Prenatal hypoxia induces increased cardiac contractility on a background of decreased capillary density.

Background: Chronic hypoxia in utero (CHU) is one of the most common insults to fetal development and may be associated with poor cardiac recovery from ischaemia-reperfusion injury,yet the effects on normal cardiac mechanical performance are poorly understood. Methods: Pregnant female wistar rats were exposed to hypoxia (12% oxygen, balance nitrogen)for days 10–20 of pregnancy. Pups were born into normal room air and weaned normally. At 10 weeks of age, hearts were excised under anaesthesia and underwent retrograde 'Langendorff' perfusion. Mechanical performance was measured at constant filling pressure (100 cm H2O) with intraventricular balloon. Left ventricular free wall was dissected away and capillary density estimated following alkaline phosphatase staining. Expression of SERCA2a and Nitric Oxide Synthases (NOS) proteins were estimated by immunoblotting. Results: CHU significantly increased body mass (P < 0.001) compared with age-matched control rats but was without effect on relative cardiac mass. For incremental increases in left ventricular balloon volume, diastolic pressure was preserved. However, systolic pressure was significantly greater following CHU for balloon volume = 50 μl (P < 0.01) and up to 200 μl (P < 0.05). For higher balloon volumes systolic pressure was not significantly different from control. Developed pressures were correspondingly increased relative to controls for balloon volumes up to 250 μl (P < 0.05).Left ventricular free wall capillary density was significantly decreased in both epicardium (18%; P <0.05) and endocardium (11%; P < 0.05) despite preserved coronary flow. Western blot analysis revealed no change to the expression of SERCA2a or nNOS but immuno-detectable eNOS protein was significantly decreased (P < 0.001) in cardiac tissue following chronic hypoxia in utero. Conclusion: These data offer potential mechanisms for poor recovery following ischaemia, including decreased coronary flow reserve and impaired angiogenesis with subsequent detrimental effects of post-natal cardiac performance

Increased Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase Expression in Organs Is Associated with a Higher Severity of H5N1 Influenza Virus Infection

BACKGROUND: The mechanisms of disease severity caused by H5N1 influenza virus infection remain somewhat unclear. Studies have indicated that a high viral load and an associated hyper inflammatory immune response are influential during the onset of infection. This dysregulated inflammatory response with increased levels of free radicals, such as nitric oxide (NO), appears likely to contribute to disease severity. However, enzymes of the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) family such as the inducible form of NOS (iNOS) generate NO, which serves as a potent anti-viral molecule to combat infection in combination with acute phase proteins and cytokines. Nevertheless, excessive production of iNOS and subsequent high levels of NO during H5N1 infection may have negative effects, acting with other damaging oxidants to promote excessive inflammation or induce apoptosis. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: There are dramatic differences in the severity of disease between chickens and ducks following H5N1 influenza infection. Chickens show a high level of mortality and associated pathology, whilst ducks show relatively minor symptoms. It is not clear how this varying pathogenicty comes about, although it has been suggested that an overactive inflammatory immune response to infection in the chicken, compared to the duck response, may be to blame for the disparity in observed pathology. In this study, we identify and investigate iNOS gene expression in ducks and chickens during H5N1 influenza infection. Infected chickens show a marked increase in iNOS expression in a wide range of organs. Contrastingly, infected duck tissues have lower levels of tissue related iNOS expression. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The differences in iNOS expression levels observed between chickens and ducks during H5N1 avian influenza infection may be important in the inflammatory response that contributes to the pathology. Understanding the regulation of iNOS expression and its role during H5N1 influenza infection may provide insights for the development of new therapeutic strategies in the treatment of avian influenza infection

Impact of penetration depth of protective coating on thermal deformation of masses determined by the hot distortion parameter

