Novel proteins that regulate cell extension formation in fibroblasts

Cell extensions are critical structures that enable matrix remodeling in wound healing and cancer invasion but the regulation of their formation is not well-defined. We searched for new proteins that mediated cell extension formation over collagen by tandem mass tagged mass spectrometry analysis of purified extensions in 3T3 fibroblasts. Unexpectedly, importin-5, ENH isoform 1b (PDLIM5) and 26 S protease regulatory subunit 6B (PSMC4) were more abundant (> 10-fold) in membrane-penetrating cell extensions than cell bodies, which was confirmed by immunostaining and immunoblotting and also observed in human gingival fibroblasts. After siRNA knockdown of these proteins and plating cells on grid-supported floating collagen gels for 6 h, formation of cell extensions and collagen remodeling were examined. Knockdown of importin-5 reduced collagen compaction (1.9-fold), pericellular collagen degradation (~ 1.8-fold) and number of cell extensions (~ 69%). Knockdown of PSMC4 reduced collagen compaction (~ 1.5-fold), pericellular collagen degradation (~ 1.7-fold) and number of cell extensions (~ 42%). Knockdown of PDLIM5 reduced collagen compaction (~ 1.6-fold) and number of cell extensions (~ 21%). Inhibition of the TGF-β RI kinase, Smad3 or ROCK-II signaling pathways reduced the abundance of PDLIM5 in cell extensions but PSMC4 and importin-5 were reduced only by Smad3 or ROCK-II inhibitors. We conclude that these novel proteins are required for cell extension formation and their recruitment into extensions involves the Smad3 and ROCK signaling pathways.

The effects of pioglitazone in cirrhotic rats with hepatopulmonary syndrome

BACKGROUND

Hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) is characterized by oxygen desaturation and increased intrapulmonary shunting formation in cirrhosis. Due to an unclarified mechanism, there is still no effective therapy except liver transplantation. Recent studies revealed that pulmonary angiogenesis may participate in pathogenesis, in which nitric oxide (NO) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) play roles. Pioglitazone, a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma agonist, exerts anti-angiogenesis effect. However, whether pioglitazone influences pulmonary angiogenesis, shunting and HPS remains unexplored.

METHODS

Cirrhosis with HPS was induced in Spraque-Dawley rats with common bile duct ligation (CBDL). Pioglitazone (10 mg/kg/day, oral gavage) or vehicle was administered from 8th to 28th day post CBDL. On the 28th day, the mortality rate, hemodynamic parameters, concentrations of plasma glucose and liver biochemistry parameters, and arterial blood gas data were evaluated. Lungs were dissected for protein expression analyses. In another series, intrapulmonary shunting degree was determined by color microsphere method in paralleled groups.

RESULTS

The survival rates were similar in HPS rats with or without pioglitazone administration. Pioglitazone did not influence the hemodynamic parameters, glucose and liver biochemistry levels, oxygen saturation and alveolar arterial gradient, but significantly down-regulated pulmonary VEGF protein expression, endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) activation, and decreased intrapulmonary shunts. Pioglitazone significantly decreased intrapulmonary shunts as compared with the vehicle (18.1 ± 4.5 vs. 9.8 ± 3.6, p = 0.015).

CONCLUSION

Pioglitazone down-regulated VEGF, eNOS and decreased intrapulmonary shunts without improving oxygenation. The current finding suggests a multifactorial mechanism of HPS that could not be successfully overcome merely by pioglitazone-induced anti-angiogenesis and shunting reduction.

Role of thymoglobulin in matched sibling allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation with busulfan and fludarabine conditioning in myeloid malignanicies

In vivo T-cell depletion using anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) is widely used in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for prophylaxis of GvHD. We investigated the influence of thymoglobulin dose (an ATG) on GvHD following matched sibling donor (MSD) HSCT with a busulfan and fludarabine preparative regimen. Medical records of 180 patients who received MSD HSCT with a conditioning regimen of busulfan, fludarabine, and ATG (BuFluATG) were reviewed retrospectively. The median age was 53 years (range 18-68). Initial diagnoses were acute myeloid leukemia (73.3%) and myelodysplastic syndrome (26.7%). Forty-four and 68 patients (24.4 and 37.7%) experienced acute and chronic GvHD of any grade, respectively. High-dose (⩾4.5 mg/kg) ATG was independently associated with decreased risk of acute GvHD (hazard ratio=0.36, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.15-0.84, P=0.019) compared to low-dose ATG (<4.5 mg/kg). Although ATG dose was associated with the risk of acute GvHD, it was not associated with the risk of chronic GvHD in our study. A higher dose (⩾4.5 mg/kg) of ATG decreases the risk of acute GvHD but had no significant impact on disease-free survival in MSD HSCT patients conditioned with BuFluATG. The optimal dose of ATG should be further investigated in a large prospective study context.

