OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of acupoint catgut embedding assisting western medication and simple western medication on blood pressure and vascular endothelial function in patients with essential hypertension (EH), and to explore its mechanism.

METHODSA total of 125 cases were randomly assigned into an observation group (62 cases, 2 dropping) and a control group (63 cases, 3 dropping). Oral administration of lotensin (10 mg, once a day) was applied in the control group. Based on the treatment as the control group, acupoint catgut embedding was applied at Fengchi (GB 20), Ganshu (BL 18), Shenshu (BL 23), Quchi (LI 11), Zusanli (ST 36), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Taichong (LR 3) in the observation group, once every two weeks, and six treatments was taken as one session. All the patients were treated for 3 months. The blood pressure and the vascular endothelial injury markers, including endothelin-1 (ET-1), nitric oxide (NO), high sensitive C reactive protein (hsCRP) were recorded before and after treatment in the two groups. In addition, the ET-1, NO and hsCRP were collected from 60 cases of healthy participants.

RESULTSThe diastolic blood pressure and systolic blood pressure reduced after treatment in the two groups (all <0.05), which were more significant in the observation group (<0.01, <0.05). Before treatment, compared with those of the healthy participants, ET-1 and hsCRP were higher but NO was lower in the observation group and the control group (all <0.05); after treatment, ET-1 and hsCRP were reduced and NO increased in the two groups (all <0.05), which were more significant in the observation group (all <0.05). After treatment, the differences of NO and hsCRP between the observation group and healthy participants were not significant (both >0.05). The marked effective rate was 70.0% (42/60) in the observation group, which was superior to 33.3% (20/60) in the control group (<0.05); the total effective rate was 96.7% (58/60) in the observation group, which was superior to 85.0% (51/60) in the control group (<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe vascular endothelial function is injured in EH patients. Based on lotensin treatment, acupoint catgut embedding could significantly improve blood pressure and vascular endothelial function.

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between electroencephalogram and perceived stress in Chinese essential hypertension (EH) patients.

METHODSTotally 60 EH patients were enrolled as the case group,and 60 gender-and age-matched healthy subjects as the control group. Graded mental arithmetic was used as a psychological stressor. The physiological values of electroencephalogram (Theta,Alpha,sensorimotor rhythm,and Beta) were recorded at baseline and in mission period and recovery period. Subjects were instructed to complete the Perceived Stress Scale.

RESULTSThe electroencephalogram Theta value was significantly different between the case group and the control group (t=4.01,P=0.048). In the case group,the fluctuating Theta value was correlated with the control dimension in the Perceived Stress Scale (r=-0.26,P=0.044). Also in the case group,with the score of "sense of control" as the dependent variable and the fluctuating value of Theta after stress as the independent variables,regression analysis was performed. The opt-in standard was≤0.05 and the culling standard was≥0.01. The Results shows that the fluctuating value of Theta after stress in the case group met the requirements to enter the equation and could explain 5.2% of "sense of control" dimension.

CONCLUSIONThe Theta values associated with the sleeping and creativity decrease under stressful situations in EH patients following the increaed sense of pressure due to failure in controlling the pressure events.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between a blood pressure variability (BPV)-based scoring system (BPVSS) and the target organ damage in patients with hypertension.

METHODSWe selected 95 consecutive inpatients with essential hypertension admitted between January and June, 2015 in the Department of Cardiology of Guangzhou General Hospital of Guangzhou Military Command. The BPV indices were analyzed for their correlation with the parameters of target organ damage (IVSd, LVPWd, baPWV_L/R, and IMT_L/R). The patients with a BPVSS of 3.9 or higher (control, 43 cases) and those with a lower BPVSS (observation group, 52 cases) were compared for differences in IVSd, LVPWd, baPWV_L/R, IMT_L/R and the proportion of carotid plaques.

RESULTSSimilar with the traditional BPV indices, BPVSS was negatively correlated with IMT_L/R (r=-0.278/-0.324, P<0.05). BPVSS was also negatively correlated with IVSd (r=-0.241), LVPWd (r=-0.223), and baPWV_L/R (r=-0.468/-0.373) (P<0.05). IVSd, LVPWd, baPWV_L/R and IMT_L/R were all significantly higher in the observation group than in the control group (t=2.307, 2.516, 3.250/2.790, and 2.372/3.425, respectively; P<0.05). The proportion of carotid plaques in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group (Χ(2)=27.833, P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONBPVSS indicates the severity of target organ damage in patients with hypertension. A greater BPV is correlated with a lower BPVSS score and more severe damages of the heart and blood vessels.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aorta, Thoracic ; abnormalities ; Diagnostic Errors ; Essential Hypertension ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; diagnosis ; Male ; Middle Aged

