VASOCONSTRICTOR RESPONSES TO COMPONENTS OF THE RENIN-ANGIOTENSIN SYSTEM IN CYCLOSPORIN-INDUCED HYPERTENSION IN THE RAT

1. Since plasma renin activity is increased in cyclosporin A (CsA)-induced hypertension in the rat, the role of the vascular renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in CsA-induced hypertension was investigated in rat mesenteric resistance vessels. 2. Female Wistar rats received CsA (10 mg/kg per day, s.c.) or vehicle for 30 days. CsA treatment increased tail-cuff systolic blood pressure (CsA treated 135 ± 3 mmHg vs control 125 ± 1 mmHg, P<0.0001). 3. Mesenteric resistance arteries (200–300 μm) were isolated and mounted in a microvessel myograph. Concentration-response curves to tetradecapeptide renin substrate (10-¹¹-10^?6 mol/L), angiotensin I (10-^l1-10^?6 mol/L) and angiotensin II (10-¹²-10^?6 mol/L) showed no differences between CsA-treated and control groups. 4. Mesenteric vascular angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) characteristics were determined by radioligand binding. There were no differences in the content or affinity of ACE between CsA-treated and control rats. 5. These results suggest that the mesenteric vascular RAS does not play a major role in CsA-induced hypertension in the rat.     

Periodontal conditions among the middle-aged and the elderly in Hong Kong

Abstract The aim of this study was to describe the periodontal conditions in 372 35–44-yr-old and 537 noninstitutionalized 65–74-yr-old Hong Kong Chinese who were examined clinically for loss of attachment, recession, probing depth, calculus, and bleeding after probing. Community Periodontal Index (CPI) data and treatment need indications were compiled from index teeth or their substitutes. The prevalence of loss of attachment varied considerably in both cohorts according to the definition of the threshold (≥6, ≥9, and ≥12 mm, respectively). The mean numbers of teeth with loss of attachment at the ≥6-mm threshold and at higher thresholds were small. In both age cohorts, about one-fifth of subjects had probing depths ≥6-mm, while al the ≥9-mm threshold only 2–3% were so affected. Although recession was an important component of loss of attachment in the younger cohort, in the older cohort the prevalence and extent of recession were greater than for probing depths at thresholds ≥4 mm. All subjects had one or more teeth with calculus, bleeding, or both, most teeth being so affected. Eighty-four of the 537 65–74-yr-old subjects were excluded either because of edentulousness or because extractions indicated for the remaining teeth would have rendered the subjects edentulous. The distribution of subjects according to their highest CPI score was remarkably similar for the two cohorts. No subjects in either age group were assessed as “healthy” (CPI code 0) or had “bleeding only” (code 1) as their highest score. While most subjects scored CPI code 2 or 3 us their highest score, only 17% of the younger and 15% of the older cohort scored Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs (CPITN) code 4. Differences in the mean number of sextants affected by CPI codes between the two cohorts were mainly due to a greater number of excluded sextants in the older cohort. CPI findings for 35–44-yr-olds differed little from those reported in 1984.     

高血压大鼠心肌中MMP-2的蛋白表达及其RAS阻断后的变化

[目的]探讨高血压大鼠左室心肌中基质金属蛋白酶-2(MMP-2)蛋白表达的变化以及血管紧张素转化酶抑制剂(ACEI)、血管紧张素Ⅱ1型受体拮抗剂(AT1-ant)单独与联合治疗对高血压大鼠心肌中MMP-2蛋白表达的影响。[方法]40只雄性8周龄的易卒中自发性高血压大鼠(SHRSP)随机分成5组:SHRSP对照组、安慰剂组、缬沙坦组、苯那普利组及缬沙坦与苯那普利联用组。另外,取8只雄性8周龄的京都Wistar大鼠(WKY)作为对照。利用免疫组织化学的方法检测WKY以及SHRSP左室心肌中MMP-2蛋白的表达。[结果]SHRSP的收缩压(SBP)、左室质量指数(LVMI)、胶原容积分数(CVF)、血管周围胶原面积(PVCA)、左室心肌MMP-2蛋白表达较同龄的WKY显著增高。给予苯那普利、缬沙坦单独或联合治疗后SHRSP的LVMI、CVF、PVCA、左室心肌 MMP-2蛋白表达都显著降低。苯那普利、缬沙坦单独应用时的效果没有差异,而联合应用的效果更显著。[结论]SHRSP左室心肌中MMP-2蛋白表达增高,肾素血管紧张素系统(RAS)阻断后MMP-2蛋白表达显著减少;苯那普利、缬沙坦逆转高血压心室重塑的作用可能部分通过下调MMP-2蛋白表达而实现;苯那普利和缬沙坦都能降低SHRSP的血压以及逆转其左室重塑,而联合用药的作用更显著。     

Oxidative stress: does it play a role in the genesis of essential hypertension and hypertension of uraemia?

