Delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol conserves cardiovascular functions in a rat model of endotoxemia: Involvement of endothelial molecular mechanisms and oxidative-nitrative stress.

In endotoxemic models, the inflammatory parameters are altered to a favorable direction as a response to activation of cannabinoid receptors 1 and 2. The phytocannabinoid Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is an agonist/partial antagonist of both cannabinoid receptors. This report targets the effects of THC on the cardiovascular system of endotoxemic rats.

Corrigendum to "Oxidative Stress-Related Parthanatos of Circulating Mononuclear Leukocytes in Heart Failure".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2017/1249614.].

Review of the Clinical Evidences of Modulated Electro-Hyperthermia (mEHT) Method: An Update for the Practicing Oncologist.

Modulated electro-hyperthermia (mEHT) is a variation of the conventional hyperthermia which selectively targets the malignant cell membranes in order to heat the malignant tissue and sensitize the tissue to oncology treatments. Although widely applied, the formulation of guidelines for the use thereof is still in progress for many tumors. In this paper we review the literature on the effects of mEHT in cancer patients on local disease control and survival.

Nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) supplementation promotes anti-aging miRNA expression profile in the aorta of aged mice, predicting epigenetic rejuvenation and anti-atherogenic effects.

Understanding molecular mechanisms involved in vascular aging is essential to develop novel interventional strategies for treatment and prevention of age-related vascular pathologies. Recent studies provide critical evidence that vascular aging is characterized by NAD+ depletion. Importantly, in aged mice, restoration of cellular NAD+ levels by treatment with the NAD+ booster nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) exerts significant vasoprotective effects, improving endothelium-dependent vasodilation, attenuating oxidative stress, and rescuing age-related changes in gene expression.

Vitamin D deficiency and androgen excess result eutrophic remodeling and reduced myogenic adaptation in small cerebral arterioles in female rats.

Vitamin D (vitD) insufficiency affects 1 billion people worldwide. Androgen excess (AE) occurs in 8% of fertile females. There are few data about the combined effect of vitD deficiency and AE on the early biomechanical changes of cerebral arterioles in fertile-aged female.

Oncological hyperthermia: The correct dosing in clinical applications.

The problem with the application of conventional hyperthermia in oncology is firmly connected to the dose definition, which conventionally uses the concept of the homogeneous (isothermal) temperature of the target. Its imprecise control and complex evaluation is the primary barrier to the extensive clinical applications. The aim of this study was to show the basis of the problems of the misleading dose concept.

Role of microRNA-223 in the regulation of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase in pediatric patients with Crohn's disease.

Objectives: Crohn's disease (CD) is a multifactorial disease, characterized by oxidant-induced tissue injury with a possible activation of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP)-1. MicroRNAs (miRs) can offer a potential link between the genetic susceptibility, environmental and immunologic factors in the pathogenesis of CD. Previously, PARP-1 was identified as a direct target gene of miR-223 in an epithelial cell line.

Oxidative-Nitrative Stress and Poly (ADP-Ribose) Polymerase Activation 3 Years after Pregnancy.

Background: Oxidative-nitrative stress and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase activation have been previously observed in healthy and gestational diabetic pregnancies, and they were also linked to the development of metabolic diseases. The aim of the present study was to examine these parameters and their correlation to known metabolic risk factors following healthy and gestational diabetic pregnancies.

Methods: Fasting and 2 h postload plasma total peroxide level, protein tyrosine nitration, and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase activation were measured in circulating leukocytes three years after delivery in women following healthy, "mild" (diet-treated) or "severe" (insulin-treated) gestational diabetic pregnancy during a standard 75 g OGTT.

Insulin resistance in an animal model of polycystic ovary disease is aggravated by vitamin D deficiency: Vascular consequences.

Hyperandrogenic state in females is accompanied with metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance and vascular pathologies. A total of 67%-85% of hyperandrogenic women suffer also from vitamin D deficiency. We aimed to check a potential interplay between hyperandrogenism and vitamin D deficiency in producing insulin resistance and effects on coronary resistance arteries.

Oxidative Stress-Related Parthanatos of Circulating Mononuclear Leukocytes in Heart Failure.

Background: The present study aims to examine the oxidative stress-related activation of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), a cause of parthanatos in circulating mononuclear leukocytes of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF), that was rarely investigated in the human setting yet.

Methods: Patients with CHF ( = 20) and age- and body mass index-matched volunteers ( = 15) with a normal heart function were enrolled. C-reactive protein, N-terminal probrain-type natriuretic peptide (pro-BNP), plasma total peroxide level (PRX), plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC), oxidative stress index (OSI), leukocyte lipid peroxidation (4-hydroxynonenal; HNE), protein tyrosine nitration (NT), poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation (PARylation), and apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) translocation were measured in blood samples of fasting subjects.

Evaluation of Laser Speckle Contrast Imaging for the Assessment of Oral Mucosal Blood Flow following Periodontal Plastic Surgery: An Exploratory Study.

The laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) is proved to be a reliable tool in flap monitoring in general surgery; however, it has not been evaluated in oral surgery yet. We applied the LSCI to compare the effect of a xenogeneic collagen matrix (Geistlich Mucograft®) to connective tissue grafts (CTG) on the microcirculation of the modified coronally advanced tunnel technique (MCAT) for gingival recession coverage. Gingival microcirculation and wound fluid were measured before and after surgery for six months at twenty-seven treated teeth.

