妊娠高血压综合征患者血清瘦素、TNF-α水平测定及其临床意义

目的检测妊娠高血压综合征患者血清中瘦素、TNF-α的水平,并探讨其与妊高征发病的关系。方法用放射免疫法测定35例妊高征患者外周血中瘦素及TNF-α的水平,并以21例正常晚期妊娠妇女(正常妊娠组)作比较。结果(1)妊高征组血清瘦素水平为(32.9±11.5)ng/ml,明显高于正常妊娠组的(18.9±3.0)ng/ml,P<0.05;轻度妊高征组血清瘦素水平为(22.0±4.8)ng/ml,与正常妊娠组比较,差异无显著性,P>0.05;中、重度妊高征组血清瘦素水平分别为(31.1±5.2)、(41.8±10.9)ng/ml,与轻度妊高征组及正常妊娠组比较,差异有显著性,P均<0.05;轻、中、重妊高征组之间血清瘦素水平差异有显著性(P均<0.05)。(2)妊高征组血清TNF-α水平为(22.7±11.5)fmol/ml,明显高于正常妊娠组的(9.2±2.1)fmol/ml,P<0.05,轻度妊高征组血清TNF-α水平为(11.5±4.1)fmol/ml,与正常妊娠组比较,差异无显著性,P>0.05;中、重度妊高征组血清TNF-α水平分别为(19.5±7.4)、(32.9±8.3)fmol/ml,与轻度妊高征组及正常妊娠组比较,差异有显著性(P均<0.05);轻、中、重妊高征组之间血清TNF-α水平差异有显著性(P均<0.05)。(3)妊高征组血清瘦素水平与TNF-α水平呈正相关(分别为r=0.56,P<0.01)。结论妊高征患者血清TNF-α水平增高可能是导致血清瘦素水平升高的原因之一。     

ACTH 1-24-induced potentiation of norepinephrine contractile responses in aortic strips from spontaneously hypertensive (SH) and normotensive (WKY) rats

Norepinephrine (NE)-induced contractile responses were less in aortic strips from SH compared to WKY rats. ACTH 1-24 potentiated NE responses in both SH and WKY aortic strips. This effect was more potent in SH aortic strips. NE-induced contractions in SH aortic strips were less sensitive to changes in external Ca2+ levels than were those of WKY aortic strips. ACTH 1-24 did not potentiate NE responses under low external Ca2+ conditions in SH aortic strips or under high external Ca2+ conditions in WKY aortic strips. The greater sensitivity of NE responses following ACTH 1-24 in SH aortic strips may imply that this peptide is modulating a mechanism related to an impaired contractility and that Ca2+ plays a key role in the observed effects.     

The effects of pollen,propolis, and caffeic acid phenethyl ester on tyrosine hydroxylase activity and total RNA levels in hypertensive rats caused by nitric oxide synthase inhibition: experimental,docking and molecular dynamic studies

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of propolis, pollen, and caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) on tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) activity and total RNA levels of Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) inhibition of nitric oxide synthase in the heart, adrenal medulla, and hypothalamus of hypertensive male Sprague dawley rats. The TH activity in the adrenal medulla, heart, and hypothalamus of the rats was significantly increased in the L-NAME group vs. control (p < 0.05). Treatment with L-NAME led to a significant increase in blood pressure (BP) in the L-NAME group compared to control (p < 0.05). These data suggest that propolis, pollen, and CAPE may mediate diminished TH activity in the heart, adrenal medulla, and hypothalamus in hypertensive rats. The decreased TH activity may be due to the modulation and synthesis of catecholamines and BP effects. In addition, the binding mechanism of CAPE within the catalytic domain of TH was investigated by means of molecular modeling approaches. These data suggest that the amino acid residues, Glu429 and Ser354 of TH may play a pivotal role in the stabilization of CAPE within the active site as evaluated by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Gibbs binding free energy (ΔG_binding) of CAPE in complex with TH was also determined by post-processing MD analysis approaches (i.e. Poisson-Boltzmann Surface Area (MM-PBSA) method).     

