Low-vitamin E diet exacerbates calcium oxalate crystal formation via enhanced oxidative stress in rat hyperoxaluric kidney.

Vitamin E was previously reported to reduce calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystal formation. This study explored whether vitamin E deficiency affects intrarenal oxidative stress and accelerates crystal deposition in hyperoxaluria. The control (C) group of rats received a standard diet and drinking water, while the experimental groups received 0.

Serum- and glucocorticoid-inducible kinase 1 in doxorubicin-induced nephrotic syndrome.

Doxorubicin-induced nephropathy leads to epithelial sodium channel (ENaC)-dependent volume retention and renal fibrosis. The aldosterone-sensitive serum- and glucocorticoid-inducible kinase SGK1 has been shown to participate in the stimulation of ENaC and to mediate renal fibrosis following mineralocorticoid and salt excess. The present study was performed to elucidate the role of SGK1 in the volume retention and fibrosis during nephrotic syndrome.

The gut does not contribute to systemic ammonia release in humans without portosystemic shunting.

The gut is classically seen as the main source of circulating ammonia. However, the contribution of the intestines to systemic ammonia production may be limited by hepatic extraction of portal-derived ammonia. Recent data suggest that the kidney may be more important than the gut for systemic ammonia production.

Impact of diaphragmatic contraction on the stiffness of the canine mediastinum.

To assess the coupling between a particular hemidiaphragm and the individual lungs, the left and right phrenic nerves were separately stimulated in anesthetized dogs, and the mean changes in pleural pressure over the two lungs were evaluated by measuring the changes in airway opening pressure (DeltaPao) in the two bronchial trees. Stimulation induced a fall in Pao in both lungs. However, DeltaPao in the contralateral lung was only 65% of that in the ipsilateral lung.

Endotoxemia causes central downregulation of sympathetic vasomotor tone in healthy humans.

Experimental endotoxemia as a model of the initial septic response affects the autonomic nervous system with profound cardiovascular sequelae. Whether the postsynaptic sympathoneural activity to the muscle vascular bed is altered in the early septic phase remains to be determined. The present study aimed to elucidate the early effects of LPS on muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) and cardiovascular regulation in healthy humans.

Alveolar epithelial cell injury with Epstein-Barr virus upregulates TGFbeta1 expression.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a refractory and lethal interstitial lung disease characterized by alveolar epithelial cells apoptosis, fibroblast proliferation, and ECM protein deposition. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has previously been localized to alveolar epithelial cells of IPF patients and is associated with a poor prognosis. In this study, we utilized a microarray-based differential gene expression analysis strategy to identify molecular drivers of EBV-associated lung fibrosis.

Lower capacitance response and capillary fluid absorption in women to defend central blood volume in response to acute hypovolemic circulatory stress.

Acute hemorrhage is a leading cause of death in trauma, and women are more susceptible to hypovolemic circulatory stress than men. The mechanisms underlying the susceptibility are not clear, however. The aim of the present study was to examine the compensatory mechanisms to defend central blood volume during experimental hypovolemia in women and men.

Regulatory mechanism governing the diurnal rhythm of intestinal H+/peptide cotransporter 1 (PEPT1).

The intestinal H(+)/peptide cotransporter 1 (PEPT1) plays important roles as a nutrient and drug transporter. Previously, we reported that rat intestinal PEPT1 showed a diurnal rhythm and that this rhythm is closely related to the feeding schedule. Furthermore, we also demonstrated that transcription factors, Sp1, Cdx2, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPAR-alpha) contribute to the basal, intestine-specific, and fasting-induced expression of PEPT1, respectively.

Hepatocyte nuclear factor-4alpha is a central transactivator of the mouse Ntcp gene.

Sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (Ntcp) is the major uptake system for conjugated bile acids. Deletions of hepatocyte nuclear factor (HNF)-1alpha and retinoid X receptor-alpha:retinoic acid receptor-alpha binding sites in the mouse 5'-flanking region corresponding to putatively central regulatory elements of rat Ntcp do not significantly reduce promoter activity. We hypothesized that HNF-4alpha, which is increasingly recognized as a central regulator of hepatocyte function, may directly transactivate mouse (mNtcp).