Ascorbate lacks significant influence in rats with bile duct ligation-induced liver injury

BACKGROUND

Liver inflammation may induce fibrogenesis, cirrhosis and portal hypertension. Liver cirrhosis is characterized by increased intrahepatic resistance and enhanced vasoconstrictive response. The splanchnic vasodilatation, angiogenesis and portosystemic collaterals formation further bring about lethal complications. Ascorbate is a potent antioxidant with anti-inflammation, anti-fibrosis, and anti-angiogenesis effects. However, the relevant influences in chronic liver injury have not been sufficiently explored.

METHODS

Chronic liver injury was induced in Spraque-Dawley rats with common bile duct ligation (BDL). Ascorbate (250 mg/kg/day, oral gavage) or vehicle was administered starting on the 1st day after operation. On the 8th (hepatitis) and 29th (cirrhosis) day, serum biochemistry parameters, hepatic concentrations of lipid peroxidation-related substances, protein expressions of α-SMA, TGF-β, iNOS, eNOS, p-eNOS-Ser1177, p-eNOS-Thr496, VEGF, VEGFR2, p-VEGFR2, and liver histology were evaluated. In three series of paralleled groups, rats treated with 28-day ascorbate or vehicle received hemodynamic measurements, hepatic and collateral vasoresponsiveness perfusion experiments, mesenteric CD31 immunofluorescence staining, and Western blot analyses of mesenteric VEGF, VEGFR2, pVEGFR2, PDGF, PDGFβ, COX1, COX2, eNOS, p-eNOS-Thr495, p-eNOS-Ser1177 protein expressions. In another series, the severity of portosystemic shunting was evaluated.

RESULTS

Ascorbate did not influence hepatitis, oxidative stress, fibrosis, and hemodynamic parameters in BDL rats. The intrahepatic and collateral vasoresponsiveness were not affected, either from direct incubation or acute treatment with ascorbate. Furthermore, the mesenteric angiogenesis and severity of shunting were not influenced.

CONCLUSION

The oxidative stress, fibrosis, hemodynamic derangements, angiogenesis and vascular functional changes in BDL-induced chronic liver injury may be too overwhelming to be modulated by ascorbate.

Metformin reduces intrahepatic fibrosis and intrapulmonary shunts in biliary cirrhotic rats

BACKGROUND

Liver fibrosis causes portal hypertension which dilates collateral vasculature and enhances extra-hepatic angiogenesis including intrapulmonary shunts, which subsequently complicates with hepatopulmonary syndrome. Metformin is an anti-diabetic agent which possesses anti-inflammation and anti-angiogenesis properties. This study evaluated the effect of metformin treatment on liver and lung in a non-diabetic rat model with biliary cirrhosis induced via common bile duct ligation (CBDL).

METHODS

CBDL rats were fed with metformin 150 mg/kg/day during the 8th-28th day post operation. The hemodynamic and biochemistry parameters were tested, and blood gas analysis was performed. The liver and lung were dissected for protein analysis and immuno-histochemical stains. Intrapulmonary shunting degree was determined using color microsphere method.

RESULTS

Metformin treatment neither induced obvious hypoglycemic event nor altered hemodynamics in cirrhotic rats. The plasma levels of alanine aminotransferase were significantly reduced by metformin (control vs. metformin: 269 ± 56 vs. 199 ± 21 IU/L, P = 0.02). Sirius Red stains and CD-68 stains showed that metformin reduced intrahepatic fibrosis and CD-68-positive macrophages. Metformin did not influence hypoxia and intrapulmonary angiogenesis; however, it significantly reduced intrapulmonary shunts (31.7 ± 10.1 vs. 15.0 ± 6.6%, P = 0.006.). Furthermore, metformin reduced the protein expressions of COX-2 and PI3K in liver and COX-1 in lung.

CONCLUSION

Metformin reduced liver injury and improved hepatic fibrosis in cirrhotic rats. It also attenuated the intrapulmonary shunts. However, the effects of metformin on pulmonary angiogenesis and hypoxia were insignificant.

