A non-linear connection between the total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio and stroke risk: a retrospective cohort study from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study.

OBJECTIVE: The connection between total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TC/HDL-C) ratio and stroke risk is controversial. This study aims to examine the connection between the TC/HDL-C ratio and stroke in middle-aged and older individuals who are part of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). METHODS: This study conducted a retrospective cohort analysis, enrolling a total of 10,184 participants who met the designated criteria from CHARLS between 2011 and 2012. We then used the Cox proportional-hazards regression model to analyze the relationship between the TC/HDL-C ratio and stroke risk. Using a Cox proportional hazards regression model with cubic spline functions and smooth curve fitting, we were able to identify the non-linear relationship between the TC/HDL-C ratio and stroke occurrence. The sensitivity and subgroup analyses were also performed to investigate the connection between TC/HDL-C ratio and stroke. RESULTS: This study revealed a statistically significant association between the TC/HDL-C ratio and stroke risk in subjects aged 45 years or older after adjusting for risk factors (HR: 1.05, 95%CI 1.00-1.10, P = 0.0410). Furthermore, a non-linear connection between the TC/HDL-C ratio and stroke risk was detected, with a TC/HDL-C ratio inflection point of 3.71. We identified a significant positive connection between the TC/HDL-C ratio and stroke risk, when the TC/HDL-C ratio was less than 3.71 (HR: 1.25, 95%CI 1.07-1.45, P = 0.0039). However, their connection was not significant when the TC/HDL-C ratio exceeded 3.71 (HR: 1.00, 95%CI 0.94-1.06, P = 0.9232). The sensitivity analysis and subgroup analyses revealed that our findings were well-robust. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated a positive, non-linear connection between the TC/HDL-C ratio and stroke risk in middle-aged and older individuals. There was a significant positive connection between the TC/HDL-C ratio and stroke risk, when the TC/HDL-C ratio was less than 3.71. The current research can be used as a guideline to support clinician consultation and optimize stroke prevention measures for middle-aged and older adults.

Dragon's blood dropping pills have protective effects on focal cerebral ischemia rats model.

Dragon's blood is a bright red resin obtained from Dracaena cochinchinensis (Lour.) S.C.Chen (Yunnan, China). As a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, it has great traditional medicinal value and is used for wound healing and to stop bleeding. Its main biological activity comes from phenolic compounds. In this study, phenolic compounds were made into dropping pills and their protective effects were examined by establishing focal cerebral ischemia rats model used method of Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion (MCAO), and by investigating indexes of neurological scores, infarct volume, cerebral index, cerebral water content and oxidation stress. Compared to model group, high, middle and low groups of Dragon's blood dropping pills could improve the neurological function significantly (p<0.01) and reduce cerebral infarct volume of focal cerebral ischemia rats remarkably (p<0.05-0.01). Meanwhile, each group could alleviate cerebral water content and cerebral index (p<0.05-0.01) and regulate oxidative stress of focal cerebral ischemia rats obviously (p<0.05-0.01). Activities of middle group corresponded with that treated with positive control drug. The results obtained here showed that Dragon's blood dropping pills had protective effects on focal cerebral ischemia rats.

[Influence of lyophilized Radix Astragali powder injection on hemodynamics of dogs with myocardial ischemia].

In order to observe the influence of lyophilized Radix Astragali powder injection on hemodynamics and myocardial consumption of oxygen of dogs with myocardial ischemia, we establised the myocardial ischemia model by ligating the anterior descending branch of left coronary artery of 5 mongrel dogs. Then the drugs were administered intravenously, and the hemodynamic parameters and myocardial consumption of oxygen of the dogs were measured. All the Radix Astragali groups and Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae Group (RSMG) showed significantly decreased heart rate (HR), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP) of dogs with myocardial ischemia in 5-30 min after drug administration (P < 0.05-0.01). All the Radix Astragali groups and the RSMG showed significantly lowered left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) of the dogs in 10 min-4 h after drug administration (P < 0.05-0.01). All the Radix Astragali groups displayed significantly increased maximum contraction velocity (+dp/dt(max)) of the dogs in 10 min after drug administration (P < 0.05-0.01). All the Radix Astragali groups and the RSMG displayed significantly increased cardiac output (CO) in 10 min-4 h after drug administration, in which the High Dose Group (HDG) of Radix Astragali displayed the highest statistical significance (P < 0.01). All the Radix Astragali groups and the RSMG exhibited significantly decreased peripheral resistance (TPR) and increased coronary blood flow (CBF) in 10 min-4 h after drug administration (P < 0.05-0.01). HDG showed significantly decreased myocardial work (MW) in 5 min-30 min after drug administration (P < 0.05-0.01). HDG and MDG exhibited significantly decreased oxygen uptake rate of the myocardium (MVo2) in 30 min-3 h after drug administration(P < 0.05-0.01). In summary, the lyophilized Radix Astragali powder injection can significantly benefit all the indexes and strengthen the heart function of the dogs with myocardial ischemia.

[Study on the antipyretic, analgesic effects of qingkailing freeze-dried powder for injection and its antipyretic mechanism].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the antipyretic, analgesic effects of Qingkailing Freeze-Dried Powder for Injection (QI) and its mechanism of the antipyretic effect. METHODS: The rabbit model of 2, 4-dinitrophenol-induced fever and the rat model of endotoxin-induced fever were established and the body temperatures were observed. Radioimmunoassay was adopted to detect the levels of IL-1beta and cAMP in the hypothalamus of rats. The analgesic effects were tested by hot-plate and writhing reaction method. RESULTS: QI showed marked antipyretic effects on the 2,4-dinitrophenol-induced fever and the endotoxin-induced fever. At the same time, QI remarkably decreased the contents of IL-beta and cAMP in the hypothalamus. QI also remarkably reduced the frequency of acetic acid-induced writhing and delaied the time of licking rear feet. CONCLUSION: QI has antipyretic, analgesic effects. Its mechanism of the antipyretic effects on rats may be inhibiting the production of IL-1beta and accordingly decreasing cAMP in the hypothalamus.