High pressure-low flow remodeling of the rat saphenous vein wall.

Objective To better understand factors that may play a role in the development of varicosities. Methods We induced combined flow-pressure disturbance in the saphenous system of the rat by performing chronic partial clipping of the main branch. Biomechanical and quantitative histological testing was undertaken.

Transit of H2O2 across the endoplasmic reticulum membrane is not sluggish.

Cellular metabolism provides various sources of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in different organelles and compartments. The suitability of H2O2 as an intracellular signaling molecule therefore also depends on its ability to pass cellular membranes. The propensity of the membranous boundary of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to let pass H2O2 has been discussed controversially.

The soluble guanylate cyclase activator cinaciguat prevents cardiac dysfunction in a rat model of type-1 diabetes mellitus.

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) leads to the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy, which is associated with altered nitric oxide (NO)--soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC)--cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) signalling. Cardioprotective effects of elevated intracellular cGMP-levels have been described in different heart diseases. In the current study we aimed at investigating the effects of pharmacological activation of sGC in diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Autonomic Dysregulation in Multiple Sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, progressive central neurological disease characterized by inflammation and demyelination. In patients with MS, dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system may present with various clinical symptoms including sweating abnormalities, urinary dysfunction, orthostatic dysregulation, gastrointestinal symptoms, and sexual dysfunction. These autonomic disturbances reduce the quality of life of affected patients and constitute a clinical challenge to the physician due to variability of clinical presentation and inconsistent data on diagnosis and treatment.

Remineralization of demineralized bone matrix in critical size cranial defects in rats: A 6-month follow-up study.

The key drawback of using demineralized bone matrix (DBM) is its low initial mechanical stability due to the severe depletion of mineral content. In the present study, we investigated the long-term regeneration of DBM in a critical size bone defect model and investigated the remineralization after 6 months. Bone defects were created in the cranium of male Wistar rats which were filled with DBM or left empty as negative control.

Biofilm Lysine Decarboxylase, a New Therapeutic Target for Periodontal Inflammation.

Background: Lysine, a nutritionally essential amino acid, enters the oral cavity in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF). During oral hygiene restriction (OHR), lysine decarboxylase (LDC) in dento-gingival biofilms converts lysine to cadaverine. Lysine depletion impairs the dental epithelial barrier to bacterial proinflammatory products.

Composition of the redox environment of the endoplasmic reticulum and sources of hydrogen peroxide.

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a metabolically active organelle, which has a central role in proteostasis by translating, modifying, folding, and occasionally degrading secretory and membrane proteins. The lumen of the ER represents a separate compartment of the eukaryotic cell, with a characteristic proteome and metabolome. Although the redox metabolome and proteome of the compartment have not been holistically explored, it is evident that proper redox conditions are necessary for the functioning of many luminal pathways.

Serum albumin coating of demineralized bone matrix results in stronger new bone formation.

Blood serum fractions are hotly debated adjuvants in bone replacement therapies. In the present experiment, we coated demineralized bone matrices (DBM) with serum albumin and investigated stem cell attachment in vitro and bone formation in a rat calvaria defect model. In the in vitro experiments, we observed that significantly more cells adhere to the serum albumin coated DBMs at every time point.

On the role of 4-hydroxynonenal in health and disease.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids are susceptible to peroxidation and they yield various degradation products, including the main α,β-unsaturated hydroxyalkenal, 4-hydroxy-2,3-trans-nonenal (HNE) in oxidative stress. Due to its high reactivity, HNE interacts with various macromolecules of the cell, and this general toxicity clearly contributes to a wide variety of pathological conditions. In addition, growing evidence suggests a more specific function of HNE in electrophilic signaling as a second messenger of oxidative/electrophilic stress.

Endocannabinoid-mediated modulation of Gq/11 protein-coupled receptor signaling-induced vasoconstriction and hypertension.

Activation of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) can induce vasoconstriction via calcium signal-mediated and Rho-dependent pathways. Earlier reports have shown that diacylglycerol produced during calcium signal generation can be converted to an endocannabinoid, 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG). Our aim was to provide evidence that GPCR signaling-induced 2-AG production and activation of vascular type1 cannabinoid receptors (CB1R) is capable of reducing agonist-induced vasoconstriction and hypertension.

Cardiac effects of acute exhaustive exercise in a rat model.

Background: The role of physical exercise in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases has been well described, however, elevations in cardionecrotic biomarkers after prolonged exercise (i.e. ultramarathon running) were observed.

Quantitative analysis of vasodilatory action of quercetin on intramural coronary resistance arteries of the rat in vitro.

Background: Dietary quercetin improves cardiovascular health, relaxes some vascular smooth muscle and has been demonstrated to serve as a substrate for the cyclooxygenase enzyme.

Aims: 1. To test quantitatively a potential direct vasodilatory effect on intramural coronary resistance artery segments, in different concentrations.

H2S preconditioning of human adipose tissue-derived stem cells increases their efficacy in an in vitro model of cell therapy for simulated ischemia.

Aims: A major limitation of cell-based therapies for ischemia-reperfusion injury is the excessive loss of administered cells. We investigated whether H2S can improve the survival and efficacy of therapeutic cells in an in vitro model of cell-based therapy for simulated ischemia.

Main Methods: H9c2 rat cardiomyoblasts were exposed to oxygen-glucose deprivation and NaHS (3-30 μM) pretreated human adipose tissue derived stem cells (hASCs) were added after reoxygenization.