The metabolic "switch" AMPK regulates cardiac heparin-releasable lipoprotein lipase.

The "fuel gauge" AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) facilitates ATP production to meet energy demands during metabolic stress. Given the importance of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) in providing hearts with fatty acids (FA), the preferred substrate consumed by the heart, the objective of the present study was to investigate whether activation of AMPK influences LPL at its functionally relevant location, the coronary lumen. Hearts from overnight-fasted rats were first perfused with heparin to release LPL, and homogenates from these hearts were then used to measure total and phospho-AMPK-alpha by Western blotting.

Brief episode of STZ-induced hyperglycemia produces cardiac abnormalities in rats fed a diet rich in n-6 PUFA.

Diabetic patients are particularly susceptible to cardiomyopathy independent of vascular disease, and recent evidence implicates cell death as a contributing factor. Given its protective role against apoptosis, we hypothesized that dietary n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) may well decrease the incidence of this mode of cardiac cell death after diabetes. Male Wistar rats were first fed a diet rich in n-6 PUFA [20% (wt/wt) sunflower oil] for 4 wk followed by streptozotocin (STZ, 55 mg/kg) to induce diabetes.

Single-dose dexamethasone induces whole-body insulin resistance and alters both cardiac fatty acid and carbohydrate metabolism.

Glucocorticoids impair insulin sensitivity. Because insulin resistance is closely linked to increased incidence of cardiovascular diseases and given that metabolic abnormalities have been linked to initiation of heart failure, we examined the acute effects of dexamethasone (DEX) on rat cardiac metabolism. Although injection of DEX for 4 h was not associated with hyperinsulinemia, the euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp showed a decrease in glucose infusion rate.

Embryonic development of in vitro matured and in vitro fertilized dog oocytes.

In several studies, early cleavage stage canine embryos have been derived from in vitro fertilized oocytes cultured under various conditions. Despite these results, IVF protocols for canine oocytes have yielded low fertilization rates. In this study, Experiment I compared the effects of tissue culture medium (TCM)-199 supplemented with either (A) 1 microg/ml estradiol or (B) 20 microg/ml estradiol + 1 microg/ml human somatotropin (hST) on the in vitro nuclear maturation rate of canine oocytes.

Health care reform: opportunities for professional chaplains to build intentional communities of learners by integrating faith, science, quality, and systems thinking.

Albert Einstein once said, "The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them" (www.brainyquote.com).

Circulating triglyceride lipolysis facilitates lipoprotein lipase translocation from cardiomyocyte to myocardial endothelial lining.

Objective: Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) mediated hydrolysis of circulating triglyceride (TG)-rich lipoproteins provides the heart with fatty acids. The present study was designed to investigate the influence of circulating TG and their lipolysis in facilitating translocation of LPL from the underlying cardiomyocyte cell surface to the coronary lumen.

Methods: The in vivo effects of diazoxide (DZ), an agent that causes rapid hypoinsulinemia, and the in vitro effect of the lipoprotein breakdown product L-alpha-lysophosphatidylcholine (Lyso-PC) on luminal LPL were examined in Wistar rats.

Evidence for rapid "metabolic switching" through lipoprotein lipase occupation of endothelial-binding sites.

During diabetes, impaired glucose transport and utilization by the heart switches energy production to exclusive beta-oxidation of fatty acid (FA). In the current study, we examined the contribution of cardiac lipoprotein lipase (LPL) towards providing FA to the diabetic heart. Streptozotocin (STZ) caused an augmentation of LPL activity at the coronary lumen, an effect duplicated by diazoxide (DZ).

Meiotic response of in vitro matured canine oocytes under different proteins and heterologous hormone supplementation.

The impact of TCM-199 supplemented with different proteins and heterologous hormones on the in vitro maturation (IVM) rate of bitch oocytes was evaluated by nuclear staining under fluorescence microscopy. Oocytes were recovered by slicing of ovaries from bitches presented at various stages of oestrous cycle to ovariohysterectomy. The basic culture medium was TCM-199 supplemented with 25 mM Hepes/l, with 10% heat-inactivated oestrous cow serum (ECS), 50 microg/ml gentamicin, 2.

