The effect of a single administration of aromatic hydrocarbons (AHCs) on the metabolic activity responsible for the biotransformation of dichloromethane (DCM) to carbon monoxide (CO) was investigated using adult female rats. In rats treated orally with benzene (1.5 ml kg-1), toluene (2.0 ml kg-1) or m-xylene (2.0 ml kg-1) 16-24 h prior to DCM (3 mmol kg-1, i.p.), the carboxyhaemoglobin (COHb) l...

The purpose is to evaluate delayed enhancement (DE) of the myocardium in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), compared with control subjects. We also evaluated the interrelationships of DE and contractile function. DCM patients (n = 42) and 14 control subjects were evaluated by DE MR imaging, acquired using a two-dimensional segmented inversion-recovery prepared gradient-echo sequence (T...

OBJECTIVE Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a major complication and leading cause of death in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). DCM onset is variable, suggesting modifier effects of genetic or environmental factors. We aimed to determine if polymorphisms previously associated with age at loss of independent ambulation (LoA) in DMD (rs28357094 in the SPP1 promoter, rs10880 and the VTTT/IAAM hapl...

BACKGROUND The cross-talk between vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A, angiopoietin (Ang), and VE-cadherin coregulates endothelial cell (EC) survival. Cardiac expression of VEGF-A but not its receptor KDR is blunted in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Whether VE-cadherin/Ang function is affected in DCM is unknown. METHODS AND RESULTS The myocardial expression of VE-cadherin/beta-catenin,...

Although Eurycoma longifolia has been studied for erectile function, the blood pressure- (BP-) lowering effect has yet to be verified. Hence, this study aims at investigating the BP-lowering properties of the plant with a view to develop an antihypertensive agent that could also preserve erectile function. Ethanolic root extract was partitioned by hexane, dichloromethane (DCM), ethyl acetate, b...

BACKGROUND Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) has been extensively investigated for many years, but its pathogenesis remains uncertain. The ACTC1 gene was the first sarcomeric gene whose mutation was shown to cause DCM; recent studies have indicated that the HSPB7 and ZBTB17 genes are also associated with DCM. To assess the potential role of these three genes in DCM, we examined 11 single nucleotide ...

We have identified an alternative apoptotic cascade induced in SW620 human colonic carcinoma cells by the protein kinase antagonist staurosporine (stsp). Consistent with its effect in other colonic epithelial cells, stsp induced G2-M arrest and apoptosis of SW620 cells. However, despite the paradigm that growth arrest triggers apoptotic cascades, apoptosis was detected before G2-M arrest. Repor...

PURPOSE This study was designed to investigate the effect of losartan on the myocardial interstitial fibrosis in diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) rats. METHODS In this study, a total of 48 male Wister rats (3 groups of 16 animals each) were examined, including the control group, DCM group and losartan-treated (DCM + L) group. Control group was fed with standard diet (14 KJ/g); DCM group and losa...

BACKGROUND Dillenia suffruticosa root dichloromethane extract (DCM-DS) has been reported to exhibit strong cytotoxicity towards breast cancer cells. The present study was designed to investigate the cell cycle profile, mode of cell death and signalling pathways of DCM-DS-treated human caspase-3 deficient MCF-7 breast cancer cells. METHODS Dillenia suffruticosa root was extracted by sequential...

Dilated cardiomyopathies (DCM) are a major cause of mortality in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Immune responses induced by human parvovirus B19 (B19) are considered an important pathogenic mechanism in myocarditis or DCM. However, little is known about Th17-related cytokines in SLE patients with DCM about the linkage with B19 infection. IgM and IgG against B19 viral protein,...