Objective: To analyze plasma levels of catestatin (CST) in patients with different blood pressure (BP) and metabolic status.
Methods: Our research included in 3 groups: Control group,n=60 subjects with normal BP from physical examination in our hospital; 131 patients with essential hypertension (EH) were divided into 2 groups: Isolated EH group,n=90 and MS (metabolic syndrome) group,n=41. Plasma levels of CST, norepinephrine (NE) were examined, the ratio of CST/NE was calculated, and those indexes were compared among different groups.
Results: Compared with Control group, plasma levels of CST and the ratios of CST/NE were decreased in Isolated EH and MS groups,P<0.05-0.01. As BP increasing, plasma levels of CST were gradually decreased; compared with Isolated EH group, plasma level of CST and CST/NE were reduced in MS group,P<0.05.
Conclusion: Plasma levels of CST and the ratio of CST/NE were obviously decreased in EH patients, CST was even lower in MS patients which implied that CST might be involved in the development of EH and MS.

Objective To study the regulation of VSMC proliferation by NO/PKG via modulating intracellular Ca~(2+)/calcineurin(CaN) signaling pathway.Methods Primary VSMCs from rat aorta were used as the experimental model.CaN protein and its activity were assayed using immunoblotting and free inorganic phosphate content analysis respectively.Growth and viability of cells were determined by MTT assay and acridine orange and ethidium bromide staining.Results The addition of SNAP and Sp-8-pCPT-cGMPS decrease absorbance of cells stimulated by phenylephrine(PE),whereas the addition of Rp-8-pCPT-cGMPS increases it.In SMCs p retreated with Ver,absorbance of cells stimulated by PE decreased and was further inhibited by the additional treatment of SNAP and Sp-8-pCPT-cGMPS.In SMCs pretreated with CsA,absorbance of cells stimulated by PE decrease,but it can not be further altered by the additional treatment of SNAP,Sp-8-pCPT-cGMPS and Rp-8-pCPT-cGMPS.Moreover,expression and activities of CaN induced by PE is inhibited by SNAP and Sp-8-pCPT-cGMPS.Conclusion NO/PKG inhibits the proliferation of vascular SMCs without decreasing cell survival rate,which is mediated via intracellular Ca~(2+)/CaN signaling pathway.

Objectives To compare the effects of losartan and atenolol on fibrinolytic system and plasma von willebrand factor (vWF) in patients with essential hypertension. Methods Sixty patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension were randomized to receive lostartan(50 mg/d, n=30) or atenolol(50 mg/d, n=30) for 8 weeks. If the goal blood pressure(

Objective: To dicuss the regulation of expression of cGMP-dependent protein kinase I_? (PKG I_?) by calcineurin (CaN) in vascular smooth musle cells (VSMCs) proliferation. Methods: Cultured wistar rat aortic VSMCs were used as an experimental model. CaN was inhibited by its special inhibitor cyclosporin A (CsA). Phenylephrine (PE) was given to stimulate VSMCs to proliferate. All of cultured cells were divided into four groups:control group, 0.5 mg/L CsA group, 5 mg/L CsA group and 5 mg/L CsA+10 ?mol/L PE group. The mRNA and protein expressions were assayed by RT-PCR, immunocytochemistry and Western blot analysis. Results: The OD ratio of PKG I_? mRNA expression in 0.5 mg/L CsA group resembled that in the control group while that in 5 mg/L CsA group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P

Objective To investigate the changes in plasma levels of angiotensin Ⅱ, endothelin-1 and blood pressure fluctuation during light-dark alterative period in sinoaortic denervated (SAD) rats. Methods Seventy-two male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent SAD or sham operation at the age of 12 weeks. Twenty-four-hour blood pressure and blood pressure variability (BPV) were measured in conscious, unrestrained rats 4 weeks after operation. Rats were housed in a 12 h light/12 h dark cycle (LD 12:12) for at least 10 days, then the blood samples were taken every 4 h. The plasma levels of angiotensin Ⅱ and endothelin-1 were assayed by radioimmunoassay (RIA). Results No significant difference in SBP or DBP between SAD and sham-operated rats was found. Compared with sham-operated rats, SAD rats had greater SBPV and DBPV over 24 hours (SBPV: 13.8?4.2 vs control: 6.4?1.1, DBPV:11.5?3.1 vs control: 5.3?0.8 mm Hg, all P

