Risk Assessment of Isoeugenol in Food Based on Benchmark Dose-Response Modeling.

Isoeugenol has recently been evaluated as possibly carcinogenic (Group 2B) by the WHO International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). In light of this evaluation, an updated risk assessment of this common food constituent was conducted using the benchmark dose (BMD) approach as recommended by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) for point of departure (POD) determination, as an alternative to the no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL). This approach was specifically chosen, as for the relevant neoplastic endpoints only lowest observed adverse effect level (LOAEL) values are available.

Differences in Androgen Receptor Expression in Human Heart Tissue in Various Types of Cardiomyopathy and in Aortic Valve Stenosis.

: Sex-specific differences in heart disease outcomes are influenced by the levels of the steroid hormones, estrogen and testosterone. While the roles of estrogen receptors in cardiac disease are well-studied in animals and humans, respective research on androgen receptors (AR) is limited. Here we investigate AR protein and mRNA expression in human myocardium of various cardiac diseases.

Mechanistic role of the CREB-regulated transcription coactivator 1 in cardiac hypertrophy.

The sympathetic nervous system is the main stimulator of cardiac function. While acute activation of the β-adrenoceptors exerts positive inotropic and lusitropic effects by increasing cAMP and Ca, chronically enhanced sympathetic tone with changed β-adrenergic signaling leads to alterations of gene expression and remodeling. The CREB-regulated transcription coactivator 1 (CRTC1) is activated by cAMP and Ca.

Stent implantation into the tracheo-bronchial system in rabbits: histopathologic sequelae in bare metal vs. drug-eluting stents.

Background: Stent implantation into the tracheo-bronchial system may be life-saving in selected pediatric patients with otherwise intractable stenosis of the upper airways. Following implantation, significant tissue proliferation may occur, requiring re-interventions. We sought to evaluate the effect of immunosuppressive coating of the stents on the extent of tissue proliferation in an animal model.

Characterization of maturation of neuronal voltage-gated sodium channels SCN1A and SCN8A in rat myocardium.

Background: Sodium channels predominantly expressed in brain are expressed in myocardial tissue and play an important role in cardiac physiology. Alterations of sodium channels are known to result in neurological disease in infancy and childhood. It will be of interest to study the expression of brain-type sodium channels in the developing myocardium.