001), race (P = 0 006), sex (P = 0 31),

fat (P = 0 001),

001), race (P = 0.006), sex (P = 0.31),

fat (P = 0.001), and FFM (P < 0.001) accounted for 70% (adjusted R 2) of the variability in REE. The addition of trunk HMRO (P = 0.001) and brain (P = 0.006) to the model increased the explained variance to 75% and rendered the contributions of age, sex, and race statistically nonsignificant, whereas fat and FFM continued to make significant contributions (both P < 0.05). The addition of brain to the model rendered the intercept (69 kcal . kg(-1) . d(-1)) consistent with zero, which indicated zero REE for zero body mass.

Conclusions: Relatively small interindividual variation Alvocidib in HMRO mass significantly affects REE and reduces the role of age, race, and sex in explaining REE. Decreases in REE with increasing age may be partly related to age-associated changes in the relative size of FFM components. Am J Clin Nutr 2010; 91: 907-12.”
“Concomitantly with the increasing prevalence of childhood obesity, GW4869 cell line the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) is rising among children and adolescents, leading to fears for future epidemics of type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease in the young. This makes the accurate identification and the appropriate treatment of children and adolescents with MS an important priority for health care systems. This review will focus on the management of each component of MS, including the

nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which is currently considered as the hepatic component of the syndrome. The most relevant target of treatment of MS in children and adolescents is the abdominal obesity. To this end, we will discuss the efficacy of dietary approaches,

possibly coupled with regular physical activity, on eliciting visceral fat reduction. We will also highlight several aspects of the treatment of the high triglyceride/low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol phenotype, including the use of non-pharmacological measures, and indications for instituting drug therapies. Part of this review will address treatment of glucose abnormalities, including the benefits of lifestyle modification alone, and the potential adjunctive role of hypoglycemic drugs. The treatment of hypertension in children with MS also requires a multifaceted approach and the available data of this topic will be examined. The remainder see more of this review will address treatment to reverse NAFLD and prevent progression to end-stage disease. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.”
“Oxygen-free pyrene gas as a carbon (C) dopant was delinked and incorporated into highly dense MgB2 structure via a gas phase diffusion method. The technique offers the advantages that molecular C is homogeneously distributed into MgB2 and substituted at the boron sites without any severe deterioration of grain connectivity. The C substitution causes a significant shrinkage of the a-lattice parameter and an increase in the lattice strain, resulting in high disorder.

The primary outcome assessed was the frequency of acute exacerbat

The primary outcome assessed was the frequency of acute exacerbations during follow-up. Results: Six trials involving 1,485 COPD patients were included in the analysis. Analysis of the pooled data of all 6 trials showed that macrolide administration reduced the frequency of acute exacerbations of COPD [risk ratio (RR) = 0.62; 95% CI 0.43-0.89, p = 0.01]. Subgroup analysis showed that only erythromycin might be associated with decreased COPD exacerbations (erythromycin: p = 0.04, azithromycin: p = 0.22, clarithromycin: p = 0.18). Moreover, macrolide therapy for 3 months did not significantly reduce the number of exacerbations (p = 0.18), whereas a beneficial effect was conclusive in the 6-month

(p = 0.009) and 12-month (p = 0.03) treatment subgroups. In addition, nonfatal adverse events were more frequent in the macrolide treatment groups than in the controls (RR = 1.32; 95% CI 1.06-1.64, p = 0.01). However, related clinical

selleckchem ARS-1620 factors had no influence on the overall result (p = 0.19). There was no publication bias among the included trials. Conclusions: Macrolide therapy was effective and safe in decreasing the frequency of exacerbations in patients with COPD. Treatment might provide a significant benefit but only when therapy lasts more than 6 months. Copyright (C) 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel”
“MgB2/Al/AlN/MgB2 multilayered Josephson junctions were fabricated on c-plane sapphire substrates. The measured current-voltage characteristics were well fitted with a resistively and capacitively shunted junction model. For a junction with 0.56-nm-thick AlN and 10-nm-thick Al layers, the current

