Clinical and experimental study of antiarrhythmic and antianginal effects of quaternidine

High antiarrhythmic activity of a new Russian antiarrhythmic drug quaternidine in ventricular arrhythmia was studied in 96 coronary patients by Holter monitoring, bicycle ergometry, and echocardiography. The drug had a positive impact on local kinetics in left-ventricular ischemic myocardium and some parameters of bicycle exercise test. The preparation possesses no arrhythmogenic effect. Experiments on 30 random-bred rats showed that the drug reduced the necrotic zone under conditions of experimental coronary occlusion. Experiments on 14 intact cats demonstrated that quaternidine had no effect on coronary bloodflow. Translated fromByulleten’ Eksperimental’noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 130, No. 11, pp. 581–584, November, 2000     

Study of pathogenesis of ventricular arrhythmia in experimental rats by separation of sinus and ventricular substitutional rhythms

Pathogenesis of cardiac arrhythmia was determined by EEC changes after ATP-induced complete atrioventricular block. The re-entry mechanism underlays extrasystoles with equal coupling intervals with complexes of ventricular substitution rhythms, which transformed into paroxysmal tachycardia with equal R—R intervals, ventricular flutter, and ventricular fibrillation. Ectopic automaticity was characterized by extrasystole unrelated to the complexes of substitutional rhythms, which was transformed into accelerated idioventricular rhythm and asystole. During trigger activity, the extrasystoles were associated with complexes of basic rhythm and transformed themselves into torsades de pointes and ventricular fibrillation. __________ Translated from Byulleten’ Eksperimental’noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 141, No. 4, pp. 382–385, April, 2006     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">PPARG</Emphasis> Gene Polymorphism and Locomotor Activity in Humans

The distribution of PPARG gene allele frequencies (Pro/Ala polymorphism) was studied in sportsmen specialized in speed and force athletics. A relationship between genotypes and human muscle transverse section area was evaluated. The PPARG Ala allele was significantly more incident in athletes than in controls, the incidence increasing with higher athletic qualification. A hypertrophic effect of PPARG Ala allele on muscle fibers was detected. Hence, the PPARG Pro12Ala polymorphism is associated with human motor activity. Translated from Byulleten’ Eksperimental’noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 146, No. 11, pp. 567–569, November, 2008     

Role of ATP-sensitive K<Superscript>+</Superscript>-channels in antiarrhythmic and cardioprotective action of adaptation to intermittent hypobaric hypoxia

Mature Wistar rats were exposed to intermittent hypobaric hypoxia (5000 m, 6 h/day, 30 sessions). This mode of adaptation enhanced heart tolerance to the arrhythmogenic action of 45-min coronary occlusion, but does not affect the infarction size/risk area ratio. In some series, the rats were exposed to more severe intermittent hypobaric hypoxia (7000 m, 8 h/day, 6 weeks) followed by 20-min coronary occlusion and 3-h reperfusion one day after the last hypoxia session. In this case, adaptation reduced the infarction size/risk area ratio and enhanced cardiac tolerance to the arrhythmogenic effect of reperfusion, but had no effect on the incidence of ventricular arrhythmia during ischemia. We found that the cardioprotective and antiarrhythmic effects of adaptation to an altitude of 7000 m and the antiarrhythmic effect of 5000-m adaptation were mediated via activation of K_ATP channels. __________ Translated from Byulleten’ Eksperimental’noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 145, No. 4, pp. 395–398, April, 2008     

Effect of ligands of opiate receptors on morphofunctional state of the sympathoadrenal system and electrical stability of the heart in acute cold exposure

Acute cold exposure (−20°C, 4 h) induces a transient decrease in the ventricular fibrillation threshold without morphological and radionuclide signs of irreversible damage to cardiomyocytes. The agonist of μ-receptors DAGO, which reduces adrenoreactivity of the myocardium, prevents the decrease in the ventricular fibrillation threshold induced by acute cold exposure. Translated fromByulleten’ Eksperimental’noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 123, No. 2, pp. 154–157, February, 1997     

Cardioprotective activity of alcoholic extract of Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Miers in calcium chloride-induced cardiac arrhythmia in rats

