Changes in Plasma Angiotensin Ⅱ and Circadian Rhythm of Blood Pressure in Hypertensive Patients with Sleep Apnea Syndrome Before and After Treatment

Objective To explore the changes in plasma angiotensin II (Ang II) and circadian rhythm of blood pressure among hypertensive patients with sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) before and after continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or surgical treatment.Methods A total of 180 essential hypertension patients were enrolled in our study.The determination of plasma Ang II concentration,ambulatory blood pressure (ABP),and polysomnography (PSG) monitoring were performed before and 3 months after CPAP or surgical treatment.Results Patients were classified into three groups by their apnea-hypopnea index (AHI):essential hypertension group (EH group,n=72;AHI<5),essential hypertension with mild SAS group (EH+mild SAS group,n=60,5≤AHI<20),and essential hypertension with moderate and severe SAS group (EH+moderate-severe SAS group,n=48,AHI≥20).The concentrations of plasma AngⅡ in the above three groups were 13.42±3.27,16.17±3.82,and 18.73±4.05 ng/mL respectively before treatment,and AngⅡ concentration in EH patients combined with SAS was significantly higher than that in EH group (all P<0.05).After treatment the values in the latter two groups significantly decreased to 14.67±2.56 and 15.03±3.41 ng/mL respectively (P<0.05).The incidence of non-dipper blood pressure curve in EH patients was 31.9%,and those in hypertensive patients with mild SAS and moderate-severe SAS were 51.7% and 58.3%,respectively before treatment.The incidence of non-dipper blood pressure curve in the EH patients with mild SAS was significantly higher than that of patients with EH alone (P<0.05).After CPAP treatment or surgery,the incidence of non-dipper blood pressure curve in the two SAS groups was significantly decreased to 38.3% and 39.6%,respectively (P<0.05).Conclusions Ang II might play a role in blood pressure variability in patients with obstructive SAS.CPAP or surgical treatment can improve blood pressure disorder and decrease plasma Ang II level in patients with obstructive SAS.     

Effects of Yixin Jiangya Capsules on Insulin Resistance and Tumor Necrosis Factor-a in Cases of Primary Hypertension with Left Ventricular Hypertrophy

To observe the effects of Ftxin Jiangya Capsules （益心降压胶囊capsules for nourishing the heart and lowering blood pressure） on insulin resistance （IR） and tumor necrosis factor-a （TNF-a） in patients with primary hypertension with left ventricular hypertrophy （LVH）. Methods： Totally 93 cases were randomly divided into a control group of 31 cases taking Enalapril and a treatment group of 62 cases taking Enalapril and Irtxin Jiangya Capsules. Results： Fasting serum insulin （FSI） and TNF-a obviously increased and insulin sensitive index （ISI） significantly decreased in both groups before treatment as compared to those of a healthy group. After treatment, FSI, TNF-a and fasting blood glucose （FBG） obviously decreased and ISI remarkably increased in the treatment group, while ISI significantly increased and TNF-a obviously decreased in the control group. The curative effect in the treatment group was remarkably superior to that in the control group. FSI was positively related to TNF-a before treatment in both groups. Conclusion： FSI and TNF-a obviously increase and ISI significantly decreases in patients with primary hypertension with LVH. FSI and TNF-a influencing each other are involved in the generation and development of hypertension. Irtxin Jiangya Capsules can improve IR and decrease TNF-a.     

Effects of Yixin Jiangya Capsules on Insulin Resistance and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α in Cases of Primary Hypertension with Left Ventricular Hypertrophy

Objectives: To observe the effects of Yixin Jiangya Capsules (益心降压胶囊 capsules for nourishing the heart and lowering blood pressure) on insulin resistance (IR) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in patients with primary hypertension with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). Methods: Totally 93 cases were randomly divided into a control group of 31 cases taking Enalapril and a treatment group of 62 cases taking Enalapril and Yixin Jiangya Capsules. Results: Fasting serum insulin (FSI) and TNF-α obviously increased and insulin sensitive index (ISI) significantly decreased in both groups before treatment as compared to those of a healthy group. After treatment, FSI, TNF-α and fasting blood glucose (FBG) obviously decreased and ISI remarkably increased in the treatment group, while ISI significantly increased and TNF-α obviously decreased in the control group. The curative effect in the treatment group was remarkably superior to that in the control group. FSI was positively related to TNF-α before treatment in both groups. Conclusion: FSI and TNF-α obviously increase and ISI significantly decreases in patients with primary hypertension with LVH. FSI and TNF-α influencing each other are involved in the generation and development of hypertension. Yixin Jiangya Capsules can improve IR and decrease TNF-α.     

