BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: It is widely known that angiotensin-II receptor blockers (ARBs) have reverse remodeling effects in atrium. Although atrial fibrillation is frequent in ischemic heart failure clinically, experiments to demonstrate ARB's effects on atrial remodeling in a heart failure model are rare. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A heart failure model and a sham-operated group were formed in 25 Sprague-Dawley male rats of roughly 260 g in weight. Ischemic heart failure models were obtained via ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery. In the ARB group, 30 mg/kg of losartan was administrated over a day for 4 weeks. Echocardiography was performed to measure left ventricle ejection fraction and left atrial diameter (LAD) at the baseline and 4 weeks after the operation. 4 weeks later, histologic and immunohistochemical evaluation were performed. RESULTS: Groups were divided into the sham group, heart failure group, and heart failure-ARB group. We maintained 5 rats in each group for 4 weeks after operation. The decrease of left ventricular ejection fraction in the heart failure-ARB group was less than that in the heart failure group (p=0.023). The increase of LAD in the heart failure-ARB group was less than that in the heart failure group (p=0.025). Masson's trichrome stain revealed less fibrosis in the heart failure-ARB group. Immunohistochemical stain and western blot for connexin 43 showed less expression in the heart failure-ARB group. CONCLUSION: In the ischemic heart failure model of rats, structurally and histologically, the ARB, losartan, has atrial reverse-remodeling effects. However, electrically, its role as an electrical stabilizer should be studied further.
Animals ; Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists* ; Atrial Fibrillation ; Azo Compounds ; Blotting, Western ; Connexin 43 ; Coronary Vessels ; Echocardiography ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Fibrosis ; Heart Failure* ; Heart Ventricles ; Heart ; Ligation ; Losartan ; Male ; Methyl Green ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stroke Volume

The structure of coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor's CAR is similar to adhesion molecules. In the adult heart, the majority of CAR localizes at the intercalated disc. Germ line CAR deletion induces embryonic lethality at E11.5 with evidence of a cardiac abnormality. The CAR role as a viral receptor is well known; however, its precise function in the heart for enterovirus infection is not clear. To understand the role of CAR in the cardiac myocyte, we generated cardiac-specific CAR knockout mice using a CAR floxed allele and alpha-MHC-Mer CRE Mer mice. Western blot analysis and immunofluorescent stain of ventricles at 6 weeks after 2 weeks tamoxifen administration, CAR expression was significantly decreased in CAR(f/f) MCM mice but not in CAR(f/f) mice heart. Enterovirus was intraperitoneally infected into CAR(f/f) MCM and CAR(f/f) mice (n=10 each). CAR disruption was dramatically reduced virus infection and replication in the heart but not different in liver, spleen, and pancreas. Cardiac myocyte damage was significantly reduced in the CAR(f/f) MCM mutant mice by evans blue dye stain. In addition, the CAR(f/f) MCM mutant mice heart inflammation and fibrosis were decreased in H&E and trichrome stain compare to CAR(f/f) control mice. CAR expression was required for normal ventricular function, but it is the cause of enterovirus infection. In the adult mice heart, CAR deletion was significantly reduced viral infection, proliferation, and myocarditis. These results suggested that CAR deletion could be useful therapeutic strategy to prevent viral myocarditis.
Adenoviridae ; Adult ; Alleles ; Animals ; Azo Compounds ; Blotting, Western ; Enterovirus ; Enterovirus Infections ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Evans Blue ; Fibrosis ; Germ Cells ; Heart ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Liver ; Methyl Green ; Mice ; Mice, Knockout ; Myocarditis ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; Pancreas ; Receptors, Virus ; Spleen ; Tamoxifen ; Ventricular Function ; Viruses

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of new herbal formula (KBMSI-1) on erectile dysfunction in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used male Sprague-Dawley rats aged 12 weeks and divided into three groups; control (n=8), diabetes (DM) (n=8), DM+KBMSI-1 200 mg/kg treatment (n=8) groups. The DM groups received a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ). Distilled water was administered in the control and DM group. To investigate the penile erection, intracavernosal pressure (ICP) and intracavernosal pressure/mean arterial pressure (ICP/MAP) were recorded in all groups. Serial sections of the penis were used to perform Masson's trichrome stain. We analyzed the expression of nNOS and eNOS concentration in the isolated corpus cavernosum by western blotting. RESULTS: Peak ICP/MAP ratio was markedly increased in the treatment group with KBMSI-1 compared with DM group (p<0.05). Masson's trichrome staining of corpus cavernosum showed increase in smooth muscle volume and the regular arrangement of collagen fibers in KBMSI-1 treatment group compared with DM group. Western blot analysis revealed that the penile expressions of nNOS and eNOS protein were significantly higher in KBMSI-1-treated group than in DM group. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that herbal formulation of KBMSI-1 enhances the penile erection and the level of eNOS and nNOS expression of penile corpus cavernosum in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat model.
Aged ; Animals ; Arterial Pressure ; Azo Compounds ; Blotting, Western ; Collagen ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Erectile Dysfunction ; Humans ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Male ; Methyl Green ; Muscle, Smooth ; Penile Erection ; Penis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Streptozocin ; Water

