Gabapentin has been known to elicit the antinociceptive effect. However, little has been known about the effect of gabapentin on the cardiovascular system. The author's aim of this experiment was to examine the hemodynamic effects of gabapentin. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were used. Intrathecal or intracerebroventricular catheters were implanted and gabapentin was delivered through each catheter or directly into the peritoneal cavity. For hemodynamic measurements, catheters were inserted into the tail artery. Blood pressure and heart rate were measured over 60 min following administration of gabapentin. Intrathecal and intraperitoneal gabapentin did not induce significant changes of hemodynamics over the 60 min compared to the baseline value. Intracerebroventricular gabapentin increased systolic and diastolic blood pressure, but there is no statistically difference in blood pressure change according to the dose.
Acetic Acids/*pharmacology ; Analgesics/*pharmacology ; Animals ; Blood Pressure/*drug effects ; Catheterization ; Diastole/drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Systole/drug effects ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical efficacy of Xin'anning Nasal Drop (XAND) in treating coronary heart disease with unstable angina pectoris (CHD-UAP).

METHODSSixty patients with CHD-UAP were assigned, according to the randomizing number table, to two groups, the control group treated with conventional Western medicine, and the treated group treated with conventional Western medicine plus XAND. The clinical efficacy and the changes of S-T segment in resting EKG and total ischemia burden (TIB) in 24-h dynamic EKG were observed.

RESULTSThe clinical efficacy, including the effect of angina alleviation, its initiation, and the effect of TCM syndrome score reduction, were significantly superior in the treated group to those in the control group ( P<0.05 or P<0.01). The degree and extent of myocardial ischemia were significantly improved in both groups ( P<0.01), but the improvement in the treated group was better than that in the control group ( P<0.05). Moreover, it was worth mentioning that the immediate effect in the treated group was better than that in the control group, and the reduction of TIB, the improvement in heart rate and myocardial oxygen consumption (immediately after the first administration or by the end of the therapeutic course), and systolic blood pressure after treatment in the former were all superior to those in the latter, showing significant difference (P<0.05 or P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONXAND has a quick effect in alleviating angina in patients with CHD-UAP, and it is worthy of further studies and spreading in clinical practice. unstable angina pectoris, Xin'anning Nasal Drop, clinical study

Administration, Intranasal ; Adult ; Aged ; Angina, Unstable ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Electrocardiography ; drug effects ; Female ; Heart Rate ; drug effects ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Systole ; drug effects

BACKGROUNDUnder an insulin resistance (IR) state, overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) may be playing a major role in the pathogenesis of endothelial dysfunction, hypertension and atherosclerosis. Recently, increasing attention has been drawn to the beneficial effects of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in the cardiovascular system. This study aimed to investigate the effects of HO-1 on vascular function of thoracic aorta in IR rats and demonstrate the probable mechanisms of HO-1 against endothelial dysfunction in IR states.

METHODSSprague-Dawley (SD) rats fed with high-fat diet for 6 weeks and the IR models were validated with hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp test. Then the IR rat models (n = 44) were further randomized into 3 subgroups, namely, the IR control group (n = 26, in which 12 were sacrificed immediately and evaluated for all study measures), a hemin treated IR group (n = 10) and a zinc protoporphyrin-IX (ZnPP-IX) treated IR group (n = 8) that were fed with a high-fat diet. Rats with standardized chow diet were used as the normal control group (n = 12). The rats in IR control group, hemin treated IR group and ZnPP-IX treated IR group were subsequently treated every other day with an intraperitoneal injection of normal saline, hemin (inducer of HO-1, 30 micromol/kg) or ZnPP-IX (inhibitor of HO-1, 10 micromol/kg) for 4 weeks. Rats in the normal control group remained on a standardized chow diet and were treated with intraperitoneal injections of normal saline every other day for 4 weeks. Systolic arterial blood pressure (SABP) was measured by tail-cuffed microphotoelectric plethysmography. The blood carbon monoxide (CO) was measured by blood gas analysis. The levels of nitric oxide (NO), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), blood glucose (BG), insulin, total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) in serum, and the levels of total antioxidant capacity (TAOC), malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the aorta were measured. The expression of HO-1 mRNA and HO-1 protein in aortal tissue were detected by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot. The vasoreactive tensometry was performed with thoracic aortic rings (TARs).

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, the levels of SABP, BG, insulin, TC, TG, NO, iNOS and MDA were higher, while the levels of CO, TAOC, SOD and eNOS were lower in IR control rats. After treatment of IR rats for 4 weeks a more intensive expression of HO-1 mRNA and HO-1 protein were observed in hemin treated IR group compared with the normal control group. And compared with 4-week IR control rats, the levels of CO, TAOC, SOD and eNOS were increased, while the levels of SABP and iNOS activity were lower in the hemin treated IR group. Administration of hemin in IR rats appeared to improve the disordered vasorelaxation of TARs to acetylcholine (ACh). Alternatively, the reverse results of SABP, CO, TAOC, SOD, iNOS and vasorelaxation responses to ACh were observed in IR rats with administration of ZnPP-IX.

