Citrulline activates adenosine receptors: New insight into metabolic pathways interaction.

Citrulline is a non-proteinogenic amino acid that forms as by-product in nitric oxide (NO) synthesis from arginine and may act in concert with NO as an independent signaling molecule that involves in the mechanism of vascular smooth muscle vasodilation. In this study we examined the effects of citrulline on pulmonary artery smooth muscles. Experimental design comprised outward potassium currents measurements in enzymatically isolated rat pulmonary artery smooth muscle (PASMc) cells using whole-cell patch clamp technique, isometric contractile force recordings on rat pulmonary artery rings and method of molecular docking simulation.

Oxidative and Nitrous Stress Underlies Vascular Malfunction Induced by Ionizing Radiation and Diabetes.

Oxidative stress results from the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) in quantities exceeding the potential activity of the body's antioxidant system and is one of the risk factors for the development of vascular dysfunction in diabetes and exposure to ionizing radiation. Being the secondary products of normal aerobic metabolism in living organisms, ROS and RNS act as signaling molecules that play an important role in the regulation of vital organism functions. Meanwhile, in high concentrations, these compounds are toxic and disrupt various metabolic pathways.

Calcium-dependent modulation of BK channel activity induced by plasmonic gold nanoparticles in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells and hippocampal neurons.

Aim: Gold nanoparticles are widely used for biomedical applications, but the precise molecular mechanism of their interaction with cellular structures is still unclear. Assuming that intracellular calcium fluctuations associated with surface plasmon-induced calcium entry could modulate the activity of potassium channels, we studied the effect of 5 nm gold nanoparticles on calcium-dependent potassium channels and associated calcium signaling in freshly isolated rat pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells and cultured hippocampal neurons.

Methods: Outward potassium currents were recorded using patch-clamp techniques.

Calcium signaling in endocardial and epicardial ventricular myocytes from streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Aims/introduction: Abnormalities in Ca signaling have a key role in hemodynamic dysfunction in diabetic heart. The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes on Ca signaling in epicardial (EPI) and endocardial (ENDO) cells of the left ventricle after 5-6 months of STZ injection.

Materials And Methods: Whole-cell patch clamp was used to measure the L-type Ca channel (LTCC) and Na /Ca exchanger currents.

[SPECIFIC FEATURES OF TAXATION IN UKRAINE FOR OPERATIONS ON THE SUPPLY OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES].

The aim of the article is to study specific features of taxation of operations for the supply of health care services in Ukraine, to identify the problems in the taxation of such operations and to determine certain solutions. To achieve this aim, the authors have used theoretical and empirical methods of cognition, namely: methods of analysis, synthesis, generalization, systematization, as well as comparative and legal method while analyzing the effectiveness and validity of applying VAT tax advantages in the health care sector. The authors of the article have identified and characterized specific features of taxation of operations for the supply of health care services in Ukraine.

Calcium Signaling in the Ventricular Myocardium of the Goto-Kakizaki Type 2 Diabetic Rat.

The association between diabetes mellitus (DM) and high mortality linked to cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major concern worldwide. Clinical and preclinical studies have demonstrated a variety of diastolic and systolic dysfunctions in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with the severity of abnormalities depending on the patients' age and duration of diabetes. The cellular basis of hemodynamic dysfunction in a type 2 diabetic heart is still not well understood.

Voltage dependence of the Ca transient in endocardial and epicardial myocytes from the left ventricle of Goto-Kakizaki type 2 diabetic rats.

Diabetes mellitus is a major global health disorder and, currently, over 450 million people have diabetes with 90% suffering from type 2 diabetes. Left untreated, diabetes may lead to cardiovascular diseases which are a leading cause of death in diabetic patients. Calcium is the trigger and regulator of cardiac muscle contraction and derangement in cellular Ca homeostasis, which can result in heart failure and sudden cardiac death.

Effects of pioglitazone on ventricular myocyte shortening and Ca(2+) transport in the Goto-Kakizaki type 2 diabetic rat.

Pioglitazone (PIO) is a thiazolidindione antidiabetic agent which improves insulin sensitivity and reduces blood glucose in experimental animals and treated patients. At the cellular level the actions of PIO in diabetic heart are poorly understood. A previous study has demonstrated shortened action potential duration and inhibition of a variety of transmembrane currents including L-type Ca(2+) current in normal canine ventricular myocytes.

Regional effects of streptozotocin-induced diabetes on shortening and calcium transport in epicardial and endocardial myocytes from rat left ventricle.

In the heart, the left ventricle pumps blood at higher pressure than the right ventricle. Within the left ventricle, the electromechanical properties of ventricular cardiac myocytes vary transmurally and this may be related to the gradients of stress and strain experienced in vivo across the ventricular wall. Diabetes is also associated with alterations in hemodynamic function.

Modulation of 4-aminopyridine-induced neuronal activity and local pO(2)in rat hippocampal slices by changing the flow rate of the superfusion medium.

The brain slice preparation is the most frequently used tool for testing of pharmacological agents on the neuronal excitability. However in the absence of blood circulation in vitro, the tissue oxygenation strongly depends on the experimental conditions. It is well established that both hypoxia as well as hyperoxia can modulate the neuronal network activity.

Neuraminidase inhibition primes short-term depression and suppresses long-term potentiation of synaptic transmission in the rat hippocampus.

Neuraminidase (NEU) is a key enzyme that cleaves negatively charged sialic acid residues from membrane proteins and lipids. Clinical and basic science studies have shown that an imbalance in NEU metabolism or changes in NEU activity due to various pathological conditions parallel with behavior and cognitive impairment. It has been suggested that the decreases of NEU activity could cause serious neurological consequences.