The present study investigated the antiarrhythmic activity of alcoholic extract of Tinospora cordifolia (T.cordifolia) in CaCl 2 induced arrhythmia.CaCl 2 (25 mg/kg) was administered by intravenous infusion (iv) to produce arrhythmia in rats.The animals were then treated with T.cordifolia extract (150,250,and 450 mg/kg) and verapamil (5 mg/kg,iv).Lead II electrocardiogram was monitored.Plasma calcium,sodium and potassium levels were measured.In CaCl 2 induced arrhythmia,heart rate was decreased by 41.10%,T.cordifolia at 150,300,and 450 mg/kg decreased the heart rate by 26.30%,29.16%,and 38.29%,respectively,and verapamil reduced the heart rate by 9.70% compared to the normal group.The PQRST waves were normalized and atrial and ventricular fibrillation was controlled in rats treated with verapamil and T.cordifolia.CaCl 2 increased calcium and sodium levels and decreased potassium levels in blood.T.cordifolia dose-dependently decreased calcium and sodium levels and increased potassium levels.Hence,T.cordifolia can be used in antiarrhythmic clinical settings and beneficial in atrial and ventricular fibrillation and flutter and may be indicated in ventricular tachyarrhythmia.     

Involvement of central and peripheral cannabionoid receptors in the regulation of heart resistance to arrhythmogenic effects of epinephrine

Intravenous injection of the selective cannabinoid receptor agonist HU-210 in doses of 0.05 and 0.25 mg/kg increased heart resistance to arrhythmogenic effects of epinephrine, while intracerebroventricular infusion of this substance had no effect on the incidence of epinephrine-induced arrhythmia. The selective antagonist of type I cannabinoid receptors SR141716A in a dose of 3 mg/kg and ganglion blocker hexamethonium in a dose of 10 mg/kg did not modify the antiarrhythmic effect of HU-210. This effect of HU-210 is probably related to activation of type II peripheral cannabinoid receptors. Translated fromByulleten’ Eksperimental’noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 130, No. 11, pp. 552–554, November, 2000     

Antithrombogenic and Antiplatelet Activities of Extract from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Maackia amyrensis</Emphasis> Wood

Antithrombogenic and antiplatelet effects of a new drug, containing isoflavonoids (extract from the wood of Maackia amyrensis, a Far Eastern plant), were studied. A course (200 mg/kg intragastrically during 14 days) of Maackia amyrensis extract prevented intravascular clotting, initiated by application of 10% iron chloride solution on the vessel. The drug increased antiaggregant activity of the vascular wall and potentiated endothelium-dependent vasodilatation in ovariectomied rats. The reference drug ethinylestradiol (25 μg/kg intragastrically during 14 days) potentiated the antiaggregant effect of the endothelium, but was inferior to Maackia amyrensis extract in the capacity to induce endothelium-dependent vasodilatation in ovariectomied rats. Translated from Byulleten’ Eksperimental’noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 147, No. 2, pp. 164-167, February, 2009     

Antiarrhythmic properties of estrogens

Estrone, estriol, and estradiol valerate exhibited antiarrhythmic activity in rats with aconitine-induced arrhythmia. Estrone was most effective in this respect. __________ Translated from Byulleten’ Eksperimental’noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 141, No. 3, pp. 312–314, March, 2006     

Comparison of antiarrhythmic activities of befol,lidocaine, and bonnecor

The antiarrhythmic activity of befol (an isotoxic dose) is higher than (or comparable to) that of lidocaine and bonnecor in atrial and ventricular arrhythmias induced by acute ischemia, reperfusion, myocardial infarction, or ouabain treatment. In epinephrine-induced arrhythmia, befol is inferior to these drugs (except lidocaine) in activity and range of therapeutic action. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 122, No. 12, pp. 665–668, December, 1996     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudorhabdosynochus inversus</Emphasis> sp. nov. (Monogenea,Diplectanidae) from the halfmoon grouper <Emphasis Type="Italic">Epinephelus rivulatus</Emphasis> (Perciformes,Serranidae) off New Caledonia

