Molecular characterization and mutational screening of the PRKAG3 gene in the horse.

The PRKAG3 gene encodes a muscle-specific isoform of the regulatory gamma subunit of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). A major part of the coding PRKAG3 sequence was isolated from horse muscle cDNA using reverse-transcriptase (RT)-PCR analysis. Horse-specific primers were used to amplify genomic fragments containing 12 exons.

In vivo investigation of estrogen regulation of adrenal and renal angiotensin (AT1) receptor expression by PET.

Unlabelled: The renin angiotensin system (RAS) has been implicated as one mediator of the cardiovascular effects of estrogen. Since changes in angiotensin type 1 (AT(1)) receptor expression are central to modulation of the RAS, we used the noninvasive PET imaging technique to study for the in vivo effects of estrogen on membrane and intracellular AT(1) receptors.

Methods: Dynamic PET measurements of canine AT(1) (cAT(1)) receptors using the radiolabeled AT(1) receptor antagonist, (11)C-L-159,884, were performed during 2-wk consecutive periods of estrogen deprivation induced by ovariectomy and 17beta-estradiol (E(2)) replacement.

Chronic kidney disease and sudden death: strategies for prevention.

The association between chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular death is accounted for, in part, by higher rates of serious arrhythmias. Research shows an independent relationship between worsened renal function and atrial fibrillation, heart block, ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, and asystole. These higher rates also associate with underlying structural heart disease including left ventricular hypertrophy, cardiac fibrosis, valvular disease, and left ventricular systolic and diastolic dysfunction.

Epidemiology of contrast-induced nephropathy.

Decreasing levels of renal function act as a major adverse prognostic factor after contrast exposure with or without percutaneous coronary intervention. In chronic kidney disease, the most important risk factor for the development of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is an estimated glomerular filtration rate View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Migration and differentiation of neural precursor cells can be directed by microglia.

Recent reports have supported the existence of neural stem cells in the adult mammalian CNS. Important features of such cells are self-renewal and multipotency, i.e.

A fast reconstruction algorithm for electron microscope tomography.

We have implemented a Fast Fourier Summation algorithm for tomographic reconstruction of three-dimensional biological data sets obtained via transmission electron microscopy. We designed the fast algorithm to reproduce results obtained by the direct summation algorithm (also known as filtered or R-weighted backprojection). For two-dimensional images, the new algorithm scales as O(N(theta)M log M)+O(MN log N) operations, where N(theta) is the number of projection angles and M x N is the size of the reconstructed image.

Dihydropyrimidinase related protein-2 as a biomarker for temperature and time dependent post mortem changes in the mouse brain proteome.

Proteome analysis in the central nervous system area represents a large and important challenge in drug discovery. One major problem is to obtain representative and well characterized tissues of high quality for analysis. We have used brain tissues from normal mice to study the effect of post mortem time (up to 32 h) and temperature (4 degrees C and room temperature) on protein expression patterns.

B-type natriuretic peptide and renal disease.

B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a cardiac neurohormone which has a principal effect on the kidney to signal both natriuresis and diuresis. Both BNP and renal function are prognostic indicators of survival in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). However, the relationships between BNP, renal function, and CHF as an emergency diagnosis, are not completely understood.

Sorting out the evidence on natriuretic peptides.

B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a cardiac neurohormone released as pre-proBNP and then enzymatically cleaved to the N-terminal-proBNP (NT-proBNP) and BNP upon ventricular myocyte stretch. Blood measurements of BNP and NT-proBNP have been used to identify patients with heart failure (HF). Clinical considerations for these tests include their half-lives in plasma, dependence on renal function for clearance, interpretation of their units of measure, and the rapid availability of the test results.

Generation of microglia specific reagents from phage displayed peptide libraries.

The present report concerns the generation of specific markers and the establishment of a selection procedure for microglia specific molecules from phage displayed peptide libraries. Negative selection against a mouse monocytic cell line (IC-21) and positive selection against primary mouse microglia was combined in the selection procedures using a mixture of two random peptide libraries displayed on phage. In a first set of experiments, one clone was selected that bound microglia and IC-21 cells to equal extent, and three clones that bound to unsorted primary microglia to substantially higher levels than to IC-21 cells.

Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and beta-blockers in African Americans with heart failure.

Previous analyses have implied diminished efficacy of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI), and equivalent or enhanced efficacy of beta-blockers (BB), in African Americans (AA) with congestive heart failure (CHF), when compared to placebo. These results may have been influenced by lead-time bias, in that AA may not have been entered into the older ACEI trials until late in their CHF course. Our goal was to use a prospective cohort study of 29,686 CHF patients within a single health system to examine the impact on AA mortality of administering ACEI and BB within the first year of CHF diagnosis.

Growth hormone regulation of glomerular AT1 angiotensin receptors in adult uninephrectomized male rats.

Sex differences exist in the mechanisms initiating early compensatory renal growth after unilateral nephrectomy (UNX); remnant kidney growth is growth hormone (GH) independent in adult female rats and GH dependent in adult male rats. The present study determined whether sex differences also exist in angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT1R) regulation during early remnant kidney (REM) growth after UNX, and if so, whether GH modulates AT1R expression after UNX in the male rat. Scatchard analysis of radioligand binding in glomeruli demonstrated that 48 h post-UNX, AT1R density (Bmax) was significantly decreased by 20% in female REM compared with control kidneys.

