Insulin-like growth factor I-dependent regulation of prolidase activity in cultured human skin fibroblasts

The objectives of this article are to: (i) discuss the origins and the nature of ischemic injury, (ii) identify factors influencing the evolution of injury, (iii) consider various cellular targets for ischemic injury, (iv) assess the overall importance of reperfusion injury, (v) discuss conceptual approaches to cardioprotection and (vi) to identify new ideas and approaches in the realm of myocardial protection. In the human heart, myocardial ischemia may take many forms, it may exist for periods as short as a few seconds or minutes, it may last for hours or it may persist for years. In terms of discussing interventions to combat myocardial ischemia, this article will focus on: (i) regional ischemia as occurs during evolving myocardial infarction and (ii) whole heart or global ischemia as occurs during cardiac surgery and transplantation.     

Revisiting Kadenbach: Electron flux rate through cytochrome c‐oxidase determines the ATP‐inhibitory effect and subsequent production of ROS

Mitochondrial respiration is the predominant source of ATP. Excessive rates of electron transport cause a higher production of harmful reactive oxygen species (ROS). There are two regulatory mechanisms known. The first, according to Mitchel, is dependent on the mitochondrial membrane potential that drives ATP synthase for ATP production, and the second, the Kadenbach mechanism, is focussed on the binding of ATP to Cytochrome c Oxidase (CytOx) at high ATP/ADP ratios, which results in an allosteric conformational change to CytOx, causing inhibition. In times of stress, ATP‐dependent inhibition is switched off and the activity of CytOx is exclusively determined by the membrane potential, leading to an increase in ROS production. The second mechanism for respiratory control depends on the quantity of electron transfer to the Heme aa3 of CytOx. When ATP is bound to CytOx the enzyme is inhibited, and ROS formation is decreased, although the mitochondrial membrane potential is increased.     

速度向量成像技术对肥厚型心肌病左心室扭转功能和收缩功能的影响

摘要 目的：研究速度向量成像技术对肥厚型心肌病（HCM）左心室扭转功能和收缩功能的影响。方法：纳入我院从2018年1月～2019年1月收治的HCM患者30例进行研究,记作病变组,另取同期于我院进行体检的健康志愿者30例作为对照组。比较两组常规左心功能超声心动图指标、左室整体扭转和解旋运动指标、左室局部扭转和解旋运动指标、圆周应变以及应变率。结果：病变组舒张末期容积（EDV）、收缩末期容积（ESV）、每搏量（SV）均较对照组更低（P＜0.05）,而两组左室射血分数（LVEF）比较差异不显著（P＞0.05）。病变组心内膜的左心室扭转角度（LVtw）以及左心室扭矩（LVtor）均显著高于对照组,而心内膜及心外膜解扭转率（UntwR）显著低于对照组（P＜0.05）。病变组基底部心内膜旋转速率、心尖部心外膜旋转速率均显著低于对照组,心尖部心内膜旋转速率显著高于对照组,心尖部心外膜解旋速率显著高于对照组（P＜0.05）。病变组基底部心内膜圆周应变低于对照组,基底部、心尖部心外膜圆周应变高于对照组（P＜0.05）;病变组基底部、心尖部心外膜应变率均高于对照组（P＜0.05）。结论：HCM患者收缩功能降低,且局部心肌圆周方向的形变能力明显下降。     

短期和长期运动预适应对力竭大鼠心肌损伤的保护作用

目的：研究短期和长期运动预适应对心肌细胞凋亡保护中发挥的作用及机制。方法：48只雄性SD大鼠随机分为对照组（C）、力竭组（E）、短期运动预适应组（S-EP）、长期运动预适应组（L-EP）。短期和长期运动预适应分别进行3 d和3周的反复间歇游泳训练方案。光镜下观察心肌细胞的结构改变;ELISA方法检测血清中缺血修饰白蛋白（IMA）、磷酸肌酸同工酶（CK-MB）含量;实时荧光定量PCR和Western blot方法检测心肌组织中TNF-α、Caspase-8、Caspase-3基因和蛋白表达;采用DNA原位末端标记（TUNEL）法观察心肌细胞的凋亡情况。结果：与C组相比,E组心肌细胞损伤严重,血清IMA、CK-MB含量及心肌组织中TNF-α、Caspase-8、Caspase-3 mRNA和蛋白表达升高（P<0.05）;与E组相比,S-EP组血清CK-MB及心肌TNF-α、Caspase-8mRNA明显降低（P<0.05）,而蛋白表达无统计学差异,血清IMA及Caspase-3 mRNA和蛋白均下降不明显,无统计学意义（P>0.05）,L-EP组血清IMA、CK-MB含量及心肌TNF-α、Caspase-8、Caspase-3 mRNA及蛋白明显降低,有统计学意义（P<0.05）;与S-EP组相比,L-EP组血清IMA、CK-MB含量及TNF-α、Caspase-8、Caspase-3 mRNA和蛋白明显下降,有统计学意义（P<0.05）。E组心肌细胞凋亡明显,S-EP组和L-EP组均能抑制凋亡,且L-EP组与S-EP组相比心肌凋亡明显减少。结论：短期和长期运动预适应均可减轻力竭后的心肌损伤,但短期运动预适应并未改变Caspase蛋白酶的表达,长期运动预适应明显抑制Caspase-8、3 mRNA表达,减少蛋白合成,从而发挥心肌保护效应,故长期运动预适应在抑制心肌细胞凋亡方面较短期运动预适应更强。     

