Because of its structural similarity to polyunsaturated fatty acids, anandamide could serve as substrate for enzymes such as lipoxygenases and cyclooxygenases, which metabolize polyunsaturated fatty acids to potent bioactive metabolites. Here the ability of recombinant human cyclooxygenase-1 (hCOX-1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (hCOX-2) to metabolize anandamide was studied. Baculovirus-expressed and -purified hCOX-2, but not hCOX-1, effectively oxygenated anandamide. Reverse phase high pressure liquid chromatography analysis of the products derived from 1-14 C-labeled anandamide showed that the products formed are similar to those formed with arachidonic acid as substrate. The major prostanoid product derived from anandamide was determined by mass spectrometry to be prostaglandin E 2 ethanolamide. Incubation of anandamide with lysates and the intact cell line expressing COX-2 but not that of COX-1 produced prostaglandin E 2 ethanolamide. These results demonstrate the existence of a COX-2-mediated pathway for anandamide metabolism, and the metabolites formed represent a novel class of prostaglandins.Anandamide (arachidonoyl ethanolamide, AEA) 1 is a polyunsaturated fatty acyl amide that was identified from porcine brain lipids as an endogenous ligand for brain cannabinoid receptor (1). Although structurally different from cannabinoids, AEA by its ability to activate the central CB1 receptor displays pharmacological properties similar to cannabinoids (2, 3). In addition to its central action via the CB1 receptor, AEA displays potent immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory activities by interacting with peripheral CB1 and/or CB2 receptors (4 -6).Free AEA is present in both central and peripheral tissues (see Ref. 7 for a review) and could interact with CB receptors to display some of its immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory activities. In addition, AEA is also stored esterified to phosphatidylethanolamines and is released by the action of phospholipase D in response to various stimuli (7). The AEA thus released inside the cell could participate in signal transduction as a second messenger and display some of its immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory activities independent of its interaction with the CB receptors. In fact, AEA has been shown to antagonize CB2 receptors, and it is not clear how this antagonism results in immunomodulatory activities observed in cells only expressing CB2 receptors (8). It is possible that a metabolite of AEA rather than AEA itself could account for all or some of these properties. Furthermore, because of its structural similarities to polyunsaturated fatty acids, endogenously released AEA could serve as substrate for lipoxygenases and cyclooxygenases (COX) that metabolize polyunsaturated fatty acids to potent bioactive molecules. It has been demonstrated that lipoxygenase could metabolize AEA, and the metabolites have potent biological activities (9, 10). However, it is not known whether COX can metabolize AEA. Arachidonic acid (AA) is the substrate for both COX-1 and COX-2. AEA is structur...

rGLP-1 has antihypertensive and cardiac and renoprotective effects in Dahl S rats fed a high salt diet. The antihypertensive effect of rGLP-1 in Dahl S rats is due mainly to its diuretic and natriuretic effects, rather than an effect to improve insulin-resistance.

Background: Medical care workers experienced unprecedented levels of workload and pressure since the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Little is known about its exact impact on medical care workers and related factors in China. This study aims to identify the psychological impact of COVID-19 on medical care workers in China. Methods: From February 23 to March 5, 2020, a cross-sectional survey was conducted among 863 medical care workers from seven provinces in China using standard questionnaires measuring adverse psychological outcomes including Impact of Event Scale-6 (IES-6), Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale(DASS)and related psychosocial factors like perceived threat, social support and coping strategies. Exploratory Factor analysis was performed to identify the dimensions of perceived threat by study participants. Multivariate regression was used to examine the determinants of adverse psychological outcomes. Results: Posttraumatic stress (PTS) were prevalent in this sample of health care professionals, and 40.2% indicated positive screens for significant posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms. The proportion of having mild to extremely severe symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress were 13.6, 13.9 and 8.6%, respectively. Perceived threat and passive coping strategies were positively correlated to PTS and DASS scores, while perceived social support and active coping strategies were negatively correlated to DASS scores. Nurses were more likely to be anxious than others among medical care workers during the COVID-19 epidemic. Conclusions: Adverse psychological symptoms were prevalent among medical care workers in China during the COVID-19 epidemic. Screening for adverse psychological outcomes and developing corresponding preventive measures would be beneficial in decreasing negative psychological outcomes.

Garlic has been claimed to be effective against diseases, in the pathophysiology of which oxygen free radicals (OFRs) have been implicated. Effectiveness of garlic could be due to its ability to scavenge OFRs. However, its antioxidant activity is not known. We investigated the ability of allicin (active ingredient of garlic) contained in the commercial preparation Garlicin to scavenge hydroxyl radicals (.OH) using high pressure liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method. .OH was generated by photolysis of H2O2 (1.25-10 mumoles/ml) with ultraviolet light and was trapped with salicylic acid which is hydroxylated to produce .OH adduct products 2,3- and 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHBA). H2O2 produced a concentration-dependent .OH as estimated by .OH adduct products 2,3-DHBA and 2,5-DHBA. Allicin equivalent in Garlicin (1.8, 3.6, 7.2, 14.4, 21.6, 28.8 and 36 micrograms) produced concentration-dependent decreases in the formation of 2,3-DHBA and 2,5-DHBA. The inhibition of formation of 2,3-DHBA and 2,5-DHBA with 1.8 micrograms/ml was 32.36% and 43.2% respectively while with 36.0 micrograms/ml the inhibition was approximately 94.0% and 90.0% respectively. The decrease in .OH adduct products was due to scavenging of .OH and not by scavenging of formed .OH adduct products. Allicin prevented the lipid peroxidation of liver homogenate in a concentration-dependent manner. These results suggest that allicin scavenges .OH and Garlicin has antioxidant activity.