Parallel activation of Ca(2+)-induced survival and death pathways in cardiomyocytes by sorbitol-induced hyperosmotic stress.

Hyperosmotic stress promotes rapid and pronounced apoptosis in cultured cardiomyocytes. Here, we investigated if Ca(2+) signals contribute to this response. Exposure of cardiomyocytes to sorbitol [600 mosmol (kg water)(-1)] elicited large and oscillatory intracellular Ca(2+) concentration increases. These Ca(2+) signals were inhibited by nifedipine, Cd(2+), U73122, xestospongin C and ryanodine, suggesting contributions from both Ca(2+) influx through voltage dependent L-type Ca(2+) channels plus Ca(2+) release from intracellular stores mediated by IP(3) receptors and ryanodine receptors. Hyperosmotic stress also increased mitochondrial Ca(2+) levels, promoted mitochondrial depolarization, reduced intracellular ATP content, and activated the transcriptional factor cyclic AMP responsive element binding protein (CREB), determined by increased CREB phosphorylation and electrophoretic mobility shift assays. Incubation with 1 mM EGTA to decrease extracellular [Ca(2+)] prevented cardiomyocyte apoptosis induced by hyperosmotic stress, while overexpression of an adenoviral dominant negative form of CREB abolished the cardioprotection provided by 1 mM EGTA. These results suggest that hyperosmotic stress induced by sorbitol, by increasing Ca(2+) influx and raising intracellular Ca(2+) concentration, activates Ca(2+) release from stores and causes cell death through mitochondrial function collapse. In addition, the present results suggest that the Ca(2+) increase induced by hyperosmotic stress promotes cell survival by recruiting CREB-mediated signaling. Thus, the fate of cardiomyocytes under hyperosmotic stress will depend on the balance between Ca(2+)-induced survival and death pathways.

Single molecule vs. large area design of molecular electronic devices incorporating an efficient 2-aminepyridine double anchoring group.

When a molecule is bound to external electrodes by terminal anchor groups, the latter are of paramount importance in determining the electrical conductance of the resulting molecular junction. Here we explore the electrical properties of a molecule with bidentate anchor groups, namely 4,4'-(1,4-phenylenebis(ethyne-2,1-diyl))bis(pyridin-2-amine), in both large area devices and at the single molecule level. We find an electrical conductance of 0.6 × 10-4G0 and 1.2 × 10-4G0 for the monolayer and for the single molecule, respectively. These values are approximately one order of magnitude higher than those reported for monodentate materials having the same molecular skeleton. A combination of theory and experiments is employed to understand the conductance of monolayer and single molecule electrical junctions featuring this new multidentate anchor group. Our results demonstrate that the molecule has a tilt angle of 30° with respect to the normal to the surface in the monolayer, while the break-off length in the single molecule junction occurs for molecules having a tilt angle estimated as 40°, which would account for the difference in their conductance values per molecule. The bidentate 2-aminepyridine anchor is of general interest as a contact group, since this terminal functionalized aromatic ring favours binding of the adsorbate to the metal contact resulting in enhanced conductance values.

Miomas sintomáticos: ¿miomectomía o embolización de las arterias uterinas? / Symptomatic uterine leiomyoma: myomectomy or uterine artery embolization?

Objetivo: Evaluar las complicaciones asociadas a la miomectomía laparotómica y a la embolización de las arterias uterinas en mujeres con miomas sintomáticos. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo restrospectivo efectuado en el Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Vigo desde el año 2008 al 2010. La población en estudio la conformaron aquellas mujeres sometidas a una miomectomía laparotómica o a una embolización de las arterias uterinas. Se recopilaron las complicaciones registradas en las historias clínicas de las pacientes tras las técnicas. Resultados: La tasa de complicaciones en el grupo de las pacientes sometidas a miomectomía fue de 15,2 por ciento; las más frecuentes fueron fiebre, anemia, necesidad de trasfusión y hematoma subcutáneo. La tasa de complicaciones en el grupo de embolización fue de 4,5 por ciento recogiéndose casos de síndrome postembolización, mioma parido y un caso de histerectomía. Conclusión: La adecuada indicación de cada técnica es fundamental para tener una baja tasa de complicaciones. Se debe tener en cuenta la sintomatología, tipo y número de miomas, edad y deseo genésico de cada paciente.

Objective: This study was undertaken to evaluate the complications after laparotomy myomectomy and uterine artery embolization in women with symptomatic uterine leiomyoma. Methods: This was a descriptive and retrospective study of patients who were treated with embolization and myomectomy for leiomyomas from 2008-2010. Complications were measured. Results: The rate of complications collected in the myo-mectomy group was 15.2 percent; there were cases of fever, anemia, need for transfusion and subcutaneous hematoma. The rate of complications collected in the embolization group was 4.5 percent; there were cases of embolization syndrome, transcervical fibroid expulsion and a case of hysterectomy. Conclusion: The suitable indication of every tecnic is fundamental to have a low rate of complications. It is necessary to bear in mind the symptomatology, type and number of myomas and age and reproductive desire of each patient.

Ellipsoidal universe can solve the cosmic microwave background quadrupole problem.

The recent 3 yr Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe data have confirmed the anomaly concerning the low quadrupole amplitude compared to the best-fit Lambda-cold dark matter prediction. We show that by allowing the large-scale spatial geometry of our universe to be plane symmetric with eccentricity at decoupling or order 10(-2), the quadrupole amplitude can be drastically reduced without affecting higher multipoles of the angular power spectrum of the temperature anisotropy.

Multiple penile horns: case report and review.

We report a case of unusually large multiple penile horns following removal of condylomata acuminata. Penile horns can grow rapidly, although malignant degeneration is uncommon. Wide excision with deep biopsy of skin at the base of the lesion probably is appropriate treatment.