Ancillary subunits KChIP2c and DPP6 differentially modulate the inhibition of Kv4.2 channels by riluzole.

In native tissue, Kv4.2 channels associate with the ancillary subunits Kv channels interacting proteins (KChIPs) and dipeptidyl peptidase-related proteins (DPPs) to evoke rapidly activating/inactivating currents in the heart (I) and brain (I). Despite extensive knowledge of Kv4.

Genetic and evolutionary divergence of harbour seals () in Iliamna Lake, Alaska.

Freshwater populations of typically marine species present unique opportunities to investigate biodiversity, evolutionary divergence, and the adaptive potential and niche width of species. A few pinniped species have populations that reside solely in freshwater. The harbour seals inhabiting Iliamna Lake, Alaska constitute one such population.

Spontaneously ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma on non-cirrhotic liver: A prospective case series.

Background And Aims: Spontaneous ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma is an uncommon complication, and there are scarce data about non-cirrhotic patients. Tumor treatment is not standardized and the risk of peritoneal dissemination is unclear.

Aim: we analyzed the treatment and survival in patients with rHCC on non-cirrhotic liver.

Differential voltage-dependent modulation of the ACh-gated K+ current by adenosine and acetylcholine.

Inhibitory regulation of the heart is determined by both cholinergic M2 receptors (M2R) and adenosine A1 receptors (A1R) that activate the same signaling pathway, the ACh-gated inward rectifier K+ (KACh) channels via Gi/o proteins. Previously, we have shown that the agonist-specific voltage sensitivity of M2R underlies several voltage-dependent features of IKACh, including the 'relaxation' property, which is characterized by a gradual increase or decrease of the current when cardiomyocytes are stepped to hyperpolarized or depolarized voltages, respectively. However, it is unknown whether membrane potential also affects A1R and how this could impact IKACh.

Kir4.1/Kir5.1 channels possess strong intrinsic inward rectification determined by a voltage-dependent K+-flux gating mechanism.

Inwardly rectifying potassium (Kir) channels are broadly expressed in both excitable and nonexcitable tissues, where they contribute to a wide variety of cellular functions. Numerous studies have established that rectification of Kir channels is not an inherent property of the channel protein itself, but rather reflects strong voltage dependence of channel block by intracellular cations, such as polyamines and Mg2+. Here, we identify a previously unknown mechanism of inward rectification in Kir4.

Riluzole inhibits Kv4.2 channels acting on the closed and closed inactivated states.

Riluzole is an anticonvulsant drug also used to treat the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and major depressive disorder. This compound has antiglutamatergic activity and is an important multichannel blocker. However, little is known about its actions on the Kv4.

Inhibitory effect of terfenadine on Kir2.1 and Kir2.3 channels.

Terfenadine is a second-generation H1-antihistamine that despite potentially can produce severe side effects it has recently gained attention due to its anticancer properties. Lately, the subfamily 2 of inward rectifier potassium channels (Kir2) has been implicated in the progression of some tumoral processes. Hence, we characterized the effects of terfenadine on Kir2.

Group structure and kinship in beluga whale societies.

Evolutionary explanations for mammalian sociality typically center on inclusive-fitness benefits of associating and cooperating with close kin, or close maternal kin as in some whale societies, including killer and sperm whales. Their matrilineal structure has strongly influenced the thinking about social structure in less well-studied cetaceans, including beluga whales. In a cross-sectional study of group structure and kinship we found that belugas formed a limited number of distinct group types, consistently observed across populations and habitats.

Voltage-induced structural modifications on M2 muscarinic receptor and their functional implications when interacting with the superagonist iperoxo.

It has been reported that muscarinic type-2 receptors (M2R) are voltage sensitive in an agonist-specific manner. In this work, we studied the effects of membrane potential on the interaction of M2R with the superagonist iperoxo (IXO), both functionally (using the activation of the ACh-gated K current (I) in cardiomyocytes) and by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. We found that IXO activated I with remarkable high potency and clear voltage dependence, displaying a larger effect at the hyperpolarized potential.

Persistent Mü̈llerian duct syndrome in a beluga whale Delphinapterus leucas.

This case study describes a persistent Mü̈llerian duct syndrome (PMDS), a rare form of XY disorder of sex development (DSD), in a mature (>15 yr) beluga whale Delphinapterus leucas. The phenotypically and genetically male beluga whale had both Mü̈llerian (paramesonephric) and Wolffian (mesonephric) duct derivatives. A mild hydrometra was present.

Anxiety is the cause of the worse outcomes of allergic patients after total knee arthroplasty.

Purpose: The presence of allergies has been proposed as a risk factor for worse outcomes in total knee arthroplasty surgery. The aim of this study is to evaluate if the presence of some psychiatric disorders is more frequent in patients who report allergies and if they could be the main cause for the worse outcomes.

Methods: A prospective study, including patients undergoing a primary total knee arthroplasty, was designed.

Review and Evaluation of MAC Protocols for Satellite IoT Systems Using Nanosatellites.

Extending the internet of things (IoT) networks to remote areas under extreme conditions or for serving sometimes unpredictable mobile applications has increased the need for satellite technology to provide effective connectivity. However, existent medium access control (MAC) protocols deployed in commercial satellite networks were not designed to offer scalable solutions for the increasing number of devices predicted for IoT in the near future, nor do they consider other specific IoT characteristics. In particular, CubeSats-a low-cost solution for space technology-have the potential to become a wireless access network for the IoT, if additional requirements, including simplicity and low demands in processing, storage, and energy consumption are incorporated into MAC protocol design for satellite IoT systems.

Positive selection in coding regions and motif duplication in regulatory regions of bottlenose dolphin MHC class II genes.

