AIM: To assess the degree of oxidative damage during acute myocardial infarction and reperfusion, and to clarify the protective effect of Tongxinluo in mini-swine model. METHODS: Thirty mini-swines were randomized into 5 study groups: sham group, model group, low dose (0.05 g·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)), medium dose (0.2 g·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)) and high dose (0.5 g·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)) of Tongxinluo groups (pretreated with Tongxinluo for 3 d). Animals except in sham group were subjected to 3 h of coronary occlusion followed by 1 h of reperfusion. Concentrations of total antioxidative capability (T-AOC), total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), reduced glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in blood sample and the myocardium were measured. RESULTS: (1) T-AOC, T-SOD and GSH in serum significantly decreased (all P<0.05), while MDA significantly increased (P<0.01) at 3 h after AMI in comparison with those at baseline. Compared to those at 3 h after AMI, the contents of T-AOC, T-SOD and GSH at 1 h after reperfusion significantly decreased (all P<0.01), accompanied by increase of MDA (P<0.01). (2) Compared to those in normal area, levels of T-AOC, T-SOD and GSH in reperfusion myocardium decreased significantly (all P<0.01) and MDA increased significantly (P<0.01). T-AOC, T-SOD and GSH in no-reflow myocardium further decreased (all P<0.01) and MDA increased (P<0.01) as compared to those in reperfusion myocardium. (3) Compared to model group, medium dose of Tongxinluo increased the contents of T-AOC and T-SOD and reduced MDA production in serum at 3 h after AMI (all P<0.05), while medium dose of Tongxinluo increased T-SOD level at 1 h after reperfusion (P<0.05). High dose of Tongxinluo increased the levels of T-AOC and T-SOD and decreased MDA content in serum at 3 h after AMI and 1 h after reperfusion (all P<0.05). (4) The medium dose of Tongxinluo increased T-AOC content (P<0.05) and reduced MDA (P<0.05) in reperfusion myocardium, while high dose of Tongxinluo increased T-AOC, T-SOD and GSH (all P<0.05), reduced MDA (P<0.01) in reperfusion myocardium, and also increased T-AOC, T-SOD (all P<0.05), reduced MDA (P<0.01) in no-reflow area as compared to those in model group. CONCLUSION: Impairment of antioxidant defense system in vivo and imbalance of redox homeostasis in myocardium region might play an important role in the pathogenesis of no-reflow after myocardial acute infarction following reperfusion. Tongxinluo protects myocardium from reperfusion injury by improving antioxidant defense and attenuating oxidative damage.

Objective: To evaluatethe efficacy of renal artery stenting combining optimal drug therapy in patients with atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis.
Methods:This is a prospective cohort study for patients who received percutaneous renal artery stenting in our hospital from 2011-09 to 2013-03. All patients had conifrmed diagnosis of atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis combing hypertension and/or renal functional damage. Thepatients received optimal drug therapy for anti-platelet and blood pressure, lipids, glucose controlling, and they were followed-up for at least 12 months to observe the improvement of blood pressure and renal function.
Results:There were 149 patients at the mean age of (61.54 ± 9.63) years and 185 renal artery stenosis with stent implantation;the average stenosis rate was (83.11±7.30)%and the success rate of operation was 99.32%(148/149). During follow-up period, the patients had increased estimated glomerular ifltration rate (GFR) compared to base line from (76.49 ± 22.50) ml/(min·1.73 m2) to (84.09 ± 28.79) ml/(min·1.73 m2), P<0.05 and decreased 24 h urinary protein from 0.1(IQR 0.02, 0.5) g to 0.04 (IQR0.01, 0.11)g, P<0.001;less type of drug therapy for hypertension from 2.22 to 1.56, P<0.05, decreased clinical and 24h dynamic systemic/diastolic blood pressure from (153.4 ± 15.6)/(83.77 ± 12.60) mmHg to (134.6 ± 14.4)/(73.57 ± 9.12) mmHg and from (143.32 ± 19.87)/(80.51 ± 11.33) mmHg to (124.44 ± 14.90)/(69.09 ± 9.49) mmHg, all P<0.05.
Conclusion:Renal artery stenting combining optimal drug therapy may improve blood pressure controlling and renal function in strictly selected patients with atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis.

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of carboprost methylate suppository for cervical ripening before diagnostic hysteroscopy in premenopausal women. Methods From July 2014 to July 2015, 1614 women who were undergone diagnostic hysteroscopy in 12 hospitals were randomly assigned into study group(n=1209)and control group(n=405). The cases in study group were given 1 mg carboprost methylate suppository in vagina before hysteroscopy, the cases in control group were given 1 mg placebo. The extent of cervical ripening, the time of dilated cervix, pain scoring, incidence of drug side reactions after 24, 48, 72 hours, satisfaction degree of operators and patients, the time of hysteroscopy, incidence of complications between the two groups were observed and compared. Results (1) Mean cervical widths in the study and control groups were 6.11 ± 1.11 and 5.95 ± 1.11, and showed a significant difference(P=0.034);the percentage of women requiring cervical dilatation in study group was lower than the percentage in control group significantly [28.3％(342/1209)versus 34.6％(140/405), P=0.020].(2) The time of dilated cervix in study group was shorter than the time in control group significantly [(34 ± 25) versus(52 ± 49)s, P=0.028] for the patients whose mean cervical widths≤4.(3)There was no significant difference in pain scores between the two groups(P>0.05).(4)The incidence of side reactions 24, 48, 72 hours after operation were no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). (5) The satisfaction degree of operators and patients, the time of hysteroscopy, incidence of complications between the two groups were no singnifcant difference between the two groups (all P>0.05). Conclusion Application of carboprost methylate suppository by vagina before hysteroscopy is an effective and safe method of cervical ripening.

BACKGROUNDAs a novel device-based approach targeting the renal sympathetic nerves, percutaneous renal denervation (RDN) has been shown to be effective and safe for reducing blood pressure. However, while considerable data on RDN have been obtained from Western populations, there is limited findings from East Asian populations. The purpose of this study was to evaluate one-year outcomes of RDN for the treatment of resistant hypertension in Chinese patients.

METHODSBetween February and August 2012, 14 patients (mean age 39 ± 8 years, 10 males) with resistant hypertension underwent successful RDN at the Fuwai Hospital. All 14 patients were followed up at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months post-procedure. Blood pressure, use of antihypertensive agents, renal function, and complications were investigated.

RESULTSBaseline values included mean office blood pressure of 164/103 ± 14/10 mmHg, mean 3.9 ± 0.6 anti-hypertensive agents, and an estimated glomerular filtration rate of (79 ± 19) ml × min(-1)×1.73 m(-2). Office blood pressure after the procedure was reduced by -14/-10, -17/-11, -21/-12, and -24/-14 mmHg at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months respectively, and the reduction of the number of antihypertensive agents at the above corresponding time points was -1.3, -1.5, -1.7 and -1.8 respectively (all P < 0.001). The mean reduction of 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure was similar to the reduction of office blood pressure at the four corresponding time points. Renal function did not significantly change at any time point (all P > 0.05). No clinical complications were observed at 12-month follow-up.

CONCLUSIONThis study showed that RDN seems to be effective in reducing blood pressure of Chinese patients with resistant hypertension, with minimal adverse events at 12-month follow-up.

Adult ; Antihypertensive Agents ; therapeutic use ; Blood Pressure ; drug effects ; Female ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; physiology ; Humans ; Hypertension ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged