G-protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRKs) are a family of serine/threonine protein kinases. The investigators pay much attention to the roles of GRKs in the signal transduction through G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) with arrestin ever since a long time ago. Due to the physiological and pathological observations with the methods of deletion or overexpression, GRKs are considered as new drug targets. The kinases play a role in the pathogenesis of hypertension and cell migration through GPCRs and Hedgehog signaling pathways. As the development of research techniques, especially bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), the special mechanism of GRKs for GPCRs is more evident. In this review, we discuss the recent achievement in the roles of GRKs signaling and the related newest research techniques.

Objecfive To investigate possibihty of monitoring myocardial isehemia by eontinuous EASI 12-lead ST-segment trend analysis during orthopaedic surgery and find its rules.Methods Three hundred and eleven consecutive patients who underwent orthopaedic surgery were monitored bv continuous EASI 12-lead ST-segment analysis during surgery.Results Among 311 patients 81 patients(26.0%) had myocardial ischemic events.The ischemie incidence of general anesthetics WaS signifieantly higher than local anesthetics(the spinal or epidural anesthetics and nerve-block anesthetics)(38.1%vs 23.0%.P＝ 0.01 5).During ischemie events the patients whose heart rate exceeded 90 beat per minute was 71.6% (58/81).Among the 177 isehemie events,the duration ofless than 5 minutes was 79.7%(141/177).ST-seg- ment deviation ofless than 0.15 mV was 71.2%(126/177).Conclusions During orthopaedic surgery EASt 12-lead electrocardiogram is the optimal approach for monitoring myocardial isehemia.The ischemic incidence of general anesthetics is significantly higher than local anesthetics.The myocardial ischemia events correlates with fast heart rate.The intraoperative myocardial ischemia events are more often transient.In most of these ischemic events ST-segment deviation is not very serious.

Effects of FEMY-R7, composed of fucoidan and evening primrose extract, on the bacterial growth and intragastric infection of Helicobacter pylori as well as gastric secretion were investigated in comparison with a proton-pump inhibitor pantoprazole. For in vitro anti-bacterial activity test, H. pylori (1x10(8) CFU/mL) was incubated with a serially-diluted FEMY-R7 for 3 days. As a result, FEMY-R7 fully inhibited the bacterial growth at 100 microg/mL, which was determined to be a minimal inhibitory concentration. In addition, 6-hour incubation with H. pylori, FEMY-R7 inhibited urease activity in a concentration-dependent manner, showing a median inhibitory concentration of 1,500 microg/mL. In vivo elimination study, male C57BL/6 mice were infected with the bacteria by intragastric inoculation (5x10(9) CFU/mouse) 3 times at 2-day intervals, and simultaneously, orally treated twice a day with 10, 30 or 100 mg/kg FEMY-R7 for 7 days. In Campylobcter-like organism-detection test and bacterial identification, FEMY-R7 exerted a high bacteria-eliminating capacity at 30-100 mg/kg, comparably to 30 mg/kg pantoprazole. In contrast to a strong antacid activity of pantoprazole in a pylorus-ligation study, FEMY-R7 did not significantly affect gastric pH, free HCl, and total acidity, although it significantly decreased fluid volume at a low dose (10 mg/kg). The results indicate that FEMY-R7 eliminate H. pylori from gastric mucosa by directly killing the bacteria and preventing their adhesion and invasion, rather than by inhibiting gastric secretion or mucosal damage.
Animals ; Bacteria ; Gastric Mucosa ; Helicobacter pylori ; Homicide ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Male ; Mice ; Oenothera biennis* ; Urease

This article has been retracted.

As the request of the authors, Acknowledgments section has been changed.
Oenothera biennis*

The effects of an ethanolic extract of Angelica gigas (EAG) on the vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation and high-cholesterol diet-induced hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis were investigated. Rat aortic VSMCs were stimulated with platelet-derived growth factor-BB (25 ng/mL) for the induction of DNA synthesis and cell proliferation. EAG (1-10 microg/mL) significantly inhibited both the thymidine incorporation and cell proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner. Hypercholesterolemia was induced by feeding male New Zealand white rabbits with 0.5% cholesterol in diet for 10 weeks, during which EAG (1% in diet) was given for the final 8 weeks after 2-week induction of hypercholesterolemia. Hypercholesterolemic rabbits exhibited great increases in serum total cholesterol and low-density lipoproteins (LDL) levels, and finally severe atheromatous plaque formation covering 28.4% of the arterial walls. EAG significantly increased high-density lipoproteins (HDL), slightly decreased LDL, and potentially reduced the atheroma area to 16.6%. The results indicate that EAG attenuates atherosclerosis not only by inhibiting VASC proliferation, but also by increasing blood HDL levels. Therefore, it is suggested that EAG could be an alternative or an adjunct therapy for the improvement of hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis.
Angelica* ; Animals ; Atherosclerosis* ; Cell Proliferation* ; Cholesterol ; Diet ; DNA ; Ethanol* ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia ; Lipoproteins, HDL ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular* ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; Rabbits ; Rats ; Thymidine

