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Objective To investigate the effect of garlicin in treating carotid artery atherosclerotic plaque (CAAP) in patients with primary hypertension and coronary heart disease (PHT-CHD). Methods. Seventy-nine patients with PHT-CHD were randomly divided into the treated group (39 patients) treated with garlicin and fosinopril and the control group (40 patients) treated with fosinopril alone. The change of CAAP was evaluated by high frequency ultrasonic examination every six months, and the changes of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were measured by ELISA, with the observation proceeding for 52 weeks totally. Results: By the end of the experiment, the number of complex plaques, Crouse integrals, intima-media thickness, serum ICAM-1 and hs-CRP were significantly lower in the treated group than those in the control group with significant difference (P<0.05). Conclusion: Garlicin could stabilize CAAP to a certain extent and shows a definite vascular protective effect in patients with PHT-CHD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the distribution laws of TCM syndrome types and to analyze the distribution of dynamic blood pressure curve, atherosclerosis, and age in senile hypertension patients., Methods: Totally 1 131 senile hypertension patients were recruited from 7 provinces and municipal cities. Features of TCM syndromes, classification and distribution curves, and syndrome distribution laws were observed. The distribution curves of dynamic blood pressure, carotid atherosclerosis, and age were compared in each TCM syndrome types., Results: There were four main syndrome types in 736 cases (56.15%), i.e., excessive accumulation of phlegm-dampness syndrome (210 cases, 16.02%), yin deficiency and hyperactivity of yang syndrome (177 cases, 13.50%), Gan-Shen yin deficiency syndrome (79 cases, 6.03%), and deficiency of qi and yin syndrome (252 cases, 19.22%). Besides, there were two more sub-types, i.e., collateral obstruction by blood stasis syndrome and collateral obstruction by phlegm and stasis. Circadian blood pressure monitor was completed in 211 cases. Of them, abnormal circadian blood pressure occurred in 152 cases (accounting for 72. 38%); yin deficiency and hyperactivity of yang syndrome, excessive accumulation of phlegm-dampness syndrome, deficiency of qi and yin syndrome plus collateral obstruction by blood stasis syndrome were most often seen. Color ultrasound of carotid artery was performed in 660 patients of main syndromes. The incidence was quite higher in those of excessive accumulation of phlegm-dampness syndrome (182 cases, 27. 58%), deficiency of qi and yin syndrome plus collateral obstruction by blood stasis syndrome or collateral obstruction by phlegm and stasis (322 cases, 48.79%). Yin deficiency and hyperactivity of yang syndrome was dominant in patients 60 -79 years old, while deficiency of qi and yin syndrome and Gan-Shen yin deficiency syndrome were dominant in patients older than 80 years., Conclusions: Excessive accumulation of phlegm-dampness syndrome, yin deficiency and hyperactivity of yang syndrome, Gan-Shen yin deficiency syndrome, and deficiency of qi and yin syndrome were main syndrome types in senile hypertension patients. There was statistical difference in the distribution curves of blood pressure, atherosclerosis, and age of various TCM syndrome types.

Objective: To observe whether garlicin could ameliorate pressure overload induced myocardial fibrosis in rats through partial inhibiting transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) mediated Smads signal., Methods: Forty male SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups, i. e., the sham-operation group, the model group, the garlicin group, and the Tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) group, 10 in each group. The pressure overload induced myocardial fibrosis rat model was prepared using coarctation of aorta. Three days after modeling 5.0 mg/kg garlicin injection was administered to rats in the garlicin group, 20 mg/kg TMP injection to rats in the TMP group by peritoneal injection, while normal saline was peritoneally injected to rats in the sham-operation group and the model group. Four weeks after medication, the changes of myocardial collagen were observed by picrosirius red staining. The myocardial collagen volume fraction (CVF) and perivascular collagen areas (PVCA) were calculated. The serum transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) expression was detected using ELISA. The TGF-beta1 protein expression in the myocardial tissue was observed using immunohistochemical assay. The changes of myocardial Smad2 and Smad7 mRNA expressions were detected using Real-time RT-PCR. The effects of garlicin on TGF-beta1 mediated Smad Signaling through luciferase assay were further verified using Mv1 Lu-(CAGA) 12-Luc cell line response to TGF-beta1., Results: Compared with the sham-operation group, the myocardial levels of CVF and PVCA, the serum TGF-beta1 level, and the TGF-beta1 protein expression in the myocardial tissue obviously increased in the model group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the PVCA level, the serum TGF-beta1 level, and the TGF-beta1 protein expression in the myocardial tissue of the garlicin group and the TMP group obviously decreased (P < 0.05, P 0O 01). The Smad2 mRNA expression was up-regulated while Smad7 mRNA expression down-regulated in the model group. The Smad2 mRNA expression was obviously down-regulated in the garlicin group and the TMP group (P < 0.05). The Smad7 mRNA expression was obviously up-regulated in the TMP group (P > 0.05). One to 2 microg/mL garlicin could obviously inhibit the luciferase activities of corresponding TGF-beta1, under the stimulation of 2 ng/mL TGF-beta1 (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: Garlicin ameliorated pressure overload induced myocardial fibrosis in rats through partial inhibiting TGF-beta-Smads signal pathway.

