Family history of hypertension, exercise training, and reactivity to stress in rats.

In this study we sought to assess the role of exercise training on blood pressure (BP) reactivity to tailshock stress in rats with varying family histories of hypertension. Exercise training consisted of swimming 90 min per day in isothermic water for either 2, 6, or 10 months, beginning at 2 months of age. Control subjects were age-matched and did not exercise daily.

Characterization of human and mouse cartilage oligomeric matrix protein.

Cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) is a 524,000-Da protein that is expressed at high levels in the territorial matrix of chondrocytes. The sequences of rat and bovine COMP indicate that it is a member of the thrombospondin gene family. In this study, we have cloned and sequenced human COMP.

The type 1 repeats of thrombospondin 1 activate latent transforming growth factor-beta.

Thrombospondin (TSP) is complexed with transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) in the alpha-granules of stimulated platelets. TSP stripped of associated TGF-beta activity (sTSP) activates latent TGF-beta secreted by bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAE) in culture. To better understand the interactions of TSP with TGF-beta, we investigated which region of sTSP interacts with TGF-beta.

Changes in creatine kinase expression induced by exercise in borderline hypertensive rat hearts.

Hypertrophy in hypertensive hearts is associated with increased risk of cardiac morbidity and mortality that is not characteristic of exercised hearts. This study was done to determine whether exercise training of normotensive and borderline hypertensive rats induces the increased myocardial expression of BB and MB isoforms of creatine kinase (CK) that characterizes hypertensive hypertrophy. Spontaneously hypertensive (SHR), borderline hypertensive (BHR), and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats were subjected to either an 8% sodium chloride diet or swim training to produce myocardial hypertrophy.

Integrins as dynamic regulators of vascular function.

The vascular endothelium lines the entire cardiovascular system and serves as a nonthrombogenic and selectively permeable boundary between the blood-stream and extravascular space. Endothelial cells are polar cells that are continuously subjected to fluid-generated forces on their luminal surface whereas their abluminal surface resides on basement membranes/extracellular matrix. The integrin family of cell-surface heterodimeric glycoproteins is located along both of these surfaces and participates in maintaining the normal endothelium and in the dynamic changes associated with the pathophysiology of the endothelium.

Gender differences in diaphragmatic metabolic properties of the adult Sprague-Dawley rat.

Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (> or = 180 days old) develop an obesity-exacerbated insulin resistance in contrast with female animals of the same strain. Given the fact the maintenance of muscle mass requires an adequate supply of insulin and active insulin receptors, we postulated that gender differences might exist in both protein content and metabolic properties of skeletal and cardiac muscle in adult Sprague-Dawley rats. Therefore, to test this hypothesis, we examined activities of bioenergetic enzymes and total protein content in the diaphragm, the heart and the plantaris muscle in 12-month-old male and female animals.

Localization of thrombospondin, CD36 and CD51 during prenatal development of the human mammary gland.

Thrombospondin (TSP) is a 450 kDa extracellular matrix glycoprotein expressed in normal, hyperplastic, and neoplastic human breast. In this study, the patterns of expression of TSP were determined during development of the human fetal mammary gland between the 15th and the 39th week of gestation. Using immunohistochemistry, TSP is found in the dense mesenchyme immediately adjacent to the mammary bud, and at the membrane of budding epithelial cells invading the surrounding mesenchyme.

Metabolic and antioxidant enzyme activities in the diaphragm: effects of acute exercise.

Disruption of cellular constituents including inhibition or "downregulation" of metabolic enzyme activity has been associated with free radical stress in locomotor muscle with acute, strenuous exercise. However, the effects of acute, strenuous exercise on important metabolic and antioxidant enzyme activity levels in the diaphragm are unknown. Twenty 4-month-old and twenty 24-month-old female Fischer-344 rats were divided at random into young exercised (YE; n = 10)/old exercised (OE; n = 10); young control (YC; n = 10)/old control (OC; n = 10) groups.

Flexible implant resection arthroplasty of the proximal interphalangeal joint in patients with systemic inflammatory arthritis.

Forty proximal interphalangeal joint silicone elastomer flexible implant arthroplasties in 19 patients with systemic inflammatory arthritis were reviewed. The follow-up period averaged 94 months. Before surgery, the average arc of motion was 26 degrees for the 20 digits with boutonniere deformities and 23 degrees for the 16 digits with swan-neck deformities.

Cell-type specific adhesive interactions of skeletal myoblasts with thrombospondin-1.

Thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) is an extracellular matrix glycoprotein that may play important roles in the morphogenesis and repair of skeletal muscle. To begin to explore the role of thrombospondin-1 in this tissue, we have examined the interactions of three rodent skeletal muscle cell lines, C2C12, G8, and H9c2, with platelet TSP-1. The cells secrete thrombospondin and incorporate it into the cell layer in a distribution distinct from that of fibronectin.

Regional training-induced alterations in diaphragmatic oxidative and antioxidant enzymes.

We examined the relationship between the intensity and duration of exercise training and the up-regulation of diaphragmatic oxidative and antioxidant enzyme activities. Nine groups of rats exercised for 10 weeks (4 days/week). Groups of animals exercised at three intensities (low, moderate, and high); at each exercise intensity, a group of animals ran at one of three exercise durations (30, 60, and 90 min/day).

Influence of exercise and fiber type on antioxidant enzyme activity in rat skeletal muscle.

