[Value of ceramide in the diagnosis and risk prediction of coronary artery disease]

Objective: To evaluate the clinical values of 4 types of ceramides (Cer1, Cer2, Cer3, Cer4) in the coronary artery stenosis, clinical diagnosis and risk prediction. Methods: A total of 890 patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) in Beijing Anzhen Hospital between March 2018 and August 2018 were enrolled. The relationships between different degrees of coronary artery stenosis and ceramide levels was investigated. Diagnostic value of ceramides on acute myocardial infarction was analyzed. Meanwhile, Major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) in 1 year after discharging were collected to evaluate the predictive value of ceramides on risk of CHD and stroke. Results: This study showed that there were no significant differences of ceramide levels in CHD patients with different degrees of coronary artery stenosis (P>0.05), and the area under receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve in the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction patients was 0.725. Conclusions: Ceramide is proved to be helpful in the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction and MACCE prediction. The relationships between ceramide and degrees of coronary artery stenosis as well as the prognosis of CHD need further elucidation.

Effects of nitric oxide and hydrogen peroxide on histamine release from RBL-2H3 cells

We have studied the effect of nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), two reactive oxygen species (ROS) on histamine release (HR) from RBL-2H3 cells, a rat mucosal-type mast cell line. Marked HR was elicited by antigen (DNP-HSA), calcium ionophore A23187, sodium fluoride or phospholipase C, but not with compound 48/80 or 1,2-dioctanoyl-sn-glycerol. The NO-synthase substrate L-arginine and its inactive enantiomer (D-arginine), each on its own, induced a small but significant increase in HR above the basal level. However, the NO-donors (sodium nitroprusside or NaNO(3)) or the NO-synthase inducer lipopolysaccharide did not induce HR. Moreover, methylene blue (MB), which inhibits guanylate cyclase and N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine (L-NA), an inhibitor of NO synthase, were also without effect on either the basal HR or the L-arginine-induced HR. HR induced by A23187, DNP-HSA, sodium fluoride or phospholipase C was markedly reduced by MB, but mildly by L-NA (both at 1-100 microM). H(2)O(2) (0.01-1.0 mM) on its own did not induce HR, but it had a potent inhibitory effect on DNP-HSA- or A23187-induced HR, which was not reversed by L-NA (1-100 microM). Taken together, it seems that neither the stimulatory nor the inhibitory effects of the NO-related compounds on HR can be attributed to NO, but rather to other mechanisms. The inhibition of HR by H(2)O(2) also does not involve NO and suggests a negative feedback regulatory role for the peroxide in the allergic inflammation.

Role of nitric oxide in histamine release from human basophils and rat peritoneal mast cells

The effects of a range of nitric oxide (NO)-related compounds on histamine release from human basophils and rat peritoneal mast cells were studied. Basal and immunologic histamine releases from human basophils were not affected by N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine, N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, aminoguanidine or methylene blue (all inhibitors of NO production), sodium nitroprusside (an NO donor), L-arginine (a substrate for NO synthase) or D-arginine (the inactive enantiomer of L-arginine). In rat peritoneal mast cells, NO donors such as sodium nitroprusside, sodium nitrite and sodium nitrate, and lipopolysaccharide (an inducer of NO synthase) had little effect on basal histamine release, while 3-morpholino-sydnonimine (SIN-1, an NO donor), L-arginine and D-arginine increased this release by up to threefold. None of the inhibitors of NO production had any striking effect on histamine release induced by anti-rat immunoglobulin E (IgE), compound 48/80, sodium fluoride, phospholipase C, 1,2-dioctanoyl-sn-glycerol or ionophore A23187. However, haemoglobin was found to inhibit histamine release by anti-rat IgE or A23187 by ca. 40%. Alone of the NO donors, low concentrations of L-arginine produced a mild inhibition of histamine release induced by anti-IgE, compound 48/80 and A23187, but not other ligands, while sodium nitroprusside dose-dependently inhibited (by a maximum of ca. 30%) histamine release by anti-rat IgE, sodium fluoride or A23187. Stimulation with a variety of secretagogues or treatment with L-arginine, D-arginine, lipopolysaccharide, SIN-1 or sodium nitroprusside had no effect on NO production. Similarly, L-arginine, D-arginine or sodium nitroprusside did not change intracellular cGMP levels. On the basis of these results, it is suggested that NO does not play a significant role in the modulation of histamine release from human basophils or rat peritoneal mast cells. The effects of L-arginine, D-arginine and sodium nitroprusside may involve mechanisms unrelated to NO.

Characteristics of deoxycholic acid-induced histamine release from mast cells of guinea-pig rectocolonic mucosa and rat peritoneal cavity

Deoxycholic acid (DA) caused a dose-related release of histamine (HR) from mast cells of rat peritoneum (RPMC) and mucosal cells of guinea pig rectocolon (RCMC). In both cell populations, DA-induced HR was: (1) accompared by a parallel release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), (2) not affected by metabolic inhibitors, (3) dependent on time of incubation, temperature and pH, and affected by Ca++ concentration in RPMC but not in RCMC. DA-induced HR from RCMC may be involved in certain functional disorders of the colon.

Effect of picumast on histamine release from rat cardiac and peritoneal mast cells

Compound 48/80-induced histamine release (HR) from the isolated perfused rat heart was markedly and significantly inhibited by picumast (PIC), possibly by acting as a calmodulin antagonist (CMA) or membrane stabilizer. Trifluoperazine (TFP, another CMA in clinical use) had a similar effect. However, an action as CMA being the basis of inhibition of HR could not be confirmed in another 'allergy' model, namely HR from rat peritoneal mast cells (RPMC). PIC, TFP and two other CMA, W7 and N-(4-aminobutyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfonamide) failed consistently to inhibit 48/80-induced HR from RPMC, and when used on their own at high concentration these compounds caused HR. PIC and TFP also potentiated the heat-induced haemolysis of rat erythrocytes, i.e. lacked membrane stabilizing effect in this model.