PURPOSE: The inflammatory phase is considered an integral part of adult wound healing, but fetal wound healing studies have shown scarless healing results in the absence of the inflammation process. The COX-2 pathway is an essential component of inflammation. The purpose of this study is to identify the effect of a topical selective COX-2 inhibitor on inflammation in rabbit skin wound healing and scarring. METHODS: Full-thickness wounds were made on 6 New Zealand rabbits' ears. Topical 5% celecoxib + vehicle (experimental tissue) and vehicle only (controlled tissue) were applied daily for 14d on each side of the ears. Scar samples were harvested at 2 wks, 4 wks, and 8 wks after the wounding. Each sample was stained with hematoxylin and eosin and the Masson's trichrome stain to evaluate inflammation and scar formation. RESULTS: Histological analysis demonstrated a significant reduction of inflammation, neovascularization, and scar elevation in the experimental tissue as compared to the control. Additionally, experimental tissue exhibited faster improvement of collagen organization similar to that of normal tissue. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the topical application of a selective COX-2 inhibitor on a rabbit ear wound resulted in decreased inflammation and had a positive effect on the reduction of scar formation.
Adult ; Azo Compounds ; Cicatrix ; Collagen ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors ; Ear ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Hematoxylin ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Methyl Green ; New Zealand ; Pyrazoles ; Skin ; Sulfonamides ; Wound Healing ; Celecoxib

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of a mixture of hyaluronic acid and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (Guardix-sol(R)) on experimental pericardial adhesion. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Thirty rats were divided into 2 groups of 15 rats each and pericardial mesothelial injury was induced during surgery by abrasion. In the control group, blood and normal saline were administered into pericardium; in the test group, blood and HA-CMC solution were administered. Pericardial adhesions were evaluated at 2 weeks (n=5), 4 weeks (n=5), and 6 weeks (n=5) after surgery. The severity of adhesions was graded by macroscopic examination, and the adhesion tissue thickness was analyzed microscopically with Masson trichrome stain and an image processing program. RESULT: The test group had significantly lower macroscopic adhesion scores (2.9+/-0.6 : 3.9+/-0.4, p<0.000) compared with the control group. For microscopic adhesion tissue thickness, the test group had lower scores compared with the control group, but this difference was not statistically significant (91.73+/-49.91 : 117.67+/-46.4, p=0.106). CONCLUSION: We conclude that an HA-CMC solution (Guardix-sol(R)) reduces the formation of pericardial adhesions in this animal model.
Animals ; Azo Compounds ; Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Hyaluronic Acid ; Methyl Green ; Models, Animal ; Pericardium ; Rats ; Sodium

A smooth muscle hamartoma is a benign proliferation of smooth muscle bundles within the dermis. It arises from smooth muscle cells that are located in arrector pili muscles, dartos muscles, vascular smooth muscles, muscularis mammillae and the areolae. Acquired smooth muscle hamartoma (ASMH) is rare, with only 10 such cases having been reported in the English medical literature to date. Most of these cases of ASMH were shown to have originated from arrector pili and dartos muscles. Only one case was reported to have originated from vascular smooth muscle cells. A 21 year-old woman presented with a tender pigmented nodule, with numbness, on the sole of her foot, and this lesion had developed over the previous 18 months. The lesion showed no hyperpigmentation or hypertrichosis, and the biopsies demonstrated increased smooth muscle bundles in the dermis, and especially around the blood vessels. Moreover, the specimens stained positive with Masson trichrome stain and alpha-smooth-muscle actin antibodies, thus supporting our diagnosis of ASMH of the foot sole. Herein, we report on a rare case of ASMH on the foot sole, and this lesion originated from vascular smooth muscle cells. This type of case has not been previously described in the English medical literature.
Actins ; Antibodies ; Azo Compounds ; Biopsy ; Blood Vessels ; Dermis ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Female ; Foot ; Hamartoma ; Humans ; Hyperpigmentation ; Hypertrichosis ; Hypesthesia ; Methyl Green ; Muscle, Smooth ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; Muscles ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle

An 18-year-old man presented as marked proteinuria on urinalysis. Abdominal ultrasonography and computed tomography indicated the presense of horseshoe kidney without any other abnormalities. A percutaneous computed tomography (CT) guided renal biopsy was done. Of 6 glomeruli obtained, global sclerosis was found in 2. Some segments of affected glomerulus showed peripheral solidifications and focal hyalinosis, which are Periodic acid-Schiff and Masson Trichrome stain positive. The diagnosis of horseshoe kidney with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) was made by clinical and pathological findings. The authors report here a case of FSGS occurring in horseshoe kidney which has not yet been reported in Korea.
Adolescent ; Azo Compounds ; Biopsy ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Glomerulonephritis ; Glomerulosclerosis, Focal Segmental ; Humans ; Kidney ; Korea ; Methyl Green ; Proteinuria ; Sclerosis ; Urinalysis

Eruptive collagenoma is an acquired connective tissue nevus without family history. It is typically described as numerous small papules or nodules on the trunk and arms with histopathological features of decreased or degenerated elastic fibers. We report a case of a 16-year-old male who presented with multiple asymptomatic 2 to 5 mm sized yellowish grouped papules on the left calf. Histopathologically, the lesion showed thickened homogenized collagen fibers highlighted by Masson trichrome stain and decreased and fragmented elastic fibers stained by Verhoeff-van Gieson stain. The skin lesion was diagnosed as eruptive collagenoma and no treatment was provided.
Adolescent ; Arm ; Azo Compounds ; Collagen ; Connective Tissue ; Elastic Tissue ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Humans ; Male ; Methyl Green ; Nevus ; Skin

Primary clear cell adenocarcinoma of uterine cervix is rare and cytomorphology in the vaginal smear have not been previously described in Korean literatures. The cytologic characteristics of clear cell adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix include : malignant cells with abundant, finely vacuolated cytoplasm ; hobnail appearance ; and distinctive basement membrane-like hyaline materials within cellular aggregates. A 36-year-old woman presented with vaginal bleeding. Cytologic examination of vaginal smear and histopathologic examination of a radical hysterectomy specimen allowed the diagnosis of hemorrhagic tumor in the uterine cervix as a clear cell adenocarcinoma. Cytologic findings were very characteristic. The tumor cells had abundant, pale, finely vacuolated cytoplasm with indistinct cytoplasmic membrane. The nuclei were round to oval with finely dispersed chromatin. Extracellular basement membrane-like hyaline substance, which stained a light green color in Papanicolaou's preparation, was frequently observed within the cancer cell clusters.
Adenocarcinoma ; Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell* ; Adult ; Cell Membrane ; Cervix Uteri* ; Chromatin ; Cytoplasm ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Hyalin ; Hysterectomy ; Methyl Green ; Uterine Hemorrhage ; Vaginal Smears

OBJECTIVETo examine the potential function of NMDA receptor NR2A subunit C-terminus in assembling and surface expression of the receptor in HEK293 cells.

METHODSFive vectors GFP- NR2ADeltaC1- DeltaC5 were constructed for expressing N-terminally GFP-tagged NR2A with C-terminal deletion at different regions by using conventional techniques of molecular cloning. The deleted region for NR2ADeltaC1-Delta C5 was 897L-1017S, 1024D-1142P, 1149D-1347G, 1354S-1464V, and 897L-1464V. These plasmids were transfected alone or co-transfected with NR1-1a into HEK293 cells. The surface NMDA receptors were immuno-stained using rabbit antibody against GFP and Cy3 conjugated secondary antibody in living cells.

RESULTThe vectors GFP-NR2ADeltaC1-DeltaC5 were generated and all of them expressed GFP fluorescence in the transfected cells. Surface NMDA receptors were detected by immuno-labeling with anti-GFP in the cells co-transfected by NR1-1a and any one of GFP-NR2ADeltaC1-DeltaC5. However, no surface expression of NR2A proteins was found in the transfected cells with any one of these plasmids alone.

CONCLUSIONWithin the region downstream from the 897L of NR2A subunit, neither a particular domain directly interacted with ER retention domain in NR1-1a C1 cassette, nor that determining ER retention of NR2A subunit itself has been found, indicating that more complicated mechanisms might exist in which the subunit assembling and targeting to plasma membrane of NMDA receptors undergo.

Cell Line ; Gene Deletion ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; Humans ; Luminescent Proteins ; metabolism ; Mutation ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate ; analysis ; genetics