Spectral Properties of Schrödinger Operators Associated with Almost Minimal Substitution Systems.

We study the spectral properties of ergodic Schrödinger operators that are associated with a certain family of non-primitive substitutions on a binary alphabet. The corresponding subshifts provide examples of dynamical systems that go beyond minimality, unique ergodicity and linear complexity. In some parameter region, we are naturally in the setting of an infinite ergodic measure.

Neuroprotective and antioxidative effects of pioglitazone in brain tissue adjacent to the ischemic core are mediated by PI3K/Akt and Nrf2/ARE pathways.

The present study elucidates the neuroprotective mechanisms of the PPARγ (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ) agonist pioglitazone in survival of ischemic neurons following middle cerebral artery occlusion with reperfusion (MCAO). Intracerebroventricular infusion of pioglitazone over 5 days before and 24 or 48 h after MCAO alleviated neurological impairments, inhibited apoptosis 24 h, and activated the PI3K/Akt pathway along with increased phosphorylation of Akt (ser473) and GSK-3β (ser9) in the peri-infarct cortical areas 48 h after MCAO. In primary cortical neurons, pioglitazone suppressed the glutamate-induced release of lactate dehydrogenase by a PPARγ-dependent mechanism.

Spontaneous "pneumo-apoplexy" as a presentation of pituitary adenoma.

Cases of spontaneous CSF leak associated with pituitary tumor apoplexy are uncommon in the literature with pneumocephalus or pneumosella being rare, especially spontaneous occurrence of pneumocephalus being extremely rare. We present a case of pituitary macroadenoma apoplexy resulting in spontaneous CSF leak and a large volume of intra-tumoral gas. A 65-year-old female presented with severe headache, profuse rhinorrhea and acute vision loss and was found to have a large sellar and suprasellar lesion with air and hemorrhage with mild peripheral enhancement.

Neuroprotective effects of AT1 receptor antagonists after experimental ischemic stroke: what is important?

The present study conducted in rats defines the requirements for neuroprotective effects of systemically administered AT1 receptor blockers (ARBs) in acute ischaemic stroke. The inhibition of central effects to angiotensin II (ANG II) after intravenous (i.v.

Mitochondrial uncoupling proteins regulate angiotensin-converting enzyme expression: crosstalk between cellular and endocrine metabolic regulators suggested by RNA interference and genetic studies.

Uncoupling proteins (UCPs) regulate mitochondrial function, and thus cellular metabolism. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) is the central component of endocrine and local tissue renin-angiotensin systems (RAS), which also regulate diverse aspects of whole-body metabolism and mitochondrial function (partly through altering mitochondrial UCP expression). We show that ACE expression also appears to be regulated by mitochondrial UCPs.

Mitochondrial uncoupling proteins regulate angiotensin-converting enzyme expression: crosstalk between cellular and endocrine metabolic regulators suggested by RNA interference and genetic studies.

Uncoupling proteins (UCPs) regulate mitochondrial function, and thus cellular metabolism. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) is the central component of endocrine and local tissue renin-angiotensin systems (RAS), which also regulate diverse aspects of whole-body metabolism and mitochondrial function (partly through altering mitochondrial UCP expression). We show that ACE expression also appears to be mitochondrial UCPs.

Omapatrilat: penetration across the blood-brain barrier and effects on ischaemic stroke in rats.

Omapatrilat (OMA), which simultaneously inhibits the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and the neutral endopeptidase (neprilysin (NEP)), is widely used in experimental protocols related to hypertension and heart failure. The penetration of OMA across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and the effects of ACE/NEP inhibition on the recovery from ischaemic stroke have not yet been investigated. Angiotensin (Ang) I injected intracerebroventricularly (ICV) or intravenously (IV) is converted to Ang II by ACE and induces an immediate increase in blood pressure.

Practical anatomy of the central skull base region.

The central skull base region represents a complex intersection between the intracranial compartment, the osseous foundation of the skull base, the orbits, the paranasal sinuses, and the suprahyoid neck. A modern radiologic approach to this region should take into account the 3-dimensional complexity of the region as well as the cross-sectional anatomical detail available to today's radiologist. This analytical approach should permit identification of lesional anatomical subsites, establishment of lesional origins, and allow for an anatomy-based differential diagnosis.

