Thyroid hormone modulates the responsiveness of rat aorta to alpha1-adrenergic stimulation: an effect due to increased activation of beta2-adrenergic signaling.

Aim: The ability of the thyroid hormone to increase cardiac output and to lower systemic vascular resistance may provide a novel treatment for cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms of thyroid hormone action on the heart and peripheral vasculature could be of clinical importance. We previously found that thyroid hormone modulates the alpha1-adrenergic effect on vascular reactivity of rat aortas.

Comparison of high-resolution magnification narrow-band imaging and white-light endoscopy in the prediction of histology in Barrett's oesophagus.

Objective: To evaluate whether there is any appreciable difference in imaging characteristics between high-resolution magnification white-light endoscopy (WLE-Z) and narrow-band imaging (NBI-Z) in Barrett's oesophagus (BE) and if this translates into superior prediction of histology.

Material And Methods: This was a prospective single-centre study involving 21 patients (75 areas, corresponding NBI-Z and WLE-Z images) with BE. Mucosal patterns (pit pattern and microvascular morphology) were evaluated for their image quality on a visual analogue scale (VAS) of 1-10 by five expert endoscopists.

Narrow-band imaging with magnification in Barrett's esophagus: validation of a simplified grading system of mucosal morphology patterns against histology.

Background And Study Aims: Validation of a simplified classification of mucosal morphology in prediction of histology in Barrett's esophagus using narrow-band imaging with magnification (NBI-Z) and assessing its reproducibility by endoscopists experienced in the use of NBI (NBI-experts) and by endoscopists who were new to NBI (non-NBI-experts).

Patients And Methods: In a prospective cohort study of 109 patients with Barrett's esophagus at a single tertiary referral center, mucosal patterns visualized in Barrett's esophagus on NBI-Z were classified into four easily distinguishable types: A, round pits with regular microvasculature; B, villous/ridge pits with regular microvasculature; C, absent pits with regular microvasculature; D, distorted pits with irregular microvasculature. The NBI-Z grading was compared with the final histopathological diagnosis, and positive (PPV) and negative predictive values (NPV) were calculated.

Decreased vascular reactivity to alpha1 adrenergic stimulation in the presence of hypothyroid state: a part of an adaptive response?

Aim: A hypothyroid state frequently accompanies cardiac illnesses but its physiological significance for the cardiovascular hemodynamics remains largely unknown. Therefore, the present study investigated possible physiological consequences on vascular function in an experimental model of low thyroid hormone state.

Methods: Hypothyroidism was induced in rats by the administration of 6-n-propyl-2-thiouracil in drinking water (final concentration of 0.

Blockade of angiotensin II type 1 receptor diminishes cardiac hypertrophy, but does not abolish thyroxin-induced preconditioning.

Growth and stress seem to share common intracellular pathways and activation of growth signaling can increase resistance to stress. Thyroid hormone induces cardiac hypertrophy and preconditions the myocardium against ischemia reperfusion injury. The present study investigated whether this response is mediated by renin-angiotensin system (RAS).

'Nipped in the Budd': hepatic venous outflow obstruction in evolution.

Hepatic venous thrombosis (Budd-Chiari) in evolution is a rare phenomenon and carries a high morbidity and mortality. We describe the case of a 39-year-old Bangladeshi lady who presented with severe abdominal pain secondary to a perforated duodenal ulcer and during her hospital admission developed an asymptomatic Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS). Our report highlights the important role of an inflammatory focus, and how this process with an associated reactive thrombocytosis may act as a trigger for the development of BCS in an individual with predisposing risk factors.

Trimetazidine protects isolated rat hearts against ischemia-reperfusion injury in an experimental timing-dependent manner.

The present study investigated the tolerance of the isolated rat heart to ischemia-reperfusion after administration of trimetazidine (TMZ) at different experimental phases, as well as the possible involvement of p38 MAPK and JNKs in this response. Isolated rat hearts were perfused in Langendorff mode. Untreated hearts after stabilization (S) were subjected to 20 min of zero-flow global ischemia (I) and 45 min of reperfusion (R), (NORM), n = 9.

Host anti-microbial response to Helicobacter pylori infection.

beta-Defensin peptides are known to be potent anti-bacterials with a wide spectrum of activity. They, therefore, represent an important aspect of innate immunity. In the present study, we have extended our understanding of the regulation of the beta-defensins in response to Helicobacter pylori (H.

Increased resistance to activated protein C and factor V Leiden in recurrent abortions. Review of other hypercoagulability factors.

Objective: To evaluate hereditary and acquired hemostatic abnormalities associated with recurrent spontaneous early (first-trimester) abortions.

Method: A group of 56 Greek women with two or more unexplained primary spontaneous abortions, and a reference group of 148 women without a history of recurrent abortions, were screened for hypercoagulability. A randomly selected population of first-trimester pregnant women was also chosen for factor V Leiden genetic screening.