Exit block from a parasystolic focus is recognized when automatic discharges fail to become manifest during the excitable phase of the ventricular cycle. In the present study, an apparently complete exit block and a persistently concealed ventricular parasystole (VP) resulted from an exit refractory period (ExRP) longer than the sinus cycle length. Slowing of the heart rate caused the concealed...

Semaphorin 3A (Sema3A), a known inhibitor of axonal sprouting, also alters vascular patterning. Here we show that Sema3A selectively interferes with VEGF- but not bFGF-induced angiogenesis in vivo. Consistent with this, Sema3A disrupted VEGF- but not bFGF-mediated endothelial cell signaling to FAK and Src, key mediators of integrin and growth factor signaling; however, signaling to ERK by eithe...

VPs (versatile peroxidases) sharing the functions of LiP (lignin peroxidase) and MnP (manganese peroxidase) have been described in basidiomycetous fungi Pleurotus and Bjerkandera. Despite the importance of this enzyme in polymer degradation, its reactivity with polymeric substrates remains poorly understood. In the present study, we first report that, unlike LiP, VP from Pleurotus ostreatus dir...

Controversial results regarding the role of vasopressin as a mediator of ethanol-induced diuresis raise the question, whether ethanol may stimulate diuresis directly on the level of the kidney, possibly by its vasodilating properties. We thus studied the effects of different ethanol-concentrations (0.5 ‰, 1 ‰, 2 ‰, and 4 ‰; n = 4 to 6, respectively) – in the presence of 10 mU/l vasopressin in t...

INTRODUCTION Conventional, atrial-synchronised, right ventricular apical pacing (VP) may compromise ventricular function by causing ventricular desynchronisation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term effects of VP on left and right ventricular systolic and diastolic function. METHODS We studied 21 clinically stable dual-chamber pacemaker recipients (mean age 68 +/- 9 years) wit...

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is a common causative agent of genital ulceration and can lead to subsequent neurological disease in some cases. Here, using a genital infection model, we tested the efficacy of vinegar-processed flos of Daphne genkwa (vp-genkwa) to modulate vaginal inflammation caused by HSV-1 infection. Our data revealed that treatment with optimal doses of vp-genkwa after, but not ...

Low Vp/Vs anomalies can assist in prospect identification in tight gas sandstone reservoirs, because they are related to good quality rocks (sandstones with low clay content), presence of gas, and overpressure conditions. In such rocks, gas saturation lowers Vp/Vs and the effect is larger if the gas is overpressured. On the other hand, with water saturation, Vp/Vs increases and the effect is en...