Effect of Shexiang Tongxin Dropping Pills(麝香通心滴丸) on the Immediate Blood Flow of Patients with Coronary Slow Flow

Objective: To observe the immediate effect and safety of Shexiang Tongxin dropping pills(麝香通心滴丸, STDP) on patients with coronary slow flow(CSF), and furthermore, to explore new evidence for the use of Chinese medicine in treating ischemic chest pain. Methods: Coronary angiography(CAG) with corrected thrombolysis in myocardial infarction(TIMI) frame count(CTFC) was applied(collected at 30 frames/s). The treatment group included 22 CSF patients, while the control group included 22 individuals with normal coronary?ow. CSF patients were given 4 STDP through sublingual administration, and CAG was performed 5 min after the medication. The immediate blood ?ow frame count, blood pressure, and heart rate of patients before and after the use of STDP were compared. The liver and kidney functions of patients were examined before and after treatments. Results: There was a signi?cant difference in CTFC between groups(P0.05). The average CTFC values of the vessels with slow blood ?ow in CSF patients were, respectively, 49.98±10.01 and 40.42±11.33 before and after the treatment with STDP, a 19.13% improvement. The CTFC values(frame/s) measured before and after treatment at the left anterior descending coronary artery, left circumflex artery, and right coronary artery were, respectively, 48.00±13.32 and 41.80±15.38, 59.00±4.69 and 50.00±9.04, and 51.90±8.40 and40.09±10.46, giving 12.92%, 15.25%, and 22.76% improvements, respectively. The CTFC values of vessels with slow ?ow before treatment were signi?cantly decreased after treatment(P0.05). There were no apparent changes in the heart rate, blood pressure, or liver or kidney function of CSF patients after treatment with STDP(all P0.05). Conclusions: The immediate effect of STDP in treating CSF patients was apparent. This medication could signi?cantly improve coronary ?ow without affecting blood pressure or heart rate. Our ?ndings support the potential of Chinese medicine to treat ischemic chest pain.     

The circadian rhythm of blood pressure and the effect of sa lt intake in salt-sensitive subjects

Objective To investigate the effect of salt intake on the circadian rhythm of blood pressure and the characteristics of ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) in salt-sensitive (SS) subjects. Methods Twenty-three normotensive subjects and forty-three patients with essential hypertension were included in this study.Salt sensitivity was determined with a chronic dietary salt loading test and an acute venous saline loading test, respectively.24-hour ABP measurements were performed twice in normotensive subjects when they were on a high salt diet and when they had a low salt diet.Blood and urine samples were collected for measurement of plasma norepinephrine concentration (PNE), plasma renin activity (PRA), angiotensin Ⅱ, aldosterone, erythrocyte sodium content and urinary sodium excretion.24-hour ABP readings were also obtained in patients with essential hypertension when antihypertensive drugs were discontinued for at least 2 weeks. Results High salt intake attenuated the circadian rhythm of blood pressure in SS normotensive subjects, and the nocturnal decline in blood pressure was smaller in SS patients with essential hypertension than in salt-resistant (SR) patients.The level of PNE was higher and the suppression of PRA was smaller in SS subjects than in SR subjects when they had a high salt diet, and the urinary sodium excretion decreased and the erythrocyte sodium content increased significantly in SS subjects on high salt intake. Conclusions High salt intake caused an abnormal circadian rhythm of blood pressure in SS subjects.The blunted nocturnal decline in blood pressure may be a characteristics of SS patients with essential hypertension.     

