Search results
Found 10529 matches for
Metabolic Effects of Doxorubicin on the Rat Liver Assessed With Hyperpolarized MRI and Metabolomics.
Doxorubicin (DOX) is a successful chemotherapeutic widely used for the treatment of a range of cancers. However, DOX can have serious side-effects, with cardiotoxicity and hepatotoxicity being the most common events. Oxidative stress and changes in metabolism and bioenergetics are thought to be at the core of these toxicities. We have previously shown in a clinically-relevant rat model that a low DOX dose of 2 mg kg-1 week-1 for 6 weeks does not lead to cardiac functional decline or changes in cardiac carbohydrate metabolism, assessed with hyperpolarized [1-13C]pyruvate magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). We now set out to assess whether there are any signs of liver damage or altered liver metabolism using this subclinical model. We found no increase in plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity, a measure of liver damage, following DOX treatment in rats at any time point. We also saw no changes in liver carbohydrate metabolism, using hyperpolarized [1-13C]pyruvate MRS. However, using metabolomic analysis of liver metabolite extracts at the final time point, we found an increase in most acyl-carnitine species as well as increases in high energy phosphates, citrate and markers of oxidative stress. This may indicate early signs of steatohepatitis, with increased and decompensated fatty acid uptake and oxidation, leading to oxidative stress.
The role of snare proteins in cortical development.
Neural communication in the adult nervous system is mediated primarily through chemical synapses, where action potentials elicit Ca2+ signals, which trigger vesicular fusion and neurotransmitter release in the presynaptic compartment. At early stages of development, the brain is shaped by communication via trophic factors and other extracellular signalling, and by contact-mediated cell-cell interactions including chemical synapses. The patterns of early neuronal impulses and spontaneous and regulated neurotransmitter release guide the precise topography of axonal projections and contribute to determining cell survival. The study of the role of specific proteins of the synaptic vesicle release machinery in the establishment, plasticity and maintenance of neuronal connections during development has only recently become possible, with the advent of mouse models where various members of the N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) complex have been genetically manipulated. We provide an overview of these models, focusing on the role of regulated vesicular release and/or cellular excitability in synaptic assembly, development and maintenance of cortical circuits, cell survival, circuit level excitation-inhibition balance, myelination and refinement and plasticity of key axonal projections from the cerebral cortex. These models are important for understanding various developmental and psychiatric conditions, and neurodegenerative diseases. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Non-anemic iron deficiency predicts prolonged hospitalisation following surgical aortic valve replacement: a single-centre retrospective study
Abstract Background Iron deficiency has deleterious effects in patients with cardiopulmonary disease, independent of anemia. Low ferritin has been associated with increased mortality in patients undergoing cardiac surgery, but modern indices of iron deficiency need to be explored in this population. Methods We conducted a retrospective single-centre observational study of 250 adults in a UK academic tertiary hospital undergoing median sternotomy for non-emergent isolated aortic valve replacement. We characterised preoperative iron status using measurement of both plasma ferritin and soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR), and examined associations with clinical outcomes. Results Measurement of plasma sTfR gave a prevalence of iron deficiency of 22%. Patients with non-anemic iron deficiency had clinically significant prolongation of total hospital stay (mean increase 2.2 days; 95% CI: 0.5–3.9; P = 0.011) and stay within the cardiac intensive care unit (mean increase 1.3 days; 95% CI: 0.1–2.5; P = 0.039). There were no deaths. Defining iron deficiency as a plasma ferritin < 100 µg/L identified 60% of patients as iron deficient and did not predict length of stay. No significant associations with transfusion requirements were evident using either definition of iron deficiency. Conclusions These findings indicate that when defined using sTfR rather than ferritin, non-anemic iron deficiency predicts prolonged hospitalisation following surgical aortic valve replacement. Further studies are required to clarify the role of contemporary laboratory indices in the identification of preoperative iron deficiency in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. An interventional study of intravenous iron targeted at preoperative non-anemic iron deficiency is warranted.
