Magma genesis beneath active continental rifts

The East African Rift System (EARS) and the West Antarctic Rift System (WARS) are two of the largest continental rift systems on Earth, but the processes governing rift dynamics remain controversial. The large volume and distinct chemistry of Cenozoic rift-related lavas, combined with geophysical evidence for low-density mantle underlying both rifts, have traditionally been interpreted as evidence for anomalously hot mantle plumes actively rising from the deep mantle beneath both regions. However, in light of increasing evidence that these mantle structures may also be chemical in nature, alternative explanations highlight the role of heterogeneous, easily-fusible mantle components in driving magma genesis in the absence of significant thermal anomalies. These heterogeneous mantle domains may be linked to the complex tectonic histories of continents, which often involve multiple stages of accretion and associated recycling of materials between the crust and the mantle. In this dissertation, detailed chemical investigations of rift-related volcanic rocks provide critical new insight into the nature of the mantle underlying the two active rifts. In particular, the role of volatiles such as water and carbon dioxide is highlighted due to the ability of these components to enhance mantle melting during rift-related decompression. In Chapter II, the first geochemical information from submarine lavas in the Ross Embayment of West Antarctica are reported alongside subaerial lavas from islands and mainland localities, which together provide evidence that volatilized, recycled mantle domains generated during ancient long-lived subduction along the paleo-Pacific margin of Gondwana are key components in the temporally evolving source of Cenozoic magmas (Aviado et al., 2015). In Chapter III, the first rift-wide study of magmatic volatiles recorded in olivine-hosted melt inclusions confirms that the West Antarctic mantle is enriched in water and carbon dioxide on a wide scale, and links the production of hydrated and carbonated components to subduction-related metasomatic processes. These results provide a compelling link between continental assembly, the production of easily fusible, heterogeneous chemical domains in the sub-continental lithospheric mantle (SCLM) and upper mantle, and rifting plus associated magmatism. These links are further explored in Chapter IV, in which the trace element and radiogenic isotope (Sr-Nd-Hf-Pb) systematics of mantle xenoliths from the East African Rift System (EARS) illustrate that the SCLM bears witness to a complex history involving Proterozoic melt depletion events, Pan African continental assembly, late-stage metasomatism, and plume impingement. These results demonstrate that SCLM serves as an important long-lived host of heterogeneous recycled mantle domains that are sampled throughout multiple episodes of convergence and breakup. Collectively, these chapters suggest that ongoing rifting and magmatism in the WARS and the EARS are in part tied to shallow mantle processes involving the heterogeneous SCLM, rather than having exclusively deep plume origins. These shallow processes emerge as a consequence of the complex, multistage evolution of continents

The dopamine D1 receptor is expressed and induces CREB phosphorylation and MUC5AC expression in human airway epithelium

Background Dopamine receptors comprise two subgroups, Gs protein-coupled “D1-like” receptors (D1, D5) and Gi-coupled “D2-like” receptors (D2, D3, D4). In airways, both dopamine D1 and D2 receptors are expressed on airway smooth muscle and regulate airway smooth muscle force. However, functional expression of the dopamine D1 receptor has never been identified on airway epithelium. Activation of Gs-coupled receptors stimulate adenylyl cyclase leading to cyclic AMP (cAMP) production, which is known to induce mucus overproduction through the cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) in airway epithelial cells. We questioned whether the dopamine D1 receptor is expressed on airway epithelium, and whether it promotes CREB phosphorylation and MUC5AC expression. Methods We evaluated the protein expression of the dopamine D1 receptor on native human airway epithelium and three sources of cultured human airway epithelial cells including primary cultured airway epithelial cells, the bronchial epithelial cell line (16HBE14o-), and the pulmonary mucoepidermoid carcinoma cell line (NCI-H292) using immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting. To characterize the stimulation of cAMP through the dopamine D1 receptor, 16HBE14o- cells and NCI-H292 cells were treated with dopamine or the dopamine D1 receptor agonists (SKF38393 or A68930) before cAMP measurements. The phosphorylation of CREB by A68930 in both 16HBE14o- and NCI-H292 cells was measured by immunoblot. The effect of dopamine or A68930 on the expression of MUC5AC mRNA and protein in NCI-H292 cells was evaluated by real-time PCR and immunofluorescence staining, respectively. Results The dopamine D1 receptor protein was detected in native human airway epithelium and three sources of cultured human airway epithelial cells. Dopamine or the dopamine D1-like receptor agonists stimulated cAMP production in 16HBE14o- cells and NCI-H292 cells, which was reversed by the selective dopamine D1-like receptor antagonists (SCH23390 or SCH39166). A68930 significantly increased phosphorylation of CREB in both 16HBE14o- and NCI-H292 cells, which was attenuated by the inhibitors of PKA (H89) and MEK (U0126). Expression of MUC5AC mRNA and protein were also increased by either dopamine or A68930 in NCI-H292 cells. Conclusions These results suggest that the activation of the dopamine D1 receptor on human airway epithelium could induce mucus overproduction, which could worsen airway obstructive symptoms

