Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Florida, 2004. / Typescript. Title from title page of source document. Document formatted into pages; contains 156 pages. Includes Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

La sclérodermie (SSc) est une pathologie grave caractérisée par une atteinte microvasculaire combinée à une fibrose cutanée. Au niveau des extrémités, ce phénomène provoque des ulcères digitaux (UD) particulièrement douloureux et qui contribuent à diminuer la qualité de vie des patients atteints. La cicatrisation des UD est difficile et souvent de mauvais pronostic avec d’importants risques d’infection voire d’amputation. A ce jour, les injections intraveineuses d’iloprost, un analogue de la prostacycline, sont le seul traitement reconnu mais leur utilisation entraîne des effets secondaires et requiert une hospitalisation. Le treprostinil, un autre analogue de la prostacycline, est susceptible d’induire une importante vasorelaxation ce qui en fait une molécule d’intérêt majeur dans la prise en charge des UD. La sclérodermie est une pathologie complexe et aucun modèle animal ne présente l’ensemble de ses caractéristiques physiopathologiques. Parmi les modèles existants nous avons sélectionnés deux modèles murins (HOCL et uPAR-/-) récemment décrits comme étant prometteurs pour développer de nouvelles approches thérapeutiques dans la prise en charge des symptômes de la SSc.L’objectif de cette étude est d’évaluer l’iontophorèse de treprostinil comme stratégie locale pour induire une accélération de la cicatrisation d’ulcères provoqués sur modèles de SSc. Brièvement, une lésion a été réalisée par excision de peau au niveau du dos de souris. Les animaux ont été répartis aléatoirement dans trois groupes : « témoin », « contrôle » et « treprostinil » et les plaies ont été suivies jusqu’à cicatrisation complète.Les animaux traités par iontophorèse de treprostinil présentent une cicatrisation accélérée. Ces résultats ont été observés pour les deux modèles de SSc. L’effet le plus important a été mesuré au cours de la phase précoce de la cicatrisation.Cette étude est la première a démontré que la iontophorèse de treprostinil s’avère être une piste prometteuse dans la prise en charge thérapeutique des UD chez les patients atteints de SSc. D’autres études précliniques devront être menées pour mieux comprendre les mécanismes et une étude clinique devra confirmer ce résultat sur des patients. / Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) is a serious disease affecting the skin microcirculation and characterized by fibrosis. Digital ulcers (DU) are the principal manifestation of this microvascular dysfunction in the extremities. DUs are frequent, painful, can cause functional impairment and have a major negative impact on the quality of life. Wound healing of DU is delayed and this can result in gangrene and amputation. To date, intravenous prostacyclin analogues (iloprost) are the only approved treatment for active SSc-related DU but their use is limited by serious vasodilation-induced side effects and usually requires hospitalization. Treprostinil is a prostacyclin receptor agonist that induces vascular relaxation and is used to treat advanced digital ischemia. Treprostinil is a very interesting candidate to enhance wound healing of ulcers in fibrotic skin. Scleroderma is a complex pathology and there is none existing animal model that can encompass all aspects of the disease related to fibrosis and vasculopathy. Among existing models, we selected two murin models (HOCL and uPAR-/-) that were recently described as promising tool to study SSc-related vasculopathy and fibrosis such as digital ulcers.The main objective of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic effect of topical administration of treprostinil on wound healing in two different preclinical models of SSc. Briefly, cutaneous excisional wounds were induced on mice. Animals were randomized into 3 sub-groups according the treatment to be administered: “sham”, “control” and “treprostinil” and wound process was followed until full recovery.Treprostinil iontophoretically-administered induced a significant acceleration in wound healing process in both models of SSc. The most significant effect was observed during the early phase of the healing process.This study demonstrated that iontophoresis of treprostinil could be proposed as a local therapeutic strategy to SSc patients with digital ulcers. Further pre-clinical studies should be realized to explore the underlying pharmacological and electrical mechanisms involved and clinical study should be started soon to assess the potential effect on SSc-related ulcers.

