[Efficacy and safety of aranidipine in Chinese patients with mild-to-moderate essential hypertension].

Objective: To assess the efficacy and safety of aranidipine versus retard-released felodipine in Chinese patients with mild-to-moderate essential hypertension.

Methods: This was a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo and active antihypertensive drug parallel-controlled study. After 2 weeks of placebo run-in period, 315 patients at 6 centers with diastolic blood pressure (DBP) between 95 to 109 mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.

[The effects of aranidipine on ambulatory blood pressures in patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension].

Objective: To evaluate the effect of aranidipine enteric-coated capsules on 24 h blood pressure and blood pressure variability (BPV) in patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension.

Methods: This was an open clinical trial with 2 weeks of placebo run-in period. A total of 74 patients with blood pressure (140-180/95-110 mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.

[Association between left ventricular diastolic function and blood pressure variability in essential hypertensive patients].

Objective: To investigate the relationship between blood pressure variability (BPV) and left ventricular diastolic function in patients with essential hypertension.

Methods: Left ventricular diastolic function of 252 hypertensive patients were assessed by early (E) diastolic transmitral flows to early diastolic mitral annular velocity (Ea) (E/Ea) ratio derived from Doppler echocardiography. Patients were divided into two groups according to normal left ventricular diastolic function group (E/Ea<15, n = 168) and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction group (E/Ea ≥ 15, n = 84).

Alprostadil liposome microsphere preparation stabilizes vascular plaques and inhibits intra-plaque inflammation.

Background: Vulnerable plaques play an important role in the onset of sudden cardiac events and strokes. How to stabilize vulnerable plaques is still a challenge to medical science. Alprostadil is a biologically active substance with strong activity on vessel.

Improved blood pressure control with nifedipine GITS/valsartan combination versus high-dose valsartan monotherapy in mild-to-moderate hypertensive patients from Asia: results from the ADVISE study, a randomized trial.

Aims: ADVISE was a 12-week, multicenter, randomized, prospective, open-label, parallel-group study comparing combination therapy of nifedipine GITS 30 mg plus valsartan 80 mg (N + V) with high-dose valsartan (160 mg) monotherapy (V160) in Asian patients with hypertension.

Methods: Patients with hypertension inadequately controlled with valsartan 80 mg for at least 4 weeks were randomized. The coprimary endpoints were the mean changes in clinic systolic and diastolic blood pressures (SBP and DBP, respectively) at Week 12.

Long-term efficacy of olmesartan medoxomil in Chinese hypertensive patients as assessed by clinic, ambulatory and home blood pressure measurements.

Background And Objectives: There is limited information on the long-term efficacy and safety of olmesartan medoxomil in the management of hypertension in Chinese patients. We therefore conducted the present multicentre, single-arm, prospective, observational study to investigate the 24-week efficacy and safety of olmesartan medoxomil in patients with mild to moderate hypertension.

Methods: Eligible patients (diastolic blood pressure [BP] 90-109 mmHg and systolic BP <180 mmHg off antihypertensive medication) were started on olmesartan medoxomil 20 mg once daily, with the possible up-titration to 40 mg once daily during 24 weeks of follow-up, to control clinic BP to the target level (<140/90 and <130/80 mmHg in diabetes mellitus).

[Aortic artery elastic lamina degradation, collagen remodeling, oxides stress and inflammation in the apolipoprotein E deficient mice with or without aortic banding].

Objective: To explore the elastic lamina degradation and the collagen remodeling of aortic artery as well as oxides stress and inflammation of the apolipoprotein (Apo E) deficient mice with or without experimental hypertension.

Methods: Eighty male Apo E deficient mice were fed with high-fat diet beginning at six weeks of age. At 8-week old, they were randomly divided into hypertension group and control group (n=40 each), the mice in hypertension group were subjected the suprarenal aortic constriction operation and then randomly divided into two subgroups: 15 weeks age and 30 weeks age groups.

Using different methods to evaluate the efficacy of olmesartan medoxomil in Chinese patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension according to ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of olmesartan medoxomil in Chinese patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension using different methods according to ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.

