The effects of angiotensin II receptor antagonist losartan on elastic properties of aorta in patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension were assessed. The ascending aortic distensibility in 26 patients (48 +/- 3 years) with mild to moderate essential hypertension before and after 12 weeks of treatment with losartan (50 mg/day) was evaluated by using two-dimensional echocardiography. M-mode measurements of aortic systolic (Ds) and diastolic diameter (Dd) were taken at a level approximately 3 cm above the aortic valve. Simultaneously, cuff brachial artery systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) pressures were measured. Aortic pressure-strain elastic modulus (Ep) was calculated as Dd x (SBP-DBP)/(Ds-Dd) x 1333 and stiffness index beta (beta) was defined as Dd x Ln (SBP/DBP)/(Ds-Dd). Blood pressure significantly decreased from 148 +/- 13/95 +/- 9 mmHg to 138 +/- 12/88 +/- 8 mmHg (systolic blood pressure, P = 0.001; diastolic blood pressure, P = 0.003). There was no significant difference in pulse pressure before and after treatment with losartan (53 +/- 10 mmHg vs 50 +/- 7 mmHg). The distensibility of ascending aorta increased significantly as showed by the significant decrease in pressure-strain elastic modulus from 4.42 +/- 5.79 x 10(6) dynes/cm2 to 1.99 +/- 1.49 x 10(6) dynes/cm2 (P = 0.02) and stiffness index beta from 27.4 +/- 32.9 to 13.3 +/- 9.9 (P = 0.02). Although there was a weak correlation between the percent changes in pressure-strain elastic modulus and stiffness index beta and that in diastolic blood pressure after losartan treatment (r = 0.40, P = 0.04 and r = 0.55, P = 0.004, respectively), no correlation was found between the percent changes in pressure-strain elastic modulus and stiffness index beta and that in systolic blood pressure (r = 0.04, P = 0.8 and r = 0.24, P = 0.2, respectively). Our study demonstrated that angiotensin II receptor antagonist losartan has a beneficial effect on aortic distensibility in patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension and this effect is partly independent of blood pressure reduction.
Aorta/*physiopathology ; Aorta/ultrasonography ; Echocardiography ; Elasticity ; Hypertension/*drug therapy ; Hypertension/*physiopathology ; Hypertension/ultrasonography ; Losartan/*therapeutic use ; Receptors, Angiotensin/*antagonists & inhibitors

To assess the left ventricular regional relaxation abnormalities in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) by quantitative tissue velocity imaging (QTVI), Doppler echocardiography and QTVI were performed in HCM (n=10) and healthy subjects (n=11) at apical long-axis, two-chamber and four-chamber views. Regional early diastolic velocity (rVe) and regional atrial contraction (rVa) were measured at each segment of ventricular middle, basal and annular levels. Mean rVe and mean rVa at three levels as well as mean rVe/rVa ratio were calculated. Our results showed that transmitral inflow peak velocities during early diastole (E) and atrial contraction (A) were also measured and E/A ratio was calculated. The rVe of all left ventricular segments in HCM were lower than those in healthy subjects (P<0.05), but compared with healthy subjects majority of rVa in HCM were not different except inferior wall and anterior wall. E between HCM and healthy subjects was different (P=0.036), while mean rVe between them was significantly different (P<0.0001). Mean rVa and mean rVe/rVa of three levels were lower in HCM than in healthy subjects (P<0.05), but there were no differences in A and E/A between them (P=0.22, P=0.101). Left ventricular regional myocardial relaxation is reduced in HCM. Transmitral inflow E and A are influenced by preload, relaxation of myocardium and atrial contraction, etc., while rVe and rVa reflect myocardial relaxation function independently. QTVI is more sensitive and more accurate than conventional Doppler imaging for characterizingregional diastolic properties in HCM.
Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic/*physiopathology ; Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic/*ultrasonography ; Diastole ; Echocardiography, Doppler, Color/methods ; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular/*physiopathology ; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular/ultrasonography ; Ventricular Function, Left

