ABSTRACT
<p><b>Background</b>Postmenopausal women with metabolic syndrome (MetS) have increased cardiovascular morbidity and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD). The various protective effects of astragalus membranaceus (AM) have been described in previous studies. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of different doses of AM on diastolic function in postmenopausal hypertensive women with MetS.</p><p><b>Methods</b>This was a prospective, randomized controlled study. The postmenopausal hypertensive patients with MetS were enrolled from Lanzhou University Second Hospital from March 2014 to April 2015. Patients were divided into three groups: control group (received conventional medical treatment), AM Group 1 (received AM capsules at 5 g/d additionally), and AM Group 2 (received AM capsules at 10 g/d additionally). Echocardiographic and clinical characteristics were evaluated before and 12 months after treatment. Quantitative data were analyzed using unpaired t-test, analysis of variance, and multiple linear regression analysis.</p><p><b>Results</b>A total of 154 patients were subjected to final analysis. In the AM Group 2, significant improvements were noted in diastolic function 12 months after treatment than those of the control group, including the early diastolic mitral annular velocity (E'; 0.065 ± 0.007 m/s vs. 0.061 ± 0.008 m/s, P = 0.014), the ratio of the early diastolic mitral peak flow velocity to the late diastolic mitral peak flow velocity (E/A; 0.81 ± 0.05 vs. 0.80 ± 0.06, P = 0.012), the ratio of E' to the late diastolic mitral annular velocity (E'/A'; 0.56 ± 0.12 vs. 0.51 ± 0.13, P = 0.048), and the ratio of the early diastolic mitral peak flow velocity (E) to E' (E/E'; 10.70 ± 1.30 vs. 11.37 ± 1.73, P = 0.031). After treatment, E/E' (10.70 ± 1.30 vs. 11.24 ± 1.56, P = 0.021), deceleration time (DT; 261.49 ± 44.41 ms vs. 268.74 ± 53.87 ms, P = 0.046), and E'/A' (0.56 ± 0.12 vs. 0.52 ± 0.13, P = 0.019) values improved more significantly than those of AM Group 2 before treatment. Besides, waist circumference was positively correlated with E' (r = 0.472; P = 0.003) and E'/A' (r = 0.321; P = 0.047). In addition, the waist-to-hip ratio was a significant predictor of DT (r = 0.276; P = 0.041), E' (r = -0.590; P < 0.001), E/E' (r = 0.454; P = 0.004), and E'/A' (r = -0.377; P = 0.018).</p><p><b>Conclusions</b>Conventional medical plus AM therapy improved diastolic function. Moreover, WC and WHR might be risk factors for LVDD.</p><p><b>Chinese Clinical Trial Register</b>ChiCTR-TRC-11001747. http://www.chictr.org.cn/showprojen.aspx?proj=7798.</p>
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Astragalus propinquus , Chemistry , Drugs, Chinese Herbal , Therapeutic Uses , Hypertension , Drug Therapy , Metabolic Syndrome , Drug Therapy , Postmenopause , Prospective Studies , Risk Factors , Ventricular Dysfunction, Left , Drug TherapyABSTRACT
<p><b>Background</b>Postmenopausal women with metabolic syndrome (MetS) have increased cardiovascular morbidity and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD). The various protective effects of astragalus membranaceus (AM) have been described in previous studies. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of different doses of AM on diastolic function in postmenopausal hypertensive women with MetS.</p><p><b>Methods</b>This was a prospective, randomized controlled study. The postmenopausal hypertensive patients with MetS were enrolled from Lanzhou University Second Hospital from March 2014 to April 2015. Patients were divided into three groups: control group (received conventional medical treatment), AM Group 1 (received AM capsules at 5 g/d additionally), and AM Group 2 (received AM capsules at 10 g/d additionally). Echocardiographic and clinical characteristics were evaluated before and 12 months after treatment. Quantitative data were analyzed using unpaired t-test, analysis of variance, and multiple linear regression analysis.</p><p><b>Results</b>A total of 154 patients were subjected to final analysis. In the AM Group 2, significant improvements were noted in diastolic function 12 months after treatment than those of the control group, including the early diastolic mitral annular velocity (E'; 0.065 ± 0.007 m/s vs. 0.061 ± 0.008 m/s, P = 0.014), the ratio of the early diastolic mitral peak flow velocity to the late diastolic mitral peak flow velocity (E/A; 0.81 ± 0.05 vs. 0.80 ± 0.06, P = 0.012), the ratio of E' to the late diastolic mitral annular velocity (E'/A'; 0.56 ± 0.12 vs. 0.51 ± 0.13, P = 0.048), and the ratio of the early diastolic mitral peak flow velocity (E) to E' (E/E'; 10.70 ± 1.30 vs. 11.37 ± 1.73, P = 0.031). After treatment, E/E' (10.70 ± 1.30 vs. 11.24 ± 1.56, P = 0.021), deceleration time (DT; 261.49 ± 44.41 ms vs. 268.74 ± 53.87 ms, P = 0.046), and E'/A' (0.56 ± 0.12 vs. 0.52 ± 0.13, P = 0.019) values improved more significantly than those of AM Group 2 before treatment. Besides, waist circumference was positively correlated with E' (r = 0.472; P = 0.003) and E'/A' (r = 0.321; P = 0.047). In addition, the waist-to-hip ratio was a significant predictor of DT (r = 0.276; P = 0.041), E' (r = -0.590; P < 0.001), E/E' (r = 0.454; P = 0.004), and E'/A' (r = -0.377; P = 0.018).</p><p><b>Conclusions</b>Conventional medical plus AM therapy improved diastolic function. Moreover, WC and WHR might be risk factors for LVDD.</p><p><b>Chinese Clinical Trial Register</b>ChiCTR-TRC-11001747. http://www.chictr.org.cn/showprojen.aspx?proj=7798.</p>