Living Donor Liver Transplantation in a Patient With Extensive Portomesenteric Venous Thrombosis: Case Report

Extensive portomesenteric venous thrombus preventing restoration of adequate portal venous flow used to be considered a contraindication to liver transplantation. The subject was a 49-year-old male with hepatitis B cirrhosis and extensive thrombosis of portal, splenic, and superior mesenteric veins, and two large collateral vessels; one dilated and tortuous inferior to the pancreaticoduodenal vein and relevant to splanchnic venous return and the other a dilated coronary vein relevant to splenic venous return. During operation, the portal vein was anastomosed to these large collateral vessels using cryopreserved iliac vein. In conclusion, portal reconstruction with large collateral vessels in living-donor liver transplantation could be used selectively for patients with extensive portomesenteric venous thrombosis.

Effects of raloxifene on portal hypertension and hepatic encephalopathy in cirrhotic rats

Raloxifene, a selective estrogen receptor modulator, has been used extensively for osteoporosis. In addition to the effect of osteoporosis treatment, emerging evidences show that raloxifene affects the vascular function in different tissues. Cirrhosis is characterized with portal hypertension and complicated with hepatic encephalopathy. Portal hypertension affects portal-systemic shunt which leads to hepatic encephalopathy that the vascular modulation might influence severity of hepatic encephalopathy. Herein, we evaluated the impact of raloxifene on bile duct ligation (BDL)-induced cirrhotic rats. The female Sprague-Dawley rats received BDL plus ovariectomy or sham-operation. Four weeks later, rats were divided into 2 subgroups respectively to receive of raloxifene (10mg/kg/day) or saline (vehicle) for 14 days. On the 43th day, motor activities and hemodynamic parameters were measured. Hepatic and vascular mRNA and protein expressions were determined. The histopathological change of liver was examined. We found that the liver biochemistry, ammonia level and motor activity were similar between cirrhotic rats with or without raloxifene administration. The hemodynamic parameters were not significantly different except that raloxifene reduced portal venous inflow. Raloxifene exacerbated hepatic fibrosis and up-regulated hepatic endothelin-1 and cyclooxygenase 2 protein expressions. In addition, raloxifene modulated the mRNA expressions of endothelial nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase and endothelin-1 in the superior mesenteric artery and collateral vessel. In conclusion, raloxifene aggravates hepatic fibrosis and decreases portal venous inflow in cirrhotic rats without adversely affecting portal hypertension and hepatic encephalopathy. The modulation of hepatic and vascular endothelin-1, endothelial nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase expressions may play a role in the mechanism.

Phototherapeutic keratectomy for epithelial basement membrane dystrophy

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term efficacy of phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) in treating epithelial basement membrane dystrophy (EBMD).

Methods

Preoperative and postoperative records were reviewed for 58 eyes of 51 patients with >3 months follow-up (range 3–170 months) treated for EBMD with PTK after failure of conservative medical treatment at Byers Eye Institute of Stanford University. Symptoms, clinical findings, and corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) were assessed. The primary outcome measure was symptomatic recurrence as measured by erosions or visual complaints >3 months after successful PTK.

Results

For eyes with visual disturbances (n=30), preoperative CDVA waŝ20/32 (0.24 Log-MAR, SD 0.21) and postoperative CDVA was ~20/25 (0.07 LogMAR, SD 0.12; P<0.0001). Twenty-six eyes (86.7%) responded to treatment, with symptomatic recurrence in 6 eyes (23.1%) at an average of 37.7 months (SD 42.8). For eyes with painful erosions (n=29), preoperative CDVA was ~20/25 (0.12, SD 0.19) and postoperative CDVA was ~20/20 (0.05. SD 0.16; P=0.0785). Twenty-three eyes (79.3%) responded to treatment, with symptomatic recurrence in 3 eyes (13.0%) at an average of 9.7 months (SD 1.5). The probability of being recurrence free after a successful treatment for visual disturbances and erosions at 5 years postoperatively was estimated at 83.0% (95% confidence interval 68.7%–97.0%) and 88.0% (95% confidence interval 65.3%–96.6%), respectively.

Conclusion

The majority of visual disturbances and painful erosions associated with EBMD respond to PTK. For those with a treatment response, symptomatic relief is maintained over long-term follow-up.

Towards unsupervised fluorescence lifetime imaging using low dimensional variable projection

Analyzing large fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) data is becoming overwhelming; the latest FLIM systems easily produce massive amounts of data, making an efficient analysis more challenging than ever. In this paper we propose the combination of a custom-fit variable projection method, with a Laguerre expansion based deconvolution, to analyze bi-exponential data obtained from time-domain FLIM systems. Unlike nonlinear least squares methods, which require a suitable initial guess from an experienced researcher, the new method is free from manual interventions and hence can support automated analysis. Monte Carlo simulations are carried out on synthesized FLIM data to demonstrate the performance compared to other approaches. The performance is also illustrated on real-life FLIM data obtained from the study of autofluorescence of daisy pollen and the endocytosis of gold nanorods (GNRs) in living cells. In the latter, the fluorescence lifetimes of the GNRs are much shorter than the full width at half maximum of the instrument response function. Overall, our proposed method contains simple steps and shows great promise in realising automated FLIM analysis of large data sets.

Predictors of general discomfort, limitations in activities of daily living and intention of a second donation in unrelated hematopoietic stem cell donation

We performed a retrospective study of 1868 consecutive unrelated donors to predict the risk factors related to general discomfort, limitations in activities of daily living (ADLs) and intention of a second donation in hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) donation. General discomfort and limitations in ADLs were assessed by numerical measurement (scores of 0-10) and donor's intention of a second donation by yes or no reply. The post-donation questionnaires were completed within 48 h after HSC collection and at 1 week, 4 weeks, and 4 months thereafter. Predictors of general discomfort included female sex (P<0.0001), bone marrow (BM) collection (P<0.0001) or PBSC collection through a central line (CL; P=0.0349), 2-day collection (P=0.0150) and negative or undetermined intention of a second donation on day 1 (P<0.0001). Predictors of limitations in ADLs included age group of 30-39 years (P=0.0046), female sex (P<0.0001), BM collection (P<0.0001) or PBSC collection through a CL (P<0.0001) and negative or undetermined intention of a second donation on day 1 (P<0.0001). The only predictor of positive intention of a second donation was male sex (P=0.0007). Age, sex and collection method and period should be considered risk factors when unrelated HSC donation is performed.

Parental preferences with regards to disclosure following adverse events occurring in relation to medication use or diagnosis in the care of their children - perspectives from Malaysia

INTRODUCTION

Open disclosure is poorly understood in Malaysia but is an ethical and professional responsibility. The objectives of this study were to determine: (1) the perception of parents regarding the severity of medical error in relation to medication use or diagnosis; (2) the preference of parents for information following the medical error and its relation to severity; and (3) the preference of parents with regards to disciplinary action, reporting, and legal action.

METHODS

We translated and contextualised a questionnaire developed from a previous study. The questionnaire consisted of four case vignettes that described the following: medication error with a lifelong complication; diagnostic error with a lifelong complication; diagnostic error without lifelong effect; and medication error without lifelong effect. Each case vignette was followed by a series of questions examining the subject's perception on the above areas. We also determined the content validity of the questionnaire. We invited parents of Malaysian children admitted to the paediatric wards of Tuanku Jaafar Hospital to participate in the study.

RESULTS

One hundred and twenty-three parents participated in the study. The majority of parents wanted to be told regarding the event. As the severity of the case vignettes increased, the desire for information, remedial action, acknowledgement of responsibility, compensation, punishment, legal action, and reporting to a higher agency also increased. The findings did not have strong evidence of a relationship with subject's demographics.

CONCLUSION

This study gives insights into previously unexplored perspectives and preferences of parents in Malaysia regarding open disclosure. It also highlights the opportunity for more research in this area with potentially broad applications.

Raman and fluorescence characteristics of resonant inelastic X-ray scattering from doped superconducting cuprates

Measurements of spin excitations are essential for an understanding of spin-mediated pairing for superconductivity; and resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS) provides a considerable opportunity to probe high-energy spin excitations. However, whether RIXS correctly measures the collective spin excitations of doped superconducting cuprates remains under debate. Here we demonstrate distinct Raman- and fluorescence-like RIXS excitations of Bi_1.5Pb_0.6Sr_1.54CaCu₂O_8+δ. Combining photon-energy and momentum dependent RIXS measurements with theoretical calculations using exact diagonalization provides conclusive evidence that the Raman-like RIXS excitations correspond to collective spin excitations, which are magnons in the undoped Mott insulators and evolve into paramagnons in doped superconducting compounds. In contrast, the fluorescence-like shifts are due primarily to the continuum of particle-hole excitations in the charge channel. Our results show that under the proper experimental conditions RIXS indeed can be used to probe paramagnons in doped high-T_c cuprate superconductors.

