We propose a length-free (LF) implementation of phase field (PF) approach to fracture. The input parameters the LF-PF model are same as those coupled criterion (CC), namely critical energy release rate Gc and material tensile strength ?c. This formulation relies on previously determined correlation between internal length in classical PF fracture models strength. Similar failure loads obtained ...

BACKGROUND Signalling of angiotensin II via angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1) promotes cardiac and renal fibrosis, but its role in lung fibrosis is little understood. Using a rat bleomycin (BLM) induced model of pulmonary fibrosis, we examined the expression of AT1 in the lung and the effect of an AT1 antagonist on pulmonary fibrosis. METHODS Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were given 0.3 m...

The dopaminergic and renin-angiotensin systems interact to regulate blood pressure. Because this interaction may be perturbed in genetic hypertension, we studied D1 dopamine and AT1 angiotensin receptors in immortalized renal proximal tubule (RPT) and A10 aortic vascular smooth muscle cells. In normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats, the D1-like agonist fenoldopam increased D1 receptors but decre...

This study tests the hypothesis that aldosterone induces cardiac fibrosis through an increase of cardiac angiotensin II (Ang II) AT1 receptor levels, thereby potentiating the fibrotic effect of Ang II by determining the effects of spironolactone and losartan on cardiac fibrosis, AT1 density, and gene expression in aldosterone-salt-treated rats. Fibrosis was quantified by slot blots of collagen ...

Angiotensin II (Ang II) plays an important role in post–myocardial infarction (MI) remodeling. Most Ang II effects related to remodeling involve activation of the type 1 receptor (AT1). Although the AT1 receptor is upregulated on cardiac fibroblasts post-MI, little is known about the mechanisms involved in the process. Consequently, we tested whether growth factors known to be present in the re...

BACKGROUND Urethral stricture has a high recurrence rate. There is a common doctrine stating that "once a stricture, always a stricture". This fibrotic disease pathophysiology, pathologically characterized by excessive production, deposition and contraction of extracellular matrix is unknown. Angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor primarily induces angiogenesis, cellular proliferation and inflamm...

Leonotis leonurus extracts and compounds have been extensively studied for pharmacological effects. However, most of the diterpenes isolated from plant not evaluated as possible contributors to cardiovascular effects extracts. In this study, computational modelling was used predict drug-likeness five diterpenoids L. Leonurus. The predicted results were then subsequently compared with obtained a...

Borok, Zea, Janice M. Liebler, Richard L. Lubman, Martha J. Foster, Beiyun Zhou, Xian Li, Stephanie M. Zabski, Kwang-Jin Kim, and Edward D. Crandall. Na transport proteins are expressed by rat alveolar epithelial type I cells. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 282: L599–L608, 2002; 10.1152/ajplung.00130.2000.—Despite a presumptive role for type I (AT1) cells in alveolar epithelial transport, s...

Epidemiological studies have demonstrated that offspring born to mothers preeclampsia (PE) are at increased risk for developing cardiovascular diseases after birth, but the underlying mechanism is unknown. Angiotensin II receptor type 1 autoantibody (AT1-AA), an agonist acting via activation of the AT1 receptor, is believed to be involved in the pathogenesis of both PE and fetal growth restrict...

Angiotensin II (Ang II) has important actions on the heart via type 1 (AT1) and type 2 (AT2) receptors. The link between AT1 receptor activation and the hypertrophy of cardiomyocytes is accepted, whereas the contribution of the AT2 receptor, which reportedly antagonizes the AT1 receptor, is contentious. This ambiguity is primarily based on in vivo approaches, in which the direct effect of the A...