Methods: Chinese patients 18-75 years of age with clinic diastolic blood pressure (BP) 90-109 mmHg and systolic BP less than 180 mmHg were treated with olmesartan medoxomil 20-40 mg once daily for 24 weeks to reach the goal BP (< 140/90 and < 130/80 mmHg in diabetes) in a multicenter study. The trough-to-peak ratio (T/P ratio) and the smoothness index (SI) for systolic/diastolic BP were calculated using different methods according to ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.

[Short-term impact of modified blood-lipid reports on physicians' lipid lowering drug prescribing behavior and knowledge improvement on dyslipidemia].

Objective: To compare the physicians' lipid lowering drug prescribing behavior and knowledge on dyslipidemia before and at 8 months after new-issued blood-lipid reports in our hospital.

Method: Blood-lipid reports in our hospital is newly modified in that the classification of dyslipidemia and lipid-lowering guideline and target lipid level are listed on the back of lipid report besides the normal lipid value listed immediately after the measured lipid levels. Physicians' lipid lowering drug prescribing behavior and knowledge on dyslipidemia before and at 8 months after new-issued blood-lipid reports were examined in 143 doctors from various departments before and at 8 months after new-issued lipid reports.

The preventive effect of garlicin on a porcine model of myocardial infarction reperfusion no-reflow.

Objective: To evaluate whether garlicin can prevent reperfusion no-reflow in a catheter-based porcine model of acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Methods: Twenty-two male Chinese mini swines were randomized into 3 groups: sham-operation group (n=6), control group (n=8), and garlicin group (n=8). The distal part of left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) in swines of the latter two groups was completely occluded by dilated balloon for 2 h and a successful AMI model was confirmed by coronary angiography (CAG) and electrocardiograph (ECG), which was then reperfused for 3 h.

Serum uric acid in patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Background: Few studies investigated serum uric acid levels in patients with acute Stelevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The study was to assess the clinical value of serum uric acid levels in patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Methods: Totally 502 consecutive patients with STEMI were retrospectively studied from January 2005 to December 2010.

Cardioprotective effect of liposomal prostaglandin E1 on a porcine model of myocardial infarction reperfusion no-reflow.

Objective: To evaluate whether liposomal prostaglandin E1 (lipo-PGE1) can decrease reperfusion no-reflow in a catheter-based porcine model of acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Methods: Twenty-two male Chinese mini-swines were randomized into three groups: six in a sham-operation group, and eight each in the control and lipo-PGE1 groups. The distal part of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) in the latter two groups was completely occluded for 2 h, and then reperfused for 3 h.

ADAMTS-1 expression in rat myocardium after ischemic preconditioning: age-associated differences.

Background: It has been found that cardiac protection afforded by ischemic preconditioning (IPC) is significantly reduced in the senescent myocardium. ADAMTS-1 (a disintesrin and metalloprotease with thrombospondin type 1 motifs) has been shown to inhibit angiogenesis in a variety of in vitro and in vivo assays. The aim of this study was to investigate the age-associated differences in ADAMTS-1 protein expression in rat myocardium after ischemic preconditioning.

[Using the combination of traditional risk factors and quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) in predicting the risk of individuals with subclinical artherosclerosis].

Objective: To determine whether the combination of traditional risk factors and quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) assessment could provide accurate prognostic information on a population-based study including 1137 adults with subclinical artherosclerosis and with coronary risk factors.

Methods: Participants underwent coronary angiography examination before the minimal stenotic diameters, segment diameters, percent stenosis, plaque areas. Other parameters were analyzed by the computer-assisted Coronary Angiography Analysis System.

[Ischemia preconditioning attenuated myocardial ischemia via upregulating the expression of adiponectin in rat].

Objective: To investigate whether adiponectin plays a role in the protection of myocardium in the rat myocardial ischemia preconditioning (IPC) model.

Method: Infarct size was measured by Masson's Trichrome staining, the expression of protein and mRNA of adiponectin at 0, 6, 12 and 24 h after IPC was examined by immunohistochemistry and quantitative real time RT-PCR, plasma levels of adiponectin at above mentioned four time points after IPC were detected by ELISA in IPC and MI rats.

Result: Infarct size was smaller in IPC than in MI rats (20% ± 2% vs.

