Inducible over-expression of cardiac Nos1ap causes short QT syndrome in transgenic mice.

Recent evidence demonstrated that alterations in the QT interval duration on the ECG are not only determined by mutations in genes for ion channels, but also by modulators of ion channels. Changes in the QT interval duration beyond certain thresholds are pathological and can lead to sudden cardiac death. We here focus on the ion channel modulator nitric oxide synthase 1 adaptor protein (Nos1ap).

Experimental Cardiorenal Syndrome Type 3: What Is Known so Far?

Background: The concept of cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) has been established more than 10 years ago. Five distinct types of CRS have been defined. In CRS type 3, acute kidney injury (AKI) induces cardiac complications such as ventricular decompensation due to arrhythmias, myocardial ischemia, or fluid retention with or without arterial hypertension.

Exploring European Heavy Goods Vehicle Crashes Using a Three-Level Analysis of Crash Data.

Heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) are involved in 4.5% of police-reported road crashes in Europe and 14.2% of fatal road crashes.

Senescent murine femoral arteries undergo vascular remodelling associated with accelerated stress-induced contractility and reactivity to nitric oxide.

This work explored the mechanism of augmented stress-induced vascular reactivity of senescent murine femoral arteries (FAs). Mechanical and pharmacological reactivity of young (12-25 weeks, y-FA) and senescent (>104 weeks, s-FAs) femoral arteries was measured by wire myography. Expression and protein phosphorylation of selected regulatory proteins were studied by western blotting.

Secondary Prevention of Potentially Life-Threatening Arrhythmia Using Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators in Patients with Biopsy-Proven Viral Myocarditis and Preserved Ejection Fraction.

Background: Arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death (SCD) are known complications of acute viral myocarditis, regardless of ejection fraction (EF) at presentation. Whether such complications confer long-term risk is unknown, especially in those who present with preserved left ventricular (LV) function. No guidelines exist to the long-term reduction of arrhythmic death in such patients.

Nuclear calcineurin is a sensor for detecting Ca release from the nuclear envelope via IPR.

In continuously beating cells like cardiac myocytes, there are rapid alterations of cytosolic Ca levels. We therefore hypothesize that decoding Ca signals for hypertrophic signaling requires intracellular Ca microdomains that are partly independent from cytosolic Ca. Furthermore, there is a need for a Ca sensor within these microdomains that translates Ca signals into hypertrophic signaling.

Generation of advanced fire blight-resistant apple (Malus × domestica) selections of the fifth generation within 7 years of applying the early flowering approach.

The approach presented here can be applied to reduce the time needed to introduce traits from wild apples into null segregant advanced selections by one-fourth. Interesting traits like resistances to pathogens are often found within the wild apple gene pool. However, the long juvenile phase of apple seedlings hampers the rapid introduction of these traits into new cultivars.

Activation of the pro-migratory bone morphogenetic protein receptor 1B gene in human MDA-MB-468 triple-negative breast cancer cells that over-express CYP2J2.

Secondary metastases are the leading cause of mortality in patients with breast cancer. Cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2J2 (CYP2J2) is upregulated in many human tumors and generates epoxyeicosanoids from arachidonic acid that promote tumorigenesis and metastasis, but at present there is little information on the genes that mediate these actions. In this study MDA-MB-468 breast cancer cells were stably transfected with CYP2J2 (MDA-2J2 cells) and Affymetrix microarray profiling was undertaken.

Development of the First Cisgenic Apple with Increased Resistance to Fire Blight.

The generation and selection of novel fire blight resistant apple genotypes would greatly improve the management of this devastating disease, caused by Erwinia amylovora. Such resistant genotypes are currently developed by conventional breeding, but novel breeding technologies including cisgenesis could be an alternative approach. A cisgenic apple line C44.

Influence of particle shape on plasma protein adsorption and macrophage uptake.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the plasma protein adsorption behavior onto different LIPOMER nanoparticles, especially looking for the first time, if the particle shape affects the protein adsorption pattern. The potential in vivo fate is discussed and compared with previous in vivo animal studies. The two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-D PAGE) was used for identification of adsorbed plasma proteins.

Adsorption kinetics of plasma proteins on ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO) nanoparticles.

In this study the kinetics of plasma protein adsorption onto ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO) particles have been analyzed and compared to previously published kinetic studies on polystyrene particles (PS particles), oil-in-water nanoemulsions and solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs). SPIO and USPIO nanoparticles are commonly used as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) enhancers for tumor imaging as well as in drug delivery applications. Two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-D PAGE) has been used to determine the plasma protein adsorption onto the citrate/triethylene glycol-stabilized iron oxide surface.

Protein Adsorption Patterns and Analysis on IV Nanoemulsions-The Key Factor Determining the Organ Distribution.

Intravenous nanoemulsions have been on the market for parenteral nutrition since the 1950s; meanwhile, they have also been used successfully for IV drug delivery. To be well tolerable, the emulsions should avoid uptake by the MPS cells of the body; for drug delivery, they should be target-specific. The organ distribution is determined by the proteins adsorbing them after injection from the blood (protein adsorption pattern), typically analyzed by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, 2-D PAGE.

Injury protection and accident causation parameters for vulnerable road users based on German In-Depth Accident Study GIDAS.

Within a study of accident data from GIDAS (German In-Depth Accident Study), vulnerable road users are investigated regarding injury risk in traffic accidents. GIDAS is the largest in-depth accident study in Germany. Due to a well-defined sampling plan, representativeness with respect to the federal statistics is also guaranteed.

Biodegradable poly(ethylene carbonate) nanoparticles as a promising drug delivery system with "stealth" potential.

The goal of this study was to investigate the suitability of poly(ethylene carbonate) (PEC) nanoparticles as a novel drug delivery system, fulfilling the requirements for a long circulation time. Particles were obtained with a narrow size distribution and nearly neutral zeta potential. Adsorption studies with human plasma proteins revealed that PEC nanoparticles bind much less proteins in comparison to polystyrene (PS) nanoparticles.

Evaluation of the in vitro differential protein adsorption patterns of didanosine-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) for potential targeting to the brain.

The preferential in vitro adsorption of apolipoprotein E (Apo E) onto the surface of colloidal drug carriers may be used as a strategy to evaluate the in vivo potential for such systems to transport drugs to the brain. The aim of this research was to investigate the in vitro protein adsorption patterns of didanosine-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (DDI-NLCs), using two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-D PAGE), in order to establish the potential for NLCs to deliver DDI to the brain. NLC formulations were manufactured using high-pressure homogenization using a lipid matrix consisting of a mixture of Precirol(®) ATO 5 and Transcutol(®) HP.

In vitro protein adsorption studies on nevirapine nanosuspensions for HIV/AIDS chemotherapy.

Unlabelled: Nevirapine is a poorly water-soluble antiretroviral drug. Intravenous nevirapine nanosuspensions (NS) (457 ± 10 nm) were prepared by high-pressure homogenization. NS were surface modified by stabilizer adsorption, e.