An experimental model of chronic cardiac failure using adriamycin in the rabbit: central haemodynamics and regional blood flow

Central haemodynamics and regional blood flow were studied comprehensively in conscious New Zealand White rabbits before and during the development of chronic low output cardiac failure produced by administration of the anticancer agent adriamycin. After eight weeks of adriamycin treatment, cardiac index fell from 326(40 to 225(56) ml.min-1.kg-1. This was accompanied by an increase in heart rate and total peripheral resistance but no change in mean systemic blood pressure. Myocardial function was shown to be depressed by the measurement of Frank-Starling curves, the slopes of which were appreciably flatter in adriamycin treated rabbits. Regional blood flow (measured by the radioactive microsphere technique) was redistributed. There were decreases in renal, splenic, small gut, and skeletal muscle blood flow, whereas myocardial and cerebral blood flow were unchanged. There was an increase in total body exchangeable sodium, indicating some salt and water retention. Systemic toxic effects of adriamycin could be limited by treating the animals for eight weeks with adriamycin and then allowing a two week recovery period before haemodynamic study. This would appear to be the optimal dosage schedule.     

Utilization of Anthocyanins-Rich Extract from Banana Bract in the Green Synthesis of AgNPs with Anti-proliferative Potential

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India Section B: Biological Sciences - Present study was undertaken to optimize the extraction conditions for the recovery of anthocyanins from an...     

Gene expression changes in aging retinal microglia: relationship to microglial support functions and regulation of activation

Microglia, the resident immune cells of the central nervous system (CNS), are thought to contribute to the pathogenesis of age-related neurodegenerative disorders. It has been hypothesized that microglia undergo age-related changes in gene expression patterns that give rise to pathogenic phenotypes. We compared the gene expression profiles in microglia isolated ex vivo from the retinas of mice ranging from early adulthood to late senescence. We discovered that microglial gene expression demonstrated progressive change with increasing age, and involved genes that regulate microglial supportive functions and immune activation. Molecular pathways involving immune function and regulation, angiogenesis, and neurotrophin signaling demonstrated age-related change. In particular, expression levels of complement genes, C3 and CFB, previously associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), increased with aging, suggesting that senescent microglia may contribute to complement dysregulation during disease pathogenesis. Taken together, senescent microglia demonstrate age-related gene expression changes capable of altering their constitutive support functions and regulation of their activation status in ways relating to neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration in the CNS.     

Does antiretroviral therapy alter the course of Parkinson’s disease in people living with HIV?

Journal of NeuroVirology - South Africa has the world’s largest antiretroviral programme which has resulted in an increase in life expectancy in persons living with HIV. Parkinson’s...     

Infection with Toxoplasma gondii does not elicit predator aversion in male mice nor increase their attractiveness in terms of mate choice

Behavioral manipulation hypothesis posits that some parasites induce behavioral changes in the host to increase transmission efficiency of the parasite. Protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii infecting rats has been widely studied in this context. T. gondii increases attractiveness of infected male rats and reduces innate aversion of rats to cat odor, likely increasing transmission of the parasite by sexual and trophic routes respectively. It is currently unexplored if T. gondii induces gain of male attractiveness in experimental models other than rats. Here we show that laboratory infection of two strains of mice does not induce behavioral manipulation. Moreover, T. gondii infection results in reduction of male attractiveness in one of the strains. In agreement with this observation, T. gondii infection also fails to induce reduction in innate aversion to cat odors in mice. Effects of the parasite on mice mate choice are similar to effects of several other parasites in this animal model. Thus, behavioral change induced by the parasite may be specific to the rodent species.     

Novel CD3Z and CD3E Deficiency in Two Unrelated Females

Journal of Clinical Immunology -     

Imaging in whole organ pancreatic transplants and a multimodality review of its complications

This pictorial review will describe the normal anatomy of whole organ pancreatic transplants and the common surgical variants with which the radiologist should be familiar. Complications may be divided into (1) vascular: arterial occlusion and stenosis, venous thrombosis, pseudoaneurysms and arteriovenous fistulae, (2) parenchymal complications such as pancreatitis and the variety of peripancreatic collections, and (3) enteric complications including leak and fistula formation. The radiologist plays a crucial role in the initial assessment of graft anatomy and perfusion, prompt diagnosis, and increasingly, in the management of complications.     

Associations between obesity and asthma in a low-income,urban, minority population

BackgroundCommunity-based studies of obesity, asthma, biomarkers of oxidative stress, and adipokines among low-income, urban, minority populations are lacking. Oxidative stress, perhaps modulated by adipokines, may increase airway inflammation in obese individuals.ObjectivesTo characterize associations between obesity and asthma in a low-income, urban, minority community and evaluate adipokines, biomarkers of inflammation, and oxidant-antioxidant balance in association with asthma and obesity.MethodsA door-to-door evaluation of asthma and obesity prevalence was performed in a low-income housing development. Nonsmoking adults and children underwent additional evaluation, including allergy skin testing, and measures of serum adipokines, and indicators of oxidative stress in blood and exhaled breath.ResultsThe prevalences of current asthma and a body mass index in the 85th percentile or higher were 15.8% and 35.3%, respectively, among 350 nonsmokers older than 4 years. Asthma and obesity were not associated with one another (odds ratio, 1.0; 95% confidence interval, 0.55-1.84). Among 116 nonsmoking participants who underwent biomarker evaluation, obesity was not associated with exhaled nitric oxide. In multivariate logistic models that adjusted for age category, sex, and a body mass index in 85th percentile or higher, leptin concentrations in the highest quartile were associated with asthma (odds ratio, 8.34; 95% confidence interval, 1.29-50.2) but not with atopy. Adiponectin was associated with total antioxidant capacity in exhaled breath.ConclusionAsthma and obesity, although both common in a low-income, minority community, were not associated with one another. Nevertheless, adipokines were associated with asthma status and with markers of oxidative stress in the lungs, providing some support for an adipokine-inflammatory mechanistic link between the two conditions.