Objective:To explore the therapeutic effect of psychological and drug intervention on anxiety and depres‐sion in patients after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) .Methods :A total of 115 patients performed CABG were randomly divided into combined intervention group (n=60) and routine nursing group (n=55) .During peropera‐tive period ,combined intervention group received psychological intervention ,flupentixol and melitracen tablet and sertraline based on routine nursing .A total of 25 matching normal people were selected from community and regar‐ded as normal control group ,scores of Zung self‐rating anxiety scale (SAS) and self‐rating depression scale (SDS) were evaluated and compared among three groups before and after operation .Results :Before intervention ,there were no significant difference in standard scores of SAS and SDS between combined intervention group and routine nursing group ( P > 0.05) ,but they were all significantly higher than those of normal control group , P < 0.01 all . After operation ,standard scores of SAS and SDS in combined intervention group were significantly lower than be ‐ fore operation ( P < 0.01 both) ,and they were significantly lower than those of routine nursing group [SAS : (41.31 ± 6.13) scores vs .(51.35 ± 8.95) scores ,SDS : (40.20 ± 5.80) scores vs .(51.22 ± 8.78) scores , P < 0.01 both] . Conclusion :Psychological combined drug intervention could significantly relieve anxiety and depression in patients after coronary artery bypass graft ,which is helpful for improving postoperative prognosis .

Objective To study the changes of behavior and depression-like classic indicators after hippocampal microinjection of K252a,and to establish a new animal model of depression.Methods SD rats were randomly divided into five groups,namely the control group,sham group,chronic stress depression model group,hippocampal of K252a microinjection group,and hippocampal microinjection K252a plus chronic stress group.Open field experiments,sucrose consumption test,and Morris water maze behavioral assay were used to assess the behavioral changes in the rats.ELISA was used to detect the plasma monoamine neurotransmitter,radioimmunoassay was used to determine the plasma CRH,ACTH,CORT contents,and western-blotting was performed to observe the protein expression of BDNF,CREB,ERK1/2,and BCL-2 in the hippocampus.Results Compared with the control group,the amount of activity,sugar consumption,learning and memory abilities were decreased(P<0.05 or P<0.01),also the serum monoamine neurotransmitters were decreased (P<0.01),HPA axis function was improved (P<0.01),and the expression of BDNF,CREB,ERK1/2,BCL-2 decreased in the CUMS group(P<0.05 or P<0.01),but there was no significant difference in the DMSO group.Compared with the DMSO group,the activity,consumption of sucrose,learning and memory ability were significantly decreased(P<0.05 or P<0.01),while the HPA axis function was increased (P<0.05 or P<0.01),the serum monoamine neurotransmitters decreased(P<0.05 or P<0.01),and the BDNF,CREB,ERK1/2,BCL-2 expressions in the hypocampus were significantly decreased(P<0.05 or P<0.01) in the K252a group and K252a + CUMS group.Compared with the CUMS group,the K252a group and K252a + CUMS group did not show significant changes in these parameters.Compared with the K252a group,these indicators were not significantly changed in the K252a + CUMS group.Conclusions The results of behavior,hematology,and molecular biology analysis show that this model has a great similarity to the classical model of CUMS in surface validity,construct validity,and functional validity.It may provide an alternative investigative technology platform for basic research and antidepressant drug screening.

Aim To investgate the mechnism through which ginkgolides affect learning and memory capabilities of the Alzheimers disease-like rats. Methods Okadaic acid(OA)was injected into the CA1 region of the rat hippocampus and the rats were gavaged with ginkgolides. The learning and memory abilities of the rats were assessed through Morris water maze behavioral test, and the expressions of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and ChAT were observed by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry, respectively.Results Compared with the control rats, the capabilities of learning and memory were lowered significantly(P

Objective To investigate the characteristics of attention networks impairment in Parkinson' s disease patients.Methods Attention network test was performed in 28 PD patients and 28 normal controls on the efficiency of three anatomically defined attentional networks:alerting,orienting,and executive control.Results The correct rate of attention network test was significantly lower(P0.05).The relative analysis showed that the Hoehn Yahr stage was positively correlated with the value of executive netwok(r=0.794,P

OBJECTIVETo study the genes differentially expressed in the liver of Kkay diabetic and normal mice by genomic-scale gene expression analysis.

METHODScDNA microarray chips containing 8,192 cDNAs were used to explore the gene expression pattern of Kkay mouse liver.

RESULTSOne hundred and fifty-four genes were screened out, including 68 complete cDNAs and expressed sequence tags, and among them 40 genes were up-regulated and 114 genes were down-regulated respectively.

