Aldosterone and testosterone: two steroid hormones structurally related but with opposite electrophysiological properties during myocardial ischemia–reperfusion

Steroid hormones appear to be a key factor in the gender differences in the rates and severity of cardiovascular diseases. Aldosterone and testosterone have typical steroid ring structure, but despite this, they demonstrate very different properties. During acute myocardial ischemia–reperfusion, the deleterious impact of aldosterone is now well established. Conversely, the electrophysiological impact of testosterone in this context remained unknown. We used female rabbit in vitro models and standard microelectrode technique including right ventricle mimicking the ‘border zone’ existing between normal and ischemic/reperfused areas and isolated right ventricle experiments to assess the acute electrophysiological impact of both aldosterone and testosterone. During ischemia–reperfusion, acute superfusion of 10 and 100 nmol/L testosterone decreased normoxic and reperfused action potential duration at 90% (APD₉₀), systematically induced conduction blocks, and decreased APD₉₀ dispersion between ischemic and nonischemic areas (from 98 ± 4 to 57 ± 7 ms and 66 ± 3 ms, for, respectively, testosterone 10 and 100 nmol/L, P < 0.05). Testosterone 10 and 100 nmol/L concomitantly decreased sustained premature ventricular contraction (PVC) occurrence (from 55 to 0%, P < 0.05). Conversely, aldosterone 10 and 100 nmol/L increased normoxic and reperfused APD₉₀, APD₉₀ dispersion, and reperfusion‐induced PVCs. Furthermore, testosterone demonstrated cycle length‐dependent effects on APD₉₀ for high heart rate, whereas aldosterone did not exhibit any significant effect compared with controls. During acute myocardial ischemia–reperfusion, acute superfusion of physiological concentrations of testosterone seemed to be anti‐arrhythmic by removing a pro‐arrhythmic substrate (APD₉₀ dispersion), inducing conduction blocks and decreasing triggered activities (PVC occurrence). Further experiments are warranted to confirm our results.     

Non‐invasive assessment of kidney allograft fibrosis with shear wave elastography: A radiological‐pathological correlation analysis

Objectives

To evaluate the use of shear wave elastography in assessment of kidney allograft tubulointerstitial fibrosis.

Methods

Shear wave elastography assessment was carried out by two independent operators in kidney transplant recipients who underwent allograft biopsy for clinical indications (i.e. rising creatinine >15% or proteinuria >1 g/day). Allograft biopsies were interpreted by the same pathologist according to the 2013 Banff Classification.

Results

A total of 40 elastography scans were carried out (median creatinine 172.5 μmol/L [interquartile range 133.8–281.8 μmol/L]). Median tissue stiffness at the cortex (22.6 kPa [interquartile range 18.8–25.7 kPa] vs 22.3 kPa [interquartile range 19.0–26.5 kPa], P = 0.70) and medulla (15.0 kPa [interquartile range 13.7–18.0 kPa] vs 15.6 kPa [interquartile range 14.4–18.2 kPa]) showed no significant differences between the two observers. Interobserver agreement was satisfactory (intraclass correlation coefficient of the cortex 0.84, 95% CI 0.70–0.92 and intraclass correlation coefficient of the medulla 0.88, 95% CI 0.78–0.94). The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves for detection of tubulointerstitial fibrosis were estimated to be 0.75 (95% CI 0.61–0.89), 0.85 (95% CI 0.75–0.95) and 0.65 (95% CI 0.53–0.78) for cortical, medullary tissue stiffness and serum creatinine, respectively.

Conclusions

Shear wave elastography can be used as a non‐invasive tool to evaluate kidney allograft fibrosis with reasonable interobserver agreement and superior test performance to serum creatinine in detecting early tubulointerstitial fibrosis.     