Pseudorhabdosynochus inversus sp. nov. is described from three specimens found in a halfmoon grouper, Epinephelus rivulatus, from the external slope of the barrier reef, New Caledonia, South Pacific. The new species is characterised by the structure of its sclerotised vagina, which resembles that of P. epinepheli (Yamaguti, 1938) but has its primary chamber inverted, and by its measurements. The diplectanid fauna of E. rivulatus shows the same pattern as in other groupers, probably belonging to a clade in which fish species harbour both an abundant species of the ‘Pseudorhabdosynochus cupatus group’ (here P. calathus Hinsinger et Justine, 2006) and a rare species (here P. inversus).

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Résumé   Pseudorhabdosynochus inversus sp. nov. est décrit de trois spécimens trouvés chez un mérou demi-lune, Epinephelus rivulatus, de la pente externe du récif barriPre, Nouvelle-Calédonie, Pacifique Sud. La nouvelle espPce est caractérisée par la structure de son vagin sclérifié, qui ressemble B celui de P. epinepheli (Yamaguti, 1938) mais a sa chambre primaire inversée, et par ses mensurations. La faune des Diplectanidae de E. rivulatus montre le mLme patron que chez d.autres mérous, probablement appartenant B un clade, chez lesquels les espPces de poissons hébergent B la fois une espPce abondante du groupe ‘Pseudorhabdosynochus cupatus’ (ici P. calathus Hinsinger et Justine, 2006) et une espPce rare (ici P. inversus).

     

Role of cholinergic regulation of the heart in the protective antiarrhythmic effect of adaptation to continuous moderate stress

Rats were adapted to the continuous action of moderate immobilization stress for 1, 5, and 15 days. Thereafter the threshold of ventricular fibrillation and the heart rate were compared with biochemical indexes of adrenergic and cholinergic regulation of the heart, namely, catecholamine, cAMP, and cGMP content, acetylcholinesterase and choline acetyltransferase activity, the number and affinity of cardiac muscarinic receptors, and the catecholamine content in the adrenals. The threshold of ventricular fibrillation fell on the 1st day due to a predominance of the adrenergic regulatory effect over the cholinergic. Adaptation for 5 days is attended by a rise of the threshold of ventricular fibrillation to the norm and by marked bradycardia, both these shifts being abolished by atropine. Elevation of the heart's resistance to arrhythmias stems from the prevalence of cholinergic regulation. Equilibrium between the cholinergic and adrenergic effects on the heart was found as a results of 15-day adaptation. The normal threshold of ventricular fibrillation and the increased cardiac resistance to arrhythmia were preserved and dictated largely by adaptive changes at the cardiomycyte level. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 120. N ^o 7, pp. 36–39, July, 1995 Presented by G. N. Kryzhanovskii, Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences     

Effect of NO-synthase inhibitor L-NAME on occlusion and reperfusion arrhythmias in cats

On the model of occlusion/reperfusion arrhythmia in cats it was shown that repeated injections of the NO-synthase inhibitor L-NAME decreased the incidence of occlusion arrhythmias (to 40%), eliminated reperfusion-induced ventricular fibrillation, and drastically reduced the latency of occlusion arrhythmias. A single injection of L-NAME (20 mg/kg) immediately before ligation of the coronary artery did not decrease the incidence of occlusion and reperfusion arrhythmias. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 127, No. 5, pp. 509–511, May, 1999     

Genome sequence of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Leucania seperata</Emphasis> nucleopolyhedrovirus

