Structural and Hemodynamic Changes of the Right Ventricle in PH-HFpEF

One of the most important diagnostic challenges in clinical practice is the distinction between pulmonary hypertension (PH) due to primitive pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and PH due to left heart diseases. Both conditions share some common characteristics and pathophysiological pathways, making the two processes similar in several aspects. Their diagnostic differentiation is based on hemodynamic data on right heart catheterization, cardiac structural modifications, and therapeutic response. More specifically, PH secondary to heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) shares features with type 1 PH (PAH), especially when the combined pre- and post-capillary form (CpcPH) takes place in advanced stages of the disease. Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction is a common consequence related to worse prognosis and lower survival. This condition has recently been identified with a new classification based on clinical signs and progression markers. The role and prevalence of PH and RV dysfunction in HFpEF remain poorly identified, with wide variability in the literature reported from the largest clinical trials. Different parenchymal and vascular alterations affect the two diseases. Capillaries and arteriole vasoconstriction, vascular obliteration, and pulmonary blood fluid redistribution from the basal to the apical district are typical manifestations of type 1 PH. Conversely, PH related to HFpEF is primarily due to an increase of venules/capillaries parietal fibrosis, extracellular matrix deposition, and myocyte hypertrophy with a secondary "arteriolarization" of the vessels. Since the development of structural changes and the therapeutic target substantially differ, a better understanding of pathobiological processes underneath PH-HFpEF, and the identification of potential maladaptive RV mechanisms with an appropriate diagnostic tool, become mandatory in order to distinguish and manage these two similar forms of pulmonary hypertension

AVALIAÇÃO BIOQUÍMICA E HEMOGASOMÉTRICA DE BOLSAS DE SANGUE (CPDA-1) CANINAS MANTIDAS SOB REFRIGERAÇÃO

Com o objetivo de avaliar as alterações bioquímicas e hemogasométricas resultantes do armazenamento de bolsas de sangue foram utilizados oito cães provenientes do Canil da Unoeste, adultos e hígidos, onde foram colhidos 420mL de sangue e acompanhados durante 30 dias. Após a coleta de sangue, as bolsas foram ficaram sob refrigeração e uma alíquota foi retirada imediatamente após a coleta (D0) e nos dias sete (D7), 14 (D14), 21 (D21) e 30 (D30) para serem submetidas às análises laboratoriais. O procedimento de retirada das amostras foi realizado em capela microbiológica obedecendo às técnicas de assepsia. Os exames laboratoriais feitos em cada momento foram: dosagem de glicose plasmática, sódio, potássio, proteína plasmática total e mensuração da pO2, pCO2, bicarbonato e pH sanguíneos por aparelho de hemogasometria. Com base nos resultados obtidos neste experimento, pode-se concluir que por apresentarem alterações significativas, as bolsas de sangue devem ser utilizadas no período máximo de quinze dias para que todos os constituintes permaneçam preservados

MANEJO E PERFIL DE CÃES ATENDIDOS NO HOSPITAL VETERINÁRIO DA UNIVERSIDADE DO OESTE PAULISTA E CARACTERIZAÇÃO DE SEUS PROPRIETÁRIOS

Este estudo teve como objetivo verificar o manejo e perfil de cães atendidos no Hospital Veterinário da Universidade do Oeste Paulista e caracterizar seus proprietários. Foi utilizado questionário específico buscando dados dos proprietários como: sexo e idade, e dados dos animais como: raça, idade, sexo, score corporal, alimentação, atividade física, local e frequência de banho, habitat, vermifugação, vacinação e níveis de glicemia. Os resultados foram apresentados na forma descritiva. Conclui-se que os proprietários que frequentam este Hospital Veterinário são na maioria do sexo feminino entre 20 e 39 anos de idade; são atendidos mais cães que gatos, a maioria é sem raça definida de dois meses a dois anos de idade, do sexo feminino, com score corporal ideal do ponto de vista dos proprietários; come ração seca ou misturada à ração úmida e consome petiscos; dormem fora de casa; a maioria pratica atividade física todos os dias, toma banho em casa quinzenalmente, é vacinada e vermifugada regularmente e possuem glicemia dentro da normalidade

Identification of quantitative trait loci (QTL) controlling resistance to pea weevil (Bruchus pisorum) in a high-density integrated DArTseq SNP-based genetic map of pea

Pea weevil (Bruchus pisorum) is a damaging insect pest affecting pea (Pisum sativum) production worldwide. No resistant cultivars are available, although some levels of incomplete resistance have been identified in Pisum germplasm. To decipher the genetic control underlying the resistance previously identify in P. sativum ssp. syriacum, a recombinant inbred line (RIL F8:9) population was developed. The RIL was genotyped through Diversity Arrays Technology PL’s DArTseq platform and screened under field conditions for weevil seed infestation and larval development along 5 environments. A newly integrated genetic linkage map was generated with a subset of 6,540 markers, assembled into seven linkage groups, equivalent to the number of haploid pea chromosomes. An accumulated distance of 2,503 cM was covered with an average density of 2.61 markers cM−1. The linkage map allowed the identification of three QTLs associated to reduced seed infestation along LGs I, II and IV. In addition, a QTL for reduced larval development was also identified in LGIV. Expression of these QTLs varied with the environment, being particularly interesting QTL BpSI.III that was detected in most of the environments studied. This high-saturated pea genetic map has also allowed the identification of seven potential candidate genes co-located with QTLs for marker-assisted selection, providing an opportunity for breeders to generate effective and sustainable strategies for weevil control.Thais Aznar-Fernandez was supported by a FPI fellowship from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness co-financed by FEDER. Financial support by Spanish projects AGL2014-52871-R and AGL2017-82907-R is acknowledged

Desmopressin Stimulates Nitric Oxide Production in Human Lung Microvascular Endothelial Cells

Desmopressin (dDAVP) is the best characterized analogue of vasopressin, the endocrine regulator of water balance endowed with potent vasoconstrictive effects. Despite the use of dDAVP in clinical practice, ranging from the treatment of nephrogenic diabetes insipidus to bleeding disorders, much remains to be understood about the impact of the drug on endothelial phenotype. The aim of this study was, thus, to evaluate the effects of desmopressin on the viability and function of human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (HLMVECs). The results obtained demonstrate that the vasopressor had no cytotoxic effect on the endothelium; similarly, no sign of endothelial activation was induced by dDAVP, indicated by the lack of effect on the expression of inflammatory cytokines and adhesion molecules. Conversely, the drug significantly stimulated the production of nitric oxide (NO) and the expression of the inducible isoform of nitric oxide synthase, NOS2/iNOS. Since the intracellular level of cAMP also increased, we can hypothesize that NO release is consequent to the activation of the vasopressin receptor 2 (V2R)/guanylate cyclase (Gs)/cAMP axis. Given the multifaceted role of NOS2-deriving NO for many physio-pathological conditions, the meanings of these findings in HLMVECs appears intriguing and deserves to be further address

Organic cation transporters (OCTs/OCTNs) in human primary alveolar epithelial cells.

Abstract Alveolar epithelium, besides exerting a key role in gas exchange and surfactant production, plays important functions in host defense and inflammation. Pathological conditions associated to alveolar dysfunction include Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The use of predictive in vitro models of human alveolar epithelium is nowadays required for the study of disease mechanisms, as well as of pharmacokinetic parameters of pulmonary drugs delivery. Here, we employed a novel 3D model of human alveoli, namely EpiAlveolar™, consisting of primary alveolar epithelial cells, pulmonary endothelial cells and fibroblasts, that reflects properly the in vivo-like conditions. In EpiAlveolar™ we performed a characterization of Organic Cation Transporters (OCTs and OCTNs) expression and activity and we found that OCTN2, OCT1 and OCT3 are expressed on the basolateral membrane; instead, ATB0,+ transporter for cationic and neutral amino acids, which shares with OCTN2 the affinity for carnitine as substrate, is readily detectable and functional at the apical side. We also show that these transporters differentially interact with anticholinergic drugs. Overall, our findings reveal close similarities of EpiAlveolar™ with the tracheal/bronchial epithelium (EpiAirway™ model) and entrust this alveolar tissue as a potential tool for the screening of biopharmaceuticals molecules

In ricordo di Alfredo De Paz

Nel corso di una lunga attività critica orientata allo studio e alla comprensione dell’arte contemporanea e delle sue dinamiche, lo studioso Alfredo De Paz ha saputo adoperare e coniugare metodologie che vanno dalla sociologia alla culturologia, dal purovisibilismo alla massmediologia, applicandole a un raggio di argomenti amplissimo che va dal Romanticismo alle Avanguardie storiche. Si è quindi avvertita la necessità di ricordare, sintetizzare e rimeditare le sue riflessioni e i suoi contributi, senza trascurare tuttavia la qualità umana della sua persona. Negli interventi dei suoi ex-colleghi, qui riuniti, riaffiorano grandi figure della cultura del nostro tempo: il Loos di Ornamento e delitto, il Wölfflin dei Concetti fondamentali della storia dell’arte, l’Hauser della Storia sociale dell’arte, il McLuhan de Gli strumenti del comunicare. Si tratta solo di alcuni tra i principali autori assorbiti e sapientemente rielaborati da Alfredo De Paz lungo oltre quarant’anni di studi e ricerche, per cogliere al meglio la natura profonda e molteplice dell’arte del nostro tempo