[Usability of the laboratory report and knowledge of lipid-lowering in out-patients from dyslipidemia-related departments].

Objective: To investigate the usability of laboratory test report from the angle of patients and understand to what degree the patients master the knowledge of lipid-lowering.

Methods: A total of 508 outpatients, selected from a Grade III-A general hospital, were queried by a questionnaire, their medical records and test reports were reviewed and their heights and weights were measured. In the study, 431 of them fulfilled the inclusion criteria and their information about lipid lowering treatment and treatment compliance were collected.

[Effect of ischemia preconditioning on pro- and anti- angiogenic molecule expression and functional arteries formation].

Objective: to observe the effect of ischemia preconditioning (IPC) on the expression of pro-angiogenic VEGF, PDGF and anti-angiogenic ADAMTS-1, and arteriogenesis.

Methods: rat heart IPC model was made by 4 circles of occluding the LAD for 6 min followed by 6 min of reperfusion. The expression of VEGF, PDGF-B and ADAMTS-1 in the ischemic area was examined with immunohistochemistry at 6, 12 and 24 h after IPC.

Effect of Qingre Quyu Granule (清热祛瘀颗粒) on stabilizing plaques in the brachiocephalic artery of apolipoprotein E deficient mice.

Objective: To investigate the effect of Qingre Quyu Granule (清热祛瘀颗粒, QRQYG) on stabilizing vulnerable plaques in apolipoprotein E (ApoE) deficient mice.

Methods: Seventy-two male ApoE deficient mice were given a high-fat diet from 6 weeks of age. At the 16th week, all the mice were randomized into 3 groups: the QRQYG group, the simvastatin group, and the control group.

Efficacy and safety of a single-pill combination of amlodipine/valsartan in Asian hypertensive patients inadequately controlled with amlodipine monotherapy.

Objective: The antihypertensive efficacy of amlodipine/valsartan combination has not been evaluated in Asian patients as previous large-scale studies enrolled very few patients. This multicentre, randomised, double-blind study assessed the efficacy and safety of a single-pill combination of amlodipine/valsartan versus amlodipine in Asian hypertensive patients.

Methods: After a 1-4-week washout period, patients (mean sitting diastolic BP [msDBP]: >or=95-<110 mmHg) were treated with amlodipine 5 mg for 4 weeks.

[Echocardiographic evaluation of left ventricular geometry and function in maintenance hemodialysis uremic patients].

Objective: To assess left ventricular (LV) geometry, LV diastolic and systolic function in maintenance hemodialysis uremic patients.

Methods: Forty uremic patients and forty-five normal subjects were included in this study. LV volume, LV mass index (LVMI), relative wall thickness (RWT), LV mass and diastolic volume ratio (LVM/EDV) were measured.

[Efficacy and safety of the single pill combination of valsartan 80 mg plus amlodipine 5 mg in mild to moderate essential hypertensive patients without adequate blood pressure control by monotherapy].

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a once daily valsartan/amlodipine 80/5 mg combination tablet in Chinese mild to moderate hypertensive patients without adequate blood pressure control by monotherapy.

Methods: Two multicenter, randomized, double-blind, double dummy, active-controlled, parallel group trials were conducted. After a washout period (no medication) of 1-4 weeks, patients with Mean Sitting Diastolic Blood Pressure (MSDBP) > or = 95 mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.

Effects of exogenous urotensin II on vascular remodelling after balloon injury.

1. Urotensin II (U-II) is a powerful vasoconstrictor peptide that stimulates cell proliferation. However, the systemic effects of U-II on cellular and extracellular matrix responses of vessel walls have not been investigated.

Novel mitochondrial DNA mutations associated with Chinese familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

1. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a genetic disorder that has a complex set of symptoms and potentially devastating consequences. Increasing evidence indicates that mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations are responsible for the development of HCM, but the mtDNA mutations appear to differ considerably among different populations and regions.

[Effects of perindopril and enalapril on atherosclerosis development of apolipoprotein E knockout mice].

Objective: To compare the effects of perindopril and enalapril on the development of atherosclerotic lesions in ApoE knockout mice.

Methods: ApoE knockout mice were treated with perindoprilor (1.5 mg.