Reperfusion using lactate Ringer's mixture partially eliminates IGF II receptor involved cardiac damage caused by hemorrhagic shock in diabetic rats

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder that damages many organs. We investigated the effects of reperfusion using lactate Ringer's solution (LR) in a diabetic animal model. Eight-week-old rats were divided into groups: control, hemorrhagic shock induced (HS), diabetes mellitus (DM), DM plus HS (DM + HS) and DM rats that received LR after HS (DM + HS + LR). HS was induced by withdrawing blood from the femoral artery and arterial pressure was maintained at 40 mm Hg for 1 h. Animals were perfused with either withdrawn blood or LR. Rats were sacrificed and hearts were collected from all groups. Histopathological studies were performed using left ventricles and western blotting analysis was performed using protein extracted from the left ventricle. Using the TUNEL assay, we found more apoptotic cells in the DM + HS group compared to the control group, whereas in animals resuscitated with LR, the number of apoptotic cells was reduced. Western blotting showed a significant reduction in apoptotic markers, cyt c, cas 9 and cas 3, and increased survival markers, pPI3K and pAKT, in the DM + HS + LR group. Reperfusion with LR may have therapeutic effects on trauma induced HS by blocking the IGF II R facilitated apoptosis pathway in diabetic rats.

Orally administered resveratrol enhances the therapeutic effect of autologous transplanted adipose-derived stem cells on rats with diabetic hepatopathy

Stem cell therapy is a promising treatment for hepatopathy due to diabetes mellitus (DM); oral resveratrol treatment exhibits protective effects. We investigated whether protective effects could be produced in liver of diabetic rats receiving autologous adipose-derived stem cell transplantation (ADSC) plus oral resveratrol administration. Male rats were divided into four groups: sham group; streptozotocin induced DM group; DM + ADSC group, in which DM rats were treated with 10⁶ stem cells/rat; and DM + R + ADSC group, in which DM rats were treated with ADSC and oral resveratrol. The DM group exhibited apoptosis, inflammation and fibrosis, whereas Sirt-1 and survival signaling were suppressed. Pathological conditions other than survival signaling were improved in the DM + ADSC group. All pathological conditions were improved in the DM + R + ADSC group. Also, the oxidative stress level in the blood was reduced in the DM + R + ADSC group compared to the sham group. Oral resveratrol administration appears to reduce oxidative damage and enhances survival signaling in diabetic liver. The therapeutic response in the DM + R + ADSC group was better than in the DM + ADSC group.

Status of trace elements in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy in central Taiwan

BACKGROUND

Sporadic cases of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) are often seen in central Taiwan. Though trace elements may play a role in the pathogenesis of idiopathic DCM, there are no reports concerning study of Taiwan's population in relation to trace elements in patients with DCM.

METHODS

Serum selenium, zinc, copper and iron concentrations and blood glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity were measured in 32 patients with DCM (24 males, 8 females; mean age, 44 +/- 14 years) and 31 age-matched normal volunteers (16 males, 15 females; mean age, 38 +/- 12 years).

RESULTS

The average serum selenium concentration of 27.6 +/- 8.4 micrograms/l found in the DCM group was significantly lower than the average concentration of 47.2 +/- 14.7 micrograms/l in the normal group. Blood GPX activity was also significantly lower in the DCM group than in the normal group. Serum selenium concentration correlated well with blood GPX activity in the studied subjects. Serum copper and iron concentrations were significantly higher in the DCM group than in the normal group. There was no difference in serum zinc concentration between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Deficiency of serum selenium in association with a low blood GPX activity, and high serum copper and iron concentrations, are found in patients with idiopathic DCM in central Taiwan.

The prognostic value of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in untreated mild-to-moderate hypertensive patients: correlation with echocardiography

BACKGROUND

Target organ damage by hypertension should be related to the daily duration of blood pressure elevation.

METHODS

Thirty-six previously untreated patients with mild to moderate hypertension were examined by 2-D, M-mode, Doppler echocardiography and with 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. The resulting parameters were compared with those of normotensive subjects. Elevated BP values during the waking hours (> 125/85 mmHg) and sleeping hours (> 115/80 mmHg) were used to calculate the total percentage of abnormal BP values (load) in each patients.

RESULTS

In patients with hypertension, left atrial index and left ventricular mass index were significantly greater than those of normotensive subjects (21 +/- 4 vs 18 +/- 3 mm/m2, p < 0.05; 127 +/- 25 vs 94 +/- 19 gm/m2, p < 0.01). Doppler measurement of diastolic filling velocity was significantly different between the two groups, with an early LV filling velocity lower (38 +/- 11 vs 45 +/- 10 cm/sec, p < 0.05) and a late LV filling velocity higher (50 +/- 9 vs 45 +/- 12 cm/sec, p < 0.05) in the hypertensives. Casual systolic and diastolic BP values did not correlate with cardiac structural and functional variables. There were significantly inverse correlations between both sleeping diastolic blood pressure and sleeping DBP load and fractional shortening (r = -0.39, p < 0.05; r = -0.43, p < 0.01, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

These data showed that the majority of patients with hypertension have either cardiac structural or functional abnormalities, or both. High nocturnal diastolic blood pressure and DBP load may have a more determinant effect on systolic function in mild to moderate hypertensive patients.