Consensus ; Humans ; Hypertension

Objective To assess the change of plasma adrenomedullin(ADM)and endothelin(ET)in patients with essential hypertensin. Methods Concentrations of plasma ADM and ET were measured in 18 healthy control subjects and 52 patients with essential hypertension, 36 patients of which had no target organ damage, while 16 patients of which were complicated with renal impair. Results The concentrations of ADM and ET were significantly higher in patients with renal impair than in patients without organ damage. Plasma concentrations of ADM and ET were strongly positively correlated with blood urea nitrogen levels and serum creatinine levels. A strong inverse correlation between GFR and plasma concentrations of ADM and ET was found. Conclusion The increase of plasma ET and ADM may have an intimate relation to the renal function. ADM and ET may play some important role in the pathophysiologic makeup of hypertension and hypertension with renal dysfunction. ADM may act against excessive vasoconstrictor ET increased in essential hypertension and may be part of a compensatory mechanism to offset further development of renal impair.

Objective To evaluate the feasibility of autologous mononuclear bone marrow cells (BMCs) transplantation in patients with anterior myocardial infarction. Methods Twenty-two patients were enrolled in this prospective, nonrandomized, control study (14 patients in cell transplantation group; 8 in control group). All patients underwent standard percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and drug therapy. 14 patients in the cell transplantation group were transplanted with autologous mononuclear (BMCs) via a over-the-wire (OTW) balloon catheter slowly placed into the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery during inflation. Results One patient in the cell transplantation group died of acute drug eluting stent thrombosis. The other 13 patients and the 8 patients in the control group had no procedure related complications and ventricular arrhythmia. All patients in both groups underwent 3-month and 6-month follow-up, 6 minutes test, 2D Doppler echocardiogram, single photon emission computed tomography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). After 3 months of follow-up, a significant increase of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) determined by ultrasonic cardiography was found [(50.37?7.31)% vs (40.12?5.52)% before transplantation, P =0.000?1] and was also significantly greater compared with the control group [(50.37?7.31)% vs (44.09?3.50)%, P =0.035]. Conclusion The result indicates that selective intracoronary transplantation of autologous mononuclear BMCs seems to be feasible and may improve the left ventricular systolic function.

Objective Calcineurin-NFAT pathway in the regulation of VSMCs proliferation induced by catecholamines.Methods Primary VSMCs from rat aorta were used as the experimental model.Proliferation of VSMCs was measured by MTT assay and cell count.Calcineurin protein and its activity were assayed with immunoblotting and free inorganic phosphate content analysis respectively.Localization of NFATc1 was detected by immunofluorescence staining.Results Phenylephrine(PE,an ?1-adrenoceptor agonist) increased VSMCs proliferation.Prazosin(an ?1-adrenoceptor antagonist),cyclosporin A(CsA,an inhibitor of calcineurin) and chelerythrine(an inhibitor of PKC) decreased PE-induced absorbance and cell number.Timolol(?-adrenoceptor antagonist) has no effect on absorbance and cell number induced by PE.Additional treatment with CsA further inhibited PE-induced absorbance and cell number compared with the chelerythrine pretreatment group.CsA and chelerythrine alone had no significant effect on either absorbance or cell number.CsA decresed PE-induced alcineurin level and its activity.NFATc1 was translocated from cytoplasm to nucleus upon treatment with PE.This translocation was reversed by CsA.Conclusion CsA partially inhibits PE-induced VSMCs proliferation via inhibiting calcineurin activity and NFATc1 nuclear translocation.Calcineurin-NFATc1 pathway is involved in hyperplastic growth of VSMCs induced by catecholamines.

Objective To evaluate the effects of Xin-ke-shu and Betaloc on arterial elasticity of coronary heart disease(CHD).Methods According to the results from coronary angiography,50 patients who were taking long-term treatment of coronary artery obstructions were enrolled and divided into two groups in equal number at random.They were divided into Xin-ke-shu group(n=25)and Betaloc group(n=25).The Xin-ke-shu group received Xin-ke-shu(12/d)individually and the Betaloc group received Betaloc(50mg/d)for eight weeks.Patient's heart rate was measured by the doctor.Brachial blood pressure was measured by standardized mercury cuff sphygmomanometer.Automatic pulse wave velocity(PWV)measurement system and Complior Colson device and DO-2020 were applied to examine the carotid-radial artery PWV(PWVcr)and the large arterial elastic indexes(C1 and C2)respectively.Results After eight weeks of treatment.All patient's heart rate showed significant decrease.The Betaloc group,after excluded the betaloc effect,showed significant decrease of blood pressure.The Xin-ke-shu group showed significant increase of C1 and C2,and PWVcr slowed down obviously.Conclusion Xin-ke-shu improves the small and large arterial elasticity,and attenuates the wave reflex amplitude.