A multifaceted architectural framework of the mouse claustrum complex
Accurate anatomical characterizations are necessary to investigate neural circuitry on a fine scale, but for the rodent claustrum complex (CC) this has yet to be fully accomplished. The CC is generally considered to comprise two major subdivisions, the claustrum (CL) and the dorsal endopiriform nucleus (DEn), but regional boundaries to these areas are highly debated. To address this, we conducted a multifaceted analysis of fiber- and cyto-architecture, genetic marker expression, and connectivity using mice of both sexes, to create a comprehensive guide for identifying and delineating borders to the CC. We identified four distinct subregions within the CC, subdividing both the CL and the DEn into two. Additionally, we conducted brain-wide tracing of inputs to the entire CC using a transgenic mouse line. Immunohistochemical staining against myelin basic protein (MBP), parvalbumin (PV), and calbindin (CB) revealed intricate fiber-architectural patterns enabling precise delineations of the CC and its subregions. Myelinated fibers were abundant in dorsal parts of the CL but absent in ventral parts, while parvalbumin labelled fibers occupied the entire CL. Calbindin staining revealed a central gap within the CL, which was also visible at levels anterior to the striatum. Furthermore, cells in the CL projecting to the retrosplenial-cortex were located within the myelin sparse area. By combining our own experimental data with digitally available datasets of gene expression and input connectivity, we could demonstrate that the proposed delineation scheme allows anchoring of datasets from different origins to a common reference framework.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.
NMDA Receptor Antagonists Increase the Release of GLP-1 From Gut Endocrine Cells.
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remains one of the most pressing health issues facing modern society. Several antidiabetic drugs are currently in clinical use to treat hyperglycaemia, but there is a need for new treatments that effectively restore pancreatic islet function in patients. Recent studies reported that both murine and human pancreatic islets exhibit enhanced insulin release and β-cell viability in response to N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists. Furthermore, oral administration of dextromethorphan, an over-the-counter NMDA receptor antagonist, to diabetic patients in a small clinical trial showed improved glucose tolerance and increased insulin release. However, the effects of NMDA receptor antagonists on the secretion of the incretin hormone GLP-1 was not tested, and nothing is known regarding how NMDA receptor antagonists may alter the secretion of gut hormones. This study demonstrates for the first time that, similar to β-cells, the NMDA receptor antagonist MK-801 increases the release of GLP-1 from a murine L-cell enteroendocrine model cell line, GLUTag cells. Furthermore, we report the 3' mRNA expression profiling of GLUTag cells, with a specific focus on glutamate-activated receptors. We conclude that if NMDA receptor antagonists are to be pursued as an alternative, orally administered treatment for T2DM, it is essential that the effects of these drugs on the release of gut hormones, and specifically the incretin hormones, are fully investigated.
COSMAS: a lightweight toolbox for cardiac optical mapping analysis.
Optical mapping is widely used in experimental cardiology, as it allows visualization of cardiac membrane potential and calcium transients. However, optical mapping measurements from a single heart or cell culture can produce several gigabytes of data, warranting automated computer analysis. Here we present COSMAS, a software toolkit for automated analysis of optical mapping recordings in cardiac preparations. COSMAS generates activation and conduction velocity maps, as well as visualizations of action potential and calcium transient duration, S1-S2 protocol analysis, and alternans mapping. The software is built around our recent 'comb' algorithm for segmentation of action potentials and calcium transients, offering excellent performance and high resistance to noise. A core feature of our software is that it is based on scripting as opposed to relying on a graphical user interface for user input. The central role of scripts in the analysis pipeline enables batch processing and promotes reproducibility and transparency in the interpretation of large cardiac data sets. Finally, the code is designed to be easily extended, allowing researchers to add functionality if needed. COSMAS is provided in two languages, Matlab and Python, and is distributed with a user guide and sample scripts, so that accessibility to researchers is maximized.