[Effects of Salviae miltiorrhizae on H2O2-induced apoptosis of rat vascular smooth muscle cells].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of Salviae miltiorrhizae on H2O2-induced apoptosis in rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC(s)) and its related mechanism. METHODS: The 3-5 passages of VSMC(s) were used, H2O2 was added to the medium of cultured rat aortic VSMC(s) as extraneous reactive oxygen species (ROS). The viability percentage of VSMC(s) was evaluated by MTT colorimetric assay. The percentage of apoptosis was measured by flow cytometry. The expression of Bax/Bcl-2 protein was examined with immunohistochemical technique and positive index (PI) was calculated. RESULTS: 1 mmol/L H2O2 could increase apoptosis rate. The PI of Bax/Bcl-2 protein in H2O2 group was higher (P < 0.01). When VSMC(s) were incubated with H2O2 plus Salviae miltiorrhizae, the apoptosis rate greatly declined, and at the same time, the PI of Bax/Bcl-2 protein reduced remarkably compared with H2O2 group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Salviae miltiorrhizae could prevent VSMC(s) from H2O2-induced apoptosis by decreasing the Bax/Bcl-2 protein expression.

[The mechanism of Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae Injection on the inhibition of smooth muscle cell proliferation induced by H2O2].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae Injection (RSMI) on proliferating cell nuclear angiten (PCNA), NF-kappa B and cell cycle phase of vascular smooth muscle cell(VSMC) induced by H2O2 in vitro. METHODS: H2O2 was added to the medium for culturing rat aortic VSMC as extraneous reactive oxygen species (ROS). The protein expression of PCNA and NF-kappa B was examined with immunocytochemical technique in VSMC, and cell cycle phase analysis was used to detect proliferation of VSMC. RESULTS: The result showed that the protein expression of PCNA and NF-kappa B became stonger, the ratio of S phase cells became higher in H2O2 group. RSMI could increase the percentage of the cells in G0/G1 phase, decrease the percentage of the cells in S phase and obviously inhibit the expression of PCNA and NF-kappa B proteins. CONCLUSIONS: The expression of PCNA and NF-kappa B was inhibited and the transition from G0 phase to S phase was blocked, which may be one of the key mechanism of RSMI on the inhibition of VSMC proliferation induced by H2O2.

[Effect of shenfu injection on microcirculation].

This study was aimed to assess the effect of Shenfu injection on different circulation state. Using a microcirculation microscope system, we observed mice's auricle micro-artery diameter, density of capillary, blood velocity in different circulation state (i.e. normal state, epinephrine or endotoxin induced microcirculation disturbance state) after administering Shenfu injection into their caudal vein, and we compared the Shenfu group with Shenmai group and Dexamethasone group. The results showed that Shenfu injection causes the auricle microartery diameter to enlarge and the density of capillary and blood velocity to increase in different microcirculation state, and such effect is especially notable on the epinephrine induced microcirculation disturbance group and endotoxin induced microcirculation disturbance group; the effect of Shenfu injection is stronger than that of Shenmai injection and similar to Dexamethasone injection. In addition, Shenfu injection was shown to have remarkable effect on resisting the lowering of limb temperature when the mice are attacked by endotoxin.

[Experimental study on estrogenic function of triphasic contraceptive tablets].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the estrogenic effect and activity of oral triphasic contraceptive tablets and provide the theoretical foundation for the use of homemade Kalirui in the treatment of metrorrhagic, menometrorrhagic, oligomenorrheic, and polymenorrheic dysfunctional uterine bleeding. METHODS: The vaginal smears of mice treated by triphasic contraceptive tablets (Kalirui and Trinordiol) were examined using light microscope. Radiational receptor analysis was made to measure the estrogenic effect of Kalirui and Trinordiol on Compared with the control group, the three dosage groups of homemade (Kalirui) rabbit uterus. RESULTS: triphasic contraceptive tablets and the import tablets (Trinordiol) group all showed obviously accelerate vagina kera-epithelium forming (P < 0.01), especially in the first phase and second phase. Both Kalirui and Trinordiol were found to have higher affinity to estrogenic receptor, and there were no significant differences between them Kalirui and Trinordiol triphasic oral contraceptive and the estrogenic standard sample (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: tablets have apparently estrogenic effect and activity.

[The influence on hemodynamics of myocardial ischemic dogs and blood pressure of animals with shenfu injection].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of Shenfu injection on the hemodynamic indexes of myocardial ischemic dogs and blood pressure of dogs and rats. METHOD: Myocardial ischemic model was made and hypotension in the dogs was induced with ligating left front descending limb coronary artery method, and secondary hypertension by narrowing nephridium artery of rats, Shenfu injection was administered with 5, 10 mL.kg-1 to the above dogs and rats separately to investigate the influence of it on the hemodynamic indexes of myocardial ischemic dogs and blood pressure of rats. RESULT AND CONCLUSION: Shenfu injection enhanced the capacity of myocardial work markedly; it augmented the myocardium contractility and cardiac output without raising the oxygen consume, and at the same time it returned normal the blood pressure in myocardial ischemic; but it had no effects on the normal blood pressure and secondary hypertension of rats.