ABSTRACT
To explore the effect of Mongolia Astragali Radix produced in Longxi of Gansu province in protecting cardiac and nephritic functions of patients of essential hypertension(EH) with metabolic syndrome(MetS). A total of two hundred and twenty-six EH patients with MetS aged above 18 were selected. Patients were randomly divided to control group(adopted conventional medical treatment), Astragali Radix group 1(added Astragali Radix capsules 10 g•d⁻¹ besides conventional medical treatment) and Astragali Radix group 2(added Astragali Radix capsules 5 g•d⁻¹ besides conventional medical treatment). Cardiac anatomy structure, cardiac systolic function and diastolic function were measured by M-mode echocardiography, two-dimensional echocardiography, Doppler echocardiographic determination and tissue Doppler imaging. The level of microalbuminuria(MAU) was evaluated by radioimmunoassay. In addition, the estimated glomerular filtration rate(eGFR) was calculated by modification of diet in renal disease (MDRD) formulas. The changes of relevant indicators for cardiac and nephritic functions before and after treatment were compared during the 12-month follow-up. The study protocol was registered at the website of Chinese clinical trial register and approved by the ethics committee of second hospital of Lanzhou university. Each patient was required to sign an informed consent. SPSS software was used for statistical analysis. According to the result, compare with before treatment, the three groups show no difference in efficacy of metablic indicators. Left ventricular end-systolic volume (ESV) and left ventricular end-systolic dimension (LVESd) of all patients were improved after treatment. However, there was no significant difference among the three groups. After the addition of Astragali Radix, the mitral flow velocity(Vp) of patients was improved to some extent(P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference among the three groups. Astragali Radix had a significant effect in reducing the MAU(P<0.05). Moreover, the MAU level of patients in Astragali Radix group 1 decreased more significantly than the other groups(P<0.05). Compared with conventional therapy, Astragali Radix combined with conventional therapy could improve cardiac structure, left ventricular systolic function, left ventricular diastolic function, and reduce the MAU to a certain extent in EH patients with MetS. Moreover, the effects of high-dose Astragali Radix are better than that of the low-dose Astragali Radix. However, the effect of Astragali Radix on EH patients with MetS shall be further observed to confirm its efficacy.
ABSTRACT
To study the expression of angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and angiotensin (Ang) 1-7 specific receptor Mas protain in renal blood vessels of metabolic syndrome ( MS) rats and its anti-oxidative effect. A total of 80 male SD rats were divided into four groups: the normal control group (NC, the same volume of normal saline), the MS group (high fat diet), the MS + Astragali Radix group (MS + HQ, 6 g x kg(-1) x d(-1) in gavage) and the MS + Valsartan group (MS + XST, 30 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) in gavage). After four weeks of intervention, their general indexes, biochemical indexes and blood pressure were measured; plasma and renal tissue Ang II, malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide demutase (SOD) levels were measured with radioimmunoassay. The protein expressions of Mas receptor, AT1R, ACE and ACE2 were detected by western blot analysis. According to the result, compared with the NC group, the MS group and the MS + HQ group showed significant increases in systolic and diastolic pressures, body weight, fasting glucose, fasting insulin, triglycerides, free fatty acid and Ang II level of MS rats (P < 0.05). The MS + XST group showed notable decreases in systolic and diastolic pressures than that of the MS group. The MS group showed significant increases in the SOD activity and NO level and decrease in the MDA level after being intervened with Astragali Radix. ACE and AT1R protein expressions in renal tissues of the MS group were higher than that in the NC group, but with lower ACE2 and -Mas receptor expressions (all P < 0.05). Compared with the MS group, the MS + HQ group showed significant increase in Mas receptor expression in renal tissues, whereas the MS + XST group showed notable decrease in AT1R (all P < 0.05). In conclusion, Astragali Radix can increase the Mas receptor expressions in renal tissues, decrease ACE expression and change local Ang II, MDA, NO and SOD in kidneys, so as to protect early damages in renal tissues.