低氧预适应对离体星形胶质细胞低氧耐受性的影响

目的：研究低氧预适应对体外培养的星形胶质细胞低氧耐受性的影响。方法：体外培养的鼠脑星形胶质细胞,随机分为对照组（control,C组）,低氧损伤组（hypoxia,H组）,低氧预适应组（hypoxic preconditioning,HP组）,通过检测细胞MTT代谢变化、凋亡发生和形态学观察探讨低氧预适应对星型胶质细胞低氧损伤的保护作用;免疫细胞化学方法分析Bcl-2和Bax的表达差异。结果：与低氧组相比,HP48、HP72组MTT代谢活性较高。免疫细胞化学结果提示低氧预适应组Bcl-2表达高于低氧损伤组,低氧预适应组Bax表达低于低氧损伤组。结论：低氧预适应对大鼠星形胶质细胞低氧损伤有保护作用,可能与Bax表达受抑,维持Bcl-2表达有关,通过对抗凋亡程序的发展产生保护作用。     

无创性肢体缺血预适应对小鼠抗应激能力的影响

目的:探讨无创性肢体缺血预适应在提高小鼠抗应激能力方面的作用。方法:小鼠分为正常组、对照组、预适应组和药物组,进行常压耐缺氧、耐疲劳负重游泳、耐高、低温实验,分别记录各种应激状态下小鼠的耐受时间,测定常压缺氧耐受后小鼠血清中SOD的活性和负重游泳后血清中乳酸的含量。结果:预适应组能显著提高小鼠常压耐缺氧时间,且SOD活性较对照组有显著的提高,但提高的程度均低于普萘洛尔组。预适应组平均游泳时间显著延长,且程度与咖啡因组相当。预适应能明显延长高温下小鼠的存活时间,且延长程度与氯丙嗪没有显著性差异。与正常组比较,预适应组能显著延长小鼠的耐低温时间。结论:无创性肢体缺血预适应能提高小鼠耐缺氧、抗疲劳、耐高温和耐低温的能力。     

Suitability of Drought-Preconditioning Techniques in Mediterranean Climate

Abstract Arid and semiarid ecosystems in the Mediterranean are under high risk of desertification. Revegetation with native well‐adapted evergreen shrubs is desirable, but techniques for successful establishment of these species are not fully developed. Transplant shock is a key hurdle to plantation success. The application of a drought‐preconditioning treatment during the last months of nursery culture is a potential technique for reducing transplant shock. This technique has been widely applied in boreal habitats and humid temperate areas. Three representative Mediterranean species (Pistacia lentiscus, Quercus coccifera, and Juniperus oxycedrus seedlings) were exposed to classic drought‐preconditioning treatment consisting of reductions in the watering regime. The effects of preconditioning on seedling quality were assessed by cell water relationships (pressure–volume curves), minimal transpiration, leaf capacitance, chlorophyll fluorescence, and gas exchange. Moreover, seedlings were exposed to transplant shock (intense drought period) during which water potential (predawn and midday) and maximal photochemical efficiency were evaluated to establish seedling performance. Results showed that preconditioning did not affect cell water relationships and minimal transpiration in any of the three species. Preconditioned seedlings of P. lentiscus maintained higher water content during desiccating conditions as a consequence of an increase in leaf water content at full turgor. These changes allowed plants to maintain higher net CO₂ assimilation rates and an elevated photosystem II status, facilitating an increase in drought survival. Preconditioning improved the performance of Q. coccifera and J. oxycedrus seedlings, but these two species were much less responsive than P. lentiscus seedlings. Finally, results suggest that sensitivity to drought preconditioning may be related to drought tolerance or avoidance strategy of each species. Drought‐related strategies should be considered to optimize management scale preconditioning.     

Aggrecan modulation of growth plate morphogenesis

Chick and mouse embryos with heritable deficiencies of aggrecan exhibit severe dwarfism and premature death, demonstrating the essential involvement of aggrecan in development. The aggrecan-deficient nanomelic (nm) chick mutant E12 fully formed growth plate (GP) is devoid of matrix and exhibits markedly altered cytoarchitecture, proliferative capacity, and degree of cell death. While differentiation of chondroblasts to pre-hypertrophic chondrocytes (IHH expression) is normal up to E6, the extended periosteum expression pattern of PTCH (a downstream effector of IHH) indicates altered propagation of IHH signaling, as well as accelerated down-regulation of FGFR3 expression, decreased BrdU incorporation and higher levels of ERK phosphorylation, all indicating early effects on FGF signaling. By E7 reduced IHH expression and premature expression of COL10A1 foreshadow the acceleration of hypertrophy observed at E12. By E8, exacerbated co-expression of IHH and COL10A1 lead to delayed separation and establishment of the two GPs in each element. By E9, increased numbers of cells express P-SMAD1/5/8, indicating altered BMP signaling. These results indicate that the IHH, FGF and BMP signaling pathways are altered from the very beginning of GP formation in the absence of aggrecan, thereby inducing premature hypertrophic chondrocyte maturation, leading to the nanomelic long bone growth disorder.