A novel imaging technology to assess oxygen saturation of the gastric conduit in thoracic esophagectomy.

Background: Real-time evaluation of blood perfusion is important when selecting the site of anastomosis during thoracic esophagectomy. This study investigated a novel imaging technology that assesses tissue oxygen saturation (StO2) in the gastric conduit and examined its efficacy.

Methods: Fifty-one patients undergoing thoracic esophagectomy for esophageal cancer who underwent intraoperative StO2 endoscopic imaging to assess the gastric conduit for the optimal site of anastomosis were examined.

The Innate Immune Receptors TLR2/4 Mediate Repeated Social Defeat Stress-Induced Social Avoidance through Prefrontal Microglial Activation.

Repeated environmental stress has been proposed to induce neural inflammation together with depression and anxiety. Innate immune receptors, such as Toll-like receptors (TLRs), are activated by exogenous or endogenous ligands to evoke inflammation. Here we show that the loss of TLR2 and TLR4 (TLR2/4) abolished repeated social defeat stress (R-SDS)-induced social avoidance and anxiety in mice.

Prevention of doxorubicin (adriamycin)-induced cardiomyopathy by simultaneous administration of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor assessed by acoustic densitometry.

The purpose of our study has to determine the myocardial protective effects of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor temocapril (TEM, 7 mg/kg/day) simultaneously administered with doxorubicin (Adriamycin). Twenty male Sprague-Dawley rats were intraperitoneally administered a cumulative dose of 15 mg/kg of doxorubicin (each dose of 1.0 mg/kg x 15) for 3 weeks, and divided into TEM-untreated and -treated rats.

Degos' disease with constrictive pericarditis: a case report.

A 47-year-old man with Degos' disease was examined by echocardiography, which showed hypokinesis of the apical left ventricular wall with pericardial effusion. To evaluate the myocardial perfusion and coronary flow reserve, 201Tl scintigraphy and intracoronary Doppler flowmetry were performed. The coronary flow reserve was not decreased nor was there angiographical coronary stenosis, although a pressure study revealed constrictive dysfunction of both ventricles.

The role of basally synthesized nitric oxide in modulating the renal vasoconstrictor action of angiotensin II.

Interactions between nitric oxide (NO) and angiotensin (ANG) II in renal vascular beds were examined in anesthetized dogs. The renal blood flow (RBF) response to an intrarenal arterial injection of ANG II was significantly augmented by intrarenal infusion of the NO synthase inhibitor N(G)-nitro-L-arginine (LNA, 50 microg/kg/min). The simultaneous intrarenal infusion of L-arginine (1 mg/kg/min) prevented the potentiating action of LNA.

Effects of KW-3902, a selective and potent adenosine A1 receptor antagonist, on renal hemodynamics and urine formation in anesthetized dogs.

The purpose of the present investigation was to examine the effects of KW-3902 [8-(noradamantan-3-yl)-1,3-dipropyl-xanthine], a selective and potent adenosine A1 receptor antagonist, in order to clarify the role of adenosine in the control of renal hemodynamics and urine formation in anesthetized dogs. KW-3902 was directly infused into the renal artery to eliminate the systemic effects of the drug. KW-3902 (10 micrograms/kg/min) almost completely inhibited the renal vasoconstriction induced by adenosine via A1 receptors.

Dietary L-arginine supplementation normalizes regional blood flow in Dahl-Iwai salt-sensitive rats.

We performed the present study to determine 1) whether different organs undergo similar increase in vascular resistance in Dahl-Iwai salt-sensitive (S) rats, and 2) the effects of chronic oral L-arginine supplementation on the regional hemodynamics in S rats. Male 6 week old S rats and Dahl-Iwai salt-resistant (R) rats were maintained on an 8% NaCl chow for 4 weeks. One group (S or R rats) was maintained on tap water and the other group (S/Arg) of S rats received tap water containing L-arginine at a concentration of 1.

Regional blood flow in Dahl-Iwai salt-sensitive rats and the effects of dietary L-arginine supplementation.

The purpose of the present study was to determine 1) whether different organs undergo similar increase in vascular resistance in Dahl-Iwai salt-sensitive (S) rats, and 2) the effects of chronic oral L-arginine supplementation on the regional hemodynamics in S rats. Male 6-wk-old S rats and salt-resistant (R) rats were maintained on an 8% NaCl chow for 4 wk. One group (S or R rats) was maintained on tap water and the other group (S/Arg or R/Arg rats) received tap water containing L-arginine at a concentration of 1.

Role of nitric oxide in desmopressin-induced vasodilation of microperfused rabbit afferent arterioles.

We have previously reported that desmopressin (dDAVP) increased the lumen diameter of norepinephrine (NE)-constricted isolated microperfused rabbit afferent arterioles. In this study, we examined the role of nitric oxide in dDAVP-induced vasodilation of afferent arterioles. We microdissected a superficial afferent arteriole from the kidney of a New Zealand white rabbit.

Vasodilation induced by vasopressin V2 receptor stimulation in afferent arterioles.

We have previously reported that vasopressin (AVP) V2 receptor stimulation increased renal blood flow in dogs anesthetized with pentobarbital. In this study, we examined the direct effects of AVP on afferent arterioles to clarify the role played by V2 receptors in regulating afferent arteriolar tone. We microdissected a superficial afferent arteriole with glomerulus from the kidney of a New Zealand White rabbit.

Lack of vasodilatory response in skeletal muscle blood vessels of aged spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Regional hemodynamic responses to the vasodilators, hydralazine (1 mg/kg, i.v.) and verapamil (0.

Effects of a synthetic rat adrenomedullin on regional hemodynamics in rats.

The effects of rat adrenomedullin, a novel vasorelaxant peptide, on systemic and regional hemodynamics were examined in conscious Sprague Dawley (SD) rats and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). The intravenous infusion of adrenomedullin at rates of 1.67 and 5 micrograms/kg per min decreased the mean arterial pressure in a dose-dependent fashion in both types of rats.

Effects of CV-11974 on renal haemodynamics and renal function in dogs.

The effects of CV-11974, a nonpeptide angiotensin II (Ang II) receptor antagonist, on renal haemodynamics and function were examined in pentobarbital-anaesthetised dogs to evaluate the physiological role of endogenous Ang II in regulating renal haemodynamics and urine formation. Intrarenal infusion of CV-11974 (1 microgram/kg/min) increased renal blood flow (RBF), glomerular filtration rate (GFR), urine flow, and urinary electrolyte excretion (Na and K), with no change in mean arterial pressure (MAP). In another group of dogs, intrarenal infusion of CV-11974 (1 microgram/kg/min) increased the fractional excretion of sodium, the fractional proximal excretion of sodium, and the fractional distal excretion of sodium.