Objective:Hepatocyte growth factor(HGF) speculated to be an endothelial-specific growth factor which protects or repaire the vascular endothelial cells. To test the serum HGF level might be elevated in response to hypertension-induced endothelial cell damage, we measured serum HGF concentrations in normotensive and hypertensive subjects without liver, kidney and other complications.Methods:Eighteen male hypertensive patients and thirteen male normotensive subjects were recruited. All antihypertensive agents were stopped for 2 weeks before the study. The serum HGF concentrations were measured by a specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results:Serum HGF concentrations were 0.32±0.13 ng/ml in normotensive subjects and 0.37±0.27 ng/ml in hypertensive patients. No significant difference between the two groups(P>0.05) was found. Systolic, mean and diastolic blood pressure did not show any correlation with serum HGF concentrations.Conclusions:This study showed that serum HGF levels did not be increased in male patients with mild to moderate hypertension. Although local HGF is produced rapidly because of the damage of endothelial cells by high blood pressure, the circulating level of HGF did not represent the local changes of HGF production.

Objective To investigate if there are differences of antihypertensive effect of captopril on the patients with essential hypertension(EH)alone and EH complicated with type 2 diabetes mellitus(DM).Methods Sixty three EH patients alone and 112 EH patients complicated with DM were studied. Among the patients complicated with DM, 56 cases who were treated with metformin and received captopril for 4 weeks. The changes of blood pressure,blood glucose,insulin,lipid, norepinephrine(NE),epinephrine(E)and uric acid were observed before and after treatment.Results After treatment by captopril the blood pressure was reduced and insulin sensitivity was increased in EH patients without complications,while no significant changes in EH patients with DM. After captopril in combination with metformine for 4 weeks in EH with DM,the blood pressure was significantly reduced and all examinations cited above were improved.Conclusion Captopril is suitable for EH patients without complications but not for EH patients with DM. After captopril combined with metformine resulted in the improvement of hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia, the anti-hypertensive effect of captopril was shown.

Objective To explore the depression status of hypertension and analyze the associated factors in the elderly population in a community of Beijing.Methods This cohort of 1064 elderly people in the community were screened with Centerfor Epidemiology Scale(CES-D). Results Those who lived in rural(21.6% vs city 7.3%),illiterate(19.9% vs literate 11.2%),mateless(19.7% vs mate 12.4%),lower income(21.9% vs high in- come 9.8%),life accidents(23.2% vs without life accidents 8.6%),sleep disorder(31.0% vs sleep good 8.7%) and lower living abilities(26.7% vs high living ability 9.0%)had higher incidence of depression(all P

Objective To investigate the association between essential hypertension(EH)and nonalcoholic fatty liver(NAFL).Methods Four hundred and nine patients of EH underwent liver uhrasonographic examina- tion during 2006-2007 year were enrolled.Patients were categorized as MS(n=312)or non-MS(n=97)ac- cording to the criteria by CDA.Body mass index(BMI),blood pressure,the profiles of blood lipid,liver func- tion,renal function,plasma sugar were determined.Results 1)The prevalence of fatty liver in EH+MS group (66.0%)was significantly higher than that of EH without MS group(41.2%,P

Background A multitude of studies reported statins prevent the myocardial hypertrophy induced by pressure overload,but the mechanism is unclear.Objective To study the protective effect of atorvastatin on the myocardial hypertrophy caused by pressure overload and it's anti-inflammation effect.Methods Forty Wistar rats were randomized to untreated group(n=10),atorvastatin group(2 mg/kg?d,by gavage,n=10),sham op- eration group(n=10)and control group(n=10).Ventricular hypertrophy model was achieved by surgical con- stricting the abdominal aorta.All rats were sacrificed 8 weeks after the operation and the heart weight to body ratio,left ventricular weight to body ratio,and the size of cardiomyocyte were determined.The expressions of interleukin 18(IL-18)and cardiotrophin 1(CT-1)in the cadiocyte were assessed by reverse transcription polymer- ase chain reaction(RT-PCR).Results Compared with control group,SBP in myocardial hypertrophy group was significantly increased(174?9 vs control 112?15 mmHg,P