In China there exist "three high", "three low" and "three no" phenomena in hypertension, so the task of prevention and treatment of hypertension is urgent and difficult. Practices show that treatment by integrative medicine is the best way to prevent and treat hypertension. In clinics several key points should be noticed: holding the difference of therapy philosophy between Chinese medicine and Western medicine, objectively evaluating the curative efficacy of Chinese medicine and Western medicine, insisting on compatible application of Chinese herbs and Western drugs, stressing the combination of disease identification and syndrome typing, preventing and treating target organs' damage in a scientific way, and paying attention to non-drug treatment of hypertension.

Objective: To investigate the distribution characteristics of syndrome types of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in essential hypertension and to explore the distribution rule of TCM syndromes., Methods: A multicenter, large-sample survey method of clinical epidemiology was applied to choose the patients with essential hypertension from North, Middle, and South China. A questionnaire was designed and filled in, then 477 untreated patients with first-diagnosed essential hypertension were selected and the information was recorded into FileMaker database. A cluster analysis method was utilized to study the TCM syndrome distribution rule of essential hypertension., Results: Two-step cluster analysis was done from 3 to 7 clusters. Seven clusters were appropriate, which included deficiency of heart and kidney qi, hyperactivity of liver-yang, deficiency of yin and yang, stagnation of phlegm-dampness, phlegm-heat (subtype of stagnation of phlegm-dampness), blood stasis obstructing collaterals, and other syndromes. The symptoms presenting high percentage in each cluster were more significant in TCM theory. The syndromes of hyperactivity of liver-yang (24.1%) and stagnation of phlegm-dampness (27.1%) presented the high percentages, and deficiency of heart and kidney qi (10.1%), deficiency of yin and yang (8.4%), and blood stasis obstructing collaterals (9.0%) presented the low percentages., Conclusion: As compared with the current syndrome differentiation criteria, two-step cluster analysis results not only include the syndromes of deficiency of yin and yang, hyperactivity of liver-yang, stagnation of phlegm-dampness, but also cover qi deficiency and blood stasis.

Objective: To investigate the effects of garlicin on fibroblasts proliferation and type I collagen synthesis and explore its anti-fibrosis mechanism., Methods: Garlicin was added into the culture fluid of NIH3T3 cell, taking Radix Salviae miltiorrhizae as the control medicine. The spiking of H3-thymidine DNA was detected, also the hydroxyproline (HOP) concentration in the culture fluid by alkali digestion method and the protein expression of type I collagen in NIH3T3 cells by immunofluorescent staining., Results: The NIH3T3 cell growth and proliferation rate were obviously reduced after garlicin treatment concentration-dependently in range of 0.2 - 5 microg/mL; HOP level and protein expression of type I collagen also lowered., Conclusion: Garlicin could inhibit NIH3T3 cell proliferation, reduce the synthesis and protein expression of type I collagen so as to exert the anti-fibrosis effect.

Despite the availability of six classes of antihypertensive agents, control of blood pressure and improving patients' quality of life remain far from ideal. There is a wide variability in terms of the hypotensive effect and side effect profile for the same antihypertensive agent used in different patients. How to select the right agent to provide the most beneficial results in terms of efficacy and improvement of quality of life as well as to decrease clinical symptoms and minimize adverse reactions is an important therapeutic challenge. It has been suggested that clinical usage of pattern (Zheng) diagnosis of traditional Chinese medicine may improve the accuracy in selecting the right antihypertensive agents with improved efficacy and deceased adverse effects. Limited research in this area suggested the calcium channel blocker may work better in treating phlegmatic damp excess pattern and blood stasis pattern while beta-blockers may be more beneficial in the liver yang rising pattern. On the other hand, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors may be more suitable in a yin deficiency and yang hyperactivity pattern as well as combined liver and kidney yin deficiency pattern. More research studies using this innovative approach in improving the selection of antihypertensive agents including mechanistic studies are urgently needed.