density was 740 A/cm(2) and the ICRN product was 210 mu V. The Josephson currents were found to be ideally modulated in accordance with theoretical calculations by an external magnetic field. Clear Shapiro steps were observed under irradiation at 95.622 GHz, and fourth step was obtained. Shapiro step heights were consistent with the resistively and capacitively shunted junction model. (C) 2009 American Institute of Physics. [DOI: 10.1063/1.3029726]“
“Antineutrophil ERK inhibitor cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA)-associated systemic vasculitides (AASV) consists of small-vessel systemic inflammatory disorders which commonly affect the kidneys and without treatment have a poor prognosis. Rituximab is a novel biological agent which is being used experimentally in the management of AASV. This report presents the case of a young woman with rapidly progressive life-threatening AASV. Despite prompt diagnosis and initial treatment with steroids and alkylating agents her condition became life threatening. With addition of rituximab therapy she showed an excellent sustained response. Rituximab appears an effective and safe treatment choice for the induction of remission in severe AASV that is not responding to standard agents, at the initial presentation and for maintenance therapy, without the development of common serious side-effects associated with immunosuppression.

Methods: In experimental group, cells were treated with lipopolys

Methods: In experimental group, cells were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 2 h. No LPS was treated in the control group.

Total RNA was extractedand used for miRNA microarray analysis. The predicted targets of miRNA with significant change were obtained using miRBase. To assess the function of predicted target gene lists, we evaluated the frequency of specific gene ontology (GO) terms among the predicted target genes of the miRNA with significant change using DAVID (Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery).

Results: After normalization, the number of the differentially expressed genes was 15. Among them, 5 miRNAs were up-regulated and 10 miRNAs were down-regulated in LPS group compared with control RG7112 group. The most enriched GO terms in the predicted target genes of miRNA with increased expression were developmental process, response to biotic stimulus, acute inflammatory response, and regulation of cell growth. The most enriched GO terms in the predicted target genes of miRNA with decreased expression were developmental process, cell differentiation,

endocytosis, cell communication. I kappa B kinase/NF kappa B cascade, complement activation, innate immune response and cell adhesion.

Conclusions: In conclusion, we identified the differentially expressed miRNA in LPS induced acute inflammation of HMEECs whose expression profile may provide a useful

ASP2215 Protein Tyrosine Kinase inhibitor clue for the understanding of pathophysiology GANT61 molecular weight of otitis media. Our work indicates that miRNA play important role in the pathogenesis of otitis media. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Background and Purpose: Complete stone removal is important in upper tract stone surgery. Unfortunately, even with the latest technologic advances, current methods only achieve 50% to 80% complete clearance of upper tract stones at the time of primary treatment. Our group has explored the novel use of peptide-coated iron oxide superparamagnetic microparticles that bind to calcium stones, allowing for extraction of these stones with magnetic tools. We present analytic and numeric models that characterize stone attraction performance for feasible magnetic tool sizes and stone magnetization levels.

Materials and Methods: Magnetostatics equations are applied to a simplified, one-dimensional scenario of a spherical target coated with a variable amount of superparamagnetic particles, placed under the influence of a magnetic field aimed at vertical attraction (capture) of the target. Equations are parameterized in terms of (a) target size, ranging from 0.5 mm to 3 mm to represent stone sizes of interest, (b) effective magnetization per surface area delivered by the particle binding chemistry, and (c) distance to the field source.

Longer time since heart transplant was the most significant predi

Longer time since heart transplant was the most significant predictor of a non-diagnostic biopsy sample (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: In the current era, cardiac catheterizations involving EMB can be performed in pediatric heart transplant recipients with a low AE rate and high diagnostic yield. Risk of HSAEs is increased in early post-transplant biopsies and with longer

case length. Longer time since heart transplant is associated with non-diagnostic EMB samples. J Heart Lung Transplant 2012;31:398-409 (C) 2012 International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation. All rights reserved.”
“Background: Intrauterine herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection often is omitted from descriptions of neonatal HSV disease. Previous characterizations learn more of intrauterine HSV infection limit manifestations to the triad of cutaneous, central nervous system (CNS), and ophthalmologic findings. We report 3 cases of intrauterine HSV infection and provide a contemporary

literature review of this disease.

