A simple adeno-associated virus-based approach for the generation of cardiac genetic models in rats.

Heart failure is a major health problem and progress in this field relies on better understanding of the mechanisms and development of novel therapeutics using animal models. The rat may be preferable to the mouse as a cardiovascular disease model due to its closer physiology to humans and due to its large size that facilitates surgical and monitoring procedures. However, unlike the mouse, genetic manipulation of the rat genome is challenging.

Biodegradable Breast Tissue Marker Clip.

Biodegradable soft tissue biopsy clips have been developed as implants with the potential to serve as visual markers for regions suspected to contain tumor growth in the breast. These clips are multidimensional tissue markers with better biocompatibility and imaging features. The clips were prepared using biodegradable polymers, poly(l-lactide--ε-caprolactone) and methoxy polyethylene glycol--l-lactide, that contain iodixanol or barium sulfate as contrast agents; they are further coated with hyaluronic acid or sodium alginate hydrogels.

Sodium bicarbonate nanoparticles modulate the tumor pH and enhance the cellular uptake of doxorubicin.

Acidic pH in the tumor microenvironment is associated with cancer metabolism and creates a physiological barrier that prevents from drugs to penetrate cells. Specifically, ionizable weak-base drugs, such as doxorubicin, freely permeate membranes in their uncharged form, however, in the acidic tumor microenvironment these drugs become charged and their cellular permeability is retarded. In this study, 100-nm liposomes loaded with sodium bicarbonate were used as adjuvants to elevate the tumor pH.

Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation preserves cardiac function in pressure overload induced hypertrophy.

Background: Chronic pressure overload and a variety of mediators induce concentric cardiac hypertrophy. When prolonged, cardiac hypertrophy culminates in decreased myocardial function and heart failure. Activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) is consistently observed in animal models of hypertrophy and in human patients, but its role in the process is controversial.