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No. of bitstreams: 2 Tese - Ana Paula Araújo Costa - 2016.pdf: 2728666 bytes, checksum: 2cd43bd911125e81ab1a9483baff4302 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-12-16 / Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNPq / Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a disease of the heart muscle that culminates in dilatation of the left ventricle, or both, and myocardial contractile dysfunction. The clinical phase of the disease is characterized by congestive heart failure signs (CHF), with or without arrhythmias. The treatment involves the use of drugs aimed at reducing the signs of CHF and arrhythmias, with diuretics, positive inotropic, vasodilator and antiarrhythmic. A new drug candidate (LASSBio 294), capable of promoting combined positive inotropic and vasodilating effects, has recently been developed, and have been tested in pre-clinical study in healthy Beagle dogs with promising results. Therefore, this study proposed to verify the action of the drug prototype LASSBio 294, at a dose of 2mg/Kg on cardiovascular parameters of rabbits with DCM experimentally induced by doxorubicin, using as positive control the pimobendan at a dose of 0.3mg/kg. The DCM was induced by intravenous administration of 1 mg/kg of doxorubicin, at a concentration of 2mg/ml, twice a week, for three weeks, and then weekly until it reached fractional shortening less or equal to 25%. As methods of evaluating the LASSBio 294 action on the cardiovascular system of rabbits and monitor the induction of DMC, the following tests were performed: electrocardiography, echodopplercardiography, measurement of blood pressure, chest radiograph, dosage of cardiac lesions, and kidney and liver function biomarkers and hematologic evaluation. At the end of the induction protocol the animals were randomly divided into two groups A (LASSBio 294) and B (pimobendan) and underwent treatment for 30 days, twice a day. At the end of the study it was concluded that the DCM model induced by doxorubicin is a good model to study the disease and its consequences, leading to systolic and diastolic dysfunction with dilatation of the left ventricle. However the time for induction of DCM is inaccurate and the occurrence of multisystemic toxicity, such as nephrotoxicity and myelosuppression, contributes to high mortality rate in this model (35%). It can be concluded that LASSBio 294 is effective in increasing systolic function, improving diastolic function, without altering rabbits blood pressure, has no pro-arrhythmogenic or toxic effect, and reduced the serum creatinine concentration of the animals, but it does not prevent the evolution of the congestive condition. / A cardiomiopatia dilatada (CMD) é uma enfermidade do músculo cardíaco que culmina em dilatação do ventrículo esquerdo, e/ou direito, e disfunção contrátil do miocárdio, sendo a fase clínica da doença caracterizada por sinais de insuficiência cardíaca congestiva (ICC), com ou sem a presença de arritmias. O tratamento envolve a utilização de fármacos que visem diminuir os sinais de ICC e as arritmias, sendo os diuréticos, inotrópicos positivos, vasodilatadores e antiarrítmicos os mais utilizados. Recentemente foi desenvolvido um novo candidato a fármaco (LASSBio 294) capaz de promover os efeitos vasodilatador e inotrópico positivo combinados, tendo sido testado em estudo pré-clínico em cães saudáveis da raça Beagle, com resultados promissores. Propôs-se neste estudo verificar a ação do protótipo a fármaco LASSBio 294, na dose de 2mg/kg, sobre os parâmetros cardiovasculares de coelhos com CMD experimentalmente induzida por doxorrubicina, utilizando como controle positivo o tratamento com a pimobendana, na dose de 0,3mg/Kg. A CMD foi induzida por meio da administração endovenosa de 1mg/Kg de doxorrubicina, na concentração de 2mg/mL, duas vezes na semana, por três semanas e depois semanalmente até que alcançada fração de encurtamento igual ou inferior a 25%. Como métodos de avaliação da ação do LASSBio 294 sobre o sistema cardiovascular de coelhos e monitoramento da indução da CMD, foram realizados os seguintes exames: eletrocardiografia, ecodopplercardiografia, mensuração da pressão arterial, radiografia torácica, dosagem de biomarcadores de lesão cardíaca, de função renal e hepática e avaliação hematológica. Ao final do protocolo de indução os animais foram distribuídos aleatoriamente em dois grupos, A (LASSBio 294) e B (pimobendana), e foram submetidos a tratamento durante trinta dias, duas vezes ao dia. Ao final do estudo foi possível concluir que o modelo de CMD induzida por doxorrubicina é um bom modelo para estudo da doença e suas consequências, induzindo disfunção sistólica e diastólica do miocárdico, com dilatação do ventrículo esquerdo. Porém, o tempo para indução da CMD é inexato e a ocorrência de toxicidade multissistêmica, como a mielossupressão e nefrotoxicidade, contribui para a elevada taxa de mortalidade dos animais (35%). Ainda, conclui-se que o LASSBio 294 é eficiente em incrementar a função sistólica, melhorar a função diastólica, sem alterar a pressão arterial dos coelhos, não apresentando efeito pró arritmogênico ou tóxico, e reduzindo a concentração sérica de creatinina dos animais, porém não impede a evolução do quadro congestivo.

