Light and scanning electron microscopy were used to study the structure of the heart ventricle in three species of marine teleost fishes: the hake (Merluccius merluccius), the angler fish (Lophius ...piscatorius) and the sea bream (Pagellus centrodontus). Our findings show the ventricle to be shaped differently in each species: tubular in the hake, saccular in the angler fish and pyramidal in the sea bream. From a structural viewpoint, interest was centered on two aspects: organization of the myocardial fibres and arrangement of connective tissue. In hake and angler fish ventricles, the myocardium was exclusively trabecular in nature, whereas the bream ventricle, in addition to trabecular myocardium, presented a thin compact layer. Muscle fibres showed precise patterns of organization at the level of the ventricular orifices. With the techniques used the intramyocardial connective tissue was detected in the following ventricular zones: i) at the level of subepicardial and subendocardial spaces, ii) surrounding the myocardial fascicles, and iii) surrounding individual myocardial cells. According to this structural study, the pyramidal ventricle of the fish should be considered as a ventricular pump with greater efficiency.
Ventricular myocardial fiber architecture has been considered an important factor in heart dynamics. Most anatomical studies however have focussed on the analysis of normal hearts. The present study ...compares ventricular myocardial fiber architecture patterns in dissections of 5 normal hearts and a malformed human heart with membranous ventricular septal defect, overriding right aorta, pulmonic stenosis, with absent pulmonary valve and hypertrophied right ventricle. Qualitative and quantitative changes in ventricular myocardial fiber architecture were noted in the malformed heart.
The aim of the present study was to describe the morphological changes in the normal pattern of ventricular myoarchitecture in the prenatal and adult human heart, to understand the three-dimensional ...organization of the muscle fibers and their active functional role in valvular dynamics.
We used dissection and histological techniques in 56 human hearts from fetuses and adults of both sexes.
In all hearts, the ventricular wall was arranged in three different layers: superficial (subepicardial), middle, and deep (subendocardial) myocardium. The superficial and deep layers are present in both ventricles, whereas the middle layer is found only in the left ventricle. Age-related differences were noted in the pattern of myoarchitecture of the superficial layer, mainly in the fetal period, and especially in the right ventricle; however, the middle layer always shows a circumferential pattern, which is specially evident in elderly hearts. The ventricular fibers in the superficial and deep layers are anchored in the ventricular orifices.
Our findings reveal that muscle fiber architecture showed age- but not sex-related differences. These variations may reflect a mechanism of adaptation of the heart to functional demands throughout life.
We analyzed the extracellular matrix and the connective tissue of the developing chick myocardium ("myocardial interstitium"). The importance of this myocardial element for heart function has been ...well documented both for the normal and pathologic adult hearts. However, little information is available on the organization of the embryonic myocardial interstitium and its modifications during development and increasing intracardiac pressure. In the present study we used light and scanning electron microscopic techniques, and lectin probes to study the interstitium of the ventricular myocardium of chick embryos from stage 29 (day 6 of development) until hatching. Our observations trace the progressive appearance and organization of the elements of the extracellular matrix, comprising the epimysium, perimysium and endomysium, which form a well-defined architectural network. Finally, we discuss the role of these elements of the extracellular matrix and their possible relation with the biomechanical properties of developing heart.
The alternative structures of the synthetic poly(amino2dA-dT) duplex have been studied using infrared spectroscopy in films and in solution (D2O and H2O) in the presence and in the absence of ...magnesium salt. In solution without magnesium salt, the polynucleotide exists in a B genus conformation with some of the sugar puckers possibly in the C3'-endo/anti geometry. In magnesium-containing solution (66 mM MgCl2), however, we report infrared spectra of Mg(2+)-poly(amino2dA-dT) which have characteristic marker bands of the A form. Film samples in 70% relative humidity (RH) give similar infrared spectra to those of the polynucleotide obtained using Mg2+. Thus, when analyzed in comparison with previously reported infrared spectra of other oligo and polynucleotides, our data show that double helical poly(amino2dA-dT) goes into the same (or very closely related) conformation in dehydrated films as in solutions containing Mg2+.
We present a detailed spectroscopic study of 93 solar-type stars that are targets of the NASA/Kepler mission and provide detailed chemical composition of each target. We find that the overall ...metallicity is well represented by Fe lines. Relative abundances of light elements (CNO) and α elements are generally higher for low-metallicity stars. Our spectroscopic analysis benefits from the accurately measured surface gravity from the asteroseismic analysis of the Kepler light curves. The accuracy on the log g parameter is better than 0.03 dex and is held fixed in the analysis. We compare our T
eff determination with a recent colour calibration of V
T−K
S TYCHO V magnitude minus Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS) K
S magnitude and find very good agreement and a scatter of only 80 K, showing that for other nearby Kepler targets, this index can be used. The asteroseismic log g values agree very well with the classical determination using Fe i-Fe ii balance, although we find a small systematic offset of 0.08 dex (asteroseismic log g values are lower). The abundance patterns of metals, α elements and the light elements (CNO) show that a simple scaling by Fe/H is adequate to represent the metallicity of the stars, except for the stars with metallicity below −0.3, where α-enhancement becomes important. However, this is only important for a very small fraction of the Kepler sample. We therefore recommend that a simple scaling with Fe/H be employed in the asteroseismic analyses of large ensembles of solar-type stars.
Borolatonin is a potential therapeutic agent for some neuronal diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). Its administration exerts ameliorative effects such as those induced by the equimolar ...administration of melatonin in behavioral tests on male rats and in neuronal immunohistochemistry assays.
In this study, motivated by sex differences in neurobiology and the incidence of AD, the ability of borolatonin to induce changes in female rats was assessed.
