• Korean Journal of Radiology
• /
• v.21 no.12
• /
• pp.1285-1293
• /
• 2020

Objective: To evaluate the effects of vasodilators on contrast enhancement and transluminal attenuation gradient (TAG) of coronary arteries at coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed CCTA scans of patients who underwent double-acquisition CCTA; CCTA without a vasodilator, and CCTA during a intravenous (IV) infusion of nitrate. Among them, we enrolled 19 patients who had no significant atherosclerotic lesions or coronary spasms. In the control group, 28 patients were enrolled who showed normal coronary arteries on CCTA, which was acquired by a conventional method (sublingual vasodilator). We measured the TAG and Hounsfield units for each of the three major epicardial coronary arteries (reported as 'ProxHU') and then compared the results between the nitrate administration methods (CT without vasodilator [CT_pre], CT with IV vasodilator [CT_iv], and CT with sublingual vasodilator [CT_sub]). Results: The mean TAG showed a significant difference between the coronary arteries (right coronary artery [RCA] > left anterior descending artery [LAD] > left circumflex artery [LCX], p < 0.05), while there was no difference in ProxHU of each coronary artery in all three types of nitrate administration methods (p > 0.05). The TAG of CT_pre group showed steeper slope than those of vasodilator groups (CT_iv and CT_sub) on LAD and LCX ([LAD: CT_pre = -22.1 ± 6.66, CT_iv = -16.76 ± 5.78, and CT_sub = -16.47 ± 5.78, p = 0.005], [LCX: CT_pre = -31.26 ± 17.43, CT_iv = -23.74 ± 14.06, and CT_sub = -20.94 ± 12.15, p = 0.051]), while that of RCA showed no significant differences (p = 0.600). When comparing proxHU, CT_iv showed higher proxHU than that of CT_pre or CT_sub, especially on LCX (CT_pre = 426.7 ± 68.3, CT_iv = 467.9 ± 84.9, and CT_sub = 404.9 ± 63.3, p = 0.013). ProxHU showed a negative correlation with TAG on all three of methods (r = -0.280, p < 0.001). Conclusion: TAG in CCTA was significantly affected by vasodilator administration. Both TAG and ProxHU of coronary arteries tend to increase with vasodilator administration on CCTA.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.13-18
• /
• 2004

In this study, 6-[( 4-arylidene-2-phenyl-5-oxoimidazolin-1-yl)phenyl]-4,5-dihydro-3(2H)-pyridazinone and 4-[(4-arylidene-2-phenyl-5-oxoimidazolin-1-yl)phenyl]-1(2H)-phthalazinone derivatives were synthesized by reacting 6-(4-aminophenyl)-4,5-dihydro-3(2H)-pyridazinone or 4-(4-aminophenyl)-1(2H)-phthalazinone compound with different 4-arylidene-2-phenyl-5(4H)-oxazolone derivatives. The vasodilator activities of the compounds were examined both in vitro and in vivo. Some pyridazinone derivatives showed appreciable activity.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• v.29 no.11
• /
• pp.990-997
• /
• 2006

Sarcococca saligna is a shrub that is traditionally used for its medicinal properties in Pakistan. In this study we report the cardio-suppressant, vasodilator and tracheal relaxant activities of the aqueous-methanolic extract (Ss.Cr) of the plant. Ss.Cr, that tested positive for the presence of saponins, flavonoids, tannins, phenols, and alkaloids, exhibited a dose-dependent (0.3-5 mg/mL) negative inotropic and chronotropic effect on the isolated guinea-pig atrium which was resistant to atropine ($1\;{\mu}M$) and aminophylline ($10\;{\mu}M$) pretreatment. In rabbit thoracic aorta, Ss.Cr dose-dependently (0.1-3 mg/mL) relaxed the high $K^{+}$ (80 mM) and phenylephrine ($PE,\;1\;{\mu}M$)-induced contractions, indicating a possible $Ca^{++}$ channel blocking (CCB) effect. When tested against PE ($1\;{\mu}M$) control peaks in normal $Ca^{++}\;and\;Ca^{++}$-free Kreb's solution, Ss.Cr exhibited dose-dependent (0.1-3 mg/mL) inhibition, being more potent in relaxing the PE responses in $Ca^{++}$-free Kreb's solution, thus indicating specific blockade of $Ca^{++}$ release from the intracellular stores. Ss.Cr also relaxed the agonist-induced contractions in: a) rat aorta irrespective of the presence of endothelium or nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-NAME and b) rabbit and guinea-pig tracheal strips. The data shows that Ss.Cr possesses possible $Ca^{++}$ channel blocking activity which might be responsible for its observed cardio-suppressant, vasodilator and tracheal relaxant effects though more tests are required to confirm this $Ca^{++}$ channel blocking effect.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.1-6
• /
• 2002