Clinical Observation on 30 Cases of Transient Cerebral Ischemia Attack Treated with Acupuncture and Medication

Objective: To probe the curative effect of acupuncture and medication on transient cerebral ischemia attack. Method: 30 patients with transient cerebral ischemia attack in the treatment group were acupunctured at Fengchi (GB 20), Wangu (GB 12) and Tianzhu (BL 10) and given orally leech capsules and centipede capsules. 30 patients with transient cerebral ischemia attack in the control group were given intravenous drip of compound Danshen injection and orally aspirin. At the end of two treatment courses, the curative effects were evaluated and the changes in blood rheology and in 3 indexes of blood coagulation were observed before and after treatment in the 2 groups. Results: The total effective rate in the treatment group was 86.7% with obvious difference as compared to the control group (P<0.05). There were remarkable differences in blood rheology and 3 indexes of blood coagulation before and after treatment in the treatment group (P<0.05, P<0.01). There were remarkable differences after treatment between the 2 groups (P<0.05). Conclusion: Acupuncture at Fengchi (GB 20), Wangu (GB 12) and Tianzhu (BL 10) and medication with leech capsules and centipede capsules are effective methods in treating transient cerebral ischemia attack.     

The Different Expression of PPARγ in the Artery Tissues of Hypertensive Patients with Different Ages

Objective: To study the expression of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ(PPARγ) in the artery tissues of essential hypertensive patients, and the different changes with different ages, especially to the hypertensive patients more than 65 years old.Methods: Collected the mesenteric artery tissues of essential hypertensive patients( ＞65 years old group and ＜65 years old group)and patients with normal blood pressure,using immunohistochemical analysis and image acquiring and analysis system to detect the expression of PPARγ in the artery tissues. Results: the expression of PPARγ in the artery tissues of essential hypertensive patients is higher than that in the patients with normal blood pressure( P ＜ 0.05), and to the group of hypertensive patients, the expression of PPARγ in ＞ 65 years old group is higher than that in ＜ 65 years old group ( P ＜ 0.05). Conclusion: the expression of PPARγ in artery tissues is increased in hypertensive patients than in the patients with normal blood pressure, and increased with aging in hypertensive patients, suggesting that PPARγhas great relationship with hypertension.     

Protective effects of Radix Astragalus on vascular endothelial Cells of patients with Binswanger’s disease

Objective: To compare the effects of Radix Astragalus (RA) on vascular endothelial cells in Binswanger’s disease (BD) patients with Radix Salviae miltiorrhizae (RSM).Methods: There were 37 patients with BD in the treated group and 37 healthy subjects in the control group. Thirty-seven patients were further randomly subdivided into two groups: RA group (19 patients) and RSM group (18 patients). Circulating endothelial cells (CEC) and the levels of endothelin-1 (ET-1), nitric oxide (NO) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the blood of internal jugular vein which were examined before and after treatments.Results: When compared with those of the control group, CEC counts, ET-1 and MDA levels in plasma increased significantly, meanwhile serum NO concentration decreased significantly in the treated group. When compared with those of pretreatment, CEC counts, ET-1 and MDA decreased significantly and serum NO concentration increased significantly after treatment in RA group. There were no significant changes of these indices in RSM group after treatment.Conclusions: There are damage and dysfunction of vascular endothelial cells in patients with BD. RA injection is an effective drug to protect vascular endothelial cells of BD patients.     

Clinical Observation on Influence of Chinese Medicines for Promoting Blood Circulation to Remove Blood Stasis on FIB and DD in Plasma of Patients with Cerebral Thrombosis

to study the influence of Chinese medicines for promoting blood circulation to removeblood stasis on fibrinogen(FIB)and D-dimer(DD)in plasma of patients with cerebral thrombosis.Method:73 inpatients with acute cerebral thrombosis were randomly divided into a control group of34 cases and a treatment group of 39 cases.The content of FIB and DD in plasma was detectedbefore treatment and on the 7th and 14th days after treatment.Result:FIB content in plasma aftertreatment was lower than that before treatment in the control group(P<0.01)and more remarkablein the treatment group(P<0.001).There was an obvious difference in DD content before and aftertreatment in both groups.DD content on the 7th and 14th days after treatment in the treatmentgroup was obviously higher than that in the control group(P<0.01 and P<0.05 respectively).Conclusion:Chinese medicines for promoting blood circulation to remove blood stasis can reducethe FIB content in plasma of patients with cerebral thrombosis,raise the DD content in plasma,cause the peak of DD content appear earlier and obviously improve hypercoagulability of blood inpatients with cerebral thrombosis.     

