Lysophosphatidic acid and mesangial cells: implications for renal diseases.

The last decade has witnessed a phenomenal increase in our understanding of the biological role of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) and has led to an appreciation of this critical serum-derived growth factor released from platelets. We herein summarize recent observations that collectively support the hypothesis that LPA may play a key role in the pathogenesis of initiation and progression of proliferative glomerulonephritis. LPA synergistically stimulates mesangial cell proliferation in combination with platelet-derived growth factor in primary culture.

Efficacy of Sodium Tetrathiocarbonate and Propiconazole in Managing Armillaria Root Rot of Almond on Peach Rootstock.

The efficacy of sodium tetrathiocarbonate (STTC or Enzone 31.8%, a liquid formulation that releases carbon disulfide) and the demethylation inhibiting (DMI) fungicide propiconazole (Alamo 1.1EC) was evaluated for management of Armillaria root rot of almond grown on Lovell peach rootstock.

Important role of carotid afferents in control of breathing.

The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect on breathing in the awake state of carotid body denervation (CBD) over 1-2 wk after denervation. Studies were completed on adult goats repeatedly before and 1) for 15 days after bilateral CBD (n = 8), 2) for 7 days after unilateral CBD (n = 5), and 3) for 15 days after sham CBD (n = 3). Absence of ventilatory stimulation when NaCN was injected directly into a common carotid artery confirmed CBD.

Effect of Phosphite on Tomato and Pepper Plants and on Susceptibility of Pepper to Phytophthora Root and Crown Rot in Hydroponic Culture.

Tomato and pepper plants were grown hydroponically in a greenhouse using phosphate or technical and commercial formulations of phosphite as sources of phosphorus nutrition to determine the effects on plant development and susceptibility to Phytophthora root and crown rot. Phosphite-treated tomato and pepper plants were deficient of phosphate and developed phosphorus-deficiency symptoms. Growth of plants (leaf area and leaf, stem, and root dry weights) that were fertilized with phosphite was significantly (P < 0.

The pharmacokinetics of acetyl starch as a plasma volume expander in patients undergoing elective surgery.

Unlabelled: Acetyl starch (ACS) is a new synthetic colloid solution for plasma volume expansion and is now undergoing phase 2 clinical trials. We compared the pharmacokinetics of ACS with those of hydroxyethyl starch (HES) in 32 patients (ASA physical status I and II) undergoing elective surgery. In this randomized, double-blind trial, patients received either 15 mL/kg ACS 6% (average molecular weight [Mw] 200,000/molar substitution [MS] 0.

Breathing of awake goats during prolonged dysfunction of caudal M ventrolateral medullary neurons.

Cooling the caudal M ventrolateral medullary (VLM) surface for 30 s results in a sustained apnea in anesthetized goats but only a 30% decrease in breathing in awake goats. The purpose of the present study was to determine, in the awake state, the effect of prolonged (minutes, hours) caudal M neuronal dysfunction on eupneic breathing and CO2 sensitivity. Dysfunction was created by ejecting excitatory amino acid receptor antagonists or a neurotoxin on the VLM surface through guide tubes chronically implanted bilaterally on a 10- to 12-mm2 portion of the caudal M VLM surface of 12 goats.

[Various reactions of sevoflurane with the individual components of soda lime].

The various components of commercial soda lime (sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, barium hydroxide) were studied in terms of their reactivity with sevoflurane at its boiling point (59 degrees C). A simple closed system, a reflux cooler, served as a model. Analyses were performed by GC/MS.

[Causes for the reaction between dry soda lime and halogenated inhalation anesthetics].

All volatile anesthetics undergo chemical breakdown to multiple, partly identified degradation products in the presence of dry soda lime. These chemical reactions are highly exothermic, ranging from 100 degrees C for halothane to 120 degrees C for sevoflurane. The increase in temperature correlates with the moisture content of the soda lime, being maximal below 5%.

Effect on breathing of surface ventrolateral medullary cooling in awake, anesthetized and asleep goats.

