Search

Industry-generated trans-fatty acids (TFA) are detrimental to risk of CHD, but ruminant-originated TFA have been reported as neutral or equivocal. Therefore, the total TFA amount should not be the only factor considered when measuring the effects of TFA. In the present study, we addressed whether a version of the TFA index that unifies the effects of different TFA isomers into one equation could be used to reflect CHD risk probability (RP). The present cross-sectional study involved 2713 individuals divided into four groups that represented different pathological severities and potential risks of CHD: acute coronary syndrome (ACS, n 581); chronic coronary artery disease (CCAD, n 631); high-risk population (HRP, n 659); healthy volunteers (HV, n 842). A 10-year CHD RP was calculated. Meanwhile, the equation of the TFA index was derived using five TFA isomers (trans-16 : 1n-7, trans-16 : 1n-9, trans-18 : 1n-7, trans-18 : 1n-9 and trans-18 : 2n-6n-9), which were detected in the whole blood, serum and erythrocyte membranes of each subject. The TFA index and the 10-year CHD RP were compared by linear models. It was shown that only in the erythrocyte membrane, the TFA isomers were significantly different between the groups. In the ACS group, industry-generated TFA (trans-16 : 1n-9, trans-18 : 1n-9 and trans-18 : 2n-6n-9) were the highest, whereas ruminant-originated TFA (trans-16 : 1n-7 and trans-18 : 1n-7), which manifested an inverse relationship with CHD, were the lowest, and vice versa in the HV group. The TFA index decreased progressively from 7·12 to 5·06, 3·11 and 1·92 in the ACS, CCAD, HRP and HV groups, respectively. The erythrocyte membrane TFA index was positively associated with the 10-year CHD RP (R2 0·9981) and manifested a strong linear correlation, which might reflect the true pathological severity of CHD. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study was designed to observe the differences between main pulmonary arteries and the third-order branches of pulmonary arteries in the contractile response to phenylephrine (Phen), endothelin-1 (ET-1) and potassium chloride (KCl). The vascular tension changes of main and the third-order branches of pulmonary arteries induced by KCl, ET-1 and Phen were recorded by traditional vascular tone detection methods and microvascular ring technique, respectively. The results showed that Phen could cause a significant contraction in main pulmonary arteries, but did not induce apparent contraction in the third-order branches of pulmonary arteries. Compared with main pulmonary arteries, ET-1 contracted the third-order branches of pulmonary arteries with reduced maximal response value and PD 2 value. In comparison with the main pulmonary arteries, contraction caused by KCl was enhanced in the third-order branches of pulmonary arteries. The results suggest that the vascular reactivity of main and the third-order branches of pulmonary arteries is different and it is important to study the vascular function of small branches of pulmonary arteries. This study could provide an important experimental basis for the further study on vascular function of small branches of pulmonary arteries and the functional changes in pulmonary hypertension.

Eleven mollusca samples and 32 fish samples were collected from typical epidemic areas of schistosomiasis prevalence. The contents of 12 CB congeners in aquatic organism samples were measured using the GC/MS technique. The results indicated that 1,3-DIC, 1,4-DIC, 1,2-DIC and HCB were the most predominant CB congeners in the samples from the studying area. The geometric average of CBs in muscle of mollusca was 11 947 ng x g(-1) lipid weight. The summarized concentration of CBs in fish muscle ranged from 1 851 to 8 159 ng x g(-1) lipid weight. The highest concentration of CBs sum was detected in the catfish, while the lowest one was found in the crucian carp. The concentrations of CBs in fish samples were much higher than those reported in other countries, while in mollusca samples were at the same level. The estimated cumulative cancerigenic risks for the local residents consumed the aquatic organisms from the studying area were 1.49 x 10(-7) and 3.73-21.1 x 10(-7), respectively for mollusca and fish, both of which were acceptable.

Objective: To explore the effects of chronic hypoxia on left and right ventricular function and the expression of cardiac transient receptor potential canonical (TRPC) channels in rats., Methods: Forty eight SD male rats were randomly divided into control group (CON) and chronic hypoxic pulmonary hypertension model group (CH) (n = 24). In CH group, rats were exposed in chronic hypoxia environment (10% +/- 0.2% O2) to induce myocardial hypertrophy. After 3 weeks, mean systemic arterial pressure (mSAP), right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP), left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP), left or right ventricular pressure maximum rate of rise (LV/RV + dp/dt(max)), left or right ventricular pressure maximum rate of descent (LV/RV-dp/dt(max)), right ventricular hypertrophy index (RVMI) and left ventricular hypertrophy index (LVMI) were measured. Left and right ventricular myocardium tissue sections were stained by HE and observed under light microscope. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time-PCR) and Western blot were performed to detect the expression of TRPC subfamily., Results: RVSP, RVMI, RV + dp/dt(max) and RV-dp/dt(max) were markedly elevated in CH group (P < 0.01) in comparison to CON group. LVMI was markedly reduced in CH group in comparison to CON group (P < 0.01). LVSP, LV + dp/dt(max) and LV- dp/dt(max) had no significant changes in CH group in comparison to CON group. Right ventricular myocardial cells of CH group became thick, the nuclei stained deeply, the shape of nuclei became not regularity. Left ventricular myocardial fibers did not change significantly. There was significant difference in the levels of mRNA and protein of TRPC1 between CON and CH groups., Conclusion: For three weeks exposed to chronic hypoxia induced right ventricular hypertrophy specifically, raised the mRNA and protein expression of TRPC1 on right ventricular myocardial cells . TRPC1 might be involved in the development of cardiac hypertrophy.