Treatment of rats with pioglitazone in the reperfusion phase of focal cerebral ischemia: a preclinical stroke trial.

Thiazolidinediones (TZDs), pioglitazone, rosiglitazone and troglitazone, the synthetic agonists for the PPARγ, administered prior or during ischemic insult improve stroke outcome in rodents, post-occlusion treatments yielded inconsistent results. In the present experiments carried out according to the Stroke Therapy Academic Industry Roundtable (STAIR) guidelines, we studied the effects of post-ischemic pioglitazone treatment on the outcome of focal cerebral ischemia, inflammatory and apoptotic processes, neuronal degeneration and regeneration, blood pressure, heart rate and physiological variables in blood. Male Wistar rats were subjected to a 90 min middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO).

Activation of cerebral peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors γ (PPARγ) reduces neuronal damage in the substantia nigra after transient focal cerebral ischaemia in the rat.

Aim: The function of brain (neuronal) peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor(s) γ (PPARγ) in the delayed degeneration and loss of neurones in the substantia nigra (SN) was studied in rats after transient occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCAO).

Methods: The PPARγ agonist, pioglitazone, or vehicle was infused intracerebroventricularly over a 5-day period before, during and 5 days after MCAO (90 min). The neuronal degeneration in the SN pars reticularis (SNr) and pars compacta (SNc), the analysis of the number of tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive (TH-IR) neurones and the expression of the PPARγ in these neurones were studied by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence staining.

Peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptors gamma and peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptors beta/delta and the regulation of interleukin 1 receptor antagonist expression by pioglitazone in ischaemic brain.

Objective: The imbalance between the production and release of interleukin-1 (IL-1) ligands, IL-1alpha, IL-1beta and IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) in ischaemic brain exaggerates inflammatory responses and contributes to neuronal death. Cerebral ischaemia also upregulates the peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) gamma. We studied in rats the effects of the PPARgamma agonist, pioglitazone, on the regulation of IL-1beta, IL-1ra and IL-1 receptor I (IL-1RI) expression in ischaemic brain after occlusion of the middle cerebral artery for 90 min.

The receptor tyrosine kinase MerTK regulates dendritic cell production of BAFF.

The MerTK receptor tyrosine kinase is an important negative regulator of dendritic cell function and is required to prevent B cell autoimmunity in vivo. It is not currently known however, if any causal relationship exists between these two aspects of MerTK function. We sought to determine if dendritic cells (DC) from mice lacking MerTK (mertk(- / - ) mice) have characteristics that may aid in the development of B cell autoimmunity.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptorsgamma (PPARgamma) differently modulate the interleukin-6 expression in the peri-infarct cortical tissue in the acute and delayed phases of cerebral ischaemia.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) exerts neuroprotective effects after cerebral ischaemia but can also exacerbate inflammation and induce neuronal death. The current study investigates the role of cerebral peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor(s) gamma (PPARgamma) in the regulation of IL-6 expression in the peri-infarct cortical tissue in rats exposed to focal cerebral ischaemia. Pioglitazone, a high-affinity PPARgamma ligand, was infused intracerebroventricularly (i.

Haplotype of growth hormone and angiotensin I-converting enzyme genes, serum angiotensin I-converting enzyme and ventricular growth: pathway inference in pharmacogenetics.

Objectives: An insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism in the angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) gene is associated with variations in circulating and tissue angiotensin I-converting enzyme activity, and differences in exercise-induced left ventricular hypertrophic response. A genetic marker (CSH1.01) in the syntenic GH-CSH gene cluster correlates with metabolic syndrome in adult life in males.

PPAR-gamma: therapeutic target for ischemic stroke.

The peroxisome proliferator activated receptors (PPARs), which belong to the nuclear receptor superfamily, are key regulators of glucose and fat metabolism. The PPAR-gamma isoform is involved in the regulation of cellular glucose uptake, protection against atherosclerosis and control of immune reactions. In addition, the activation of PPAR-gamma effectively attenuates neurodegenerative and inflammatory processes in the brain.

Lack of change in serum angiotensin-converting enzyme activity during the menstrual cycle.

