A total of 560 patients with primary hypertension were divided into two groups.Of them,260 were treated with Fosinopril(10～20 mg once daily),and the other 300 were treated with Amlodipine (5～10 mg once daily).The treatment lasted for 12 months in both groups.The levels of blood pressure (BP)、braehial ankle pulse wave velocity(baPWV)and pulse pressure(PP)were examined at baseline,6 month and 12 month with automatic analysis system of arteriosclerosis.BP in Amlodipine group(132/76 mm Hg)decreased more significantly than Fosinopril group(136/85 mm Hg),but Fosinopril group showed more remarkable changes in baPWV(1310 cm/s)and PP(52 mm Hg)than Amlodipine group(1400 cm/s and 56 mm Hg).

Objective To explore the changes of elasticity in the large arteries and its clinical significance of sublingual administration of nitroglycerin in patients with elevated PWV,and mild and moderate essential hypertension.Methods Totally,779 patients with mild and moderate hypertension and PWV more than 1400 cm/s were selected and divided into four groups,one with simple hypertension,the second one with only one risk factor for it,the third one with two risk factors,and the fourth one with three risk factors or damage in their target organs.Sublingual administration of 0.5 mg nitroglycerin was administered and blood pressure and PWV were measured for all of them.and data were statistically compared and analyzed by groups and before and after nitroglycerin administration.Results Systolic blood pressure decreased to(135±20)mm Hg from(149±15)mm Hg,pulse pressure decreased to(50±11)mm Hg from(59±12)mm Hg,PwV decreased to(1329±288)cm/s from(1688±378)cm/s,respectively,after nitroglycerin treatment for hypertensive patients(t=3.036,2.473,3.885,all P＜0.05).Improvement of elasticity of the large arteries in them after nitroglycerin treatment inversely correlated with the number of risk factors for hypertension they had,with 89.1 percent,74.3 percent,72.6percent and 44.0 percent of improvement in PWV,respectively for those with simple hypertension,only one risk factor.two risk factors and three risk factors or with damage in target organs.Conclusions Systolic blood pressure and pulse pressure significantly correlated with elasticity of the large arteries in hypertensive patients,and their stifiness improved after sublingual administration of nitroglycerin due to decrease in systolic blood pressure and pulse pressure.The more risk factors the hypertensive patients had,the poorer elasticity of their large arteries and less sensitive to nitroglycerin treatment were.

Objective To research the effect of exogenous estradiol(E-2) on transcriptional activity of regenerating hepatocytes in rats. Methods The E-2 levels in serum were measured using RIA and the numbers of argyrophil nucleolar organizer regions(AgNORs) were investigated. Results Rat serum E-2 level gradually declined after ovariectomy,and no E-2 could be measured after the 15th day.Exogenous E-2 could promote transcriptional activity of regenerating rat hepatocytes,particularly during the first 24h after PH,there was a dose-dependent increase in numbers of AgNORs 24-36h after PH,the exogenous E-2 cause a dose-dependent decrease in numbers of AgNORs,but all of the values were higher than that of control group.Conclusion E-2 can regulate the transcriptional activity of regenerating hepatocytes in rats.

Background: Disruption of tight junctions between intestinal epithelial cells followed by loss of barrier function is crucial for the pathogenesis and progression of a variety of gastrointestinal disorders.Aims: To investigate the protective effect of ulinastatin on hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced intestinal epithelial barrier disruption.Methods: Model of intestinal epithelial monolayer barrier was established with Caco-2 cells in vitro,and then divided into four groups: blank control group (without any intervention),H2O2 group (500 μmol/L H2O2),low-dose (500 U/mL) and high-dose (3 000 U/mL) ulinastatin groups (ulinastatin + H2O2).Level of malondialdehyde (MDA) and activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) were detected;transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and flux of sodium fluorescein were measured to assess the barrier function;expression and localization of two tight junction proteins,ZO-1 and occludin were evaluated by Western blotting and immunofluorescence;ultrastructure of tight junctions was observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM).Results: Compared with the blank control group,treatment of Caco-2 cell monolayers with H2O2 resulted in increase in level of MDA,flux of sodium fluorescein and decrease in activity of SOD,TEER and expressions of ZO-1 and occludin (P all ＜0.05).TEM and immunofluorescence showed that the brusher border of Caco-2 cells in H2O2 group was destroyed,the cell-cell junction was vague and the localization of ZO-1 and occludin was discontinuous and the fluorescence intensity was extremely low.While in ulinastatin groups,especially the high-dose group,all the indices above-mentioned were significantly improved (P all ＜0.05).Conclusions: Ulinastatin protects intestinal epithelial monolayer barrier against H2O2-induced disruption at least partially by its antioxidant activity and modulating expression and localization of tight junction proteins.