Coronary arteriography (CAG) examination is the widely accepted gold standard for diagnosis of coronary heart disease (CHD) nowadays. In order to explore the situation and value of CAG applied in TCM syndrome differentiation of CHD, and to facilitate the research on disease-syndrome diagnosis of CHD in integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine (ICWM), the relationship between coronary arterial pathological changes and the TCM syndrome types was probed through reviewing literatures concerning the application of CAG in studying syndrome differentiation of CHD since 2000. The results showed that syndrome types are correlated to the severity and number affected of coronary artery branches. Along with the aggravation of CHD, TCM syndrome typing become even more complicated. There is a gap between the previous detectable index for CHD as well as the TCM syndrome typing and clinical practice. CAG is of vital importance in exploring rules of integrated syndrome differentiation and disease diagnosis of CHD. Therefore, to launch a nationwide multi-centric study on large sample of syndrome differentiation with ICWM is necessary, which should be based on the evidence-based medicine and by dint of the modern medical detecting technique to conduct the study comprehensively in combining differentiation of syndrome and disease, and in both macroscopic and microscopic views.

Objective: To investigate and analyze the therapeutic level and the existing problems on acute myocardial infarction (AMI) management in Beijing., Methods: We collected clinic data of 1242 AMI patients from 12 hospitals in Beijing, from January 2000 to March 2001, using a uniformed questionnaire, and evaluated the status of the diagnosis and treatment of AMI according to the Chinese guidelines issued on Decmeber 2001. Corresponding factors which influencing the mortality were also analyzed by one-way factor and multiple factors analysis methodologies., Results: The mean age of the 1242 AMI patients was 63.0 years old and about one third of them were under 55 years old. In hospitals, the total mortality was 9.10%. 37.9% of the patients had received therapy of the intravenous thrombolysis and emergency PCI with a total rate of reperfusion therapy as 56.0%. The in-hospital rates of drug use were as follows: Nitrates 90.0%, Aspirin 87.8%, heparin 88.7%, beta-blockers 73.4%, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors(ACEI) 77.6%, lipid regulating agents 43.6%. The rate of intravenous therapy of TCM by promoting the blood circulation and supplementing the vital energy was 30.5%. Results from multiple factors analysis showed that the compositive factors which could lower the mortality were reperfusion therapy,lipid regulating agents, intravenous therapy of TCM, beta-blockers, ACEI, lower molecule heparin and digitalis., Conclusion: Data from this study showed that there still existed a gap between clinical management on AMI and the guideline in Beijing. To set up a straightway passage of reperfusion therapy, to become more standardized to follow the guideline in undertaking the medical treatment practice, and to go deep into discuss the status of TCM on AMI management seemed the important tasks we are facing.

Myocardial fibrosis is an inevitable process of many heart diseases, such as coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, hypertension, cardiomyopathy, etc. in development from earlier period to terminal stage. To prevent or reverse the process of fibrosis is one of the most important approaches to retard the occurrence of heart failure and reduce the accidence of arrhythmia. In traditional Chinese medicine myocardial fibrosis belongs to the category of "Xinbi". Studies on the occurrence and regulation of myocardial fibrosis, and its treatment by using integrative Chinese and Western medicine or by Chinese drugs singly and their components were reviewed in this paper.

Objective: To study the effects of lung recruitment maneuvers (RM) in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) with pulmonary and extrapulmonary origin (ARDSp/ARDSexp)., Methods: Thirty-seven ARDS patients with a forced expiratory volume were selected (16 with ARDSp, 21 with ARDSexp). Without using any sedative and neuromuscular blocking agents, with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) up to 30 cm H(2)O (1 cm H(2)O=0.098 kPa), the patients were asked to hold the breath for 30 seconds, and then CPAP was lowered to the level of that before the treatment within 5-10 seconds., Results: Compared with the state before recruitment, changes in heart rate (HR) were not obvious in two groups during RM, mean arterial pressure was elevated evidently after 2 minutes in two groups (both P<0.05), and central venous pressure (CVP) rose after 30 seconds in two groups (both P<0.05). Peak inspiratory pressure, platform pressure and mean airway pressure increased clearly after 30 seconds (all P<0.05), and pulmonary compliance decreased obviously 30 seconds after re-inflation recruitment in two groups (both P<0.05), and increased obviously in ARDSexp group 5, 15, 30 minutes after recruitment (all P<0.05). In the group with ARDSp oxygenation index (OI) changed distinctly 10, 30 minutes and 1 hour after recruitment compared with the state before recruitment (all P<0.05). In patients with ARDSexp OI was significantly improved 10 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours after RM., Conclusion: In ARDSexp, with pulmonary interstitial edema as the main pathology, responded better to RM than ARDSp with pulmonary consolidation.