鸡胚胎素对小鼠红细胞数量及免疫器官质量的影响

目的:建立血虚和免疫抑制动物模型,观察鸡胚胎低温提取物对其红细胞造血以及免疫器官质量的影响。方法:实验于2001-04/2002-09在新乡医学院药物研究室完成。①实验材料:健康昆明种小鼠50只,雌雄各半。鸡胚胎素[中国发明专利公开(公告)号:CN1748713],符合研究者申报专利时提出的质量检验标准。②鸡胚胎素对血虚模型小鼠红细胞数值及血红蛋白含量的影响:取20只小鼠,随机排列表法分为鸡胚胎素组、模型对照组,10只/组,建立失血性血虚动物模型。失血后24h当红细胞数<3.2×1012L-1、血红蛋白含量<84g/L,且小鼠外观出现皮色苍白、食欲不振等现象时,代表造模成功。次日,鸡胚胎素组给予鸡胚胎素5g/(kg·d)灌胃,模型对照组给予生理盐水20mL/(kg·d)灌胃,连续14d。分别于失血前、失血后24h、末次给鸡胚胎素后2h尾部采血测定两组红细胞数量及血红蛋白含量的变化。③鸡胚胎素对免疫抑制模型小鼠免疫器官质量的影响:取30只小鼠,随机排列表法分为鸡胚胎素组、模型对照组、正常对照组,10只/组。鸡胚胎素组给予鸡胚胎素5g/(kg·d)灌胃,模型对照组和正常对照组均灌服等量生理盐水,连续14d。在第11天上午鸡胚胎素灌胃2h后,鸡胚胎素组、模型对照组腹腔注射环磷酰胺60mg/(kg·d),连续4d,复制免疫抑制动物模型。末次给予环磷酰胺2h后颈椎脱位法处死小鼠,计算胸腺、脾脏质量指数。结果:50只小鼠均进入结果分析。①失血前及失血后24h鸡胚胎素组与模型对照组的红细胞数值、血红蛋白含量基本相似(P>0.05)。末次给鸡胚胎素后2h与模型对照组比较,鸡胚胎素组红细胞数值、血红蛋白含量均明显升高(t=3.39,P<0.01;t=2.52,P<0.05)。②末次给环磷酰胺2h后与模型对照组比较,鸡胚胎素组、正常对照组的胸腺质量指数和脾脏质量指数均明显升高(t=6.62,P<0.01;t=2.47,P<0.05)。结论:鸡胚胎素灌胃对血虚小鼠具有较好的促红细胞造血功能,同时对环磷酰胺造成的免疫器官质量下降具有明显的增重作用。     

核因子κBp65特异性小干涉核糖核酸抑制肿瘤坏死因子α诱导大鼠关节滑膜细胞中一氧化氮合酶2和环氧合酶2的表达

目的:利用核因子κBp65特异性小干涉核糖核酸抑制肿瘤坏死因子α诱导的关节滑膜细胞中一氧化氮合酶2和环氧合酶2的表达,探讨基因治疗类风湿性关节炎的新方法。方法:实验于2005-03/2006-03在北京大学医学部中心实验室(国家级)完成。①实验材料:清洁级健康近交系SD大鼠10只;一氧化氮合酶2,环氧合酶2,3-磷酸甘油醛脱氢酶引物(由北京奥科生物公司合成);肿瘤坏死因子α(Sigma公司);核因子κBp65特异性小干涉核糖核酸和转染条件由北京大学运动医学研究所陈连旭博士提供。②实验干预:切取大鼠髋关节和膝关节的滑膜体外培养滑膜细胞。利用脂质体siPORTTMLipid将核因子κBp65特异性小干涉核糖核酸转染滑膜细胞,再加入肿瘤坏死因子α刺激。阴性对照为任意编码的小干涉核糖核酸,阳性对照为针对3-磷酸甘油醛脱氢酶的小干涉核糖核酸。③实验评估:提取滑膜细胞中的核蛋白,利用电泳迁移率试验检测核因子κB的活性;提取滑膜细胞的核糖核酸和总蛋白,利用反转录聚合酶链反应和蛋白质免疫印记法从信使核糖核酸和蛋白质两水平检测一氧化氮合酶2和环氧合酶2的表达。结果:①肿瘤坏死因子α和核因子κBp65特异性小干涉核糖核酸对核因子κB转录活性的影响:与正常滑膜细胞相比,肿瘤坏死因子α可以显著提高核因子κB的结合能力,而事先转染小干涉核糖核酸48h,再用肿瘤坏死因子α刺激,核因子κB的结合能力又显著降低。②核因子κBp65特异性小干涉核糖核酸对核因子κB下游因子的影响:在培养的滑膜细胞中,肿瘤坏死因子α可以显著增加一氧化氮合酶2和环氧合酶2的表达;在转染小干涉核糖核酸抑制核因子κBp65的表达后再用肿瘤坏死因子α刺激,一氧化氮合酶2和环氧合酶2的表达被抑制。结论:①核因子κBp65特异性小干涉核糖核酸可降低肿瘤坏死因子α诱导的滑膜细胞中核因子κB的转录活性,抑制其下游因子一氧化氮合酶2和环氧合酶2的表达。②核因子κBp65特异性小干涉核糖核酸可用于基因治疗类风湿性关节炎的试验研究。     

'Localized amyloidosis': 123I-labelled SAP component scintigraphy and labial salivary gland biopsy

In apparently localized amyloidosis, there is no appropriate test to determine whether systemic deposits exist. We studied the value of serum amyloid P component (SAP) scintigraphy and labial salivary gland (LSG) biopsy on patients with apparently localized amyloidosis in 12 patients who had neither clinical nor biological evidence of systemic amyloidosis. All patients had an LSG biopsy and echocardiography. Iodine-123-labelled serum amyloid P component (123I-SAP) scintigraphy was performed in all patients. Whole-body scintigraphy was done, and tissue retention was evaluated at 24 h and 48 h. Of these 12 patients, three had amyloidosis in their LSG and had abnormal 123I-SAP scintigraphy; these three had a secondary clinical history of systemic amyloidosis. Three other patients had abnormal 123I-SAP scintigraphy without detectable systemic amyloid deposits, but one had a previous history of bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome treated with infiltration. 123I-SAP scintigraphy in association with LSG biopsy may be helpful in determining the localized or systemic character of amyloid disease.