Clinical effects of innovative tuina manipulations on treating cervical spondylosis of vertebral artery type and changes in cerebral blood flow

OBJECTIVE:To determine the clinical effect,treatment times,and rheoencephalogram changes in vertebral artery type cervical spondylosis patients treated with innovative Tuina manipulations.METHODS:One hundred and twenty six cervical spondylosis patients(vertebral artery type) were randomly divided into test and control groups.Patients in the test group were treated with innovative Tuina manipulations,while those in the control group were treated with the routine Tuina manipulations according to the textbook of Chinese Massage for Acupuncture and Moxibustion majors.The clinical effects,treatment times,clinical symptoms,and cerebral blood flow were measured.RESULTS:The response to the treatment was 100% in the test group and 88.71% in the control group.Patients in the test group required(7 ± 4) treatments before recovery,while those in the control group required(15 ± 7) treatments before recovery(P<0.05).The clinical symptoms exhibited greater improvement in the test group compared to the control group(P<0.05).There were no differences in cerebral blood flow between the two groups.CONCLUSION:Both innovative Tuina manipulations and routine Tuina manipulations produced satisfactory therapeutic results in vertebral artery type cervical spondylosis patients.However,the innovative manipulation was more effective in improving the functional symptoms,although there were no changes in the cerebral blood flow.     

Needling Neiguan （P 6） for Treatment of Low Pulse Pressure Syndrome ——A Report of 31 Cases

Objective: To observe the impact of needling Neiguan (P 6) on the cardiovascular functional status in low pulse pressure syndrome. Method: 49 eligible patients were randomly assigned to a acupuncture group with bilateral Neiguan (P 6) needled for successive 3 days, and a medication group given a daily 20 mL of Shenmai Injectio intravenously dripped for successive 6 days. The blood pressure, pulse pressure, stroke volume (SV), cardiac output(CO)/min, left ventricle work index (LVWI), mean arterial pressure (MAP), total peripheral resistance (TPR), coronary perfusion pressure (CPP), pulmonary arterial wedge pressure (PAWP), effective blood volume (BV), blood viscosity (N), microcirculation half renewal rate (MHR), and cardiac muscle blood volume (CMBV) were determined before and after the treatment, which were compared with the parameters obtained in 23 healthy subjects. Results: The decreased pulse pressure of all patients before treatment (P＜0.01) increased significantly after treatment (P＜0.001). The levels of SV, CO, LVWI, PAWP, BV, MHR and CMBV were lowed when compared with the healthy subjects before treatment (P＜0.01), but all of them significantly increased after treatment (P＜0.01). The increased CPP, TPR and N before treatment (P＜0.01) were decreased after treatment (P＜0.01). Conclusion: The therapeutic effect of acupuncture at point Neiguan (P 6) was better than medication though some of the indexes showed no significant difference (P＜0.05).     

Clinical Studies on Treatment of Chronic Prostatitis with Acupuncture and Mild Moxibustion

To observe the therapeutic effect of acupuncture and mild moxibustion on chronic prostatitis and to probe into the mechanism of the therapy. Two hundred patients with chronic prostatitis were randomly divided into two groups so as to observe respectively the changes in clinical symptoms, count of WBC and lecithin corpuscles in succus prostaticus, prostatic capcules and internal echo, tenderness and elasticity of prostate by palpation before and after treatment. After treatment, a remarkable improvement was found in clinical symptoms, succus prostaticus test and ultrasonic examination in the treatment group with a statistically significant difference （P 〈 0.05） as compared to the control group. The treatment of chronic prostatitis with acupuncture and mild moxibustion can remove the stagnation of succus prostaticus, improve the blood circulation in prostate, inhibit or kill the pathogenic micro-organisms, strengthen or regulate the immune function of the patients, improve local blood circulation, eliminate the accumulation of secretion and relieve the obstruction of the orostatic ducts.     

