Reversal of aging-associated increase in myelopoiesis and expression of alarmins by angiotensin-(1-7).

Aging is associated with chronic systemic inflammation largely due to increased myelopoiesis, which in turn increases risk for vascular disease. We have previously shown evidence for the therapeutic potential of Angiotensin-(1-7) (Ang-(1-7)) in reversing vasoreparative dysfunction in aging. This study tested the hypothesis that ischemic vascular repair in aging by Ang-(1-7) involves attenuation of myelopoietic potential in the bone marrow and decreased mobilization of inflammatory cells.

Dopamine transporter binding in rat striatum: a comparison of [O-methyl-11C]beta-CFT and [N-methyl-11C]beta-CFT.

Introduction: Positron emission tomography scanning with radiolabeled phenyltropane cocaine analogs is important for quantifying the in vivo density of monoamine transporters, including the dopamine transporter (DAT). [(11)C]beta-CFT is useful for studying DAT as a marker of dopaminergic innervation in animal models of psychiatric and neurological disorders. [(11)C]beta-CFT is commonly labeled at the N-methyl position.

Effect of a simple versus a complex matrix on the polarity of cardiomyocytes in culture.

Objective: The objective of this study was to observe the effects of cell culture on cellular polarity in cardiomyocytes as influenced by cytoskeletal proteins.

Methods: Cardiomyocytes from adult and neonatal rats were isolated and grown on 2 different extracellular matrices--laminin and a complex, fibroblast-derived extracellular matrix, cardiogel. The location of a number of proteins was visualized by means of fluorescence deconvolution microscopy, using specific fluorescent probes for alpha-adrenergic receptors, beta-adrenergic receptors, the sarcolemmal L-type calcium channel, and the sodium + potassium adenosine triphosphatase pump protein.

A blueprint for the problem formulation phase of EPA-type ecological risk assessments for 316(b) determinations.

The difference between management objectives focused on sustainability of fish populations and the indigenous aquatic community, and a management objective focused on minimizing entrainment and impingement losses accounts for much of the ongoing controversy surrounding paragraph 316(b). We describe the EPA's ecological risk assessment framework and recommend that this framework be used to more effectively address differences in management objectives and structure paragraph 316(b) determinations. We provide a blueprint for the problem formulation phase of EPA-type ecological risk assessments for cooling-water intake structures (CWIS) at existing power plant facilities.

pH Heterogeneity of human and rabbit atherosclerotic plaques; a new insight into detection of vulnerable plaque.

Background: Atherosclerotic plaques are heterogeneous with respect to inflammation, calcification, vascularity, oxygen, and temperature. We hypothesized that they also vary in pH and measured pH in living human carotid endarterectomized atherosclerotic plaques (CEA), Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic (WHHL) rabbit aortas and human umbilical arteries (HUA).

Methods And Results: We measured pH of CEA of 48 patients, nine WHHL rabbit aortas and 11 HUA specimens (as controls) using a glass type microelectrode mounted on a micromanipulator in a 37 degrees C incubator.