Vaccarin administration ameliorates hypertension and cardiovascular remodeling in renovascular hypertensive rats

Sympathetic overdrive, activation of renin angiotensin systems (RAS), and oxidative stress are vitally involved in the pathogenesis of hypertension and cardiovascular remodeling. We recently identified that vaccarin protected endothelial cell function from oxidative stress or high glucose. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether vaccarin attenuated hypertension and cardiovascular remodeling. Two‐kidney one‐clip (2K1C) model rats were used, and low dose of vaccarin (10 mg/kg), high dose of vaccarin (30 mg/kg), captopril (30 mg/kg) were intraperitoneally administrated. Herein, we showed that 2K1C rats exhibited higher systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), left ventricular mass/body weight ratio, myocardial hypertrophy or fibrosis, media thickness, and media thickness to lumen diameter, which were obviously alleviated by vaccarin and captopril. In addition, both vaccarin and captopril abrogated the increased plasma renin, angiotensin II (Ang II), norepinephrine (NE), and the basal sympathetic activity. The AT1R protein expressions, NADPH oxidase subunit NOX‐2 protein levels and malondialdehyde (MDA) content were significantly increased, whereas superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities were decreased in myocardium, aorta, and mesenteric artery of 2K1C rats, both vaccarin and captopril treatment counteracted these changes in renovascular hypertensive rats. Collectively, we concluded that vaccarin may be a novel complementary therapeutic medicine for the prevention and treatment of hypertension. The mechanisms for antihypertensive effects of vaccarin may be associated with inhibition of sympathetic activity, RAS, and oxidative stress.     

苹果多酚通过下调钙敏感受体改善大鼠低氧性肺动脉高压的作用

目的：探究苹果多酚通过下调钙敏感受体（CaSR）表达改善大鼠低氧性肺动脉高压的作用。方法：36只雄性SD大鼠随机分为对照组、低氧诱导组和苹果多酚干预组（n=12）。低氧诱导组和苹果多酚干预组大鼠每天在低氧舱（氧浓度为10%）中间断低氧暴露8 h,对照组在正常环境下饲养,为期四周。建模同时,苹果多酚干预组每日用苹果多酚按200 mg/kg的剂量灌胃,对照组、低氧诱导组用等量生理盐水灌胃,每日1次,共持续四周。建模完成后,检测各组大鼠的肺动脉平均压（mPAP）、肺血管阻力（PVR）、右心室肥厚指数（RVHI）、肺动脉中膜厚度（MT）、WA%、WT%及肺动脉组织中CaSR表达量。结果：低氧暴露组大鼠mPAP、PVR、RVHI、MT、WA%、WT%及肺动脉组织中CaSR表达量均较对照组明显升高（P<0.01）;苹果多酚干预组可改善上述效应。结论：苹果多酚能有效预防大鼠低氧性肺动脉高压,其机制与下调CaSR的表达有关。     

CircNr1h4 regulates the pathological process of renal injury in salt‐sensitive hypertensive mice by targeting miR‐155‐5p

Circular RNAs are a class of widespread and diverse endogenous RNAs that may regulate gene expression in various diseases, but their regulation and function in hypertensive renal injury remain unclear. In this study, we generated ribosomal‐depleted RNA sequencing data from normal mouse kidneys and from injured mouse kidneys induced by deoxycorticosterone acetate‐salt hypertension and identified at least 4900 circRNA candidates. A total of 124 of these circRNAs were differentially expressed between the normal and injured kidneys. Furthermore, we characterized one abundant circRNA, termed circNr1h4, which is derived from the Nr1h4 gene and significantly down‐regulated in the injured kidneys. RNA sequencing data and qPCR analysis also showed many microRNAs and mRNAs, including miR‐155‐5p and fatty acid reductase 1 (Far1), were differentially expressed between the normal and injured kidney and related to circNr1h4. In vitro, the silencing of circNr1h4 or overexpression of miR‐155‐5p significantly decreased Far1 levels and increased reactive oxygen species. Mechanistic investigations indicated that circNr1h4 acts as a competing endogenous RNA for miR‐155‐5p, leading to regulation of its target gene Far1. Our study provides novel insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying kidney injury in hypertension, which will be required to develop therapeutic strategies of targeting circRNAs for hypertensive kidney injury.     

