The bifunctional effect of propofol on thromboxane agonist (U46619)-induced vasoconstriction in isolated human pulmonary artery

Ning Hao,Zhaojun Wang,Sujuan Kuang,Guangyan Zhang,Chunyu Deng,Jue Ma,Jianxiu Cui 대한생리학회-대한약리학회 2017 The Korean Journal of Physiology & Pharmacology Vol.13 No.3

Propofol is known to cause vasorelaxation of several systemic vascular beds. However, its effect on the pulmonary vasculature remains controversial. In the present study, we investigated the effects of propofol on human pulmonary arteries obtained from patients who had undergone surgery. Arterial rings were mounted in a Multi-Myograph system for measurement of isometric forces. U46619 was used to induce sustained contraction of the intrapulmonary arteries, and propofol was then applied (in increments from 10-300 μM). Arteries denuded of endothelium, preincubated or not with indomethacin, were used to investigate the effects of propofol on isolated arteries. Propofol exhibited a bifunctional effect on isolated human pulmonary arteries contracted by U46619, evoking constriction at low concentrations (10-100 μM) followed by secondary relaxation (at 100-300 μM). The extent of constriction induced by propofol was higher in an endothelium-denuded group than in an endothelium-intact group. Preincubation with indomethacin abolished constriction and potentiated relaxation. The maximal relaxation was greater in the endothelium-intact than the endothelium-denuded group. Propofol also suppressed CaCl₂-induced constriction in the 60 mM K⁺-containing Ca²⁺-free solution in a dose-dependent manner. Fluorescent imaging of Ca²⁺ using fluo-4 showed that a 10 min incubation with propofol (10-300 μM) inhibited the Ca²⁺ influx into human pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells induced by a 60 mM K⁺-containing Ca²⁺-free solution. In conclusion, propofol-induced arterial constriction appears to involve prostaglandin production by cyclooxygenase in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells and the relaxation depends in part on endothelial function, principally on the inhibition of calcium influx through L-type voltage-operated calcium channels.

The bifunctional effect of propofol on thromboxane agonist (U46619)-induced vasoconstriction in isolated human pulmonary artery

Hao, Ning,Wang, Zhaojun,Kuang, Sujuan,Zhang, Guangyan,Deng, Chunyu,Ma, Jue,Cui, Jianxiu The Korean Society of Pharmacology 2017 The Korean Journal of Physiology & Pharmacology Vol.21 No.6

Propofol is known to cause vasorelaxation of several systemic vascular beds. However, its effect on the pulmonary vasculature remains controversial. In the present study, we investigated the effects of propofol on human pulmonary arteries obtained from patients who had undergone surgery. Arterial rings were mounted in a Multi-Myograph system for measurement of isometric forces. U46619 was used to induce sustained contraction of the intrapulmonary arteries, and propofol was then applied (in increments from $10-300{\mu}m$). Arteries denuded of endothelium, preincubated or not with indomethacin, were used to investigate the effects of propofol on isolated arteries. Propofol exhibited a bifunctional effect on isolated human pulmonary arteries contracted by U46619, evoking constriction at low concentrations ($10-100{\mu}m$) followed by secondary relaxation (at $100-300{\mu}m$). The extent of constriction induced by propofol was higher in an endothelium-denuded group than in an endothelium-intact group. Preincubation with indomethacin abolished constriction and potentiated relaxation. The maximal relaxation was greater in the endothelium-intact than the endothelium-denuded group. Propofol also suppressed $CaCl_2$-induced constriction in the 60 mM $K^+$-containing $Ca^{2+}$-free solution in a dose-dependent manner. Fluorescent imaging of $Ca^{2+}$ using fluo-4 showed that a 10 min incubation with propofol ($10-300{\mu}m$) inhibited the $Ca^{2+}$ influx into human pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells induced by a 60 mM $K^+$-containing $Ca^{2+}$-free solution. In conclusion, propofol-induced arterial constriction appears to involve prostaglandin production by cyclooxygenase in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells and the relaxation depends in part on endothelial function, principally on the inhibition of calcium influx through L-type voltage-operated calcium channels.

Over Expression of BCL2 and Low Expression of Caspase 8 Related to TRAIL Resistance in Brain Cancer Stem Cells

Qi, Ling,Ren, Kuang,Fang, Fang,Zhao, Dong-Hai,Yang, Ning-Jiang,Li, Yan Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.12

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) has been investigated as an effective agent to treat various cancers. Cancer stem cells are resistant to TRAIL treatment, but the mechanism of TRAIL resistance remains unknown. In this study, brain cancer stem cells were isolated by CD133 magnetic sorting, and the number of CD133 positive cells detected by flow cytometry. The self-renewing capacity of brain cancer stem cells was examined by a neurosphere formation assay, and the percentage of cell death after TRAIL treatment was examined by an MTS assay. Expression of DR5, FADD, caspase 8 and BCL2 proteins was detected by western blot. The amount of CD133 positive cells was enriched to 71% after CD133 magnetic sorting. Brain cancer stem cell neurosphere formation was significantly increased after TRAIL treatment. TRAIL treatment also reduced the amount of viable cells and this decrease was inhibited by a caspase 8 inhibitor or by the pan-caspase inhibitor z-VAD (P<0.05). Brain cancer stem cells expressed lower levels caspase 8 protein and higher levels of BCL2 protein when compared with CD133 negative cells (P<0.05). Our data suggest that TRAIL resistance is related to overexpression of BCL2 and low expression of caspase 8 which limit activation of caspase 8 in brain cancer stem cells.