Estrogen regulates adrenal angiotensin AT1 receptors by modulating AT1 receptor translation.

Hypertension and associated cardiovascular disease increase after menopause. Angiotensin AT(1) receptor (AT(1)R) antagonists are effective treatments, in part, by inhibiting angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced aldosterone release from the adrenal zona glomerulosa (ZG). Estrogen decreases the number of AT(1)Rs in the adrenal gland and attenuates acute Ang II-induced aldosterone release.

Opportunities for improvement in the diagnosis and treatment of heart failure.

Background: Improved treatment of congestive heart failure (CHF) can slow disease progression, promote clinical stability, and prolong survival.

Hypothesis: Patterns in diagnostic test utilization and pharmacotherapy among patients with newly diagnosed heart failure may affect outcomes.

Methods: Claims data were analyzed from all diagnostic procedures and prescriptions from 1995 to 1998 in 3,353 patients with heart failure diagnosed within 1 year.

The second generation of the International Equine Gene Mapping Workshop half-sibling linkage map.

A low-density, male-based linkage map was constructed as one of the objectives of the International Equine Gene Mapping Workshop. Here we report the second generation map based on testing 503 half-sibling offspring from 13 sire families for 344 informative markers using the CRIMAP program. The multipoint linkage analysis localized 310 markers (90%) with 257 markers being linearly ordered.

Individual status at the start of rehabilitation: Implications for vocational rehabilitation programs.

Unlabelled: This research investigated the situation of 143 unemployed sick leavers at the start of vocational rehabilitation in Sweden. It is argued in this paper that in order to gain a meaningful picture of the vocational rehabilitation process it is necessary to know and understand something of individual differences and status at the onset. In doing so, assessment was carried out of the possible influence of one contextual factor and five individual factors on health, duration of sick leave and unemployment.

Estrogen regulates adrenal angiotensin type 1 receptors by modulating adrenal angiotensin levels.

Estrogen inhibits adrenal angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT(1)R) binding sites and attenuates the adrenal responsivity to angiotensin II (Ang II). Ang II modulates AT(1)R expression. Here, we determined if estrogen-induced down-regulation of adrenal AT(1)Rs involves modulation of adrenal Ang II.

Sex and the renin angiotensin system: implications for gender differences in the progression of kidney disease.

Two recognized risk factors implicated in the pathogenesis of progressive renal disease are overactivation of the renin angiotensin system and male gender. The peptide hormone, angiotensin II, produced by the renin angiotensin system cascade, plays a crucial role in maintaining blood pressure and electrolyte homeostasis. Medications that block the action of angiotensin II by either inhibiting its synthesis or by blocking its ability to bind its receptor are in wide clinical use because of their ability to significantly retard the progression of kidney disease.

Mortality benefit of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors after cardiac events in patients with end-stage renal disease.

Unlabelled: HYPOTHESIS/INTRODUCTION: The risks and benefits of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) after cardiac events are unknown. We sought to determine the independent effect of ACE inhibitors (ACE-I) on long-term mortality in ESRD patients after cardiac events.

Materials And Methods: We analysed a prospective coronary care unit registry and identified 527 ESRD patients, 368 with complete data on medications prescribed, over eight years at a single, tertiary centre.

Performance of multiple cardiac biomarkers measured in the emergency department in patients with chronic kidney disease and chest pain.

Objective: To evaluate the individual components of a cardiac multimarker panel in the detection of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in patients with chest pain across a spectrum of renal dysfunction.

Methods: A total of 817 consecutive patients evaluated for a possible AMI in the emergency department (ED) enrolled in a prospective study of cardiac biomarkers assessed using a point-of-care device with myoglobin (MYO), cardiac troponin I (cTnI), and creatine kinase myocardial band (CK-MB), recorded at 0, 1.5, 3, and 9 hours.

Determinants of serum creatinine trajectory in acute contrast nephropathy.

The aim of this study was to describe the trajectory of creatinine (Cr) rise and its determinants after exposure to radiocontrast media. Included were 98 subjects who underwent cardiac catheterization and were randomized to forced diuresis with i.v.

Emergency evaluation of chest pain in patients with advanced kidney disease.

Background: Increased rates of myocardial infarction, heart failure, arrhythmias, and death occur in patients with chronic kidney disease. We sought to evaluate the processes of care and outcomes in patients with chronic kidney disease presenting to an emergency department with chest discomfort.

Methods: We enrolled 817 consecutive patients who underwent evaluation for a possible acute myocardial infarction in a prospective study of cardiac biomarkers.

Asthma, beta-agonists, and development of congestive heart failure: results of the ABCHF study.

Background: Previous studies demonstrated an association between asthma and idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDCM), raising concerns regarding chronic beta-agonist inhaler use. The purpose of this investigation was to replicate that association.

Methods And Results: We identified 67 patients with IDCM and 130 controls with predominately ischemic cardiomyopathy.