Black beans and red kidney beans induce positive postprandial vascular responses in healthy adults: A pilot randomized cross-over study

Background and aimsConsuming pulses (dry beans, dry peas, chickpeas, lentils) over several weeks can improve vascular function and decrease cardiovascular disease risk; however, it is unknown whether pulses can modulate postprandial vascular responses. The objective of this study was to compare different bean varieties (black, navy, pinto, red kidney) and white rice for their acute postprandial effects on vascular and metabolic responses in healthy individuals.Methods and resultsThe study was designed as a single-blinded, randomized crossover trial with a minimum 6 days between consumption of the food articles. Vascular tone (primary endpoint), haemodynamics and serum biochemistry (secondary endpoints) were measured in 8 healthy adults before and at 1, 2, and 6 h after eating ¾ cup of beans or rice. Blood pressure and pulse wave velocity (PWV) were lower at 2 h following red kidney bean and pinto bean consumption compared to rice and navy bean, respectively (p < 0.05). There was greater vasorelaxation 6 h following consumption of darker-coloured beans, as shown by decreased vascular tone: PWV was lower after consuming black bean compared to pinto bean, augmentation pressure was lower after consuming black bean compared to rice and pinto bean, and wave reflection magnitude was lower after consuming red kidney bean and black bean compared to rice, navy bean, and pinto bean (p < 0.05). LDL-cholesterol concentrations were lower 6 h after black bean consumption compared to rice (p < 0.05).ConclusionOverall, red kidney and black beans, the darker-coloured beans, elicited a positive effect on the tensile properties of blood vessels, and this acute response may provide insight for how pulses modify vascular function.     

Thermal Ablation of T1c Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Comparative Assessment of Technical Performance,Procedural Outcome,and Safety of Microwave Ablation,Radiofrequency Ablation,and Cryoablation

Purpose

To evaluate perioperative outcomes of thermal ablation with microwave (MW), radiofrequency (RF), and cryoablation for stage T1c renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Percutaneous Cryoablation of Solitary,Sporadic Renal Cell Carcinoma: Outcome Analysis Based on Clear-Cell versus Papillary Subtypes

Purpose

To evaluate treatment outcomes with percutaneous cryoablation (PCA) based on renal cell carcinoma (RCC) histology.

First-in-Man Experience with a Novel Catheter-Based Renal Denervation System of Ultrasonic Ablation in Patients with Resistant Hypertension

Purpose

To report results of renal denervation (RDN) with the first catheter-based, non–balloon occlusion ultrasonic system in patients with resistant hypertension.

Prophylactic Internal Iliac Artery Occlusion Balloon Placement to Reduce Operative Blood Loss in Patients with Invasive Placenta

Purpose

To evaluate efficacy and safety of prophylactic internal iliac occlusion balloon placement before cesarean hysterectomy for invasive placenta.

Complexity and content of the DNA and RNA in Trypanosoma cruzi

The content and sequence complexity of the nuclear DNA and messenger RNA for epimastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi were determined. From analysis of nuclear DNA reassociation studies and microspectrofluorometric measurements of laser induced fluorescence of cellular DNA, T. cruzi is found to be a diploid organism with a nuclear DNA content of 2.5 x 10(8) nucleotide pairs (2.8 x 10(-13) g) and a kinetoplast DNA content of 4.9 x 10(7) nucleotide pairs (5.4 x 10(-14) g). Reassociation kinetics of nuclear DNA of average length 0.4 kb reveals three kinetic components: a moderately repetitive component with a reiteration frequency of 5.1 x 10(3) present in 9% of the fragments, a lowly repetitive component with a reiteration frequency of 32 present in 51% of the fragments, and a single-copy component present in 23% of the fragments. By saturation hybridization of total polysomal RNA to 3H-labeled single-copy DNA, it was determined that 68% of the single-copy DNA was represented in the epimastigote polysomal RNA. This corresponds to ca. 12 000 different mRNA species. Of these, ca. 9000 are present as poly(A)+-RNA, while the remaining 3000 appear not to be polyadenylated. Kinetic analysis of the poly(A)+-RNA population indicates it is composed of at least three classes of RNA's of different abundancy levels: two sequences which occur ca. 3000 per cell, ca. 750 sequences which occur about 20 times per cell, and ca. 15 500 sequences which occur 1-2 times per cell.     

Characterisation of concanavalin A-binding glycoproteins from mouse splenic leukocytes by two-dimensional electrophoresis: Preferential binding of incompletely glycosylated forms of H-2 antigen to the lectin

Concanavalin A (Con A)4-binding proteins from mouse spleen leukocytes were characterised by two-dimensional electrophoresis of material precipitated, by Con A plus anti-Con A, from lysates of biosynthetically-labelled cells. Although most cell surface (iodinatable) proteins are known to bind Con A. some of the major Con A-binding proteins detected by immunoprecipitation. after a four-hour biosynthetic labelling period, are not iodinatable and arc probably intracellular. Thus the major biosynthetically labelled Con A-binding species are: (i) a non-iodinatable, high molecular weight glycoprotein (C-145); (ii) intracellular precursors of secretory immunoglobulins (IgM and, probably, IgAl; (iii) immature (not fully-sialylated) forms of H-2 D and K antigens; and (iv) Ia antigens, In the case of the H-2 antigens, (and possibly of other cell surface proteins) the selection of immature forms by Con A is not due to lack of biosynthetic labelling of mature products, but to preferential binding of Con A to incompletely glycosylated molecules.     

Inhibitory oligodeoxynucleotides − therapeutic promise for systemic autoimmune diseases?

Recent studies have shed new light on a possible link between the innate activation of plasmocytoid dendritic cells and marginal zone B cells and the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus. Animal studies have identified that this response requires the Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9). Engagement of the TLR9 by various ligands, including non-canonical CpG-motifs, can cause or aggravate pathogenic autoantibody production and cytokine secretion in lupus. Attempts to neutralize this activity either by blocking the acidification of the endosomal compartment with chloroquine and related compounds, or by preventing the interaction between the CpG-DNA sequences and TLR9 using inhibitory oligonucleotides could be a promising therapeutic option for lupus.