Impact of hydrogen sulfide donor on endothelin-1 and connective tissue growth factor expression in rats with pulmonary hypertension induced by high pulmonary blood flow

AIM: To explore the possible impact of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) donor-sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS) on endothelin-1 (ET-1) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) expressions in rats with pulmonary hypertension induced by high pulmonary blood flow. METHODS: Thirty-two male SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: shunt group, shunt+NaHS group, sham group and sham+NaHS group. Rats in shunt group and shunt+NaHS group were subjected to an abdominal aorta-inferior vena cava shunt to create an animal model of high pulmonary flow. After 11 weeks of experiment, rat systolic pulmonary artery pressure (SPAP), lung tissue H2S, plasma ET-1 concentration and lung tissue ET-1mRNA expression, as well as pulmonary artery CTGF protein expression were detected.RESULTS: After 11 weeks of experiment, SPAP, lung tissue ET-1mRNA, plasma ET-1 as well as pulmonary artery CTGF expressions were increased markedly, respectively, whereas H2S in lung tissue decreased significantly in rats of shunt group as compared with that in sham group (all P<0.05). After administration of NaHS for 11 weeks, H2S in lung tissue increased significantly, whereas SPAP, plasma ET-1 and lung tissue ET-1 mRNA expression as well as pulmonary artery CTGF protein expression decreased significantly, respectively, in rats of shunt+NaHS group as compared with that in shunt group (all P<0.05).CONCLUSION: NaHS might be involved in the development of pulmonary hypertension induced by high pulmonary blood flow by down-regulating vasoactive peptides ET-1 and CTGF expressions in lung tissues of rats.     

Transpalpebral ultrasonographic measurement of the optic nerve sheath diameter in healthy dogs

Objective

To develop a reference range for ultrasonographically measured optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD‐US) in dogs. We hypothesized that ONSD‐US can be measured reliably and is associated with weight but not age, sex, or body condition score (BCS), and that the relationship between weight and ONSD‐US in dogs is allometric due to canine size variations.

Design

Prospective, observational study.

Setting

University teaching hospital.

Animals

Seventy‐eight healthy adult dogs.

Interventions

The ONSD was measured by a standardized transpalpebral approach.

Measurements and Main Results

Regression analysis showed the relationship between weight and ONSD was better fit with a linear model (R² = 0.8510) than an allometric model (R² = 0.7917). Multiple regression analysis showed ONSD is associated with weight (P < 0.0001), age (P = 0.0021), and BCS (P = 0.0007), but not with sex. Dominance analysis showed 94.6% of the variance explained by the model was due to weight. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) analysis showed excellent interobserver (ICC = 0.9338–0.9608) and intraobserver (ICC = 0.9893) reliability.

Conclusions

These results suggest that ONSD‐US may be reliably measured in dogs using our described transpalpebral approach, and we have calculated prediction intervals based on body weight. Future studies are needed to determine if ONSD‐US measurements are associated with intracranial hypertension as shown in human medicine.     

高钠所致肉用雏鸡肺动脉高压模型的心电图学研究

本试验用心电描记法对３组共２８５羽健康ＡＡ肉鸡从８日龄开始分别饮用含氯化钠０．０％、０．１５％、０．３０％的饮水所致内用雏鸡肺动脉高压综合征进行了研究,结果表明：（１）实验组的右心室和全心室的重量比（ＲＶ／ＴＶ）较对照组显著增坑。（２）回归分析表明ⅡａＶｐ导联波波幅的变化与ＲＶ／ＴＶ和的变化呈强负相关。（３）对照组、实验Ⅰ组、实验Ⅱ组分别有０．０１％,６．２５％,２８．７５％鸡发展成临床型腹水。因     

肉鸡肺动脉高压综合征自然病例肺动脉压的动态变化

将自然发病的肺动脉高压综合征艾维茵商品代肉鸡按日龄分组,右心导管法测定平均肺动脉压(PAPm),根据腹水量确定各组内腹水程度,设无腹水的正常鸡作对照．并进行显著性比较。结果：(1)24、36日龄组发病鸡的PAPm均极显著高于同日龄的正常鸡,30日龄组发病鸡显著高于正常鸡,42日龄组发病鸡高于正常鸡(8．3％)但无显著性差异。(2)发病鸡的PAPm在30日龄时极显著高于24日龄;36日龄时显著高于30日龄;40日龄时低于36日龄(4．3％),但差异不显著。(3)发病鸡的PAPm与腹水量间呈极显著正相关。结果表明,PAPm在本病发生和发展过程中都起着重要作用,并且与本病致死率有一定联系。     

Tea Consumption and Antihypertensive Effects

Tea consumption is a major source of flavanoids for a wide large population.Any physiological effects of tea,like antihypertension,could have a significant impact on population health.The effects of tea on blood pressure are less consistent.Results of population studies and long term controlled studies are consistent with a blood pressure-lowering effect of tea.However,some of the short-term intervention trials,mainly in normotensive individuals,have not demonstrated significant blood pressure reduction with tea.The focus of this review is on the mounting evidence from human studies that tea can lower blood pressure.     