Effects of borolatonin were measured by the evaluation of both behavioral and immunohistopathologic approaches; additionally, its ability to limit amyloid toxicity was determined in vitro.
Surprisingly, behavioral changes were similar to those reported in male rats, but not those evaluated by immunoassays regarding neuronal survival; while pro-brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) immunoreactivity and the limitation of toxicity by amyloid in vitro were observed for the first time.
Borolatonin administration induced changes in female rats. Differences induced by the administration of borolatonin or melatonin could be related to the differences in the production of steroid hormones in sex dependence. Further studies are required to clarify the possible mechanism and origin of differences in disturbed memory caused by the gonadectomy procedure between male and female rats.
The incidence, morphologic characteristics and structure of surface valve excrescences (Lambl's excrescences) were studied by transmission and scanning electron microscopy of the aortic valve of 56 ...human subjects, age range birth to 91 years, without cardiac disease. Valve excrescences consisting of a core of connective tissue covered by the endocardium were observed in 90% of the subjects; the incidence was significantly lower in patients in the first decade of life. Two types of excrescences, lamellar and filiform, were found. Lamellar excrescences are located along the lower boundary of the lunulas and occurred more often in those younger than 30 years. Filiform excrescences appear most often in the nodulus Arantius and in the free-margin of the cusps. The excrescences of the nodulus are the most numerous. Free-margin excrescences are the least numerous and occur more frequently in persons older than 40 years. The connective tissue core of the filiform excrescences contains abundant collagen fibrils and elastic material arranged in apposed layers with different collagen fibril orientation. A circular zone devoid of identifiable connective tissue is present at the center of the filiform excrescences.
The relationship between exposure to air pollution and the severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia and other outcomes is poorly understood. Beyond age and comorbidity, risk factors ...for adverse outcomes including death have been poorly studied. The main objective of our study was to examine the relationship between exposure to outdoor air pollution and the risk of death in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia using individual-level data. The secondary objective was to investigate the impact of air pollutants on gas exchange and systemic inflammation in this disease. This cohort study included 1548 patients hospitalised for COVID-19 pneumonia between February and May 2020 in one of four hospitals. Local agencies supplied daily data on environmental air pollutants (PM10, PM2.5, O3, NO2, NO and NOX) and meteorological conditions (temperature and humidity) in the year before hospital admission (from January 2019 to December 2019). Daily exposure to pollution and meteorological conditions by individual postcode of residence was estimated using geospatial Bayesian generalised additive models. The influence of air pollution on pneumonia severity was studied using generalised additive models which included: age, sex, Charlson comorbidity index, hospital, average income, air temperature and humidity, and exposure to each pollutant. Additionally, generalised additive models were generated for exploring the effect of air pollution on C-reactive protein (CRP) level and SpO2/FiO2 at admission. According to our results, both risk of COVID-19 death and CRP level increased significantly with median exposure to PM10, NO2, NO and NOX, while higher exposure to NO2, NO and NOX was associated with lower SpO2/FiO2 ratios. In conclusion, after controlling for socioeconomic, demographic and health-related variables, we found evidence of a significant positive relationship between air pollution and mortality in patients hospitalised for COVID-19 pneumonia. Additionally, inflammation (CRP) and gas exchange (SpO2/FiO2) in these patients were significantly related to exposure to air pollution.
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•In COVID-19 pneumonia patients, the probability of death rises significantly with exposure to PM10, NO2, NO, NOX, and CO.•Systemic inflammatory response increases with exposure to PM10, NO2, NO and NOX.•Gas exchange disturbance is associated with exposure to NO, NOX, and NO2.
Lifestyle and diet affect cardiovascular risk, although there is currently no consensus about the best dietary model for the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. The CORDIOPREV study ...(Coronary Diet Intervention With Olive Oil and Cardiovascular Prevention) is an ongoing prospective, randomized, single-blind, controlled trial in 1002 coronary heart disease patients, whose primary objective is to compare the effect of 2 healthy dietary patterns (low-fat rich in complex carbohydrates versus Mediterranean diet rich in extra virgin olive oil) on the incidence of cardiovascular events. Here, we report the results of one secondary outcome of the CORDIOPREV study. Thus, to evaluate the efficacy of these diets in reducing cardiovascular disease risk. Intima-media thickness of both common carotid arteries (IMT-CC) was ultrasonically assessed bilaterally. IMT-CC is a validated surrogate for the status and future cardiovascular disease risk.
From the total participants, 939 completed IMT-CC evaluation at baseline and were randomized to follow a Mediterranean diet (35% fat, 22% monounsaturated fatty acids, <50% carbohydrates) or a low-fat diet (28% fat, 12% monounsaturated fatty acids, >55% carbohydrates) with IMT-CC measurements at 5 and 7 years. We also analyzed the carotid plaque number and height.
The Mediterranean diet decreased IMT-CC at 5 years (−0.027±0.008 mm; P<0.001), maintained at 7 years (−0.031±0.008 mm; P<0.001), compared to baseline. The low-fat diet did not modify IMT-CC. IMT-CC and carotid plaquemax height were higher decreased after the Mediterranean diet, compared to the low-fat diet, throughout follow-up. Baseline IMT-CC had the strongest association with the changes in IMT-CC after the dietary intervention.
Long-term consumption of a Mediterranean diet rich in extravirgin olive oil, if compared to a low-fat diet, was associated with decreased atherosclerosis progression, as shown by reduced IMT-CC and carotid plaque height. These findings reinforce the clinical benefits of the Mediterranean diet in the context of secondary cardiovascular prevention.
URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT00924937.
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