The effects of a beta-dunnione compound MB12662 on the gastric secretion and ulcers were investigated in rats. In order to assess the effects of MB12662 on the gastric secretion and acidity, rats were subjected to pylorus ligation operation, and 6 hours later, gastric fluid was collected. Treatment with MB12662 reduced the gastric fluid volume to 47.3% of control level and increased pH. In an alcohol-induced ulcer model, rats were orally administered 3 mL/kg of ethanol, and 1 hour later, the ulcer lesions ware measured under a stereomicroscope. MB12662 reduced ulcer index in a dose-dependent manner which was much stronger than a proton-pump inhibitor pantoprazole. In a stress-induced ulcer model, rats were subjected to water-immersion restraint stress, and 5 hours later, the ulcer lesions ware examined. MB12662 also attenuated the stress-induced gastric lesions, although the efficacy of MB12662 was lower than that of pantoprazole. Therefore, it is suggested that MB12662 could be a candidate compound for the prevention or treatment of gastric ulcers induced by gastric over-secretion and alcoholic hangover.
2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles ; Alcoholics ; Animals ; Ethanol ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Ligation ; Pylorus ; Rats ; Stomach Ulcer ; Ulcer

According to a high anti-osteoporotic efficacy of Sigma Anti-bonding Molecule Calcium Carbonate (SAC), repeated-dose toxicities of SAC were investigated to assess its feasibility as drug or functional food ingredient. Male ICR mice were given drinking water containing 0.006, 0.02 or 0.06% SAC for 4 weeks. SAC feeding decreased the body weights and feed and water consumptions of mice in a dose-dependent manner, especially, leading to severe emaciation and 70% death in 3 weeks in the high-dose (0.06%) group. Not only kidney and heart weights, but also the levels of blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, aspartate transaminase, and creatine phospokinase significantly increased after SAC administration, indicative of nephrotoxicity and cardiotoxicity. Such renal and cardiac toxicities were also confirmed by microscopic findings, exhibiting renal crystals and cardiac fibrosis, which may be due to the insoluble crystal formation and calcium overload, respectively. In conclusion, it is suggested that no observed adverse effect level of SAC is lower than 0.006% in mice, and that a long-term intake may cause serious adverse effects on renal and cardiac functions.
Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Body Weight ; Calcium ; Calcium Carbonate ; Creatine ; Creatinine ; Drinking Water ; Emaciation ; Fibrosis ; Functional Food ; Heart ; Humans ; Kidney ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; No-Observed-Adverse-Effect Level ; Weights and Measures

The inhibitory effects of perilla oil on the platelet aggregation in vitro and thrombosis in vivo were investigated in comparison with aspirin, a well-known blood flow enhancer. Rabbit platelet-rich plasma was incubated with perilla oil and aggregation inducers collagen or thrombin, and the platelet aggregation rate was analyzed. Perilla oil significantly inhibited both the collagen- and thrombin-induced platelet aggregations, in which the thromboxane B2 formation from collagen-activated platelets were reduced in a concentration-dependent manner. Rats were administered once daily by gavage with perilla oil for 1 week, carotid arterial thrombosis was induced by applying 35% FeCl3-soaked filter paper for 10 min, and the blood flow was monitored with a laser Doppler probe. Perilla oil delayed the FeCl3-induced arterial occlusion in a dose-dependent manner, doubling the occlusion time at 0.5 mL/kg. In addition, a high dose (2 mL/kg) of perilla oil greatly prevented the occlusion, comparable to the effect of aspirin (30 mg/kg). The results indicate that perilla oil inhibit platelet aggregation by blocking thromboxane formation, and thereby delay thrombosis following oxidative arterial wall injury. Therefore, it is proposed that perilla oil could be a good candidate without adverse effects for the improvement of blood flow.
Animals ; Aspirin ; Blood Platelets* ; Collagen ; Perilla* ; Platelet Aggregation* ; Platelet-Rich Plasma ; Rats ; Thrombin ; Thrombosis* ; Thromboxane B2

The effects of nattokinase on the in vitro platelet aggregation and in vivo thrombosis were investigated in comparison with aspirin. Rabbit platelet-rich plasma was incubated with nattokinase and aggregation inducers collagen and thrombin, and the platelet aggregation rate was analyzed. Nattokinase significantly inhibited both the collagen- and thrombin-induced platelet aggregations. Nattokinase also reduced thromboxane B2 formation from collagen-activated platelets in a concentration-dependent manner. Rats were orally administered with nattokinase for 1 week, and their carotid arteries were exposed. Arterial thrombosis was induced by applying 35% FeCl3-soaked filter paper for 10 min, and the blood flow was monitored with a laser Doppler probe. Nattokinase delayed the FeCl3-induced arterial occlusion in a dose-dependent manner, doubling the occlusion time at 160 mg/kg. In addition, a high dose (500 mg/kg) of nattokinase fully prevented the occlusion, as achieved with aspirin (30 mg/kg). The results indicate that nattokinase extracted from fermented soybean inhibit platelet aggregation by blocking thromboxane formation, and thereby delay thrombosis following oxidative arterial wall injury. Therefore, it is suggested that nattokinase could be a good candidate without adverse effects for the improvement of blood flow.
Animals ; Aspirin ; Blood Platelets* ; Carotid Arteries ; Collagen ; Platelet Aggregation* ; Platelet-Rich Plasma ; Rats ; Soybeans ; Thrombin ; Thrombosis* ; Thromboxane B2