Cytoprotective action of carbenoxolone sodium on ethanol-induced gastric lesions in rats and its inhibition by indomethacin

Carbenoxolone produced a marked and dose-related inhibition of ethanol-induced gastric lesions in rats. This cytoprotective action was inhibited progressively and significantly by increasing doses of indomethacin. The evidence presented confirms previous suggestions that prostaglandin(s) are involved in the cytoprotective action of carbenoxolone.

A quantitative morphological study of the effects of carbenoxolone sodium on duodenal goblet-cells of the rat

A direct microscopic and microdensitometric examination was carried out on duodenal goblet-cells of non-fasted and fasted rats with and without carbenoxolone sodium treatment. The results of microdensitometric examination revealed a marked and significant increase of mucus production in the non-fasted and fasted rats pretreated for 2 hr with a single oral dose of carbenoxolone sodium at 100 mg/kg. Fasting alone also increased mucus production. On microscopic examination, the number of duodenal goblet-cells full of mucosubstances in the non-fasted and fasted rats receiving carbenoxolone sodium treatment was approximately 20% higher than in the controls.

Inhibitory effect of ouabain on in vitro and in vivo gastric acid secretion in the frog and the rat

The in vitro and in vivo effects of ouabain on gastric acid secretion in the frog and the rat, the 2 species known to have different sensitivity to ouabain, were studied. It was found that ouabain was a potent inhibitor of histamine-stimulated acid secretion in the isolated frog gastric mucosa. Ouabain administered i.v. at dose levels far below the lethal range also produced a marked and significant reduction of histamine-stimulated gastric acid secretion in the anesthetized frogs and rats. It is considered that the inhibitory effect of ouabain on acid secretion could be partly related to its specific antagonizing action on the Na+ -K+ -ATPase in the gastric mucosa.

Stimulation of H+ ion secretion from the isolated mouse stomach by sodium fluoride

The effect of sodium fluoride on H+ ion secretion was investigated in the isolated distended mouse stomach. It was found that sodium fluoride on its own caused dose-related stimulation of H+ ion secretion. Sodium fluoride did not inhibit H+ ion secretion induced by histamine. The possible mechanisms involved are discussed. It is considered that sodium fluoride might stimulate H+ ion secretion by causing histamine release and by increasing cyclic AMP formation in the intact gastric mucosa.

Metiamide and stimulated acid secretion from the isolated non-distended and distended mouse stomach

1. The action of metiamide, a specific histamine H2-receptor antagonist, on the acid secretory response to various gastric stimuli in the perfused isolated whole mouse stomach is described. 2. Two kinds of stomach preparations, the non-distended stomach and distended stomach, were used. The distended stomach gave a marked and dose-related acid secretory response to histamine (10(-6) to 10(-3) M), pentagastrin (10(-8) to 10(-5) M), acetylcholine (5 X 10(-5) to 10(-5) M), eserine (10(-5) to 10(-3) M) to dibutyryl cyclic AMP (5 X 10(-5) to 10(-3) M). In the nondistended stomach, dibutyryl cyclic AMP regularly stimulated acid secretion in a dose-dependent manner; in contrast to dibutyryl cyclic AMP, histamine, pentagastrin or acetylcholine did not always stimulate acid secretion. 3. Histamine or pentagastrin but not acetylcholine always caused significant stimulation of acid secretion from the non-distended stomach in the presence of a phosphodiesterase inhibitor such as caffeine, theophylline or the I.C.I. compound, 63197. At the concentration of 10(-4) M, these phosphodiesterase inhibitors markedly potentiated the stimulatory effect of histamine or pentagastrin on acid secretion and the order of effectiveness was 63197 greater than theophylline greater than caffeine. 63197 also produced profound potentiation of histamine- or pentagastrin-stimulated acid secretion in the distended stomach. 4. Metiamide (5 X 10(-5) to 10(-4) M) did not antagonize stimulation of acid secretion by dibutyryl cyclic AMP in the non-distended or distended stomach. 5. In the distended stomach, metiamide (5 X 10(-4) M) produced significant inhibition of histamine-stimulated acid secretion with a linear and parallel displacement of the histamine dose--response curve to the right. Although at this concentration metiamide did not depress maximal acid secretory response to histamine, it caused marked reduction of the maximal acid secretory response attainable with pentagastrin. 6. In the distended stomach, metiamide (5 X 10(-5) M) did not cause significant inhibition of acetylcholine-induced acid secretion. Atropine (5 X 10(-6) M) abolished the stimulatory effect of acetylcholine; it also produced marked inhibition of pentagastrin-stimulated acid secretion but it had little effect on acid secretion induced by histamine. 7. The present results indicate that metiamide inhibited histamine-induced acid secretion by competitive antagonism of the histamine H2-receptor, but its inhibitory effect on pentagastrin-induced acid secretion seemed to be of non-competitive nature. The failure of metiamide to inhibit acid secretion induced by dibutyryl cyclic AMP suggests that cyclic AMP might regulate gastric acid secretion at a site beyond the histamine H2-receptor activation. It is also considered that the present results support the hypothesis that cyclic AMP may be involved in histamine- or pentagastrin-induced acid secretion in the isolated mouse stomach. 8...