CONCLUSIONMost of the gene expression analysis results were consistent with previous study, and the gene expression pattern of Kkay mouse based on cDNA microarray could be used for high-throughout screening out the genes associated with type 2 diabetes.

Animals ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; genetics ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; genetics ; Gene Expression ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Liver ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Mutant Strains ; genetics ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective: To observe the effects of moxibustion pretreatment on the protein expressions of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), phosphorylation extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (p-ERK1/2) and activated protein-1 (AP-1), the key factors of extracellular signal-regulated kinase signaling transduction pathway in gastric tissue of rats with stress-induced gastric mucosal damage, and to discuss the mechanisms of moxibustion therapy in promoting the restoration of damaged gastric mucosa.
Methods: Thirty Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, and a moxibustion group using the random digits table, 10 in each group. Except the rats in the normal group, rats in the other two groups were used to make stress-induced gastric mucosal damage model using restraint and cold stress. Before modeling, rats in the moxibustion group were alternately treated with moxibustion at Zusanli (ST 36) and Zhongwan (CV 12), or Pishu (BL 20) and Weishu (BL 21), once a day, for a total of 8 d. Histological changes of gastric mucosa were observed under the light microscopy, the expression of gastric tissue p-ERK1/2 was detected by immunohistochemistry assay, and the protein levels of EGFR and AP-1 were measured by Western blots.
Results: Compared with rats in the normal group, gastric mucosal damage was more serious, and protein expressions of gastric tissue EGFR, p-ERK1/2 and AP-1 increased in the model group (P<0.01,P<0.05,P<0.05). Compared with rats in the model group, gastric mucosal damage was milder, and protein expressions of gastric tissue EGFR, p-ERK1/2 and AP-1 increased in the moxibustion group (allP<0.01).
Conclusion:Moxibustion at Zusanli (ST 36), Zhongwan (CV 12), Pishu (BL 20) and Weishu (BL 21) couldincrease EGFR, p-ERK1/2 and AP-1 expression levels in gastric tissue of stress-induced gastric mucosal damage rats, maintain the information transfer function of ERK signaling transduction pathway, and promote restoration of gastric mucosal damage.

Spleen kidney Yang deficiency (SKYD) diarrhea is a common syndrome in tranditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Until now, there is not an ideal SKYD diarrhea rat model for the research. In this study, we compared single factor way (method I, injecting hydrocortisone and gavaging Sennae Folium) with compound factors way(method II, gavaging adenine, improper diet, exhaustion, and gavaging Sennae Folium) on establishing SKYD diarrhea rat model. After modelling, diarrhea index, D-xylose excretory rate, NOS/cGMP signal transduction system, organ index and histopathology examination were used to evaluate the two ways. The results showed that, compared with health group, all the assessment criterias of method I and method II had significant differences (P < 0.01, 0.05). In addition, the index such as diarrhea index, NOS/cGMP signal transduction system, organ index (kidney, testis and thymus) and histopathology examination had significant differences (P < 0.01, 0.05) between method I and method II. In conclusion, the compound factors modelling method better conforms to the symptom of diarrhoea model caused by SKYD. This new modelling method provides a basis for studying on TCM astringents warming and tonifying the spleen and kidney, relieving diarrhea.
Animals ; Diarrhea ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Humans ; Kidney ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spleen ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Xylose ; metabolism ; Yang Deficiency ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology

Objective To analyse the high-dose dexamethasone suppression test(HDDST)-related differences in the clinical and biochemical features of the patients with Cushing's disease Methods Cases were drawn from 60 consecutive patients with Cushing's disease,who were then divided into two groups according to the response to the HDDST.The clinical and biochemical features between two groups were compared.Results(1) Of the 60 patients with Cushing's disease,23.3%(14/60)of patients(group A)did not yield results of suppression with the HDDST,and the others(group B)did.No difference was found in the age[(33.8?10.4 vs 36.2?11.2)years]and duration of illness[(2.1?1.6 vs 3.9?3.1)years]between two groups.(2)In clinical features,the patients in group A were more likely to have edema of lower limbs(64.3% vs 32.6%),hypokalemia (71.4% vs 28.3%),secondary diabetes(57.1% vs 26.1%)and purple striae(85.7% vs 54.3%,all P