The vertebrate immune response is mediated through highly adaptive, quickly evolving cell surface receptors, the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). MHC molecules bind and present a diverse array of pathogenic molecules and trigger a cascade of defenses. Use of MHC variation as a marker for population health has also evolved quickly following advances in sequencing methods.

3D reconstruction does not improve agreement and results in an increase in surgical indications in proximal humeral fractures.

The objective of this study is to analyze the effect of different imaging modalities in treatment decision making in proximal humeral fractures. After evaluation of 116 consecutive proximal humeral fractures, observers were asked to give treatment recommendation (conservative vs. surgery).

Bridging immunogenetics and immunoproteomics: Model positional scanning library analysis for Major Histocompatibility Complex class II DQ in Tursiops truncatus.

The Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) is a critical element in mounting an effective immune response in vertebrates against invading pathogens. Studies of MHC in wildlife populations have typically focused on assessing diversity within the peptide binding regions (PBR) of the MHC class II (MHC II) family, especially the DQ receptor genes. Such metrics of diversity, however, are of limited use to health risk assessment since functional analyses (where changes in the PBR are correlated to recognition/pathologies of known pathogen proteins), are difficult to conduct in wildlife species.

Molecular determinants of Kv7.1/KCNE1 channel inhibition by amitriptyline.

Amitriptyline (AMIT) is a compound widely prescribed for psychiatric and non-psychiatric conditions including depression, migraine, chronic pain, and anorexia. However, AMIT has been associated with risks of cardiac arrhythmia and sudden death since it can induce prolongation of the QT interval on the surface electrocardiogram and torsade de pointes ventricular arrhythmia. These complications have been attributed to the inhibition of the rapid delayed rectifier potassium current (I).

Migratory culture, population structure and stock identity in North Pacific beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas).

The annual return of beluga whales, Delphinapterus leucas, to traditional seasonal locations across the Arctic may involve migratory culture, while the convergence of discrete summering aggregations on common wintering grounds may facilitate outbreeding. Natal philopatry and cultural inheritance, however, has been difficult to assess as earlier studies were of too short a duration, while genetic analyses of breeding patterns, especially across the beluga's Pacific range, have been hampered by inadequate sampling and sparse information on wintering areas. Using a much expanded sample and genetic marker set comprising 1,647 whales, spanning more than two decades and encompassing all major coastal summering aggregations in the Pacific Ocean, we found evolutionary-level divergence among three geographic regions: the Gulf of Alaska, the Bering-Chukchi-Beaufort Seas, and the Sea of Okhotsk (Φst = 0.

Inhibition of Kir4.1 potassium channels by quinacrine.

Inwardly rectifying potassium (Kir) channels are expressed in many cell types and contribute to a wide range of physiological processes. Particularly, Kir4.1 channels are involved in the astroglial spatial potassium buffering.

Chloroquine blocks the Kir4.1 channels by an open-pore blocking mechanism.

Kir4.1 channels have been implicated in various physiological processes, mainly in the K homeostasis of the central nervous system and in the control of glial function and neuronal excitability. Even though, pharmacological research of these channels is very limited.

Intimate partner violence among female drug users admitted to the general hospital: screening and prevalence.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a public health problem worldwide. Several factors have been found to be associated with an increased prevalence of IPV, such as substance use. A cross-sectional study was conducted with the aim of determining the prevalence of IPV among women entering Hospital del Mar (Barcelona) for any medical/surgical reason, and who had a diagnosis of substance use disorder.

Patient-reported allergies cause inferior outcomes after total knee arthroplasty.

Purpose: The main objective of this study was to analyse the outcomes after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) of a group of patients with at least one self-reported allergy and a group of patients without reported allergies. We hypothesized there is a significant negative influence on clinical outcome scores after TKA in patients with self-reported allergies.

Methods: Four-hundred and seventy-five patients who had undergone TKA were analysed preoperatively and 1 year after surgery.

Impact of the whole-cell patch-clamp configuration on the pharmacological assessment of the hERG channel: trazodone as a case example.

Introduction: Voltage- and state-dependent blocks are important mechanisms by which drugs affect voltage-gated ionic channels. However, spontaneous (i.e.

3-OST-7 regulates BMP-dependent cardiac contraction.

The 3-O-sulfotransferase (3-OST) family catalyzes rare modifications of glycosaminoglycan chains on heparan sulfate proteoglycans, yet their biological functions are largely unknown. Knockdown of 3-OST-7 in zebrafish uncouples cardiac ventricular contraction from normal calcium cycling and electrophysiology by reducing tropomyosin4 (tpm4) expression. Normal 3-OST-7 activity prevents the expansion of BMP signaling into ventricular myocytes, and ectopic activation of BMP mimics the ventricular noncontraction phenotype seen in 3-OST-7 depleted embryos.

Tamoxifen inhibition of kv7.2/kv7.3 channels.

KCNQ genes encode five Kv7 K(+) channel subunits (Kv7.1-Kv7.5).

Molecular mechanisms of chloroquine inhibition of heterologously expressed Kir6.2/SUR2A channels.

Chloroquine and related compounds can inhibit inwardly rectifying potassium channels by multiple potential mechanisms, including pore block and allosteric effects on channel gating. Motivated by reports that chloroquine inhibition of cardiac ATP-sensitive inward rectifier K(+) current (I(KATP)) is antifibrillatory in rabbit ventricle, we investigated the mechanism of chloroquine inhibition of ATP-sensitive potassium (K(ATP)) channels (Kir6.2/SUR2A) expressed in human embryonic kidney 293 cells, using inside-out patch-clamp recordings.