Cannabidiol Limits T Cell-Mediated Chronic Autoimmune Myocarditis: Implications to Autoimmune Disorders and Organ Transplantation

Myocarditis is a major cause of heart failure and sudden cardiac death in young adults and adolescents. Many cases of myocarditis are associated with autoimmune processes in which cardiac myosin is a major autoantigen. Conventional immunosuppressive therapies often provide unsatisfactory results and are associated with adverse toxicities during the treatment of autoimmune myocarditis. Cannabidiol (CBD) is a nonpsychoactive constituent of marijuana that exerts antiinflammatory effects independent of classical cannabinoid receptors. Recently, 80 clinical trials have investigated the effects of CBD in various diseases from inflammatory bowel disease to graft versus host disease. CBD-based formulations are used for the management of multiple sclerosis in numerous countries, and CBD also received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for the treatment of refractory childhood epilepsy and glioblastoma multiforme. Herein, using a well-established mouse model of experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM) induced by immunization with cardiac myosin emmulsified in adjuvant resulting in T cell-mediated inflammation, cardiomyocyte cell death, fibrosis and myocardial dysfunction, we studied the potential beneficial effects of CBD. EAM was characterized by marked myocardial T-cell infiltration, profound inflammatory response and fibrosis (measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, histology and immunohistochemistry analyses) accompanied by marked attenuation of both systolic and diastolic cardiac functions measured with a pressure-volume conductance catheter technique. Chronic treatment with CBD largely attenuated the CD3⁺ and CD4⁺ T cell-mediated inflammatory response and injury, myocardial fibrosis and cardiac dysfunction in mice. In conclusion, CBD may represent a promising novel treatment for managing autoimmune myocarditis and possibly other autoimmune disorders and organ transplantation.

Self- and rater-assessed effectiveness of "thinking-aloud" and "regular" morning report to intensify young physicians' clinical skills

BACKGROUND

This study compared the effects of the "thinking aloud" (TA) morning report (MR), which is characterized by sequential and interactive case discussion by all participants, with "regular" MR for clinical skill training of young physicians.

METHODS

Between February 2011 and February 2014, young physicians [including postgraduate year-1 (PGY1) residents, interns, and clerks) from our hospital were sequentially enrolled and followed for 3 months. The self- and rater-assessed educational values of two MR models for building up clinical skills of young physicians were compared.

RESULTS

The junior (intern and clerk) attendees had higher self-assessed educational values scores and reported post-training application frequency of skills trained by TA MR compared with the senior (PGY1 resident) attendees. Higher average and percentage of increased overall rater-assessed OSCE scores were noted among the regular MR senior attendees and TA MR junior attendees than in their corresponding control groups (regular MR junior attendees and TA MR senior attendees). Interestingly, regular MRs provided additional beneficial effects for establishing the "professionalism, consulting skills and organization efficiency" aspects of clinical skills of senior/junior attendees. Moreover, senior and junior attendees benefited the most by participating in seven sessions of regular MR and TA MR each month, respectively.

CONCLUSION

TA MR effectively trains junior attendees in basic clinical skills, whereas regular MR enhances senior attendees' "work reports, professionalism, organizational efficiency, skills in dealing with controversial and professional issues." Undoubtedly, all elements of the two MR models should be integrated together to ensure patient safety and good discipline among young physicians.

Spatially resolved ultrafast magnetic dynamics initiated at a complex oxide heterointerface

Static strain in complex oxide heterostructures has been extensively used to engineer electronic and magnetic properties at equilibrium. In the same spirit, deformations of the crystal lattice with light may be used to achieve functional control across heterointerfaces dynamically. Here, by exciting large-amplitude infrared-active vibrations in a LaAlO3 substrate we induce magnetic order melting in a NdNiO3 film across a heterointerface. Femtosecond resonant soft X-ray diffraction is used to determine the spatiotemporal evolution of the magnetic disordering. We observe a magnetic melt front that propagates from the substrate interface into the film, at a speed that suggests electronically driven motion. Light control and ultrafast phase front propagation at heterointerfaces may lead to new opportunities in optomagnetism, for example by driving domain wall motion to transport information across suitably designed devices.

