The selectivity of different Rho kinase (ROCK) inhibitors in the spontaneously tonic smooth muscle has not been investigated. We examined this issue using Y-27632 [(R)-(+)-trans-N-(4-pyridyl)-4-(1-aminoethyl)-cyclohexanecarbox anecarboxamide, 2HCl], H-1152 [(S)-(+)-(2-methyl-5-isoquinolinyl) sulfonylhomopiperazine, 2HCl], HA-1077 [(5 isoquinolinesulfonyl) homopiperazine, 2HCl], and ROCK inhibit...

Chronic exposure to inorganic arsenic (iAs) has been associated with increased risk of various forms of cancer and of noncancerous diseases. Metabolic conversions of iAs that yield highly toxic and genotoxic methylarsonite (MAsIII) and dimethylarsinite (DMAsIII) may play a significant role in determining the extent and character of toxic and cancer-promoting effects of iAs exposure. In this stu...

Even moderate arsenic exposure may lead to health problems, and thus quantifying inorganic arsenic (iAs) exposure from food for different population groups in China is essential. By analyzing the data from the China National Nutrition and Health Survey (CNNHS) and collecting reported values of iAs in major food groups, we developed a framework of calculating average iAs daily intake for differe...

Objective: Many theorists agree that intimacy is a multidimensional concept and intimacy attitude components are different from intimate behavior components. This research aimed to determine the components of intimacy attitude in university students. Methods: Based on revised intimacy attitude scale (IAS-R) which was originally developed by Amidon et al. (1983), intimacy attitude components ...

The principles of design of information-analytical system (IAS) intended for design of new inorganic compounds are considered. IAS includes the integrated system of databases on properties of inorganic substances and materials, the system of the programs of pattern recognition, the knowledge base and managing program. IAS allows a prediction of inorganic compounds not yet synthesized and estima...

Endovascular therapy is now the treatment of choice for intracranial aneurysms (IAs) for its efficacy and safety profile. The use of flow diversion (FD) has recently expanded to cover many types of IAs in various locations. Some institutions even attempt FD as first line treatment for unruptured IAs. The most widely used devices are the pipeline embolization device (PED), the SILK flow diverter...

BACKGROUND The concentration of arsenic in urine has been used as a marker of exposure to inorganic As (iAs). Relative proportions of urinary metabolites of iAs have been identified as potential biomarkers of susceptibility to iAs toxicity. However, the adverse effects of iAs exposure are ultimately determined by the concentrations of iAs metabolites in target tissues. OBJECTIVE In this study...

Nitric oxide (NO) relaxes the internal anal sphincter (IAS), but its enzymatic source(s) remains unknown; neuronal (nNOS) and endothelial (eNOS) NO synthase (NOS) isoforms could be involved. Also, interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) may be involved in IAS relaxation. We studied the relative roles of nNOS, eNOS, and c-Kit-expressing ICC for IAS relaxation using genetic murine models. The basal IAS...

Despite its widespread distribution and significance in the gut, the role of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP) in internal anal sphincter (IAS) relaxation has not been examined. This study examined the role of PACAP in nonadrenergic noncholinergic (NANC) nerve-mediated relaxation of IAS smooth muscle. Circular smooth muscle strips from the opossum IAS were prepared for meas...

Arsenic as a potential risk factor for type 2 diabetes has been received attention recently. However, the roles of arsenic on development of diabetes are unclear. In this study, we compared the influences of inorganic arsenic (iAs) on normal and diabetic mice by systems toxicology approaches. Although iAs exposure did not change glucose tolerance in normal mice, it caused the pancreatic β-cell ...