A novel micro-to-macro approach for cardiac tissue mechanics

For studying cardiac mechanics, hyperelastic anisotropic computational models have been developed which require the tissue anisotropic and hyperelastic parameters. These parameters are obtained by tissue samples mechanically testing. The validity of such parameters are limited to the specific tissue sample only. They are not adaptable for pathological tissues commonly associated with tissue microstructure alterations. To investigate cardiac tissue mechanics, a novel approach is proposed to model hyperelasticity and anisotropy. This approach is adaptable to various tissue microstructural constituent’s distributions in normal and pathological tissues. In this approach, the tissue is idealized as composite material consisting of cardiomyocytes distributed in extracellular matrix (ECM). The major myocardial tissue constituents are mitochondria and myofibrils while the main ECM’s constituents are collagen fibers and fibroblasts. Accordingly, finite element simulations of uniaxial and equibiaxial tests of normal and infarcted tissue samples with known amounts of these constituents were conducted, leading to corresponding tissue stress–strain data that were fitted to anisotropic/hyperelastic models. The models were validated where they showed good agreement characterized by maximum average stress-strain errors of 16.17 and 10.01% for normal and infarcted cardiac tissue, respectively. This demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed models in accurate characterization of healthy and pathological cardiac tissues.     

Chemical constituents of the roots of Scorzonera divaricata and their chemotaxonomic significance

The phytochemical study of the roots of Scorzonera divaricata Turcz led to the isolation of 27 compounds, including eight sterols (1–8), one lignan (9), two cumarins (10, 11), five phenylpropanoids (12–16), six benzene derivatives (17–22), methyl-β-D-fructofuranoside (23), monolinolein (24), and three aliphatic acids (25–27). The structures of isolated compounds were identified using NMR and ESI-MS spectroscopic methods and comparing them with those previously reported. Except for β-daucosterol (8), scopoletin (10) and caffeic acid (16) from S. divaricata, this is the first report of the other 24 compounds from S. divaricata. Among them, eleven compounds (2–6, 11, 17, 19, 20, 23, 25) were reported from genus Scorzonera for first time, suggesting that they could be used to distinguish S. divaricata from the other species of Scorzonera. Furthermore, the chemotaxonomic significance of isolated compounds from S. divaricata has also been discussed.     

Headspace solid-phase microextraction profiling of volatile compounds in urine: application to metabolic investigations

Volatile compounds contribute substantially to the metabolic pool in man. Their analysis in body fluids is problematic. We investigated headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) with Carboxen–polydimethylsiloxane fibres and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry for profiling urinary volatile components. These fibres were more sensitive for very volatile and sulfur compounds than three other phases tested. We detected a wide range of compounds in normal urine at acid and alkaline pH. Profiles presented for five individuals with metabolic disturbances demonstrate abnormal accumulation of sulfur compounds, fatty acids and plasticisers. HS-SPME can complement profiling of non-volatile compounds in metabolic investigations and could be a useful extension of the diagnostic repertoire.     

顶空固相微萃取/气相色谱/质谱法分析河南产紫丁香挥发性成分

采用顶空固相微萃取和气质联用技术（HS—SPME—GC—MS），首次分析了河南产紫丁香花营和花的挥发性成分。从紫丁香花蕾和花中共鉴定了65种组分，其中17个成分是二者共有的；酯类化合物只存在于花蕾中，而酸类和醇类化合物在花中的含量较高。这表明酯类化合物在紫丁香花开放的过程中可能逐步被植物体内的水解酶水解成酸类和醇类化合物。     

Separation and identification of chemical constituents of Morchella conica isolated from Guizhou Province China

Morchella conica, isolated from Southwest China, was identified based on its microstructure and ITS rDNA sequence. Nine chemical constituents (1–9) were separated from M. conica through fermentation, and their structures were identified according to spectroscopic data and chemical evidence as follows: two unsaturated fatty acid and ester (1–2), three sterols (3–5), one aromatic carboxylic acid (6) and derivatives (7), one base (8), and chlorinated aromatic esters (9). Subsequently, the chemotaxonomic significance of Compounds 2, 7, and 9, which are the first to be reported in Morchella spp., was summarized.     

Chemical constituents from the aerial part of Peganum multisectum

Phytochemical investigation of the aerial part of Peganum multisectum led to the isolation of thirteen compounds, including seven alkaloids (1–5, 7 and 12), two sterols (6 and 10), one phenylpropanoid (8), one lignanoid (11), one megastigman (9), and one phenol (13). Their structures were identified by spectroscopic methods like UV, IR, MS and NMR, and in comparison with the published data in the references. Among them, compounds 10, 12 and 13 were firstly obtained from genus Peganum. The chemotaxonomic significance of these compounds was also discussed, which revealed the relationships between P. multisectum and some other species of genus Peganum.