Microvascular status and skin thickness in adults with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome: a pilot investigation.

Objectives: Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) is a hereditary connective tissue disorder characterised by joint hypermobility, chronic musculoskeletal pain, and skin abnormalities and easy bruising. Morphological and functional microvascular status has not yet been studied in hEDS, and dermal thickness (DT) has been poorly investigated.

Methods: The aim of the study was to investigate the microvascular morphology by nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC), peripheral blood perfusion (PBP) by laser speckle contrast analysis (LASCA), and DT by high-frequency skin ultrasound (22 MHz probe) in adults with hEDS compared to sex- and age-matched controls.

Treatments for HBV: A Glimpse into the Future.

The hepatitis B virus is responsible for most of the chronic liver disease and liver cancer worldwide. As actual therapeutic strategies have had little success in eradicating the virus from hepatocytes, and as lifelong treatment is often required, new drugs targeting the various phases of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) lifecycle are currently under investigation. In this review, we provide an overview of potential future treatments for HBV.

On the manipulation of flow and acoustic fields of a blunt trailing edge aerofoil by serrated leading edges.

This paper employs serrated leading edges to inject streamwise vorticity to the downstream boundary layer and wake to manipulate the flow field and noise sources near the blunt trailing edge of an asymmetric aerofoil. The use of a large serration amplitude is found to be effective to suppress the first noise source-bluntness-induced vortex shedding tonal noise-through the destruction of the coherent eigenmodes in the wake. The second noise source is the instability noise, which is produced by the interaction between the boundary layer instability and separation bubble near the blunt edge.

Comparison of biopsy-proven giant cell arteritis in North America and Southern Europe: a population-based study.

Objectives: To compare clinical characteristics, treatment and prognosis of two population-based cohorts of patients with biopsy-proven giant cell arteritis (GCA) from Olmsted County, Minnesota, USA (Olmsted cohort) and the Reggio Emilia area, Northern Italy (Reggio cohort).

Methods: All patients residing in Olmsted County and the Reggio Emilia area with a new diagnosis of biopsy-proven GCA in 1986-2007 were retrospectively identified. Patients were followed from GCA diagnosis to death, migration or September 2011.

Preliminary Observation on the Cytotoxic Activity of New Chlorophyllin Derivative RCD on Human Tumour Cell Lines .

Background: Chlorophyllin is used in traditional Chinese medicine because of its anticancer properties. This article describes the preparation and cytotoxic activity of a reduced chlorophyllin derivative (RCD) on tumour cell lines.

Materials And Methods: RCD was prepared by reducing chlorophyllin with lithium aluminium hydride, and its solubility in the alkaline and organic phases are different from that of the parent compound chlorophyllin.

Alterations of RNA Metabolism by Proteomic Analysis of Breast Cancer Cells Exposed to Marycin: A New Optically Active Porphyrin.

Objective: Marycin is a porphyrin-type compound synthetically modified to spontaneously release fluorescence. This study is aimed at understanding possible mechanisms that could account for the antiproliferative effects observed in marycin. A proteomic approach was used to identify molecular effects.

Numerical Simulation of a Passive Control of the Flow Around an Aerofoil Using a Flexible, Self Adaptive Flaplet.

Self-activated feathers are used by almost all birds to adapt their wing characteristics to delay stall or to moderate its adverse effects (e.g., during landing or sudden increase in angle of attack due to gusts).

The PELskin project-part V: towards the control of the flow around aerofoils at high angle of attack using a self-activated deployable flap.

During the flight of birds, it is often possible to notice that some of the primaries and covert feathers on the upper side of the wing pop-up under critical flight conditions, such as the landing approach or when stalking their prey (see Fig. 1) . It is often conjectured that the feathers pop up plays an aerodynamic role by limiting the spread of flow separation .

Activated partial thromboplastin time correlates with methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol in acute myocardial infarction patients: therapeutic implications for patients at cardiovascular risk.

Background/aim: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is associated with increased coagulation which in the presence of unstable atheroma or endothelial damage leads to occlusive coronary vessel thrombosis. AMI is usually characterized by increased levels of catecholamines. It is possible there may be a link between catecholamines and hypercoagulation, but this still remains to be determined.

Factors involved in sudden coagulation observed in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Coronary artery diseases (CAD) evolving into acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is associated with coagulation and thrombotic occlusion of coronary vessels in the presence of unstable atheroma. The atheromatous plaque becomes unstable when it is infiltrated by monocytes, macrophages and neutrophils capable of secreting proteases that induce plaque erosion, rupture and initialize the coagulation process. The aim of this study was (a) to analyse the plasma of patients with AMI for the presence of proteases that may activate rapid coagulation, (b) to evaluate coagulation markers as prothrombin fragment (F1+2) and antithrombin III and (c) to find an interrelation between proteases and coagulation markers.

