[Analysis of fatty acid composition in cottonseed by gas chromatography with on-line pyrolytic methylation].

A method of on-line pyrolytic methylation-gas chromatography was developed for the analysis of fatty acid composition in cottonseed. Fatty acids in cottonseeds were converted to their corresponding fatty acid methyl esters in the presence of trimethylsulfonium hydroxide at 300℃. The major fatty acids were linoleic acid (C18:2), oleic acid (C18:1), palmitic acid (C16:0), stearic acid (C18:0), myristic acid (C14:0), palmitoleic acid (C16:1), arachidic acid (C20:0) and docosanoic acid (C22:0).

Determination of methacrylic acid in food simulants by pyrolytic butylation-gas chromatography.

An on-line pyrolytic butylation approach was proposed to determine methacrylic acid (MA) in food simulants by gas chromatography (GC) without an expensive pyrolyzer. MA in food simulants was converted into butyl methacrylate in the presence of tetrabutylammonium hydroxide (TBAH) without any pretreatment at 330°C in the injection-port, contributing to high GC signal response. The derivatizing conditions for the proposed method were optimized, namely the injection-port temperature, type and amount of the organic alkaline used for derivatization.

Amlodipine suppresses Ang-II-induced endothelium dysfunction by diminishing ROCK1 expression.

Objective: To investigate the effects and mechanisms of amlodipine therapy on endothelium dysfunction induced by angiotensin-II (Ang-II) stimulation.

Methods: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were used and divided into five groups: Blank control, Ang-II (10(-6 )mol/L), levorotatory amlodipine (5 × 10(-6 )mol/L) + Ang-II (10(-6 )mol/L), dextrorotatory amlodipine (5 × 10(-6 )mol/L) + Ang-II (10(-6 )mol/L) and racemic amlodipine (5 × 10(-6 )mol/L) + Ang-II (10(-6 )mol/L) groups. Twenty-four hours later, HUVECs were collected for evaluating endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), p-eNOS, rho-associated kinase 1 (ROCK1), Bcl-2 and Bax expressions.

Atorvastatin protects endothelium by decreasing asymmetric dimethylarginine in dyslipidemia rats.

Background: Asymmetric Dimethylarginine (ADMA) is an inhibitor of endogenous nitric oxide synthase, which is the key synthase for nitric oxide (NO) production. Whether statins could protect endothelium by reducing ADMA concentration is unclear, and whether this effect is associated with the dose of statins usage is also needed further studied.

Methods: Dyslipidemia rat model was produced by giving high-fat and high-cholesterol diet for 8 weeks.

Atorvastatin treatment of rats with ischemia-reperfusion injury improves adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell migration and survival via the SDF-1α/CXCR-4 axis.

Background: Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) transplantation is a promising approach for myocardium repair. Promotion of ASCs migration and survival is the key for improving ASCs efficiency. SDF-1α is a critical factor responsible for ASCs migration and survival.

Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA(2)): a novel and promising biomarker for cardiovascular risks assessment.

Atherosclerosis and its manifestations namely cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are still the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Although intensified interventions have been applied, the residual cardiovascular (CV) risks are still very high. Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA(2)) is a novel and unique biomarker highly specific for vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis.

SDF-1α upregulation by atorvastatin in rats with acute myocardial infarction via nitric oxide production confers anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects.

Background: The effects of atorvastatin on SDF-1α expression under acute myocardial infarction (AMI) are still unclear. Therefore, our present study is to investigate the roles and mechanisms of atorvastatin treatment on SDF-1α expression in rats with AMI.

Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were underwent permanent coronary artery ligation and randomly assigned into four groups as follow: blank control (B), atorvastatin (A), atorvastatin plus L-NAME (A+L-NAME), and atorvastatin plus AMD3100 (A+AMD3100).

[Effect of atorvastatin on cardiac function and TGF-β1 signaling pathway after acute myocardial infarction in rats].

Objective: To investigate the effect of atorvastatin on cardiac remodeling and function after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in rats and whether this effect is mediated by transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) signaling pathway.

Methods: AMI was induced by left coronary artery ligation in 64 male Sprague-Dawley rats, and 45 surviving rats were randomized into control group (n=15), low-dose atorvastatin group (10 mg/kg, n=15) and high-dose atorvastatin group (20 mg/kg, n=15). Similar surgical procedure was performed in sham-operated rats (n=15) without coronary ligation.

Bone marrow stromal cell transplantation combined with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor treatment in rat with acute myocardial infarction and the role of insulin-like growth factor-1.

Background Aims: We investigated bone marrow stromal cell (BMSC) transplantation combined with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) treatment in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and the role of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1).

Methods: AMI models were established in Sprague-Dawley rats by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery and grouped into blank control (BC), ACEI treatment (ACEI), BMSC transplantation (BMSC) and BMSC transplantation plus ACEI (combined). Perindopril (2.

Effects of insulin-like growth factor-1 on the properties of mesenchymal stem cells in vitro.

Objective: To explore the effects of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) on migration, proliferation and differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).

Methods: MSCs were obtained from Sprague-Dawley rats by a combination of gradient centrifugation and cell culture techniques and treated with IGF-1 at concentrations of 5-20 ng/ml. Proliferation of MSCs was determined as the mean doubling time.

The effect of zolpidem on sleep quality, stress status, and nondipping hypertension.

Objective: Poor sleep quality and stress status have previously been shown to be closely associated with higher activation of the sympathetic nervous system and to be independent predictors of nondipping hypertension. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the non-hypotensive sedative zolpidem on sleep quality, stress status, and nondipping hypertension.

Methods: A total of 103 nondippers were defined as poor or good sleepers by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index.

Efficacy of Atorvastatin combined with adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell transplantation on cardiac function in rats with acute myocardial infarction.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been extensively applied for the restoration of cardiomyocytes loss after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, the optimal therapeutic efficacy of MSCs in ischemic heart diseases has been hampered by their poor survival and low differentiated rates. Therefore, the improvement of MSC survival and differentiated rates is warranted and critical for the efficacy of MSCs in AMI.

Association of N-terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide and impaired aortic elastic property in hypertensive patients.

Background: N-terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is closely related to risk stratification in many cardiovascular diseases. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association of NT-proBNP and impaired aortic elastic property in hypertensive patients.

Methods: One hundred fifty-five hypertensive patients without obvious cardiac dysfunction were included and divided in tertiles based on their NT-proBNP concentration.

Poor sleep quality, stress status, and sympathetic nervous system activation in nondipping hypertension.

Objective: It has been reported that poor sleep quality is associated with nondipping hypertension, but the underlying mechanisms were not reported. This study was carried out to evaluate whether poor sleep quality is associated with stress status and sympathetic nervous system activation in nondippers.

Materials And Methods: A total of 307 Chinese essential hypertensive patients were defined as dippers or nondippers by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.