Production of reactive oxygen species and induction of signaling pathways for the ACO gene expressions in tomato plants triggered by the volatile organic compound ether.

Diethyl ether (ether), a volatile organic compound, is widely used as an industrial solvent and easily released to the environment. Acute exposure of tomato plants to high concentrations of ether caused young leaves to curl. Histochemical analyses revealed that superoxide anion (•O(2-) and hydrogen peroxide were formed sequentially by ether, and that (•O(2-) was the major ROS produced in response to ether exposure.

Extracellular matrix remodeling attenuated after experimental postinfarct left ventricular aneurysm repair.

Background: Left ventricular aneurysm repair (LVAR) prevents congestive heart failure after myocardial infarction (MI). LV dilation after MI is related to postinfarct myocardial remodeling and leads to CHF. Because changes in matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), and the physical properties of collagens are involved in myocardial remodeling, the effect of postinfarct LVAR on these factors was tested.