To explore the effects of extracts of Radix Scrophulariae (ERS) on blood pressure, vasoconstrictors and morphology of artery in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs).

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the influence of Chrysanthemum indium on collagen accumulation and signaling transduction pathways in left ventricle tissue of cardiac hypertrophy induced by abdominal aortic banding in rats.

METHODVentricular remodeling was induced by abdominal aortic banding (AAB) in rats. After 35 day treatment, the blood pressure was measured, then the ratios of LVW/BW and HW/BW were calculated. The histological assay was performed by HE staining for determining the myocardium cell cross section and picric acid/sirius red staining for determining collagen content. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the protein expressions of PKC, bFGF and P38.

RESULTThe experimental data demonstrated that C. indium could decrease blood pressure and the cardiac indexes of LVW/BW and HW/BW, significantly diminish cross sectional area of cardiomyocyte, ameliorate collagen accumulation such as collagen volume fraction, perivascular collagen area and collagen distributions of type I and II and significantly down regulate the protein expressions of PKC, bFGF and P38 (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONC. indium can significantly attenuate the experimental ventricular remodeling. The mechanism may be related to reducing the blood pressure, decreasing the total collagen content of left ventricle tissue and modulating signaling transduction pathway.

Animals ; Blood Pressure ; drug effects ; Cardiomegaly ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Chrysanthemum ; Collagen ; metabolism ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; analysis ; Heart Ventricles ; metabolism ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Protein Kinase C ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Ventricular Remodeling ; drug effects ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; analysis

AIM: To study the effect of decanoyl acetaldehyde against atherosclerosis and the relative mechanisms in rats.METHODS: Rats were randomly assigned into 5 groups,That were the control,model,low and high dose of decanoyl acetaldehyde and ibuprofen groups.The model rats were intraperitoneally injected with 600 000 IU/kg vitamine Ds and intragastricly administrated with high-fat emulsion 10 mL/( kg·d) for 70 days.At the same time,the model rats treated with drugs were orally given 39 mg/( kg·d),78 mg/( kg·d) decanoyl acetaldehyde and 144 mg/( kg·d) ibuprofen suspension respectively.After 70 days,the rats were euthakilled,and the serum level of TC,LDL-C,HDL-C/LDL-C ,TNF-α,IL-1β,IL-6,IL-10,the expression of NF-κB in rat aorta and the pathological change in aorta were measured.RESULTS: Decanoyl acetaldehyde could lower the serum level of TC,LDL-C,TNF-α,IL-1β and IL-6.It increased the level of IL-10 and the ratio of HDL-C/LDL-C,inhibited the expression of NF-κB and reduced the thickness of the artery wall.CONCLUSION : Decanoyl acetaldehyde has an effect on anti-atherosclerosis.The mechanism may be related with inhibiting inflammation and lowering serum lipid.

The concept of modern medicine in treating chronic heart failure (CHF) has changed markedly in recent years. To improve the quality of life and prolong life, the treatment goal is no longer just temporary improvement of symptoms, more importantly, is to prevent and delay the occurrence and development of ventricular remodeling. Long-term chronic over-activation of sympathetic system, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and other neuroendocrine factors promotes myocardial remodeling, increases myocardial injury and deteriorates cardiac function. Despite short-term use can significantly improve the blood flow dynamics, long-term use of beta-adrenergic receptor stimulators and phosphodiesterase inhibitors does not prolong life, but increases the rate of sudden death caused by cardiac arrhythmia. Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and beta-blockers have become the preferred drugs in treating chronic heart failure. In fact, after long-term use, beta-blockers can significantly improve ventricular remodeling, enhance ventricular function and reduce the incidence of sudden death of patients with CHF. In traditional Chinese medicine practice, short-term use of drugs for warming yang and reinforcing qi can improve symptoms of CHF, but long-term use may have adverse effects, for these medicines can stimulate sympathetic system. Early treatment with medicines of cold and cool property may be more favorable to patients with CHF, except the advanced patients who need special intervention. Eliminating heat and nourishing yin may play more active role in controlling the occurrence and development of CHF. Drugs with good efficacy and value in treating CHF may be developed from the Chinese herbal medicines with eliminating heat and nourishing yin property.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects and the related mechanisms of Jiajian Yunujian (JJYNJ) granules, which were made from traditional Chinese medicinal prescription, on hyperthyroidism graves.

METHODExcept that in the normal group, all mice were injected 350 mcirog x kg x d(-1) L-Thyroxin sodium to establish the hyperthyroidism graves model. The model mice were divided randomly into model control group, 3 different groups of JJYNJ granules at oral dosage of 2.17, 4.33, 8.66 g x kg(-1), every day and thiamazole group at oral dosage of 10 mg x kg(-1) every day, respectively. The body weight, heart/body weight index, heart rate (HR), spontaneous activity and oxygen consumption of all the mice were measured. The serum T3, T4 levels were evaluated with the method of RIA. Meanwhile, the effect of JJYNJ granules and thiamazole on iodine uptake by thyroid was determined by radio-assay.

