Dimethyl Fumarate Prevents the Development of Chronic Social Stress-Induced Hypertension in Borderline Hypertensive Rats.

This study investigated the effects of chronic crowding-induced social stress and dimethyl fumarate (DMF) on borderline hypertensive rats, focusing on the transcription nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (NRF2) gene , on the expression of selected NFR2-mediated gene expressions in the heart, and on vascular function. Rats were exposed to chronic crowding, DMF treatment (30 mg/kg/day, p.o.

Taxifolin Reduces Blood Pressure via Improvement of Vascular Function and Mitigating the Vascular Inflammatory Response in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats.

The effect of a 10-day-long treatment with taxifolin (TAX, 20 mg/kg/day p.o.) was investigated on spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) with a focus on the vascular functions of isolated femoral arteries and thoracic aortas.

Analysis of spontaneous reports of suspected adverse reactions after vaccination against COVID-19 in Slovakia.

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in more than 6.5 million deaths worldwide yet. Vaccination against the SARS-CoV-2 virus is a reliable way out of the pandemic, however, vaccination rate reaches only 58% in the Slovak Republic.

Hypertension and Cardiovascular Diseases: From Etiopathogenesis to Potential Therapeutic Targets.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the top cause of death worldwide, and arterial hypertension per se remains the major preventable cause of CVDs [...

Vascular Effects of Low-Dose ACE2 Inhibitor MLN-4760-Benefit or Detriment in Essential Hypertension?

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infects host cells through angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Concurrently, the product of ACE2 action, angiotensin 1-7 (Ang 1-7), binds to Mas receptors within the cardiovascular system and provides protective effects. Therefore, it is crucial to reveal the role of ACE2 inhibition, especially within pre-existing cardiovascular pathologies.

Differences in Distribution and Biological Effects of FO@PEG Nanoparticles in Normotensive and Hypertensive Rats-Focus on Vascular Function and Liver.

We investigate the distribution and biological effects of polyethylene glycol (PEG)-coated magnetite (FeO@PEG) nanoparticles (~30 nm core size, ~51 nm hydrodynamic size, 2 mg Fe/kg/day, intravenously, for two days) in the aorta and liver of Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). FeO@PEG had no effect on open-field behaviour but reduced the blood pressure (BP) of FeO@PEG-treated SHR (SHRu) significantly, compared to both FeO@PEG-treated WKY (WKYu) and saline-treated control SHR (SHRc). The FeO@PEG content was significantly elevated in the aorta and liver of SHRu vs.

Biopharmaceuticals safety perception in Slovakia: considerations and real-life pharmacovigilance data.

Objectives: Biopharmaceuticals improved the prognosis and quality of life of patients with chronic diseases. The aim of our study was to analyse the total reported suspected adverse drug reactions (ADR) and ADRs of reference biologicals and their biosimilars in Slovakia.

Methods: Using data from the State Institute for Drug Control database, we analysed the trends of suspected ADR submitted between 2001-2017 including the registered biosimilars and their reference biologicals: erythropoietin, filgrastim and infliximab.

The organ-specific nitric oxide synthase activity in the interaction with sympathetic nerve activity: a hypothesis.

The sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) is augmented in hypertension. SNA is regulated by neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) or endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activity in hypothalamic paraventricular nuclei (PVN) and/or brainstem rostral ventrolateral medulla. High nNOS or eNOS activity within these brain regions lowers the SNA, whereas low cerebral nNOS and/or eNOS activity causes SNA augmentation.

Mechanisms Modified by (-)-Epicatechin and Taxifolin Relevant for the Treatment of Hypertension and Viral Infection: Knowledge from Preclinical Studies.

Various studies have shown that certain flavonoids, flavonoid-containing plant extracts, and foods can improve human health. Experimental studies showed that flavonoids have the capacity to alter physiological processes as well as cellular and molecular mechanisms associated with their antioxidant properties. An important function of flavonoids was determined in the cardiovascular system, namely their capacity to lower blood pressure and to improve endothelial function.

Effect of iron oxide nanoparticles on vascular function and nitric oxide production in acute stress-exposed rats.

We investigated whether polyethylene glycol-coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles (IONs), acute stress and their combination modifies vascular functions, nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity, mean arterial pressure (MAP) as well as hepcidin and ferritin H gene expressions in Wistar-Kyoto rats. Rats were divided into control, ION-treated rats (1 mg Fe/kg i.v.

Erratum to "Contribution of Ca-Dependent Cl Channels to Norepinephrine-Induced Contraction of Femoral Artery Is Replaced by Increasing EDCF Contribution during Ageing".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2014/289361.].

The Regulatory Role of Nuclear Factor Kappa B in the Heart of Hereditary Hypertriglyceridemic Rat.

Activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) by increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) might induce transcription and expression of different antioxidant enzymes and also of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isoforms. Thus, we aimed at studying the effect of NF-κB inhibition, caused by JSH-23 (4-methyl-N (1)-(3-phenyl-propyl)-benzene-1,2-diamine) injection, on ROS and NO generation in hereditary hypertriglyceridemic (HTG) rats. 12-week-old, male Wistar and HTG rats were treated with JSH-23 (bolus, 10 μmol, i.