The nucleotide sequence of the Leucania seperata (Ls) Nucleopolyhedrovirus (LsNPV) genome has been determined and analyzed. The circular dsDNA genome contains 168041 bp, making it the largest NPV sequenced to date. The genome has a G + C content of 48.6% and encodes 169 predicted open reading frames (ORFs), one unique repeat region, and eight homologous repeat regions that are divided into two groups. Of the genome, 82.8% encodes predicted ORFs including five dispersal ORFs that have a large overlaps (range in 149 ∼ 390 bp) with their adjacent ORFs, respectively such as expression factor 10, 11, 5, 2 (lef-10, lef-11, lef-5, lef-2), and telokin-like protein-20 (tlp-20); 4.4% is in repeat regions; the remaining 12.8% of the genome comprises nonrepeat intergenic regions. LsNPV encodes homologues of 133 ORFs identified previously in other baculoviruses. Other than 10 ‘baculovirus repeat ORFs’ (bro) and two ‘inhibitor of apoptosis’ (iap) genes, no duplicated ORFs were found. LsNPV lacks a homologue of the ubiquitin gene, which has been found in all fully sequenced baculoviruses. Iap3 and p49, two genes were proven to be inhibitors of apoptosis by experiment, and are found in the LsNPV genome. It is not found in other baculoviruses that two kinds of inhibitors of apoptosis present in a baculovirus genome. The GenBank accession number of the LsNPV genome sequence is AY394490.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudopycnadena tendu</Emphasis> sp. nov. (Digenea,Opecoelidae) in the yellow-spotted triggerfish <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudobalistes fuscus</Emphasis> (Perciformes,Balistidae) and additional opecoelids parasitizing fishes from the waters off New Caledonia

Pseudopycnadena tendu sp. nov. is described from the balistid Pseudobalistes fuscus from the waters off New Caledonia. It differs from the only other member of the genus P. fischthali Saad-Fares et Maillard, 1986, in its broad cirrus-sac, with the wide field of large gland-cells, its less nearly circular body shape, its dorsal excretory pore, its shorter post-testicular region, its relatively larger ventral sucker and its smaller eggs. The genus is re-defined to take these distinctions into account. Other opecoelid species reported from New Caledonia are Allopodocotyle epinepheli (Yamaguti, 1942) from Epinephelus cyanopodus, E. fasciatus and E. merra, Cainocreadium epinepheli (Yamaguti, 1934) from E. coeruleopunctatus, E. fasciatus and Variola louti, Hamacreadium mutabile (Linton, 1910) from Lutjanus fulviflamma and L. kasmira, Helicometra epinepheli Yamaguti, 1934 from E. fasciatus and E. merra, Orthodena tropica Durio et Manter, 1968 from Lethrinus lentjan, Pacificreadium serrani (Nagaty et Abdel-Aal, 1962) from Plectropomus leopardus and Pseudoplagioporus interruptus Durio et Manter, 1968 from Lethrinus rubrioperculatus.

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Résumé Pseudopycnadena tendu sp. nov. est décrit du baliste Pseudobalistes fuscus pêché en Nouvelle-Calédonie. L’espèce diffère du seul autre membre du genre, P. fischthali Saad-Fares et Maillard, 1986, par son sac du cirre plus épais avec un champ large de cellules glandulaires, sa forme du corps presque circulaire, son pore excréteur dorsal, sa partie post-testiculaire plus courte, sa ventouse ventrale relativement plus grande et ses œufs plus petits. Le genre est redéfini pour prendre en compte ces distinctions. D’autres Opecoelidae sont mentionnés de Nouvelle-Calédonie: Allopodocotyle epinepheli (Yamaguti, 1942) de Epinephelus cyanopodus, E. fasciatus et E. merra, Cainocreadium epinepheli (Yamaguti, 1934) de E. coeruleopunctatus, E. fasciatus et Variola louti, Hamacreadium mutabile (Linton, 1910) de Lutjanus fulviflamma et L. kasmira, Helicometra epinepheli Yamaguti, 1934 de E. fasciatus et E. merra, Orthodena tropica Durio et Manter, 1968 de Lethrinus lentjan, Pacificreadium serrani (Nagaty et Abdel-Aal, 1962) de Plectropomus leopardus et Pseudoplagioporus interruptus Durio et Manter, 1968 de Lethrinus rubrioperculatus.