CONCLUSIONSThe endothelial dysfunction in the aorta is present in the IR state. The protective effects of HO-1 against aortic endothelial dysfunction may be due to its antioxidation and regulative effect of vasoactive substances. It is proposed that hemin, inducer of HO-1, could be a potential therapeutic option for vascular dysfunction in IR states.

Animals ; Aorta ; drug effects ; physiology ; Carbon Monoxide ; blood ; Endothelium, Vascular ; drug effects ; physiology ; Enzyme Induction ; drug effects ; Heme Oxygenase-1 ; analysis ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Hemin ; pharmacology ; Insulin Resistance ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Oxidative Stress ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Systole ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Chinese medical regimen and integrative medical regimen on quality of life and early renal impairment in elderly patients with isolated systolic hypertension (EISH).

METHODSA multi-center, randomized, double-blinded controlled trail was adopted. A total of 270 cases of EISH were randomly divided into 3 groups: Chinese medicine group (CM), combination group and Western medicine group (WM). The course of treatment was 4 weeks. The clinical blood pressure, integral of quality of life (SF-36 scale), immunoglubin G (IgG), microalbumin (mALB), beta(2)-microglobulin (beta(2)-MG), transferrin (TRF) and N-acetyl-beta'-D-glucosa-minidase (NAG) in urine were determined before and after the treatment.

RESULTSAfter treatment, systolic blood pressure depressed significantly in each group (P<0.05), and the combination group was superior to CM or WM group in depressing SBP (P<0.05); in each group, integral of quality of life improved in different degree, and combination group was superior to WM group in all 8 dimensions (P<0.05). The level of mALB and beta(2)-MG in urine decreased in all groups (P<0.05), and the combination group was superior to CM group or WM group in decreasing mALB (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSChinese medical regimen has affirmative effect in treating EISH patients, and could lower the systolic blood pressure, improve quality of life and early renal impairment of the patients, and integrative medical regimen has superiority on account of cooperation, and deserves further study.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antihypertensive Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Blood Pressure ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Integrative Medicine ; Kidney ; drug effects ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Male ; Quality of Life ; Systole ; drug effects ; physiology

BACKGROUNDEpidemiological study showed that the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors was associated with higher bone mineral density (BMD) in older people, especially male subjects, which suggested that angiotensin II may have a detrimental effect on bone. Therefore, blocking its effect may have a beneficial effect on bone health.

METHODSSix-month-old male spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY) were used. Animals of each model were randomly assigned to the following four groups: Group 1, SHAM operated+vehicle; Group 2, orchidectomy (ORX)+vehicle; Group 3, ORX+low-dose losartan (10 mg×kg(-1)×d(-1)); and Group 4, ORX+high-dose losartan (25 mg×kg(-1)×d(-1)). Blood pressure was recorded weekly. SHAM and ORX operations were performed, followed by daily losartan and vehicle treatment from day 4 after operation for 16 weeks. Serum and 24-hour urine samples were collected for measurement of bone turnover markers before euthanasia and then the left femur was collected for measurements of BMD and microarchitecture before mechanical test.

RESULTSUrine deoxypyridinoline/urine creatinine (DPD/Cr) ratio was significantly higher in SHR than in WKY. BMD and microarchitecture parameters also showed bone deterioration in SHR. After ORX, serum osteocalcin concentration decreased and urine DPD/Cr ratio increased significantly accompanied by a significant decrease in cortical and trabecular BMD and cortical bone thickness in both WKY and SHR. High-dose losartan significantly increased DPD in urine in both SHR and WKY. Apart from marginal favorable changes in bone architecture in WKY treated with high-dose losartan, losartan did not show significant effect on BMD, bone area, bone microarchitecture, and mechanical properties in both SHR and WKY.

CONCLUSIONAngiotensin II type I receptor blocker losartan was not able to demonstrate significant effect on ORX-induced bone deterioration in both hypertensive and normotensive rats.

Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers ; therapeutic use ; Animals ; Bone Density ; drug effects ; Bone and Bones ; drug effects ; pathology ; Hypertension ; drug therapy ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Losartan ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Orchiectomy ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; Rats, Inbred WKY ; Systole ; drug effects

Adult ; Aged ; Cardiovascular Agents ; therapeutic use ; Diastole ; drug effects ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Heart Failure ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Injections ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Systole ; drug effects ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left ; complications ; drug therapy

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the changes in blood pressure (BP) of elderly hypertensive patients having dental extraction under sedation with continuous intravenous infusion of midazolam.

METHODSOne hundred elderly hypertensive patients undergoing dental extraction were recruited for this single-blind, randomized, controlled study. Patients in intervention group (n = 50) were given midazolam dissolved in glucose solution and patients in control group (n = 50) were given glucose solution only with communication technique. Systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) were recorded in five time points.