In adult and neonatal goats, we chronically implanted thermodes on the ventrolateral (VLM) medullary surface to create reversible neuronal dysfunction and thereby gain insight into the role of superficial VLM neurons in control of breathing in anesthetized, awake and asleep states. Consistent with data of others, cooling caudal area M and rostral area S caused sustained apnea under anesthesia. However, in the awake and NREM sleep states, cooling at this site caused only a modest reduction in breathing, indicating that neurons at this site are not critical for respiratory rhythm in these states.

Lysophosphatidic acid and platelet-derived growth factor synergistically stimulate growth of cultured rat mesangial cells.

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a structurally simple, platelet-derived phospholipid, capable of eliciting a variety of physiological responses. We have demonstrated previously that LPA elicited a marked contractile response in rat mesangial cells (Inoue CN, Forster HG, Epstein M. Circ Res 77:888-896, 1995).

A new PhD training track: a proposal to improve basic science teaching.

There has been increasing criticism of medical basic science teaching; much of this has focused on overcrowding of the curriculum, inadequate application to clinical medicine, and the limited commitment of the faculty to teach. We have analyzed some of the factors that may contribute to these complaints, such as the fragmentation of physiology and the conflicting roles of the medical basic scientist. We have also reviewed some previous suggestions for improving basic science teaching.

Video-microscopic assessment of the role of tissue angiotensin-converting enzyme in the control of the renal microcirculation.

In the present study, we assessed the role of tissue angiotensin-converting enzyme as a determinant of intrarenal hemodynamics by using the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor trandolaprilat and the angiotensin II receptor antagonist losartan. Afferent and efferent arteriolar diameters were measured with computer-assisted vessel imaging in isolated perfused hydronephrotic rat kidneys. In response to the addition of 1.

Arginine vasopressin interacts with thromboxane in hydronephrosis.

The influence of hydronephrosis (6-10 wk) on the renal vascular response to arginine vasopressin (AVP) was assessed, using isolated perfused normal and hydronephrotic rat kidneys. In normal kidneys, AVP (0.3 nM) reduced renal perfusate flow (RPF) by 55 +/- 7% (P < 0.

Impairment of afferent arteriolar myogenic responsiveness in the galactose-fed rat is prevented by tolrestat.

By permitting the separation of increased aldose reductase activity from hyperglycaemia and insulin deficiency, galactose-fed rats have constituted a useful model for investigating diabetic complications. Such rats manifest an impaired afferent arteriolar responsiveness to pressure similar to that of rats 4 to 6 weeks after induction of diabetes with streptozotocin. In the present study, we investigated whether treatment of galactose-fed rats with the aldose reductase inhibitor tolrestat prevent this autoregulatory defect and whether the blunted afferent arteriolar responsiveness to pressure is associated with impaired responsiveness to angiotensin II.

Effects of cooling the ventrolateral medulla on diaphragm activity during NREM sleep.

Dysfunction through cooling of neurons near the ventrolateral medullary (VLM) surface results in apnea in the anesthetized state, whereas similar neuronal dysfunction in the awake state only modestly decreases breathing. The purpose of this study was to investigate effects on breathing, as measured by diaphragm electromyogram (EMGdi), of VLM neuronal dysfunction during NREM sleep, a naturally occurring change in state. In six goats, thermodes for cooling were chronically implanted between the first hypoglossal rootlet and the pontomedullary junction (area M and area S).

Effect on breathing of ventral medullary surface cooling in neonatal goats.

The present study was designed to determine whether neurons near the ventral medullary surface (VMS) that are important to control of breathing in adult mammals are also important to control of breathing in neonates. In 7-day-old goats (n = 22), the VMS was surgically exposed under halothane anesthesia. Stainless steel thermodes (2 x 2 mm) were used to cool (20 degrees C) and thereby create neuronal dysfunction of discrete VMS sites.

The effect of human growth hormone therapy on L-(methyl-2H3)-leucine turnover and urinary pseudouridine concentration in patients with Ullrich-Turner syndrome.

Unlabelled: The effect of daily human growth hormone (hGH) injections (3 I.U./m2/day) on tissue anabolism was determined in six patients with Ullrich-Turner syndrome (XO) (8.