Aliskiren attenuates cardiac dysfunction by modulation of the mTOR and apoptosis pathways

Aliskiren (ALS) is well known for its antihypertensive properties. However, the potential underlying the molecular mechanism and the anti-hypertrophic effect of ALS have not yet been fully elucidated. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of ALS in mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and apoptosis signaling using in vivo and in vitro models of cardiac hypertrophy. A rat model of cardiac hypertrophy was induced by isoproterenol treatment (5 mg·kg-1·day-1) for 4 weeks, with or without ALS treatment at 20 mg·kg-1·day-1. The expression of hypertrophic, fibrotic, and apoptotic markers was determined by RT-qPCR. The protein expression of apoptotic markers mTOR and p-mTOR was assessed by western blot analysis. The proliferation of H9C2 cells was monitored using the MTS assay. Cell apoptosis was analyzed using flow cytometry. In vivo, isoproterenol-treated rats exhibited worse cardiac function, whereas ALS treatment reversed these dysfunctions, which were associated with changes in p-mTOR, Bcl-2, Bax, and cleaved caspase-3 expression, as well as the number of apoptotic cells. In vitro, H9C2 cardiomyocyte viability was significantly inhibited and cardiac hypertrophy was induced by Ang II administration, but ALS reversed Ang II-induced H9C2 cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and death. Furthermore, Ang II triggered the activation of the mTOR and apoptosis pathways in hypertrophic cardiomyocytes that were inhibited by ALS treatment. These results indicated that ALS alleviated cardiac hypertrophy through inhibition of the mTOR and apoptosis pathways in cardiomyocytes.

Deciduous teeth health and oral health behavior aged 5 year old children in Hainan Province during 2005-2015 / 中国学校卫生

Objective@#To evaluate ten year changes in deciduous teeth health and oral health behavior aged 5 year old children in Hainan province (during the year of 2005-2015), to provide basis for oral health promotion among 5 year old children in Hainan province.@*Methods@#Through the comparison and analysis of the third and the fourth national oral health epidemiology survey,changes of dental caries prevalence rate, dietary habit, oral health behavior, and health seeking behavior were analyzed.@*Results@#The prevalence of dental caries in 2005 was 76.1%, 2015 was 82.3% which had significant difference(χ2=6.23，P<0.05), the percentage of consuming sugary food and sweet drinks every day in 2005 was 13.4% and 6.1%, which increased to 30.0% and 7.4% respectively in 2015. The percentage of drinking milk and yoghurt with sugar was 47.6%, which decreased 36.5% in 2015 (χ2=12.76，P<0.05), the percentage of consuming sugary food and sweet drinks before going to bed in 2005 was17.8%, which decreased to 13.3% in 2015 (χ2=32.27，P<0.05). The percentage of brushing the teeth two or more times a day was 16.9%, which increased to 24.2% in 2015(χ2=20.50，P<0.05). The percentage of using fluoridated toothpaste decreased from 31.7% (2005) to 7.4% (2015) (χ2=229.13，P<0.05). No need to treatment for baby teeth and afraid of pain among children were the main reason for no health-seeking among parents which children of dental health problems,which deffered significantly between 2005 and 2015(χ2=6.05，9.34，P<0.05).@*Conclusion@#Children’s oral health behavior improved, while eating habits fluoridated toothpaste usage and health seeking behavior remain poor.Health education on child oral health should be strengthened.

Changes in oral health status and oral health behavior among 12 year old children in Hainan Province during 2005-2015 / 中国学校卫生

Objective@#To evaluate the changes of oral health status and oral health behavior among 12 year old children in Hainan province during 2005-2015, to provide basis for child oral disease prevention.@*Methods@#Through the third and fourth national oral health epidemiology survey, changes in dental caries prevalence rate, dietary habit, oral health behavior, medical care in 12 year old chirdren were analyzed.@*Results@#The percentage of dental caries in permanent, gingival blleeding, dental calculus of 12 year old chirdren in 2005 was 49.9%, 63.2%, 31.5% respectively, which 57.0%, 46.8%, 39.5% respectively in 2015( χ 2=6.78, 36.78, 9.45, P<0.05). The percentage of sugary snacks,drink and milk consumption every day in 2005 was 31.0%, 13.1%, 21.8% respectively, which increased to 40.3%, 27.5%, 30.8% in 2015(χ2=11.53, 38.76, 12.73, P<0.05). 49.3% children had a toothache in 2005, which increased 58.8% in 2015(χ2=23.43, P<0.05).@*Conclusion@#The prevalence of dental caries in permanent teeth of 12 year old children in Hainan was high, while eating habits was poor and oral health behavior was showed significant improvement. Oral health education for 12 year old should be strengthened.