Matrine suppresses lipopolysaccharide-induced fibrosis in human peritoneal mesothelial cells by inhibiting the epithelial-mesenchymal transition / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

BACKGROUND@#Peritoneal fibrosis is the primary reason that patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) have to cease peritoneal dialysis. Peritonitis caused by Gram-negative bacteria such as Escherichia coli (E. coli) were on the rise. We had previously shown that matrine inhibited the formation of biofilm by E. coli. However, the role of matrine on the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in peritoneal mesothelial cells under chronic inflammatory conditions is still unknown.@*METHODS@#We cultured human peritoneal mesothelial cells (HPMCs) with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to induce an environment that mimicked peritonitis and investigated whether matrine could inhibit LPS-induced EMT in these cells. In addition, we investigated the change in expression levels of the miR-29b and miR-129-5p.@*RESULTS@#We found that 10 μg/ml of LPS induced EMT in HPMCs. Matrine inhibited LPS-induced EMT in HPMCs in a dose-dependent manner. We observed that treatment with matrine increased the expression of E-cadherin (F = 50.993, P < 0.01), and decreased the expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (F = 32.913, P < 0.01). Furthermore, we found that LPS reduced the expression levels of miR-29b and miR-129-5P in HPMCs, while matrine promoted the expression levels of miR-29b and miR-129-5P.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Matrine could inhibit LPS-induced EMT in HPMCs and reverse LPS inhibited expressions of miR-29 b and miR-129-5P in HPMCs, ultimately reduce peritoneal fibrosis. These findings provide a potential theoretical basis for using matrine in the prevention and treatment of peritoneal fibrosis.

An epidemiology study on hypertension in the Zhuang nationality village from the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the risk factors and prevalence status of hypertension at the Guangxi Zhuang-rural region.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Through cross-sectional survey, Xinlan village (Ethnic-Zhuang tribe village) in Liangqing District of Nanning was chosen as survey site. Select Zhuang-ethnic villagers (age ≥ 18 years, living time ≥ 6 months per year) as survey subjects. Questionnaire survey and examinations including blood pressure measurement, blood tests, and urine test were made by trained medical professionals. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the risk factors of hypertension.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Complete data were obtained in 2036 residents. The hypertension prevalence rate was 11.6% (237/2036) [12.5% (110/883) for male, 11.0% (127/1153) for female], adjusted prevalence rate was 10.7% (11.3% for male, 10.4% for female) based on the population of Guangxi in 2010. Hypertension awareness rate was 36.3% (86/237) , therapy rate was 22.8% (54/237) , and control rate was 11.0% (26/237) . Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age (OR = 1.06, 95%CI:1.05-1.08, P < 0.01), alcohol drinking habit (OR = 1.92, 95%CI:1.25-2.95, P < 0.01), high salt diet(OR = 1.48, 95%CI:1.04-2.10, P < 0.05), diabetes(OR = 7.03, 95%CI:1.94-25.44, P < 0.01), obesity(OR = 1.20, 95%CI: 1.15-1.25, P < 0.01) and hypertriglyceridemia(OR = 1.12, 95%CI:1.03-1.22, P < 0.01) were risk factors for hypertension in this cohort.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Prevalence rate is slightly lower in adult of the Guangxi Zhuang-rural areas than national or Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region levels, but hypertension awareness, therapy and control rates in this cohort are not satisfactory. Targeted strategies are needed to improve the prevention and therapy of hypertension in this region.</p>