阿奇霉素联合辛伐他汀对慢性阻塞性肺疾病合并肺动脉高压患者肺功能的影响

目的:探讨阿奇霉素联合辛伐他汀治疗慢性阻塞性肺疾病合并肺动脉高压的临床疗效及对患者肺功能的影响。方法:选取2013年6月-2016年3月我院收治的慢性阻塞性肺疾病合并肺动脉高压患者107例,根据治疗方法不同分为对照组(49例)与实验组(58例)。对照组患者采用阿奇霉素治疗,实验组患者在对照组基础上给予辛伐他汀治疗。观察并比较两组患者的临床疗效、不良反应以及肺功能指标的变化情况。结果:实验组患者治疗有效率(87.93%)高于对照组(73.47%),差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。与治疗前比较,两组患者治疗后1 s用力呼吸容积(FEV1)、用力肺活量(FVC)及FEV1/FVC水平均升高,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);与对照组比较,实验组患者治疗后1 s用力呼吸容积(FEV1)、用力肺活量(FVC)及FEV1/FVC水平较高,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。治疗后,两组患者血清总胆固醇(TC)及三酰甘油(TG)水平均降低,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);与对照组比较,实验组患者治疗后血清总胆固醇(TC)及三酰甘油(TG)水平较低,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。两组患者不良反应发生率比较,差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:阿奇霉素联合辛伐他汀治疗慢性阻塞性肺疾病合并肺动脉高压的临床效果显著,不仅能够改善患者肺功能,降低血脂相关指标水平,并且安全性较高,值得临床推广应用。     

Homologies of the stapedial artery in humans, with a reconstruction of the primitive stapedial artery configuration of Euprimates

Data drawn from the perspectives of paleontology, comparative anatomy, embryology, teratology, and normal adult variation were analyzed with nine homology criteria in order to determine the homologues of the stapedial artery in adult humans. It was determined that 1) the stem of the stapedial artery does not persist within the cranial cavity; 2) the stem of the ramus inferior is retained in its entirety and forms the upper portion of the stem of the middle meningeal artery; 3) the proximal part of the ramus infraorbitalis is normally absent and is replaced by a collateral shunt arising from the ramus mandibularis; 4) the ramus mandibularis is retained and forms the lower portion of the middle meningeal stem and the inferior alveolar artery; 5) the most proximal portion of the maxillary artery is formed by an anastomotic shunt connecting the external carotid artery to the ramus mandibularis; 6) the anterior division of the ramus superior is normally present and well developed; 7) the posterior division of the ramus superior is present in many individuals; and 8) the junction of the two divisions of the ramus superior with the ramus inferior usually migrates to the floor of the middle cranial fossa. The range of human arterial patterns, and those of all other euprimates, can be derived from a hypothetical primitive pattern that is very similar to that of primitive rodents. In this pattern, the stapedial artery stem enters the middle cranial fossa and trifurcates into the anterior and posterior divisions of the ramus superior and the ramus inferior. In their evolution, strepsirhines initially lose the ramus inferior and haplorhines initially reduce the stapedial artery stem.     

Degenerative and apoptotic events at retinal and optic nerve level after experimental induction of ocular hypertension

Ocular hypertension is a symptom of a glaucomatous condition characterized by a severe vision decrease. Blindness caused by the apoptotic death of the retinal ganglion cells and of the astrocytes of the optic nerve may eventually result. Experimental hypertension was induced by inoculation of methylcellulose in the anterior chamber. Chromatin staining, TUNEL assay, and inter-nucleosomal DNA fragmentation observed in retina and optic nerve strongly suggest that hypertension causes apoptosis. Immunolocalization of the fibrillary acidic glial protein, specific of cell stress, and caspase-3 in the same tissues, further support this mode of cell death. Activation of the ubiquitin dependant proteolytic system was also observed. Protection from apoptosis exerted by administration of the peroxide scavenger trolox, suggests that the apoptotic pathway is activated by an oxidative stress. The data presented here show that the experimental hypertensive insult induces degenerative and apoptotic events comparable to those observed in human glaucoma.