Introduction: The Deletion (D) rather than Insertion (I) variant of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene is associated with higher circulating ACE activity. Meanwhile, coronary risk rises with the menstrual nadir in oestrogen levels, exogenous oestrogen reduces serum ACE activity (with a greater reduction the higher the baseline ACE activity), and pharmacological reduction in ACE activity is cardioprotective. Alterations in coronary risk associated with the menstrual cycle may thus be mediated through (genotype-dependent) changes in ACE activity.

The impact of ACE genotype on serum ACE activity in a black South African male population.

The strong association between the angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) gene I/D polymorphism with serum ACE activity appears lacking in Nigerians and Kenyans, but has not previously been well assessed in others of African origin. This study addressed this issue in an ethnically well defined black South African population. A putative association for the A22982G ACE gene variant, a QTL likely to impact on serum ACE activity, was also sought.

Comparison between early and delayed systemic treatment with candesartan of rats after ischaemic stroke.

Objective: The effects of candesartan treatment starting early (3 h) and delayed (24 h) after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) with reperfusion was investigated in normotensive rats.

Methods: Subcutaneous treatment with candesartan (0.3 and 3 mg/kg) or vehicle was initiated 3 or 24 h after the onset of MCAO and continued for seven consecutive days (n=20 per group and timepoint).

No correlation between circulating ACE activity and VO2max or mechanical efficiency in women.

The insertion (I) variant of the angiotensin-1 converting enzyme (ACE) I/D genetic polymorphism is associated with lower circulating and tissue ACE activity. Some studies have also suggested associations of ACE I/D genotype with endurance phenotypes. This study assessed the relationships between circulating ACE activity, ACE I/D genotype, mechanical efficiency and the maximal rate of oxygen uptake in sedentary individuals.

Activation of cerebral peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors gamma promotes neuroprotection by attenuation of neuronal cyclooxygenase-2 overexpression after focal cerebral ischemia in rats.

Up-regulation of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 exacerbates neuronal injury after cerebral ischemia and contributes to neuronal cell death. The present study clarifies the function of cerebral peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor(s) gamma (PPARgamma) in the expression of COX-2 in neurons of the rat brain after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) with reperfusion by immunohistochemistry, Western blot, and immunofluorescence staining. In peri-infarct cortical areas the PPARgamma was located in both microglia and neurons, whereas COX-2 was almost exclusively expressed in neurons.

Acute blood pressure effects and chronic hypotensive action of calcimimetics in uremic rats.

A previous study in subtotally nephrectomized (SNX) rats suggested beneficial effects of the calcimimetic R-568 beyond the control of mineral metabolism. This study analyzed potential blood pressure (BP)-lowering effects of R-568. Male Sprague-Dawley rats received two-stage subtotal nephrectomy or sham operation.

Low-dose lithium combined with captopril prevents stroke and improves survival in salt-loaded, stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Objective: A number of potential interactions between angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and lithium have been described in the literature. In the present study, we investigated the effects of a low-dose combination treatment with lithium and captopril on survival and stroke prevention in salt-loaded, stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP).

Methods: Eight-week-old saline-drinking SHRSP (n = 21 per group) were treated with vehicle, LiCl (1 mmol/kg per day), captopril (25 mg/kg per day) and captopril plus LiCl for up to 37 weeks.

The intracerebral application of the PPARgamma-ligand pioglitazone confers neuroprotection against focal ischaemia in the rat brain.

The present study addresses the neuroprotective function of intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.

No association between Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) gene variation and endurance athlete status in Kenyans.

East African runners are continually successful in international distance running. The extent to which genetic factors influence this phenomenon is unknown. The insertion (I) rather than deletion (D) of a 287 bp fragment in the human angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene is associated with lower circulating and tissue ACE activity and with endurance performance amongst Caucasians.

Circulating angiotensin converting enzyme activity is correlated with muscle strength.

Purpose: The D-variant of the angiotensin-1 converting enzyme (ACE) gene is associated with higher circulating and tissue ACE activity. Some studies have suggested a similar association of genotype with muscle strength or the gain in strength in response to training. This study has assessed the relationship between circulating ACE activity, strength, and the response to training.