Functional and bioenergetic consequences of postinfarction left ventricular remodeling in a new porcine model. MRI and 31 P-MRS study

BACKGROUND: The underlying mechanisms by which left ventricular remodeling (LVR) leads to congestive heart failure (CHF) are unclear. This study examined the functional and bioenergetic abnormalities associated with postinfarction ventricular remodeling in a new, large animal model. METHODS AND RESULTS: Remodeling was induced by circumflex coronary artery ligation in young pigs. LV mass, volume, ejection fraction (EF), the ratio of scar surface area to LV surface area, and LV wall stresses were calculated from magnetic resonance imaging anatomic data and simultaneously measured LV pressure. Hemodynamics, transmural blood flow, and high-energy phosphates (spatially localized 31P-nuclear magnetic resonance) were measured under basal conditions, during hyperperfusion induced by pharmacological vasodilation with adenosine, and during pyruvate infusion (11 mg/kg per minute IV). Six of 18 animals with coronary ligation developed clinical CHF while the remaining 12 animals had LV dilation (LVR) without CHF. The results were compared with 16 normal animals. EF decreased from 55.9 +/- 5.6% in normals to 34.6 +/- 2.3% in the LVR group (P < .05) and 24.2 +/- 2.8% in the CHF group (P < .05 versus LVR). The infarct scar was larger in CHF hearts than in LVR hearts (P < .05). In normals, LV myocardial creatine phosphate (CP)/ATP ratios were 2.10 +/- 0.10, 2.06 +/- 0.16, and 1.92 +/- 0.12 in subepicardium (EPI), mid myocardium (MID), and subendocardium (ENDO), respectively. In LVR hearts, the corresponding ratios were decreased to 1.99 +/- 0.13, 1.80 +/- 0.14, and 1.57 +/- 0.15 (ENDO P < .05 versus normal). In CHF hearts, CP/ATP ratios were 1.41 +/- 0.14, 1.33 +/- 0.15, and 1.25 +/- 0.15; (P < .05 versus LVR in EPI and MID). The calculated myocardial free ADP levels were significantly increased only in CHF hearts. CONCLUSIONS: Bioenergetic abnormalities in remodeled myocardium are related to the severity of LV dysfunction, which, in turn, is dependent on the severity of the initiating myocardial infarction.     

Sedimentation of droplet dispersions in counter—current spray columns

A simple model is presented for the prediction of hold-up and slip velocity in spray columns in which the continuous phase moves counter-current to the dispersed phase. Analysis of 591 data points for 16 systems from 8 different sources show that the slip velocity is given in terms of the average drop diameter of the drop swarm and the physical properties of the system by: for 7 < Re < 2450 and 0.01 < ?_d < 0.75. This equation predicts the slip velocity to within 10% for 70% of the data points and to within 20% for 92% of the data points.     

Synthesis and evaluation of [14C]-labelled and fluorescent-tagged paclitaxel derivatives as new biological probes

Our present report deals with the preparation of hitherto unreported 7-([carbonyl-14C]-acetyl)paclitaxel 4 and two new bioactive 7-substituted fluorescent taxoids (FITC 9 and rhodamine 11), as well as evaluation towards their applications as biological probes. The results in this report demonstrate that (a) the new paclitaxel derivatives 4, 9, 11 could be prepared with good yields starting from paclitaxel; (b) the [14C]acetylation step was found to be better by using [14C]acetic anhydride rather than [14C]sodium acetate; (c) the radiochemical purity of 4 was 96% and its specific activity was 48 mCi/mmol; (d) the cytotoxicity of 4 was close to that of paclitaxel whereas 9, 11 were far less active than paclitaxel, but these cytotoxic levels were good enough for their biological applications; (e) the drug-quantitation by flow cytometric analysis using 9 and 11 was proved to be equally efficient with respect to the radioactivity-based determination employing 4; (f) the intracellular fluorescence mapping by 9 and 11 was found to be effective and the microtubule network pattern was visible in both the cases; (g) the overall fluorescence imaging efficiency was better with 11 while the intensity of fluorescence was higher with 9; (h) staining of nucleolus was observed in fluorescence studies of both 9 and 11. Based on these results, the newly prepared paclitaxel derivatives can be considered as efficient biological probes and should find further use in relevant applications.     

Adenocarcinoma colon

Research areas of immunodiagnosis and vaccination in Cystic Echinococcosis (CE) are reviewed. Particular attention is given to recent progress into improved specificity in immunodiagnosis in human CE, and sensitivity and specificity in ovine CE, by purification of subunit peptides of Ag B. With regard to diagnosis in definitive hosts, the advantages of coproantigen test ELISA are discussed in comparison with the classic arecoline purgation test. Recent data from studies on vaccination in sheep populations are reported, and the enormous potential of an effective vaccine in a Hydatid control programme is underlined.     

Vanadate-sensitive microsomal ATPases and microsomal 45Ca2+ uptake in tracheal epithelial cells

Cytosolic free Ca2+ plays important roles in the regulation of physiological processes in tracheal epithelial cells and is probably regulated by many ion-transporting ATPases in these cells. Therefore, the effect of vanadate was investigated to characterize microsomal ion-transporting ATPases. Dose response experiments showed that vanadate had a biphasic effect on the microsomal ATPase activity: a decrease at the vanadate concentration below 100 microM, and a steep decrease at the concentration above 100 microM. The dose response data were fitted to two sigmoidal functions, corresponding to a low-affinity vanadate-sensitive (LAVS) ATPase and a high-affinity vanadate-sensitive (HAVS) ATPase. In 45Ca2+ uptake experiments, both LAVS and HAVS ATPases mediated microsomal 45Ca2+ uptake. The LAVS ATPase was selectively sensitive to thapsigargin in both ATPase activity and 45Ca2+ uptake, suggesting that it is an ER/SR-type intracellular Ca2+-ATPase. Although the HAVS ATPase mediated one-fourth of microsomal 45Ca2+ uptake, its activity was not sensitive to thapsigargin. These results indicate that the activities of these two vanadate-sensitive ATPases are mediated by different enzymes, since thapsigargin only blocks the activity of LAVS ATPase. In conclusion, there are two types of vanadate-sensitive microsomal ATPases, and these ATPases mediate microsomal 45Ca2+ uptake in airway epithelial cells.