Methods: Cases published between 1963 and January 2009 were identified. Selected cases fit the clinical description of intrauterine HSV infection, had manifestations present at birth, and had virologic confirmation of infection.

Results: This review yielded this website 64 cases, 3 of which were our own, of intrauterine HSV infection. Less than one-third fit the typical triad. Of the patients with cutaneous findings at birth, 24 (44%) had manifestations other than vesicles or bullae. Confirmation of HSV infection by culture of cutaneous lesions present at birth was delayed beyond 72 hours after birth in 15 patients and occurred at a median of 10 days of age. Nine of these patients had lesions at birth that were neither vesicles nor bullae, and

14 cases were confirmed by culture of new vesicles.

Conclusions: More than two-thirds of reported cases do not present with the typical triad. Cutaneous findings are not limited to vesicles or bullae. A high index of suspicion and recognition of varied cutaneous manifestations is necessary Selleck MX69 to diagnose infants with intrauterine HSV infection.”
“This paper presents a general method for extracting solar cell parameters from current-voltage characteristics obtained under illumination. In particular, it focuses on the problem of measuring very low values of series resistance with sufficient precision. The method makes use of two different sets of experimental data: a cell current-voltage characteristic measured at a fixed sun irradiance level and a set of short circuit current and open circuit voltage value pairs measured at various sun irradiance levels. The method involves an interplay of different fitting procedures iteratively performed to these two data sets. The method is tested on two single junction silicon cells with the same very low series resistance however, having two very different values of shunt resistance. It is shown that in both cases this method is much more precise and reproducible than other conventional methods.

Due to their immunosuppressive and reparative properties MSC immu

Due to their immunosuppressive and reparative properties MSC immunotherapy constitutes an attractive intervention for chronic rejection,

while avoiding the undesired adverse effects associated with excessive use of immunosuppressive drugs.

Recent findings

The immunoregulatory properties of MSCs in both cellular and antibody-mediated Vadimezan molecular weight inflammatory models and diseases have highlighted their potential to treat chronic rejection after SOT. Moreover, MSCs can also induce tissue regeneration and repair due to their antifibrotic and angiogeneic properties. Studies in experimental animals after SOT support the potential for MSCs to treat or prevent ongoing alloreactivity and the first clinical trials in transplant recipients are underway.

Summary

MSCs are arising as promising cellular immunotherapy in transplant recipients and carry the potential to prevent or reduce the consequences of chronic or ongoing alloimmune injury.”
“Aim. Despite the beneficial effects of dietary restriction (DR) on lifespan, age-related diseases, including diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, its effects on type 2 diabetic MAPK inhibitor nephropathy remain unknown. This study examined the renoprotective effects of DR in Wistar fatty (fa/fa) rats (WFRs). Methods. WFRs were treated with DR (40% restriction) for 24 weeks. Urinary albumin excretion, creatinine clearance, renal histologies,

acetylated-NF-kappa B (p65), Sirt1 protein expression, and p62/Sqstm1 accumulation in the renal cortex, as well as electron microscopic observation of mitochondrial morphology and autophagosomes

in proximal tubular cells were estimated. Results. DR ameliorated renal abnormalities including inflammation in WFRs. The SB203580 cell line decrease in Sirt1 levels, increase in acetylated-NF-kappa B, and impaired autophagy in WFRs were improved by DR. Conclusions. DR exerted antiinflammatory effects and improved the dysregulation of autophagy through the restoration of Sirt1 in the kidneys of WFRs, which resulted in the amelioration of renal injuries in type 2 diabetes.”
“First principles calculations based on the spin density functional theory are performed to study the electronic and magnetic properties and also the band alignment of zb-CrSb/Ga0.87In0.13As (001) heterojunction. Our results show that half metallicity persist at the interface. The calculation of band alignment in the heterojunction implies that in the Cr/As and Sb/Ga junctions, the Fermi level lies above the conduction band minimum (CBM) of Ga0.87In0.13As, and CBM of the minority spin lies just above that of Ga0.87In0.13As, suggesting that the majority spin can be injected into Ga0.87In0.13As without being flipped to the conduction bands of the minority spin. Thus the CrSb/Ga0.87In0.13As heterojunction can be potentially useful in the field of spintronics.

