Aim: To investigate the effects of gender differences and estrogen levels on ACE, -Ang II -ATR axis in the aorta tissue of renovascular hypertension (RVH) rats. Methods: Forty-five rats were made two-kidney one-clip (2K1C) model of renovascular hypertension and divided into three groups: female two kidney one clip group (2K1C-F), male two kidney one clip group (2K1C-M), and ovariectomized group (2K1C-0VX). After 32 weeks of routine feeding, the blood pressure was measured, blood was taken and-serum and plasma were prepared. Serum estrogen and plasma Ang II were measured and mRNA and protein expression levels of ACE, AT, R, AT2R in aorta tissue were detected. Results: Systolic blood pressure of 2K1C-F group was significantly higher than that of 2K1C-M group and 2K1C-0VX group (P < 0.05). The content of Ang II in 2K1C-F group was significantly lower than that in 2K1C-M and 2K1C-0VX group(P <0. 01). Compared with 2K1C-F group, the mRNA and protein expressions of ACE!, AT, R, AT2R in 2K1C-M group were up-regulated significantly (P < 0. 05), while the mRNA expression of ATlb R, ACE, was up-regulated, and the mRNA expression of AT2R was down-regulated in 2K1C-OVX group (P < 0. 05); compared with 2K1C-M group, the mRNA expression of ACE, ATlb R, AT2R and protein expression of ACE, AT2R were down-regulated significantly in 2K1C-OVX group(P < 0. 05). Conclusions: The mRNA and protein expressions of ACE, Ang II, AT1aR and AT1bR in aorta tissue show gender and estrogen differences, and estrogen can reduce the activity of ACE, -Ang II -AT, R axis.

Salvianolic acids are the main water-soluble active compounds of Salvia miltiorrhiza and have been widely used for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Based on the latest studies in China and abroad, we summarize the pharmacological effects and mechanism of salvianolic acids on ischemic heart disease by describing how salvianolic acid A and salvianolic acid B protect the vascular endothelium, relax coronary arteries, promote angiogenesis and anti-platelet aggregation, inhibit the inflammatory response, anti-cell apoptosis, and scavenge free radicals. This review provides a theoretical basis for further research on the effects of salvianolic acids on ischemic heart disease and their potential for drug development.

OBJECTIVETo analyse CT and high resolution computerized tomography (HRCT) diagnostic value and morphologic manifestation in coal miner's pneumoconiosis with pleural pathological changes.

METHODSOne hundred and thirty-one cases of coal miner patients with pneumoconiosis (0(+) type: 14 cases, type I: 46 cases, type II: 58 cases, type III: 13 cases) and 20 normal people as control group were first examined by routine CT scan at 4 fixed slices, followed by HRCT examination at the region of interest (ROI). Meanwhile, all of them had high-kV chest radiography.

RESULTSAccording to the national standard of the People's Republic of China in the diagnosis of coal miner's pneumoconiosis with pleural plaque, 68 cases of pleural disease making up 51.91% (68/131) were found (type I accounted for 17.65%, type II 63.24%, type III 19.12%). The morphologic manifestation of pleural pathology by HRCT could be classified into four types: (1) nodular type: 73.38%, (2) flat type: 18.71%, (3) irregular type: 7.91%, (4) mixed type. The pleural pathological changes were found in thoracic wall pleura (65.02%), surface of mediastinum (22.16%), and pericardium (12.80%), but not found in the top of lung and costo-phrenic angles. The thickness of pleura was often about 5 approximately 10 mm (88.17%).

CONCLUSIONPleural pathological changes were not seldom seen in coal miner's pneumoconiosis. HRCT is a reliable examination method aiding routine CT to show pleural pathological changes, thus it has a great diagnostic and practical value. It is necessary to make a further comparison study between pathology and imagology.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Coal Mining ; Humans ; Lung ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pleura ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Pleural Diseases ; diagnosis ; Pneumoconiosis ; diagnosis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods

OBJECTIVETo study the diagnostic value of CT/HRCT for the coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP) with large opacities.

METHODSSixty-two patients with CWP were examined with both chest radiograph and CT/HRCT scan. Comparison was done.

RESULTSLarge opacities were found in 19 patients in the chest radiograph of 62 patients with CWP. The detection rate was 30.6%. Thirty large opacities were found using chest radiograph. Forty-three patients with large opacities were found using the CT/HRCT. The detection rate was 69.4%. One hundred and twenty-three large opacities were found using CT/HRCT. Ninety-three more large opacities were found by CT/HRCT than by chest radiograph. The total detection rate of large opacities by CT was 4.1 times than by chest radiograph. Both differences were statistically significant (chi2 = 18.58, P < 0.01). CT/HRCT found all patients with large opacities detected in the chest radiograph. Seventeen patients with Stage III large opacities (>or= 1.0 cm x 2.0 cm) were found by the chest radiograph. The detection rate was 27.4% (17/62). Twenty-seven large opacities were found using chest radiograph. Thirty-four patients with Stage III large opacities were found using the CT/HRCT. The detection rate was 54.8%. The found Stage III large opacities added up to 67. The found Stage III large opacities by CT/HRCT were 40 more than using chest radiograph. Both differences were statistically significant (chi2 = 9.63, P < 0.01). CT/HRCT was reliable to show the morphology, the inside structure, the tiny lesion and the special location of the large opacities of CWP. It could provide more important information for differential diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONCT/HRCT is significantly better than the chest radiograph in the diagnosis of complicated CWP. It can find the large opacities that the chest radiograph can not. It has a great diagnostic and practical value as an assistant examination method. CT/HRCT could be considered as the reference and evidence for staging progression in diagnosis of pneumoconiosis.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anthracosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Coal Mining ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods