Impact of Combined Clenbuterol and Metoprolol Therapy on Reverse Remodelling during Mechanical Unloading

Clenbuterol (Cl), a β2 agonist, is associated with enhanced myocardial recovery during left ventricular assist device (LVAD) support, and exerts beneficial remodelling effects during mechanical unloading (MU) in rodent heart failure (HF). However, the specific effects of combined Cl+β1 blockade during MU are unknown.We studied the chronic effects (4 weeks) of β2-adrenoceptor (AR) stimulation via Cl (2 mg/kg/day) alone, and in combination with β1-AR blockade using metoprolol ((Met), 250 mg/kg/day), on whole heart/cell structure, function and excitation-contraction (EC) coupling in failing (induced by left coronary artery (LCA) ligation), and unloaded (induced by heterotopic abdominal heart transplantation (HATx)) failing rat hearts. Combined Cl+Met therapy displayed favourable effects in HF: Met enhanced Cl's improvement in ejection fraction (EF) whilst preventing Cl-induced hypertrophy and tachycardia. During MU combined therapy was less beneficial than either mono-therapy. Met, not Cl, prevented MU-induced myocardial atrophy, with increased atrophy occurring during combined therapy. MU-induced recovery of Ca2+ transient amplitude, speed of Ca2+ release and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ content was enhanced equally by Cl or Met mono-therapy, but these benefits, together with Cl's enhancement of sarcomeric contraction speed, and MU-induced recovery of Ca2+ spark frequency, disappeared during combined therapy.Combined Cl+Met therapy shows superior functional effects to mono-therapy in rodent HF, but appears inferior to either mono-therapy in enhancing MU-induced recovery of EC coupling. These results suggest that combined β2-AR simulation +β1-AR blockade therapy is likely to be a safe and beneficial therapeutic HF strategy, but is not as effective as mono-therapy in enhancing myocardial recovery during LVAD support

Molecular Mechanisms Leading from Periodontal Disease to Cancer

Periodontitis is prevalent in half of the adult population and raises critical health concerns as it has been recently associated with an increased risk of cancer. While information about the topic remains somewhat scarce, a deeper understanding of the underlying mechanistic pathways promoting neoplasia in periodontitis patients is of fundamental importance. This manuscript presents the literature as well as a panel of tables and figures on the molecular mechanisms of Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum, two main oral pathogens in periodontitis pathology, involved in instigating tumorigenesis. We also present evidence for potential links between the RANKL–RANK signaling axis as well as circulating cytokines/leukocytes and carcinogenesis. Due to the nonconclusive data associating periodontitis and cancer reported in the case and cohort studies, we examine clinical trials relevant to the topic and summarize their outcome

Catalytic Properties of Electroless Nickel-Based Coatings Modified by the Magnetic Field

In this work the nickel-based coatings were obtained by electroless catalytic deposition on light-hardened resins dedicated for 3D printing by SLA method. The effect of external magnetic field application on the properties of nickel-based coatings was determined. During metallization, the magnetic field was applied to the sample’s surface with different orientations. Due to the magnetic properties of metallic ions, the influence of the magnetic field on coatings properties is expected. The coatings were analyzed by Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (ED S) the X-Ray diffraction (XRD ) methods, and surface morphology was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The catalytic properties in a hydrogen evolution reaction (HER ) were measured by electrochemical method in 1 M NaOH solution. The best catalytic activity has been observed in the case of the ternary Ni-Fe-P alloy deposited under a parallel magnetic field. The primary outcome of the presented research is to produce elements based on 3D printing from resins, which can then be metallized and used for highly-active materials deposited on complex 3D models. Furthermore, these elements can be used as low-cost, highly-developed sensors and catalysts for various chemical processes

Reduced Na+ and higher K+ channel expression and function contribute to right ventricular origin of arrhythmias in Scn5a+/− mice

Brugada syndrome (BrS) is associated with ventricular tachycardia originating particularly in the right ventricle (RV). We explore electrophysiological features predisposing to such arrhythmic tendency and their possible RV localization in a heterozygotic Scn5a+/− murine model. Nav1.5 mRNA and protein expression were lower in Scn5a+/− than wild-type (WT), with a further reduction in the RV compared with the left ventricle (LV). RVs showed higher expression levels of Kv4.2, Kv4.3 and KChIP2 in both Scn5a+/− and WT. Action potential upstroke velocity and maximum Na+ current (INa) density were correspondingly decreased in Scn5a+/−, with a further reduction in the RV. The voltage dependence of inactivation was shifted to more negative values in Scn5a+/−. These findings are predictive of a localized depolarization abnormality leading to slowed conduction. Persistent Na+ current (IpNa) density was decreased in a similar pattern to INa. RV transient outward current (Ito) density was greater than LV in both WT and Scn5a+/−, and had larger time constants of inactivation. These findings were also consistent with the observation that AP durations were smallest in the RV of Scn5a+/−, fulfilling predictions of an increased heterogeneity of repolarization as an additional possible electrophysiological mechanism for arrhythmogenesis in BrS

Rays, intrusive growth, and storied cambium in the inflorescence stems of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh

Arabidopsis thaliana is a model plant used in analysis of different aspects of plant growth and development. Under suitable conditions, secondary growth takes place in the hypocotyl of Arabidopsis plants, a finding which helps in understanding many aspects of xylogenesis. However, not all developmental processes of secondary tissue can be studied here, as no secondary rays and intrusive growth have been detected in hypocotyl. However, results presented here concerning the secondary growth in inflorescence stems of Arabidopsis shows that both secondary rays and intrusive growth of cambial cells can be detected, and that, in the interfascicular regions, a storied cambium can be developed

Exploring the design of interactive smart textiles for emotion regulation

The present study aims to investigate the design of interactive textiles for emotion regulation. In this work we proposed a design which allows users to visualize their physiological data and help regulate their emotions. We used the Research through Design method to explore how physiological data could be represented in four different interactive textiles and how movement-based interaction could be designed to support users’ understanding and regulation of their emotional state. After an initial user interview evaluation with several textile prototypes, light and vibration were selected as modalities within the biofeedback-based interaction. A smart interactive shawl that reacts to changes in emotional arousal was designed to help the users know their emotion and adjust it, if necessary, with the support of electrodermal activity sensor and pressure-based sensors. The results of the second study showed that the smart shawl could help the user to visualize their emotions and reduce their stress level by interacting with it. © 2020, Springer Nature Switzerland AG