Effect of amlodipine combined with telmisartan or compound amiloride on plasma ET-1 concentration and let ventricular diastolic function of essential hypertension patients with left ventricular hypertrophy

Objective： To observe the effect of different combination antihypertensive therapies on plasma endothelin-1 （ET-1） concentration and left ventricular diastolic function of essential hypertension patients with left ventricular hypertrophy （LVH） Methods： A total of 111 patients with essential hypertension were selected, including 60 cases （34 males, 26 females） aged （60.7±5.6） years with simple hypertension, and 51 cases （28 males, 23 females） aged （61.8±7.0） years with essential hypertension complicated with LVH. Essential hypertension patients with LVH were randomly divided into the group of amlodipine （2.5 mg/d） combined with telmisartan （40 mg/d, n=26） and the group of amlodipine （2.5 mg/d） combined with amiloride （half tablet/d, n=25）,and the treatment lasted for 1 year. Echocardiography was performed before and after the treatment. Left ventricular mass index （LVMI）, left ventricular isovolumic relaxation time （IVRT） and other indicators were detected, and plasma ET-1 concentrations were measured for comparative analysis. And 56 patients （31 males, 25 females） aged （59.3±6.7） years with normal blood pressure in the same period in our hospital were selected as the normal control group. Results： The general clinical characteristics were similar between hypertensive LVH group, simple hypertensive group and normal healthy control group. Plasma ET-1 concentrations, LVMI and IVRT of hypertensive LVH group were significantly higher than those of normal control group and simple hypertension group, and the difference was statistically significant. The patients＇ baseline blood pressure, ET-1, LVMI, interventricular septal thickness （IVST）, left ventricular posterior wall thickness （LVPWT）, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter （LVEDd） and other clinical parameters showed no significant difference （P〉0.05） between the group of amlodipine combined with telmisartan and the group of amlodipine combined with amiloride. It was found that compared with that before treatment, blood pressure could be effectively controlled （P〈0.05）, and LVMI, IVST, LVPWT and IVRT （P〈0.05） were all lowered, and ET-1 （P〈0.01） was significantly reduced after 1 year of antihypertensive therapy in both the group of amlodipine combined with telmisartan and the group of amlodipine combined with amiloride. The group of amlodipine combined with telmisartan was better in lowering blood pressure and reducing LVMI, IVST, LVPWT, IVRT and ET-1 than the group of amlodipine combined with amiloride （P〈0.05）. Conelus｜on： Amlodipine-based combination antthypertensive therapy could reverse LVH and improve left ventricular diastolic function partly by lowering blood pressure and ET-1, and the effect of amlodipine combined with telmisartan was superior to that ofamlodipine combined with amiloride     

Postoperative neuropsychological change and its underlying mechanism in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting

Background  The high incidence of neuropsychologic deficits after cardiac surgery, including cognitive dysfunction and mood status, has significantly influenced the prognosis, outcome of treatment and long-term quality of life of patients. With a circadian secretion pattern, melatonin and cortisol are capable of modulating the human physiological processes and neuropsychological status, whereas disorder of their secretion pattern may lead to many diseases. However, it is unclear whether neuroendocrine variations are related to the neuropsychologic status in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).
Methods   Forty male patients scheduled for CABG with hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) (n=20) or off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) (n=20) were studied. Blood samples were taken intraoperatively at specific time-points and every 3 hours within the first postoperative 24 hours to determine plasma concentrations of melatonin and cortisol. A neuropsychologic test battery including depression and anxiety was administered preoperatively and 7 to 10 days postoperatively. Statistical methods included the nonparametric analysis, multiple linear regression and cosinor analysis.
Results  The patients in the CPB group exhibited more severe neuropsychologic deficits and more anxious than those in the OPCAB group after surgery. In both groups, patients were more depressed postoperatively than preoperatively and recovered 3 months after surgery. Depression and anxiety were correlated with some factors of cognitive dysfunctions.  In the postoperative 24 hours, 2 patients in the CPB group, and 6 patients in the OPCAB group showed a circadian rhythm of melatonin secretion. As for cortisol secretion, there were 3 patients in the CPB group and 7 in the OPCAB group respectively. Parameters of circadian rhythm of melatonin in the CPB group and those of secretion rhythm of cortisol in both groups were correlated with depression and some neuropsychologic tests.
Conclusions  The incidence of neuropsychological deficits was higher in patients receiving CABG with CPB than in those without CPB. The status of mood may contribute to the perioperative cognitive dysfunctions. The disordered circadian rhythm of melatonin secretion in patients undergoing CABG with CPB and the disordered cortisol secretion may correlate directly or indirectly through mood with neuropsychological deficits.

