Four E-prostanoid (EP) receptors, designated EP(1), EP(2), EP(3), and EP(4), mediate the cellular effects of prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)). The present studies pharmacologically characterize the vasopressor and vasodepressor EP receptors in wild-type mice (EP(2)(+/+) mice) and mice with targeted disruption of the EP(2) receptor (EP(2)(-/-) mice). Mean arterial pressure (MAP) was measured via a ca...

We present a theoretical and numerical investigation of the effect of a timevarying external driving force on interface growth. First, we derive a relation between the roughening exponents which comes from a generalized Galilean invariance, showing how the critical dimension of the model is tunable with the external field. We further conjecture results for the exponents in two dimensions, and f...

Abstract Epoxy resin (EP) composites with satisfactory thermal and tribological performance are highly required for engineering moving components. However, the simple addition of fillers leaded to serious filler agglomeration limited promotion in properties. In this work, we constructed a new kind three-dimensional (3D) reduced graphene oxide (RGO)/Si 3 N 4 hybrid aerogel EP composites, which w...

Multiple and paradoxical effects of airway smooth muscle (ASM) 7-transmembrane-spanning receptors activated during asthma, or by treatment with bronchodilators such as beta(2)-adrenergic receptor (beta(2)AR) agonists, indicate extensive receptor crosstalk. We examined the signaling of the prostanoid-EP(1) receptor, since its endogenous agonist prostaglandin E(2) is abundant in the airway, but i...

EP is a potent inhibitor of HMGB1 release that has significant anti-inflammatory activities and exerts a protective effect in animal models of inflammation. As inflammation is linked to cancer growth, we hypothesized that EP would have anti-tumor activity and explored its effects in a liver tumor model. Mice injected intraportally with MC38 colorectal cancer cells led to the growth of visible h...

In the human, prostanoids are known to be important mediators of uterine relaxation and contraction during pregnancy and parturition. We have previously shown that stretch of uterine smooth muscle cells increased prostaglandin H synthase 2 (PGHS-2) mRNA expression, PGHS-2 peptide synthesis and activity, however, the net effect on uterine contractility of this increase in prostaglandin synthesis...

Background & Aim: Hydroxycinnamic acids are one of the most important bioactive substances of Echinacea drugs. These compounds possess immuno-enhancing activity and thus, total hydroxycinnamic acids are mostly used as the main criterion for quality control of Echinacea purpurea and its drugs.  Hence, the quality control of Echinacea requires to develo...