A total of 28 surface sediment samples (at the top 0-5 cm layer) were collected from the Three Gorges Reservoir of Yangtze River. The content of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in sediments was measured with Varian GC-MS (NCI). The results showed that sigma26 PBDEs and BDE209 both had a low concentration in sediments, with a mass concentration of 35.24 pg x g(-1) and 11.92 pg x g(-1), respectively. Among the 26 PBDEs, BDE28, 47, 77 and 99 were the most predominant sigma26 PBDEs congeners. The highest concentrations of sigma26 PBDEs and BDE209 were detected in the sediment samples collected from Long River, with geometric mean of 146.07 and 502.63 pg x g(-1), respectively. A significant correlation was found between sigma26 PBDEs and BDE209, indicating that they might have the same pollution source. The concentrations of sigma26 PBDEs and BDE209 in the sediment were in the same order of magnitude with those reported on background levels in sediments of remote lakes in other countries, which shows the toxic biological effects on aquatic biota and potential risk due to sigma26 PBDEs and BDE209 contamination in sediments are negligible.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is associated with profound vascular remodeling and alterations in Ca(2+) homeostasis in pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs). Previous studies show that canonical transient receptor potential (TRPC) genes are upregulated and store-operated Ca(2+) entry (SOCE) is augmented in PASMCs of chronic hypoxic rats and patients of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Here we further examine the involvement of TRPC and SOCE in PH with a widely used rat model of monocrotaline (MCT)-induced PAH. Rats developed severe PAH, right ventricular hypertrophy, and significant increase in store-operated TRPC1 and TRPC4 mRNA and protein in endothelium-denuded pulmonary arteries (PAs) 3 wk after MCT injection. Contraction of PA and Ca(2+) influx in PASMC evoked by store depletion using cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) were enhanced dramatically, consistent with augmented SOCE in the MCT-treated group. The time course of increase in CPA-induced contraction corresponded to that of TRPC1 expression. Endothelin-1 (ET-1)-induced vasoconstriction was also potentiated in PAs of MCT-treated rats. The response was partially inhibited by SOCE blockers, including Gd(3+), La(3+), and SKF-96365, as well as the general TRPC inhibitor BTP-2, suggesting that TRPC-dependent SOCE was involved. Moreover, the ET-1-induced contraction and Ca(2+) response in the MCT group were more susceptible to the inhibition caused by the various SOCE blockers. Hence, our study shows that MCT-induced PAH is associated with increased TRPC expression and SOCE, which are involved in the enhanced vascular reactivity to ET-1, and support the hypothesis that TRPC-dependent SOCE is an important pathway for the development of PH.

In the present study, a special kind of Momordica charantia seeds produced in Hai Nan was selected and analyzed. Firstly, inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrophotometry (ICP-AES) was used to determine the mineral elements. It was clear that the contents of K, Mg and P are the highest in the seeds; Cr and Zn takes up to 5.65% and 45.45% high, especially, which are rare in plant foods. These minerals, especially Cr and Zn might have a complex effect on those proteins or polysaccharides and form a stronger anticipation of hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia and cholesterol. Secondly, seed oil was extracted by supercritical CO2 extraction with a yield ratio of 36.89, and the fatty acids were treated by methylation in alkaline process and purified by thin-layer chromatography, then analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) identification. The saturated fatty acids (SFA) take up 36.712, and mainly are stearic acid; monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) is only 3.33% which is dominantly linoleic acid (LA); Polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) accounted for 59.96%, and the alpha-eleostearic acid takes up 54.26% as the main fatty acids in all. The plentiful alpha-eleostearic acid leads to strong effects of inhibiting tumor cell proliferation, lowering blood fat, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and preventing cardiovascular diseases, and so on. Knowing clearly the mineral elements distribution and identifying the composition of fatty acid, especially the main fatty acids in the oil, are both of great guiding importance to further exploit the clinical and edible value in Momordica charantiap seeds.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension is associated with profound vascular remodeling and alterations in Ca2+ homeostasis in pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs). Recent studies show that canonical transient receptor potential channel 6 (TRPC6) genes, which encode receptor-operated cation channels (ROCC) in PASMCs, play an important role in Ca2+ regulation and cell proliferation. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of TRPC6 in monocrotaline (MCT)-induced pulmonary artery hypertension. Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into normal control group and MCT group. In MCT group, pulmonary arterial hypertension was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of MCT at a dose of 60 mg/kg. After 3 weeks, the right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) and the right ventricular mass index (RVMI) were measured. The lung sections were stained by HE and observed under light microscope. Semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot were performed to detect the expression of TRPC6 in rat pulmonary arteries. The 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol (OAG)-induced contractile tension of pulmonary arteries were measured by vascular ring tension analysis and the intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+](i))of PASMCs was monitored using Fluo3-AM assay. The results showed that RVSP and RVMI markedly elevated in MCT group (P<0.01) in comparison to CON group. The thickness of pulmonary vascular smooth muscles was increased and the inner diameter of pulmonary arteries was diminished in MCT group. Though there was no significant difference in the levels of mRNA and protein of TRPC6 between CON and MCT groups, the application of OAG, which can directly activate ROCC, induced greater contraction tension of pulmonary arteries (P<0.01) and more Ca2+ entries in PASMCs (P<0.05) in MCT group compared to those in control group. These results indicate that MCT induces pulmonary artery hypertension and thus remodeling of the right ventricle and pulmonary arteries in rats. The expression of mRNA and protein of TRPC6 is not potentiated by MCT, but the TRPC6/ROCC-mediated Ca2+ entry in PASMCs and vascular tone of pulmonary arteries are significantly increased with MCT treatment.