These experiments examined the influence of exercise intensity and duration on antioxidant enzyme activity in locomotor muscles differing in fiber type composition. Nine groups of female Sprague-Dawley rats (age 120 days) exercised 4 days/wk on a motor-driven treadmill for 10 wk. The impact of three levels of exercise intensity (low, moderate, and high: approximately 55, approximately 65, and approximately 75% of maximal oxygen consumption, respectively) and exercise duration (30, 60, and 90 min/day) was assessed.

Thrombospondin 3 is a developmentally regulated heparin binding protein.

The thrombospondins (TSPs) are a growing family of cell surface and extracellular matrix molecules composed of multiple repeating elements. Thrombospondin 3 is a recently described member that possesses the calcium binding Type 3 repeats, has 4 epidermal growth factor receptor-like Type 2 repeats, a complete absence of the complement-like Type 1 repeats, and a distinct N terminus that has no significant homology to the other TSPs. Metabolic labeling and immunoprecipitation analysis of cells transfected with a TSP3 expression vector revealed it to be an oligomeric heparin binding protein present in both the cell layer and medium.

A review of the principles of pulse oximetry and accuracy of pulse oximeter estimates during exercise.

This article reviews the principles of pulse oximetry and assesses the accuracy of pulse oximeter measurements obtained during exercise, based on reports of 10 studies that evaluated 24 pulse oximeters. Nine of the studies used cycle exercise, and 1 study utilized treadmill running for mode of activity. Subject populations included patients with cardiovascular or pulmonary disorders, nondisabled individuals, and athletes.

Acute exercise and skeletal muscle antioxidant and metabolic enzymes: effects of fiber type and age.

Inhibition of metabolic enzyme activity has been associated with free radical stress in locomotor muscle with prolonged or intense exercise. However, it is not known whether such alterations with acute exercise in skeletal muscle are influenced by muscle fiber type or age. Twenty 4-mo-old and twenty 24-mo-old female Fischer-344 rats were divided at random into young exercised (YE; n = 10), old exercised (OE; n = 10), young control (YC; n = 10), and old control (OC; n = 10) groups.

Rigorous exercise training increases superoxide dismutase activity in ventricular myocardium.

Controversy exists as to the effect of endurance training on myocardial antioxidant enzyme activity. These experiments sought to clarify this issue by examining antioxidant enzyme activities in the rat ventricular myocardium in response to different intensities and durations of exercise training. Female Fischer-344 rats (120 days old) were assigned to either a sedentary control group or one of nine exercise training groups.

Oxygen cost of treadmill running in 24-month-old Fischer-344 rats.

The oxygen cost of treadmill running is well documented in young adult rats. However, to our knowledge there are no detailed reports concerning the oxygen cost of treadmill running in senescent rats. Young adult (4 months; N = 8) and senescent (24 months; N = 8) female Fischer-344 rats were tested for O2 cost of treadmill running.

A chronic high-salt diet fails to enhance blood pressure reactivity to a tone associated with footshock in SHR, BHR, and WKY rats.

Both the human and animal literatures suggest that reactivity to stress is enhanced in the presence of a positive family history of hypertension. There is also some suggestive evidence, though not as strong, that a high-salt diet will enhance reactivity to stress, at least in a subpopulation of individuals. In the present study, rats with zero (Wistar-Kyoto, or WKY), one (borderline hypertensive, or BHR), or two (spontaneously hypertensive, or SHR) hypertensive parents were placed on a normal or high (8% in chow)-salt diet for 8 weeks starting at 8 weeks of age.

Inducibility of NADP-specific isocitrate dehydrogenase with endurance training in skeletal muscle.

NADP(+)-specific isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICDH-NADP: EC 1 x 1 x 1 x 42) is primarily a mitochondrial matrix enzyme in both mammalian skeletal muscle and heart and has markedly higher activity levels than the NAD(+)-specific isozyme. To date, it is unknown whether ICDH-NADP activity is inducible with in vivo exercise training in locomotor or respiratory skeletal muscle. Therefore, the purpose of this investigation was to quantify alterations in ICDH-NADP activity in respiratory muscles (costal and crural diaphragm) and locomotor muscles (medial gastrocnemius, plantaris and soleus) following 8 weeks of treadmill endurance training.

High intensity training-induced changes in skeletal muscle antioxidant enzyme activity.

These experiments tested the hypothesis that high intensity (interval) training is superior to moderate intensity (continuous) exercise training in the upregulation of antioxidant enzyme activity in skeletal muscle. To test this postulate, we examined changes in oxidative and antioxidant enzyme activities in rat skeletal muscle following 12 wk of either interval (6 x approximately 5-min intervals at approximately 80-95% VO2max) or continuous (45 min at approximately 70% VO2max) exercise training. Both continuous and interval training resulted in significantly elevated (P < 0.

Extracellular matrix components affect the pattern of protein synthesis of endothelial cells responding to hyperthermia.

The biosynthetic profile of endothelial cells responding to hyperthermia is altered by extracellular matrix components. The extracellular matrix components influence the quantitative expression of members of the HSP70 family and HSP90. The expression of several HSP70 mRNA species, which are strictly stress inducible, are modulated by extracellular matrix components.

Interventional radiologic placement of peripherally inserted central catheters.

Purpose: This study examines the difference in success between bedside insertions of peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) performed by clinicians and fluoroscopically assisted insertions by cardiovascular/interventional (CV/I) radiologists.

Patients And Materials: Four hundred four PICCs were inserted in 305 patients, with a mean age of 48 years (range, 8-78 years), who required intermediate and long-term central venous access. One hundred fifty patients underwent bedside insertion, and 155 patients underwent fluoroscopically assisted insertion.