This imaging technique might be used to detect cellular disarray

This imaging technique might be used to detect cellular disarray and degenerative changes in this sensitive circuit earlier than at 1.5 T or even 3.0 T. (C)RSNA, 2010″
“This

study reports on the URMC-099 order investigation and characterization of the different emitting centers within SiO2 codoped by Er3+ ions and silicon-excess. Erbium doped silicon-rich silicon oxide (SRSO:Er) thin films, fabricated by magnetron cosputtering at 500 degrees C, were analyzed by means of cathodoluminescence. The CL spectra of SRSO, Er-doped SiO2 and SRSO:Er were recorded and compared for various annealing temperatures. It was found that some specific optically-active point-defects called silicon-oxygen-deficient centers (SiODCs) are present in all kinds of samples. In the layers containing some excess Si, the phase separation between Si nanoclusters (Si-ncs) and SiO2 is observed when the annealing temperature reaches and exceeds 900 click here degrees C. The formation of Si-nc increases with annealing at the expense of SiODCs that was assumed to act as seeds for the growth of Si-nc.

For SRSO:Er samples, the contribution of SiODCs overlaps that due to Er3+ transitions in the visible range. The emissions from SiODCs are drastically reduced when an SRSO sample is doped with Er ions, whereas the Er emissions in the visible range start to be distinctly observed. We propose a scenario of energy transfer from SiODCs toward the Er ions, especially as the emissions from the Si-based entities (SiODCs, Si-nc) and from some transitions of Er ions are located in a same visible broad range. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3517091]“
“Purpose: To assess whether signal intensity (SI) different from that of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) within the resection cavity during follow-up helps predict tumor progression in partially resected gliomas.

Materials and Methods: This

retrospective study had local institutional review board approval, with waiver of informed consent. Seventy-five patients with partially resected and irradiated gliomas were evaluated. SI within PXD101 purchase the resection cavity on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) magnetic resonance (MR) images was qualitatively and quantitatively assessed during follow-up. Qualitative analysis comprised visual comparison of SI in the resection cavity with SI of normal CSF by two readers. SI of the cavity was quantitatively assessed with region-of-interest (ROI) analysis normalized to background noise, contralateral healthy white matter, and CSF. Normalized SI during follow-up was compared with SI immediately after resection. Tumor progression was defined as increase in longest glioma diameter of at least 20% (Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors). Sensitivity and specificity of elevated SI in resection cavities for predicting or indicating tumor progression were calculated.

Low muscle mass likely contributes to, but does not fully account

Low muscle mass likely contributes to, but does not fully account for bone deficits. Systematic

efforts to define the incidence and prevalence of bone fragility in children with inflammatory conditions demonstrated that vertebral fractures occur in a significant minority of patients in association with high disease activity, glucocorticoid use, and weight gain. Lumbar spine dual X-ray absorptiometry does not consistently distinguish children with and without vertebral fractures.

Summary

In children with inflammatory diseases, the documented elevated fracture risk and bone structural abnormalities highlight the need for additional research to better define methods for the assessment and prevention of bone buy Vactosertib fragility.”
“The increasing demand for enantiopure drugs has led to the development of

a variety of stereoselective separation technologies. Among them, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is well recognized as a powerful, fast and efficient technique, which has been successfully employed for analysis and preparation of enantiomers of drugs. Nowadays, liquid chromatographic GSK126 inhibitor techniques are the focus of intensive research, which lead to the rational design and production of highly selective and efficient chromatographic materials. This review focuses on various HPLC methods and related hyphenated techniques (including LC-MS, LC-OR detector, LC-CD detector) for chiral separation of pharmaceuticals, many new developments and applications are introduced in chiral HPLC separations in recent years. In this paper, the usage of new materials as chiral stationary phases (CSPs) in liquid chromatography for enantiomeric discrimination is investigated

in detail. Moreover, hyphenated techniques are very useful for chiral separation of HPLC, especially for separation of new pharmaceuticals.”
“Purpose of review

There is an increasing recognition that the management of osteoporosis requires the characterization of fracture risk to be based on absolute risk rather than single measures such as bone mineral density (BMD). FRAX, the most widely used tool that incorporates clinical risk factors with or without BMD, was launched in 2008. This brief review addresses the development of FRAX since then and describes some of the issues that continue to be discussed as FRAX plays an increasing role in clinical practice.