[Clinical and laboratory features of aseptic meningitis associated with measles-mumps-rubella vaccine].

Objective: To describe epidemiological, clinical, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) findings in cases of aseptic meningitis associated with measles-mumps-rubella vaccination following a mass immunization campaign in the Brazilian state of Bahia in August 1997 promoted by the country's Ministry of Health, and to compare these cases to the cases of aseptic meningitis not associated with the vaccine that occurred in the same year.

Methods: Between March 1997 and October 1997, all individuals between 1 and 12 years of age admitted to the Couto Maia Hospital (the Bahia reference hospital for infectious illnesses) with a clinical and laboratory diagnosis of aseptic meningitis were prospectively followed. The study population was divided into two groups: one with individuals who had received the vaccine, and one with individuals who had not received the vaccine.

[Clinical and laboratory aspects of acute bacterial meningitis in infants].

Objective: to describe clinical and laboratorial characteristics of acute bacterial meningitis in infants.

Method: data from the prospective follow-up of infants with acute bacterial meningitis, admitted at the Hospital Couto Maia between March and December 1997, were analyzed with specific statistical software.

Results: acute bacterial meningitis was more prevalent in infants with ages varying from 6 months to 1 year.

Prevalence of Chagas' disease in Mulungu do Morro northeastern Brazil.

Objective: The aim of this paper is to describe the prevalence of T. Cruzi infection in patients of from Mulungu do Morro, a rural tropical region of Northeastern Brazil.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed.

Pyruvate dehydrogenase and the regulation of glucose oxidation in hypertrophied rat hearts.

Objective: Coupling of glucose oxidation to glycolysis is lower in hypertrophied than in non-hypertrophied hearts, contributing to the compromised mechanical performance of hypertrophied hearts. Here, we describe studies to test the hypothesis that low coupling of glucose oxidation to glycolysis in hypertrophied hearts is due to reduced activity and/or expression of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC).

Methods: We examined the effects of dichloroacetate (DCA), an inhibitor of PDC kinase, and of alterations in exogenous palmitate supply on coupling of glucose oxidation to glycolysis in isolated working hypertrophied and control hearts from aortic-constricted and sham-operated male Sprague-Dawley rats.

Lack of in vivo effect of vanadium on GLUT4 translocation in white adipose tissue of streptozotocin-diabetic rats.

Vanadium treatment, in vivo, corrects the severe hyperglycemia observed in streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic rats. A number of metabolic effects of vanadium have been demonstrated in vitro and might contribute importantly to normalization of glucose homeostasis. However, many in vitro effects of vanadium occur at concentrations substantially higher than those achieved in vivo.

Experimental electron density of urea-phosphoric acid (1/1) at 100 K.

The deformation electron density of the urea-phosphoric acid adduct has been studied from 100 K X-ray and neutron diffraction experiments. Data were interpreted according to the Hirshfeld model. The long hydrogen bonds show characteristics of electrostatic interaction.

Effect of hypertension on the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy.

The effect of hypertension on the progression of diabetic cardiomyopathy was examined by attempting to induce a similar level of diabetes in both spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar rats. Streptozotocin (STZ) was injected into SHR (45 mg/kg) and Wistar rats (55 mg/kg) before (eight weeks of age) and after (twelve weeks of age) the development of hypertension in the SHR. For both groups of animals, induction of diabetes resulted in depressed weight gain, increased food and fluid consumption, hypoinsulinemia, hyperglycemia, and hypertriglyceridemia.

Hypertrophied rat hearts are less responsive to the metabolic and functional effects of insulin.

We determined the effect of insulin on the fate of glucose and contractile function in isolated working hypertrophied hearts from rats with an aortic constriction (n = 27) and control hearts from sham-operated rats (n = 27). Insulin increased glycolysis and glycogen in control and hypertrophied hearts. The change in glycogen was brought about by increased glycogen synthesis and decreased glycogenolysis in both groups.

