L-carnitine supplementation and physical exercise restore age-associated decline in some mitochondrial functions in the rat

In mammals, during the aging process, an atrophy of the muscle fibers, an increase in body fat mass, and a decrease in skeletal muscle oxidative capacities occur. Compounds and activities that interact with lipid oxidative metabolism may be useful in limiting damages that occur in aging muscle. In this study, we evaluated the effect of L-carnitine and physical exercise on several parameters related to muscle physiology. We described that supplementing old rats with L-carnitine at 30 mg/kg body weight for 12 weeks (a) allowed the restoration of L-carnitine level in muscle cells, (b) restored muscle oxidative activity in the soleus, and (c) induced positive changes in body composition: a decrease in abdominal fat mass and an increase in muscle capabilities without any change in food intake. Moderate physical exercise was also effective in (a) limiting fat mass gain and (b) inducing an increase in the capacities of the soleus to oxidize fatty acids.     

Effect of bipolar electrode orientation on local electrogram properties

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Diagnostic approaches to suspected deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism

The present paper aims at reviewing our present knowledge on the diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism with a particular emphasis on clinically suspected outpatients. The various contemporary diagnostic tools (including clinical probability assessment, fibrin D-Dimer measurement, venous compression ultrasonography, ventilation/perfusion lung scintigraphy, helical CT scan, and echocardiography) are presented and rational sequential strategies are discussed in their various aspects, including validation in outcome studies, and cost-effectiveness analyses.     

Successful heart transplantation following melphalan plus dexamethasone therapy in systemic AL amyloidosis

Recurrence in the allograft and progression in other organs increase mortality after cardiac transplantation in AL amyloidosis. Survival may be improved after suppression of monoclonal light chain (LC) production following high dose melphalan and autologous stem cell transplantation (HDM/ASCT). However, because of high treatment related mortality, this tandem approach is restricted to few patients without significant extra-cardiac involvement. A diagnosis of systemic AL amyloidosis was established in a 45-year old patient with congestive heart failure related to restrictive cardiomyopathy, nephrotic syndrome, peripheral neuropathy, postural hypotension, macroglossia, and lambda LC monoclonal gammopathy. After melphalan and dexamethasone (M-Dex) therapy, which resulted in 80% reduction of serum free lambda LC, he underwent orthotopic cardiac transplantation. Two years later, he remains in a sustained hematologic remission, with no evidence of allograft or extra-cardiac amyloid accumulation. M-Dex should be considered as an alternative therapy in AL amyloid heart transplant recipients ineligible for HDM/ASCT.     

Ursodeoxycholic acid for the prevention of gallstones and subsequent cholecystectomy after bariatric surgery: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Journal of Gastroenterology - This meta-analysis aimed to compare the incidence of gallstone formation, subsequent biliary disease and the need for cholecystectomy in untreated patients and...     

Solubilization of a guanine nucleotide-sensitive parathyroid hormone-receptor complex from canine renal cortex

Canine renal cortical PTH receptors were solubilized after occupancy of membrane-associated receptors with the agonist ligand [125I]bovine (b) PTH-(1-34). Stabilization of binding during solubilization required the use of high concentrations of BSA (optimally 5%) and appropriate detergents (0.5% 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]2-hydroxy-1-propanesulfonate, 0.5% 3-[(3-cholamidopropanyl)dimethylammonio]1-propanesulfonate, or 0.5-1.0% digitonin). The soluble fraction (240,000 X gav supernatant) contained [125I]bPTH-(1-34) associated with macromolecular components as well as unbound [125I]bPTH-(1-34) that dissociated during solubilization. The soluble macromolecular complex had functional properties expected of a ternary complex consisting of [125I]bPTH-(1-34) receptor stimulatory guanine nucleotide-binding protein (Ns). Thus, the dissociation of labeled PTH at 30 C was slow (t1/2 = 75 min); in the presence of GTP (10(-4) M), 75% of the sites displayed rapid dissociation kinetics (t1/2 = 2.3 min). This effect was nucleotide specific, with GTP approximately equal to GTP gamma S approximately equal to GDP greater than GDP beta S greater than ITP approximately equal to guanylylimidodiphosphate much greater than GMP approximately equal to App(NH)p. ATP was ineffective. GTP produced a half-maximal response at a concentration of 200 nM. These results are consistent with the reported nucleotide specificity and affinity of purified Ns. Treatment of membranes with N-ethylmaleimide during the binding reaction rendered the solubilized complex refractory to GTP. Gel filtration chromatography (Sepharose 6B) revealed a GTP-sensitive complex that eluted in the position expected of a detergent-free spherical protein of 180,000 daltons. This complex may consist of the 60,000 to 70,000-dalton PTH-binding subunit (previously identified by photoaffinity labeling) together with Ns.