Recent BMS-777607 manufacturer findings

FRAX is a platform technology that will continue to develop. High-quality updated epidemiology of fracture and mortality can lead to recalibration of models. The addition of new risk factors is complex as the process requires validation in an international setting as well as a comprehensive assessment of how such new factors interact with the existing FRAX variables. Nonetheless, clinical interpretation can be enhanced by taking into account the potential adjustments of FRAX probabilities and several of these are described.

Five SSTRs were evaluated immunohistochemically in 20 radical pro

Five SSTRs were evaluated immunohistochemically in 20 radical prostatectomies (RPs) selleck screening library with Gleason score (GS) 3+3=6 PCa, in 20 RPs with GS 4+4=8 and 4+5=9 PCa, and 20 transurethral resection of the prostate specimens with HR PCa. The mean values in the cytoplasm (all five SSTRs were expressed), membrane (only SSTR3 and SSTR4 were expressed) and nuclei (only SSTR4 and SSTR5 were expressed) of the glands in HR PCa were 20-70% lower than in the other

two groups, the differences being statistically significant. All five SSTRs were expressed in the smooth muscle and endothelial cells of HR PCa, the mean values being lower than in the other two groups. In conclusion, this study expands our knowledge on the expression and localisation of five SSTRs in the various tissue components in the HR PCa compared with hormone-sensitive PCa. Asian Journal of Andrology (2011) 13, 242-247; doi:10.1038/aja.2010.100; published online 13 December 2010″
“The TGA

transcription factors belong to the subfamily of bZIP group D that play a major role www.selleckchem.com/products/ly2835219.html in disease resistance and development. Most of the TGA identified in Arabidopsis interact with the master regulator of SAR, NPR1 that controls the expression of PR genes.

As a first approach to determine the possible involvement of these transcription factors in papaya defense, we characterized Arabidopsis TGA orthologs from the genome of Carica papaya cv. SunUp. Six orthologs CpTGA1 to CpTGA6, were identified. The predicted CpTGA proteins were highly similar to AtTGA sequences and probably share the same DNA binding properties and transcriptional regulation features. The protein sequences alignment evidenced the presence of conserved domains, characteristic of this group of transcription factors. The phylogeny showed that CpTGA evolved into three different subclades associated with defense and floral development. This is the first report of basal expression patterns assessed by RT-PCR, from the whole

subfamily of CpTGA members Stem Cell Compound Library ic50 in different tissues from papaya cv. Maradol mature plants. Overall, CpTGA1, CpTGA3 CpTGA6 and CpTGA4 showed a basal expression in all tissues tested; CpTGA2 expressed strongly in all tissues except in petioles while CpTGA5 expressed only in petals and to a lower extent in petioles. Although more detailed studies in anthers and other floral structures are required, we suggest that CpTGA5 might be tissue-specific, and it might be involved in papaya floral development. On the other hand, we report here for the first time, the expression of the whole family of CpTGA in response to salicylic acid (SA). The expression of CpTGA3, CpTGA4 and CpTGA6 increased in response to SA, what would suggest its involvement in the SAR response in papaya. (C)2012 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.”
“Dielectric properties of Au/Ba0.6Sr0.4TiO3/La1.1Sr0.

As a result, at the processing temperature of 226 degrees C, 31%

As a result, at the processing temperature of 226 degrees C, 31% of PA6 fibers were exactly molt to form the matrix and the tensile strength of prepared SPC achieved a maximal value of 138 MPa that was

105% higher than the one of neat PA6. (C) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 118: 3357-3363, 2010″
“Fluorocarbon films with regular void structure, made of compact fluoroethylenepropylene (FEP), or skived polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and patterned porous PTFE layers, are successfully fabricated by using a rigid template and fusion bonding process. A corona charging technique is used to make the films piezoelectric, i.e., to be piezoelectrets. The results show Pinometostat Epigenetics inhibitor that the typical Young’s moduli of the films are in the range of 0.45-0.80 MPa. A maximum quasistatic piezoelectric d(33) coefficient up to 500 pC/N is achieved. Compared to the laminated FEP/porous PTFE piezoelectrets without regular void structure, the presently fabricated films show significantly improved thermal stability. Furthermore, when the films are designed, fabricated, and corona charged such that positive charges are deposited in the porous