Pretreatment with tetrandrine has protective effects against isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction in rabbits.

Tetrandrine, the active principle of Stephania tetrandra radix extracts, has broad pharmacological activity, including effects on the cardiovascular system: it has been shown to reduce the size of acute myocardial infarction in rats undergoing coronary vessel ligation and to improve heart lesions in the constriction/reperfusion model by means of mechanisms involving peroxidation, calcium antagonism and coagulation. The aim of this study was to investigate whether tetrandrine has anti-infarction, antioxidant and anticoagulant effects in rabbits treated with isoproterenol, a drug capable of causing peroxide generation, calcium overload and coagulation alterations, and inducing myocardial infarction. The results showed that pretreatment with tetrandrine protects against the myocardial injuries caused by isoproterenol.

Plasma cardiac necrosis markers C-troponin I and creatine kinase, associated with increased malondialdehyde levels, induced in rabbits by means of 5-aminolevulinic acid injection.

A number of papers have described high levels of 5-aminolevulinic acid in cases of heart damage due to acute myocardial infarction, acute intermittent porphyria or chronic kidney failure, but it is not known whether the heart damage is directly associated with 5-aminolevulinic acid. The aim of this study was to verify whether such an association exists by injecting rabbits with 5-aminolevulinic acid and searching for the appearance of cardiac necrosis markers and histological heart alterations, and investigate whether the cardiotoxic activity of 5-aminolevulinic acid may involve peroxidation by seeking the presence of the peroxide marker malondialdehyde. The administration of 5-aminolevulinic acid led to the appearance of c-troponin I and creatine kinase, induced histological heart alterations and increased the malondialdehyde levels.

Effects of alpha-lipoic acid administration on plasma glucose levels, total malondialdehyde values and withdrawal signs in rats treated with morphine or morphine plus naloxone.

Morphine (CAS 57-27-2) administration or its removal induces alterations in glucose levels and oxidative status or behaviour signs, which may be hypothetically closely related; if this is correct, controlling glucose changes may lead to modifications in peroxide levels and in behaviour profile. It therefore seems important to find a drug able to control alterations of glucose metabolism, peroxide generation and behaviour symptoms in morphine or morphine withdrawal animals. This paper describes the effects of morphine or morphine plus naloxone (CAS 51481-60-8) on the plasma levels of glucose, malondialdehyde (MDA) (CAS 100683-54-3) and behavioural signs in rats treated or not with alpha-lipoic acid (CAS 1077-28-7), known to interfere with glucose and peroxide levels.

Morphine or its withdrawal affects plasma malondialdehyde, vitamin E levels and absence or presence of abstinence signs in rats.

Objectives: Various experimental observations show that morphine treatment generates reactive oxygen species, and that its discontinuation leads to signs of withdrawal. We therefore investigated plasma malondialdehyde and vitamin E levels under both conditions to verify the occurrence of any alterations in oxidative metabolism, and whether these are associated with behavioural changes.

Methods: We investigated the effects of morphine or morphine plus naloxone on plasma malondialdehyde, vitamin E levels and withdrawal signs such as jumping, wet dog shakes and faecal excretion in rats.

Plasma malondialdehyde levels and opiate withdrawal signs observed in rats treated with morphine plus naloxone: effects of alpha-lipoic acid administration.

A number of experimental studies have found that reactive oxygen species are involved during morphine treatment or withdrawal. The aims of this study were to analyse whether morphine administration and/or removal are related to peroxide generation and/or signs of withdrawal in rats, and whether the changes in antioxidant status induced by the administration of an antioxidant may modify peroxide levels and behavioural signs. We injected morphine or morphine and naloxone into rats and evaluated the plasma levels of peroxide malondialdehyde (MDA) and the appearance of withdrawal signs.

Synthesis, biological evaluation, and molecular modeling investigation of new chiral fibrates with PPARalpha and PPARgamma agonist activity.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are ligand-activated transcription factors that govern lipid and glucose homeostasis playing a central role in cardiovascular diseases, obesity, and diabetes. Medications targeted to PPARs have been established to treat hyperlipidemia (fibrates) and insulin resistance (glitazones). Thus, there is significant interest in developing new and specific ligands for these receptors.

Increased urinary coproporphyrin excretion observed in patients with differently staged Hodgkin's disease treated with chemotherapy.

It has been reported that patients with Hodgkin's disease (HD) show altered porphyrin metabolism, and suggested that the cause is the neoplastic process itself. If this is true, disease progression should be associated with higher levels of porphyrin excretion. The aim of this study was to evaluate urinary coproporphyrin levels in patients with Hodgkin's disease at different stages.

Myocardial infarction non-invasively induced in rabbits by administering isoproterenol and vasopressin: protective effects exerted by verapamil.

Myocardial infarction is usually induced in small animals by means of invasive procedures: the aim of this study was to cause heart necrosis lesions by non-invasive means. We injected rabbits with isoproterenol (3 mg/kg, i.p.

Isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction in rabbits. Protection by propranolol or labetalol: a proposed non-invasive procedure.

Myocardial infarction is usually induced in small animals by means of invasive techniques based on mechanical coronary obstruction. As it has been reported that isoproterenol can cause ischemic myocardial alterations, lipid peroxide generation and procoagulant activity, we administered it to rabbits in order to induce a non-invasive myocardial infarction associated with above mentioned cardiovascular risk factors. Considerable ischemic alterations were observed in the animals treated with isoproterenol, including areas of myocardial necrosis, contraction band necrosis, increased plasma levels of cardiac necrosis markers (c-troponin I and myoglobin), and electrocardiographic modifications (ST segment changes and T wave inversion).

Increased excretion of urine coproporphyrins during daunorubicin administration in patients affected by acute myelogenous leukemia.

Increased erythrocyte porphyrin values and high urine porphyrin levels have been reported in leukemic patients, but it is not clear whether the alteration in porphyrin metabolism is due to the leukemia or its treatment. The aim of this study was to compare porphyrin levels in leukemic patients undergoing chemotherapy or not. We analysed porphyrin values in patients with acute emyelogenous leukemia, who had or had not received chemotherapy according to Gale.

Drugs modifying nitric oxide metabolism affect plasma cholesterol levels, coagulation parameters, blood pressure values and the appearance of plasma myocardial necrosis markers in rabbits: opposite effects of L-NAME and nitroglycerine.

Unlabelled: Various experiments have shown that decreased nitric oxide values alter plasma lipid levels or coagulation parameters or blood pressure values or cause myocardial necrosis phenomena, but it is not clear whether these alterations are reciprocally connected, or whether nitric oxide changes are involved in the appearance of some coronary disease risk factors (lipid, coagulation, blood pressure alterations) and myocardial necrosis.

Aims: We modified nitric oxide levels in rabbits using L-NAME (a NO synthase blocker) or nitroglycerine (a NO donor), and simultaneously evaluated variations in total and HDL cholesterol levels, some coagulation parameters, mean blood pressure values and myocardial necrosis patterns.

Results: L-NAME lowered plasma nitric oxide values, increased plasma total cholesterol and decreased HDL cholesterol levels, enhanced the amount of plasma fibrinogen, shortened prothrombin times, elevated the mean blood pressure values and caused the appearance of cardiac necrosis markers (c-troponin I, creatine kinase) in plasma and coagulative necrosis lesions in the myocardium.

Cardiac necrosis markers associated with low nitric oxide levels in the plasma of rabbits after treatment with vasopressin: protective effects of nitroglycerin administration.

It has been reported that the administration of vasopressin induces myocardial ischaemia in rats, which causes electrocardiographic ST segment alterations according to many authors. But rat electrocardiogram (ECG) lacks ST segment. Consequently it appears important to study the effects of vasopressin in rabbits, which show ST segment present in the ECG.

High-dose vitamin E lowers urine porphyrin levels in patients affected by porphyria cutanea tarda.

Porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) is a metabolic disorder of heme biosynthesis, characterized by reduced uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase (UROD) activity and increased urinary excretion of eight and seven carboxyl group porphyrins. Specific factors such as iron, alcohol and halogenated compounds further inhibit enzyme activity by generating reactive oxygen species. Antioxidant vitamin E has frequently been used to counteract oxidative stress in porphyria patients, but a number of studies have failed to detect any significant effect on porphyrin metabolism.

The negative effects of bile acids and tumor necrosis factor-alpha on the transcription of cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase gene (CYP7A1) converge to hepatic nuclear factor-4: a novel mechanism of feedback regulation of bile acid synthesis mediated by nuclear receptors.

Bile acids regulate the cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase gene (CYP7A1), which encodes the rate-limiting enzyme in the classical pathway of bile acid synthesis. Here we report a novel mechanism whereby bile acid feedback regulates CYP7A1 transcription through the nuclear receptor hepatocyte nuclear factor-4 (HNF-4), which binds to the bile acid response element (BARE) at nt -149/-118 relative to the transcription start site. Using transient transfection assays of HepG2 cells with Gal4-HNF-4 fusion proteins, we show that chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) dampened the transactivation potential of HNF-4.

Low nitric oxide values associated with low levels of zinc and high levels of cardiac necrosis markers detected in the plasma of rabbits treated with L-NAME.

Nitric oxide plays a key role as a vasodilating agent and its deficiency is associated with ischemic heart diseases. The aim of this study was to induce biochemical alterations associated with ischemic heart lesions by blocking nitric oxide synthase. L-NAME, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, was administered to rabbits and its effects on blood pressure, plasma levels of nitric oxide, zinc and cardiac necrosis markers, heart histology, and electrocardiographic profile were examined.