHR) or esmolol (SHR-E) (300 g/kg/min).

Dronedarone produces early regression of myocardial remodelling in structural heart disease.

Background And Aims: Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in hypertension is associated with a greater risk of sustained supraventricular/atrial arrhythmias. Dronedarone is an antiarrhythmic agent that was recently approved for the treatment of atrial fibrillation. However, its effect on early regression of LVH has not been reported.

Adverse remodeling of the obtuse marginal artery in compensatory hypertrophied myocardium from spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Background: Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) serve as a model of genetic hypertension. Adverse remodeling of a coronary artery has been reported in SHR. This model is used to study new therapies in regression vascular remodeling.

Short-term esmolol attenuates remodeling of the thoracic aorta in hypertensive rats by decreasing concentrations of ADMA down-regulated by oxidative stress.

Esmolol produces early regression of left ventricular hypertrophy and improves coronary artery remodeling, although the impact of short-term treatment with this beta-blocker on remodeling in large arteries has not yet been studied. We hypothesized that even a short (48h) course of esmolol might alter remodeling of the aorta in the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR). Fourteen-month-old male SHRs were treated intravenously with vehicle (SHR, n=8) or esmolol (SHR-E, n=8) (300μg/kg/min).

Corrigendum to "Effects of Sevoflurane and Propofol on Organ Blood Flow in Left Ventricular Assist Devices in Pigs".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2015/898373.].

Early regression of coronary artery remodeling with esmolol and DDAH/ADMA pathway in hypertensive rats.

Our preclinical study demonstrated that esmolol produces early regression of left ventricular hypertrophy in arterial hypertension. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of short-term esmolol therapy on the regression of left anterior descending artery remodeling in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs), and to determine whether the asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA)/dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase (DDAH) pathway, a regulator of nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability, accounted for this regression. Fourteen-month-old male SHRs were treated intravenously with vehicle (SHR, n=15) or esmolol (SHR-E, n=20) (300 μg kg min).

Does the ADMA/DDAH/NO pathway modulate early regression of left ventricular hypertrophy with esmolol?

Hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a maladaptive response to chronic pressure overload and a strong independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Regression of LVH is associated with improved prognosis. Regression of LVH with antihypertensive therapy (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, and diuretics) has been reported, although only after long-term treatment.

Effects of Sevoflurane and Propofol on Organ Blood Flow in Left Ventricular Assist Devices in Pigs.

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of sevoflurane and propofol on organ blood flow in a porcine model with a left ventricular assist device (LVAD). Ten healthy minipigs were divided into 2 groups (5 per group) according to the anesthetic received (sevoflurane or propofol). A Biomedicus centrifugal pump was implanted.

Short-term esmolol improves coronary artery remodeling in spontaneously hypertensive rats through increased nitric oxide bioavailability and superoxide dismutase activity.

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of short-term esmolol therapy on coronary artery structure and function and plasma oxidative stress in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). For this purpose, 14-month-old male SHR were treated for 48 hours with esmolol (SHR-E, 300  μ g/kg/min). Age-matched untreated male SHR and Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY) were used as hypertensive and normotensive controls, respectively.

Does the epiphyseal cartilage of the long bones have one or two ossification fronts?

Epiphyseal cartilage is hyaline cartilage tissue with a gelatinous texture, and it is responsible for the longitudinal growth of the long bones in birds and mammals. It is located between the epiphysis and the diaphysis. Epiphyseal cartilage also is called a growth plate or physis.

Can 18F-FDG-PET show differences in myocardial metabolism between Wistar Kyoto rats and spontaneously hypertensive rats?

Positron emission tomography (PET) is useful for evaluating the cardiac metabolism of free fatty acid, glucose and oxygen both in human clinical practice and in experimental animal models. However, no data are available for such an evaluation in a model of stable compensated left ventricular hypertrophy in 14-month-old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). This study was designed to assess the metabolism of myocardial glucose in SHRs using 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose ((18)F-FDG) using PET.

[Hip Joint phylogenesis. Phenotypic plasticity. Lamarckian or Darwinian paradigm? Part II].

Objective: The aim of this work is to analyse the origin of phenotypic plastic changes into a biologic structure, in this case the hip. As a hypothesis of the work, the possibility that changes could be explained following the Lamarckian paradigm, opposed to the Darwinian paradigm, is shown. The section material and methods of this work have been published in part I.

Early regression of left ventricular hypertrophy after treatment with esmolol in an experimental rat model of primary hypertension.

Certain β-adrenergic blockers have proven useful in the regression of ventricular remodeling when administered as long-term treatment. However, early regression of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) has not been reported, following short-term administration of these drugs. We tested the hypothesis that short-term administration of the cardioselective β-blocker esmolol induces early regression of LVH in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR).

Contribution to the initial pathodynamics of hip luxation in young rats.

Background: An anatomo-functional system has been described for the normal hip of some young mammals. This system includes the ligamentum teres, the transverse acetabular ligament, and the meniscoid of the hip.

Purpose: This report analyzes morphologic changes in the anatomo-functional system of young rats in an experimental model of hip luxation, and on the initial pathodynamics of luxation produced experimentally.

Severe hypoxaemia with a left ventricular assist device in a minipig model with an undiagnosed congenital cardiac disease.

We describe the placement of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) in a pig with spontaneously occurring atrial septal defect (ASD) (incidental finding) that created a right-left cardiac shunt, with subsequent severe hypoxaemia. Early diagnosis was critical in order to prevent end-organ damage due to hypoxaemia. Adequate monitoring alerted us to the deterioration in oxygenation, haemodynamics and cerebral oxygen metabolism.

An approach to comparative anatomy of the acetabulum from amphibians to primates.

The objective of this study was to investigate the anatomy, both macroscopic and microscopic, of the soft tissue internal structures of the hip joint in animal species and in three human hips (an adult and two fetuses). We dissected the hip joints of 16 species and compared the anatomical features of the soft tissue from the respective acetabula. In addition, a histological study was made of the specimens studied.

Liver growth factor treatment restores cell-extracellular matrix balance in resistance arteries and improves left ventricular hypertrophy in SHR.

Liver growth factor (LGF) is an endogenous albumin-bilirubin complex with antihypertensive effects in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). We assessed the actions of LGF treatment on SHR mesenteric resistance and intramyocardial arteries (MRA and IMA, respectively), heart, and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). SHR and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats treated with vehicle or LGF (4.

Evolutional patterns of articular cartilage following growth plate injury in rats.

Background: No study to date has analyzed the damage of the articular cartilage and its relation to growth plate injury. The purpose of this study was to test whether primary injury to the growth plate contributes to secondary damage to the articular cartilage in rats.

Methods: A total of 109 two-week-old male Wistar rats were allocated to four lesional groups.

Prolactin's role in the early stages of liver regeneration in rats.

Liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy (PHx) is a complex process that is regulated by hemodynamic changes, the modulation of cytokines and growth factors, and the activation of immediate early transcription factors that lead to a round of hepatocyte mitosis. Among the factors involved, the pituitary hormone prolactin (PRL) has been shown to induce a hepatotrophic response after partial hepatectomy similar to that caused by phorbol esters; and in isolated hepatocytes PRL triggers a mitogenic response. However, it is becoming clear that PRL exerts a dual role acting in proliferation and differentiation processes.