     

Effect of Xiongshao Capsule（芎芍胶囊）on the Function of Vascular Endothelium of Patients with Cervical Atherosclerosis

Objective: To study the effect of Xiongshao Capsule (芎芍胶囊, XSC), a TCM herb that can promote blood circulation to remove blood stasis, on the endothelial dependent relaxation function, serum nitric oxide (NO), and plasma endothelin-1 (ET-1) of the patients with cervical atherosclerosis. Methods: Forty patients were randomly divided into two groups: XSC group and Probucol group (western medicine control).In addition, 20 healthy people were set as a normal control group. Plasma ET-1, serum NO, the internal diameter of basal brachial artery, endothelial dependent flow mediated dilation (FMD) and non-endothelial dependent nitroglycerin induced dilation (NID) to the trial group before and after therapy and to the healthy control group were determined respectively. Results: Compared to the healthy control group, FMD of patients with atherosclerosis was damaged obviously, the serum NO level decreased, plasma ET-1 increased (P＜0.01), NID also decreased (P＜0.05), the internal diameter of basal brachial artery has no obvious difference (P＞0.05). After the patients with atherosclerosis were treated with Xiongshao Capsule for 12 weeks,FMD increased evidently, plasma ET-1 decreased, serum NO and the ratio of NO/ET-1 increased, compared with the level before therapy and Probucol group, the difference was significant (P＜0.05, P＜0.01), NIDdidn′t change obviously (P＞0.05). Conclusion: XSC could regulate vascular activity factor and improve the function of endothelial dependent vascular dilation of patients with atherosclerosis.     

The Different Expression of PPARγ in the Artery Tissues of Hypertensive Patients with Different Ages

Objective： To study the expression of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ（PPARγ） in the artery tissues of essential hypertensive patients, and the different changes with different ages, especially to the hypertensive patients more than 65 years old. Methods： Collected the mesenteric artery tissues of essential hypertensive patients（ 〉 65 years old group and 〈 65 years old group）and patients with normal blood pressure, using immunohistochemical analysis and image acquiring and analysis system to detect the expression of PPARγ in the artery tissues. Results： the expression of PPARγ in the artery tissues of essential hypertensive patients is higher than that in the patients with normal blood pressure（ P 〈 0.05）, and to the group of hypertensive patients, the expression of PPARγ in 〉 65 years old group is higher than that in 〈65 years old group （P〈0.05）. Conclusion： the expression of PPARγ in artery tissues is increased in hypertensive patients than in the patients with normal blood pressure, and increased with aging in hypertensive patients, suggesting that PPARγ has great relationship with hypertension.     

Effect of NADPH oxidase inhibitor apocynin on the expression of hypoxia-induced factor-1α and endothelin-1 in rat carotid body exposed to chronic intermittent hypoxia