Role of discoidin domain receptor 1 in dysregulation of collagen remodeling by cyclosporin A

The anti-transplant rejection drug cyclosporin A (CsA) causes loss of collagen homeostasis in rapidly remodeling connective tissues, such as human gingiva. As a result of CsA treatment, collagen degradation by fibroblasts is inhibited, which leads to a net increase of tissue collagen and gingival overgrowth. Since fibrillar collagen is the primary ligand for the discoidin domain receptor 1 (DDR1), we hypothesized that CsA perturbs DDR1-associated functions that affect collagen homeostasis. For these experiments, human fibroblasts obtained from gingival explants or mouse 3T3 fibroblasts (wild type, over-expressing DDR1 or DDR1 knockdown) or mouse GD25 cells (expressing DDR1 but null for β1 integrin), were treated with vehicle (dimethyl sulfoxide) or with CsA. The effect of CsA on cell binding to collagen was examined by flow cytometry; cell-mediated collagen remodeling was analyzed with contraction, compaction and migration assays. We found that CsA inhibited cell binding to collagen, internalization of collagen, contraction of collagen gels and cell migration over collagen in a DDR1-dependent manner. CsA also enhanced collagen compaction around cell extensions. Treatment with CsA strongly reduced surface levels of β1 integrins in wild type and DDR1 over-expressing 3T3 cells but did not affect β1 integrin activation or focal adhesion formation. We conclude that CsA inhibition of collagen remodeling is mediated through its effects on both DDR1 and cell surface levels of the β1 integrin.

Cannabidiol Protects against Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiomyopathy by Modulating Mitochondrial Function and Biogenesis

Doxorubicin (DOX) is a widely used, potent chemotherapeutic agent; however, its clinical application is limited because of its dose-dependent cardiotoxicity. DOX's cardiotoxicity involves increased oxidative/nitrative stress, impaired mitochondrial function in cardiomyocytes/endothelial cells and cell death. Cannabidiol (CBD) is a nonpsychotropic constituent of marijuana, which is well tolerated in humans, with antioxidant, antiinflammatory and recently discovered antitumor properties. We aimed to explore the effects of CBD in a well-established mouse model of DOX-induced cardiomyopathy. DOX-induced cardiomyopathy was characterized by increased myocardial injury (elevated serum creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase levels), myocardial oxidative and nitrative stress (decreased total glutathione content and glutathione peroxidase 1 activity, increased lipid peroxidation, 3-nitrotyrosine formation and expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase mRNA), myocardial cell death (apoptotic and poly[ADP]-ribose polymerase 1 [PARP]-dependent) and cardiac dysfunction (decline in ejection fraction and left ventricular fractional shortening). DOX also impaired myocardial mitochondrial biogenesis (decreased mitochondrial copy number, mRNA expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1-alpha, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha, estrogen-related receptor alpha), reduced mitochondrial function (attenuated complex I and II activities) and decreased myocardial expression of uncoupling protein 2 and 3 and medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase mRNA. Treatment with CBD markedly improved DOX-induced cardiac dysfunction, oxidative/nitrative stress and cell death. CBD also enhanced the DOX-induced impaired cardiac mitochondrial function and biogenesis. These data suggest that CBD may represent a novel cardioprotective strategy against DOX-induced cardiotoxicity, and the above-described effects on mitochondrial function and biogenesis may contribute to its beneficial properties described in numerous other models of tissue injury.

Marie Unna Hypotrichosis in an Asian Family

We report on two patients from one family with Marie Unna hypotrichosis who showed a diffuse hair defect which typically occurs as an isolated phenomenon. The ultrastructural hair findings consisted of longitudinal grooving of the hair shafts and a flattening in cross-section. Characteristically, scalp hair had been lost from the scalp margins and a high frontal and nuchal hairline had been present at birth. Eyelashes were absent, and eyebrows, axillary, and pubic hair were very sparse. Other affected cases have been reported in Caucasian families; however, this is the first case in the English medical literature of a family from Asia affected by Marie Unna hypotrichosis.

Melting of charge stripes in vibrationally driven La(1.875)Ba(0.125)CuO4: assessing the respective roles of electronic and lattice order in frustrated superconductors

We report femtosecond resonant soft x-ray diffraction measurements of the dynamics of the charge order and of the crystal lattice in nonsuperconducting, stripe-ordered La1.875Ba0.125CuO4. Excitation of the in-plane Cu-O stretching phonon with a midinfrared pulse has been previously shown to induce a transient superconducting state in the closely related compound La1.675Eu0.2Sr0.125CuO4. In La1.875Ba0.125CuO4, we find that the charge stripe order melts promptly on a subpicosecond time scale. Surprisingly, the low temperature tetragonal (LTT) distortion is only weakly reduced, reacting on significantly longer time scales that do not correlate with light-induced superconductivity. This experiment suggests that charge modulations alone, and not the LTT distortion, prevent superconductivity in equilibrium.

