Association between Vitamin D Deficiency and Levels of Renin and Angiotensin in Essential Hypertension.

Objective: The present study aims to investigate the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone levels in patients with essential hypertension. Methods: The present study observed two groups of patients from Urumqi, Xinjiang, China, from April 2017 to March 2018. There were two subject groups: the hypertension group (80 patients with essential hypertension selected by random cluster sampling) and the control group (76 healthy adults). The 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D or vitamin D) levels were measured through electrolytes; fasting blood glucose, blood lipids, and other biochemical indicators were detected using immune chemiluminescence; and plasma renin activity and angiotensin II concentrations were detected with radio-immunity. Results: Comparison between the hypertension group and control group showed statistically significant differences in the systolic pressure and levels of 25(OH)D, renin, and triglycerides (P < 0.05). The correlation analysis showed that 25(OH)D was negatively correlated with renin (r = -0.185; P=0.021) and positively correlated with systolic pressure (r = -0.105; P=0.035). There were no statistically significant differences in diastolic pressure, fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides between the two groups. Conclusions: The results of the present study show that vitamin D deficiency is common in Urumqi, Xinjiang, China and vitamin D levels are negatively correlated with renin levels. Vitamin D plays an important role in regulating blood pressure by affecting renin levels through the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system.

Three new iridoids from leaves of Cornus officinalis.

Three new iridoids, cornifins A-C (1-3), together with a known iridoid, were obtained from EtOAc layer of leaves of Cornus officinalis. The structures of new compounds were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analyses. Compound 2 showed weak inhibitory activity against lung cancer cell line A-549 with IC50 value of 29.1 µM.

Serum vitamin D is low and inversely associated with LDL cholesterol in the Kazak ethnic population: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Accumulating evidence suggests that low concentrations of serum 25(OH)D is coupled with increased risks of hypertension, obesity, and cardiovascular disease. However, this relationship has not been established in populations with very low levels of 25(OH)D. Therefore, the aim of our study was to clarify the associations between 25(OH)D and blood pressure, obesity, sex, and lipid profiles in the Kazak ethnic population, who have an extremely low level of 25(OH)D. MATERIAL/METHODS: A multistage-cluster sampling survey was carried out for residents with Kazak ethnicity in Xinjiang, China. Anthropometric measurements of each participant were taken and the concentrations of 25(OH)D, calcium, alkaline phosphatase, and lipid profiles were measured. Individuals were classified into different groups in terms of vitamin D status, degree of adiposity, presence of hypertension, and other comorbidities. RESULTS: The madian concentration of 25(OH)D was 16.2 (11.8-20.5) ng/mL and the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was 72.4% in this Kazak population (n=928, 59.0% women). Females had a lower 25(OH)D concentration than males - 14.6 (10.5-19.4) ng/mL vs. 17.7 (14.8-22.5) ng/mL, P<0.001. The subjects were classified into 3 groups according to their vitamin D status. There were significant differences in BMI (P=0.046), waist circumference (P=0.037), hip circumference (P=0.003), systolic BP (P=0.035), and LDL cholesterol (P=0.008) among the groups after adjustment for sex and age. On the other hand, there was no significant difference in vitamin D levels between groups with or without hypertension (P=0.586), and groups with or without obesity (P=0.639). A multifactor-regression analysis revealed that every increment of 1mg/dL in LDL cholesterol was associated with a 1.0 ng/mL decline in serum 25(OH)D. CONCLUSIONS: The insufficiency of vitamin D is highly prevalent in Kazaks. Sex, LDL cholesterol, and hip circumference are 3 variables strongly associated with serum 25(OH)D concentration. In a population with low levels of 25(OH)D, the negative relationship between obesity and serum 25(OH)D, a common finding from most previous studies, could not be established.

The prevalence of masked hypertension and masked uncontrolled hypertension in relation to overweight and obesity in a nationwide registry in China.