Human preferences for colorful birds: Vivid colors or pattern?

In a previous study, we found that the shape of a bird, rather than its color, plays a major role in the determination of human preferences. Thus, in the present study, we asked whether the preferences of human respondents towards uniformly shaped, colorful birds are determined by pattern rather than color. The experimental stimuli were pictures of small passerine birds of the family Pittidae possessing uniform shape but vivid coloration.

Surface texture and priming play important roles in predator recognition by the red-backed shrike in field experiments.

We compared the responses of the nesting red-backed shrikes (Lanius collurio) to three dummies of a common nest predator, the Eurasian jay (Garrulus glandarius), each made from a different material (stuffed, plush, and silicone). The shrikes performed defensive behaviour including attacks on all three dummies. Nevertheless, the number of attacks significantly decreased from the stuffed dummy through the plush dummy and finally to the silicone dummy.

Contribution of Ca²⁺-dependent Cl⁻ channels to norepinephrine-induced contraction of femoral artery is replaced by increasing EDCF contribution during ageing.

The activation of Ca(2+)-dependent Cl(-) channels during norepinephrine-induced contraction of vascular smooth muscle was suggested to depolarize cell membrane and to increase Ca(2+) entry. Hypertension and ageing are associated with altered Ca(2+) handling including possible activation of Ca(2+)-dependent Cl(-) channels. Our study was aimed to determine Ca(2+)-dependent Cl(-) channels contribution to norepinephrine-induced contraction during hypertension and ageing.

Vascular reactivity of arteria femoralis in adult and aged spontaneously hypertensive and Wistar-Kyoto rats.

Aim: The relationship of age and hypertension on endothelial dysfunction and increased responses to vasoconstrictor stimuli.

Background: Hypertension is a disease accompanied by endothelial dysfunction and is characterized by an impaired vascular reactivity and enhanced activity of sympathetic nervous system.

Materials And Methods: In our experiment, we used spontaneously hypertensive rats representing model of essential hypertension and the Wistar-Kyoto rats as normotensive strain.

Ca2+ sensitization and Ca2+ entry in the control of blood pressure and adrenergic vasoconstriction in conscious Wistar-Kyoto and spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Background: Calcium entry through nifedipine-sensitive L-type voltage-dependent calcium channels (L-VDCC) is augmented in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) characterized by enhanced sympathetic vasoconstriction. However, the changes of calcium sensitization mediated by RhoA/Rho kinase pathway are less understood.

Methods And Results: The participation of calcium entry and calcium sensitization in the control of blood pressure (BP) and vascular contraction was studied in SHR and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats.

Mammalian collection on Noah's Ark: the effects of beauty, brain and body size.

The importance of today's zoological gardens as the so-called "Noah's Ark" grows as the natural habitat of many species quickly diminishes. Their potential to shelter a large amount of individuals from many species gives us the opportunity to reintroduce a species that disappeared in nature. However, the selection of animals to be kept in zoos worldwide is highly selective and depends on human decisions driven by both ecological criteria such as population size or vulnerability and audience-driven criteria such as aesthetic preferences.

Effects of aging and hypertension on the participation of endothelium-derived constricting factor (EDCF) in norepinephrine-induced contraction of rat femoral artery.

Endothelium-dependent contraction elicited by high concentrations of acetylcholine was described in hypertensive as well as in aged normotensive rats. The contribution of endothelium-derived constricting factor (EDCF) to norepinephrine-induced contraction is still unknown. We aimed to compare EDCF participation to norepinephrine-induced arterial contraction in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and aged normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats.

Trends in vascular pharmacology research in the Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Bratislava.

Research in the Department of Pharmacology started to focus intensively on fetal circulation in the 60s. Results of experiments contributed to clarification of the conversion of fetal circulation type to the adult type: the mechanism of the ductus arteriosus closure, examination of fetal and neonatal pulmonary vessel responses. In the early 80s, increased attention was dedicated to fetal vascular endothelium, later on to vascular reactivity in relation to the endothelium in adult animals.

Inflammatory skin metastasis as a first sign of progression of lung cancer--a case report.

Background: Skin metastases are present in 1-9% of cancer patients. In rare cases, skin metastases can manifest as lesions with signs of inflammation and are diagnosed as inflammatory cutaneous metastases (ICM). ICM in lung cancer are extremely rare and often misdiagnosed.

Melatonin improves the restoration of endothelium-derived constricting factor signalling and inner diameter in the rat femoral artery after cessation of L-NAME treatment.

Objective: Melatonin is suggested to be beneficial in several pathological conditions including arterial hypertension. One of the mechanisms proposed for its antihypertensive action is the protection against endothelial dysfunction. We investigated whether melatonin can accelerate the recovery from N(G)-nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester (L-NAME)-induced hypertension after the cessation of L-NAME administration.