Multiplexed measurement of cell type-specific calcium kinetics using high-content image analysis combined with targeted gene disruption.

Kinetic analysis of intracellular calcium (Ca) in cardiomyocytes is commonly used to determine the pathogenicity of genetic mutations identified in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Conventional methods for measuring Ca kinetics target whole-well cultured cardiomyocytes and therefore lack information concerning individual cells. Results are also affected by heterogeneity in cell populations.

Force loss induced by inhibiting cross-bridge cycling is mitigated in eccentric contraction.

We examined whether the force loss induced by 2,3-butanedione monoxime affects isometric and eccentric forces differently. Single skinned muscle fibers were activated at an average sarcomere length of 2.4 μm and then stretched to 3.

Influence of caffeine on the maximal isometric and concentric force produced by skinned fibers.

Caffeine is one of the most famous and widely used ergogenic drugs, especially by athletes to improve sports performance. Caffeine is known to enhance muscle contraction by facilitating Ca release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum. While the effect of caffeine on the cross-bridge dynamics has also investigated, the results is controversial.

Old-Age Onset Progressive Cardiac Contractile Dysfunction in a Patient with Polycystic Kidney Disease Harboring a PKD1 Frameshift Mutation.

A 70-year-old man with dyspnea was admitted to our department and received standard therapy for recurrent heart failure. He was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease (PKD) in his thirties and received hemodialysis for 4 years before undergoing renal transplantation at age 45. Although his left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was preserved in his 50s, LVEF decreased progressively from 61% to 24%, while left ventricular diastolic dimension (LVDd) increased from 54 mm to 65 mm between 63 and 69 years of age.

Effect of P-glycoprotein and breast cancer resistance protein inhibition on the pharmacokinetics of sunitinib in rats.

The aim of this study was to elucidate the roles of P-glycoprotein (P-gp/ABCB1) and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP/ABCG2) in the plasma concentration, biliary excretion, and distribution to the liver, kidney, and brain of sunitinib. The pharmacokinetics of sunitinib was examined in rats treated with PSC833 (valspodar) and pantoprazole, potent inhibitors of P-gp and BCRP, respectively. The sunitinib concentrations in plasma, bile, liver, kidney, and brain were determined by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.