Houttuynia cordata Thunb. grown in wet earth in China, Japan and Korea, has often been cited in medical literature for its medicinal effects. In this paper, the pharmaceutical effects of Houttuynia cordata Thunb., featured in the East Asian literature were studied. It was revealed that it has a wide variety of uses, including remedial treat-ments for pneumonia, antidote, inflammation, syphilis, abscess, paralysis and gynecological diseases. Its application methods also are numerous: drinking as tea or squeezed juice, application to wounds, wet dressing, chewing raw roots and mixing with other plants, liquor and food materials. The major pharmaceutical effects are as follows: antibiosis, immunity enhancement, urination, pain relieving, vasodilator and cough lozenge.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
• /
• v.27 no.5
• /
• pp.543-551
• /
• 2002

Nitric oxide (NO) is a small molecule (mol. wt. 30 Da) and oxidative free radical. It is uncharged and can therefore diffuse freely within and between cells across membrane. Such characteristics make it a biologically important messenger in physiologic processes such as neurotransmission and the control of vascular tone. NO is also highly toxic and is known to acts as a mediator of cytotoxicity during host defense. NO is synthesized by nitric oxide synthase (NOS) through L-arginine/nitric oxide pathway which is a dioxygenation process. NO synthesis involves several participants, three co-substrates, five electrons, five co-factors and two prosthetic groups. Under normal condition, low levels of NO are synthesized by type I and III NOS for a short period of time and mediates many physiologic processes. Under condition of oxidant stress, high levels of NO are synthesized by type II NOS and inhibits a variety of metabolic processes and can also cause direct damage to DNA. Such interaction result in cytostasis, energy depletion and ultimately cell death. NO has the potential to interact with a variety of intercellular targets producing diverse array of metabolic effects. It is known that NO is involved in hemodynamic regulation, neurogenic inflammation, re-innervation, management of dentin hypersensitivity on teeth. Under basal condition of pulpal blood flow, NO provides constant vasodilator tone acting against sympathetic vasoconstriction. Substance P, a well known vasodilator, was reported to be mediated partly by NO, while calcitonin-gene related peptide has provided no evidence of its relation with NO. This review describes the roles of NO in dental pulp in addition to the known general roles of it.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.34-39
• /
• 2006

The antispasmodic and vasodilator activities of a newly synthesized piperidine derivative (1-(4'fluorophenacyl)-4-hydroxy-4-phenyl-piperidinium chloride) were studied in vitro. The test compound exhibited a dose-dependent relaxant effect on the spontaneous and $K^+$ (75 mM)-induced contractions of isolated rabbit jejunum with respective $EC_{50}$ values of 0.01 mM(0.01-0.02, 95% CI) and 0.30 mM (0.17-0.56). The $Ca^{++}$ channel blocking (CCB) activity was confirmed when the test compound (0.1-0.2 mM) shifted the $Ca^{++}$ dose-response curves to the right, similar to that produced by verapamil ($0.1-1.0{\mu}M$), a standard CCB. In the isolated rabbit aorta, the test compound showed a dose-dependent vasodilator effect on $K^+$ (75 mM)-induced contractions with an $EC_{50}$ value of 0.08 mM (0.02-0.26) while also suppressed the norepinephrine ($1{\mu}M$) control peak responses with $EC_{50}$ value of 0.08 mM (0.05-0.13, n=5). When tested in Langendorff perfused rabbit heart preparation, the test compound exhibited a negligible inhibitory effect on the rate or force of atrial and ventricular contractions when tested up to 5 mM. The results show smooth muscle-selective relaxant effect of the test compound on intestinal and vascular preparations mediated possibly via blockade of voltage and receptor-operated $Ca^{++}$ channels.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
• /
• v.1 no.1
• /
• pp.6-12
• /
• 2012