The finding of gaseous signaling molecule NO, CO and H2S, and the advocacy of "gas biology" concept have provided a novel thinking for the study of Huoxue Huayu (HXHY, a traditional Chinese medicine method of promoting blood circulation to remove blood stasis). The concept "Qi" in TCM and gaseous signaling molecule are correlated in respects of their source and mesomeric function. Study of HXHY could only be deepened through an overall cognition on blood stasis syndrome with the view of Qi-blood correlation.

Objective: To investigate the effects of low-dose dopamine and dobutamine on renal functioning patients with nonoliguric renal failure., Methods: Twenty-nine hemodynamically stable patients with nonoliguric renal failure were enrolled to this study group. Each patient was given 5% glucose (control), dopamine or dobutamine in random order by means of an injection pump every 4 hours. The change in urine output, fractional excretion of sodium (FeNa) and creatinine clearance rate (CCr) were determined., Results: Compared with control, urine volume, FeNa, and CCr were increased significantly after administration of dopamine, or dobutamine. Compared with dobutamine, dopamine could increase the urine output and the FeNa markedly, but there was no difference in CCr increase between dopamine and dobutamine., Conclusion: Dopamine or dobutamine treatment could significantly increase the urine output, FeNa, and CCr in patients with nonoliguric renal failure. Dopamine infusion markedly increases urine output and the FeNa, but there is no significantly difference in CCr between dopamine and dobutamine treatment.

Objective: To observe and identify the effect of Jiangya Maijing Liquid (JYMJL) on spontaneous hypertension rats (SHR) fed with high lipid diet in antagonizing hypertension and hyperlipidemia and improving pathological changes of kidney., Methods: Forty-two SHR were divided into 5 groups, except Group A, the Groups B-E were fed with high lipid diet, and Group C, D and E was treated with JYMJL, western drug and Niuhuang Jiangya pill respectively. Besides, Group F was set up for control with normal rats fed by normal diet. The changes of blood pressure (BP), biological indices and renal pathology were observed in the 14 weeks' period of observation., Results: (1) BP raised significantly in Group A and B, it became stable in Group C from the 5th week on and was lower than the BP in other groups (P < 0.01). BP in Group F was not changed; (2) The highest level of nitric oxide (NO) was shown in Group F, and that in Group B and E was lower than that in Group C and D; (3) Level of cholesterol was lower in Group A and F than that in Group C, D and E (P < 0.01), and that in Group C was lower than that in Group B and E (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05 respectively); (4) Pathologic examination on kidney showed that no change was found in Group F, the most severe change was shown in Group B among Group B-E, and the improvement after treatment in Group C was better than that in group B (P < 0.01)., Conclusion: (1) Condition of disease in rats with hypertension complicated with hyperlipidemia was more severe than that with simple hypertension; (2) JYMJL could restrain the developing of hypertension in SHR, the mechanism may be related with the raising of NO; (3) JYMJL has effect of lowering blood lipid; (4) JYMJL has kidney protective effect, it could alleviate the pathological changes in kidney by way of lowering BP and blood lipid.

Objective: To observe the effect of garlicin on adhension molecules CD11a and deformability of peripheral neutrophil in patients with acute cerebral infarction (ACI)., Methods: Neutrophils were separated from peripheral blood of healthy subjects and ACI patients, and incubated in 37 degrees C in vitro. The CD11a expression was detected by antibody fluorescence labeling method and the time of neutrophils passing millipore membrane were measured for calculation of the filter index., Results: CD11a expression rate in healthy subjects was 34.64 +/- 25.34%, while in patients was 55.35 +/- 30.54%, difference between them was significant (P < 0.05). After garlicin treatment, it lowered to 49.16 +/- 31.68%, as compared with untreated group, P < 0.05. The neutrophil filter index in healthy group, untreated group, garlicin treated group and Nimodipine treated group was 0.87 +/- 0.46, 6.42 +/- 6.40, 3.47 +/- 3.67 and 5.03 +/- 3.72 respectively, comparison between that in the garlicin treated group and in untreated group showed significant difference (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: Garlicin could effectively inhibit the CD11a expression in peripheral blood neutrophils and improve the deformability of the neutrophils in ACI patients.