No / Pulmonary hypertension is becoming a recognized complication of the hereditary and acquired haemolytic anaemias, associated with a poor prognosis. Recently we reported that patients with paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PNH) have high levels of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), a biomarker associated with both right and left ventricular dysfunction and cardiac dysfunction. In the current study we evaluated a cohort of patients (N = 29) with haemolytic PNH for elevated pulmonary artery systolic pressure and cardiac function by Doppler-echocardiography. Of the 29 patients, eight were further studied using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), as well as two additional patients (number of patients studied using cardiac MRI = 10). Plasma from the first cohort (N = 29) demonstrated intravascular haemolysis associated with a 12-fold increase in median nitric oxide (NO) consumption when compared with healthy volunteers (P < 0·001). Doppler echocardiography demonstrated normal left ventricular function and elevated pulmonary artery systolic pressure in 41% of patients. Cardiac MRI from the second cohort (N = 10) demonstrated depressed right ventricular function in 80% of PNH patients tested, and 60% had findings suggestive of subclinical small pulmonary emboli. Together, these data suggest a high prevalence of haemolysis-associated NO scavenging, Doppler-estimated systolic pulmonary hypertension, and depressed right ventricular function in patients with PNH.

The effect of the new vasodilatory and antianginal compound, bepridil (CERM-1978), was examined on the electrical activity of the vascular smooth muscle of isolated dog coronary arteries. Tetraethylammonium (10 mm) was used to induce excitability in the muscle in the form of Ca2+-dependent overshooting action potentials, whose inward current is carried almost exclusively by Ca2+ ion through voltage-dependent slow channels. Bepridil (5 × 10-7-1 × 10-5 M) produced a dose-dependent depression of the rate of rise and amplitude of these Ca2+ spikes. Complete blockade of the action potentials occurred at 1 × 10-5 M bepridil. These effects of bepridil were antagonized by elevation of external Ca2+ concentration ([CA]o). The effects of bepridil were substantially reversed by washout after about 30 min. Bepridil (10-5 M) also produced a small but significant (p < 0.05) increase in resting membrane resistance (input resistance increased from a mean of 10.1 to 12.4 mΩ), accompanied by a small but significant (p < 0.05) depolarization of 6 m V (from a mean of -51 to -45 mV). These latter effects are consistent with a diminution of the resting K+ conductance (gK) by bepridil. It is concluded that the vasodilatory and antianginal properties of bepridil may be explained by the action of this drug in depressing and blocking the Ca2+ influx into the cells, presumably by acting directly on the voltage-dependent slow channels in the cell membrane, and thereby lowering [Ca]i and thus the degree of contraction. Bepridil has Ca2+-antagonistic (or Ca2+ entry blocking or slow channel blocking) properties much like verapamil, but it is somewhat less potent than verapamil in this action (i.e., complete blockade occurred at 10-5 M bepridil vs. 2 × 10 -6 M verapamil.).

Ma, Yan. / "Ca" in the title is subscript. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2011. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 143-166). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese.

No / Hair disorders cause psychological distress but are generally poorly controlled; more effective treatments are required. Despite the long-standing use of minoxidil for balding, its mechanism is unclear; suggestions include action on vasculature or follicle cells. Similar drugs also stimulate hair, implicating ATP-sensitive potassium (K(ATP)) channels. To investigate whether K(ATP) channels are present in human follicles, we used organ culture, molecular biological, and immunohistological approaches. Minoxidil and tolbutamide, a K(ATP) channel blocker, opposed each other's effects on the growing phase (anagen) of scalp follicles cultured in media with and without insulin. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction identified K(ATP) channel component gene expression including regulatory sulfonylurea receptors (SUR) SUR1 and SUR2B but not SUR2A and pore-forming subunits (Kir) Kir6.1 and Kir6.2. When hair bulb tissues were examined separately, epithelial matrix expressed SUR1 and Kir6.2, whereas both dermal papilla and sheath exhibited SUR2B and Kir6.1. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated similar protein distributions. Thus, human follicles respond biologically to K(ATP) channel regulators in culture and express genes and proteins for two K(ATP) channels, Kir6.2/SUR1 and Kir6.1/SUR2B; minoxidil only stimulates SUR2 channels. These findings indicate that human follicular dermal papillae contain K(ATP) channels that can respond to minoxidil and that tolbutamide may suppress hair growth clinically; novel drugs designed specifically for these channels could treat hair disorders.