Increased susceptibility to cardiovascular effects of dihydrocapcaicin in resuscitated rats. Cardiovascular effects of dihydrocapsaicin

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Survivors of a cardiac arrest often have persistent cardiovascular derangements following cardiopulmonary resuscitation including decreased cardiac output, arrhythmias and morphological myocardial damage. These cardiovascular derangements may lead to an increased susceptibility towards the external and internal environment of the cardiovascular system as compared to the healthy situation.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Here we tested the hypothesis that the cardiovascular system in healthy rats and rats resuscitated from a cardiac arrest may be differentially affected by a transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 agonist, by continuous intravenous infusion of dihydrocapsaicin (DHC).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Compared to baseline, infusion of DHC caused an initial increase in mean arterial blood pressure in both healthy and resuscitated rats of 25% and 10%, respectively. Also, we observed an initial response of tachycardia in both healthy and resuscitated rats of 30% and 20%, respectively. Then, at high levels of DHC infusion (> 2.0 mg/kg/hr) we observed two single episodes of transient bradycardia and hypotension in 33% of the healthy rats, which was consistent with a TRPV1 agonist induced Bezold-Jarisch reflex. In contrast, in resuscitated rats we observed multiple episodes of bradycardia/hypotension in 100% of the rats and at a dose of DHC of 0.65 mg/kg/hr. Notably, this DHC effect could be completely blocked in the resuscitated rats by pre-treatment with atropine, a muscarinic acetylcholine antagonist.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our results indicate that the susceptibility of the rats towards TRPV1 agonist induced Bezold-Jarisch reflex is increased in those resuscitated from cardiac arrest compared to the healthy situation.</p

Cardiotoxicity of Freon among refrigeration services workers: comparative cross-sectional study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Freon includes a number of gaseous, colorless chlorofluorocarbons. Although freon is generally considered to be a fluorocarbon of relatively low toxicity; significantly detrimental effects may occur upon over exposure. The purpose of the present study is to investigate whether occupational exposure to fluorocarbons can induce arterial hypertension, myocardial ischemia, cardiac arrhythmias, elevated levels of plasma lipids and renal dysfunction.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This comparative cross-sectional study was conducted at the cardiology clinic of the Suez Canal Authority Hospital (Egypt). The study included 23 apparently healthy male workers at the refrigeration services workshop who were exposed to fluorocarbons (FC 12 and FC 22) and 23 likewise apparently healthy male workers (unexposed), the control group. All the participants were interviewed using a pre-composed questionnaire and were subjected to a clinical examination and relevant laboratory investigations.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>There were no significant statistical differences between the groups studied regarding symptoms suggesting arterial hypertension and renal affection, although a significantly higher percentage of the studied refrigeration services workers had symptoms of arrhythmias. None of the workers had symptoms suggesting coronary artery disease. Clinical examination revealed that the refrigeration services workers had a significantly higher mean pulse rate compared to the controls, though no significant statistical differences were found in arterial blood pressure measurements between the two study groups. Exercise stress testing of the workers studied revealed normal heart reaction to the increased need for oxygen, while sinus tachycardia was detected in all the participants. The results of Holter monitoring revealed significant differences within subject and group regarding the number of abnormal beats detected throughout the day of monitoring (p < 0.001). There were no significant differences detected in the average heart rate during the monitoring period within subject or group. Most laboratory investigations revealed absence of significant statistical differences for lipid profile markers, serum electrolyte levels and glomerular lesion markers between the groups except for cholesterol and urinary β2-microglobulin (tubular lesion markers) levels which were significantly elevated in freon exposed workers.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Unprotected occupational exposure to chlorofluorocarbons can induce cardiotoxicity in the form of cardiac arrhythmias. The role of chlorofluorocarbons in inducing arterial hypertension and coronary artery diseases is unclear, although significantly elevated serum cholesterol and urinary β2-microglobulin levels raise a concern.</p

Ecological and GIS Analysis of Climate Indicator with Leading Causes of Death

The purpose of the study was to analyze whether climate change indicators, temperature and precipitation, were associated with higher rates of cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, cancer, or all-cause mortality, while controlling for various sociodemographic and behavioral confounders. The study utilized an ecological analysis with U.S. Counties to determine the association, and used years 2000 and 2010 as cross-sections to determine any changes over time. The study combined data from the National Center for Health Statistics, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, U.S. Census Bureau, and previous work on county-level smoking prevalence. The study utilized GIS mapping to visually determine any geographic correlation. The study also utilized multiple linear regression to determine any statistical correlation. Cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality were significantly associated with temperature, precipitation, median household income, male percentage, white percentage, and smoking prevalence. Cancer mortality was significantly associated with precipitation, white percentage, and smoking prevalence. Respiratory disease mortality was significantly associated with temperature and smoking prevalence. The study provides quantifiable evidence that at a national level, climate change affects non-communicable diseases in addition to vector-borne diseases. Presentation: 21:3