Sparse reconstruction of correlated multichannel activity

Parametric methods for modeling sinusoidal signals with line spectra have been studied for decades. In general, these methods start by representing each sinusoidal component by means of two complex exponential functions, thereby doubling the number of unknown parameters. Recently, a Hankel-plus-Toeplitz matrix pencil method was proposed which directly models sinusoidal signals with discrete spectral content. Compared to its counterpart, which uses a Hankel matrix pencil, it halves the required number of time-domain samples and reduces the size of the involved linear systems. The aim of this paper is twofold. Firstly, to show that this Hankel-plus-Toeplitz matrix pencil also applies to continuous spectra. Secondly, to explore its use in the reconstruction of real-life signals. Promising preliminary results in the reconstruction of correlated multichannel electroencephalographic (EEG) activity are presented. A principal component analysis preprocessing step is carried out to exploit the redundancy in the channel domain. Then the reduced signal representation is successfully reconstructed from fewer samples using the Hankel-plus-Toeplitz matrix pencil. The obtained results encourage the future development of this matrix pencil method along the lines of well-established spectral analysis methods.

Selective cyclooxygenase-1 inhibition improves collateral vascular reactivity in biliary cirrhotic rats

BACKGROUND

Evidence has demonstrated that overproduction of prostacyclin (PGI2) is critical in the pathogenesis of splanchnic hyposensitivity to vasoconstrictors in the cirrhotic state. The biosynthesis of PGI2 is through cyclooxygenase (COX). This study evaluated which isoform of COX is dominant in the mechanism of collateral vascular reactivity of biliary cirrhotic rats.

METHODS

Three groups of formalin-injected common bile duct-ligated (FBDL) induced cirrhotic rats received two doses of: (1) selective COX-1 inhibitor (SC-560 2 mg/kg); (2) COX-2 inhibitor (NS-398 2 mg/kg); (3) dimethyl sulfoxide (control). Subsequently, the rats were kept in metabolic cages for 24 hours to collect urine. Thereafter, the systemic and portal hemodynamics and renal function were measured. In another series, using in-situ collateral perfusion model, the collateral vascular responses to arginine vasopressin (AVP) were measured in the subject rats after preincubation of vehicle (Krebs solution), SC-560 (5 μM) or NS-398 (10 μM).

RESULTS

The mean arterial pressure, heart rate, and portal pressure were similar among SC-560-treated, NS-398-treated, and control groups. Additionally, there was no significant difference in the calculated creatinine clearance rates among these three groups. SC-560 preincubation significantly enhanced the pressor effect of AVP at the concentration of 3M × 10(-9) M (11.0 ± 1.0 mmHg vs. 6.4 ± 0.6 mmHg, p = 0.002) in the cirrhotic rats.

CONCLUSION

There was no significant hemodynamic change and renal toxicity after acute administration of COX inhibitor in the FBDL-induced cirrhotic rats. Preincubation of selective COX-1, but not COX-2, inhibitor could enhance collateral vascular response to AVP, indicating that COX-1 plays a major role in the collateral vascular reactivity.

Speed limit of the insulator-metal transition in magnetite

As the oldest known magnetic material, magnetite (Fe3O4) has fascinated mankind for millennia. As the first oxide in which a relationship between electrical conductivity and fluctuating/localized electronic order was shown, magnetite represents a model system for understanding correlated oxides in general. Nevertheless, the exact mechanism of the insulator-metal, or Verwey, transition has long remained inaccessible. Recently, three-Fe-site lattice distortions called trimerons were identified as the characteristic building blocks of the low-temperature insulating electronically ordered phase. Here we investigate the Verwey transition with pump-probe X-ray diffraction and optical reflectivity techniques, and show how trimerons become mobile across the insulator-metal transition. We find this to be a two-step process. After an initial 300 fs destruction of individual trimerons, phase separation occurs on a 1.5±0.2 ps timescale to yield residual insulating and metallic regions. This work establishes the speed limit for switching in future oxide electronics.