35 research outputs found
Excess maternal salt intake produces sex-specific hypertension in offspring: putative roles for kidney and gastrointestinal sodium handling.
Hypertension is common and contributes, via cardiovascular disease, towards a large proportion of adult deaths in the Western World. High salt intake leads to high blood pressure, even when occurring prior to birth - a mechanism purported to reside in altered kidney development and later function. Using a combination of in vitro and in vivo approaches we tested whether increased maternal salt intake influences fetal kidney development to render the adult individual more susceptible to salt retention and hypertension. We found that salt-loaded pregnant rat dams were hypernatraemic at day 20 gestation (147±5 vs. 128±5 mmoles/L). Increased extracellular salt impeded murine kidney development in vitro, but had little effect in vivo. Kidneys of the adult offspring had few structural or functional abnormalities, but male and female offspring were hypernatraemic (166±4 vs. 149±2 mmoles/L), with a marked increase in plasma corticosterone (e.g. male offspring; 11.9 [9.3-14.8] vs. 2.8 [2.0-8.3] nmol/L median [IQR]). Furthermore, adult male, but not female, offspring had higher mean arterial blood pressure (effect size, +16 [9-21] mm Hg; mean [95% C.I.]. With no clear indication that the kidneys of salt-exposed offspring retained more sodium per se, we conducted a preliminary investigation of their gastrointestinal electrolyte handling and found increased expression of proximal colon solute carrier family 9 (sodium/hydrogen exchanger), member 3 (SLC9A3) together with altered faecal characteristics and electrolyte handling, relative to control offspring. On the basis of these data we suggest that excess salt exposure, via maternal diet, at a vulnerable period of brain and gut development in the rat neonate lays the foundation for sustained increases in blood pressure later in life. Hence, our evidence further supports the argument that excess dietary salt should be avoided per se, particularly in the range of foods consumed by physiologically immature young
Impact of vascular calcification on cardiovascular mortality in hemodialysis patients: clinical significance, mechanisms and possible strategies for treatment
Our experience of rehabilitation in early postoperative period after breast cancer surgery
Comparative and morphological analysis of commonly used autografts for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with the native ACL: An electron, microscopic and morphologic study
Ligaments and tendons are similar in composition but differ in proportion and arrangement. Tendons are being used as grafts for the ACL reconstruction. Their microscopic structure has not been sufficiently studied and compared to the native ACL. A null hypothesis was declared stating that the anterior cruciate ligament should be histological, morphologically and functionally different from the tendon grafts used for ACL reconstruction. We investigated similarities and differences of the structure of ACL and tendons used as a graft tissue for ACL reconstruction. In this study, standardized samples of quadriceps, hamstrings (semitendinosus and gracilis) and patellar tendons, and the ACL were harvested from 26 autopsies (average age 36.4) and were investigated using light and electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry and morphometry. The thickness of the collagen fibrils, collagen organization and diameter, the fibril/interstitium ratio, density of fibroblasts and blood vessels, and distribution of the collagen type I, III and V fibrils were analyzed. The semitendinosus showed the highest density of fibroblasts and blood vessels, while the gracilis the highest fibril/interstitium ratio. No differences regarding the thickness of collagen fibrils and distribution of fibrils were found. The ACL had the highest concentration of type III and V collagen fibrils as well as elastic fibers. The histological and ultrastructural appearance of the ACL differs from those of the tendons used as graft, for ACL reconstruction. Its ultrastructure is varied and complex, with its collagen fibers bundles lying in many directions. © 2008 Springer-Verlag
Morphologic and histologic comparison between the patella and hamstring tendons grafts: A descriptive and Anatomic study
Purpose: Morphologic and histologic comparison of patella and hamstring
tendon grafts. Methods: Hamstring tendons (semitendinosus and gracilis)
and patellar tendons were taken from 20 cadaveric knees and were
investigated by using light and electron microscopy,
immunohistochemistry, and morphometry. The thickness of collagen
fibrils, fibril/interstitum ratio, density of blood vessels, density of
fibroblasts, and distribution of the collagen fibrils were analyzed.
Results: The sernitendinosus and gracilis tendons provide 20% and 30%
more fibril/interstitum ratio compared with the patella tendon (P =.0056
and .0028). Also, the density of fibroblasts was 50% and 35% more (P
=.0061 and .0050). No differences regarding the thickness of the
collagen fibrils, density of blood vessels, and distribution of the
fibrils were found. Conclusions: Both semitendinous and gracilis tendons
provide significantly more density of collagen fibrils as well as
density of fibroblasts in comparison with patellar tendons. These
findings provide a potential advantage of the hamstrings group on better
remodelling and regeneration of the tissue. Clinical Relevance: These
grafts have been used as autografts for anterior cruciate ligament
reconstruction. Despite the interest on these tendons, their microscopic
structure has not been sufficiently investigated yet
Effect of alfacalcidol on cardiac function in patients with chronic kidney disease stage 4 and secondary hyperparathyroidism: A pilot study
Growth hormone treatment prevents osteoporosis in uremic rats
Introduction: Growth hormone (GH) is
responsible for longitudinal bone growth. GH-receptor
in the growth plate was found to be decreased in chronic
renal insufficiency. A therapeutic use of GH in chronic
renal insufficiency is not established. The current study
aims to clarify the effects of GH treatment on bone
metabolism in a uremic rat model. Methods: Sprague
Dawley rats were subjected to subtotal surgical renal
ablation (SNX) or sham operation. SNX rats were
randomized into 4 groups: treated with different doses of
GH (1.5, 4.0, or 10.0 mg/kg) or vehicle after 10 weeks of
uremia and treated for 6 weeks. Bone and renal
morphology was evaluated: bone density, thickness of
spongiosa, osteoblast surface, osteoid volume, osteoclast
quantity, and resorptive volume. Results: GH treatment
resulted in a decrease of resorption area and lower
number of osteoclasts. Osteoid volume, number of
osteoblasts, percentage of active osteoblasts, thickness of
the growth plate and mean cortical width increased. GH
receptor (GHR) protein expression increased in GH
treated rats. IGF-1 expression was decreased in
osteoblasts and chondroblasts of SNX-V rats and
increased following GH treatment. The TGF-ß
expression was down regulated in SNX+V group in
osteocytes and chondroblasts as compared to sham
operated animals. The down regulation was prevented in treated animals irrespective of the dose given.
Conclusions: Treatment with GH in uremic animals
increased bone density to the levels of non-uremic
controls. Thus GH seems to have a potential of
preventing renal osteodystrophy