Reactive oxygen species: general aspects Reactive oxygen species, including superoxide radicals, hydrogenperoxide, nitric oxide, peroxynitrite, hydroxyl radicals andhypochlorous acid are by-products of normal metabolic processesin cells. Reactive oxygen species can be found in several cellsincluding macrophages and vascular smooth muscle cells. At lowconcentrations reactive oxygen species can act as physiologicalmediators of cellular responses whereas higher concentrationsmay cause cell damage [1,2]. The major sources of reactive oxygenspecies are leakages from the electron transport chains of mitochondriaand endoplasmic reticulum. Cellular energy metabolism is basedon the production of ATP through the electron transport reactionin which O₂ accepts electrons and H⁺ and then is eventuallyreduced to water. Only 1–2% of the electrons are leakedto generate superoxide radicals in reactions mediated by coenzymeQ and ubiquinone and its complexes. During ageing (and probablyin patients     

Inhibition of Expression of Hypoxia-inducible Factor-1α mRNA by Nitric Oxide in Hypoxic Pulmonary Hypertension Rats

Hypoxiaisadirectfactorcausinghypoxicpul monaryhypertension (HPH) .hypoxiainduciblefac tor 1α (HIF 1α)isfoundtobethemostcrucialfactorsofarwhichmediatesthecellularresponsetohypoxi a[1] .OurpreviousstudyrevealedthatoverexpressionofHIF 1andendothelin 1(ET 1…     

WHO and ATPIII proposals for the definition of the metabolic syndrome in patients with Type 2 diabetes.

AIMS: Different criteria have been proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and by the Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (ATPIII) for the diagnosis of the metabolic syndrome. Its identification is of particular importance for coronary risk assessment. METHODS: The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was determined according to the two different proposals in 1569 consecutive subjects with Type 2 diabetes. RESULTS: By the WHO proposal, 81% of cases (95% confidence interval, 79-83) were labelled as metabolic syndrome. Microalbuminuria had the highest specificity (99%) and visceral obesity the highest sensitivity (93%). Seventy-eight per cent of patients (95% CI, 76-80) fulfilled the ATPIII criteria for metabolic syndrome, low HDL-cholesterol having the highest specificity (95%), elevated blood pressure having the highest sensitivity. According to both proposals, 1113 patients were positive; 183 were concordantly negative, indicative of a fairly good agreement (k statistics, 0.464). Subjects only positive for the WHO proposal were more frequently males, had a lower BMI and a higher arterial pressure. Only subjects identified by the ATPIII proposal had a significantly higher prevalence of previously detected coronary heart disease. CONCLUSIONS: Minimum criteria for the metabolic syndrome are met in most patients with Type 2 diabetes. Correct identification of the syndrome is important for an integrated approach to reduce the high costs and the associated disabilities. The ATPIII proposal more clearly identifies the burden of coronary heart disease associated with the metabolic syndrome.     

高血压病患者心肌灌注断层显像的相关因素研究

目的探讨高血压病患者心肌灌注断层显像的结果和多种临床因素的关系.方法将97例高血压病患者的心肌灌注断层显像结果同患者的年龄、性别、体重指数、患高血压病的时间、有无抗高血压治疗,有无高血压家族史,患者的血清葡萄糖、肌酐、尿素氮、甘油三酯、胆固醇、脉搏、收缩压、舒张压、脉压差、平均动脉压、患者是否吸烟、饮酒进行非条件Logistic回归分析.结果患高血压病的时间(βi=0.4914,P=0.0017)、吸烟(βi=3.5022,P=0.0176)、高胆固醇血症(βi=1.6147,P=0.0194)是高血压病患者并发心肌缺血的危险因素.结论高血压痛患者戒烟、治疗高胆固醇血症,可降低其并发心肌缺血的风险.     

原发性高血压患者微量白蛋白尿与血压及左室重塑的关系

目的探讨原发性高血压(EH)患者微量白蛋白尿(MCA)与血压及左室重塑的关系.方法 84名EH患者按24h尿微量白蛋白值分为微量白蛋白尿组(MCA组)和正常白蛋白尿组(NMCA组),进行动态血压、心脏超声检测,比较两组动态血压值、左室重量指数(LVMI)及左室重塑的特点.结果 MCA组平均收缩压、平均舒张压、脉压、平均动脉压均高于NMCA组(均P＜0.01);MCA组LVMI、左室肥厚与向心性肥厚的发生率均高于NMCA组(均P＜0.01),正常构型率低于NMCA组(P=0.01).LVMI与尿微量白蛋白值、平均收缩压、平均舒张压均呈显著的正相关(均P＜0.05).结论合并有MCA的EH患者血压较高,LVMI较大,左室肥厚与向心性肥厚的发生率较高.MCA与血压及左室重塑密切相关.     

多沙唑嗪与特拉唑嗪治疗原发性高血压的疗效比较

目的:比较甲磺酸多沙唑嗪和特拉唑嗪治疗原发性高血压的疗效和安全性.方法:采用随机单盲平行对照试验,将符合条件的轻、中度高血压患者63例随机分为试验组(多沙唑嗪)和对照组(特拉唑嗪).试验剂量从2 mg开始逐渐递增至2～8 mg/d,疗程4周.治疗前后分别行心电图、常规体检、血尿常规和生化检查.结果:①治疗4周后,多沙唑嗪组降压总有效率80.7%,特拉唑嗪组降压总有效率70.0%.两组间无显著性差异.②多沙唑嗪组治疗前后收缩压、舒张压的下降幅度分别为10.81%、10.70%,特拉唑嗪组为10.01%、11.47%.两组间无显著性差异.③多沙唑嗪组有效剂量2～6 mg/d,平均3.04 mg/d,特拉唑嗪组有效剂量2～8 mg/d,平均4.19 mg/d.④每组不良事件发生率相似,多沙唑嗪组25.8%,特拉唑嗪组33.3%(P>0.05).最常见的不良反应为头晕、头痛、心悸、体位性低血压等,多为轻度,可迅速缓解,多沙唑嗪组未发生体位性低血压.结论:甲磺酸多沙唑嗪2～6 mg/d,一天一次口服治疗轻、中度高血压安全有效.