Regioselective analysis of heat-induced conformational changes of β-lactoglobulin by quantitative liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of chemical labeling kinetics.

β-Lactoglobulin is a main allergen in cow's milk; its allergenicity is strongly impacted by processing. To understand heat-induced epitope-specific effects, the present study analyzed regiospecific conformational changes of heated native β-lactoglobulin variant A (BLG-A). Complementary fluorescence spectroscopy methods indicated two denaturation phases comprising minor sequential conformational changes (25-75 °C) and complete transitions (80-90 °C).

Assessment of diastolic dysfunction: comparison of different cardiovascular magnetic resonance techniques.

Aims: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction is still a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge, and accurate non-invasive diagnosis of left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction (DD) remains difficult. The current study aimed at identifying the most informative cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) parameters for the assessment of LVDD.

Methods And Results: We prospectively included 50 patients and classified them into three groups: with DD (DD+, n = 15), without (DD-, n = 26), and uncertain (DD±, n = 9).

Branched-chain amino acid catabolism rather than amino acids plasma concentrations is associated with diet-induced changes in insulin resistance in overweight to obese individuals.

Background & Aims: 3-Hydroxyisobutyrate (3-HIB), a catabolic intermediate of the BCAA valine, which stimulates muscle fatty acid uptake, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance. We tested the hypothesis that circulating 3-HIB herald insulin resistance and that metabolic improvement with weight loss are related to changes in BCAAs and 3-HIB.

Methods And Results: We analyzed plasma and urine in 109 overweight to obese individuals before and after six months on hypocaloric diets reduced in either carbohydrates or fat.

Cardiac Involvement in Myotonic Dystrophy Type 2 Patients With Preserved Ejection Fraction: Detection by Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance.

Background: Myotonic dystrophy type 2 (DM2) is a genetic disorder characterized by skeletal muscle symptoms, metabolic changes, and cardiac involvement. Histopathologic alterations of the skeletal muscle include fibrosis and fatty infiltration. The aim of this study was to investigate whether subclinical cardiac involvement in DM2 is already detectable in preserved left ventricular function by cardiovascular magnetic resonance.

Branched-chain and aromatic amino acids, insulin resistance and liver specific ectopic fat storage in overweight to obese subjects.

Background & Aims: Amino acids may interfere with insulin action, particularly in obese individuals. We hypothesized that increased circulating branched-chain and aromatic amino acids herald insulin resistance and ectopic fat storage, particularly hepatic fat accumulation.

Methods And Results: We measured fasting branched-chain and aromatic amino acids (tryptophan, tyrosine, and phenylalanine) by mass spectrometry in 111 overweight to obese subjects.

Current T₁ and T₂ mapping techniques applied with simple thresholds cannot discriminate acute from chronic myocadial infarction on an individual patient basis: a pilot study.

Background: Studying T1- and T2-mapping for discrimination of acute from chronic myocardial infarction (AMI, CMI).

Methods: Eight patients with AMI underwent CMR at 3 T acutely and after >3 months. Imaging techniques included: T2-weighted imaging, late enhancement (LGE), T2-mapping, native and post-contrast T1-mapping.

Clinical effects of phosphodiesterase 3A mutations in inherited hypertension with brachydactyly.

Autosomal-dominant hypertension with brachydactyly is a salt-independent Mendelian syndrome caused by activating mutations in the gene encoding phosphodiesterase 3A. These mutations increase the protein kinase A-mediated phosphorylation of phosphodiesterase 3A resulting in enhanced cAMP-hydrolytic affinity and accelerated cell proliferation. The phosphorylated vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein is diminished, and parathyroid hormone-related peptide is dysregulated, potentially accounting for all phenotypic features.

Real-time phase contrast magnetic resonance imaging for assessment of haemodynamics: from phantom to patients.

Objectives: Assessment of haemodynamics is crucial in many cardiac diseases. Phase contrast MRI (PC-MRI) can accurately access it. Arrhythmia is a major limitation in conventional segmented PC-MRI (SEG).

Differential response of the natriuretic peptide system to weight loss and exercise in overweight or obese patients.

Objective: Relative atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) deficiency has been implicated in the pathogenesis of obesity-associated cardiovascular and metabolic disease. We tested the hypothesis that more than 5% body weight reduction through 6 months hypocaloric dieting alters ANP release at rest and more so during exercise in overweight or obese patients.

Methods: Venous mid-regional pro-ANP concentration was assessed at rest and after incremental exhaustive exercise testing before and after weight reduction.

Influence of nonenzymatic posttranslational modifications on constitution, oligomerization and receptor binding of S100A12.

This study examined the effect of methylglyoxal (MGO)-derived nonenzymatic posttranslational modifications (nePTMs) on the binding affinity of S100A12 to its natural receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE). Binding of MGO-modified S100A12 to RAGE decreased significantly with increasing MGO concentration and incubation time. Ca(2+)-induced S100A12 hexamerization was impaired only at higher MGO concentrations indicating that the loss of affinity is not predominantly caused by disturbance of ligand oligomerization.

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging of congenital bicuspid aortic valves and associated aortic pathologies in adults.

Aims: Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) represents the most frequent congenital cardiac abnormality resulting in premature valvular degeneration and aortic dilatation. In a large series of consecutive patients, we evaluated the distribution of BAV types and the associated valvular and aortic abnormalities.

Methods And Results: We investigated 266 patients (58 ± 14 years) with BAV using a 1.