Objective: Coenzyme (CoQ10) is an enzymatic co factor used in normal cellular metabolism. Recent evidence shows that in people with heart disease it can reverse endothelial cell damage in the blood vessels. It is also a potent antioxidant. Design: One group pretest-posttest design. Methods: In the present study, endothelial function was evaluated using the response to occlusion and heat before and 2 weeks after administration of CoQ10, 300 mg/day. Thirty Eight subjects, who are physical therapy students, participated in a series of experiments to see if taking 300 mg of CoQ10 daily for 2 weeks would impact resting blood flow in the forearm skin and the blood flow response to 4 minutes of vascular occlusion and the response to local heat ($42^{\circ}C$) for 6 minutes. Results: The results showed that, for this population, there was no difference in the response to heat. However, the response to occlusion was improved after administration of CoQ10. Conclusions: It would appear that in a young population CoQ10 has no effect on the nitric oxide vasodilator pathway in skin but does influence other vasodilator pathways.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
• /
• 1993.09a
• /
• pp.36-39
• /
• 1993

We reported earlier (Br. J. Pharmac. 82. 485 - 491. 1984) that ginsenosides from Panax ginseng CA. Meyer antagonized noradrenaline or prostaglandin $F_{2\alpha}-induced$ contractions of pulmonary and intrapulmonary arterial rings of rabbits. Because this effect resembled that of acetylcholine (ACh). we questioned whether these acitons were due to release of nitric oxide from vaseular endothelium. We therefore determined whether ginsenosides could vasodilate preconstricted lungs and also protect against free radical injury. which normally eliminates the vasodilator response to ACh(J. Appl. Physiol. 71. 821 - 825. 1991 J. We found that ginsenoside $Rg_1$ or a mixture of saponins could ,a) vasodilate perfused. $U_{46619}-preconstricted$ lungs. b) promote increased synthesis of nitric oxide by endothelial cells in culture and c) prevent the pulmonary edema often associated with free radical injury (Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 189. 670 - 676. 1992). Thus, vasodilator and protective effects of ginsenosides against free radical injury may reflect enhanced synthesis and release of nitric oxide. These data suggest that ginsenosides may be useful in treatment of pulmonary and systemic hypertension. Aided by grants from the National Institutes of Health. Bethesda.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.62 no.4
• /
• pp.425-431
• /
• 2019

Platelet activation is essential for hemostatic process on blood vessel damage. However, excessive platelet activation can cause some cardiovascular diseases including atherosclerosis, thrombosis, and myocardial infarction. Scoparone is commonly encountered in the roots of genus Artemisia or Scopolia, and has been studied for its potential pharmacological properties including immunosuppression and vasorelaxation, but antiplatelet effects of scoparone have not been reported yet. We investigated the effect of scoparone on human platelet activation prompted by an analogue of thromboxane A₂, U46619. As the results, scoparone dose-dependently increased cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels as well as cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) levels, both being aggregation-inhibiting molecules. In addition, scoparone strongly phosphorylated inositol 1, 4, 5-triphosphate receptor (IP3R) and vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP), substrates of cAMP dependent kinase and cGMP dependent kinase. Phosphorylation of IP₃R by scoparone resulted in inhibition of Ca²⁺ mobilization in calcium channels in a dense tubular system, and phosphorylation of VASP by scoparone led to an inability of fibrinogen being able to bind to αIIb/β3. Finally, scoparone inhibited thrombin-induced fibrin clotting, thereby reducing thrombus formation. Therefore, we suggest that scoparone has a strong antiplatelet effect and is highly probable to prevent platelet-derived vascular disease.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.63 no.3
• /
• pp.235-241
• /
• 2020

An essential component of the hemostatic process during vascular damage is platelet activation. However, many cardiovascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis, thrombosis, and myocardial infarction, can develop due to excessive platelet activation. Isoscopoletin, found primarily in plant roots of the genus Artemisia or Scopolia, has been studied to demonstrate potential pharmacological effects on Alzheimer's disease and anticancer, but its mechanisms and role in relation to thrombus formation and platelet aggregation have not yet been discovered. This research investigated the effect of isoscopoletin on collagen-induced human platelet activation. As a result, isoscopoletin strongly increased cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) levels in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, isoscopoletin greatly phosphorylated inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptor (IP₃R) and vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP), known substrates of cAMP-dependent kinase and cGMP dependent kinase. Phosphorylation of IP₃R by isoscopoletin induced Ca²⁺ inhibition from the dense tubular system Ca²⁺ channels, and VASP phosphorylation was involved in fibrinogen binding inhibition by inactivating αIIb/β₃ in the platelet membrane. Isoscopoletin finally reduced thrombin-induced fibrin clot production and finally reduced thrombus formation. Therefore, this research suggests that isoscopoletin has strong antiplatelet effects and is likely to be helpful for thrombotic diseases involving platelets by acting as a prophylactic and therapeutic agent.