Masked hypertension is difficult to identify and is associated with adverse outcomes. How and to what extent masked hypertension is related to overweight and obesity remain unclear. In participants with a clinic blood pressure (BP) < 140/90 mmHg enrolled in a nationwide prospective registry in China, we performed ambulatory and home BP measurements and defined masked hypertension and masked uncontrolled hypertension as an elevated 24-h (≥130/80 mmHg), daytime (≥135/85 mmHg) or nighttime ambulatory BP (≥120/70 mmHg) or an elevated home BP (≥135/85 mmHg). Overweight and obesity were defined as a body mass index of 25.0-29.9 and ≥30.0 kg/m2, respectively. The 2838 participants had a mean (±SD) age of 54.9 ± 13.6 years and included 1286 (45.3%) men and 1065 (37.5%) and 173 (6.1%) patients with overweight and obesity, respectively. Multiple stepwise regression analyses identified that body mass index was significantly (P ≤ 0.006) associated with the prevalence of masked ambulatory and home hypertension in treated (n = 1694, 58.6% and 42.1%, respectively) but not untreated participants (n = 1144, 55.7% and 29.5%, respectively). In categorical analyses, significant associations were observed with overweight and obesity for the prevalence of masked uncontrolled ambulatory and home hypertension (P ≤ 0.02) but not masked ambulatory or home hypertension (P ≥ 0.08). The adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for overweight and obesity relative to normal weight were 1.56 (1.27-1.92) and 1.34 (1.09-1.65) for masked uncontrolled ambulatory and home hypertension, respectively. In conclusion, overweight and obesity were associated with a higher prevalence of masked uncontrolled hypertension, indicating that clinic BP might overestimate antihypertensive treatment effects in patients with overweight and obesity.

[Relationship between the decline of age-related renal function and central aortic pressure in healthy Uygur population].

OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between the decline of age-related renal function and central arterial pressure (CAP) in Uygur healthy population. METHODS: A total of 638 healthy Uygur inhabitants from Hetian region, Xinjiang province were enrolled. They were divided into 4 groups according to their ages. Their blood pressure, serum creatinine and other indicators were detected. eGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate) was calculated by the formula of Chinese-based MDRD (Modification of Diet in Renal Disease). CAP was measured by a pulse wave analyzer including central arterial systolic blood pressure (C-SBP), central arterial pulse pressure (C-PP), augmentation pressure (AP), augmentation index (AIX) and other components. RESULTS: CAP and brachial arterial pressure tended to increase and renal function declined with age. There were gender differences in renal function. Both AP and AIX changed with age (P < 0.05). In each group, AP and AIX increased even more significantly in females (P < 0.01). The average age of subjects with a high AIX was 52 y ± 12 y. And it was elder than that of those with a low AIX (44 y ± 13 y, P = 0.000). The renal function of those with a high AIX was lower than those with a low AIX [(121 ± 25) ml.min. (1.73 m(2))(-1)] vs (131 ± 33) ml.min. (1.73 m(2))(-1), P = 0.000]. The levels of C-PP and AP were much higher in those with a high AIX (P = 0.00). The results of multivariate analysis showed that eGFR was negatively correlated with the level of AIX (P < 0.01). And it had no relationship with the brachial artery pressure (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Central arterial pressure is associated with the decline of age-related renal function. Monitoring of CAP may help to screen the high-risk patients in the elderly population. This study provides rationales for new therapeutics of protecting the aging of kidneys.

Two thymol derivatives from the flower buds of Lonicera japonica and their antibacterial activity.

A new monoterpenoid, 7-acetyl-8,9-dihydroxy thymol (1), together with a known one 7,8-dihydroxy-9-buyryl thymol (2), were isolated from the dried flower buds of Lonicera japonica Thunb. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data analyses. The potential antibacterial effects of these compounds on Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Micrococcus luteus, and Bacillus cereus were evaluated. Interestingly, both compounds 1 and 2 exhibited significant antibacterial activities with IC50 values range from 27.64 ± 2.26 to 128.58 ± 13.26 µg/mL.

One new 19-nor cucurbitane-type triterpenoid from the stems of Momordica charantia.

One new 19-nor cucurbitane-type triterpenoid (3ß,9ß,25-trihydroxy-7ß-methoxy-19-nor-cucurbita-5,23(E)-diene) (1), together with other six known cucurbitane-type triterpenoids (2-7), were isolated from the stems of Momordica charantia L. The chemical structure of 1 was elucidated by extensive 1D NMR and 2D NMR (HSQC, HMBC, COSY and ROESY), MS experiments. Using MTT assay, compound 1 exhibited weak cytotoxicity against HL-60, A-549, and SK-BR-3 cell lines with the IC50 values at 27.3, 32.7 and 26.6 µM, respectively.

Accuracy of home versus ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in the diagnosis of white-coat and masked hypertension.