Assessment of nonischemic fibrosis in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: comparison of gadopentetate dimeglumine and gadobenate dimeglumine for enhanced cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging.

Purpose: To compare whether the higher relaxivity contrast agent gadobenate is superior for the identification of nonischemic late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) compared to standard relaxivity agents such as gadopentetate.

Materials And Methods: Fifteen patients with HCM and positive LGE based on routine cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) with 0.2 mmol/kg gadopentetate were enrolled.

Long-lasting improvements in liver fat and metabolism despite body weight regain after dietary weight loss.

Objective: Weight loss reduces abdominal and intrahepatic fat, thereby improving metabolic and cardiovascular risk. Yet, many patients regain weight after successful diet-induced weight loss. Long-term changes in abdominal and liver fat, along with liver test results and insulin resistance, are not known.

Fatty acid binding protein 4 predicts left ventricular mass and longitudinal function in overweight and obese women.

Objective: To explore whether increased adipocyte-derived serum fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) predisposes to cardiac remodelling and left ventricular dysfunction in human obesity.

Design: Cross-sectional investigation.

Setting: Academic clinical research centre.

Variability and homogeneity of cardiovascular magnetic resonance myocardial T2-mapping in volunteers compared to patients with edema.

Background: The aim of the study was to test the reproducibility and variability of myocardial T2 mapping in relation to sequence type and spatial orientation in a large group of healthy volunteers. For control T2 mapping was also applied in patients with true edema. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) T2-mapping has potential for the detection and quantification of myocardial edema.

Moderate dietary weight loss reduces myocardial steatosis in obese and overweight women.

Background: Excessive myocardial triglyceride (MTG) content in obesity and type 2 diabetes is associated with impaired cardiac function. Previous studies suggest that MTG could be mobilized through lifestyle interventions. We assessed influences of moderate dietary weight loss in non diabetic obese and overweight women on MTG content and cardiac function.

Left ventricular mass and function with reduced-fat or reduced-carbohydrate hypocaloric diets in overweight and obese subjects.

In animals, carbohydrate and fat composition during dietary interventions influenced cardiac metabolism, structure, and function. Because reduced-carbohydrate and reduced-fat hypocaloric diets are commonly used in the treatment of obesity, we investigated whether these interventions differentially affect left ventricular mass, cardiac function, and blood pressure. We randomized 170 overweight and obese subjects (body mass index, 32.

Myocardial steatosis, cardiac remodelling and fitness in insulin-sensitive and insulin-resistant obese women.

Background: Obesity predisposes to heart failure and premature cardiovascular death, particularly in sedentary women. In animal models and in men with type 2 diabetes mellitus, impaired cardiac function is associated with myocardial triglyceride (MTG) accumulation. Lipotoxic injury from altered myocardial metabolism may be causative.

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging during pulmonary hyperinflation in apnea divers.

Purpose: Apnea divers hyperinflate the lung by taking a deep breath followed by glossopharyngeal insufflation. The maneuver can lead to symptomatic arterial hypotension. We tested the hypotheses that glossopharyngeal insufflation interferes with cardiac function further reducing cardiac output (CO) using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to fully sample both cardiac chambers.

Randomized comparison of reduced fat and reduced carbohydrate hypocaloric diets on intrahepatic fat in overweight and obese human subjects.

Unlabelled: Obesity-related hepatic steatosis is a major risk factor for metabolic and cardiovascular disease. Fat reduced hypocaloric diets are able to relieve the liver from ectopically stored lipids. We hypothesized that the widely used low carbohydrate hypocaloric diets are similarly effective in this regard.

A series of 18F-labelled pyridinylphenyl amides as subtype-selective radioligands for the dopamine D3 receptor.

Synthesis, biological activity, and structure-selectivity relationship (SSR) studies of a novel series of potential dopamine D3 receptor radioligands as imaging agents for positron emission tomography (PET) are reported. Considering a structurally diverse library of D3 ligands, SSR studies were performed for a new series of fluorinated pyridinylphenyl amides using CoMFA and CoMSIA methods. The in vitro D3 affinities of the predicted series of biphenyl amide ligands 9 a-d revealed single-digit to sub-nanomolar potencies (K(i)=0.

Cardiorespiratory fitness and insulin sensitivity in overweight or obese subjects may be linked through intrahepatic lipid content.

Objective: Low cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) predisposes one to cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes in part independently of body weight. Given the close relationship between intrahepatic lipid content (IHL) and insulin sensitivity, we hypothesized that the direct relationship between fitness and insulin sensitivity may be explained by IHL.

Research Design And Methods: We included 138 overweight to obese, otherwise healthy subjects (aged 43.

Determinants of exercise-induced fat oxidation in obese women and men.

Endurance training at an intensity eliciting maximal fat oxidation may have a beneficial effect on body weight and glucose metabolism in obese patients. However, the exercise intensity at which maximal fat oxidation occurs and the factors limiting fat oxidation are not well studied in this population. Obese, otherwise healthy men (n=38) and women (n=91) performed an incremental exercise test up to exhaustion on a cycle ergometer.

Improvement of fractional flow reserve and collateral flow by treatment with external counterpulsation (Art.Net.-2 Trial).

Background: Arteriogenesis (collateral artery growth) is nature's most efficient rescue mechanism to overcome the fatal consequences of arterial occlusion or stenosis. The goal of this trial was to investigate the effect of external counterpulsation (ECP) on coronary collateral artery growth.

Materials And Methods: A total of 23 patients (age 61 +/- 2.