Treatment with bone morphogenetic protein 2 limits infarct size after myocardial infarction in mice.

Various strategies have been devised to reduce the clinical consequences of myocardial infarction, including acute medical care, revascularization, stem cell transplantations, and more recently, prevention of cardiomyocyte cell death. Activation of embryonic signaling pathways is a particularly interesting option to complement these strategies and to improve the functional performance and survival rate of cardiomyocytes. Here, we have concentrated on bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2), which induces ectopic formation of beating cardiomyocytes during development in the mesoderm and protects neonatal cardiomyocytes from ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Myricetin reduces voltage activated potassium channel currents in DRG neurons by a p38 dependent mechanism.

Myricetin is a naturally occurring flavonoid known for its anti-neoplastic, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Currently, potential analgesic effects are proposed for several animal models of acute and chronic pain. Pilot studies show a flavonoid-induced modulation of intracellular mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) as p38 and interactions with voltage activated potassium channel currents (I(K(V))).

Anti-allodynic effect of the flavonoid myricetin in a rat model of neuropathic pain: Involvement of p38 and protein kinase C mediated modulation of Ca²+ channels.

Flavonoids are increasingly ingested by the population as chemotherapeutic and anti-inflammatory agents. Myricetin is a naturally occurring flavonoid known for its anti-neoplastic and anti-inflammatory effects. Recently, behavioral studies indicate a potential analgesic effect in animal models of pain.

Sister chromatid exchange frequency in cultured isolated porcine urinary bladder epithelial cells (PUBEC) treated with ochratoxin A and alpha.

The mycotoxin ochratoxin A (OTA) and its metabolite ochratoxin alpha (OT-alpha) were investigated, to examine their potency to induce sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) in cultured porcine urinary bladder epithelial cells (PUBEC) (primary culture). Serum-free cultured PUBEC were incubated for 5 h with either OTA or OT-alpha, respectively, and subsequently cultured in the presence of 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU). After two cell cycles, mitosis was inhibited by the colchicine derivative Colcemid, cells were fixed and chromosomes were prepared for SCE analysis.

Fate and effects of the alpha-glucosidase inhibitor acarbose in humans. An intestinal slow-marker perfusion study.

The alpha-glucosidase inhibitor acarbose has been successfully used in diabetic patients to decrease the postprandial rise in blood glucose. The aim of the present experiments was to investigate the fate and effects of acarbose along the small intestine using a slow-marker perfusion technique. In 8 healthy volunteers, jejunal and ileal loads of acarbose, glucose, and total carbohydrates were determined following a liquid, 400-kcal formula meal containing either 200 mg of acarbose or placebo.