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Sodium dichloroacetate (DCA) is a small molecule drug usually administered orally. It has therapeutic effects against several diseases, such as metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, and several solid tumors. In this review, the research progresses of DCA in mechanism of action, pharmacological action and toxicological studies were summarized from the recent literatures on the pharmacological actions of DCA.
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Objective To investigate the effect of tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), superoxide dismutase-polyethylene glycol (PEG-SOD) and N(G)-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA) on impaired endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) functions in DOCA-salt hypertensive mice. Methods DOCA-salt hypertension was created and systolic blood pressure was measured by tail-cuff methods. EPC was isolated from bone marrow of mice and characterized by flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy. EPC of DOCA-salt mice was incubated with BH4, PEG-SOD, and L-NNA for 24 h, then in vitro EPC function assays were performed. Results Compared with control group, systolic blood pressure was significantly increased in DOCA-salt mice. Both EPC adhesion and angiogenesis functions were impaired in DOCA-salt mice compared to control animals, which were reversed by incubation with BH4, PEG-SOD and L-NNA. Conclusion BH4, PEG-SOD and L-NNA rescued the impairments from EPC functions in DOCA-salt hypertensive mice.
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The Hop plant (Humulus lupulus L., Cannabinaceae) is a dioeciou twining perennial.The relevant papers at home and abroad in recent years were reviewed and a summary analysis and induction were conducted to research the progress of hops and provide a basis for further development and application of the medicinal materials.Pharmacological effects of hops were reviewed, which found that hops have a good research prospect and deserve further promotion and development.
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Objective:The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that inflammation is involved in the end-organ damage(EOD) induced by sinoaortic denervation(SAD) in rats.Method:SAD was performed in male Sprague-Dawley rats at the age of 10 weeks.Under anaesthesia,aortic nerves were cut and the sinus region of the carotid artery was stripped and painted with 10% phenol.Pathological evaluation of EOD and the determination of plasma or tissue levels of the factors related to inflammation,including thromboxane B2(TXB2) interleukin-1(IL-1),tumour necrosis factor α(TNF-α) and reactive oxygen species(ROS) were performed at 16 weeks after SAD.Pathological evaluation of EOD included heart weigh ratio,myocardial and blood vessel hydroxyproline and collagen volume fraction,glomerular injury score and number of infiltrating inflammatory cells.Indomethacin(20 mg/kg per day,orally) or vitamin E(100 mg/kg per day,orally) was administered for 12 weeks,beginning from4 weeks after SAD,to observe their effects on SAD-induced EOD.Results:There were significant fibrosis and inflammatory infiltration in the myocardium and blood vessels,represented by higher hydroxyproline and collagen volume fraction,and a large amount of inflammatory cells in the tissues of SAD rats.Heart weight and kidney glomerular injury score were significantly higher in ed significantly after SAD.Indomethacin and vitamin E significantly decreased the contents of some factors related to inflammation in SAD rats.Both drugs also alleviated myocardial and vessel fibrosis,inflammatory infiltration and kidney damage.Conclusion:Inflammation is involved in the organ damage induced by SAD in rats.
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AIM To investigate the effects of ondansetron, a selective 5 Hydroxytryptamine3 (5 HT 3) receptor antagonist, on morphine physical dependence. METHODS The morphine dependent models in mice and in isolated Guinea pig ileum were used. RESULTS Pretreatment of ondansetron for 12 days significantly reduced morphine withdrawal symptoms in mice ,such as body weight loss(Groups 2～100 ?g?kg -1 ?d -1 ) or reduced both body weight loss and jumping times (Group 100 ?g?kg -1 ?d -1 ). In addition, concomitant treatment with ondansetron(1～20 ?mol?L -1 ) dose dependently suppressed the contraction induced by naloxone in Guinea pig ileum. CONCLUSION The chronic pretreatment of ondansetron can prevent morphine physical dependence to some extent.