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Songling Xuemaikang Capsules combined with conventional Western medicine in the treatment of essential hypertension. PubMed, VIP, CNKI, Wanfang and other databases were retrieved from the establishment of the database to February 2020 for clinical randomized controlled trial(RCT) about Songling Xuemaikang Capsules combined with conventional Western medicine in the treatment of essential hypertension. The literatures were screened out according to the inclusion criteria, and RevMan 5.3 software was used for Meta-analysis. A total of 3 100 patients in 27 RCTs were enrolled. According to Meta-analysis, Songling Xuemaikang Capsules combined with conventional Western medicine could effectively reduce systolic blood pressure(MD=-7.88,95%CI[-9.68,-6.08],P<0.000 01) and diastolic blood pressure(MD=-7.85, 95%CI[-9.07,-6.62], P<0.000 01), triglyceride(MD=-0.46, 95%CI[-0.66,-0.26], P<0.000 01) and total cholesterol(MD=-0.92, 95%CI[-1.49,-0.35], P=0.001), but increase HDL cholesterol(MD=0.51, 95%CI[0.28, 0.73], P<0.000 01), with a better effect than the Western medicine group alone. The results of LDL-C analysis showed that there was no significant difference between the two groups(MD=-0.91, 95%CI[-1.82, 0.01], P=0.05). The subgroup analysis suggested that reduced systolic blood pressure may be related to the use of ARB. There was a close correlation between CCB drugs and the decrease of diastolic blood pressure. In addition, there was no significant difference in the compliance and the incidence of adverse reactions. Clinical application of Songling Xuemaikang Capsules combined with Western medicine in the treatment of patients with essential hypertension has clear efficacy and certain safety. More clinical randomized controlled trials are needed for verification in the future.
Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists ; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors ; Capsules ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Essential Hypertension/drug therapy* ; Humans

To find the status of outcome indicators reported in published randomized controlled trial(RCT) of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) for essential hypertension in the past two years, we searched for relevant information from four Chinese databases, three English databases and two clinical trial registries in this study, from January 2018 to September 2019. The outcome indicators of RCT were extracted and categorized from trials and the risk of bias was assessed by ROB tools from the Cochrane Collaboration. A total of 125 RCTs and 15 RCT protocols were finally included after study screening. The results showed that the RCT outcomes mainly included efficacy and safety outcomes. Efficacy indicators mainly included blood pressure measurement, quality of life assessment, blood biochemical indicators, urine analysis, arterial ultrasound, vascular endothelial function indicators, hematocrit, hemorheology indicators and other indicators. The safety indicators mainly included general physical examination items, heart, liver and kidney function tests, blood, urine, and stool routine examinations as well as adverse drug reactions/events. The current RCTs cannot distinguish primary and secondary outcomes, and the RCT protocols didn't report efficacy criteria clearly. They both didn't report health economic indicators and the methodological qualities were relatively low. In view of the current status on outcome indicators reported in TCM RCTs, constructing a core outcome set of TCM for essential hypertension and improving the methodology quality of RCTs will help to accurately reflect the actual efficacy of TCM intervention.
Endpoint Determination ; Essential Hypertension ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Quality of Life ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the level and significance of serum γ-glutamyl transferase-to-platelet ratio (GPR) and monocyte count to high-density lipoprotein ratio (MHR) in patients with essential hypertension (EH) and unstable angina (UA). METHODS: A total of 218 patients with coronary angiography aged ≥60 years, who were admitted to the EH hospital of the Department of Cardiac Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Chengde Medical College, were selected from September 2018 to September 2019. They were divided into an EH+UA group ( RESULTS: Compared with the control group, patients in the EH+UA group and the EH group had higher body mass index (BMI), tyiglyceride (TG), GPR, and MHR, and lower high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) (all CONCLUSIONS There is a correlation between GPR, MHR and EH combined with UA pectoris, and the combined detection of the two indicators has adjuvant diagnostic value for elderly EH combined with UA.
Aged ; Angina, Unstable ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Coronary Angiography ; Essential Hypertension ; Humans ; Lipoproteins, HDL ; Monocytes

No abstract available.
Essential Hypertension ; Obesity ; Waist Circumference ; Body Mass Index ; Humans ; Male ; Female ; Cardiovascular Diseases

The relevant literature of pathogenesis of essential hypertension (EH) and the clinical efficacy of acupuncture treatment of EH was retrieved from January 1, 1999 to February 28, 2018 in the CNKI and PubMed databases, and aimed to summarize and explore the mechanism of antihypertensive by acupuncture.It has been found that acupuncture exerts antihypertensive effect by coordinating multi-system, multi-target, multi-layer adjustment mechanism, such as acupuncture inhibiting of central and peripheral sympathetic nerve activity, rejusting immune system and expression of inflammatory response factors, regulating the balance of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), improving vascular structure and function, the anti-oxidative stress and promoting autophagy.
Acupuncture Therapy ; Antihypertensive Agents ; Essential Hypertension ; therapy ; Humans ; Oxidative Stress ; Renin-Angiotensin System

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of acupuncture at Renying (ST 9) on morning blood pressure, daytime peak blood pressure and 24-hour blood pressure load in patients with ischemic stroke complicated with essential hypertension. METHODS: A total of 80 patients (3 cases dropped off) were randomized into an observation group (39 cases) and a control group (38 cases). acupuncture and nifedipine were given in the control group. On the basis of treatment in the control group, acupuncture at Renying (ST 9) was applied in the observation group, once a day, 6 times a week for 4 weeks. The changes of morning blood pressure, daytime peak blood pressure and blood pressure load were observed before and after treatment in the two groups. RESULTS: Compared before treatment, morning blood pressure, daytime peak blood pressure and blood pressure load after treatment were reduced in the two groups (all <0.05). The change of morning systolic pressure in the observation group was not significant as compared with that in the control group (>0.05); the changes of morning diastolic pressure, daytime peak blood pressure and blood pressure load in the observation group were larger than those in the control group (all <0.05). CONCLUSION On the basis of acupuncture and nifedipine, acupuncture at Renying (ST 9) can effectively reduce morning blood pressure, daytime peak blood pressure and blood pressure load in patients with ischemic stroke complicated with essential hypertension.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Blood Pressure ; Brain Ischemia ; Essential Hypertension ; therapy ; Humans ; Stroke ; Treatment Outcome