     

Antiarrhythmic Activity of Phytoadaptogens in Short-Term Ischemia-Reperfusion of the Heart and Postinfarction Cardiosclerosis

A course of treatment (16 mg/kg orally during 5 days) by Aralia mandshurica or Rhodiola rosea extracts reduced the incidence of ischemic and reperfusion ventricular arrhythmias during 10-min ischemia and 10-min reperfusion. Extracts of Eleutherococcus senticosus, Leuzea carthamoides, and Panax ginseng did not change the incidence of ischemic and reperfusion arrhythmias. Chronic treatment by aralia, rhodiola, and eleutherococcus elevated the ventricular fibrillation threshold in rats with postinfarction cardiosclerosis. Ginseng and leuzea did not change this parameter in rats with postinfarction cardiosclerosis. Translated from Byulleten’ Eksperimental’noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 147, No. 3, pp. 303–306, March, 2009     

Sex Combs are Important for Male Mating Success in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Drosophila melanogaster</Emphasis>

The sex comb is one of the most rapidly evolving male-specific traits in Drosophila, making it an attractive model to study sexual selection and developmental evolution. Drosophila males use their sex combs to grasp the females’ abdomen and genitalia and to spread their wings prior to copulation. To test the role of this structure in male mating success in Drosophila melanogaster, we genetically ablated the sex comb by expressing the female-specific isoform of the sex determination gene transformer in the tarsal segments of male legs. This technique does not remove the sex comb entirely, but simply restores the morphology of its constituent bristles to the ancestral condition found in Drosophila species that lack sex combs. Direct observations and differences in long-term insemination rates show that the loss of the sex comb strongly reduces the ability of males to copulate with females. Detailed analysis of video recordings indicates that this effect is not due to changes in the males’ courtship behavior. Rapid evolution of sex comb morphology may be driven either by changes in female preferences, or by co-evolution between sex combs and female external genitalia. Edited by Yong-Kyu Kim.     

Intra-genotypic resolution of African swine fever viruses from an East African domestic pig cycle: a combined <Emphasis Type="Italic">p72</Emphasis>-CVR approach

Two of the 22 presently recognised African swine fever (ASF) virus p72 genotypes are genetically homogeneous and are associated with domestic pig cycles. Of these, genotype VIII comprises just two p72 variants, designated ‘a’ and ‘b’ in this study, and is confined to four East African countries where it has caused numerous outbreaks between 1961 and 2001. In order to resolve relationships within this homogeneous genotype, the central variable region (CVR) of the 9RL open reading frame of 38 viruses was characterised and the resulting dataset complemented with seven published sequences. Phylogenetic analysis of the 45 taxa resulted in seven discrete amino acid CVR lineages (A–G). CVR lineage F, 84 amino acids in length and spanning a 40-year period, comprised 26 isolates from Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The second largest lineage (E), consisted of 10 viruses causing outbreaks over a 10-year period in Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique whilst the remaining five lineages were country-specific and represented by four or less viruses with a maximum circulation period of three years. A combined p72-CVR analysis resulted in eight discrete lineages corresponding to eight unique p72-CVR combinations. One of these, b–F, appears to have arisen by convergent evolution or through an intra-genotypic recombination event, as the individual p72 and CVR gene phylogenies are incongruent. This raises the possibility of intra-genotypic recombination in ASF viruses for the first time. However, given the repetitive nature of the CVR region, convergent evolution cannot be excluded and may be the more likely explanation.     

Age-Dependent Stability of Sensorimotor Functions in the Life-Extended <Emphasis Type="Italic">Drosophila</Emphasis> mutant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Methuselah</Emphasis>

Methuselah is a Drosophila mutant with a 35% increased lifespan. We examined the robustness of methuselah’s sensorimotor abilities in tethered flight as a function of age in experiments designed to test visuomotor synchronization and phototaxis in simulated flight. A total of 282 flies from different age groups (4 hours to 70 days) and genotypes (mth and w1118) were individually tethered under an infrared laser-sensor system that digitally recorded wing-beat frequency (WBF). We found that mth has a higher average WBF throughout most of its lifespan compared to parental control flies (w1118) and develops flight ability at a younger age. Its WBF at late life, however, is not significantly different than that of its parental control line. We further found that mth entrains during flight to motion of a visual grating significantly better than its parental line. These findings suggest that the mth gene not only delays chronological aging but enhances sensorimotor abilities critical to survival during early and middle, but not late life. Edited by Yong-Kyu Kim