Neuroendocrine mechanisms of left ventricular dysfunction stimulated by anger stress in rats with atherosclerosis--a putative role of natriuretic peptide.

Objective: To investigate the role of natriuretic peptide in the process of left ventricular dysfunction caused by emotional stress.

Methods: Adult male SD rats (n=30) and Wistar rats (n=60) were selected in this study. Atherosclerosis models were induced with high-fat diet and excess VD3 injection (eight consecutive weeks), and anger stress models were prepared by resident-intruder stress experiment (two consecutive weeks).

Cardiomyocyte progenitors in a canine pulmonary vein model of persistent atrial fibrillation.

Background: This study aimed to discover the pathogenesis of focal atrial fibrillation (AF) originating from pulmonary veins by observing the histological structure and special cells in the canine pulmonary vein model of persistent atrial fibrillation.

Methods: The pulmonary veins and the sinus node were obtained from 10 mongrel dogs (5 AF and 5 control group). Light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and immunohistochemistry were applied to transverse sections of each pulmonary vein and sinoatrial node.

MATE2 mediates vacuolar sequestration of flavonoid glycosides and glycoside malonates in Medicago truncatula.

The majority of flavonoids, such as anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, and isoflavones, are stored in the central vacuole, but the molecular basis of flavonoid transport is still poorly understood. Here, we report the functional characterization of a multidrug and toxin extrusion transporter (MATE2), from Medicago truncatula. MATE 2 is expressed primarily in leaves and flowers.

The effect of early and intensive statin therapy on ventricular premature beat or nonsustained ventricular tachycardia in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Background: To evaluate the prognostic value of early and intensive lipid-lowering treatment on ventricular premature beat or nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT) after acute coronary syndrome (ACS) (ST-elevation myocardial infarction [STEMI], non-STEMI, and unstable angina pectoris).

Hypothesis: Provided that early and intensive lipid-lowering treatment can reduce ventricular premature beat or non-sustained ventricular tachycardia after ACS.

Methods: A total of 586 patients with ACS were randomly divided into 2 groups: group A (with conventional statin therapy, to receive 10 mg/day atorvastatin, n = 289) and group B (early and intensive statin therapy, 60 mg immediately and 40 mg/day atorvastatin, n = 297).

A genomic approach to isoflavone biosynthesis in kudzu (Pueraria lobata).

Roots of kudzu (Pueraria lobata) are a rich source of isoflavone O- and C-glycosides. Although O-glycosylation of (iso)flavonoids has been well characterized at the molecular level, no plant isoflavonoid C-glycosyltransferase genes have yet been isolated. To address the biosynthesis of kudzu isoflavonoids, we generated 6,365 high-quality expressed sequence tags (ESTs) from a subtraction cDNA library constructed using RNA from roots that differentially accumulate puerarin.

The effect of early and intensive statin therapy on ventricular premature beat or non-sustained ventricular tachycardia in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Background: Our study's aim was to evaluate the prognostic value of early and intensive lipid-lowering treatment on ventricular premature beat or non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT) after acute coronary syndrome (STEMI, non-STEMI, and unstable angina pectoris).

Methods: Some 586 patients with acute coronary syndrome were randomly divided into two groups: Group A (with conventional statin therapy, to receive 10 mg/day atorvastatin, n = 289) and Group B (given early and intensive statin therapy, 60 mg immediately and 40 mg/day atorvastatin, n = 297). The frequency of ventricular premature beat and NSVT was recorded via Holter monitoring after hospitalization (24 h and 72 h).

Elicitor-induced transcription factors for metabolic reprogramming of secondary metabolism in Medicago truncatula.

Background: Exposure of Medicago truncatula cell suspension cultures to pathogen or wound signals leads to accumulation of various classes of flavonoid and/or triterpene defense molecules, orchestrated via a complex signalling network in which transcription factors (TFs) are essential components.

Results: In this study, we analyzed TFs responding to yeast elicitor (YE) or methyl jasmonate (MJ). From 502 differentially expressed TFs, WRKY and AP2/EREBP gene families were over-represented among YE-induced genes whereas Basic Helix-Loop-Helix (bHLH) family members were more over-represented among the MJ-induced genes.

Study on the spatial distribution pattern of Cx40 gap junctions in the atria of patients with coronary heart disease.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between atrial fibrillation and atrial dilation and the spatial distribution pattern of connexin 40 in the atria of patients with coronary heart disease.

Methods: Twenty-six patients with coronary heart disease undergoing cardiac surgery for coronary artery bypass graft were investigated and were divided into three groups according to the left atrial size and rhythm, atrial fibrillation and left atrial dilatation (AF+AD), sinus rhythm and left atrial dilation (SR+AD) and sinus rhythm as control group SR. The spatial distribution patterns of Cx40 were evaluated using confocal laser scanning microscopy assay.

Regioselective synthesis of plant (iso)flavone glycosides in Escherichia coli.

The flavonoids genistein, biochanin A, luteolin, quercetin, and kaempferol are plant natural products with potentially useful pharmacological and nutraceutical activities. These natural products usually exist in plants as glycosides, and their glycosylation has a remarkable influence on their pharmacokinetic properties. The glycosyltransferases UGT71G1 and UGT73C8 from Medicago truncatula are excellent reagents for the regioselective glycosylation of (iso)flavonoids in Escherichia coli grown in Terrific broth.

Mutational analysis of the Medicago glycosyltransferase UGT71G1 reveals residues that control regioselectivity for (iso)flavonoid glycosylation.

The plant glycosyltransferase UGT71G1 from the model legume barrel medic (Medicago truncatula) glycosylates flavonoids, isoflavonoids, and triterpenes. It can transfer glucose to each of the five hydroxyl groups of the flavonol quercetin, with the 3'-O-glucoside as the major product, and to the A-ring 7-hydroxyl of the isoflavone genistein. The sugar donor and acceptor binding pockets are located in the N and C termini, respectively, of the recently determined crystal structure of UGT71G1.

KAP-2, a protein that binds to the H-box in a bean chalcone synthase promoter, is a novel plant transcription factor with sequence identity to the large subunit of human Ku autoantigen.

The KAP-2 protein that binds to the H-box (CCTACC) element in the bean CHS15 chalcone synthase promoter was purified, and internal peptide sequence used to design primers leading to the cloning of KAP-2 from bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) and barrel medic (Medicago truncatula). KAP-2 shares sequence similarity to the large subunit of mammalian Ku autoantigen, a protein proposed to be involved in control of DNA recombination and transcription. KAP-2 sequences were present in genomic DNA from a range of legumes, and a related protein is found in Arabidopsis thaliana.