Site-specific acetyl-mimetic modification of cardiac troponin I modulates myofilament relaxation and calcium sensitivity.

Objective: Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) is an essential physiological and pathological regulator of cardiac relaxation. Significant to this regulation, the post-translational modification of cTnI through phosphorylation functions as a key mechanism to accelerate myofibril relaxation. Similar to phosphorylation, post-translational modification by acetylation alters amino acid charge and protein function.

HDAC inhibition improves cardiopulmonary function in a feline model of diastolic dysfunction.

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a major health problem without effective therapies. This study assessed the effects of histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibition on cardiopulmonary structure, function, and metabolism in a large mammalian model of pressure overload recapitulating features of diastolic dysfunction common to human HFpEF. Male domestic short-hair felines ( = 31, aged 2 months) underwent a sham procedure ( = 10) or loose aortic banding ( = 21), resulting in slow-progressive pressure overload.

Defining decreased protein succinylation of failing human cardiac myofibrils in ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Succinylation is a post-translational modification of protein lysine residues with succinyl groups derived from succinyl CoA. Succinylation is considered a significant post-translational modification with the potential to impact protein function which is highly conserved across numerous species. The role of succinylation in the heart, especially in heart failure and myofibril mechanics, remains largely unexplored.

Thermally pressure-induced partial structural phase transitions in core-shell InSb-SiO2 nanoballs/microballs: characterization, size and interface effect.

Core-shell InSb-SiO(2) nanoballs/microballs were synthesized on a Si substrate by carbonthermal reactions at a temperature of 900 °C. High-resolution transmission microscopy (HRTEM) images revealed that the surfaces of the InSb nanoballs/microballs were covered by amorphous SiO(2) layers. On the basis of our theoretical calculation, the thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) of the InSb crystals is ten times higher than that of the SiO(2) shell.

Association of spermatogenic failure with decreased CDC25A expression in infertile men.

Background: DAZ gene family is crucial for human spermatogenesis that requires the precise co-ordination of cell cycle events. CDC25A is recognized as the downstream substrate of DAZ gene family and is thought to function on the M-phase regulation of cell cycles. We investigated the expression profiles of CDC25A in the testes of infertile men and evaluated the relationship between CDC25A levels and testicular phenotype, clinical hormonal parameters and sperm retrieval results.

Decreased mRNA transcripts of M-phase promoting factor and its regulators in the testes of infertile men.

Background: M-phase promoting factor (MPF), which is comprised of Cyclin B and a catalytic subunit, Cdc2, is a key enzyme required for cells to enter M phase in both mitosis and meiosis. MPF activity is controlled by the stimulatory dephosphorylation of the Cdc25 family and the inhibitory phosphorylation of Wee1. We determined the levels of mRNA transcripts of MPF and its regulators in the testes of infertile men, and evaluated the relationship between the transcript levels and patients' testicular phenotypes and sperm retrieval results.

Isochromosome of Yp in a man with Sertoli-cell-only syndrome.

Objective: To address phenotype/genotype correlation in a man with i(Y)(p10).

Design: Case report.

Setting: University-based reproductive genetics laboratory.

Messenger RNA transcripts of the meiotic regulator BOULE in the testis of azoospermic men and their application in predicting the success of sperm retrieval.

Background: Testicular sperm retrieval can lead to paternity for azoospermic patients with spermatogenic failure. The human BOULE gene, a meiotic regulator of germ cells, is a gene whose altered expression may be associated with sterility. We determined the levels of BOULE transcripts in the testes of azoospermic patients, and evaluated the relationship between BOULE transcript levels and patients' testicular phenotypes, clinical parameters and sperm retrieval results.

A new isoquinolinone derivative with noble vasorelaxation activity.

The pharmacological effects of BDPBI (7-bromo-1,4-dihydro-2-phenyl-4,4-bis(4-pyridinylmethyl)2H-isoquinolin-3-one dihydrochloride) were tested on isolated endothelium-containing or denuded aorta of the guinea pig. BDPBI with the formula C(27)H(24)BrCl(2)N(3)O was synthesized starting with 3-isochromanone. In the endothelium-containing preparations of the aortic rings, phenylephrine (PHE; 10 micromol/l) elicited contracture and acetylcholine (ACh; 10 micromol/l) or BDPBI (0.