AMINOFILINA INALATÓRIA E ENDOVENOSA EM CÃES: ASPECTOS CLÍNICO E ELETROCARDIOGRÁFICO

The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the effects of aminophylline in dogs by intravenous andinhaled administration through check heart rate, respiratory rate, rectal temperature, systolic blood pressure and heart rate via electrocardiogram. Twelve dogs were distributed in two groups: group AE- received 10mg/kg intravenous aminophylline; group AI-received aminophylline inhaled through the nebulizer at a dose of 10mg/kg, diluted in 5ml of sodium chloride solution 0,9%. We evaluated the rectal temperature (RT), heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), systolic blood pressure (SBP) and electrocardiogram (ECG) at the time prior to drug administration, 30 minutes and 2, 6 and 8 hours after use of it. The average heart rate, TR faith that remained in the normal range for the species. However, some animals, both AE and AI group showed a slight increase in HR, RR and TR. The mean SBP was below the reference values in the AE group M6 and M30 and M8 in group AI. Sinus tachycardia was observed in both groups, earlier in the group AE. We conclude that intravenous aminophylline used both inhaled and causes clinical and electrocardiographic changes in dogs with a tendency to decrease systolic blood pressure, increased respiratory rate and rectal temperature as well as cardiac stimulation with increased heart rate and arrhythmia in the presence ofb animals the two groups with higher early manifestation of clinical signs in animals that received intravenous aminophylline

In Lysinuric Protein Intolerance system y+L activity is defective in monocytes and in GM-CSF-differentiated macrophages

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In the recessive aminoaciduria Lysinuric Protein Intolerance (LPI), mutations of <it>SLC7A7</it>/y+LAT1 impair system y⁺L transport activity for cationic amino acids. A severe complication of LPI is a form of Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis (PAP), in which alveolar spaces are filled with lipoproteinaceous material because of the impaired surfactant clearance by resident macrophages. The pathogenesis of LPI-associated PAP remains still obscure. The present study investigates for the first time the expression and function of y+LAT1 in monocytes and macrophages isolated from a patient affected by LPI-associated PAP. A comparison with mesenchymal cells from the same subject has been also performed.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Monocytes from peripheral blood were isolated from a 21-year-old patient with LPI. Alveolar macrophages and fibroblastic-like mesenchymal cells were obtained from a whole lung lavage (WLL) performed on the same patient. System y⁺L activity was determined measuring the 1-min uptake of [³H]-arginine under discriminating conditions. Gene expression was evaluated through qRT-PCR.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We have found that: 1) system y⁺L activity is markedly lowered in monocytes and alveolar macrophages from the LPI patient, because of the prevailing expression of <it>SLC7A7</it>/y+LAT1 in these cells; 2) on the contrary, fibroblasts isolated from the same patient do not display the transport defect due to compensation by the <it>SLC7A6</it>/y+LAT2 isoform; 3) in both normal and LPI monocytes, GM-CSF induces the expression of <it>SLC7A7</it>, suggesting that the gene is a target of the cytokine; 4) GM-CSF-induced differentiation of LPI monocytes is comparable to that of normal cells, demonstrating that GM-CSF signalling is unaltered; 5) general and respiratory conditions of the patient, along with PAP-associated parameters, markedly improved after GM-CSF therapy through aerosolization.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Monocytes and macrophages, but not fibroblasts, derived from a LPI patient clearly display the defect in system y⁺L-mediated arginine transport. The different transport phenotypes are referable to the relative levels of expression of <it>SLC7A7 </it>and <it>SLC7A6</it>. Moreover, the expression of <it>SLC7A7 </it>is regulated by GM-CSF in monocytes, pointing to a role of y+LAT1 in the pathogenesis of LPI associated PAP.</p

B-type natriuretic peptide levels and diagnostic accuracy: excess fluid volume

Objetivo: Analisar o comportamento do peptídeo natriurético tipo B (BNP) na presença decaracterísticas definidoras (CDs) do diagnóstico de enfermagem Excesso de volume delíquidos (00026) em pacientes hospitalizados por insuficiência cardíaca descompensada.Métodos: Estudo de coorte com pacientes internados com insuficiência cardíacadescompensada (setembro-2015 a setembro-2016), definida pelos Critérios de Boston.Pacientes hospitalizados por mais de 36 horas, valor de BNP ≥ 100 pg/ml foram incluídos;valores de BNP basal-final foram comparados pelo teste Wilcoxon; as CDs no basal-finalforam comparadas pelo teste t pareado.Resultados: Sessenta e quatro pacientes foram incluídos; houve correlação positivasignificativa entre o delta de BNP com o número de CDs presentes na avaliação clínicainicial.Conclusões: O comportamento do BNP foi correlacionado com as CDs, indicando congestão.Com a compensação clínica, as CDs e a concentração de BNP diminuíram. O uso destebiomarcador pode fornecer precisão adicional à avaliação de enfermagem.Palavras-chave: Insuficiência cardíaca. Diagnóstico de enfermagem. Biomarcadores.Enfermagem. Cardiologia. Sinais e sintomas