AIM:We investigated how AT 1-R stimulated by mechanical stresses induces cardiac fibrosis .METHODS:We produced in vivo cardiac pressure overload model in angiotensinogen knockout ( ATG-/-) mice and in vitro mechanically-stretched cell model in cultured neonatal cardiac cells of ATG-/-mice both lack the participation of Ang II .RESULTS: Pressure overload for 4 weeks in ATG-/-mice induced myocardial hypertrophy accompanied by the significant interstitial fibrosis , however , the TGF-β, a key regulatory factor of fibrosis, was not significantly increased in these ATG-/-mice.Meanwhile, the inhibitor for AT1-R significantly inhibited mechani-cal stress-induced cardiac fibrosis in these ATG-/-models whereas inhibition of TGF-βdid not.CONCLUSION:The results showed that mechanical stress-induced fibrotic responses through AT 1-R required the phosphorylation of Smad 2 but not the involvement of TGF-β.

Objective:To observe the effects of Shexiang Wulong pill on serum interleukin-1 (IL-1), transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β1), matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP3), matrix tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase 1(TIMP-1) in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) expression.Methods:Using prospective cohort study method, the subjects were KOA patients from Department of Rheumatology and Immunology clinic of North China University of Science and Technology Affiliated Hospital from March 2016 to June 2018.According to random number table The patients were divided into two groups: the treatment group (treated with shexiangwulong pill) with 46 cases and the control group (Kanggu Zengsheng tablet) with 46 cases.The treatment group was treated with Shexiang Wulong pill, 30 capsules per time, twice a day; the control group was treated with Kanggu Zengsheng tablet, four tablets per time, twice a day.The treatment period was 8 weeks.The levels of IL-1, TGF-β1, MMP3 and TIMP-1 in the serum of the patients in the treatment group and the control group were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the differences of relevant indexes between the two groups were statistically analyzed.Results:Forty-six cases were completed in the treatment group and 44 cases were completed in the control group.After treatment with Shexiang Wulong pill and Kanggu Zengsheng tablet, the levels of IL-1 were (30.99±2.80) μg/L, (32.90±2.84) μg/L in the treatment group and the control group, resectively( t=3.21, P<0.001). There was no significant difference of TGF-β1 levels between the treatment group((214.87±17.30) μg/L) and the control group ((208.85±15.53) μg/L, ( t=1.73, P=0.08). The levels of TIMP-1 were (139.60±6.79) μg/L, (135.09±6.16) μg/L in the treatment group and the control group, resectively( t=3.29, P<0.001). The levels of MMP3 were (1.19±0.10) μg/L, (1.23±0.06) μg/L in the treatment group and the control group, resectively ( t=2.28, P=0.03). The rate of TIMP1/MMP3 were 111.04±8.81, 118.46±12.06 in the treatment group and the control group, resectively( t=3.34, P<0.001). Conclusion:Shexiang Wulong pill can decrease the levels of IL-1 and MMP-3, and increase the levels of TGF-β1, TIMP-1, and the rate of TIMP1/MMP3, so as to protect the articular cartilage and improve the knee joint function in patients with KOA.

Objective To explore the risk factors for the occurrence of hypertension in middle-aged and elderly residents in China using the Cox regression analysis model and decision tree model, and compare the differences between the two methods. Methods The 2011-2015 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study data were used. The study investigated the risk factors for hypertension using both a multivariate Cox regression model and a decision tree model. Results The results showed that the incidence rate of hypertension between 2011-2015 was 22.79%. Both the Cox regression model and decision tree model identified age, education level, body mass index, and diabetes as risk factors for hypertension. The Cox regression model also identified drinking status as a risk factor, while the decision tree model identified gender and marital status as additional risk factors. The area under the curve (AUC) suggested that the Cox regression model and decision tree model had comparable ability to predict hypertension. Conclusions The risk factors for hypertension include gender, age, education level, marital status, alcohol consumption, body mass index, and history of diabetes. The effectiveness of the hypertension prediction model established based on Cox regression model and decision tree model results is not different.