Objective To investigate the effects of activator protein-1(AP-1)decoy oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs)on the myocardial fibrosis induced by angiotension Ⅱ(Ang Ⅱ)in vitro.Methods CFs of neonatal Spra- gue-Dawley(SD)rats were isolated by trypsin digestion method.CFs were co-cultured with 10~(-7)mol/L Ang Ⅱ in the presence of different concentration of activator protein-1(AP-1)decoy ODNs or mutational AP-1 decoy ODNs for 24 h.Collagen synthesis was assessed by hydroxyproline and the mRNA expression of collagen Ⅰ,collagen Ⅲ.Results The concentration of hydroxyproline increased significantly after treated by 10~(-7)mol/L Ang Ⅱ;decoy ODNs on the range of 10-200 nmol/L dose dependently decrease synthesis of collagen;Ang Ⅱ stimulates mRNA expression of collagen Ⅲ(1.04?0.07 vs 1.63?0.071,n=3,P

Objective To explore the role of stromal interaction molecule 1(STIMI)on prohteration and intra- cellular Ca~(2+)change in vascular smooth muscle ceils(VSMC).Methods Rat VSMC were isolated from SD rats and primary cultured.Ad-si/rSTIM1 and Ad-hSTIM1 were transfected into VSMC.The protein of STIM1 was measured by Western blot,the proliferation of VSMC was analyzed by ~3H-thymidine(~3H-TdR)incorporation and cell count,the intracellular Ca~(2+)change was assessed By Aquaeosmos system.Ruselts Fourty-eight hours after transfection,as compared with Ad-hSTIMI group,the Ad-si/rSTIMI VSMC had lower expression of STIM1 protein (P

Objective To study the effect of Thy-1.1 stem cell transplantation on endothelial hyperplasia and restenosis.Methods Thirty 4-6 weeks male SD rats were sacrificed to obtain the Thy-1.1 stem cells.Carotid artery were injured by ballon in sixty female SD rat's were randomized to receive stem cell transplantation(5?10~6 Thy-1.1,n=30)or saline approach(n=30).About 5?10~6 Thy-1.1 stem cells were injected into the injured arter- y after carotid artery injury;while the control rats underwent carotid artery injury and was injected the same amount of saline.The animals were sacrificed,3,7,14,21 and 28 days after balloon denudation.The samples of carotid artery were harvested for pathological examination,RT-PCR and in situ hyhridzation(ISH)were used to detect the transplanted cells in the injured artery.Results The intimal thickness was thinner in stem cell transplantation group(I/M,Stem cell transplantation group:2.06?0.28 vs control group 2.42?0.19,P

Objective To study the effects of high salt intake on blood pressure and renin-angiotensin in male rats with different plasm androgen levels.Methods Thirty male Wistar rats were randomized to sham(n=10)or operated(n=10),or castration(n=10),or testosterone replacement after castarion(26.7 mg/kg,n=10)and fed with 8% NaCl for 8 weeks.Tall arterial pressure were recorded before,4 and 8 weeks after experiment.Serum PRA,plasma angiotensin Ⅱ(Ang Ⅱ)and testosterone(T)were determined by radioimmunoassey respectively. Results After 8 weeks high salt dietary,blood pressure was significantly increased in sham and testosterone replace ment rats(Sham operation group:137.3?4.0 vs the basal line:117.5?5.9 mmHg,testosterone replacement group: 134.4?5.2 vs the basal line:116.6?7.7 mmHg,P0.05).Concomitantly,sham operation or testosterone re placement rats had higher PRA and plasm Ang Ⅱ content compared with castrated rats(PRA:Sham operation 5.90 ?0.77 vs testosterone replacement group:5.69?0.47 vs castrated rats:4.90?0.55 mol/(L?h),P

Objective To investigate the characteristics of pulse wave velocity(PWV)and heart rate variability (HRV)and evaluate their feasibility in grading the cardiovascular risk in patients with isolated systolic hypertension (ISH).Methods Eighty-nine ISH patients and systolic-diastolic hypertension patients(DH,n=98)admitted in our hospital were submitted carotid-radial PWV(crPWV),carotid femoral PWV(cfPWV)and HRV,ISH patients were categorized depending on their risk grade as:low risk group(n=3),moderate risk group(n=17),high risk group(n=35)and very high risk group(n=34).Results The cfPWV in ISH patients is significantly higher than that of sys-diastolic hypertension group(ISH: 399.6?48.2 vs sys diastolic hypertension:374.3?39.7 cm/s,P0.05).The LF in ISH group are markedly higher than those in DH(ISH:4.35?1.07 log ms~2 vs 3.78?0.82 log ms~2,P 0.05).LF are markedly positive correlated with the degree of the total cardiovascular risk(rs=0.438,P