Effects of triple antioxidant combination (vitamin E, vitamin C and alpha-lipoic acid) with insulin on lipid and cholesterol levels and fatty acid composition of brain tissue in experimental diabetic and non-diabetic rats

The aim of this research was to examine the effects of a triple antioxidant combination (vitamins E (VE) and C (VC) plus alpha-lipoic acid (LA)) on the total lipid and cholesterol levels and the fatty acid composition of brain tissues in experimental diabetic and non-diabetic rats. VE and LA were injected intraperitoneally (50 mg/kg) four times per week and VC was provided as a supplement dissolved in the drinking water (50 mg/kg). In addition, rats in the diabetes 1 and D+VELAVC groups were given daily by subcutaneous insulin injections (8 IU/kg), but no insulin was given to rats in the diabetes 2 group. The results indicate that the brain lipid levels in the D+VELAVC, diabetes 1 and diabetes 2 groups were higher than in the control group (P<0.01). Total lipid was also higher in the non-diabetic rats treated with LA and VC. Total cholesterol was higher in the diabetes 1 and diabetes 2 groups (P<0.05) than in controls. Cholesterol levels were similar in the D+VELAVC and LA groups but lower in the VC, VE and VELAVC groups of non-diabetic rats (P<0.05 and P<0.01). In respect of fatty acid composition, palmitic acid levels were lower in the diabetes 2 and non-diabetic VE groups than the control group (P<0.05), but higher in the non-diabetic LA group (P<0.05). Oleic acid (18:1 n-9) levels were lower in the diabetic and non-diabetic groups than the control group (P<0.01), but higher in the non-diabetic LA group. Arachidonic acid (20:4 n-6) levels were similar in the diabetes 1, D+VELAVC and control groups (P>0.05) but higher in the non-diabetic VE, VC, LA and VEVCLA groups (P<0.05) and lower in the diabetes 2 group (P<0.05). Docosahexaenoic acid (22:6 n-3) was elevated in the diabetes 2 and VEVCLA groups (P<0.01, P<0.05). In conclusion, the current study confirmed that treatment with a triple combination of VE, VC and LA protects the arachidonic acid level in the brains of diabetic and non-diabetic rats.     

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: two homozygous cases with "typical" hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and three new mutations in cases with progression to dilated cardiomyopathy

About 10% of cases of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) evolve into dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) with unknown causes. We studied 11 unrelated patients (pts) with HCM who progressed to DCM (group A) and 11 who showed "typical" HCM (group B). Mutational analysis of the beta-myosin heavy chain (MYH7), myosin-binding protein C (MYBPC3), and cardiac troponin T (TNNT2) genes demonstrated eight mutations affecting MYH7 or MYBPC3 gene, five of which were new mutations. In group A-pts, the first new mutation occurred in the myosin head-rod junction and the second occurred in the light chain-binding site. The third new mutation leads to a MYBPC3 lacking titin and myosin binding sites. In group B, two pts with severe HCM carried two homozygous MYBPC3 mutations and one with moderate hypertrophy was a compound heterozygous for MYBPC3 gene. We identified five unreported mutations, potentially "malignant" defects as for the associated phenotypes, but no specific mutations of HCM/DCM.     

ACE inhibition actively promotes cell survival by altering gene expression

We tested the effect of ACE inhibition on the survival of bovine retinal (REC) and choroidal (CEC) endothelial cells (EC) in culture. The ACE inhibitor captopril delayed the apoptotic tube collapse of REC on Matrigel for >15 days. Captopril treatment of confluent monolayers (2-8 weeks) followed by slow starvation (2-4 weeks) increased EC viability by approximately 200%. Two-week captopril exposures were sufficient to confer maximal protection. Only vehicle-treated EC demonstrated apoptotic features such as membrane blebbing and DNA laddering. By RT-PCR, the starvation marker p202 was upregulated only in starved cells. In REC, captopril upregulated the pro-survival proteins mortalin-2, uPA, and uPAR while downregulating the anti-growth sprouty-4 and tPA. In CEC, captopril also upregulated tPA and its inhibitor PAI-1. Amiloride (uPA inhibitor) blocked the captopril-induced increase in EC survival, secondary sprouting, and invasion in Matrigel. The pro-survival effects of captopril involve the reprogramming of genes involved in cell survival and immortalization.     

PHO-ERK1/2 interaction with mitochondria regulates the permeability transition pore in cardioprotective signaling

Aims

The molecular mechanism(s) by which extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and other kinases communicate with downstream targets have not been fully determined. Multiprotein signaling complexes undergoing spatiotemporal redistribution may enhance their interaction with effector proteins promoting cardioprotective response. Particularly, it has been proposed that some active kinases in association with caveolae may converge into mitochondria. Therefore, in this study we investigate if PHO-ERK1/2 interaction with mitochondria may provide a mechanistic link in the regulation of these organelles in cardioprotective signaling.

Main methods

Using a model of dilated cardiomyopathy followed by ischemia–reperfusion injury, we determined ERK1/2 signaling at the level of mitochondria and evaluated its effect on the permeability transition pore.

Key findings

The most important finding of the present study is that, under cardioprotective conditions, a subpopulation of activated ERK1/2 was directed to the mitochondrial membranes through vesicular trafficking, concurring with increased phosphorylation of mitochondrial proteins and inhibition of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening. In addition, our results suggest that vesicles enriched with caveolin-3 could form structures that may drive ERK1/2, GSK3β and Akt to mitochondria.

Significance

Signaling complexes including PHO-ERK, PHO-Akt, PHO-eNOS and caveolin-3 contribute to cardioprotection by directly targeting the mitochondrial proteome and regulating the opening of the permeability transition pore in this model.     

