Effect of Shexiang Baoxin Pill () in Alleviating Early Hypertensive Renal Injury in Rats / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the effect of Shexiang Baoxin Pill (, SBP) on early hypertensive renal injury in rats and to explore the possible mechanism.@*METHODS@#Twelve-week-old spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHRs) with high-salt diet (dietary containing 8% NaCl) were randomized into the SBP group [40 mg/(kg·d)], losartan potassium group [20 mg/(kg·d)] and saline group by stratified random sampling method, 12 in each group. Blood pressure and urea albumin creatinine ratio were measured. After 10 weeks, the expression levels of serum creatinine (Scr), hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin (IL)-1 β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) in serum were assessed. Kidney pathology periodate-schiff staining was performed. Semi-quantitative count of macrophage infiltration was determined by immunochemistry of CD68 staining. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot were performed to examine the mRNA and protein expressions of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), nuclear factor κB (NF-κB), monocyte chemokine peptide (MCP-1), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and arginase-1 (Arg-1).@*RESULTS@#SBP did not affect the mortality of SHR (P<0.05). SBP significantly reduced the level of elevated blood pressure of SHRs, but the effect was less significantly than that of losartan potassium. SBP decreased urine protein (P<0.01) and the expression levels of IL-1 β, IL-6, TNF-α, and TGF-β in serum. The 22-week-old SHRs showed mild proliferation of glomerular endothelial cells, glomerular ischemic lesions, inflammatory cell infiltration in renal tubular interstitium and arteriosclerosis. Both SBP and losartan potassium had alleviated renal pathological change, and significantly reduced the infiltration of macrophage (P<0.05, P<0.01). SBP and losartan potassium decreased the expressions of TLR4, NF-κB, MCP-1, iNOS, and Arg-1.@*CONCLUSION@#SBP significantly modified the early hypertensive renal injury by reducing inflammation, and the effect was similar to losartan potassium.

Low testosterone levels are inversely correlated with carotid artery plaque formation in elderly women / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the relationship between serum testosterone levels and the plaque formation of the carotid artery in a population-based cohort of independently living healthy women above 60 years of age.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Analysis of the healthy elders from a population-based cohort study in 9 communities of Beijing. Carotid intima-media thickness and atherosclerotic plaques were determined ultrasonographically. Serum testosterone levels were measured by immunoassay. The data were analyzed with ANOVA and logistic regression analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was an inverse correlation between testosterone and plaque formation in old females (P < 0.01), while no association was found in males. Female with testosterone levels in the lowest quartile (< 0.49 nmol/L) had more risk of plaque formation (OR = 3.805, P < 0.01) after adjusted with age and other traditional factors of atherosclerosis.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Testosterone concentrations are negatively associated with carotid artery atherosclerosis in old women in Beijing, experimental and prospective studies are needed to determine the possible therapeutic role of testosterone in atherosclerosis.</p>

The effects of atorvastatin on aging kidney / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate whether taking atorvastatin for long time has positive effects on age-related renal impairment.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>20-month-age normal female Wistar rats were divided into three groups (n = 9). First group were fed atorvastatin 10 mg/(kg x d). Second group were fed atorvastatin 1 mg/(kg x d). Third group were fed the same volume normal saline served as control. All the rats were sacrificed after four months. 3-month-age normal female Wistar rats (n = 9) also served as normal control. Kidney weight, serum creatinine (Scr) and blood-lipoids were measured. Paraffin sections of renal tissues were stained with PAS and Sirius red. Sclerosis index of glomerulus was calculated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Renal mass diminution was found in all the groups of aging rats. Scr was decreased in the group of aging rats with atorvastatin 1 mg/(kg x d). The level of blood-lipoids of aging rats was higher than that of young rats. The level of serum cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) were decreased in first group (both P < 0.05) and only LDL decreased in second group (P < 0.05). Morphological changes of aging kidney were focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, widen of mesangial region, infiltration of inflammatory cells and sclerosis of arteriole. The treatment of atorvastatin improved the pathologic changes in the aging rats significantly, especially in the first group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Taking atorvastatin for long time can notably improve the pathological changes of aging kidney. All these effects may be induced by lowing of blood-lipoids, relieving the sclerosis of renal arteriole and reducing the infiltration of inflammatory cells.</p>

Therapeutic effects of ginsenosides on ischemic kidney with acute renal failure / 中国临床药理学与治疗学

Aim To investigate the therapeutic effects of ginsenosides on ischemic kidneys withacute renal failure. Methods Ischemic and reperfused (I/ R) rat model of acute renalfailure was established by clipping right renal artery of the rat for one hour and thenremoving the left kidney. After reperfusion for 24 hours the serum BUN, Scr, ET-1 andNO were detected and the renal pathologic changes were observed. Results The levelsof serum BUN, Scr were significantly decreased in the treatment group as comparedwith those in the I/R group (P 0. 05); The tubular lesions in the treatment group were obviously ameliorated ascompared with those in the I/ R group (P