普洱茶水提物与硝苯地平联用降压效果研究

观察普洱茶水提物对硝苯地平降压效果的影响。采用雄性SHR大鼠50只,按照平均尾动脉压随机分为模型组（M组）、硝苯地平3.1βmg·kg^-1组（1/2临床剂量）(N.L组)、硝苯地平6.2βmg·kg^-1组（临床剂量）（N.H组）、硝苯地平3.1βmg·kg^-1+普洱茶水提物0.5βg·kg^-1组（N.L+D.L组）、硝苯地平3.1βmg/kg+普洱茶水提物1.0βg·kg^-1组（N.L+D.H组）,每组10只,另设10只动物作为正常对照组（C组）。分组次日灌胃给予相应药物,每天2次,上午给予硝苯地平,下午给予普洱茶水提物,灌胃间隔3~4βh,每周对各组动物血压进行检测,持续4周。结果表明,大鼠给药4周后,硝苯地平6.2βmg·kg^-1组大鼠尾动脉平均血压为(139±6)βmmHg（1βmmHg=0.133βkPa）,与M组的(157±13)βmmHg比较显著降低（P<0.05）;N.L+D.H组大鼠尾动脉平均血压为(136±11)βmmHg,与M组的(157±13)βmmHg比较显著降低（P<0.05）,与硝苯地平6.2βmg·kg^-1组的（139±6）βmmHg相比,降压效果相当（P>0.05）。研究表明,普洱茶水提物配合硝苯地平使用,可增强硝苯地平对SHR大鼠的降压功效,其降压效果与临床剂量硝苯地平单独使用相当,且对心脏具有一定程度的保护作用。     

Association of Plasma N-Terminal Pro-B-Type Natriuretic Peptide Concentration with Mitral Regurgitation Severity and Outcome in Dogs with Asymptomatic Degenerative Mitral Valve Disease

Background: The clinical outcome of dogs affected by degenerative mitral valve disease (MVD) without overt clinical signs is still poorly defined, and criteria for identification of animals that are at a higher risk of early decompensation have not yet been determined.
Hypothesis: N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide plasma concentration (NT-proBNP) is correlated with mitral regurgitation (MR) severity and can predict disease progression in dogs with asymptomatic MVD.
Animals: Seventy-two dogs with asymptomatic MVD, with or without heart enlargement (International Small Animal Cardiac Health Council: ISACHC classes 1a and 1b), and a control group of 22 dogs were prospectively recruited.
Methods: Severity of MR was quantitatively assessed from the regurgitation fraction (RF) by the proximal isovelocity surface area method. Consequences of MR were evaluated from measurements of the left atrium/aorta ratio (LA/Ao), fractional shortening (FS), end-diastolic and end-systolic left ventricular volumes indexed to body surface area (EDVI and ESVI). The relevance of these echo-Doppler indices and NT-proBNP for prediction of outcome at 12 months was studied.
Results: A significant correlation was found between NT-proBNP and RF, LA/Ao, FS, and EDVI ( P < .05). NT-proBNP was higher in dogs with MVD (ISACHC classes 1a and 1b) compared with the control group ( P = .025 and < .001, respectively). The difference was not significant when only dogs from ISACHC class 1a with RF < 30% were considered. Lastly, NT-proBNP was higher in dogs that underwent MVD decompensation at 12 months ( P < .05).
Conclusions and Clinical Importance: NT-proBNP is correlated with MVD severity and prognosis in dogs with asymptomatic MVD.     

NaCl plus chitosan as a dietary salt to prevent the development of hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats

The effect of NaCl plus 3% chitosan on the systolic blood pressure of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were evaluated and compared with NaCl plus KCl (NaCl, 49.36% + KCl 49.36%) and chitosan or NaCl treatment alone. In SHR, administration of NaCl plus chitosan (44 mM Na/day) for two months significantly decreased the systolic blood pressure greater than of NaCl plus KCl and NaCl alone. NaCl plus chitosan resulted, though not statistically significant, in decreased urinary Na⁺ excretion and decreased blood urea nitrogen levels. Urinary creatinine of NaCl plus chitosan was slightly decreased compared to 3 treated groups. Serum electrolytes levels, however, remained unchanged. The combination of NaCl and chitosan may be superior to the conventional use of NaCl plus KCl or NaCl alone in the prevention of hypertension. Even though these supplementary diets have demonstrated potential anti-hypertensive effects in the experimental animal model, further research is needed before any recommendations can be made.     

普洱茶提取物对自发性高血压大鼠降压研究

采用自发高血压大鼠（SHR）进行普洱茶提取物降压功效的研究。给予普洱茶提取物0.25、0.5、1.0、2.0g/kg灌胃4周,观察动物的血压、心率、体重变化。结果显示,以普洱茶提取物1.0g/kg和2.0g/kg灌胃4周,对动物的平均动脉压、收缩压和舒张压均有降低作用,与模型组间存在显著差异（P<0.01）。普洱茶提取物0.25g/kg和0.5g/kg组动物血压较模型组没有显著性改变。普洱茶提取物2.0g/kg可提高动物的心率,有抑制其体重增长的趋势;其他剂量组动物的心率及体重增长均无显著变化。研究表明,普洱茶提取物对自发高血压大鼠具有降压作用,且具有剂量依赖性。