Unilateral lung edema: effects on pulmonary gas exchange, hemodynamics, and pulmonary perfusion distribution.

Two types of unilateral lung edema in sheep were characterized regarding their effects on pulmonary gas exchange, hemodynamics, and distribution of pulmonary perfusion. One edema type was induced with aerosolized HCl (0.15 M, pH 1.0) and the other with NaCl (0.15 M, pH 7.4). Both aerosols were nebulized continuously for 4 h into left lungs. In HCl-treated animals, pulmonary gas exchange deteriorated [from a partial arterial O(2) pressure-to-inspired O(2) fraction ratio (Pa(O(2))/FI(O(2))) of 254 at baseline to 187 after 4 h HCl]. In addition, pulmonary artery pressure and total pulmonary vascular resistance increased (from 16 to 19 mmHg and from 133 to 154 dyn. s. cm(-5), respectively). In NaCl-treated animals, only the central venous pressure significantly increased (from 7 to 9 mmHg). Distribution of pulmonary perfusion (measured with fluorescent microspheres) changed differently in both groups. After HCl application, 6% more blood flow was directed to the treated lung, whereas, after NaCl, 5% more blood flow was directed to the untreated lung. HCl and NaCl treatment both induce an equivalent lung edema, but only HCl treatment is associated with gas exchange alteration and tissue damage. Redistribution of pulmonary perfusion maintains gas exchange during NaCl treatment and decreases it during HCl inhalation.     

Risk factors in autism spectrum disorder: A Tunisian case-control study

BackgroundAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that causes disability in social interaction, communication, and restrictive and repetitive behaviors. Common environmental factors like prenatal, perinatal, and/or postnatal factors play a key role in ASD etiologies. Moreover, specific metabolic disorders can be associated with ASD.Subjects and methodsWe performed a retrospective case-control study in child psychiatry clinics, involving 51 children with ASD and 40 typical development controls (TDC).ResultsWe found a correlation between children being breastfed for less than 6 months, having fathers more than 40 years old at childbirth in ASD compared to TDC group. Our study also associated low blood cholesterol and low erythrocyte magnesium levels with increased risk for ASD.ConclusionFindings support the implication of total cholesterol (TC) and erythrocyte magnesium level in defining autism outcome.     

The alien false limpet (Siphonaria pectinata) in the Bizerte channel (northern Tunisia): spawning,development and growth under laboratory conditions

Spawning, development and growth of Siphonaria pectinata in the laboratory were studied and described in detail during a one-year study period. Egg ribbons were observed in February, March, April, June, July, August and September, with a peak in number of ribbons per individual in July. On average, individuals laid 9.0 ± 5.1 egg ribbons at a spawning frequency of one egg ribbon day^?1. The number of eggs per ribbon ranged from 752 to 50,400 depending on ribbon length. Embryonic development studied in February (13–15 °C), April (15–17 °C) and July (25–27 °C), reached hatching within 8–16 days with average larval lengths of 76.7 ± 5.9, 83.0 ± 11.3 and 78.3 ± 9.0 μm, respectively. Massive mortality was registered a few days after hatching, with larval longevity depending on the study period. Larval settlement occurred within 36–38 days after hatching, but only in the spawn deposited in February. Larval growth was slow during the first three weeks (18–26 μm week^?1) and then accelerated until the sixth week (40–67 μm week^?1). The present study contributes knowledge on the spawning, development and growth of S. pectinata, an alien species recently spreading throughout the Tunisian coast.     

The onset of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in SHR rats is not related to hypertrophy or hypertension

Left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction, particularly relaxation abnormalities, are known to be associated with the development of LV hypertrophy (LVH). Preliminary human and animal studies suggested that early LV diastolic dysfunction may be revealed independently of LVH. However, whether LV diastolic dysfunction is compromised before the onset of hypertension and LVH remains unknown. We therefore evaluated LV diastolic function in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) at different ages and tested whether LV diastolic dysfunction is associated with abnormal intracellular calcium homeostasis. LV systolic and diastolic functions were evaluated by invasive and echocardiographic methods in 3-week-old (without hypertension) and 5-week-old (with hypertension) SHR and Wistar-Kyoto control rats. Basal intracytoplasmic calcium and sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca(2+) contents were measured in cardiomyocytes using fura-2 AM. Sarco(endo)plasmic Ca(2+)-ATPase isoform 2a (SERCA 2a) and phospholamban (PLB) expressions were quantified by Western blot and quantitative RT-PCR techniques. LV relaxation dysfunction was observed in 3-week-old SHR rats before onset of hypertension and LVH. An increase in basal intracytoplasmic Ca(2+) and a decrease in SR Ca(2+) release were demonstrated in SHR. Decreased expression of SERCA 2a and Ser16 PLB (p16-PLB) protein levels was also observed in SHR rats, whereas mRNA expression was not decreased. For the first time, we have shown that LV myocardial dysfunction precedes hypertension in 3-week-old SHR rats. This LV myocardial dysfunction was associated with high diastolic [Ca(2+)](i) possibly due to decreased SERCA 2a and p16-PLB protein levels. Diastolic dysfunction may be a potential predictive marker of arterial hypertension in genetic hypertension syndromes.     

Photoaffinity labeling of high affinity nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAADP)-binding proteins in sea urchin egg

Nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAADP) is a messenger that regulates calcium release from intracellular acidic stores. Recent studies have identified two-pore channels (TPCs) as endolysosomal channels that are regulated by NAADP; however, the nature of the NAADP receptor binding site is unknown. To further study NAADP binding sites, we have synthesized and characterized [(32)P-5-azido]nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate ([(32)P-5N(3)]NAADP) as a photoaffinity probe. Photolysis of sea urchin egg homogenates preincubated with [(32)P-5N(3)]NAADP resulted in specific labeling of 45-, 40-, and 30-kDa proteins, which was prevented by inclusion of nanomolar concentrations of unlabeled NAADP or 5N(3)-NAADP, but not by micromolar concentrations of structurally related nucleotides such as NAD, nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide, nicotinamide mononucleotide, nicotinic acid, or nicotinamide. [(32)P-5N(3)]NAADP binding was saturable and displayed high affinity (K(d) ～10 nM) in both binding and photolabeling experiments. [(32)P-5N(3)]NAADP photolabeling was irreversible in a high K(+) buffer, a hallmark feature of NAADP binding in the egg system. The proteins photolabeled by [(32)P-5N(3)]NAADP have molecular masses smaller than the sea urchin TPCs, and antibodies to TPCs do not detect any immunoreactivity that comigrates with either the 45-kDa or the 40-kDa photolabeled proteins. Interestingly, antibodies to TPC1 and TPC3 were able to immunoprecipitate a small fraction of the 45- and 40-kDa photolabeled proteins, suggesting that these proteins associate with TPCs. These data suggest that high affinity NAADP binding sites are distinct from TPCs.