Auricular Acupressure Effect on Autonomic Responses Evoked by a Cold Pressor Test in Healthy Volunteers: A Pilot Study.

Objective: This pilot study was conducted to investigate changes in the pulse rate and blood pressure in healthy volunteers after applying auricular acupressure at the "heart acupoint." Methods: A total of 120 healthy volunteers with hemodynamic indexes within normal limits were randomly allocated into 4 groups to receive auricular acupressure treatment either at the heart acupoint of the left or the right, or in both ears, and one control group without applying auricular acupressure. Results: Before the application of auricular acupressure, there were no statistical differences in pulse rate and blood pressure increments among the four groups during the first cold pressor test. In groups in which auricular pressure was applied, the pulse rate was significantly reduced after the application of auricular acupressure in three groups; however, no statistically significant difference was detected among the groups. Changes in blood pressure were not statistically significant in or among the different groups after applying auricular acupressure. The average recorded pulse rate values during the second cold pressor test (after auricular acupressure) were significantly lower compared to the corresponding values taken during the first cold pressor test (before auricular acupressure) (p < 0.05); however, pulse rate increments during the two cold pressor tests (with and without auricular acupressure) were similar (p > 0.05). Conclusions: These findings suggest that auricular acupressure could be used as an adjunctive nonpharmacological method for reducing the pulse rate.

Crystal structures of two platinum(II) complexes containing ethyl eugenoxyacetate and 2-amino-pyridine.

In the title complexes, trans-(2-amino-pyridine-κN)di-chlorido-{4-eth-oxy-carbonyl-meth-oxy-3-meth-oxy-1-[(2,3-η)-prop-2-en-1-yl]benzene}-platinum(II), [PtCl2(C5H6N2)(C14H18O4)], (I), and (2-amino-pyridine-κN)chlorido{5-eth-oxy-car-bon-yl-meth-oxy-4-meth-oxy-1-[(2,3-η)-prop-2-en-1-yl]phenyl-κC1}-platinum(II), [Pt(C14H17O4)Cl(C5H6N2)], (II), the central PtII metal atom displays a distorted square-planar coordination, with the PtII atom coordinated by the pyridine N atom, the C=C double bond of the eugenol ligand and two Cl atoms for (I) or one Cl atom and a C atom of the phenyl ring for (II). The allyl fragment in (I) is disordered, with population parameters 0.614 (14) and 0.386 (14) for the two positions of the central C atom. The least-squares planes through the two aromatic ring systems make a dihedral angle of 51.10 (13)° for (I) and 78.5 (2)° for (II). Intra-molecular N-H⋯O and N-H⋯π inter-actions occur in (I). In (I), inversion dimers formed by C-H⋯Cl inter-actions are further linked into chains parallel to the b axis by C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds. Both aromatic rings are involved in π-π inter-actions, with centroid-to-centroid distances of 3.508 (3) and 3.791 (3) Å. In (II), inversion dimers form chains parallel to the b axis by C-H⋯O inter-actions.

Development of an extraction method for the determination of prostaglandins in biological tissue samples using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry: application to gonads of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua).

A simple extraction method for the analysis of PGE(2) and PGF(2α) in gonad samples from Atlantic cod and further quantification by using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry is proposed. The evaluation of the best solvent extraction conditions and the analytical performance parameters are reported. The method was highly selective for both prostaglandins and the calibration curves, based on the internal standard method, were linear between 5 and 1000 ng mL(-1) for PGE(2) and PGF(2α), with limits of detection of 1 ng mL(-1) and 1.5 ng mL(-1) and recovery values of 99.999±0.002 and 99.967±0.023 respectively. The homogenization of samples using liquid nitrogen combined with the developed extraction protocol can be implemented in different types of biological tissues.

Discrimination of n-3 rich oils by gas chromatography.

Exploring the capabilities of instrumental techniques for discriminating n-3 rich oils derived from animals is a very important though much neglected area that was emphasized more than 100 years ago. In this study the potential of gas chromatography (GC) for discriminating full fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) profiles from fish (cod liver and salmon) and marine mammal (seal and whale) oils is evaluated by means of principal component analysis (PCA). The FAME profiles from plant oils such as rapeseed, linseed and soy oils and seven different brands of n-3 supplements are also used in the discrimination process. The results from the PCA plots can reliably distinguish between plant, n-3 supplements, fish and marine mammal oils. By removing the contribution of the n-3 supplements and plant oils it is possible to discriminate between types of fish and marine animal oils. GC offers a rapid, simple and convenient means of discriminating oils from different species, brands and grades.

Elucidation of triacylglycerols in cod liver oil by liquid chromatography electrospray tandem ion-trap mass spectrometry.

Though liquid chromatography electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS(2)) has been widely used in the structural elucidation of triacylglycerols (TAG) in vegetable oils, its potentiality for the identification of TAG molecules in omega-3 rich oils remains unexplored till date. Hence, this article investigates the applicability of LC-ESI-MS(2) for the structural characterization of naturally occurring TAG in cod liver oil without the TAG fractionation during the sample preparation. A computational algorithm was developed to automatically interpret the mass spectra and elucidate the TAG structures respectively. The results were compared against the lipase benchmark method. A principal component analysis study revealed that it is possible to discriminate genuine from adulterated cod liver oil.

Evaluation of a rapid method for the quantitative analysis of fatty acids in various matrices.

A simplified method for quantitative analysis of fatty acids in various matrices by gas chromatography is proposed as an alternative to the conventional method and the variables of the protocol examined to optimize the processing conditions. The modified method involves direct methylation of fatty acids in homogenized samples with boron trihalide (BF(3) or BCl(3) in methanol) followed by extraction with hexane. The addition of hexane to the reaction mixture after the methylation process can enhance the efficiency of fatty acid methylation and is critical for those samples that contain high levels of triglycerides. A mechanism underlying this effect is proposed.

Chemometric approaches in calibration experiments of trilinolenoylglycerol by liquid chromatography ion-trap mass spectrometry.

The article presents a comprehensive account of the application of chemometric approaches to determine the factors that influence the tri-alpha-linolenoylglycerol (TALG) ammoniated adduct signal m/z 890.6 in an ion-trap mass spectrometer coupled to a liquid chromatograph and the estimation of different sources of errors involved in TALG calibration experiments. It was found that by using experimental design, the influence of the nebulizer pressure on the analytical signal is less pronounced than the influence of the drying gas flow and the chromatographic flow rate. The results revealed that without using tandem mass or atmospheric pressure chemical ionization, it is possible to fragment the TALG backbone and obtain the free alpha-linolenic acid by varying the drying gas flow and using an electrospray interface. The error decomposition approach revealed that the preparation error was 26 times higher than the instrumental error.