BACKGROUND: We investigated accuracy of home blood pressure (BP) monitoring in the diagnosis of white-coat and masked hypertension in comparison with ambulatory BP monitoring. METHODS: Our study participants were enrolled in the China Ambulatory and Home BP Registry, and underwent clinic, home, and 24-h ambulatory BP measurements. We defined white-coat hypertension as an elevated clinic SBP/DBP (≥140/90 mmHg) and a normal 24-h ambulatory (<130/80 mmHg) or home SBP/DBP (<135/85 mmHg), and masked hypertension as a normal clinic SBP/DBP (<140/90 mmHg) and an elevated 24-h ambulatory (≥130/80 mmHg) or home SBP/DBP (≥135/85 mmHg). RESULTS: In untreated patients (n = 573), the prevalence of white-coat hypertension (13.1 vs. 19.9%), masked hypertension (17.8 vs. 13.1%), and sustained hypertension (46.4 vs. 39.6%) significantly (P ≤ 0.02) differed between 24-h ambulatory and home BP monitoring. In treated patients (n = 1201), only the prevalence of masked hypertension differed significantly (18.7 vs. 14.5%; P = 0.005). Regardless of the treatment status, home compared with 24-h ambulatory BP had low sensitivity (range 47-74%), but high specificity (86-94%), and accordingly low positive (41-87%), but high negative predictive values (80-94%), and had moderate diagnostic agreement (82-85%) and Kappa statistic (0.41-0.66). In untreated and treated patients, age advancing was associated with a higher prevalence of white-coat hypertension and a lower prevalence of masked hypertension defined by 24-h ambulatory (P ≤ 0.03) but not home BP (P ≥ 0.10). CONCLUSION: Home BP monitoring has high specificity, but low sensitivity in the diagnosis of white-coat and masked hypertension, and may therefore behave as a complementary to, but not a replacement of, ambulatory BP monitoring.

[Association of the T(-344)C polymorphism of aldosterone synthase gene CYP11B2 with essential hypertension in Xinjiang Kazakh isolated group].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association of the T(-344)C polymorphism of aldosterone synthase gene CYP11B2 with essential hypertension in Xinjiang Kazakh isolated population. METHODS: The study covered 186 hypertensives and 168 normotensive controls in Xinjiang Kazakh population. The segment of CYP11B2 was amplified from DNA by polymerase chain reaction(PCR). The PCR products were digested by restriction endonuclease. RESULTS: The frequencies of C and T in hypertensive group (0.45 and 0.55) were not significantly different from those in the control group (0.43 and 0.57; chi-square test=0.380, P=0.537). The frequencies of CYP11B2 genotypes of CC, CT and TT were 0.20, 0.50 and 0.30 in hypertensives respectively, and 0.12, 0.61 and 0.27 in controls respectively. There was no significant difference in genotypes between hypertensive group and normotensive group (chi-square test=4.838, P=0.089). But the frequencies of CC genotype were higher in the female hypertensives than in the normotensive controls (chi-square test=6.104, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The results suggested that the T(-344)C polymorphism of CYP11B2 gene may be associated with hypertension in female Kazakh population of Xinjiang Barlikun area.

[Effects of applying different nitrogen form on cherry tomato nitrogen metabolism during fruit development].

A hydroponic experiment was conducted to study the effects of applying 100% NO3- -N, 100% NH4+ -N, and 75% NO3- -N+25% NH4+ -N on the nitrogen metabolism and the nitrate reductase (NR) and glutamine synthetase (GS) gene expression of cherry tomato during its fruit development. Applying 75% NO3- -N+25% NH4+ -N slightly increased the single fruit mass, and increased the fruit NH4+ -N, total amino acid, and total N contents and N accumulation significantly, compared with applying 100% NO3- -N. In treatments 100% NO3- -N and 75% NO3- -N + 25% NH4+ -N, the fruit NR activity and its gene expression had no significant difference, but were higher than those in treatment 100% NH4+ -N. The fruit GS activity was significantly higher in treatment 75% NO3--N+25% NH4+ -N than in treatment 100% NO3- -N. In the three treatments, isozyme GS1 (Cytosolic type GS) and GS2 (Chloroplast type GS) expression was inconsistent with GS activity, suggesting that the effects of applied N on GS activity could be mainly reflected at posttranscriptional level.