The effects of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase inhibitor apocynin on the enhanced hypoxia induced factor-1α (HIF-1α) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) expression,elevated systolic blood pressure under chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) condition and its action mechanism were investigated.Thirty healthy 8-week old Sprague-Dawley (SD) male rats were randomly divided into three groups (n=10 each): sham group,CIH group,and apocynin-treated CIH group.Tail artery systolic blood pressure was measured by tail-cuff method.Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect the mRNA expression of HIF-1α and ET-1 in the carotid body,and the HIF-1α protein expression was examined by using Western blotting.The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were determined by using colorimetric method.In addition,the plasma ET-1 and HIF-1α levels were measured by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.It was found that CIH exposure was associated with increased MDA levels,and apocynin-treated CIH animals showed reduction in MDA levels.Apocynin treatment prevented CIH-induced hypertension as well as CIH-induced decrease in SOD.The increases of HIF-1α and ET-1 mRNA along with HIF-1α protein expression in the carotid body,and elevated circulating HIF-1α and ET-1 levels were observed in CIH-exposed animals.Treatment with apocynin significantly decreased the ET-1 mRNA,HIF-1α protein expression and circulating HIF-1α level in CIH-exposed animals,and there was no statistically significant difference in the HIF-1α mRNA expression between CIH group and apocynin-treated group.These results indicated that apocynin alleviated CIH-induced hypertension by inhibiting NADPH oxidase,further leading to the reduced vasoconstrictor ET-1 level and oxidative stress.HIF-1α/ET-1 system signal pathway may interact with CIH-induced NADPH oxidase-dependent oxidative stress.Inhibition of NADPH oxidase activity may hopefully serve as a useful strategy for prevention and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome-induced hypertension.     

Transcranial Doppler??TCD??applied to detect the changes of ophthalmic artery blood flow

Background Ophthalmic artery (OA) is a main branch of the internal carotid artery (ICA). Severe internal carotid artery stenosis or occlusion can not only affect the blood supply to the brain, but also cause the OA insufficiency, then leading to the occurrence of ocular ischemia. Our study is to observe the blood flow spectrum changes of OA in patients with severe ICA stenosis or occlusion through Transcranial Doppler (TCD) examination and explore the using value of TCD in ophthalmology. Methods A total of 66 patients at Beijing Friendship Hospital with a diagnosis of severe stenosis or occlusion in the initial department of ICA were included In this study. we used TCD examination technique to detect the blood flow spectrum, blood flow direction and peak systolic velocity (PSV) of OA to compare with that of the normal control group. Statistical analysis was performed using the two sample t-test. Results Among the 66 patients, 4 cases of their OA blood flow spectrum were normal, 27 cases of their OA blood flow spectrum were in low velocity, 27 cases of their OA blood flow spectrum were reverse and in low pulsation, 8 case of their OA trunk blood flow signal were not measured. The OA blood flow direction which was positive were 31 cases, whose PSV value were significantly lower than that of the normal control group (P<0.05). The OA blood flow direction which was reverse were 27 cases, whose PSA value had no significant difference from that of the normal control group (P>0.05). Conclusion TCD can make an objective evaluation of the OA’s hemodynamic changes of internal carotid artery stenosis patients to make clear the blood supply of the eye, therefore having an important using value in ophthalmology.     

Effect of Liandouqingmai Recipe on life quality and vascular endothelial injury in patients with coronary heart disease

OBJECTIVE:To observe the effects of Liandouqingmai Recipe on life quality and vascular endothelial injury in patients with coronary heart disease.METHODS:Capitalized 101 patients with coronary heart disease were randomly divided into a treatment group(n=45) treated with Liandouqingmai Recipe and a standard treatment group(control group,n=56).A normal group of 16 healthy persons was additionally set up.Changes in ET-1 and NO levels were measured and Seatle Angina Questionnaire(SAQ) was adopted in studying life quality before and after treatment for two weeks.The data were analyzed with SPSS 16.0 statistic software.RESULTS:The average level of ET-1 in the normal group was lower and NO higher than that of patients with coronary heart disease.There was no significant difference in the average level of ET-1 and NO and in the scores of SAQ [physical limitation(PL),pngina stability(AS),apngina frequency(AF),treatment satisfaction(TS) and disease perception(DP)] between the two groups before treatment(P>0.05).But after treatment,the scores of SAQ(PL,AS,AF,TS,DP) and NO level were higher than those in the control group,and ET-1 average level in the treatment group was lower than that in the control group.The negative relations between PL and ET-1 and between AF and ET-1 were found in this study.CONCLUSION:Liandouqingmai Recipe can raise scores of SAQ and NO level and decline ET level in patients with coronary heart disease on the basis of convertional standard treatment,thus improving vascular endothelial function and life quality.Life quality is related to vascular endothelial function.