Phytochemistry and pharmacology of plants in the genus Chaenomeles

Ruoling Xu,Mengting Kuang,Ning Li 대한약학회 2023 Archives of Pharmacal Research Vol.46 No.11

Chaenomeles plants belong to the Rosaceae family and include five species, Chaenomeles speciosa (Sweet) Nakai, Chaenomeles sinensis (Thouin) Koehne, Chaenomeles japonica (Thunb.) Lindl, Chaenomeles cathayensis (Hemsl.) Schneid and Chaenomeles thibetica Yu. Chaenomeles plants are found and cultivated in nearly every country worldwide. China serves as both the origin and distribution hub for the plants in the Chaenomeles genus, and all Chaenomeles species except for C. japonica are indigenous to China. Chaenomeles spp. is a type of edible medicinal plant that has been traditionally used in China to treat various ailments, such as rheumatism, cholera, dysentery, enteritis, beriberi, and scurvy. A variety of chemical constituents have been extracted from this genus, including terpenoids, phenolics, flavonoids, phenylpropanoids and their derivatives, benzoic acid derivatives, biphenyls, oxylipins, and alkaloids. The biological activity of some of these constituents has already been evaluated. Pharmacological investigations have demonstrated that the plants in the genus Chaenomeles exhibit anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antioxidant, antihyperglycemic, antihyperlipidemic, gastrointestinal protective, antitumor, immunomodulatory, antibacterial, antiviral, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective and other pharmacological activities. The objective of this review is to provide a comprehensive and up-to-date summary of the available information on the genus Chaenomeles to serve as a valuable reference for further investigations.

Impact of Size on Humidity Sensing Property of Copper Oxide Nanoparticles

Yang Gu,Huina Jiang,Zi Ye,Ning Sun,Xuliang Kuang,Weijing Liu,Gaofang Li,Xiaojun Song,Lei Zhang,Wei Bai,Xiaodong Tang 대한금속·재료학회 2020 ELECTRONIC MATERIALS LETTERS Vol.16 No.1

Three sizes of CuO nanosheets were synthesized by hydrothermal method. The structure and morphology of CuO nanosheets were characterized by X-ray difraction and scanning electron microscopy. Dielectrophoresis nano-manipulation technique was employed to arrange the materials on pre-designed Ti/Au electrodes to fabricate the three humidity sensors, and the sensing properties were then tested. The experimental results show that the sensitivity greatly increases with the decreasing size of CuO nanosheets, the sensitivity of sensor a, b, c are 369%, 3278%, 22,611% in 97.3% RH, respectively. The smaller sized CuO nanomaterials have better response characteristic, the response time of sensor a, b, c under 11.3–97.3% RH are 53 s, 49 s, 32 s, respectively. And correspondingly, hysteresis properties and the repeatability are also a little infuenced. In addition, based on complex impedance spectroscopy and multilayer adsorption theory, the impact of size on humidity sensing property was discussed. The results indicated the feasibility to obtain higher performance of humidity sensor, especially the higher sensitivity, via employment the smaller size sensing nanomaterials.

Post-Acute Care as a Key Component in a Healthcare System for Older Adults

Yu-Chun Wang,Ming-Yueh Chou,Chih-Kuang Liang,Li-Ning Peng,Liang-Kung Chen,Ching-Hui Loh 대한노인병학회 2019 Annals of geriatric medicine and research Vol.23 No.2

Older adults often experience functional decline following acute medical care. This func-tional decline may lead to permanent disability, which will increase the burden on the medical and long-term care systems, families, and society as a whole. Post-acute care aims to promote the functional recovery of older adults, prevent unnecessary hospital readmission, and avoid premature admission to a long-term care facility. Research has shown that post-acute care is a cost-effective service model, with both the hospital-at-home and community hospital post-acute care models being highly effective. This paper describes the post-acute care models of the United States and the United Kingdom and uses the example of Taiwan’s highly effective post-acute care system to explain the bene-fits and importance of post-acute care. In the face of rapid demographic aging and smaller household size, a post-acute care system can lower medical costs and improve the health of older adults after hospitalization.

Effect of Loop Yarns on Mechanical Properties of Carbon Fibre/Epoxy Composites

Mingyang Shao,Deng’an Cai,Nan Zhang,Qihang Yu,Fangtian Hu,Ning Kuang,Guangming Zhou 한국섬유공학회 2023 Fibers and polymers Vol.24 No.10

The general two-dimensional (2D) woven laminated composite (GWLC) is widely used in aviation, aerospace and high speed railways, and its superior specific stiffness and strength substantially reduce the weight of the structural components. However, when the GWLC is damaged by flexural, shear and impact loads, the layers are prone to delamination. To improve the interlayer properties of the GWLC, a loop warp yarn is added to the plain fabric by means of three-dimensional (3D) weaving technology, resulting in a double-side-loop fabric with Z-directional fibers. This paper investigates the double-notched shear (DNS) properties, in-plane shear properties, and flexural properties of GWLC and a new double-side-loop 2D woven laminated composite (DWLC). The test results verify that adding the loop warp yarns can greatly improve the interlayer properties of the general 2D woven laminated composites. The DWLC increases the interlaminar shear strength by 81.5%, the in-plane shear strength by 49.4%, and the flexural strength and modulus by 90.2% and 61.4%, respectively. The excellent mechanical properties of the DWLC lay a foundation for loop fabrics in engineering applications.