RESULTJJYNJ granules could improve the symptoms caused by thyroxin, increase body weight (P < 0.05), reduce heart/body weight index, spontaneous activity and oxygen consumption (P < 0.05). The HR of model group was (794.5 +/- 47.8) beats x min(-1), significantly faster than that of normal group (682.5 +/- 116.4) beats x min(-1). Those of low, middle and high JJYNJ granule group were (736.9 +/- 66.6), (742.1 +/- 62.3), (715.8 +/- 102.8) beats x min(-1) respectively, obviously slower than that of model group (P < 0.05). The serum T3, T4 levels of model group were (3.85 +/- 0.960), (234.46 +/- 58.11) microg x L(-1), significantly higher than those of normal group (0.99 +/- 0.30), (65.94 +/- 13.94) microg x L(-1), P < 0.01). Those of middle, high of JJYNJ granule group were (2.57 +/- 0.81), (164.27 +/- 72.63) microg x L(-1) and (2.70 +/- 0.55), (157.26 +/- 35.03) microg x L(-1). Those of thiamazole group were (2.88 +/- 0.59), (172.65 +/- 39.73) miicrog x L(-1). These values were significantly lower than those of model group. Thiamazole could significantly inhibit the iodine uptake in thyroid (P < 0.01), but JJYNJ granules did not block that obviously.

CONCLUSIONJJYNJ granules could significantly improve the symptoms of experimental hyperthyroidism graves. Its mechanisms may be different from that of thiamazole, which is related to inhibiting the synthesis of thyroxin in thyroid.

Animals ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Heart Rate ; drug effects ; Humans ; Hyperthyroidism ; blood ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Male ; Mice ; Random Allocation ; Thyroid Hormones ; blood

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of Scrophulariae of cold nature and Aconite of hot nature on myocardial hypertrophy and neuroendocrine factors in rats and mice. METHODS: A mouse model of myocardial hypertrophy was established by hypodermic injection of isoproterenol. Sixty myocardial hypertrophy mice were randomly divided into five groups: normal control group, untreated group, metoprolol-treated group, Scrophulariae-treated group and Aconite-treated group. A rat model of myocardial hypertrophy was established by peritoneal injection of L-thyroxin. Fifty rats were randomly divided into five groups: normal control group, untreated group, captopril-treated group, Scrophulariae-treated group and Aconite-treated group. After 7-9 days of treatment with intragastric administration of the corresponding drugs, the effects of Scrophulariae and Aconite on left ventricular weight index (LVWI) and heart weight index (HWI) were determined. The concentrations of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) in plasma and angiotensin II (Ang II) in myocardium were detected through radio-immunity method. Cardiocyte cross-section area was determined by using HE staining. RESULTS: Scrophulariae of cold nature could significantly reduce the LVWI, HWI and cardiocyte cross-section area, and could decrease the content of cAMP and Ang II. However, Aconite had no such effects. CONCLUSION: Scrophulariae of cold nature can inhibit myocardial hypertrophy through restraining the activity of sympathetic nervous system and decreasing the level of Ang II. The inhibition of Aconite of hot nature on cardiac hypertrophy is not significant.

Objective:To approach the in unce of wild chrysanthemum on some neuroendoerine factors in ventricular remodeling induced by abdominal aortic banding(AAB)in rats.Methods:Myocardial hypertrophy,ventricular remodeling model was induced by abdominal aortic banding(AAB)in rats.After 35 days' treatment,the systolic blood pressure(SBP),diastolic blood pressure(DBP) and mean arterial pressure(MAP) were measured.Then the ratios of LVW/BW(1eft ventricle weight/ body weight),HW/BW(heart weight/body weight)were Calculated.The Angiotensin II(Ang II) content in heart tissue and the Aldosterone(ALD),Tumor Necrosis Factor(TNF-?)concentration of blood plasma were determined by radioimmunoassay.Results:The experimental data demonstrated that wild chrysanthemum could decrease SBP,DBP,MAP and the cardiac indexes of LVW/BW and HW/BW,significantly reduce the content of Ang II,ALD and TNF-?,decrease the Hydroxyproline content(P

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular ; pathology ; Hypertrophy, Right Ventricular ; pathology ; Models, Animal ; Myocardium ; pathology ; Organ Size ; drug effects

Objective To explore the relationship between flood ing and the prevalence of schistosomiasis in the river beach area. Met hods The subjects were investigated on the ways of exposure, frequency and duratio n of water conta cted from May to November in 1999, and eggs of Schistosoma were examined bef ore and after flooding. Results Exposure to infested water for human being s in the area comprised productive, living and recreational contacts including 11 kinds of activities, and 53.55% of the subjects contacted infested w ater. The number of person, frequency and duration of water contacted in floodin g strongly increased; the infection rate and density among population stron gly increased after flooding. There was significant difference between the infec tion rate in exposure group and that in non-exposure group. Conclusions It can be inferred that flooding has increased water contacted and i nfection, therefore, health education should be strengthened to avoid or dec rease water contact.