Upregulation of AT2 receptor and iNOS impairs angiotensin II-induced contraction without endothelium influence in young normotensive diabetic rats.

Diabetes and insulin resistance are associated with an increased risk of hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Recent evidence demonstrates that AT2 receptors (AT2R) play an important role in the hemodynamic control of hypertension by vasodilation. The quantitative significance of AT2R in the establishment of diabetic vascular dysfunction, however, is not well defined and needs further investigation.

Impact of acute ascites on the action of the canine abdominal muscles.

Although ascites causes abdominal expansion, its effects on abdominal muscle function are uncertain. In the present study, progressively increasing ascites was induced in supine anesthetized dogs, and the changes in abdominal (DeltaPab) and airway opening (DeltaPao) pressure obtained during stimulation of the internal oblique and transversus abdominis muscles were measured; the changes in internal oblique muscle length were also measured. As ascites increased from 0 to 100 ml/kg body wt, Pab and muscle length during relaxation increased.

Prostasin expression is regulated by airway surface liquid volume and is increased in cystic fibrosis.

Airway surface liquid (ASL) absorption is initiated by Na+ entry via epithelial Na+ channels (ENaC), which establishes an osmotic gradient that drives fluid from the luminal to serosal airway surface. We and others have recently reported that a protease/anti-protease balance regulates ENaC in human airway epithelial cells (HAEC) and provides a mechanism for autoregulation of ASL volume. In cystic fibrosis (CF), this balance is disturbed, leading to constitutive proteolytic activation of ENaC and the pathological Na+ hyperabsorption characteristic of this airway disease.

Surfactant proteins B and C are both necessary for alveolar stability at end expiration in premature rabbits with respiratory distress syndrome.

Modified natural surfactant preparations, used for treatment of respiratory distress syndrome in premature infants, contain phospholipids and the hydrophobic surfactant protein (SP)-B and SP-C. Herein, the individual and combined effects of SP-B and SP-C were evaluated in premature rabbit fetuses treated with airway instillation of surfactant and ventilated without positive end-expiratory pressure. Artificial surfactant preparations composed of synthetic phospholipids mixed with either 2% (wt/wt) of porcine SP-B, SP-C, or a synthetic poly-Leu analog of SP-C (SP-C33) did not stabilize the alveoli at the end of expiration, as measured by low lung gas volumes of approximately 5 ml/kg after 30 min of ventilation.

The effect of conductive ventilation heterogeneity on diffusing capacity measurement.

It has long been assumed that the ventilation heterogeneity associated with lung disease could, in itself, affect the measurement of carbon monoxide transfer factor. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential estimation errors of carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (Dl(CO)) measurement that are specifically due to conductive ventilation heterogeneity, i.e.

Effect of airways constriction on exhaled nitric oxide.

While airway constriction has been shown to affect exhaled nitric oxide (NO), the mechanisms and location of constricted airways most likely to affect exhaled NO remain obscure. We studied the effects of histamine-induced airway constriction and ventilation heterogeneity on exhaled NO at 50 ml/s (Fe(NO,50)) and combined this with model simulations of Fe(NO,50) changes due to constriction of airways at various depths of the lung model. In 20 normal subjects, histamine induced a 26 +/- 15(SD)% Fe(NO,50) decrease, a 9 +/- 6% forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV(1)) decrease, a 19 +/- 9% mean forced midexpiratory flow between 25% and 75% forced vital capacity (FEF(25-75)) decrease, and a 94 +/- 119% increase in conductive ventilation heterogeneity.

Pulmonary edema after competitive breath-hold diving.

During an international breath-hold diving competition, 19 of the participating divers volunteered for the present study, aimed at elucidating possible symptoms and signs of pulmonary edema after deep dives. Measurements included dynamic spirometry and pulse oximetry, and chest auscultation was performed on those with the most severe symptoms. After deep dives (25-75 m), 12 of the divers had signs of pulmonary edema.

Advanced glycosylation end products and nutrition--a possible relation with diabetic atherosclerosis and how to prevent it.

Advanced glycosylation end product (AGE) levels are elevated in diabetic patients and may contribute to the excessive cardiovascular disease in this population, promoting oxidant stress and chronic vascular inflammation. AGEs in people with diabetes mellitus are formed mainly by protein and lipid glucosylation in an environment of chronic hyperglycemia and also by prolonged thermal food processing (diet derived AGEs). This brief review summarizes current literature about food derived AGEs and their relationship with diabetic vascular disease and supports the importance of low AGE diet as an essential preventive or therapeutic intervention against atheromatosis progress.

A simple device to apply equibiaxial strain to cells cultured on flexible membranes.

The biomechanical environment to which cells are exposed is important to their normal growth, development, interaction, and function. Accordingly, there has been much interest in studying the role of biomechanical forces in cell biology and pathophysiology. This has led to the introduction and even commercialization of many experimental devices.

Prostaglandin E2 modulates TNF-alpha-induced MCP-1 synthesis in pancreatic acinar cells in a PKA-dependent manner.

Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 is increased in human chronic pancreatitis. We recently demonstrated in a model of chronic pancreatitis (WBN/Kob rat) that inhibition of COX-2 activity reduces and delays pancreatic inflammation and fibrosis. Monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 mRNA and PGE(2) were significantly reduced, correlating with a decreased infiltration of macrophages.

Changes of serum bone markers in CAPD and hemodialysis patients.

Background: A non-invasive method for evaluation of high-turnover and low-turnover bone diseases is the measurement of certain important serum bone markers such as osteocalcin, procolagen-I-propeptide, dioxypiridinoline, hydroxyproline and alkaline phosphatase. Renal osteodystrophy (ROD) in pre-dialysis and dialysis patients, is manifested in 3 forms: high-turnover ROD, related to secondary hyperparathyroidism; low-turnover ROD and mixed ROD.

Material And Methods: Serum levels of intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), osteocalcin (OC), procolagen-I-propeptide (PIPC) and dioxypiridinoline (DYP) were measured in 20 patients on hemodialysis (HD) and 20 patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) to assess the prevalence of ROD type in the HD and CAPD groups.

Lack of effect of extracellular adenosine generation and signaling on renal erythropoietin secretion during hypoxia.

Previous studies have yielded conflicting results as to whether extracellular adenosine generation and signaling contributes to hypoxia-induced increases in renal erythropoietin (EPO) secretion. In this study, we combined pharmacological and genetic approaches to elucidate a potential contribution of extracellular adenosine to renal EPO release in mice. To stimulate EPO secretion, we used murine carbon monoxide exposure (400 and 750 parts per million CO, 4 h), ambient hypoxia (8% oxygen, 4 h), or arterial hemodilution.

Luminal antigens access late endosomes of intestinal epithelial cells enriched in MHC I and MHC II molecules: in vivo study in Crohn's ileitis.

In contrast to healthy conditions, intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) stimulate proinflammatory CD4+ and CD8+ T cells during Crohn's disease (CD). The underlying regulatory mechanisms remain unknown. Here we investigated the epithelial expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) I and MHC II and its interference with endocytic pathways, in vivo.

Subxyphoid approach for closed-chest atrial fibrillation surgery: the one hand operation.

Although the classical Cox maze operation has been shown to be effective for curing atrial fibrillation, it is not popular due to its complexity and associated morbidity. This has led to the development of alternative methods for the creation of the Cox maze pattern. These methods are based on the creation of lines of tissue necrosis on the atrial tissue.

Serotonin increases L-type Ca2+ current and SR Ca2+ content through 5-HT4 receptors in failing rat ventricular cardiomyocytes.

Rats with congestive heart failure (CHF) develop ventricular inotropic responsiveness to serotonin (5-HT), mediated through 5-HT(2A) and 5-HT(4) receptors. Human ventricle is similarly responsive to 5-HT through 5-HT(4) receptors. We studied isolated ventricular cardiomyocytes to clarify the effects of 5-HT on intracellular Ca(2+) handling.