A practical guidance for assessments of sedentary behavior at work: A PEROSH initiative.

Sedentary behavior is defined as sitting or lying with low energy expenditure. Humans in industrialized societies spend an increasing amount of time in sedentary behaviors every day. This has been associated with detrimental health outcomes.

Oxygen mediates vascular smooth muscle relaxation in hypoxia.

The activation of soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) by nitric oxide (NO) and other ligands has been extensively investigated for many years. In the present study we considered the effect of molecular oxygen (O2) on sGC both as a direct ligand and its affect on other ligands by measuring cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) production, as an index of activity, as well as investigating smooth muscle relaxation under hypoxic conditions. Our isolated enzyme studies confirm the function of sGC is impaired under hypoxic conditions and produces cGMP in the presence of O2, importantly in the absence of NO.

Direct formation of thienopyridine-derived nitrosothiols--just add nitrite!

Thienopyridines (ticlopidine, clopidogrel and prasugrel) are pro-drugs that require metabolism to exhibit a critical thiol group in the active form that binds to the P2Y₁₂ receptor to inhibit platelet activation and prevent thrombus formation in vivo. We investigated whether these thienopyridines participate in S-nitrosation (SNO) reactions that might exhibit direct anti-platelet behaviour. Optimum conditions for in vitro formation of thienopyridine-SNO formation were studied by crushing ticlopidine, clopidogrel or prasugrel into aqueous solution and adding sodium nitrite, or albumin-SNO.

Low-dose sodium nitrite vasodilates hypoxic human pulmonary vasculature by a means that is not dependent on a simultaneous elevation in plasma nitrite.

Inorganic nitrite has recently been recognized to possess vascular activity that is enhanced in hypoxia. This has been demonstrated in humans in the forearm vascular bed. In animal models nitrite reduces pulmonary vascular resistance, but its effects upon the pulmonary circulation of humans have not yet been demonstrated.

Blood vessel specific vaso-activity to nitrite under normoxic and hypoxic conditions.

This study uses an organ chamber bioactivity assay to characterise the direct effect of sodium nitrite upon rabbit blood vessels (aorta (Ao), inferior vena cava (IVC) and pulmonary artery (PA)) in a haemoglobin independent/variable oxygen environment. In 95% oxygen constriction to 8g (Ao), 6g (PA) and 4g (IVC) was achieved using 1 microM phenylephrine. The same constriction in 1% oxygen required 3 microM.

Haemoglobin saturation controls the red blood cell mediated hypoxic vasorelaxation.

The vasorelaxant properties of red blood cells (RBCs) have been implicated in both the control of normal vascular tone and the protection of tissues from ischemic events. The identity of the vasorelaxant released from RBCs has yet to be elucidated, however growing evidence suggests that nitric oxide bound to the beta 93 cysteine residue of haemoglobin (SNO-Hb) may be responsible. The vasorelaxant moiety is released during the transition of haemoglobin from its R (oxygenated) to T (deoxygenated) state.

The measurement of nitric oxide and its metabolites in biological samples by ozone-based chemiluminescence.

A plethora of publications on techniques and methodologies for measuring nitric oxide (NO) or reaction products of NO (NO metabolites) has served in recent years to complicate and confuse the majority of researchers interested in this field. Here, we provide a practical approach and summarize the key issues and corresponding solutions regarding quantification with the use of ozone-based chemiluminescence, which is the most accurate, sensitive, and widely used NO detection method. We have drawn on the vast experience of leaders in the field to produce this consensus, but the views and implications presented herein represent our own, and we limit our advice to those techniques with which we have direct experience.