Geneticin datasheet PTFE layers, the thermal stability of d(33) coefficients can be further improved. For example, after annealing at 90 degrees C for 4500 min, these samples have a remaining d(33) value of 86% compared with 77% for samples where positive charges are deposited in both, the porous PTFE and the compact FEP layers. (C) phosphatase inhibitor 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3482011]“
“Aim was to detect the seroprevalences of Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) and Chlamydia trachomatis in a subpopulation of Turkey.

The study was performed in the “”Golbasi”" rural area of Ankara, the capital city of Turkey.

Ten milliliter of peripheral blood was drawn from 1,115 women over 15 years old. Once the sera were separated, ELISA was used to detect seropositivity. Data were transferred to Epi Info Version 6.0 statistical program and the analysis was performed.

Among all participants, 53.5% were found to be seropositive for HSV-2 and 52.2% were found to be seropositive for C. trachomatis.

This study detected a much higher HSV-2 and C. trachomatis seroprevalence for the Turkish population than expected and previously reported. A percentage around 50% for both agents creates an important conflict with the common misbelief of the Turkish population that sexually transmitted diseases are not common in this population. This study points out the importance of preventive measures and the need for greater surveillance for sexually transmitted infections among the Turkish population.”
“Azlons are increasingly concerned for their excellent performance properties and biodegradation.

Inference based on Akaike Information Criteria is introduced to i

Inference based on Akaike Information Criteria is introduced to include selection of the optimal model and construction of a confidence interval. Our method can easily be applied with BEZ235 inhibitor a standard software package, and we found that appropriate accounting for within-subject dependence may lead to a much narrower confidence interval. We recommend

application of a mixed-effect change-point regression model to determine the amino acid requirements in studies utilizing the tracer approach.”
“Visuomotor rotation tasks have proven to be a powerful tool to study adaptation of the motor system. While adaptation in such tasks is seemingly automatic and incremental, participants may gain knowledge of the perturbation and invoke a compensatory strategy. When provided with an explicit strategy to counteract a rotation, participants are initially very accurate, even without on-line feedback. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/blebbistatin.html Surprisingly, with further testing, the angle of their reaching movements drifts in the direction of the strategy, producing an increase in endpoint errors. This drift is attributed to the gradual adaptation of an internal model that operates independently from the strategy, even at the cost of task accuracy. Here we identify constraints that influence this process, allowing us to explore models of the interaction between strategic and implicit changes during

visuomotor adaptation. When the adaptation phase was extended, participants eventually modified their strategy to offset the rise in endpoint errors. Moreover, when we removed visual markers that provided AZD1208 purchase external landmarks to support a strategy, the degree of drift was sharply attenuated. These effects are accounted for by a setpoint state-space model in which a strategy is flexibly adjusted to offset performance errors arising from the implicit adaptation of an internal model. More generally, these results suggest that strategic processes may operate in many studies

of visuomotor adaptation, with participants arriving at a synergy between a strategic plan and the effects of sensorimotor adaptation.”
“Evidence suggests that the deterioration of communication between the sympathetic nervous system and cardiovascular system always accompanies the aging of human and animals. Cardiac sympathetic norepinephrine (NE) transporter (NET) on presynaptic membrane is a predominant component to eliminate released NE in the synaptic cleft and maintains the sensitivity of the beta-adrenergic receptor (beta-AR). In the present study, we investigated NET and beta 1-AR mRNA levels and sympathetic nerve density in cardiac sympathetic ganglion and left ventricular myocardium in 2- and 16-month-old rats with Northern blot analysis and immunohistochemistry. The expression levels of NET mRNA, NET protein and beta(1)-AR mRNA in the ganglia or myocardia of 16-month-old rats were markedly reduced by 67%, 26%, and 43%, respectively, in comparison with those in 2-month-old rats.