Powłoki ochronne stosuje się w celu uzyskania odlewów o gładkiej powierzchni, bez wad. Powłoki ochronne mogą zawierać rozpuszczalnik na bazie wody lub alkoholu, jednak ze względu na szkodliwość zaleca się ograniczenie stosowania powłok alkoholowych. Sposób nanoszenia powłok na powierzchnię rdzenia lub formy zależy od wymagań i potrzeb wykonawcy. W niniejszym artykule zamieszczono wyniki badań, przedstawiające wpływ grubości powłoki ochronnej z różną zawartością rozcieńczalnika na wybrane właściwości mas. Badaniom poddano masy II generacji wiązane spoiwami organicznymi i nieorganicznymi. Określony został wpływ grubości powłoki na wytrzymałość na zginanie w funkcji wielkości odkształcenia. Kształtki poddano również badaniom parametru hot distortion. Dodatkowo wykonano zdjęcia mikroskopowe przedstawiające głębokość penetracji powłoki w głąb masy. Badania parametru hot distortion wykazały, że w zależności od rodzaju spoiwa zastosowanego w masie dodatek rozcieńczalnika do powłoki przynosi odmienne efekty.Protective coatings are applied in order to obtain casts with an even surface, without faults. Protective coatings can contain a solvent based on water or alcohol; however, due to their harmfulness, it is recommended to limit the use of alcohol coatings. The manner of applying the coatings onto the surface of a core or a mould depends on the requirements and needs of the executor. This article presents test results demonstrating the effect of the thickness of a protective coating, with different solvent contents, on selected properties of masses. The studies were performed on II generation masses bound with organic and inorganic binders. The effect of the coating’s thickness on the bending strength as a function of deformation degree was determined. The profiles were also tested in respect of the hot distortion parameter. Additionally, microscopic photos were taken showing the depth of the coating’s penetration towards the inside of the mass. The hot distortion parameter tests showed that, depending on the type of binder used in the mass, the addition of a diluent produces different results

Selected methods of testing protective coatings applied on casting moulds and cores

W niniejszym artykule przedstawione zostały wybrane metody badań związane z powłokami ochronnymi stosowanymi na masy formierskie i rdzeniowe w odlewnictwie. Metodykę badawczą podzielono na badania właściwości technologicznych mas formierskich i rdzeniowych pokrytych powłokami (tj. parametr hot distortion po naniesieniu powłok na formy wykonane z sypkich mas samoutwardzalnych ze spoiwami organicznymi) i fizykochemicznych (lepkość) gotowych powłok. Do badań wykorzystano powłoki z rozpuszczalnikami wodnymi oraz alkoholowymi. Formy przygotowano z sypkich mas samoutwardzalnych z żywicą furfurylową oraz fenolowo-formaldehydową, które zostały pokryte wodną powłoką oraz powłoką alkoholową. Badania przeprowadzono w Katedrze Tworzyw Formierskich, Technologii Formy i Odlewnictwa Metali Nieżelaznych na Wydziale Odlewnictwa AGH w Krakowie oraz w Instytucie Odlewnictwa w Krakowie.This article presents selected research methods related to protective coatings used for sand moulds and cores in the foundry industry. The research methodology has been divided into studies of the technological properties of sand moulds and cores with applied coatings (the measurement of hot distortion parameter after deposition of coatings onto moulds made of loose self-hardening sands with organic binders) and physico-chemical properties (viscosity) of finished coatings. Coatings with aqueous and alcohol solvents were tested. Moulds were prepared from loose self-hardening sand mixtures with furfuryl and phenol-formaldehyde resins and were coated with water-based coatings and alcohol-based coatings. Studies were carried out in the Department of Moulding Materials, Mould Technology and Cast Non-Ferrous Metals at the AGH Faculty of Foundry Engineering in Krakow and at the Foundry Research Institute in Krakow

Acute aortic dissection type A

Acute aortic dissection type A (AADA) is a life-threatening vascular emergency. Clinical presentation ranges from pain related to the acute event, collapse due to aortic rupture or pericardial tamponade, or manifestations of organ or limb ischaemia. The purpose of this review was to clarify important clinical issues of AADA management, with a focus on diagnostic and therapeutic challenges