糖尿病足治疗新进展

糖尿病足溃烂是糖尿病的常见慢性并发症,以高发生率、高致残率、经济负担重,治疗时间长及高死亡率严重影响病人的生活质量甚至威胁生命,我国糖尿病协会于2010年11月14公布我国糖尿病的患病者已达9240万,除此之外糖尿病前期患者已达1.482亿。而在糖尿病患者中糖尿病足的发病率达到1.7%-11.9%;糖尿病患者中有15%的患者一生中有患糖尿病足的倾向,因此对于糖尿病足的治疗显得尤为重要,本文从糖尿病足的病因、机制,微环境变化着手,重点阐述糖尿病足传统的中西医疗法及目前的手术、介入及干细胞治疗方法的近况,旨在探讨各种方法的优点和不足及可开拓的空间,为进一步治疗糖尿病足提供一定的理论依据,为糖尿病足新方法的研究提供一些新的思维方式。     

氧化应激研究进展及其在缺血性心肌病发病中的作用

缺血性心肌病（ischemic cardiomyopathy,ICM）是指由于长期心肌缺血导致心肌局限性或弥漫性纤维化,从而产生心脏收缩和（或）舒张功能受损,引起心脏扩大或僵硬、充血性心力衰竭、心律失常等一系列临床表现的临床综合症。大量研究表明,ICM的发病机制与氧化应激密切相关。研究和开发新的抗氧化药物,将为缺血性心肌病的防治提供新的方向和途径。     

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。     

Phenotyping of hypertensive heart disease and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy using personalized 3D modelling and cardiac cine MRI

Differential diagnosis of hypertensive heart disease (HHD) and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is clinically challenging but important for treatment management. This study aims to phenotype HHD and HCM in 3D + time domain by using a multiparametric motion-corrected personalized modeling algorithm and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). 44 CMR data, including 12 healthy, 16 HHD and 16 HCM cases, were examined. Multiple CMR phenotype data consisting of geometric and dynamic variables were extracted globally and regionally from the models over a full cardiac cycle for comparison against healthy models and clinical reports. Statistical classifications were used to identify the distinctive characteristics and disease subtypes with overlapping functional data, providing insights into the challenges for differential diagnosis of both types of disease. While HCM is characterized by localized extreme hypertrophy of the LV, wall thickening/contraction/strain was found to be normal and in sync, though it was occasionally exaggerated at normotrophic/less severely hypertrophic regions during systole to preserve the overall ejection fraction (EF) and systolic functionality. Additionally, we observed that hypertrophy in HHD could also be localized, although at less extreme conditions (i.e. more concentric). While fibrosis occurs mostly in those HCM cases with aortic obstruction, only minority of HHD patients were found affected by fibrosis. We demonstrate that subgroups of HHD (i.e. preserved and reduced EF: HHDpEF & HHDrEF) have different 3D + time CMR characteristics. While HHDpEF has cardiac functions in normal range, dilation and heart failure are indicated in HHDrEF as reflected by low LV wall thickening/contraction/strain and synchrony, as well as much reduced EF.     

糖尿病性膀胱病逼尿肌中SCFmRNA和SCF蛋白的表达

目的：检测DCP逼尿肌中SCF表达水平,探讨SCF基因表达与DCP关系及其发病机制。方法：按1：2病例对照研究,采用链脲佐菌素（STZ）及尿动力学检测成功建立DCP豚鼠20只为实验组,并以同质豚鼠40为对照组,应用RT-PCR和Western-blotting方法分别检测各组膀胱逼尿肌中SCF mRNA、SCF蛋白的表达。结果：DCP豚鼠组织中SCF mRNA表达与正常对照组比较无明显显著差异（P〉0.05）,DCP豚鼠组织中SCF蛋白表达明显低于正常对照组（P〈0.01）。结论：DCP组织中SCF蛋白表达减少与SCF基因翻译水平异常有关,因此高血糖环境下SCF基因表达异常可能是DCP的发病机制之一。     

Yap overexpression attenuates septic cardiomyopathy by inhibiting DRP1-related mitochondrial fission and activating the ERK signaling pathway

Context: Yes-associated protein (Yap) has been linked to several cardiovascular disorders, but the role of this protein in septic cardiomyocytes is not fully understood.

Objective: The aim of our study was to explore the influence of Yap in septic cardiomyopathy in vivo and in vitro.

Materials and methods: In the current study, Yap transgenic mice and Yap adenovirus-mediated gain-of-function assays were used in an LPS-established septic cardiomyopathy model. Mitochondrial function and mitochondrial fission were determined through western blotting, immunofluorescence analysis and ELISA.

Results: Our results demonstrated that Yap expression was downregulated by LPS, whereas Yap overexpression sustained cardiac function and attenuated cardiomyocyte death. The functional exploration revealed that LPS treatment induced cardiomyocyte mitochondrial stress, as manifested by mitochondrial superoxide overproduction, cardiomyocyte ATP deprivation, and caspase-9 apoptosis activation. Furthermore, we demonstrated that LPS-mediated mitochondrial damage was controlled by mitochondrial fission. However, Yap overexpression reduced mitochondrial fission and therefore improved mitochondrial function. A molecular investigation revealed that Yap overexpression inhibited mitochondrial fission by reversing ERK activity, and the inhibition of the ERK pathway promoted DRP1 upregulation and thereby mediated mitochondrial fission activation in the presence of Yap overexpression.

Conclusions: Overall, our results suggest that the cause of septic cardiomyopathy appears to be connected with Yap downregulation. The overexpression of Yap can attenuate myocardial inflammation injury through the reduction of DRP1-related mitochondrial fission in an ERK pathway activation-dependent manner.