Beta-1 adrenergic receptor antisense-oligodeoxynucleotides ameliorates left ventricular remodeling in 2-Kidney, 1-Clip rats.

Gene therapy has been applied to reduce blood pressure in rats. However, little is known about the effects of gene therapy on both blood pressure and left ventricular (LV) remodeling. This study was designed to compare the antihypertensive effect of ss(1) adrenergic receptor antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ss(1)- AS-ODN) by delivery with the different charge ratios cationic liposomes DOTAP/DOPE and its impact on the LV remodeling in rats with 2-Kidney, 1-Clip (2K1C) Hypertension.

Controlled immobilization of chondroitin sulfate in polyacrylic acid networks.

Novel semi-interpenetrating polymer networks (semi-IPNs) of chondroitin sulfate (ChS) and acrylic acid (AA) were prepared with the aim of obtaining a hydrogel for use as a colon-specific drug carrier. By controlling the concentrations of cross-linking agent, diethylene glycol dimethacrylate (DEGDA), as well as the reaction solvent, high swelling percentages were obtained (approx. 1600%).

Effects of serum containing Xinlikang on angiotensin ii induced hypertrophy in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of Xinlikang (XLK) on angiotensin II (Ang II) induced hypertrophic cultured neonatal rat's cardiomyocyte (CMC).

Methods: Primary cultured neonatal rat's CMCs with the purity certified by immunohistochemical technique, were divided into three groups. Rats in the normal control group were untreated; those in the model group were established into hypertrophic models but underwent no treatment; and those in the XLK group were established to hypertrophic models and treated with XLK containing serum obtained from rats with aorta coarctation after 8 days of feeding with XLK.

A study of lipoprotein lipase gene intron 8 polymorphisms in Chinese Han race essential hypertension patients.

Objective: To investigate the association of lipoprotein lipase gene intron 8 polymorphisms and Essential Hypertension in Han race Chinese.

Methods And Results: 116 patients with Essential Hypertension were enrolled and another 116 normal people were served as controls. All cases were examined for the genotypes of intron 8 in lipoprotein lipase gene by the methods of polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism, and the serum lipoprotein levels were also observed.

Diverse effects of long-term treatment with imidapril and irbesartan on cell growth signal, apoptosis and collagen type I expression in the left ventricle of spontaneously hypertensive rats.

To compare diverse effects of angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonists (irbesartan) and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (imidapril) on left ventricular remodeling in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Thirty male SHR were randomly divided into three groups: SHR-IR (treated with irbesartan, 50 mg/kg), SHR-IM (imidapril, 3 mg/kg), SHR-C (placebo). Ten male Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY) treated with placebo acted as the control.

Mesenteric artery remodeling and effects of imidapril and irbesartan on it in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Aim: To investigate the remodeling of mesenteric artery and the expression of TGF-beta1, c-Jun in mesenteric artery and effects of imidapril and irbesartan on the remodeling in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR).

Methods: Thirty SHR (male/female, 21/9), aged 13 wk, were randomly divided into 3 groups (7 male rats and 3 female rats each group): SHR group, imidapril group (imidapril 3 mg/kg.d was given in drinking water for 14 wk), and irbesartan group (irbesartan 50 mg/kg.

Effect of angiotensin II receptor 1 antisense oligodoexynucleotides on physiological and pathophysiological growth of cardiomyocytes.

Aim: To evaluate the role of angiotensin II receptor 1 antisense oligodexynucleotides (AT1R-AS-ODNs) on physiological and pathophysiological growth of cardiomyocytes from normotensive rats.

Methods: Cardiomyocytes were transfected with AT1R-AS-ODNs (200 nmol/L) followed by treatment with or without angiotensin II (1 micromol/L). In situ hybridization and Western blot were used for AT1R mRNA and protein detection, respectively.

Relation of ultrasonic tissue characterization with integrated backscatter to contractile reserve in patients with chronic coronary artery disease.

Background: Previous studies have shown that viable but stunned myocardium displays contractile reserve and exhibits cardiac cycle-dependent variations of integrated backscatter (CVIB), whereas infarcted myocardium does not.

Hypothesis: This study was designed to clarify whether assessment of the acoustic properties of the myocardium can predict contractile reserve in patients with chronic coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: In all, 21 patients with chronic CAD and 19 normal control subjects were studied.

In vivo protective effect of protocatechuic acid on tert-butyl hydroperoxide-induced rat hepatotoxicity.

Increasing evidence regarding free-radical generating agents and the inflammatory process suggests that accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) can involve hepatotoxicity. Previously, we found that protocatechuic acid (PCA), a polyphenolic compound from Hibiscus sabdariffa L. possessing free radical-scavenging capacity, protected against oxidative damage induced by tert-butylhydroperoxide (t-BHP) in rat primary hepatocytes.