Objective To investigate the impact of a peer support model on the mental health of caregivers and the perceived social support and psychiatric symptoms of the mental disorder patients under their care.Methods Patients with mental disorders undergoing long-term community-based rehabilitation and their primary caregivers were recruited for this study.A total of 44 pairs of eligible patients and caregivers were selected based on a 1∶1 matching ratio.Systematic peer support activi-ties were conducted exclusively for the caregivers.The General Health Questionnaire(GHQ)and the Symptom Checklist-90(SCL-90)were administered before and after the intervention to assess the mental health status of caregivers.The Perceived Social Support Scale(PSSS)and the Brief Psychiat-ric Rating Scale(BPRS)were employed to evaluate the patients'perceived social support and psychi-atric conditions before and after the intervention.Results A total of 44 valid questionnaires from car-egivers and 42 from patients were collected.The GHQ score and the total scores,the number of positive item,positive total scores,and positive mean scores of and SCL-90 of caregivers were significantly low-er after the intervention compared to pre-intervention(P＜0.05 or P＜0.001).For patients,the fami-ly support score,extracurricular support score,and total score of the PSSS were significantly higher post-intervention compared to pre-intervention(P＜0.05 or P＜0.001).Compared to pre-intervention,patients'scores on anxiety and depression,lack of energy,thought disturbance,activation,hostility and suspicion,and the total score on the BPRS were significantly lower after the caregiver peer sup-port intervention(P＜0.001).Conclusion The peer support model contributes to improving the mental health of caregivers for patients with mental disorders and enhancing the patients'psychiatric conditions.

Objective To investigate the impact of a peer support model on the mental health of caregivers and the perceived social support and psychiatric symptoms of the mental disorder patients under their care.Methods Patients with mental disorders undergoing long-term community-based rehabilitation and their primary caregivers were recruited for this study.A total of 44 pairs of eligible patients and caregivers were selected based on a 1∶1 matching ratio.Systematic peer support activi-ties were conducted exclusively for the caregivers.The General Health Questionnaire(GHQ)and the Symptom Checklist-90(SCL-90)were administered before and after the intervention to assess the mental health status of caregivers.The Perceived Social Support Scale(PSSS)and the Brief Psychiat-ric Rating Scale(BPRS)were employed to evaluate the patients'perceived social support and psychi-atric conditions before and after the intervention.Results A total of 44 valid questionnaires from car-egivers and 42 from patients were collected.The GHQ score and the total scores,the number of positive item,positive total scores,and positive mean scores of and SCL-90 of caregivers were significantly low-er after the intervention compared to pre-intervention(P＜0.05 or P＜0.001).For patients,the fami-ly support score,extracurricular support score,and total score of the PSSS were significantly higher post-intervention compared to pre-intervention(P＜0.05 or P＜0.001).Compared to pre-intervention,patients'scores on anxiety and depression,lack of energy,thought disturbance,activation,hostility and suspicion,and the total score on the BPRS were significantly lower after the caregiver peer sup-port intervention(P＜0.001).Conclusion The peer support model contributes to improving the mental health of caregivers for patients with mental disorders and enhancing the patients'psychiatric conditions.

Severe pneumonia is one of the most common and critical respiratory diseases in clinical practice. It is characterized by rapid progression， difficult treatment， high mortality， and many complications， posing a significant threat to the life and health of patients. The pathogenesis of severe pneumonia is highly complex， and studies have shown that its occurrence and development are closely related to multiple signaling pathways. Currently， the treatment of severe pneumonia mainly focuses on anti-infection， mechanical ventilation， and glucocorticoids， but clinical outcomes are often not ideal. Therefore， finding safe and effective alternative therapies is particularly important. In recent years， with the deepening of research into traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）， it has gained widespread attention in the treatment of severe pneumonia. This paper reviewed the relationship between severe pneumonia and relevant signaling pathways in recent years and how TCM regulated these pathways in the treatment of severe pneumonia. It was found that TCM could regulate the Toll-like receptor 4 （TLR4）/myeloid differentiation factor 88 （MyD88）/nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB）， Janus kinase （JAK）/signal transducer and activator of transcription （STAT）， phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase （PI3K）/protein kinase B （Akt）/mammalian target of rapamycin （mTOR）， NOD-like receptor protein 3 （NLRP3）， and nuclear factor E₂-related factor 2 （Nrf2） signaling pathways， playing a role in reducing the inflammatory response， inhibiting cell apoptosis and pyroptosis， improving oxidative stress， and other effects in the treatment of severe pneumonia. Among these pathways， it was found that all of them regulated inflammation to treat severe pneumonia. Therefore， reducing inflammation is the core mechanism by which Chinese medicine treats severe pneumonia. This review provides direction for the clinical treatment of severe pneumonia and offers a scientific basis for the research and development of new drugs.