ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the impact of antihypertensive medication timing on degree and stability of blood pressure (BP) lowering in patients with moderate and severe essential hypertension.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ninety patients were randomly assigned to take Valsartan and Felodiping together in the morning (group A), Valsartan in the morning and Felodiping in the evening (group B) or Felodiping in the morning and Valsartan in the evening (group C, n = 30 each). The morning dosage was titrated if the goal blood pressure was not achieved. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) was performed on the first and 14(th) day of medication.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The BP reductions during nighttime and twenty-four in group B and C hours were similar (P > 0.05) but were significant more than those in group A (P < 0.05). The smoothness indexes of mean systolic, mean arterial blood pressure during nighttime and twenty-four in group B and C were similar but significantly higher than that in group A (P < 0.05). The smoothness index of diastolic pressure at nighttime in group B and C was similar but significantly higher than that in group A (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>More significant and stable antihypertensive effects could be achieved by taking the two antihypertensive medications separately in the morning and at evening compared that taken the two drugs together in the morning.</p>
Subject(s)
Humans , Antihypertensive Agents , Blood Pressure , Drug Administration Schedule , Drug Therapy, Combination , Felodipine , Hypertension , Drug Therapy , Tetrazoles , Valine , ValsartanABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine the effects of wild-type mouse bone marrow stem cells transplants on survival time and motor functions in the human mutant SOD1-G93A mouse model of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Bone marrow stem cells derived from the wild-type male mice were delivered intravenously into 25 ALS transgenic female mice (carrying the human SOD1 gene with Gly 93 Ala mutation) that had been pretreated with 5.5-6.5 Gy gamma-ray 5-7 days before. The onset time of limbs paralysis, lifespan and the graft versus host disease (GVHD) symptoms were observed in the treated group and statistically compared with control group of 15 media-injected ALS transgenic mice. The Sry gene (sex determine region on the Y chromosome) were detected by polymerase chain reaction technique in the blood sample of treated female ALS mice after 8 weeks of transplantation. A series of animal motor tests including rotating rods, rotated wheel and extension reflex were performed in both two groups at the same age of 16-17 weeks to assess the mice survival motor functions. Results A few treated mice (7/25) had different clinical presentations of GVHD. The semi-quantity evaluation score of average GVHD among the treated ALS mice was not over 1-2. The detection of Sry gene on these treated female ALS group was positive. The average onsets of limb paralysis and survival time were prolonged for about 5 weeks. At the age of 16-17 weeks, the motor function in the treated group was significantly better than in the ALS control group (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Transplantation of wild-type mice bone marrow stem cells can prolong survival in the recipient mice and ameliorate motor dysfunction. Intravenous administration of normal bone marrow stem cells may have therapeutic values for ALS.</p>