RF coil design for accurate parallel imaging on 13C MRSI using 23Na sensitivity profiles
Purpose: To develop a coil-based method to obtain accurate sensitivity profiles in 13C MRI at 3T from the endogenous 23Na. An eight-channel array is designed for 13C MR acquisitions. As application examples, the array is used for two-fold accelerated acquisitions of both hyperpolarized 13C metabolic imaging of pig kidneys and the human brain. Methods: A flexible coil array was tuned optimally for 13C at 3T (32.1 MHz), with the coil coupling coefficients matched to be nearly identical at the resonance frequency of 23Na (33.8 MHz). This is done by enforcing a high decoupling (obtained through highly mismatched preamplifiers) and adjusting the coupling frequency response. The SNR performance is compared to reference coils. Results: The measured sensitivity profiles on a phantom showed high spatial similarity for 13C and 23Na resonances, with average noise correlation of 9 and 11%, respectively. For acceleration factors 2, 3, and 4, the obtained maximum g-factors were 1.0, 1.1, and 2.6, respectively. The 23Na profiles obtained in vivo could be used successfully to perform two-fold acceleration of hyperpolarized 13C 3D acquisitions of both pig kidneys and a healthy human brain. Conclusion: A receive array has been developed in such a way that the 13C sensitivity profiles could be accurately obtained from measurements at the 23Na frequency. This technique facilitates accelerated acquisitions for hyperpolarized 13C imaging. The SNR performance obtained at the 13C frequency, compares well to other state-of-the-art coils for the same purpose, showing slightly better superficial and central SNR.
The effects of endogenously- and exogenously-induced hyperketonemia on exercise performance and adaptation.
Elevating blood ketones may enhance exercise capacity and modulate adaptations to exercise training; however, these effects may depend on whether hyperketonemia is induced endogenously through dietary carbohydrate restriction, or exogenously through ketone supplementation. To determine this, we compared the effects of endogenously- and exogenously-induced hyperketonemia on exercise capacity and adaptation. Trained endurance athletes undertook 6 days of laboratory based cycling ("race") whilst following either: a carbohydrate-rich control diet (n = 7; CHO); a carbohydrate-rich diet + ketone drink four-times daily (n = 7; Ex Ket); or a ketogenic diet (n = 7; End Ket). Exercise capacity was measured daily, and adaptations in exercise metabolism, exercise physiology and postprandial insulin sensitivity (via an oral glucose tolerance test) were measured before and after dietary interventions. Urinary β-hydroxybutyrate increased by ⁓150-fold and ⁓650-fold versus CHO with Ex Ket and End Ket, respectively. Exercise capacity was increased versus pre-intervention by ~5% on race day 1 with CHO (p 0.05) with End Ket. There was an ⁓3-fold increase in fat oxidation from pre- to post-intervention (p
Cortical adaptation to sound reverberation.
In almost every natural environment, sounds are reflected by nearby objects, producing many delayed and distorted copies of the original sound, known as reverberation. Our brains usually cope well with reverberation, allowing us to recognize sound sources regardless of their environments. In contrast, reverberation can cause severe difficulties for speech recognition algorithms and hearing-impaired people. The present study examines how the auditory system copes with reverberation. We trained a linear model to recover a rich set of natural, anechoic sounds from their simulated reverberant counterparts. The model neurons achieved this by extending the inhibitory component of their receptive filters for more reverberant spaces, and did so in a frequency-dependent manner. These predicted effects were observed in the responses of auditory cortical neurons of ferrets in the same simulated reverberant environments. Together, these results suggest that auditory cortical neurons adapt to reverberation by adjusting their filtering properties in a manner consistent with dereverberation.
Lung Abnormalities Depicted with Hyperpolarized Xenon MRI in Patients with Long COVID.
Background Post-Covid-19 condition describes symptoms following COVID-19 infection after four weeks. Symptoms are wide-ranging but breathlessness is common. Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine whether the previously described lung abnormalities on Hp-XeMRI in post-hospitalised COVID-19 participants are also present in non-hospitalised participants with Post-Covid-19 condition. Methods In this prospective study, non-hospitalised Post-Covid-19 condition (NHLC) and post-hospitalised COVID-19 (PHC) participants were enrolled from 06/2020 to 08/2021. Participants had chest CT, hyperpolarized pulmonary 129Xenon MRI (Hp-XeMRI), pulmonary function tests, 1-minute sit-to-stand test and breathlessness questionnaires. Control subjects underwent HP-XeMRI only. CT scans were analysed for post COVID interstitial lung disease severity using a previously published scoring system, and Full-scale Airway Network (FAN) modelling. Analysis used group and pair-wise comparisons between participants and controls, and correlations between participant clinical and imaging data. Results A total of 11 NHLC (4:7 Male: Female, 44 ± 11 years, [37-50], (mean ± SD, [95% CI]) and 12 PHC (10:2, Male: Female, 58 ± 10 years, [52-64]) participants were included, with a significant difference in age between groups, p = 0.05. NHLC participants were 287 ± 79, [240-334] and PHC 143 ± 72, [105-190] days from infection, respectively. NHLC and PHC participants had normal or near normal CT scans (0.3/25 ± 0.6, [0-0.63] and 7/25 ± 5, [4-10], respectively). Gas transfer (DLco (%)) was different between NHLC and PHC participants (76 ± 8%, [73-83] vs 86 ± 8%, [80-91] respectively, p = 0.04) but there was no evidence of other differences in lung function. Red Blood Cell:Tissue Plasma (RBC:TP) mean was different between volunteers vs PHC (0.45 ± 0.07, [0.43-0.47] vs (0.31 ± 0.10, [0.24-0.37], respectively, p = 0.02) and volunteers vs NHLC (0.37 ± 0.10, [0.31-0.44], p = 0.03) participants, but not between NHLC and PHC participants (p = 0.26). FAN results did not correlate with DLco or Hp- XeMRI. Conclusion NHLC and PHC subjects showed Hp-XeMRI RBC:TP abnormalities, with NHLC participants demonstrating lower DLco than PHC participants despite having normal CT scans. See also the editorial by Parraga and Matheson.