Dapagliflozin reduces the amplitude of shortening and Ca(2+) transient in ventricular myocytes from streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

In the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus, Dapagliflozin (DAPA) is a newly introduced selective sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor which promotes renal glucose excretion. Little is known about the effects of DAPA on the electromechanical function of the heart. This study investigated the effects of DAPA on ventricular myocyte shortening and intracellular Ca(2+) transport in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats.

Persistent sodium current properties in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons of young and adult rats.

Persistent tetrodotoxin-sensitive sodium current (INaP) plays an important role in cellular and neuronal network excitability in physiological conditions and under different pathological circumstances. However, developmental changes in INaP properties remain largely unclear. In the present study using whole cell patch clamp technique we evaluated INaP properties in CA1 hippocampal pyramidal neurons isolated from young (postnatal day (P) 12-16) and adult (P60-75) rats.

Effects of cannabidiol on the function of α7-nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.

The effects of cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive ingredient of cannabis plant, on the function of the cloned α7 subunit of the human nicotinic acetylcholine (α7 nACh) receptor expressed in Xenopus oocytes were tested using the two-electrode voltage-clamp technique. CBD reversibly inhibited ACh (100 μM)-induced currents with an IC50 value of 11.3 µM.

Effects of exercise training on excitation-contraction coupling and related mRNA expression in hearts of Goto-Kakizaki type 2 diabetic rats.

Although, several novel forms of intervention aiming at newly identified therapeutic targets are currently being developed for diabetes mellitus (DM), it is well established that physical exercise continues to be one of the most valuable forms of non-pharmacological therapy. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of exercise training on excitation-contraction coupling and related gene expression in the Goto-Kakizaki (GK) type 2 diabetic rat heart and whether exercise is able to reverse diabetes-induced changes in excitation-contraction coupling and gene expression. Experiments were performed in GK and control rats aged 10-11 months following 2-3 months of treadmill exercise training.

[Surgical treatment of Meckel diverticulum complicated by an acute hemorrhage].

Mekkel's diverticulum (MD)--is the inborn anomaly, caused by incomplete yolk duct development, it is present in near 2% of population and in 95% of observations lacks clinical manifestations. Symptoms of the disease manifest while complications occurrence only--in presence of peptic ulcer with possible hemorrhage and perforation occurrence, while ileus, diverticulitis, hernia, umbilicus fistula and tumor development. Eight patients, suffering MD, complicated by gastrointestinal hemorrhage, were treated during 1983-2006 yrs in Kyiv's city center for giving the aid to patients suffering gastrointestinal hemorrhage (GIH).

[Problems of surgical aid to HIV-infected and AIDS patients].

The article focuses on general characterization of HIV-infection, staging of the condition, problems of providing surgical aid for AIDS patients and HIV-infected subjects. Clinical cases are described of surgical afflictions in this group of patients.

TRPC7 is a receptor-operated DAG-activated channel in human keratinocytes.

Muscarinic and purinergic receptors expressed in keratinocytes are an important part of a functional system for cell growth. While several aspects of this process are clearly dependent on Ca(2+) homeostasis, less is known about the mechanisms controlling Ca(2+) entry during epidermal receptor stimulation. We used patch-clamp technique to study responses to carbachol (CCh) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in HaCaT human keratinocytes.

[Application of synthetic analogue of somatostatin--octrestatin in the treatment of gastroduodenal erosions and acute ulcers complicated by hemorrhage].

Retrospective analysis of diagnostic and curative processes in Kyiv's city centre of delivering the aid in gastrointestinal hemorrhage for 1131 patients in 1999--2003 yrs period was done. The classification of gastroduodenal erosions and an acute ulcers, complicated by hemorrhage, oriented on etiological factor involved, was proposed. Depending on etiological feature present, there were determined characteristic signs of mucosal affections, their localization and the hemorrhage severity.

Ca(2+)- and volume-sensitive chloride currents are differentially regulated by agonists and store-operated Ca2+ entry.

Using patch-clamp and calcium imaging techniques, we characterized the effects of ATP and histamine on human keratinocytes. In the HaCaT cell line, both receptor agonists induced a transient elevation of [Ca2+]i in a Ca(2+)-free medium followed by a secondary [Ca2+]i rise upon Ca2+ readmission due to store-operated calcium entry (SOCE). In voltage-clamped cells, agonists activated two kinetically distinct currents, which showed differing voltage dependences and were identified as Ca(2+)-activated (I(Cl(Ca))) and volume-regulated (I(Cl, swell)) chloride currents.

Alpha1-adrenergic receptors activate Ca(2+)-permeable cationic channels in prostate cancer epithelial cells.

The prostate gland is a rich source of alpha1-adrenergic receptors (alpha1-ARs). alpha1-AR antagonists are commonly used in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia symptoms, due to their action on smooth muscle cells. However, virtually nothing is known about the role of alpha1-ARs in epithelial cells.

Receptor-coupled, DAG-gated Ca2+-permeable cationic channels in LNCaP human prostate cancer epithelial cells.

Although the prostate gland is a rich source of alpha1-adreno- (alpha1-AR) and m1-cholino receptors (m1-AChR), the membrane processes associated with their activation in glandular epithelial cells is poorly understood. We used the whole-cell patch-clamp technique to show that the agonists of the respective receptors, phenylephrine (PHE) and carbachol (CCh), activate cationic membrane currents in lymph node carcinoma of the prostate (LNCaP) human prostate cancer epithelial cells, which are not dependent on the filling status of intracellular IP3-sensitive Ca2+ stores, but directly gated by diacylglycerol (DAG), as evidenced by the ability of its membrane permeable analogue, OAG, to mimic the effects of the agonists. The underlying cationic channels are characterized by the weak field-strength Eisenman IV permeability sequence for monovalent cations (PK(25) > PCs(4.