Metabolism of VLDL is increased in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat hearts.

In streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats, we previously showed an increased heparin-releasable (luminal) lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity from perfused hearts. To study the effect of this enlarged LPL pool on triglyceride (TG)-rich lipoproteins, we examined the metabolism of very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) perfused through control and diabetic hearts. Diabetic rats had elevated TG levels compared with control.

Distinct glucose lowering and beta cell protective effects of vanadium and food restriction in streptozotocin-diabetes.

Vanadium is an oral insulin-mimetic agent that diminishes hyperglycemia, improves beta-cell insulin store and secretory function, and can reverse the diabetic state chronically after withdrawal from treatment. As food restriction has been reported to enhance insulin sensitivity and reduce insulin demand, we assessed the contribution of a reduced food intake to the glucose lowering and beta-cell protective effects of vanadium. Streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic rats were untreated (D) or administered vanadyl sulfate in the drinking water (DT) at one week prior to and for 5 weeks following the administration of STZ.

Multiple-site phosphorylation of the 280 kDa isoform of acetyl-CoA carboxylase in rat cardiac myocytes: evidence that cAMP-dependent protein kinase mediates effects of beta-adrenergic stimulation.

Two major forms of mammalian acetyl-CoA carboxylase (EC 6.4.1.

Localization of lipoprotein lipase in the diabetic heart: regulation by acute changes in insulin.

Vascular endothelium-bound lipoprotein lipase (LPL) is rate limiting for free fatty acid (FFA) transport into tissues. In streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic rats, we have previously demonstrated an increased heparin-releasable LPL activity from perfused hearts. Because heparin can traverse the endothelial barrier, conventional Langendorff retrograde perfusion of the heart with heparin could release LPL from both the capillary luminal and abluminal surfaces.

Proatherogenic and antiatherogenic effects of probucol and phytosterols in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice: possible mechanisms of action.

Background: The effects of probucol and a phytosterol mixture (FCP-3PI) on atherosclerotic lesion formation, plasma lipoproteins, hepatic and lipoprotein lipase activities, antioxidant enzyme activities, and plasma fibrinogen were investigated in apolipoprotein E-knockout (apoE-KO) mice.

Methods And Results: Three groups of 8 mice were fed a diet containing 9% (wt/wt) fat (controls) or the foregoing diet supplemented with either 1% (wt/wt) probucol (the probucol group) or 2% (wt/wt) FCP-3PI (the FCP-3PI group) for 20 weeks. Compared with controls, atherosclerotic lesion size was 3 times greater in the probucol group, whereas it was decreased by half in the FCP-3PI group.

Streptozotocin- and alloxan-induced diabetes modifies total plasma and lipoprotein lipid concentration and composition without altering cholesteryl ester transfer activity.

The objectives of this study were to determine the total plasma and lipoprotein lipid concentration and composition and cholesteryl ester transfer activity in two diabetic animal models (alloxan-induced diabetes in rabbits and streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats). Furthermore, we wanted to determine if the severity of diabetes influences lipoprotein lipid profiles and cholesteryl ester transfer activity. Rats and rabbits were randomly divided into non-diabetic and diabetic groups.

Metabolic disturbances in diabetic cardiomyopathy.

It has been established that diabetes results in a cardiomyopathy, and increasing evidence suggests that an altered substrate supply and utilization by cardiac myocytes could be the primary injury in the pathogenesis of this specific heart muscle disease. For example, in diabetes, glucose utilization is insignificant, and energy production is shifted almost exclusively towards beta-oxidation of free fatty acids (FFA). FFA's are supplied to cardiac cells from two sources: lipolysis of endogenous cardiac triglyceride (TG) stores, or from exogenous sources in the blood (as free acid bound to albumin or as TG in lipoproteins).