RESULTSUnder basal conditions, intervention group did not show significant difference in BP compared with control group. Before sedation, mean values of SBP and DBP (especially SBP) significantly increased compared with basal conditions in both groups (P < 0.05). During dental extraction sessions, mean values of BP in intervention group significantly decreased than control group (P < 0.05), but coefficient of variation did show significant difference in both groups.

CONCLUSIONContinuous intravenous infusion of midazolam has been proved to be very successful in controlling BP of elderly patients having dental extraction.

Aged ; Blood Pressure ; drug effects ; physiology ; Diastole ; drug effects ; Humans ; Hypertension ; prevention & control ; Hypnotics and Sedatives ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Midazolam ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Systole ; drug effects ; Tooth Extraction ; methods

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of oral administration of guanxin II decoction (GX II) on cardiovascular function, especially on the dynamics of coronary blood flow in healthy males.

METHODSChanges of heart rate, diastolic pressure, systolic pressure, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), E peak, A peak, E/A value of mitral flow, diastolic peak velocity (Vmax) and diastolic flow velocity time integrals (VTI) of left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) in 11 healthy male subjects were measured before and after oral administration of GX II, using non-invasive echocardiogram.

RESULTSCompared with those before GX II administration, the changes after administration in heart rate, systolic pressure, diastolic pressure, LVEF, E peak, A peak and E/A value, were insignificantly different (P>0.05), but the Vmax and VTI significantly increased at 30 min, 60 min, 90 min and 120 min after GX II administration (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONTo increase the coronary blood flow is possibly one of the mechanisms of GX II in treating coronary heart disease and angina pectoris.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Blood Flow Velocity ; drug effects ; Coronary Circulation ; drug effects ; Coronary Disease ; drug therapy ; Coronary Vessels ; drug effects ; ultrastructure ; Diastole ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Echocardiography ; Heart Rate ; drug effects ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Systole ; drug effects ; Vasodilator Agents ; pharmacology ; Ventricular Function, Left ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo observe blood pressure change with age in salt-sensitive teenagers whose salt sensitivity were determined by repeated testing.

METHODSSalt sensitivity was determined through intravenous infusion of normal saline combined with volume-depletion by oral diuretic furosemide in 55 teenagers. After five years, salt sensitivity was re-examined and subject blood pressure was followed up. Blood pressure changes in salt-sensitive teenagers were compared to that of non-salt sensitive teenagers over five years.

RESULTSAfter 5 years, the repetition rate of salt sensitivity determined by intravenous saline loading is 92.7%. In teenagers with salt sensitivity on the baseline, both the systolic blood pressure increments and increment rates were much higher than non-salt sensitive teenagers (12.7 +/- 12.1 mmHg vs. 2.8 +/- 5.2 mmHg, P < 0.01; 12.2% +/- 12.0% vs. 2.5% +/- 4.4%, P < 0.001, respectively). There was a similar trend for diastolic blood pressure (8.4 +/- 6.4 mmHg vs. 3.7 +/- 6.4 mmHg, P = 0.052; 13.2% +/- 10.6% vs. 6.8% +/- 10.1%, P = 0.053, respectively).

CONCLUSIONSSalt sensitivity determined by intravenous saline loading showed good reproducibility. Blood pressure increments with age were much higher in salt-sensitive teenagers than non-salt sensitive teenagers, especially in terms of systolic blood pressure.

Adolescent ; Aging ; physiology ; Blood Pressure ; drug effects ; Blood Volume ; Female ; Furosemide ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Male ; Sodium Chloride ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Systole

OBJECTIVETo study the efficacy of Chinese medicine (CM) on isolated systolic hypertension.

METHODSSeven electronic databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published until August 2015. Subgroup analyses and meta-analysis were performed to assess the efficacy and safety of the included studies.

RESULTSA total of 24 studies, including 2,096 patients (1,058 patients in the intervention group and 1,038 in the control group), were evaluated in the final analysis. Compared with a conventional therapy used alone, CM as additional intervention was more effective on systolic blood pressure [mean difference (MD)=-0.66, 95% confidence interval (CI)=(-0.97,-0.36), P<0.00001] and significantly diminished the pulse pressure [MD=-7.49, CI=(-12.69,-2.29), P<0.00001]. However it showed no additional benefit on diastolic blood pressure [MD=1.16, CI=(0.02, 2.29), P=0.87]. Adverse events were not explicitly reported in most RCTs.

CONCLUSIONSCM might be a promising approach for the elderly with isolated systolic hypertension, while the evidence for CM employed alone was insufficient. Considering the inherent limitations of the included studies, larger high-quality RCTs with extensive follow-up should be performed to validate our findings in the future.

Aged ; Blood Pressure ; Clinical Trials as Topic ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Hypertension ; drug therapy ; Publication Bias ; Pulse ; Systole ; Treatment Outcome