The contribution of the alpha-1B adrenergic receptor (AR) to vascular smooth muscle contraction has been assessed using a combination of immunological, molecular biological and pharmacological approaches. A subtype-selective antibody detected alpha-1B immunoreactivity in the medial layer of the aorta, caudal, femoral, iliac, mesenteric resistance, renal and superior mesenteric arteries. Recepto...

Diabetic nephropathy is the most common cause of end-stage renal disease requiring chronic dialysis or renal transplantation, resulting in high morbidity, mortality and societal costs to Canadians. Unfortunately, glycemic targets are often not achieved, and existing medications that block the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system only offer partial protection against the development of renal and...

The objective of this study was to perform a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating whether a remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) protocol provides renal protection to patients undergoing cardiac and vascular interventions. Searches were conducted in the databases PUBMED, EMBASE and Cochrane Library. RCTs that fulfilled the inclusion criteria and addressed the cli...

Delayed ischemic preconditioning effectively protects kidneys from ischemia-reperfusion injury but the mechanism underlying renal protection remains poorly understood. Here we examined the in vivo role of microRNA miR-21 in the renal protection conferred by delayed ischemic preconditioning in mice. A 15-min renal ischemic preconditioning significantly increased the expression of miR-21 by 4 h a...

Hypertensive mechanisms are postulated to play a major role in the progressive glomerulosclerosis (GS) after renal mass reduction. But, in contrast to converting enzyme inhibitors, BP reduction by calcium channel blockers, has not provided consistent protection. Radiotelemetric BP monitoring for 7 wk was used to compare nifedipine (N) and enalapril (E) in the rat approximately 5/6 renal ablatio...

OBJECTIVES We sought to evaluate the cardiac and renal effects of an N-acetylcysteine (NAC)-enhanced intracoronary radiographic contrast agent. BACKGROUND Recent studies suggest that high-dose NAC provides better protection from contrast-induced nephropathy, and the antioxidant properties of NAC may also provide cardiac protection. The use of angiographic contrast agents as a drug delivery ve...

Superoxide anion generation plays an important role in the development of paraquat toxicity. Although superoxide dismutase mimetics (SODm) have provided protection against organ injury involving generation of superoxide anions, they often suffer problems, e.g., regarding their bioavailability or potential pro-oxidant activity. The aim here was to investigate and compare the therapeutic potentia...

Clinical trials shows that remote ischemic preconditioning (IPC) can protect against contrast induced nephropathy (CIN) in risky patients, however, the exact mechanism is unclear. In this study, we explored whether renalase, an amine oxidase that has been previously shown to mediate reno-protection by local IPC, would also mediate the same effect elicited by remote IPC in animal model. Limb IPC...

Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (Nod) 1 and Nod2 are members of a family of intracellular innate sensors that participate in innate immune responses to pathogens and molecules released during the course of tissue injury, including injury induced by ischemia. Ischemic injury to the kidney is characterized by renal tubular epithelial apoptosis and inflammation. Among the best studied in...

Figure 1 Side view of shunt splint Asplin t was designed for adult renal patients who required protection of their forearm shunt while sleeping. It is posi tioned over the shunt with I inch (2.5 em) clearance, which prevents the weight of the body from resting on the forearm and disrupting circulation. Although sImilar to a splint designed for children who require maximum protection of the shun...