DHS: Adaptive Memory Layout Organization of Sketch Slots for Fast and Accurate Data Stream Processing
Data stream processing is a crucial computation task in data mining applications. The rigid and fixed data structures in existing solutions limit their accuracy, throughput, and generality in measurement tasks. We propose Dynamic Hierarchical Sketch (DHS), a sketch-based hybrid solution targeting these properties. During the online stream processing, DHS hashes items to buckets and organizes cells in each bucket dynamically; the size of all cells in a bucket is adjusted adaptively to the actual size and distribution of flows. Thus, memory is efficiently used to precisely record elephant flows and cover more mice flows. Implementation and evaluation show that DHS achieves high accuracy, high throughput, and high generality on five measurement tasks: flow size estimation, flow size distribution estimation, heavy hitter detection, heavy changer detection, and entropy estimation.
CNP regulates cardiac contractility and increases cGMP near both SERCA and TnI - difference from BNP visualized by targeted cGMP biosensors.
AIMS: Guanylyl cyclase-B (GC-B; natriuretic peptide receptor-B, NPR-B) stimulation by C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) increases cGMP and causes a lusitropic and negative inotropic response in adult myocardium. These effects are not mimicked by NPR-A (GC-A) stimulation by brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), despite similar cGMP increase. More refined methods are needed to better understand the mechanisms of the differential cGMP signaling and compartmentation. The aim of this work was to measure cGMP near proteins involved in regulating contractility to understand compartmentation of cGMP signaling in adult cardiomyocytes. METHODS AND RESULTS: We constructed several fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based biosensors for cGMP subcellularly targeted to phospholamban (PLB) and troponin I (TnI). CNP stimulation of adult rat cardiomyocytes increased cGMP near PLB and TnI, whereas BNP stimulation increased cGMP near PLB, but not TnI. The phosphodiesterases PDE2 and PDE3 constrained cGMP in both compartments. Local receptor stimulation aided by scanning ion conductance microscopy (SICM) combined with FRET revealed that CNP stimulation both in the t-tubules and on the cell crests increases cGMP similarly near both TnI and PLB. In ventricular strips, CNP stimulation, but not BNP, induced a lusitropic response, enhanced by inhibition of either PDE2 or PDE3, and a negative inotropic response. In cardiomyocytes from heart failure rats, CNP increased cGMP near PLB and TnI more pronounced than in cells from sham-operated animals. CONCLUSIONS: These targeted biosensors demonstrate that CNP, but not BNP, increases cGMP near TnI in addition to PLB, explaining how CNP, but not BNP is able to induce lusitropic and negative inotropic responses. TRANSLATIONAL PERSPECTIVE: Although best known as heart failure biomarkers, natriuretic peptides (ANP, BNP and CNP) are important signaling molecules in the heart and other organs through increasing cyclic GMP (cGMP). Treatment preventing their degradation improves heart failure prognosis. To better understand their cardiac signaling, we employed fluorescent cGMP biosensors targeted to troponin I and phospholamban and found that BNP and CNP increase cGMP differently around these proteins in both normal and failing cardiomyocytes. This may explain the different effects of BNP and CNP on cardiac contractility and relaxation, with possible implications for understanding and treatment of heart failure.