2-Bromoethylamine protects vascular endothelium by inhibiting SSAO activity in diabetic rats / 生理学报

The purpose of this study was to investigate the change of aortic semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO) activity in diabetic rats and examine the effect of 2-bromoethylamine (2-BEA) on SSAO activity and vascular endothelium in diabetic rats. SSAO was prepared from rat aorta. For assessment of the inhibitory effect, the enzymes were preincubated in the presence of different concentrations of 2-BEA before the addition of benzylamine in vitro. Type 1 diabetic rat model was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ). Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into normal control group (NC), diabetic model group (DM), 2-BEA 5 mg/kg group, 2-BEA 20 mg/kg group (n = 10 in each group). 2-BEA was administered daily via intraperitoneal injection for 8 weeks. At the end of 8 weeks, blood sample was collected from the abdominal aorta. Plasma nitric oxide (NO) was determined by nitrate reductase method. Plasma endothelin-1 (ET-1) was determined by radioimmunoassay. Aorta SSAO was determined by high performance liquid chromatography. The aorta was prepared to observe morphological changes and ultramicroscopic structures. The results were as follows: Compared with NC group, aortic SSAO activity and the plasma ET-1 were significantly increased (P < 0.01), and plasma NO was significantly decreased (P < 0.01) in DM group. 2-BEA decreased plasma ET-1 and elevated plasma NO by inhibiting aortic SSAO activity in diabetic rats (P < 0.01), and 2-BEA 20 mg/kg group was more significant than 2-BEA 5 mg/kg group (P < 0.05). Endothelial injury of 2-BEA group rats was less serious than DM group. These results suggest that 2-BEA protect aortic endothelium by inhibiting aortic SSAO activity.

Associations of blood pressure level with carotid intima-media thickness and plaque among middle-aged and elderly Chinese hypertensives / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the associations of blood pressure (BP) level with carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and plaque in a middle-aged and elderly hypertensive population.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>By block randomized sampling, an epidemiological investigation was conducted among hypertensives aged 45 - 75 years in the northern rural area of Jiangsu Province. Blood pressure was measured, and carotid CIMT and plaque were determined using a coloured ultrasonograph. The relationship between blood pressure level and CIMT or plaque was analyzed using a multivariable linear regression or logistic regression model.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 524 subjects (male 242) were enrolled. CIMT and plaque prevalence were (0.7 ± 0.1) mm and 46.3% in males and (0.7 ± 0.1) mm and 34.0% in females. After adjustment for relevant variables, CIMT increased 0.001 12 mm with 1 mmHg systolic BP increase in males (P < 0.001) but this trend was not significant in females. The risk of plaque number > 1 was significantly higher in those with grade III hypertension compared to grade I hypertensives (OR: 2.136, 95%CI: 1.138 - 4.012, P = 0.018).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>In this middle-aged and elderly hypertensive population, carotid CIMT is positively in relation to systolic BP, especially for male patients. Higher BP is associated with higher risk of plaque occurrence. Hypertension is thus an independent risk factor for the formation of atherosclerosis.</p>

Quantitative assessment of pulmonary blood flow by echocardiography in patients with congenital heart defect / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the possibility and reliability of echocardiography in quantitative evaluation of pulmonary blood flow in patients with congenital heart disease (CHD).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-four patients with left to right shunt congenital atrial septal defect (ASD) underwent echocardiographic examinations of the right upper and lower pulmonary vein blood flow spectrum in the four-chamber face, and the right upper pulmonary vein flow velocity time integral (VTIrupv) and right inferior pulmonary venous flow velocity time integral (VTIrlpv) were calculated according to the heart rate. The VTIrupv and VTIrlpv were compared with the pulmonary blood flow (Qp) calculated by Fick method with right heart catheterization.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was a high correlation between the right lung vein flow velocity time integral measured by the catheter of transthoracic echocardiography and Qp.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The pulmonary venous flow spectrum measured by echocardiography can be informative of the pulmonary blood flow in patients with CHD. Echocardiography may serve as a potential noninvasive technique to evaluate pulmonary blood flow in these patients.</p>

Effects of taurine on type I and III collagen expression in rats lung exposed to silica / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the effects of taurine in diet on the expression of type I and III collagen and collagen ratio at different time points in rats lung by image process technology.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: the saline instilled with a control diet (the saline treated group); silica instilled with a control diet (the silica treated group); and silica instilled with a diet containing 2.5% taurine (the taurine treated group). Animal models were established by the direct tracheal instillation of silica into rat lungs exposed surgically. The taurine concentration of serum was analyzed by means of HPLC. Paraffin embedded lung sections were stained with Sirius red. Polarization microscopy and Image Pro Plus Version 4.5 for windows were used for detecting type I and III collagen.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The concentration of taurine in serum of the taurine treated group was significantly elevated compared to the saline treated and silica treated group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Sirius red polarization microscopy showed that type I and III collagen positive area percentage were elevated in the silica treated rats compared with the saline treated group. On the 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th day after silica instillation type I collagen positive area percentage was increased by 3.84, 3.77, 3.73, 9.83 respectively (P < 0.01), and type III collagen positive area percentage were elevated by a little in the silica treated rats compared with saline treated group. The taurine treatment significantly decreased elevation of silica type I collagen positive area percentage of lung by 2.39, 1.62, 7.13 at the 7th, 21st, 28th day respectively (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), and type III collagen positive area percentage of lung by 2.62 at the 28th day (P < 0.05) compared with the silica treated group. The ratio of type I to III collagen was increased from the 7th day to 28th day after silica instillation, and reached 1.87 at the 28th day with the maximal ratio in the silica-treated group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Treatment with taurine can effectively attenuate type I and III collagen expression in the rat lung induced by silica particles at different time points in our study.</p>

Effects of taurine on the expression of nitric oxide synthase in lung of rats exposed to silica / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the effects of taurine in diet on the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in rat lung induced by silica.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Wistar rats were established by direct tracheal instillation of silica into rat lungs exposed surgically, and the animals of taurine-treated group were silica-instilled with a diet containing taurine. The taurine concentration of serum was analyzed by means of HPLC. The expression of iNOS protein in paraffin-embedded lung sections with Streptavidin/peroxidase (SP) immunohistochemistry on tissue microarray was measured by Image-Pro Plus.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The concentration of taurine in serum of taurine-treated group was significantly higher than those in saline-treated and silica-treated groups (P < 0.05). The activities of total NOS and iNOS in BALF supernatant and iNOS positive area percentage of rat lung in silica-treated group were at the peak on 14th day, which were 1.84 U/ml, 1.12 U/ml and 5.42% more respectively than those in saline-treated group (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences between taurine-treated group and silica-treated group in total NOS and iNOS activities of BALF supernatant, and iNOS positive area of the lung (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Treatment with taurine hardly influences on the increase in expression of nitric oxide synthase in rat lung induced by silica dust.</p>