Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System in Heart Failure: Focus on Nonclassical Angiotensin Pathways as Novel Upstream Targets Regulating Aldosterone

Aldosterone plays an important role in the regulation of blood pressure, body fluid, and electrolyte homeostasis. Overactivation of aldosterone/mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) pathway leads to hypertension, atherosclerosis, vascular damage, heart failure, and chronic kidney disease and is involved in many other diseases associated with endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, fibrosis, and metabolic disorders. Aldosterone is a final product of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), and its production is activated by angiotensin II, while angiotensin-(1–7) negatively regulates angiotensin II-mediated aldosterone production and in some experimental models inhibits aldosterone-induced damage in target tissues. In fact, the aldosterone/mineralocorticoid receptor-dependent pathway is regulated upstream by at least two major axes of RAAS: classical axis (ACE/Ang II) and nonclassical axis (ACE2/Ang-(1–7)). The relative balance between these two axes determines aldosterone production and activity. To better understand the regulation of aldosterone activity in physiology and diseases, it is important to analyze the role of aldosterone/mineralocorticoid receptor-dependent pathways in the context of upstream angiotensin pathways as some of the recently described mechanisms of RAAS represent possible novel upstream targets to inhibit aldosterone/mineralocorticoid receptor-dependent responses. In this review, we highlight the complexity of angiotensin pathways focusing on their role in various tissues in heart failure, with particular emphasis on nonclassical pathways including protective ACE2/Ang-(1–7) axis and detrimental Ang-(1–12)/chymase/Ang II axis

Application of ceramic coating to improve abrasive wear resistance of die inserts used to press-mould stampings of refractories

The paper presents results of a study on abrasive wear resistance of die inserts for composite moulds used to pressmould stampings from refractory materials, determined based on susceptibility to scratching with a diamond indenter. For the study, two inserts of high-chromium cast iron were prepared, of which one was provided with a ceramic coating (60 % Al2O3 + 40 % TiO2) with a metallic interlayer (NiAlCrSi). Both layers were deposited by means of the Atmospheric Plasma Spraying (APS) method. The obtained scratch test results indicate that with the use of the same load force (20 N), die inserts with ceramic coating are characterized with less indenter penetration depth which should translate to higher resistance to abrasive wear

Abrasive wear resistance of a quenched and sub-zero treated high-chromium white cast iron

The study reported in this paper concerned development of such microstructure of high-chromium (24 % Cr) cast iron which could secure high abrasive wear resistance of die inserts used to fabricate stampings from refractory materials. It was found that by increasing the cast iron cooling rate as a result of thermal interaction with the chill, it is possible to obtain fine carbide precipitates with diversified morphology, rich in Cr and Fe, containing Mo and Si. The matrix in the regions of thermal interaction with the chill was enriched in Cr and Mo, but depleted of Fe and Si. The sub-zero treatment process was developed to secure presence of hardening products in the matrix. The obtained structure of high-chromium cast iron has made the inserts more resistant to abrasive wear compared to tool steels after hear treatment used earlier

Abrasive wear resistance of a quenched and sub-zero treated high-chromium white cast iron

The study reported in this paper concerned development of such microstructure of high-chromium (24 % Cr) cast iron which could secure high abrasive wear resistance of die inserts used to fabricate stampings from refractory materials. It was found that by increasing the cast iron cooling rate as a result of thermal interaction with the chill, it is possible to obtain fine carbide precipitates with diversified morphology, rich in Cr and Fe, containing Mo and Si. The matrix in the regions of thermal interaction with the chill was enriched in Cr and Mo, but depleted of Fe and Si. The sub-zero treatment process was developed to secure presence of hardening products in the matrix. The obtained structure of high-chromium cast iron has made the inserts more resistant to abrasive wear compared to tool steels after hear treatment used earlier